Signs of Change

The Jellico Community Church is growing in every way. Numbers are up and maturity is too. For example, last week I was out of town with Benjamin on his “Becoming a Man Trip” to the Boundary Waters near Canada. The Worship was led by Derek Brown. The Communion was led by Stephen Greek and Daniel Nelson taught the Body. Fellowship meals and Bible Classes for Children are coordinated each week by Misty Vannette, Betty Chitwood, Claudia Greek, Maranatha Nelson, or Donna. Weekly Bible Studies are now being set up and taught by our members. Dozens and dozens of impromptu prayer sessions, counseling sessions, Bible discussions, and services are carried out weekly without the planning or governance of the Meeks or Greeks.

Our belief is that this Church is God’s church. We turn people to Him with their questions. We encourage prayer and a searching of His Word for life’s answers. Husbands are encouraged to lead their families in reading of the Bible, in prayer, and to work. Wives are to respect their husbands and to live as partners with them in life and the Gospel. We have no ‘pastor’ or ‘preacher’, but are all ministers of God and are each equally responsible for the building of the Body, though admittedly with differing abilities, skills, and knowledge.

If anyone were to ask me, “What are the signs that there is a Church in Jellico?” I wouldn’t answer as might be expected. I would not point to buildings (though God has provided one), or to assemblies on Sunday (which we enjoy weekly), or to communion services, song services, or preaching (also enjoyed weekly). Rather, I would point to what happens on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday etc, rather than what’s happening on Sunday.

Tears for sin, confession of sin, and repentance from sin; prayers for sinners, love of the lost, investment in the broken; hours listening to struggling neighbors, days refusing the lusts of the flesh, weeks of faithfully choosing the ways of God; hungering and thirsting to know the Word of God, persisting and pursuing and deepening personal relationship with God; feeding, transporting, housing, giving to those in need—without favoritism; unconditional love, purity of heart, and unity evidence the presence of God among this Body.