SUNDAY, September 13 15 Pentecost

The Church of Nigeria is the fastest growing province in the Anglican Communion. A few years ago, when relations were more cordial than they are now, Archbishop Peter Akinola visited our diocese. Asked why the church was growing so rapidly in his country, his answer was simple. He said, "We practice one-plus-one evangelism." He explained that when a person is baptized or confirmed, that person is told he or she must bring a person to Jesus. This may sound like a spiritual pyramid scheme, but it works.

Recently a bishop explained to a confirmation class that spreading Good News meant using the gift of the Holy Spirit received at baptism to empower them to bring a new person to Jesus. A year later, a class almost double in size was presented, for the vicar would not let those confirmed forget their commission.

Would that all of us would take as seriously our call to bring people to Jesus as the people in Nigeria, or the members of that confirmation class! Filled by the Holy Spirit, can we do otherwise?

PRAY for the Diocese of Southern Highlands (Tanzania) 

Ps 19 or Wisdom 7:26-8:1 and Proverbs 1:20-33 –OR– Ps 116:1-8 and Isaiah 50:4-9a; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38

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