A Letter From Our New Coordinator for Evangelism
Greetings in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ!
I am writing to you to introduce myself as the new Coordinator for Evangelism for the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A). I have a strong sense of call for this new position, as I look forward to serving you and the church. I believe that the church is the hope of the world. Even though our ministry is filled with beautiful and difficult moments, the grace of God in Jesus Christ continues to change lives and the course of creation.
I have served the church as a local pastor for almost a quarter of a century. For the past 16 years, as founding pastor of Macland Presbyterian Church, I was in a church that experienced growth. We learned together how to share our faith and reach a community for Christ. My heart’s desire is to help others know the fullness of life that comes in a relationship with Christ. I believe churches are hungry for evangelism, but the misconceptions about the “e-word” continue to block any real movement into the realm of faith-sharing. Evangelism is never about forcing our beliefs on others; it’s about communicating the story that has changed our lives.
This story is communicated through our actions and our words. Our social witness is evangelism. When we are in our communities confronting racism, feeding the hungry, working for peace, and relieving suffering, we have the opportunity to share with others about the faith that has changed us and set us free, making us a little more alive, a little less afraid. I can think of nothing better to which to give our lives.
I hope to be able to serve you in ways that will help local churches aid their members in claiming and reclaiming their own stories of transformation. I believe that when we own these stories, we naturally begin to live in ways that release us to live into our stories of faith and share them with others. Therefore, evangelism is linked to every part of our faith experience.
Please let me know how I can help you in your ministry. I look forward to speaking with you in the near future.
Grace,
Ray G. Jones III
Ray can be reached via email at: ray.jones@pcusa.org or by telephone: 1-888-728-7228, ext. 5280
ray….thanks for your willingness to answer this call to serve the larger church! blessings as you transition and discern a new vision for your work! pd
Comment by pam driesell — May 15, 2009 @ 12:40 pm
sounds like the same old clap trap from the Presbyterian establishment. More membership losses coming….
Comment by Lance — May 16, 2009 @ 9:39 am
Ray,
Could you explain the difference between your office and the Office of International Evangelism? Thanks.
Comment by Glen — May 16, 2009 @ 1:31 pm
Ray….I am a PCUSA pastor and have been ordained for 26 years. Evangelism is at the top of my list of Spiritual gifts. Seeing men, women and children come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior gets me out of bed in the morning. The church I am pastoring on Martha’s Vineyard is putting on Inspiration Weekend (see the website for the event)
http://www.intouch.org/site/c.cnKBIPNuEoG/b.5056859/k.6845/Marthas_Vineyard_Inspiration_Weekend.htm
We are boldly praying for God to move on this island and throughout New England…that many would come to know Christ in a personal way and then live a life of holiness. We would appreciate your prayers
Jeff Winter
Comment by Jeff Winter — May 18, 2009 @ 8:51 am
Ray-
First let me say congratulations on your post. I pray God will bless your ministry and that many lives will be changed as a result of Christ working through you and those whom you influence.
Second let me say that I am not a “watchblogger,” looking for an opportunity to argue. I hope my comments will be read in the context of brotherly concern.
That being said, I’d like to say that I am concerned about one of your opening statements. You write “I believe that the church is the hope of the world.” I’d encourage you to rethink that statement. I hope, as Coordinator of Evangelism, that you understand no one should put their hope in the Church. We are only called to place all our hope and trust in the Lord Jesus. This is the foundational principle of any evangelistic effort and is central to God’s mission in the world. The message of the cross is that without it we have no hope!
Do you think it might be more accurate to say that Christ is the hope of the world, that the Church is the carrier of the good news about him, and that we together display the power of the Gospel in our common life?
Chris
Comment by Chris in RVA — May 18, 2009 @ 10:07 am
[...] a moment to read a letter from Ray Jones, our new Coordinator for Evangelism. Ray’s blog can be found [...]
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