Real Lasting Life
About this blog
Ray Jones is the Coordinator for Evangelism for the Presbyterian Church (USA). He has served the church as a pastor for twenty-five years. He has a heart for helping people grow in the love of God in Jesus Christ. This growth always includes our words and deeds. He is married and has two grown daughters. He has experienced training and education at Furman University, Columbia Theological Seminary, the church, and through living in the world.
Recent posts
- The Engine of the Church
- My Witnesses
- Witnessing Communities
- The Ministry of Making Disciples
- A New Creation
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Back to Basics
At the start of another new year, I've been thinking about my work in evangelism. When evangelism works, our communities change, more people experience real and lasting life, our churches become vibrant communites of faith, and creation is renewed. All these things happen because people are following Jesus into the brokenness in their own lives and the world. When we follow Jesus, we experince healing and become agents of healing in our world.
We have been working on a new evangelism resource, and there are many good things associated with this new resource. We explore what it means for churches to help growing Christians reach a changing culture, learn to share their faith, connect with the community, and engage discipleship. But what if evangelism is simply part of what it means to follow Jesus. In a relationship with Jesus, we experience forgiveness and hope that leads to a better way to live.
Following Jesus means that we need one another in community, and that our life together is for the healing of the world. So what if this life we have in Jesus is as simple as sharing our lives and faith and serving people in our families, circle of friends, co-workers, and community. If life takes us to another town, state, or country, then we live our lives in that place by following Jesus into sharing faith and serving others.
Maybe, just maybe, the work we are called to is to help one another follow Jesus into the lives of people who are hungry and thirsty for life that is real and lasting. We offer others the same grace and love that has healed and changed our lives. Maybe, just maybe, this is how healing comes into a very broken world. And this is how Jesus intends for the Kingdom to advance.
November 11, 2010
WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?
For two thousand years, this question that Jesus once asked his followers has been debated passionately. It has been answered in many different ways by many different people. It’s interesting that people outside the church often have a negative view...- Posted at 6:01 p.m.
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October 28, 2010
First Things
Even though I love my new work, there are days in which I miss being an active part of a faith community. As I continue to think and write about twenty-four years of parish ministry, I easily engage the moments...- Posted at 8:31 p.m.
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June 3, 2010
What's So Special about Jesus?
I have traveled across our denomination a good bit over the last six weeks, and I have had a good experience in every gathering of Presbyterians. There is hope in the church. People do want to do evangelism! It's just...- Posted at 3:06 p.m.
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March 18, 2010
The Shift
If evangelism is to be engaged authentically and enthusiastically in our churches, then it must be connected to discipleship. But we have a hard time with discipleship. We know how to manage and maintain ministry, but we struggle with what...- Posted at 6:40 p.m.
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