Minute for Mission: Evangelism Sunday
On an invitation to “fill in and do chapel,” outreach was born and friendships were formed between a community agency looking for support and a church looking to make a difference.
It happened as C. N. Jenkins Memorial Presbyterian Church “filled in” as worship participants and leaders at the Thursday night service of the Charlotte Rescue Mission-Rebound. A small group of dedicated Bible study members, accompanied by their pastor, the Rev. Dr. Jerry L. Cannon, worshiped with a group of men who started out as strangers but quickly became friends. That monthly worship experience has continued for fourteen years. It was a divine pairing for C. N. Jenkins and the Charlotte Rescue Mission-Rebound.
Founded in 1938, the Charlotte Rescue Mission has a long history of reaching out to the homeless and to those battling addictions. Today, the mission provides an intensive drug and alcohol recovery program to homeless, or about to become homeless, men and women. The goal is to address the spiritual, mental, physical, emotional, social and vocational issues of addiction with every person and return them to society as contributing members.
C. N. Jenkins Memorial has expanded from being a partner in the Thursday night worship to being a home church for many of the clients of Rebound. The men from Rebound have become active members in the church where they serve as greeters, ushers, choir members, and deacons. Through its recovery ministry, the church provides home group support within the Alcohol Anonymous and Narcotic Anonymous groups that meet there. This outreach has pushed C. N. Jenkins Memorial to live out the calling of the great commandment (Mark 12:28–34).
—The Rev. Dr. Jerry L. Cannon, senior pastor, C. N. Jenkins Memorial Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, North Carolina
Dear Lord, as your Word instructs us to go, teach, and baptize, we pray that we will always be available to “fill in” when called upon and to befriend all persons in your name. We praise you for your transforming power that can change the inner spirit that was previously led by outside circumstances. We pray for release from addiction and addictive behavior. In Christ’s name. Amen.
Esth. 7:1–6, 9–10; 9:20–22
Live Into Hope
PH 332
Ps. 124
When Israel Was in Egypt’s Land
PH 334
James 5:13–20
O Lord, Hear My Prayer
STF 2200
Lord, Listen to Your Children Praying
STF 2193
Mark 9:38–50
Where Cross the Crowded Ways of Life
PH 408, HB 507, WB 642
Daily Lectionary
Ps. 108, 150 Ps. 66, 23
2 Kings 17:1–18
Acts 9:36–43; Luke 5:1–11 |
