Why 318 Fellowship?

Every church in the world has a reason for being.  Beyond God's call on a community of believers who seek to gather in the Name of Jesus Christ, churches have values and priorities and passions and a vision they seek to fulfill each day of the week.  It's like lures in a tackle box; they're are different colors and sizes and textures and purposes.  Some lures are meant to sink while others are created to float.  Some look like minnows while others may look like shad while still others can look like a worm.  Though I am not a fisherman by any stretch, it doesn't take long to discover everyone has a favorite and believes that it will catch the most fish.


Church is not that different.  Everyone has an opinion about what will meet the greatest needs there church members have and the list is long with regards to what the church can do to attract the unchurched and introduce them to Jesus Christ.   Things like tradition and size, presentation and location, the programs a church offers age-groups and so much more, are variables that many contemplate before choosing.


Why 318 Fellowship?  We're not better; we sure aren't bigger.  We're just a community of people who care about each other and desire to be serious followers and not casual participants.  Try us out: if you like what you experience - then we can talk more.  If you don't  - that's okay, there are other churches and we can smile when we see each other in the area. 

THERE IS A NEED FOR A RENEWED SENSE OF COMMITMENT

Leonard Ravenhill, the author of "Why Revival Tarries", once said, "The church right now has more fashion than passion, is more pathetic than prophetic and is more superficial than supernatural" and that was in 1959.  There are good people in every church, good programs in every ministry and good churches on every corner but I don't think the Son of God died for "good."   When I think of Jesus Christ hanging on the cross, giving his life for me, and then I look at my own life and the church, I often think, He had to die for more than what I am seeing and experiencing.  He died out of love but surely that love demands or deserves more than what casual Christianity is offering in this day and time.

THERE IS A NEED FOR A RENEWED SENSE OF PURPOSE

I can almost remember the day I told my young son to do something and he looked at me and said, "Why?"  As a parent, his response felt like an affront to my authority yet in his youthfulness he just wanted clarity.  After 40 years of local church ministry, I am convinced that there have been moments and ministries where I have been guilty of clouding the essentials with non-essentials, clarity with creativity, and purpose with programs.  There has to be a new day where we get back to the two primary principles of Jesus' ministry: Casting Seed and Training the next Seed Caster. 

THERE IS A NEED FOR A RENEWED SENSE OF SACRIFICE

Luke 9:23 is pretty clear, "If anyone wants to follow me, he must first deny himself, take up his cross and then follow me."  From the beginning of the ages, mankind as continued to struggle with personal entitlement.  Without any instruction at all, humanity battles with themselves, with each other and with God as to who is right and who is in charge.  Too many come to Jesus with one foot in their world and one foot in His, striving to figure out how to surrender without it costing too much.  We want the same freedom to do whatever we want that nearly every church in the New Testament struggled with.  Jesus never mixed words...you want to experience abundant life then you have to lose the one you own for a new one that is freely given.