MA Update
Report from Executive Director Rev. Dr. Preston Graham
"And it dawned upon me, Jesus has an address!"
These were the words spoken by church planter Andrew Holbrook just this week in our weekly pastor-church planter prayer service. It perfectly sums up our “Total Christ” confidence in the mystery, and reality, of Christ’s temple union with his church during his ascension ministry today. I was immediately reminded of something T. F. Torrance once wrote in his Royal Priesthood about the church:
“The spirit operates by creating out of the word a body, which St. Paul calls the Body of Christ…. As such this body becomes matched to Christ as His vis-à-vis in history and as the instrument of His saving purpose in the Gospel. It is the sphere where through the presence of the Spirit the salvation-events of the birth, life, death, resurrection, and ascension are operative here and now in history, the sphere wherever within the old creation the new creation has broken in with power.”
What better way to summarize the significance of a five mark church (for more on the five mark church, click here). It makes it true any given Sunday that Jesus has an address. And this is exactly why church planting is so important, no less than an essential element of Christian mission.
These are indeed exciting times in Mission Anabaino! MA church planter Kyle Parker reports the excitement of their first service on a Sunday morning in Spokane WA and there is a great buzz surrounding MA church planter Chris Robins in a newly organized and located morning service in downtown San Francisco.
In this addition of the MA Update, you will read about the Holbrooks’ recent transition to Fairfield, CT, and already the address of Jesus is beginning to form there through an impromptu neighborhood picnic—first phase in the process to becoming Christ Presbyterian Church, Fairfield. And then you will hear about New City Presbyterian Church in its early stages of establishing a real, grace centered presence in the center city of South Bend leading to the start up of a weekly, Christ centered, and missional four movement worship service there!
If you are not already, please consider praying earnestly for these and all the other MA church plants. If you would be interested in becoming a financial supporter, you may do so here, or if your church would like to consider being an anchor church, please email us here.
Affectionately and Enthusiastically,
Rev. Dr. Preston Graham
Executive Director, Mission Anabaino
Sr. Pastor, Christ Presbyterian Church New Haven
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