Fronse Pellebon Smith

Being a person raised on hymns as expressions of God's Grace and as lessons for Living Life in Christ, I am often reminded of the song "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" and "The Only Hope We Have is in Christ Jesus." There is Comfort and Joy in song.

Thanks for posting this very needed and valuable information. God Bless our Missionaries always.

Jonathan, I appreciate your work for the Network community.

Each church has a fellowship or welcoming committee I think?

When people are welcomed weekly, the committee should focus on identifying members and visitors areas of interest and actually keep a running list of where folks might want to serve or be involved. Especially with new members and visitors this 'first impression' makes a tremendous difference psychologically and is living our call to be a welcoming church.

The sooner people can be involved at the small group level the more 'at home' they will feel.

The marraige vows of my parents included the until death do us part commitment and my mother cared for my father for 20plus years until he died of alzheimers. He had a right side debilitating stroke at 60 and she cared for him at home until the bitter end. When I asked her why, she said she could not do otherwise. Call it 'olde school' if you please, but when a spouse cares for the other even when they essentially give up their own 'life-journey' I believe it is a demonstration of agape love, love without condition.

I agree with John, and add that listening to young people, encouraging participation and letting them know you want them to be active participants is vital to the longevity of their adult involvement in church.

After high school contacts are a vulnerable timefor youth and if the church is intentional about 'tracking' progress when they go off to college, start careers or stray away most young people will continue to feel 'connected.'

For me because I participated in worship, sunday school, choir and youth activities I didn't 'stray away' in my twenties.

And with my now adult children, I encouraged extolled and cajolled them through their teen years to stay active at church and they still are participants in their 30's and 40's, thank God!

Greetings, I always have looked forward. The internet is another vehicle/tool/method that Christians normally not in touch with each other to 'meet' and share online their ideas, hopes and dreams. Worship is our great communal gathering each week and we get to know our local congregants.

Discussions and blogs are an opportunity too share with the world the Gospel of Jesus Christ's message of love, honoring and respecting one another.

Fear is our default when we seek to hide from the truth.

I fully agree with Brother Kim about translating synodical decisions into our various congregants' languages.

In my journey through Southern and West Africa, I was amazed that long ago our Missionaries took the time, energy and love to translate hymnals, Bibles and books into local languages like Xhosa, Sooto, Zulu.

And I believe that is a cornerstone of the strength of the Uniting Reformed Churches of Southern Africa (for example).

The Synod blog posts were very good and helped me, a first time Synod delegate, read about committee and personal activities and opinions. Also maintaining through the year communication will aid in building online better unity and give elders and pastors a way to gain a better idea of how Synod activities are ongoing year-round.

Often listening is not easy especially when emotions run high and thanks for the reminder. I am learning to listen more and find that I learn and understand people more even when there is disagreement.