Acts 3:7-8 - Then Peter took the lame man by the right hand and helped
him up. And as he did, the man’s feet and ankles were instantly healed and
strengthened. He jumped up, stood on his feet, and began to walk! Then, walking,
leaping, and praising God, he went into the Temple with them.
Peter did more than heal the lame man in
Jerusalem. Peter restored his ability to
go places. Isn’t it wonderful that the
first place this newly restored man chose to go was the Temple to worship God?
Walking was the primary mode of transportation in
biblical times. Today, most people get
around by driving. Yet not everyone can
drive. In particular, I think about the
many children who are too young to drive and seniors who are no longer able to
drive. How are they to get to church to
worship the Lord?
Pleasant Grove United Methodist Church has a wonderful new tool that could be the answer--a brand new church van. Our 2016 Ford Transit is design to be safe, comfortable,
and useful. Furthermore, we believe in
using every resource God gives us to give hope to the hopeless, build new
relationships, and help our community.
So, it makes sense that we should offer a ride to those who need a way
to go to church.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to see a van load of new
people coming to church each Sunday?
Wouldn’t it be awesome to see a swarm of children and youth coming out
of those van doors each Wednesday night?
I was talking to people on Facebook last week asking
for advice about how to start a church van ministry. I heard a lot of good tips, but the best was
from a young lady who shared that she was the product of a church van ministry
that brought her to church as a child.
Coming to church helped her grow closer to Christ. Now, she is all grown up, graduating from
seminary, and working as a hospital chaplain and a children’s minister.
Perhaps Pleasant Grove could begin a van ministry to
help people go to church. It would take
volunteers to make it happen. We would need
drivers and coordinators. We would need
a little extra giving to pay for gas.
And we would need everyone to spread the word that our church wants to
bring people to worship God at Pleasant Grove.
Imagine the lives that could be changed as people come to PGUMC to
encounter the amazing love of God through Jesus Christ! Of course, I’m no expert and I certainly
don’t claim to know everything, but that’s the Truth as far as I can tell…
Remember, God loves you and
so do I!
