The Alliance Community Church

We are told to Go and make disciples of all Nations, that has been the mission of the Christian and Missionary Alliance for over 180 years. The Church in Geneva has been here since 1942 and in our 80 years we have embraced that mission by the grace of God. So, after so much time you would think we had it all figured out, that my friend is far from the truth. As time has changed many hearts, we have found it necessary to re-evaluate our Ministry and re-vitalize it. So now we are on a quest that takes us outside the walls of our church and into the community, maybe you have met some of us asking you what the greatest need in our city is?

Churches today miss that all important word in the Great Commision, "Go". get out of your comfort zone go to my people, tell them I am listening, tell them I care, do it before it is too late. It is not enough to only care about building your own church, no as Christians we are tasked with building the Kingdom, so if what I say causes you to return to the church you grew up in, or one you left, praise God and welcome back. Re-vitalization is seeing our ministry not in our vision but in God's vision and his overall vision of the Church in General and how each congregation fits in with His plan, that is accomplished through Prayer and Reflection. Amen.

November 16th, 2022

As I have begun full time ministry the Lord is constantly adding new dimensions to my work. As we have expanded our online presence, He has put on my heart to add a Wednesday Morning prayer service to our Stream. At this time, I am not sure how He is directing me to format this new event but whatever His direction is I am sure it will be grand. Stay tuned as we continue to pray on this event. November 25th,2022

It may be that being thankful is a challenge in this world we live in, after all we see nothing but bad news. Mass shootings, children being abused, families breaking up, countries at war. Add to that the many natural disasters that seem to come at all times of the year we begin to ask ourselves what in the world do I have to be thankful for, just please God take me out of this world. But Jesus said, "In this world you will have troubles but, take heart I have overcome the world." Satan would like nothing more than for us to curl up in some corner of the world and just give up, but God in His glory made promises to us that we like Jesus would be lifted up, we would have the same inheritance as Jesus, we will be able to enjoy paradise as promised to Adam and Eve. These promises made to us in the Bible and through Jesus our lord was given to give us hope, hope that as we see sin that causes all things on earth to decay, we know that there is a better place waiting for us. Yes, Jesus has gone to prepare a place for each of us, and we need to thank Him for opening the door for us to be able to enter the palace of our Heavenly Father, who loves us and has adopted all that ask for Him. Amen

December 21st, 2022

This is the first day of winter, the shortest day of the year. After today we begin the long trek of each day getting longer until that awaited day in June the 1st day of warm Summer. Over 2500 years ago the long-awaited Messiah was born in Bethlehem a new day had arrived for mankind, God would be available to all who called on His name. But just as we never stop to think about the change in the solstices no one really noticed Jesus's birth, even though it had been prophesized for many centuries. Today Jesus is an afterthought if He is even thought of at all. It seems strange to me that a Holiday revolving around the Birth of a very special baby and many would argue the most important holiday, is more about sales and money than about a miracle.

With high inflation, tragedy, and violence raging around us it would seem to me we all need a savior, Christmas for many this year will be very lean. Is there not a better time to see we have been given a greater gift out of love than we could purchase in any store? You my friend have been purchased, and the price, well the very blood of the Baby we celebrate on this Christmas day. Jesus was born to die on the cross for you and me. Jesus Christ God's own son, the Mesiah willingly gave himself for us so we would be able to achieve eternal life with God in Heaven. We did not ask for it, we did not earn it, we can never repay the debt. It is a gift from God, His grace and mercy poured out on us for no other reason than His love for you and me.

Like the change in seasons, we are moving closer to the greatest promise God has made to the world, the return of our Lord and King Jesus. As evil continues to rise it is indicative of the bible's prophecy that these times must prepare us for the return of Jesus. Just as the first leaf falling indicates the end of summer and beginning of fall, so too the scripture that the increase in sin will indicate the return of the messiah and the beginning of our deliverance into the Presence of our Father God. So, this Christmas ponder the greatest gift that pales all others, the gift of that baby Jesus, Emanual, God with us, our lamb, our Savior. Amen.

March 6th, 2023

What I find most interesting in ministry is how members view the pastor based on their own life commitment. Let me explain that a pastor is credible only when he expresses what that person believes is true in their own lives. In simple terms a person will give a pastor credit when he tells them what they want to hear. Any pastor though, with any real conviction to be a shepherd will only express what is soundly God's word. The crux of the matter many don't want to hear what God has to say about their lives and what He expects from us His children. So, to keep people coming back many ministers of the faith continue to avoid hot topics such as devotion and surrender to God, sin, conviction. Instead, they preach feel good messages of love and comfort, joy and peace to members who want to feel good about themselves even though they have on foot in the spiritual grave and the other is slipping fast due to their devotion to the temporary things in this world which entice them.

Living as a Christian is not a walk in the park if indeed you are walking in the presence of the Lord. He is very blunt on what is expected of us. Put our lives fully in His hands, stop worrying the Father knows what you need and will supply it, layup your treasures in Heaven, wait on the Lord, be anxious for nothing. All these lessons we don't want to here because those that have not believed are living a much better life. We think that as Christians we are owed something from God, we get upset when God doesn't deliver. Well folks here are the real lesson, John 16:33 "In this world you will have troubles but, take heart for I have overcome the world."

As I experience what it means to minister in the path of God's calling to me, I see this happen more than once. People come for a while looking for something to feel good about through a pastor or congregation and it is ok for a while, until all the major projects are complete, and ministry again becomes mondain again and so they move on. The problem is there is no real commitment to God in their lives. Let me say as a committed person to God first I have had no mondain days as a matter-of-fact God has kept me busy even when I am not in the church ministering. To expect a pastor or church to keep you excited well, you are placing a responsibility on them that they can never live up to.

God is the ultimate authority in any church, He gives the message, He gives the direction, He blesses members as they need it. Most important He relieves us of the burden of trying and failing to live up to impossible expectations. He wants just 2 things from those who commit to Him, love Him and obey Him, He will take care of the rest. God owes us nothing, but we owe Him everything our very salvation is due to His own sacrifice of Jesus, because of Jesus even though you will someday die, you will continue to live eternally forever in His presence. Isn't that enough to commit to Him and say, AMEN.