McMinnville Seventh-day Adventist Church

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A Church with a Purpose

Have you ever asked yourself the question, “Why do I exist?” or “What am I here for?” These questions pose the question of purpose. When people don’t feel a sense of purpose, they tend to experience life as boring, useless, and not worth much. Such thoughts can lead to serious depression, even psychosis, and eventual destruction.

Paul says, “So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing.” (1 Corinthians 9:26 NLT) Have you noticed how a person can change when purpose enters his or her life? A promotion at work with new goals and challenges. A new love in a young man or maiden’s life. A challenge to reach a goal, or complete a project. If this can happen to an individual, can this also happen to a church?

Rick Warren, in his book The Purpose Driven Church, says, “Absolutely nothing will revitalize a discouraged church faster than rediscovering its purpose.” (p. 81) How does a church become intentional and focused in what it does? What drives a healthy church? Is it driven by tradition, by personality, by finances, programs, buildings, events, by the pastor, or a small group of elders? Where does it find its focus? In the Bible? In Jesus? In my interpretation of the “correct truth?”

The Bible says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Proverbs 29:18 KJV) A church without a purpose and mission eventually becomes a museum piece of yesterday’s traditions. (Warren, p. 87) People are attracted to people who have direction and purpose in life. So too, churches attract people when they have a healthy intentional ministry that meets the relevant needs of people who seek some form of stability and direction in their own chaotic lives.

I would like to invite you to join me as we seek to discover and revive our God-given purpose for our church here in McMinnville. We plan to meet on Sabbath evening, August 10, at 5:30 p.m. It will be an inspirational time of prayer and seeking direction from God. My prayer is that we as a church will discover the true reason for our existence, and what that one purpose is that God is calling us to. God’s promise to Israel was, “And I will give them one heart and one purpose: to worship me.” (Jeremiah 32:39 NLT)

- Pastor Jerry Joubert