"A Step in Faith"
 

I feel very blessed that our Trinity church was chosen to be one of two churches in our area to benefit from a program such as MCCI (Missional Church Consultation Initiative).  What an honor for our Bishop to see that kind of potential for our church and its membership.  I think that in itself shows a pattern of faithfulness throughout the years for its history and for those who have gone before us and have set the path that we are on.
 
Although I was not a part of the first group of individuals that were introduced to the program, I did attend the Saturday when it was offered at Trinity. I truly wished more of you could have been there. We were given so much information about what the future could become for not only our church, our families, but for our community.    I began to see and feel a vision forming in MY mind of days ahead that could be described in some familiar words as “Glory Days” for Trinity United Methodist Church.   It was exciting! 
 
I came to Trinity from a very large church that closed this year.  So I speak from personal experience when I say that the church I grew up in was not a church that had vision.   I would be confident in saying that  sometime in the history of that church their leaders truly had vision but somewhere along the journey vision was left behind. 
 
An example was dramatized that Saturday through this simple illustration-
                                                Of a car with (4) passengers
 
VISION --   driving-in control (Where should we go?)
RELATIONSHIP-front seat passenger (Whom should we bring to church?)
PROGRAM- back seat (How will we get there?)
MANAGEMENT – back seat  (What should we avoid?) 
 
This would be a church in operation.  However what CAN happen “VISION” gets totally pushed out of the drivers’ seat.  The others move up. Eventually MANAGEMENT takes control of the wheel. VISION is lost.  Perhaps pushed total  into the trunk.   A church can die without VISION.     
 
PROVERBS 29:18 KJV , “Where there is no vision the people perish”.
 
This summer several groups were in a book studies, one by Joyce Meyers, “Battlefield of the Mind”.   The above  scripture taken from Chapter 16, “My future is determined by my past and my present.”  In this chapter God’s chosen people had no positive vision for their lives –no dreams.  They did not know how to see with the “eye of faith” .    They were living in “Wilderness Mentality”.   Was it another coincident that we moved on to “Glory Days” after that, by Max Lucado?  I think not.   I feel that the Lord was preparing us for this moment.  I feel that there are no such things as coincidences when it comes to God’s word and His message to us.  God’s people began to cross the River Jordan.
 
Quote:  It was the smallest of steps, but with God the smallest step of faith can activate the mightiest of miracles.  As they touched the water, the flow stopped as if someone had shut off the water main.  All Israel crossed over on dry ground.   God’s plan was simple.  He said ‘trust me’.
 
In my heart of hearts He is letting us know that the time is now to move forward with faith.  This has ALWAYS  been our message for Trinity   “Forward by Faith”.
 
I will be voting YES   

by Gayle Lawrence