Dear Fearless Follower!
We talk a lot about transformation around here. When you boil it all down, the mark of a healthy church is that the people who make it up are changing to be more like Jesus. Such transformation takes courage, which is why we identify ourselves as Fearless Followers.
The deeper truth about transformation is it only comes about through a partnership with God. It follows a pattern where God initiates and we respond. For instance, in the Colossians passage quoted below, we notice that God initiates by raising us with Christ and hiding us in Christ – these are statements about our identity in Christ. It is up to us to set our hearts and minds on the things above. In other words, it is up to us to prioritize our relationship with God and to pursue his agenda in the world. As we respond to God, through his empowerment, we change more and more to be like Jesus.
What we know in a practical way as transformation really comes down to a personal day-to-day decision to follow Jesus: Will I take time to talk to him? Will I read his word? Will I treat a difficult person with grace? Will I share love and truth with someone who doesn’t know Jesus? Along with an individual focus, it is also a corporate commitment to practice certain rhythms in community like meeting for worship and teaching, sharing our lives in group settings, and pursuing ministry together.
Every year we take a survey in our Fearless Churches to discover how transformation is happening in our churches. While completely measuring transformation is probably impossible, there are certain ways we can see how it is happening. We have given some of the results of our latest survey (taken a month ago) on the following page.
We are deeply aware that transformation in our churches and communities is a team effort. It is all of us committing to Jesus, serving each other, giving with generosity, and reaching beyond our walls in word and deed that our Fearless Churches and our communities change. We are so thankful to be part of a family of churches that deeply desires to Follow Jesus and Fearlessly Make Him Known.
Peace,
P.S. Thank you for being generous to Ridge Point; our fiscal year is coming to an end. Would you consider a special gift to help us reach our goal of raising $416,000 by June 30th?
You have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3: 1-4
