This next year promises to be an exciting time here at Palermo Christian Church.  The Elders have seriously looked at our purpose statement:  The Purpose of Palermo Christian Church is to glorify God through Worship, Evangelism and Edification.  We have prayerfully decided to make a concerted effort in the area of evangelism for 2007.

    This decision is motivated by one conviction:  People need the Lord.  The Bible tells us that eternal life is waiting those who trust Christ.  Eternal damnation is waiting those who do not.  That is not our teaching; that is what the Bible teaches!  Not only that, but the quality of life for people in our area would be greatly enhanced through Christ.  Jesus said, “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”  We want people to experience the life God has for them.  It would bring purpose to many.  If people were followers of Jesus Christ, the hurt caused by sin would be less.  Crime, domestic abuse, broken relationships, crippling indebtedness and other problems would be faced, dealt with, and changed, all because people became followers of Jesus Christ.

    With this thought in mind, we are challenging each Christian to get involved in sharing their faith.  We put the following challenged before you:

• Attend church regularly.  Once a quarter we will have a series designed to help us learn to be better witnesses or that can be used to invite others for a practical discussion on who Christ is and what he can do for us.
• Save money.  We are encouraging each family to have a jar or box in which they place disposable income that will be used for evangelism within the family.  From this box would come funds to buy a Christian book for an unbeliever, to send an un-churched child to a Christian camp, to take another family out for a meal or a picnic to build relationships for the Kingdom of God.
• Each quarter we will have an offering for a special project.  Monies collected over the quarter and not spent on evangelism can be used to fund a larger project relating to outreach.
• Invite un-churched to special events.  The suppers, concerts, special meetings, Sunday services, small groups are all windows through which God’s light can come.
• Invite un-churched to special events.  The suppers, concerts, special meetings, Sunday services, small groups are all windows through which God’s light can come.
• Learn how to lead a person to Christ.  Every Christian should know what to say if someone said, “I want to become a Christian.  What do I do?”
• Encourage baptism.  We have set a goal for 40 people to be baptized.  Those who profess faith in Jesus Christ are commanded by Jesus to be baptized and then taught to obey all that he has commanded them (Matt. 28:19-20).   We will hold baptisms whenever needed, but at least once a quarter to meet the needs of those who accept Christ.
• Pray for the lost.  We have to admit our indifference to those without Christ.  We have to admit our reluctance to participate in evangelism.  One reason is that we may have an unclear picture of what evangelism is.  But a second is that we need to have our own hearts changed.  This begins with prayer.  Prayer for the lost.  Prayer for ourselves.  We need to pray.