On July 16th, 2023, churches across the Southwest region gathered in the World Mission Society Church of God in Riverside, California, for a united leaders education event. Pastors, elders, missionaries, deacons and deaconesses, and leaders gathered together to receive the overflowing water of life, the word of truth, to prepare themselves to be more excellent vessels to take care of church members.
During this education, our churches in San Jose, Victorville, San Diego, and Alaska shared excellent cases from their respective churches and how the gospel grew in their areas. They shared their specific plans and events that were held, for example, heartfelt visits to members facing hardships, spreading kindness through extensive local volunteer services, joyful gatherings for Bible study and shared meals, and the tender nurturing of new members to help them grasp the profound truths of God, one by one at a time. With these excellent cases, leaders from our other churches were inspired to carry out similar plans to contribute to the growth of the gospel as well.
Amidst the expanse of the Southwest Region, our churches across California, Nevada, and Phoenix, this united event allowed all church leaders from each area to cultivate one heart, one mind, and one mission to carry out the gospel with the love of Heavenly Father and Mother.
“Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’Again Jesus said, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’The third time he said to him, ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me?’
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’” John 21:15-17 (NIV)
Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved him. In every response, Jesus requested Peter to take care of God’s people and feed them with the word of God. Leaders around the Southwest region engraved this request in their hearts and resolved to arm themselves with the wisdom to provide members with the proper food (word of God) at the proper time. Many members who attended the education expressed the desire to share the love of God with members more by making more efforts to educate them and create more time to study the Bible together. One member stated, “I realized what I am lacking in. Going forward, I want to better care for the group God entrusted me with.”
The shared goal of making more specific plans for members, changing our nature to resemble God more, taking every opportunity to prepare our oil of faith, and carrying out the mission of finishing this gospel by preaching to the whole world resonated with each member as they returned to their respective churches.
