Mark 16: 15 He said to them, "Go throughout the whole world and preach the gospel to all people.
Here’s a memory from the past that continues to impact me today. Lynnette and I were at the Ocala movie theater and as we sat waiting for the movie to start, memories began flooding through my mind. It was not the movie we were watching but instead it was recalling the excitement of seeing this theater become a church. When I first discovered The Church at the Springs, they were preparing to become “portable”. In fact, the first time I attended was the first day they held services at the Hollywood 16 Theater. Imagine sitting in a rocking chair seat with my Diet Coke to give praise, worship, and learn a life lesson. It was a great new experience. At first it was great getting to know the Lord again but at a movie theater? Yet it was not very long before I couldn’t be just a spectator.
Waiting for the movie to start I remembered the “A Team”? This was a group of people who helped each week by opening storage crates, setting up equipment, running the power lines, practicing with video and slides, previewing the music, arranging the toys in other sections of the theater, setting up tables in the entry way, and preparing the literature for distribution.
Then I thought about the greeters! Those were the people who gave the first impression of our church to visitors. The most exciting task of the day was sometimes the 15 to 30 minute breakdown after church was over. The theater opened for regular business by noon, so if the Pastor talked too long, the “A Team” became the “Super A Team” by getting everything packed, cleaned, and hauled off to storage before they opened.
Funny how waiting on a movie to begin can bring back wonderful memories of a church family united for one purpose. Reaching those far from God! We need to remember that our purpose of reaching those far from God has not changed over the years. The reality is that there are numerous “A Teams” at work each day. They may not be called that but they are all focused on the same goal.
Just as it was back in 1998! No matter where you may be located in the world, you have the obligation to do what Jesus tells us in Mark 16. Not every situation will be the same because the needs of people are different so we just need to find out what it is that we can do to encourage people to have a personal relationship with the Lord.
We will find that for most people it can be just meeting their needs and to share with them that God really loves them, no matter what they have done. The most important part is to not limit where and how God works. You never know, you may even find God in a movie theater.
Do not sit on the sidelines any more but get on the “A” Team and give your life away. It will be the greatest memory you’ll ever know!
