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Christian Concourse Newsletter of the Month January 2008 Dear Family of God, Greetings to each of you in the precious name of Jesus Christ. As many of you already know, one of the board members of Christian Concourse, Bro. Bob Walker, went on to his home in Heaven in September of last year. Though fighting a terrific battle with heart troubles, cancer and Parkinsonism, he had written a letter to his fellow ministers just prior to leaving us. Bob passed away before he could distribute it. His son, Bob Walker, Jr. sent us a copy of the letter and we want to share a portion of it with you here: “If God does a miracle in my life, I would like to resume the ministry God has given me with Tidewater Missions Fellowship with a little different emphasis to encourage the saints to be more relational. This perspective is the result of seeing the affects of the prompt reaction of the Church in North America to pray, give, and go to bring needed relief to those who were suffering along the Gulf Coast after Katrina. The secular press recognized that the Church was the first agency to plunge in wholeheartedly to bring help. To my recollection, this occasion was the first in my lifetime where God showed up in human events to bring His Church to demonstrate genuine unity. This does not deny personal deliverance or transformation of a particular congregation, but rather where the Church in general across the nation demonstrated that they were one so that even the secular world could recognize it. It is my personal conviction, that unless the saints wholeheartedly unite on a broad scale, we live in disobedience to the Lord. I believe we will see increasing evidence of Church leadership bringing their people to work together across the lines that divide us now. If the Lord spares me, I expect to communicate this theme of Christian unity or community, as best I can.” Quoting from our Articles of Incorporation, Christian Concourse, "is organized exclusively for the purpose of ministering the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, as revealed in the inspired Word of God, and to facilitate the unity of His Church." We seek to equip and empower believers to encourage, exhort and build each other up in their faith in Jesus Christ - across the spectrum of theological orbits of Christianity - reflecting the teachings of Scripture on unity. For example: “Only Christ can enable men to live in a right relationship with each other. It is this unifying power of His which must dictate your every decision, for you were meant to be one united body.” (Col 3:14-15 Translation by William Barclay)
We do not promote unity for unity's sake. We believe unity to be the environment in which Christ is glorified and the only ground on which our Christian witness is credible. There is no alternative to unity in the Body of Christ just as there is no alternative to the building blocks of unity: the personal experience of "new birth," an ongoing, personal relationship with Jesus Christ by His indwelling Holy Spirit, personal holiness, genuine humility and love! Certainly there are problems when we try to make “unity” work, but we must work at it as God gives us grace.
Please pray with us as we seek the Lord’s guidance in replacing Bob Walker on our board. We thank each of you for your kindness in supporting this ministry. And have a Happy New Year! Love in Christ, Jerry and Dar Johnson
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