Crazy Faith – Diversity and Unity
Church this past Sunday (Aug 24) was so unlike Church on this earth. It was much more like heaven.
It was a Sunday worship experience at Christ Fellowship that I doubt I’ll ever forget. Just what was so special about the fourth Sunday of Christ Fellowship’s launch?
As we sat in our living room for fellowship, communion, Bible Study, prayer for Memphis, and worship I saw something that I rarely see in churches in the South.
I looked around and saw a diversity which oddly enough, proportionally reflected the demographics of our divided and demarcated city.
It’s appropriate that we began with an explanation of our unifying core value – “God’s Kind of Love!” It’s the kind of love that breaks down walls and sooths hardened wounds, heals broken hearts and lives.
What does it say about diversity when the first testimony was from a friend named Pancho, who set the tone of transparency. He used his own story to point to our Amazing God who takes broken lives and fills them with His Grace.
Pastor Kelvin Bowen hit us all with a powerful message some of us nicknamed, “Crazy Faith!” That’s what he preached – faith that is followed by feet to the ground. Feet of obedience and a lifestyle of trust and confidence in our Savior.
Prayer, followed communion, and we thought it was time to break up for more cake and coffee and a quick trip back to our homes. But it didn’t end there.
A wife jumped in as we were about to break up, “I’ve got something to share.”
Her step-son followed, “I’ve got something to share. I grew up in a single parent family but was really raised by my grandparents. But I want to tell you what God has done…“
And then his Dad jumped in, “My story is like Pancho’s. I’m just amazed at what God did to rescue me…and to sit here listening to wife and my son testify to what God has done. I’m just…”
One story followed the next – diverse people, united in Christ, broken physically and spiritually. All are being made whole by crazy faith and each has been saved by abundant grace.
So much for church as usual. Thank you Jesus. Be honored and glorified by your diverse body practicing crazy faith, united by Jesus’ love.
Next week, we won’t be meeting at the Morris’ home. The fifth Sunday of August is a Celebration Sunday for those who are available we will join our sponsor church at One Faith Fellowship for worship.
Choose One Series @ Christ Fellowship (Aug 10)
We’re off to a great start!
Please continue to pray for God’s work in our midst. Pray that God will build the right team to multiply His work through us.
In addition to studying Hebrews, I’ve been reading T.W. Hunt’s Bible study, The Life-Changing Power of Prayer. I’m learning that critical to prayer is crying out to God.
We become free in Christ as we learn to cry out to him, truly seeking His will.
We can pray for healing, knowing that His will, is best, whether deliverance comes now or in heaven.
We can pray for safety, but temporal safety is nothing compared to “security.”
I am praying for God’s guidance in connecting with the community – friends and neighbors – to seek to impact for Christ. After Cindy and I prayed yesterday about that very thing, the Lord put three different people in our path or on our hearts.
Are you praying for God to open your doors and shed light on your path, to show you whom to touch, whom to invite, and with whom to share a story?
There is great freedom in praying, seeking and trusting God with His will in our lives.
This Sunday we will have a season of prayer for the new church plant. Come asking God to work in our midst.
Last week we looked at Hebrews 1 – 2:4 – “One Son of God.”
This Sunday we’ll examine “One Perfect Sacrifice,” from Hebrews 2 and 3. Read up and let’s see what God tells us from his Word.
Can’t wait to see you on Sunday. Feel free to bring a friend.
That All May Hear
Mark Morris
Christ Fellowship of Memphis
www.christmemphis.com
The Latest @ Christ Fellowship (aug 1)
August 1
CFM – Diversely connected, mission-ally distinct, culturally engaged
The past six months have been days of sweet refining for Cindy and me. As you know, Cindy’s battle with Multiple Myeloma moved us temporarily to Nashville, which meant we had to suspend our summer involvement with the new church start in Memphis.
Steve Moses spent the summer mentoring eight mission interns. He just returned this week from a great trip to Turkey; we will hear a report from some of his interns this Sunday.
It’s a good time now to kick in gear this new church under a new name with a renewed commitment to impact the City and the World.
We begin this Sunday with a season of prayer for the new church plant. Not only will we hear from the Mission Interns and Pastor Kelvin Bowen, we will also start a study of the book of Hebrews, share a meal and fellowship together.
It’s been a while since we all met, so let me summarize a few things that have happened over the summer.
1. New Name - Our new name is Christ Fellowship of Memphis. This comes with a new website www.christmemphis.com.
2. New Partnership - Steve and I saw a long-time friendship turn into a partnership with Christ Community Church, which is a network of churches working together to transform part of the city of Memphis. We took the summer to worship with them and learn about the awesome way in which their network of churches has been doing incarnational ministry in Binghamton.
3. New Schedule in August - We decided to come back together in the fall in a new way. See the schedule below. We begin this Sunday, August 3 gathering for prayer and study of God’s word in the Morris’ home at 18 W. Viking Dr, in Cordova.
4. Old Friend - I want to introduce you to an old friend of mine – Pastor Kelvin Bowen, who is also The Executive Vice President of Memphis Athletic Ministries. Kelvin and I referee basketball together – I’ve been observing his character and his witness for the past decade. This Sunday I want you to meet Kelvin, his wonderful wife and his ministry. We’re praying for God to speak to us regarding an ongoing partnership with Kelvin.
5. Renewed Spirit – Our family’s personal journey this year has been one of suffering and refining. God has drawn Cindy and me closer to Jesus and strengthened our dependence upon God. What lessons has God been teaching you?
Aug-Sept Schedule
Weekly Worship
August 3, 10, 24
10 am Sundays Home Fellowships (1st, 2nd, 4th Sunday)
August 17 Celebration with Christ Community at SOS (3rd Sunday)
August 31 Celebration with One Faith Fellowship (5th Sunday)
Weekly Discipleship, Prayer, Encouragement
Enjoy time with someone or several people from the fellowship outside of our weekly gathering.
Fall Theme ONE: From Religion to Relationship
(A Study from Hebrews)
Hebrews is a penetrating study that draws out a theme of ONE: One priest, One Lord, One (more on Sunday). The audience to whom Hebrews was written had religiosity mastered. What they, and we need to learn is that Christ came to provide an intimate relationship.
August 6th @ Salvation Army 6:30
Why meet at Salvation Army this Wednesday? Because you will want to see and experience what the Moses’ and the Morris’ experienced the past two weeks. Come meet Kelvin and his friends. Come casual. Bring your friends and family. Enjoy fellowship and interacting. The Salvation Army is one block from One Faith Fellowship at 4741 Winchester Rd (the gym in the back lot of the Salvation Army).
That All May Hear,
Mark Morris
Christ Fellowship of Memphis