I remember the old story of a town having a city revival decades ago. It was an afternoon and the evangelist and his assistant were preparing for the revival meeting that evening in an office overlooking the city square. The evangelist asked his assistant ‘what do you see down there.’? His assistant replied I see a mass of people. His assistant asked ‘what do you see sir’? The great evangelist said ‘I see souls for whom Christ died!’
How do we see our world? More specifically how do we see Southern California where we live? We live in a mass of humanity. We live in one of the most beautiful and diverse places in the whole world. We also live in a part of our country that more people are lost than in almost any part of the country. Do we see souls that are lost and broken?
I have had the awesome privilege the last few weeks to be in some of our churches on our district. In every church I have encountered wonderful people who confess that at one time they were lost and now they are found! I sat beside a dear man from Hesperia that told me of his life being lost for many years and at a later age in life came back to Christ seven years ago. The Hesperia church is a lifeline to him!
There are three areas that I would like to focus on as we as a district and as churches continue the mission of Christ here in Southern California.
1. Encourage and equip pastors! Our pastors are on the front line of ministry and mission. I know personally how discouraged pastors can get. One of the reasons I accepted this position is that I felt strongly about encouraging pastors. In the last 10 years this discouragement has accelerated. Yet our faithful pastors walk on. Why? They are called! Please let me know how I can encourage you pastor. If you know of a pastor that needs encouragement, please let me know.
2. Strengthening and revitalizing our churches. I believe the church is still the hope of the world. There are simple things we can do in these days to strengthen and revitalize our churches. We have an opportunity today like we've never had. We live in a post Christian world. People are looking for good news and hope!
3. Raise up new churches and gatherings. Today churches can look much different than what we have traditionally thought. On our own district there are gatherings that are taking place that we would call churches. I'm looking forward to working with our current churches and current and new leaders in starting new places of ministry here in our district.
This is a God sized plan. It's here on paper or computer however you want to look at it. The plan has to be acted upon. We have to take action if we want see the plan work. So let's get going. Luke 19:10 ‘For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.’ The promise of Jesus is that he will go with us. He loves lost and broken people even more than we do. He will open the doors. Let's walk through those doors together my brothers and sisters.
Please continue to pray for me as I pray for you. The best is yet to come!
Shawn Siegfreid
District Superintendent
Southern California District Church of the Nazarene
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