Each One Reaching One

The thirty seven churches which make up the Transylvania Baptist Association have been led of the Lord to reach, baptize and begin discipling 1,000 people in our area over the next year. This is a worthy goal but the fact is we have never come close to this number as we usually have around 200 baptisms in the  Association each year. Then I think about Brevard Community Church and the number of attendees we have each week. We usually average over 1,000 people each week with the majority of us professing to be Christ-followers. This causes me to re-think the goal; that it should be not 1,000 for the Association but 1,000 for Brevard Community Church.

Is that realistic? Is it possible that BCC could actually see 1000 lives changed by the "Gospel, which is the Power of God unto salvation to everyone that believes" (Rom. 1:16)? We all know that "nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37) but we also know if we continue along in our current patterns it will not happen. I just heard a statistic that less than 5% of people who trust Christ today are led to Him by someone in "vocational ministry"; only .5% will trust Him at an event; but over 90% are led to Him by someone they have a relationship with. So if we are counting on the pastoral staff or events we put on to reach our area it probably ain't gonna happen. 

But what if each one of us determined in our heart to reach just one person with the Gospel this year?  What if everyone of us (1000?) began to fervently and consistently pray for one person we can connect with?  Do we believe God, "Who desires that no one should perish, but that all would come to repentance" (2 Pet. 3:9) will connect us with someone that He is drawing to Himself? I believe He will.  When He does, we must be ready to: Get Connected with them, Get them to God, Get them to Lostness, Get them to the Gospel and Get them to a point of decision. Then when they do believe, we must be willing to lead them through the disciple making process. If we do this, "each one reaching one", 1000 new Christ-followers becomes a realistic goal. 

How many of you will join me in this journey for His Glory?

-Alan Perry
Missions Pastor

F.E.A.R.

Fear: An unpleasant, often strong emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous or a threat.

While laying in bed one night I learned that fear is a strong motivator. I was just drifting off to sleep and out of the corner of my eye I saw something move. I knew the doors were locked and no one else was supposed to be in our room. I immediately yelled in my biggest man voice (actually more like a scream of total panic) and jumped up ready to face the intruder (and run past him out the door with wife and kids in hand). Turns out the air condition had kicked on and what I thought was an intruder was just a curtain blowing in the wind. My wife got a good laugh out of it and so did I. But for that split second my belief that an intruder poised an imminent threat to my family took me over and caused me to react.

I learned that when fear gets a hold of you it drives everything. Your thinking, your decisions, and your actions all change when you’re afraid of something.  At the root of fear is a belief that imminent danger is lurking around the corner and that you had better do something about it. When I saw what I thought was a man standing in our room my adrenaline kicked in and the fight or flight response took over until my sense of danger was gone (then humiliation kicked in!)

 Fear is not a bad thing at all. On the contrary, it’s a God-given emotion that is intended for our good. Fear when based on Truth can save your life. But when fear is based on a belief that is distorted by deceit and sin, it can destroy it as well.

I think a lot of us today are fearful (full of fear). Why shouldn’t we be? We are bombarded by evil day in and day out. Just turn on the news and you will see story after story of murder, corruption, and disaster. America today is a fearful place. We’re afraid of losing our jobs, losing our homes, losing our families. We are afraid to send our children to school or to let them go to the movie theater. We are afraid of what the government might do (or not do). Most of all I think we are afraid that we are not going to be ready if things go from bad to worse.

Our belief in the next crazy gunman, the next economic depression, the next fiscal cliff, the next unconstitutional law or corrupt political leader is motivating our thinking, our decisions, and our actions. That’s why you see TV shows like “Doomsday Preppers” or you get heated nationwide debates about gun control or you see things like the fiscal cliff or the Petraeus affair making headlines for weeks. These things are important and the danger is real but aren’t we missing something?

What about our belief in the all powerful, all knowing, totally sovereign, Holy, just, merciful, loving God of the universe?  Where has the good fear of our Great God gone in the midst of all the other stuff? Why is that fear not motivating our thinking, our decisions, and our actions first and foremost? Psalm 111:10 says “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” 

Healthy fear of God is the beginning of healthy thinking, healthy decisions, and healthy actions. So when dealing with our fears let’s remember to start with the fear of God and then work out what we should think, decide and do in light of who He is and what He says. “A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever”.

