Ridgell's Originals

 I have people tell me sometimes they wish there was something they could do to help in the amazing work God is doing in this world.  They say they cannot teach and are not good at Bible stories or evangelism.  So I often tell them that they are missing a very important point.  We are not just helping get people on their Jesus journey.  We are committed to helping them learn to follow Jesus on that journey and to stay on that journey.  Not just making disciples but forming mature disciples.  

So here a few suggestions on what you can do to bring people to Jesus and to help them grow up into faithful followers.

Invite.  Bring people to events, worship, class, etc.  There are those equipped and willing to teach them.  

Host studies.  Buy the coffee.  Fix the meal.  Have the seeker and teacher over.  

Drive.  We have a lot of recovering addicts and ex-offenders coming to seek Jesus.  They need rides to work, or to the store, or to run an errand.  Many of them do not have cars or they do not have a liscence.

Spend a little.  Keep a few gift cards or bus passes to share with those coming.  Or ask your church leaders who needs a little extra this month.  

Sit with them.  Look for the new people at church.  Invite them to sit with you and your family.  

Eat together.  Have them over for a meal.  Take them out for lunch after church.  

Send cards.  Text.  Call.  Make a contact.  Glad to meet you.  Congrats on your baptism.  Stay strong.  Be focused.  Proud of you.  Love you.  How are you doing?

Listen.  Get to know them.  Hear their stories.  Don't flinch.  

Share your story.  How you found Jesus.  What God has done for you.  How you triumphed over your demons.  How you stay strong and focused.

Show up.  Go to their recovery meeting.  Visit the hospital.  Watch their kids activities.  

Do something for those really on the front lines.  Thank them.  Take them out.  Give them a gift card.  Write them a note.  

Pray.  Ask God to send seekers.  Ask for strength and courage.  Pray for protection over the new babies in Jesus.  Pray for God to manage consequences.    

The church I am at is having a lot of growth.  Crowded assembly.  Hard to find classroom space.  New faces everywhere.  It is exciting and people are enthused.  Much of this is from new converts and people coming back to their faith.  And some of it is people coming to be part of what God is doing.

But counting numbers -- even baptisms -- bothers me some.  

So I went back and read this blog I wrote over two years ago.  I needed the reminder.

 Numbers are tricky things for churches.  I know that numbers (attendance, baptisms, membership, budget, giving, etc) do give a snapshot of how things are going, especially if comparisons are made over time.  You can see trends -- good or bad -- developing.  

Numbers are used in the Bible (and not just the Old Testament book).  3000 baptisms on Pentecost.  The Jerusalem church had 5000 even only counting the men.  Jesus fed 5000.  Maybe with those kind of results I would report numbers also.

And I don't know the numbers, but I do know when Jesus taught the "hard" truths, people starting leaving.  I know that there was a "budget" discussion about how to feed the multitudes.  These seem to indicate that numbers can be misleading.

Preachers are hired and fired based on numbers.  Attendance going up or down.  How many baptisms.  Numbers may reflect growth.  Or they may reflect swell.  Your congregation grew by 300.  Wow.  New converts?  No -- just people who left the three congregations close to us.  So one church grew and three shrunk.  And the Kingdom numbers did not change at all.  So are the three that lost members doing something wrong?  Is the church that gained members doing something right?

The whole idea of membership numbers seems a little problematic.  That is not a concept in Scripture.  And membership rolls probably do not really line up with God's membership rolls.  I have many occassions when someone said they were members where I was an elder and I had never heard of them.  Are they really members when they don't attend, give, or participate?

I do think baptism numbers have some validity, but I even wonder about those.  Baptized 20 last year.  Great.  Except that 18 of them where children of members.  Still exciting and important but probably not indicative of evangelism efforts.  

And I am not sure baptism should be the number that matters.  After all, we cannot control the results.  That is God's business to give the increase.  Maybe number of people studied with, witnessed to, or invited to worship would be a better thing to know.  

But I do think a lack of "end result" baptisms does say something about the importance a church places on reaching lost people.  

So these were a few of my random thoughts about numbers.  

Just be careful that counting does not become the most important thing your church does.   

 I appreciate those Christians who help me understand God''s Word better.  

Three quick examples.

I am not an Old Testament scholar.  I tend to use OT stories to help people see God and how to follow Him.  I read things about hyssop, and walking thru animal sacrifices, and horn blowing.  But I don't really get how deep and rich the imagry and meaning is.  Until I hear my friend Tim Archer preach on these things.  He brings out much of the background and meaning.  Why these stories are so powerful because of the context.  Doesn't change the meaning or message but sure does make it richer and fuller to know the background.

And Zach McCartney preaching on the famous "gates of hell" passage and explaining why the location where Jesus said that was so important.  Again, doesn't change the meaning, but sure does make it deeper and richer.

