Churches Celebrate Important Milestones

Churches Celebrate Important Milestones | [View online]( [Give Now]( Advertisement [Local Church Outreach]( [CT Pastors]( [Subscribe]( [More on Outreach]( Wednesday, November 14, 2018 Churches Celebrate Important Milestones [Historic Jacksonville Church Celebrates 180th Anniversary]( The Bethel Church—the oldest Baptist congregation in Jacksonville—has been around since 1838 and endured the Civil War, segregation, and a fire. This week they [celebrated]( with their longtime former pastor and his son, who is now the senior pastor. Bishop Rudolph W. McKissick Jr. serves as the senior pastor of the 14,000-member congregation. He succeeds his father Bishop Rudolph McKissick Sr., who is the longest serving pastor of the historic church. McKissick Sr. led the church for 48 years before he retired. The Bethel Church has a rich history dating back to pre-Civil War times. It was founded in 1838 by white Americans and enslaved blacks. When segregation interfered with worship and decisions regarding who would be designated pastor of the church, a split happened. The original church was destroyed during Jacksonville’s Great Fire in 1901. The current location at 1058 North Hogan St. in Jacksonville, was completed in 1904, and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. [Massachusetts Churches Toll Bells for 100-Year Anniversary of World War I End]( This past Sunday marked the end of World War I. The Great War is often overshadowed by more recent memories of World War II, but in the First World War, a great many lives were lost fighting for freedom and democracy. In Worchester, Massachusetts, several churches [commemorated]( the end of the war by ringing their bells: At the stroke of 11 on Sunday morning, bells will toll across the region. They will be rung 21 times, at the hour the Armistice took effect 100 years ago, silencing the guns of the First World War and ending the greatest conflict the world to that point had ever known. At least 10 churches in Worcester are expected to toll their bells as part of the Bells of Peace remembrance effort launched by the World War One Centennial Commission. Americans across the nation have been invited to ring bells Sunday to recall the end of what was called “the war to end all wars,” at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. A similar coordination [happened]( in churches across the United Kingdom. I’m glad these churches made this effort to help us remember World War and have a chance to thank God for those who fought around the world to give us freedom. Should Pastors Address Current Cultural Issues? Finally, I asked you last week to write in with your thoughts on pastors speaking to current cultural issues. I received several thoughtful responses. Here are two I found particularly thoughtful. One pastor wrote, I would add the need for the church to rediscover its prophetic voice. What we need is a Spirit-driven contextualization. God’s word still speaks, but Jesus taught that it speaks through the ministry and presence of the Holy Spirit. If we know we have a contemporary word from God that is faithful to the historical word, we can boldly proclaim it. Since it will always be provocative and controversial in a sin-driven world, we must then be prepared to live with the results. Another said, On the one hand, I completely agree that we shouldn’t make a habit of “taking a cue” from the 24-hour news cycle. I believe it would be tone-deaf at best, and unfaithful pastoring at worst, to categorically ignore events that affect the congregation’s lives when approaching a sermon. It’s true, we’re not here to provide a “Christian slant” on current events every Sunday. But when people’s souls are broken, we preachers have a solemn responsibility to speak the Good News of God’s Love into that darkness, and open their eyes to the light that the present darkness is trying so hard to obscure. I really appreciate this feedback. Thank you for your insights. [Daniel Darling] [Daniel Darling] [Daniel Darling](mailto:krohane@christianitytoday.com) Advertisement More from CT Pastors [A Place for Death in the Life of the Church]( [A Place for Death in the Life of the Church]( What does faithful ministry look like in a church that sees more funerals than baptisms? Cole Hartin [Read More]( [5 Big Ideas for Generous Churches]( [5 Big Ideas for Generous Churches]( Want your people to give with joy? Here’s what it’s going to take. David Roseberry [Read More]( [The Embodied Church in a Digital Age]( [The Embodied Church in a Digital Age]( Should we cheer or moan when online churches perform virtual baptisms? Kara Bettis [Read More]( Related Newsletters [CT Pastors Newsletter]( Each weekly CT Pastors issue equips you with the best wisdom and practical tools for church ministry. [Sign Up Now]( [Small Groups Newsletter]( Inspire life-changing community with our free weekly newsletter and receive regular access to innovative training resources, Bible-based curriculum, and practical articles. [Sign Up Now]( Advertisement Follow Us: [Follow on Facebook]( [Follow on Twitter]( Need fresh, practical ideas for reaching your community? Each week, you’ll receive a wealth of invaluable ideas and resources for the outreach-oriented church leader. Local Church Outreach Delivered free via email to subscribers Weekly. [Subscribe]( to this newsletter. You are currently subscribed as {EMAIL}. [Subscribe]( to more newsletters like this. Manage your [email preferences]( or [unsubscribe](. Copyright ©2018 Christianity Today 465 Gundersen Drive, Carol Stream, IL 60188 All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy]( | [Advertise]( | [Subscribe to CT]( | [Give Now]( Christianity Today is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.