What America needs more than gun control, “Preppers” or new economic policy is for Christ followers to live like we actually know and follow Christ. We need people who understand who God is and obey what He says. We need people who are not overcome by evil but “overcome evil with Good.” (Romans 12:21). A good understanding of God is evidenced by a healthy fear of sin and obedience to His word. We need to be the voice of truth among our culture today proclaiming to them the Truth of the Gospel. America is afraid of the wrong things. We need to fear God so we will turn from our sin and accept His Son as payment for them. Why?  Because even when the end of our lives, our country and even the world does come crashing down one thing will remain unchanged; His praise will ring out forever.

“The conclusion, when all has been heard is; fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. For God will bring every act to judgment, everything which is hidden, whether good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. This imminent danger of God’s judgment is real for everyone everywhere. Therefore everyone needs to know about the only way we can have peace with God and forgiveness of sin. First let’s live like we revere (good fear) Him by keeping His commandments. Then let’s go tell the world about our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ who is the answer to the fear they live in.  God’s love and forgiveness brings real peace to our lives; “Perfect love drives out all fear” 1^st John 4:18. Let’s start leveraging everything in our lives to make disciples who make disciples who make disciples. If we do that together we will change our country and our world for the Glory of God, one person at a time.

Thankfully in Grace,

Shannon Compton
BCC Life Groups Pastor

Passion 2013

Today I am on my way my back from the Passion Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference is led by Louie Giglio, Chris Tomlin, John Piper, and Francis Chan to name a few. There were over 60,000 college students and high school seniors. The vision for Passion is for it to be more than just music and more than just a fun event. The hope is to focus and inspire this generation of students to live with passion for Jesus and His fame. This is based on Isaiah 26:8: "Yes, Lord , walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts."

For more information on the passion movement check out www268generation.com

What is fun for me as a high school pastor is I get to catch up with former students that are now in college. The transition into college for students can be challenging for many students and Passion is a great time to catch up with them. I was reminded of several things while I was on this trip.

First, I am not getting any younger. On this trip I asked a college student if they had ever heard of Alanis Morissette a musician from the 90's. The answer of no was a realization I am not getting any younger.

The most important thing I was reminded of on this trip is I couldn't be more excited about what God is doing among this generation of students. Many people would say they are concerned about the state of our country and even the state of the American church. That they are both falling apart. This may be true in some instances but I wanted you to see that there is hope. That hope is Jesus changing lives and igniting a fire in a generation of students.

Here are a few thoughts they shared with me about their experience at Passion:

"I think I saw the importance of community and how God in Himself is community. Even if it's uncomfortable or you don't want it. And that if we aren't experiencing God at the moment, it's probably because we aren't making disciples. And without this community, the world won't see God. Which for me tied into the freedom issues. And wanting to help free those around the world spiritually, emotionally, and physically."

Carmen Limerick

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"This year at passion we talked endlessly about the slavery that is prevalent in the world. Something that spoke to me, though, is the prevalence of spiritual bondage. Over the course of the week, I felt God calling me to go out to my college campus and reach out to release fellow peers from spiritual bondage."

Robert Garren

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"This year was my third year attending Passion. Having known what to expect in some aspects of Passion, God still managed to blow my mind. Last year God spoke to my heart and told me to seek those that don't know Him. Learning that there are people throughout the globe that have no idea that Jesus was sent to die for them, it broke my heart (and still does). Just imagining the loss I would be feeling throughout my years if I didn't know God exists, makes me numb. I rejoice in the fact that I know God. I know that He loves me. I know He cares for me. I know He wants me to be joyful in Him. Over the past year, since Passion 2012 I have seemed to run away from what God wanted me to do. I came up with excuses. I placed worldly things first and looking back I was miserable. Passion 2013 has taught me that I have been given an opportunity that most people do not chase. I've learned that I should live my life for God. I have learned that experiencing God is what I should thrive for. It's the only way that I will ever be happy. I shouldn't let anyone or anything hold me back. One of the speakers, Francis Chan said it best, "If you really want to experience God, go and make disciples." God has clearly spoken this to my heart and I commit my life to making His name known."
Karla Allen

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Passion 2013 taught me that God can do immeasurably more, in the lives of individuals, in groups of people, and across nations. Individually God loves you no matter what you do because even if you are faithless he is faithful, God represents community within himself through God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit and as a Christian we are called to be in community and coexisting with others. Across nations he calls us to come together and embrace his suffering to take stands for him, such as working together in movements to free 27 million slaves or just going out and making disciples.
Hannah Bingle

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This generation of students isn't the church of the future...they are the church of today. It excites me to see their passion and love for Jesus. Their passion inspired me this week and my prayer is that it does the same for you.