Gary Farnworth: Renewing Elder
It has been a privilege and a blessing to serve as an Elder here at Cool Community Church. To be called to serve the Lord and the people of His church in this way, is not something that I take lightly. Nearly every day I look deeply into my heart and consider my worthiness to serve as a shepherd of the Lords flock here at this church.
1Timothy 3 is the standard by which elders are considered to be chosen to serve. It is also the level of life that they are to maintain throughout their time of service. Therefore I must always humbly consider whether or not my life brings glory to God.
I served as an elder at the church we attended in Southern California but it was very different there. My responsibility was to oversee the local outreach commission. We organized local community events like door to door food giveaways with gospel presentations. Events like backpacks for back to school, toys for Christmas etc. We went to skid row in downtown L.A. to feed people and share the gospel with them. We had a prison ministry in men’s central jail and twin towers. I served as a volunteer chaplain for twelve years, leading weekly Bible studies and a monthly church service for the inmates.
I am thankful for that season of service and what the Lord taught me during that time. When that season ended I felt that the Lord was telling me it was time. It had been a fruitful and blessed ministry of service, I will always cherish.
When I was called to serve as an elder here at CCC, I thought that I would be continuing to do what the Lord had already taught me, but that was not the case. He was calling me to love and care for His flock. In a sense He was calling me to serve Him with my heart. That is the love that He gave me for the family of God. To be a help, an encourager, and a blessing to the ones He loves. To be an example a teacher and friend to His people.
I believe that this is what being an elder truly means and I am thankful for the privilege to serve you and our Lord as one of your Elders
1Timothy 3 is the standard by which elders are considered to be chosen to serve. It is also the level of life that they are to maintain throughout their time of service. Therefore I must always humbly consider whether or not my life brings glory to God.
I served as an elder at the church we attended in Southern California but it was very different there. My responsibility was to oversee the local outreach commission. We organized local community events like door to door food giveaways with gospel presentations. Events like backpacks for back to school, toys for Christmas etc. We went to skid row in downtown L.A. to feed people and share the gospel with them. We had a prison ministry in men’s central jail and twin towers. I served as a volunteer chaplain for twelve years, leading weekly Bible studies and a monthly church service for the inmates.
I am thankful for that season of service and what the Lord taught me during that time. When that season ended I felt that the Lord was telling me it was time. It had been a fruitful and blessed ministry of service, I will always cherish.
When I was called to serve as an elder here at CCC, I thought that I would be continuing to do what the Lord had already taught me, but that was not the case. He was calling me to love and care for His flock. In a sense He was calling me to serve Him with my heart. That is the love that He gave me for the family of God. To be a help, an encourager, and a blessing to the ones He loves. To be an example a teacher and friend to His people.
I believe that this is what being an elder truly means and I am thankful for the privilege to serve you and our Lord as one of your Elders
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