Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 248 BOCNEWS.com MARCH 2017 How To Be Happy When Someone Leaves Your Church As I was reading this article by Mark Altogge, It begin to make me think about my ministry and some of my pastor friends. So as I was reading this article, it impressed upon me to share this with my fellow laborers in the field of pastoring. Not long ago, I called a woman in our church because I hadn’t seen her in a while and wanted to see how she was doing. She said her sister had gotten saved a few months back and asked her if she’d go to the local Assembly of God church, The Summit, with her. So she’d been going there, along with her husband, who never came to our church much, and he really liked the Summit and was going every Sunday. And her kids loved it there as well. Then she said, “Every Sunday I just feel so guilty for not coming to our church.” Are you kidding?” I said. “I am so glad that you are attending there. And especially that your husband and your children like it. That’s wonderful. Do not feel guilty for one second. All the churches in our city are on the same team .I pray that they are preach- ing Jesus Christ and him crucified. There’s really only one church--and that’s Jesus’ church. I only want you to be where Jesus wants you and where you will flourish. So, don’t feel guilty at all. And know that any time you’d want to visit here you would be completely welcome.” She was so relieved. I felt bad that she’d struggled with guilt for not com- ing here. And I was glad I could genu- inely rejoice that she was going some- where else. Because years ago, I would not have rejoiced. In my arrogance, in the early years of our church I would have thought we were the “best” church in town. Oh, we weren’t the only church in town, but we were just a little bit better than everyone else. We were more like the New Testament church than all those “traditional” churches. Our worship was more pas- sionate. Our doctrine was more accu- rate. Why would anyone want to go somewhere else? The Lord’s patience and forbearance with stupid and arro- gant believers (and pastors) is incred- ible. I know, because I’m living proof. Back then, if I heard a new church was starting in town I’d think, “What do we need another church for? We’re here. People should come here. We don’t need another church.” I viewed other churches as competitors. If peo- ple went to those churches, there’d be less people to come to our church. I’m so glad God rescued me from that ignorant, conceited mindset. Over the years, Jesus somehow got it through my thick skull that--amaz- ingly, as it says in the Bible--there is ONE church. One body, one Spirit, one faith. As it says in Ephesians: There is one body and one Spirit- -just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call--one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4–6 Now I regularly tell people that all the churches that preach the gospel in our city are on the same team. There’s no competition. When another church prospers, I rejoice in God’s grace to them. Our church isn’t the best church in town. Other churches will reach people that we would never reach. I can learn from other pastors and other churches. There are guys leading other churches who are far more astute in the Word than I am. There are more exciting and dynamic worship teams than we have. There are churches who are reaching more people and doing more in missions work than we are. I want to rejoice when God blesses other churches. And as for new churches being planted or started here, the more the merrier. We have thousands of lost people in our area. We could use doz- ens more churches. There’s enough unsaved people to fill them all. And I pray the Lord will do that. I agree with this pastor, I remem- ber when I was an inspector on the Denver Fire Dept. I had to sign off on new business and I was always sign- ing off on new bars, liquor stores and night clubs. It was as if they were say- ing the "more the merrier." And also I found out there is 131,000,000 million people, born in the world each year. 67,000 born in Colo., each year. And everyone of them is born a sinner and needs a relationship with God and a church home, as Acts says - “Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Acts 2:38 (KJV). As a pastor I am the Shepard of souls. I am always praying that the kingdom of God will increase and the children of God are blessed. This is a task no lone church or pastor can do. We are the body of Christ, meaning there are many parts (churches) that makes up that one body, that are needed to ensure souls are saved and people are delivered and set free from powers of the enemy. Now Faith can't do alone, no one church can so alone, something every pastor I'm sure realizes. I thank God for the calling of pastoring. A task that isn't always easy. But my heart is always blessed and full when I see souls com- ing to Christ. This is one of my happi- est moments. My fellow Pastors and friends "Something good is going happen to you. Leon Emerson TESTIMONY By Apostle Leon M Emerson