God’s Fellow-Workers

by Terry H. Shanahan, Northeast Regional Minister

As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:1–2)

In the month of May, or a time more convenient for them, all of our churches are encouraged to designate a given Sunday as Conference Sunday. A bulletin insert is developed at the home office to update everyone, and it is provided to all of our churches. If your church doesn’t remember receiving it, it is readily available on the CCCC website. Or just click here.

It has been my distinct pleasure over the years to visit a number of churches on the given Sunday that they highlight the Conference. Usually, during a Mission Moment, the Conference bulletin insert is presented and depending on the length of time allowed, I will share specific items from the insert. Or as some churches have done, they will conduct a “man on the street” interview with me, giving time for questions and answers. Often a special collection is taken that day for the advancement of the Kingdom through the CCCC.

This has historically been a great opportunity for our Conference to maintain strong connections with our member churches. It never ceases to amaze me the type of responses I get and the type of questions that get asked. Some folks are very in-tune with the Conference and what we are about. Others quite frankly realize for the first time that their church is a member of the CCCC. But in the main, these Conference Sundays are very well received and are a boon to us all staying “Connected in Christ.”

These past few months I have participated in a few Conference Sundays, oftentimes bringing God’s message for the day as well as greetings from the Conference. I am excited to share about our current resources and our ministry focus. Our call to daily living and service to Jesus Christ is the CCCC way of life of “loving God, loving others and making disciples.”

The Conference Sundays give me the opportunity to explain that our Biblical roots and values, though always present and strong, were not as clearly articulated as our Seven Guiding Values are now. The ministries of Church Development, Church Multiplication and Conference Care have all been developed in just the last few years. The commitment to stewardship, through the Sharing His Vision Campaign was not something we had done in the past, but allows us to expand His Kingdom through the Conference.

Look what God has done. God has done and is doing an amazing thing in our Conference. He is blessing us with needed resources. He is rewarding our obedience as we commit to a way of life that honors Him in all things. Truly, “Now is the time of Gods favor.”