The Evangelism committee plans events, prepares brochures and flyers, authors the web pages, and gathers materials and resources to grow the Church universal. Its charter is Matthew Chapter 28, Verse 19: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.

A dynamic group, the committee meets at least twice a month, praying daily for empowerment and guidance from the Holy Spirit to accomplish its work.

The group takes responsibility for coordinating Rally Day activities and Friendship Sundays. It places flyers in community mailers and raises its own funds for publishing brochures by selling butter braids. It supports other church events by baking cookies, volunteering, and providing other supplies.

Greetings from Centennial's President

Oh January, the month of the year for recovery, renewal, and resolutions. Did you make a New Year's resolution this year? Are you going to lose weight, correct a bad habit, or spend more time with your family? Have you considered a resolution to spend more time with God in your everyday life? To give more of your time, talent, or resources to the Lord? I want to challenge everyone at Centennial to 15/7. That means to spend 15 minutes, seven days a week in devotional time. Read your Bibles, spend time communication with God, see what he has in store for you.

If we all devote ourselves to 15/7, I think we will become better, more complete members of the family of God.

Your Sister in Christ,
Bobbie Harris, Congregational President

A Message from Pastor Gary

This story is printed in the "Hot Illustrations for Youth" booklet by Youth Specialties (1994) and it captured my attention this week. It is a story about a young Englishman who traveled to California in the 1800s to search for gold.

After several months of prospecting, he struck it rich and on his way home he stopped in New Orleans. While passing through the town, he came upon a slave auction. Slavery had been outlawed in England for years so the event drew his curiosity. He heard "sold" and a black middle-aged man was taken away. Next a beautiful girl was pushed up on the platform and was made to walk around so everyone could see her. The miner heard vile jokes and comments that spoke of evil intentions. Well, the bidding began and it appeared that two men wanted her. The miner stood silent as anger welled up inside him. Finally, one man bid a price that was beyond the reach of the other. The girl looked down as the auctioneer called out, "going once, going twice!" Just before the final call, the miner yelled out a price twice that of the previous bid. The crowd laughed, as the price was an amount that exceeded the worth of any slave. The auctioneer motioned to the miner to come and show his money and he did so as the auctioneer shook his head in unbelief. The auctioneer motioned the girl over to him and she spit in the face of the miner and said with clenched teeth, "I hate you!" The miner without a word wiped his face, paid the auctioneer, took the girl by the hand and walked away from the still laughing crowd.

He seemed to be looking for something in particular as they walked up one street and down another. Finally he stopped in front of some sort of store. She waited outside as the dirty-faced miner went inside and started talking to the elderly man. At one point voices became loud as the store clerk shouted, "But it's the law! It's the law!" Peering in she saw the miner pull out his bag of gold and pour out what was left of it on the table. With what seemed a look of disgust, the clerk picked up the gold and went to the back of the room. He came back with a piece of paper, and both he and the miner signed it.

The young girl looked away as the miner came out the door. Stretching out hishand he said to the girl, "Here are your manumission papers. You are free." The girl did not look up but simply said, "I hate you!" He tried again, "Here are the papers that will set you free!" "Why do you make fun of me?" she said. "No, these are your freedom papers. You are a free person." The girl looked at the papers, then looked at him. "You bought me and now you're setting me free?" "That's why I bought you. I bought you to set you free." The beautiful girl fell on her knees in front of the miner saying over and over again, "You bought me to set me free?" Clutching his muddy boots, the girl looked up at the miner and said, "All I want to do is serve you -- because you bought me to set me free!"

Like the Englishman who bought the slave, God bought us, at great expense, so that He could set us free. And like the beautiful slave girl, once we grasp the extent of God's sacrificial love for us, the more naturally we desire to serve Him and others. How is God calling you to love and serve others this year? How can our Lord use us to witness of God's freedom to others who are in bondage outside the family of God? Are there members of our church who have not been participating whom we can invite back to fellowship? Can we show the same loving grace to others that God has shown us? What exciting ministry does God have for each of us this new year?

Pastor Gary

Last Updated: February 9, 2008