Saint Stephen United Methodist Church Worship

apartment Ministry

2009-06-02T13:35:00.003-05:00

I've still been thinking a lot about personal evangelism and how I can be Jesus to the world around me. Years ago I learned how to hit people hard with scripture and try to convince them to "get saved." I have since learned that building relationships is the way to introduce people to Christ. Sometimes it's just a matter of being nice to someone or going out of my way to help someone. I read a statistic that says 40,000 people are in apartments in Amarillo, TX and that 36,000 are unchurched. Many are immigrants or refugees. For some reason, God has put these people on my heart. I've been sitting on this for a year and a half - not sure what to do. I've driven by the apartments around my church and prayed, but God is calling me to reach out. I'm not sure where to begin. Does anybody out there have any experience in apartment outreach? My brother prayer walks apartments in his community - Garland, TX. One day he set up his grill and fed people hamburgers. That's a practical way to meet a need when people have worked a long week and are hungry. I love it when people cook for me! So, if anybody is out there reading this, would you please contact me with your thoughts, ideas, prayers, encouragement, something? Jesus is coming back when we have spread the gospel around the world - that includes little Amarillo TX. I want to get to work. Will you join me? Okay, this must really be burdening me because I already blogged about it a week or so ago. Forgive the repeat!!!

Personal Evangelism

2009-05-20T16:07:00.002-05:00

I typed out a long blog on personal evangelism and lost it! I've been thinking about it a lot lately and wondering how to get outside my comfort zone inside the church. I'm wondering how I can make a difference, how I can invite people outside the community of faith to at least have a conversation about faith. Jesus wants us to go.....everywhere.... We don't have to go to the other side of the world to evangelize. Many are called to that, but I feel called to my own backyard. I guess it takes all of us. I just wonder how to do it. I have been through many evangelism training seminars and studies, but they are all pretty intense and "in your face." There has to be a simpler way of living your life before your neighbors that shows Christ to them. I've thought a lot about prayer walking the apartments around my church, but have yet to get out and go. My heart is burdened for the people that live there. I read a statistic that says 40,000 people in Amarillo live in apartments and only ten percent are attending a church. I'm not so much interested in building any church as I am building the Kingdom. Wouldn't it be amazing if we introduced people to Christ and helped them find a church that suits them? What would it look like if all denominations had a Kingdom outlook and began to evangelize for the greater good rather than an individual church? Of course I'd like people to come to my church because it's a great church, but I realize it might not be for everyone.

I'd love to hear anyone's thoughts on personal evangelism. It's a scary term, so maybe you have a better name for it. I'm about to read Bill Hybel's "Just Walk Across the Room" and see if I get some answers.

Opry a Success

2009-04-22T13:52:00.002-05:00

The Opry Out West was amazing!!!
Thanks to all who participated
and thanks to all who attended.
We were almost preempted by tornadoes and lots of rain, but lots of you showed up to praise God in the storm.
The pie and coffee fellowship was great as well.
Be looking for the Opry Out West to take place again this summer - probably in August before school gets started
We raised nearly $1000 for Another Chance House and nearly $400 was raised for the Ghana trip. Praise the Lord!!!

WOW Week

2009-04-22T13:51:00.000-05:00

WOW Week is World Outreach Week - or Missions Week.
There are so many activities at our church this week to celebrate what God is doing around the world. Check out our website for details
www.ssumc.net

How Have You Been Blessed?

2009-03-30T16:01:00.004-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about how blessed my life is. It is an honor beyond belief to serve in the house of our Great King, Jesus. A few months ago I challenged our congregation to keep track each day of all the things they are thankful for. When I count my many blessings it's hard to be depressed or discouraged. God has poured out his abundance on my family - in more ways than I can count. No, my life isn't perfect. Actually, it's far from that. It's just blessed. If you would like to share how God has blessed your life, post your comments here.

Rescheduled Opry Out West

2009-03-30T15:57:00.002-05:00

Opry Out West - Rescheduled
Join us Thursday, April 16th at 7pm at St Stephen
West Campus. This will be a great time presented by some
of the most amazing musicians and singers I know. Come hear many
of your favorite songs old and new.
For more info call me at 355-7271

Opry Out West

2009-03-25T14:42:00.002-05:00

THE OPRY OUT WEST
Friday, March 27th at 7pm
The Saint Stephen Praise Band and Friends
will host an evening of country and southern gospel music.
Join us afterwards for a pie and coffee fellowship in the coffee house
We are located at 7800 W 45th - just off Soncy and Wesley Drive.
See you there!!