Or Chris Vaughn doing a survey of Scripture for our Jesus Journey class and explaining why certain things made sense because of the culture in which they occured.  Again, deeper and richer.

So I am thankful for people who learn "the rest of the story".  People who learn the background.  People that are smart enough to explain it so even I get the meaning of what the Bible is saying.

So you may have to know all the background, but it sure brings Scripture to life.

Oh... and if you have know idea what all these references are about, start doing a little research.  

It will bring Scripture to life.  

So thanks Tim, Zach, and Chris.  You make God's word a little brighter in my life.

 To be honest, it was an award that I am deeply proud of and very humbled by.

Given by the Herald of Truth, it is the Batsell Barrett Baxter Legacy award for ministy and evangelism.  

I still work there so this was given by my peers, the people that really know what I do.

My family and some of our closest friends surprised me by showing up at the dinner where the award was presented.

I have spent most of my life telling people about Jesus so it is nice to be recognized.

I am proud, except...

I am not going to say I don't deserve it because that is the easy answer to sound real humble.  I have done ministry and evangelism a long time and in ways that make a difference but ...

The problem is that I am not sure you give an award for what God has done.  I have planted a lot of seed and watered a lot of seed planted by others.  And have taught, equipped, inspired others to do the same.  

But it is God who gives the increase.  Always it is God.

And...

I just got an award for doing what I was supposed to do.  What God asked me to do.  

They should have given it to Marsha.  I know, I get that I do a lot of public evangelism and ministry.  But I wouldn't do it without her.  None of it.  Not sure where I would be spiritually without her.  

My family, my friends, my co-workers.  They are all wrapped up in what I do for Jesus. 

Prayers, encouragement, support.  

So I am humbled.  

I shouldn't have gotten it.

But I am sort of proud.

And maybe I shouldn't be.

So thanks to Herald of Truth for the honor and driving awareness of the need to tell people about Jesus.

Thanks to Mimi, the rest of the fam, my friends, and my co-workers.

But most of all, thanks God.  None of this happens without you.

 Maria White went home to Jesus last week.  It was beautiful and holy.

Maria loved Jesus.  She was in our Youth Group back in the early 70's.  So was Gary, who later became her husband.  Both committed followers of Jesus even as teenagers.  They became a real power couple for Jesus.  Gary served for a number of years as an elder and I can only imagine the incredible spiritual counseling that came from them.  She passed her love for the Lord to her girls and her grands.

She had a heart for the downtrodden.  Started an low-income apartment ministry.  Inspired lots of others to join her in that work.  Involved in Freedom Fellowship, a ministry/church/community for those on the edges of society.  

She lived her faith.  Struggled some with depression issues and turned her experiences into a ministry helping others.  Living example of a Christian wife, mother, and grandmother.  Always available to talk, pray, study, or listen.  Gave Godly advice.  

She died her faith.  You don't always see that.  But the last year of Maria's life was one of ministry, both in word and by example.  You went to see her and pray over her, and you ended up getting prayed over.  Left feeling better and more inspired.  Maria would have loved to be healed her on earth.  Would have enjoyed growing old with Gary, enjoying her family, watching her grands grow up.  But at the same time she was really into whatever God chose to do.  Not afraid to die, looking forward to seeing Jesus.  

We have known and loved Gary and Maria for a long time.  Marsha communicated with them every week.  And I am thankful for their example.  

Today I see heaven a little clearer.  Death is less of a threat.  Family is more cherished.  And I am inspired to love people more.  Especially those on the edges.  To help them find Jesus.

And someday they will get to know Maria.  

Hope of heaven.

See you soon.

I want you to know about my friend Thelma and her Jesus journey. I do this so might be inspired to help others on their journey, or to find help for your Jesus journey.

Like many people, Thelma had some church/Jesus experience. I put it in that order because she was way better at the church stuff than the Jesus stuff. And eventually, as you would expect, she dropped out of the church stuff. I think she would tell you her heart just wasn't in it.

But she always had interest in Jesus and living for him.

Then her husband got sick and died. Many of you have read or seen my Wes testimony. Converted in prison, got out and relapsed, repented on his deathbed, and lived out his repentance in some pretty dramatic ways. Thelma was with him for the whole journey. Let us pray over her, heard us pray over Wes, heard Scripture read, saw the repentance, witnessed our elders anointing and praying over Wes. It touched her heart.

Wes' sister, Angel, was there supporting Thelma the whole time. Angel is a new Christian. But she prayed and she is the one that first connected Wes to her church family and to me.

Hillcrest was great. Helped a lot with Wes' funeral. The service, the video, and the funeral meal. Made Thelma long to be part of a family like Angel's church.

