Yesterday evening I spoke at the city council meeting to share with the city leaders just how badly I want our church to begin making a difference in this community.  Thought you might enjoy reading what I shared.

                                                                    City Council Meeting
My name is Dean Herman and I’m the pastor of 5 Point Fellowship located in the Colony Theater.  We are a church plant and have spent the past three years in the Colony.  During the past month I’ve met with the mayor, chief of police and city administrator.  It was suggested that I come and speak to all of you this evening also. 
Please understand I’m not asking anything from any of you.  All I want is for you to understand my heart in making a difference in this community.  
 
I want to read a few verses of scripture very quickly.  This comes form the gospel of John and Jesus is just about to be taken captive and crucified.  In the previous chapters you will find Jesus preparing his disciples for what is about to happen.  In chapter 17 Jesus prays for himself, his disciples and for all his believers.  (read from here)

John 17:20-23
"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, [21] that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. [22] I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: [23] I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”

I believe it is past time that we continue praying for Jesus to answer our prayers and we begin to be the answer to his. 

[20] "My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,

So many times churches open their doors and ask people to come in, including ourselves.  But Jesus never said wait and ask people to come.  He told us to go.  The word go appears 1,352 times in the Bible.  I want to GO.  I want to begin to show people the love of Jesus and not just talk about it.  I’m tired of fighting with other churches and church people about church problems.  I want to show people Jesus loves them so they can believe in his message.  That was Jesus prayer for me and all his children.

I’m just not sure how to do this.  I’m asking for suggestions.  Here are a few we've thought of:
1. 4th of July – coordinating with city officials
2. Begin taking people from Bi-Lo to Ingles and give them a ride back
3. Begin some kind of help for the thousands of men addicted to porn
4. Want to create some type of a teen center to provide a safe environment for our teens.  Number one time kids are getting pregnant is from 3:00 – 5:00.
5. Free events for the families
6. Marriage enrichment for the community not just the church people
ALL FREE

Mark 2:17
On hearing this, Jesus said to them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners."