RevWrites- March 28

Today is the last Sunday for the Lewis’ at Northmead and Winston Hills Anglican Churches.

As we leave we are filled with enormous gratitude to God for all the joy and growth we’ve had among you over the last 6 years. We have learnt so much among you in that time. From our families we’ve learnt perseverance and faithfulness in the face of busy stressful lives. From our seniors we’ve learnt a genuine humility that puts the needs of others before their own. From our children and youth we’ve learnt a passion to act and change to be like Jesus. From our Young Adults we’ve learnt a delight and joy in serving Jesus together. It’s not like we weren’t aware of these things before, but seeing them displayed in your lives has given us great encouragement.

So our parting encouragement to you all is to keep on loving and serving Jesus together. I know this sounds obvious but in Sydney you (along with all other churches) will be under constant pressure not to do this.

Firstly, our culture will gently but mercilessly push you to settle for a lukewarm Christianity. We’re all so busy and stressed just doing life in Sydney that without realising we have less and less time and passion for Jesus.

Secondly, under that kind of pressure the temptation will be to circle the wagons and protect what we already have. So we work hard at maintaining ministries and structures that serve Christians but we become increasingly irrelevant in our community. They are able to do life without every seeing the need for Jesus.

These challenges require you to be bound together in prayer and service of our community. These challenges require you to take bigger risks and make more exciting mistakes than ever before. The perilous state of lost and the glory of Jesus invites and demands no less!

James, Jane, Jack and Harry