The Hospitality of the Community of Faith

by Fahed Abu-Akel

I am grateful for the gift from God to have been elected to serve the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) as Moderator of the 214th General Assembly. I intend throughout this year to continually challenge our denomination to seek spiritual renewal, unity in the midst of our diversity, and a renewed emphasis on mission. I have faith that if each of us-members, deacons, elders, and pastors-engages in daily prayer for our own spiritual renewal and the renewal of this church, God will answer our prayers and we will see the fresh wind of the Spirit blow across this denomination. I also have faith that when we join in the common cause of seeking spiritual renewal and fulfillment of the Great Commission by a renewed emphasis on mission, we will develop a new understanding of what it means to be the church-what it means to be one in Christ.

For the last two months, I have been traveling and experiencing the love and hospitality of our congregations. From Emmanuel Presbyterian, a historic downtown church in Los Angeles, to Riverside Presbyterian in Jacksonville, Florida, I have witnessed congregations engaging in ministries that seek to make the gospel relevant to the lives of those they serve.

As I visited the New Wilmington Missionary Conference in Pennsylvania, I saw firsthand how God is already answering our prayers for a renewed emphasis on mission. This conference regularly draws nearly 1,000 people, sixty percent of whom are high school and college students. How exciting to see our young people focusing on and responding to the call of God for ministry and mission!

Finally, and most important, I challenge each of us-all 2.5 million members of us-to invite at least one new person to come to church between now and next May. It is my dream that we will seek to walk with those we invite, engaging them in a life of discipleship, praying with and for them, studying the scripture with them, and extending to them the hospitality of the community of faith.

Salaam/Peace of Christ be with you.

The Reverend Dr. Fahed Abu-Akel
Moderator of the 214th General Assembly (2002) of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)