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As many of you get dressed up this Halloween, some of your costumes will be funny, others a fantasy and a few will probably be a little scary. 

When I think of Halloween I can think of some scary stuff. 

Ghost, goblins and the fear of a black cat crossing your path. Come on now, you know that’s scared you since you were a kid. Even when it isn’t Halloween, I’m looking hard when I see a set of cat eyes in the darkness, I’m looking to see if it’s black.

What’s your worst nightmare?

I’ll tell you what mine is: running into the man that I could have become had Christ not called me out of the miry pit and into the light. 

I don’t even want to begin to imagine what my life might look like had He not intervened and saved me from myself. But then again, on second thought, we should look back. It is by looking back that we see the man or woman that we once were and the person that we are now. It is in that moment of reflection that we have the greatest understanding of what grace really is.  We realize the person that He is molding and making us into. To be more like His son, Jesus. 

It’s a sobering experience. 

Quickly, I want us to take a look at someone in the Bible. A man named Saul. 

In Acts 8:3, under the heading of “Saul Ravages the Church,” Luke penned the following words under the direction of the Holy Spirit. 

“But Saul was ravaging the church, and entering house after house, he dragged off men and women and committed them to prison.”

Does Saul sound familiar? If not, there is somebody who has a similar name in the Bible. Think about it for a second. After meeting Jesus on that ole Damascus Road (Acts 9) his life was forever changed. 

How was his life changed? Well as we read into Acts 9, the Bible says, “And immediately he (Saul) proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” (v20) 

It goes on to say in verses 21 and 22, “And all who heard him were amazed and said, ‘Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?’ But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.”

A few thoughts: (1) There isn’t anybody that God cannot save. (2) Christ personally meets each of where we are. (3) What does it say Saul immediately did? He was proclaiming Jesus. (v20) And once you’ve had an encounter with Jesus you should do the same. (4) Lastly, not only did Christ meet him where he was, he changed his life, he changed his mission, but He also changed his name! 

This man named Saul is better known to us today as Paul. He penned the majority of the New Testament. Paul — through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit — has been challenging Christians for almost 2,000 years. 

In closing, think back on Paul. What would have happened had Christ not met him? Can you imagine the countless Christians (followers of the Way, which is what followers of Christ were first called *that’s a free nugget) that he would have beaten, dragged to jail and murdered along the way. BUT GOD! 

So as you enter this Halloween weekend, I want you to think about how the grace of God has changed you! 

As you look back, thank God for all He has done. Oh and guess what? You’ll be one step ahead of the game as He prepares your heart for this Thanksgiving and Christmas season. 

A man for whom Christ died! 
Chris

The following are some key points and thoughts that led to me stepping down as the pastor of New Life Church in Dalzell. I’ve attempted to make these thoughts as succinct as possible.  

Being transparent. 
I’ve tried to build the ministry God has called me to on transparency. Who has time for anything else? I pray this post is just that. Transparent. Real. Succinct. 

The following are areas that we prayed through in this process.  

After all the church is about God’s people, not a building. The church is to be structured with its people looking toward Christ, the head of the local church. 
   
Being good stewards. 
I believe that we are to be good stewards of what God has given us — both as the church and individually. That includes our time, money, resources and energy/efforts. This was a key factor in our decision making. 

Ministry cost. 
While our building was paid for, there were still monthly monetary needs. A few people + a little tithe = not a long way.  

Most people don’t like to think of the church as a business, but it takes money and good stewardship to minister to those in the church and the surrounding community. 

Help came from the least likeliest of places. 
There was also a shift in my philosophy of ministry. When there were just a few of us at New Life help came from the least likeliest of places. Where was that? Across the street from house — our neighbors.

For the sake of time I will not go into how God moved and brought them into our church family, but He did. We’re thankful and have enjoyed our time getting to know them more and growing spiritually as families. 

We’re called to reach those around us. 
Who did Jesus minister to? Those that were around Him! 

We are called to reach those that He places in our path. That shift I spoke of a moment ago came as our neighbors joined us. Why were two families driving clear to the other side of the county when we’re called to minister to those around us. 

Good stewardship = Blessings for others
New Life Church and its assets weren’t mine before going there, they’re His. You and I are just managing what He has given us, temporarily. All of these points I’ve mentioned lead us to where we find ourselves: Getting of the way so that others might be blessed. 

As I’ve mentioned, we had a building and no church. There was a church in our association that had church, but no building. They had been praying for years that God would open a door. In processing everything I was seeing and experiencing these last few months, I had to ask myself, “Why should we stay in Dalzell and struggle to reach a community we are not a part of when there is another group that could better use these resources?” When I talked that over with God, I knew the choice I had to make. Let go. Let God! 

Onward & Upward! 
In closing, as my buddy Jim Johnson would say, “Onward & Upward!” 

As we move forward the Moore family is excited about what God holds in store for our family and the ministry that He has called us to. We look forward to announcing our plans in the coming days. 

I think we all should remember, some chapters are longer than others. This chapter at New Life was definitely a training ground, preparing us for a future assignment(s). I wouldn’t change our decision to go there, the lives we had the chance to be a part of and the stretching — physically, mentally and spiritually — that has taken place these last few months. 

Again, we look forward to what God has in store for our family in the coming days, months and years. 

To God be the glory! 

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