Angel got Thelma to start coming to our Jesus Journey class on Wednesday night. She formed relationships, saw people helping each other, heard a lot about God and Jesus, and prayed a lot.

Started coming on Sunday mornings and visited one of our adult classes, the Welcome class. She came because at that time I was teaching in there. But she was welcomed, made friends, and just kept going.

She saw John baptized a couple of weeks ago and she could see herself doing the same thing.

Came over several times to hear Jesus stories with Marsha and me. Even had some other people come share that time.

And one day she said, "I am feeling it right here." She had her hand over her heart.

Lots of people helped Thelma thru a rough time.

Lots of people prayed for Thelma.

Lots of people talked about Jesus with Thelma.

And a whole congregation of God's people celebrated with praise and applause last Sunday when Thelma was born again.

Go do likewise.

 So next week is another birthday for me.  72 this time.

Here are a few thoughts about getting older.

Don't live in the past.  It is easy to do as we get older.  Sometimes it is the "good old days" syndrome.  Everything was better.  The world, the country, the church, the culture.  If you are not careful, you spend so much time longing for the old days that you miss the life in front of you.  And besides, the good old days really weren't that good.  People have been people forever.  Human nature doesn't change much so I am pretty convinced that the good old days are an exercise in selective memory.

But don't live in the past of regret either.  It is also easy to slip into regret over all the mistakes/sins you committed in the past.  Or to dwell on the missed opportunities.  Or remember in detail all the wrongs done to you.  And that helps no one.  Especially you.  If you are a Christian, spend a little time remembering God's grace.  And being thankful because you are forgiven.  As for missed opportunities, resolve to not miss the ones coming at you.  Past hurts?  Forgive and move on.  And if you are not a Christian, then be born again.  I really don't know what to tell non-believers other than than.

Live for today.  What a gift each day is.  You learn to cherish each day even more as you grow older.  Sometimes I just look around and thank God for the day.  Watching the sunrise.  Hanging out with my wife.  Watching my kids and the grands.  Looking at my dog or my cattle.  And just being thankful.  Waking up in expectation that God is still using me and being excited for what the day will bring.  Still making memories every day.

Be excited about tomorrow.  I am a long way from being through.  Still writing sermons and classes to be preached/taught in the future.  Still outlining the next article or book.  Building a barndo/retreat center at the ranch.  Asking God to use me until I am used up.  Asking God to bless the plans.  

And what if my tomorrows don't happen?

It just means I have died and gone to be with the Lord.  Forever.  So of course I am excited about the future.  It really can't get any better.

So thanks God for 72 years.  It has been so much better than I ever could have dreamed.  You have been so much better than I ever could have imagined.  

So keep doing your thing thru me and in me.  Until I get home for good.

 Angela was born again this past Sunday.  God used many people to help her get on her Jesus journey.  

Joseph.  He is her fiance.  When she moved to Abilene to be near him, he invited her to chruch.  She was really wanting to live a different life and was very open to exploring the Jesus life.

Nathan.  She and Joseph went to the Seeker class Sunday mornings.  It is taught by our preacher Nathan.  She was so impressed that the preacher at a really large church would teach a small class where people could ask questions and talk about life as a Jesus follower.

Gary and Sarah.  They knew Joseph when he became a Christian and kept up with him thru his incarceration.  When Joseph got out, they helped get him established in his new life.  Gave him rides to church and to work.  Helped with bills.  Gary led a Bible study at Joseph's half-way house.  They welcomed Angela and immediatly began to help her.

The Jesus Journey class.  This is our Wednesday night class for those who want to know more about what it looks like to follow Jesus, or those who want to get started on their Jesus journey.  She heard stories of new converts, had several Christians who became her friends.

Thelma.  Thelma is about to get started on her Jesus journey. We were sharing Jesus stories with Thelma and when Angela wanted to know more, Thelma happily welcomed her to meet with us.  Thelma decided to be baptized and that was exactly the encouragement she needed.  She asked Thelma if it would be OK to be baptized at the same time.  Thelma was thrilled.  When Thelma got Covid, and was sick enough she could not get out Sunday, she texted Angela to encourage her to procede without her.  

Gwen.  and lots of Hillcrest sisters.  As part of our Jesus Journey class, Gwen has been involved with several women interested in following Jesus.  She invited, and took, Angela to a Women's worship night.  Not only did Angela enjoy the praise and worship, but she met so many ladies who looked for her at church.

Marsha.  Everyone needs a friend.  Marsha had Joseph and Angela over for supper, hosted the Jesus story conversations, introduced Angela as her friend.  Because she is.  Stood with her in the baptistry Sunday.

God connected a seeker looking for a new life with a lot of believers willing to do whatever they could to help people follow Jesus.

Seed planters, a lot of seed waterers, and God did give the increase.  Just like He promised He would.