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Hoosier United Methodist News Archives
| Hoosier United Methodist News |
November 2002 |
My Witness:
' … And a little child shall lead them'
By Rev. Jerry Rairdon
Joshua was born to Linda and Harry Mayfield, approximately 12 weeks premature and weighing less than 4 pounds. He lived for the next two months in the infant intensive care unit at Norton Hospital in Louisville. While there, Linda developed a relationship with Barbara Lee, a nurse in the care unit. Barbara was looking for a church for her family, which had moved to Louisville from West Virginia and had never found a church home.
The family began attending our contemporary service. Two weeks later the family's teen-age son, Brandon began bringing one of his close friends to church with him. It was not long after this that Brandon was part of a high school foursome. They enjoyed the band and sat on the front row by themselves while Brandon's parents remained in the third pew from the back. After about four or five months - one by one - the other youth began convincing their parents to attend. For most of these parents it had been years since they had been in church.
They all now attend as a group taking up two pews near the back of the church. The high school foursome still sit in that front row but are now surrounded by their younger brothers. One of the young men plays guitar in the Praise Band and most of their parents are taking on responsibilities with various ministries in our church. What a difference they have made to our church.
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More than anything it was the miracle of a premature baby's birth that created the opportunity for someone to make this valuable invitation. We are simply privileged ambassadors. |
They blew away my usual approach to church membership when - after attending for a few months - the undeclared spokesperson for the group came to me and said, "We all want to join the church. We have reserved a banquet room at a nearby restaurant so you can talk to us and especially to the kids about what membership means. They have been asking us a lot of questions."
What a wonderful gathering that was and what an impact on our contemporary service they have been. Our service is now averaging over 120 a Sunday.
I share the story of this child because it is a dramatic illustration of how God's spirit works. It is God who works in people's lives and our contribution to the salvation process is so minimal.
I had known all four of these families only casually through my children's school activities but had never had a conversation about church with any of them. They tell me now they were willing to try Silver Street UMC because they knew I was an "okay" guy. The mother who invited Barbara Lee is not your typical evangelistic type. She was just a good listener who, when she heard Barbara's story, offered a simple invitation.
More than anything it was the miracle of a premature baby's birth that created the opportunity for someone to make this valuable invitation. We are simply privileged ambassadors.
May this story be as inspirational to you as it has been to me. Oh, by the way, Joshua is doing very well. He is a little behind in his development, which is typical for premature children but he is catching up fast. He is a very special child to us at SSUMC for many reasons.
Last updated on 01/14/2004The Rev. Jerry Rairdon is pastor of Silver Street UMC in New Albany.