Have You Seen Him Today?

2009-03-19T10:25:00.002-05:00

It's crazy. I didn't realize how busy I was until someone started reading my blog again and I realized I hadn't written a new post since last August. I'm in my last semester at WTAMU and I didn't realize how much it had consumed me. I confess that I have not taken time to "be still and know that He is God." I have been on overdrive and my soul is suffering because of it. I miss seeing God! Yes, I see him at work all around me. I see Him in the middle of our church services. But, I don't see Him like I used to. I use to go on God hunts - I was intentionally looking for Him. Yes, God is everywhere, but I wanted to be in the middle of Him. I used to drive to the edge of town early in the morning to reflect on the glory of a sunrise - the promise of a new day. I used to race to the west side of town to watch the most beautiful sunsets in all of God's creation. I even chased storms and rainbows. Somehow in those events I see the creative power of God at work and I'm reminded of how big He is. He is still on His throne no matter what is going on in the world. He is still looking after us. He is Lord. So, I wonder, have you seen Him today? Have you looked? You can trust me when I say I am going to take time to look. Graduation is less than two months away. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. Be blessed, blogger friends.

What does it mean to follow Christ?

2008-10-01T14:19:00.003-05:00

I had a conversation with a good friend of mine this week and we were talking about what it looks like to live a radical Christian life. Seems to me there should only be one way to live for Christ and it is radical. Do we have any other choice if we are to make a difference in this world? I was reminded by Rich that it is not our responsibility to convert the world, but to make Christ known to everyone. So, what do we do that is so radical? What is expected of us? Is anything expected of us? Is it enough to profess faith in Christ and go along our merry way? Is it enough to show up at church on Sunday? What does it mean to follow Christ? If anybody is out there reading this at all I hope you will respond to this question. Let's dialogue about what it means to be a radical follower of Christ.

Too Busy

2008-09-29T16:31:00.002-05:00

It just dawned on me that I have not blogged in over a month. It seems like everything hit me all at once. I found myself under a black cloud of busyness and activities, all of which are important, but all of which overwhelmed me. I think I'm back on track, taking one day at a time. I am trying not to live by the calender and the clock, but have not found a great way to get everything done apart from those two things. So, I'm looking at my days to see what is absolutely most important. I have found that very often the things I let go of are the things I need the most - like time spent alone with my heavenly Father. I know in my heart that the rest of my day will be easier to handle if I begin it with a few moments of solitude and prayer, but sometimes I rush out the door to greet the day's first of many activities without so much as a "Hello" to God. Many of you have expressed that same thing to me. So, I'll pray for you if you will pray for me. Maybe together we can lift each other up and all find time to sit in the lap of our loving Father today.

God Moments

2008-08-26T16:55:00.004-05:00

I hope you are experiencing God in worship every single time you meet together. Today, a Tuesday, we had some God moments in worship. He was alive and well in the sanctuary of our church. No, it wasn't a regular Sunday type worship service. It was a celebration of life for a dear lady in our church who passed away in her prime. Two words were used to describe her. The first was joy and the second was generous. Her favorite scripture wasn't one I normally hear in a memorial service. One of her favorites that was read to us was Romans 12:9-13. Pay close attention to this... Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil: cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. You could almost hear the Father lovingly remind us that this dear saint, now in heaven, lived her life by that scripture, and we should too. I am encouraged to know that God is always near, even in our times of grief in sorrow. God moments can happen anywhere. Praise His name!

Here We Are

2008-08-18T15:08:00.001-05:00

Wow!! It looks like we have officially entered the world of blogging. It's been a good year. I learned to text AND started a blog. This is the place for SSUMC to talk about God, worship, music, etc. I'd love to know your thoughts and read your comments. Look for me to write a new post every week or so. It all depends on my crazy schedule. This week we kick off our West Campus Praise Choir. The East Campus Vocal Team will resume rehearsals as well. As usual, the band will play for Celebrate Recovery and then rehearse for a few hours or until we get tired and make ourselves go home to get some rest. Well, be blessed today and let me know your thoughts.
Myra