This year’s theme is Moving From Believer to Disciple. Coming up with a theme to capture the vision of all three of our culturally different congregations is often quite a challenge. But when the pastoral team met to pray and dream about what God had in store for our congregation, we were lead to unanimous agreement with this theme.
What I find so appealing and challenging about this theme, is that it recognises the fact that we are in this journey with Christ. We are somewhere in a process. Our faith in Christ is growing, affirming our belief in Him. Or dedication and understanding of our calling becomes clearer, drawing us closer into discipleship. The fuller title which we see is that we are moving from Believers to Disciples to DiscipleMakers. It is our joy and responsiblity to be part of sharing the truth of God and his life with those around us.
Perhaps the sweetest part of the theme is the verse for 2008:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.” (Luke 4:18,19)
There is divine calling for us to be part of the declaration of the good news, proclaiming freedom, and hope and healing to the world around us.