Vineyard Church of Knox County
The Whole Church
I just returned home from the weekly community prayer gathering that is held each Tuesday at Mulberry Street United Methodist Church from 12:00-1:00. Before the prayer time this week, I had lunch with a couple of pastors to talk about ministry in the community. Last week I spoke with Don Matolyak, a pastor who also serves as the President of the Knox Ministerial Association, about another pastor, Walter Malick, who recently had his leg amputated after colliding with a car while riding his motorcycle on rt. 3 north of town. Last Wednesday evening at a multi-denominational church-community celebration for the Fourth of July at MVNU, an offering was taken for Walt and dozens of people from multiple churches gathered around men from Walt's church, Grace Community, to pray for them and their church. They told us that they have been overwhelmed by the love and support of the Body of Christ, whole Church, in this community. Walt's family will be getting a check for over $750 to help with immediate expenses while staying in Columbus.
One of our church’s core values is the WHOLE CHURCH. We are convinced that all who belong to Christ are one in His Body, the Church. We aim to maintain unity by honoring all who call on Jesus’ name and by seeking reconciliation with all parts of the Church. Did you know that Jesus’ longest recorded prayer, located at John 17, ends with his desire for all Christians to be in fellowship, to be unified in Him. He said, “The glory that you (God the Father) have given me I have given them (Christians), so that they may be one, as we are one. I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one.” In this prayer, Jesus is not suggesting that we agree with all the practices of other people and churches, just that we seek to be unified in our love for God and other people. God is growing this unity among the pastors in Knox County and it is our hope that He will bring it more and more into the churches, as well.
So, as God grows us, the Vineyard Church of Knox County, let us get involved in community-building events; and let us be purposeful in blessing other brothers and sisters in Christ and other ministries outside of our own, because I believe in doing so we connect with the heart of God in a way that pleases Him and brings His kingdom to this county.
