Discipleship Emphasis 2009, which featured special speaker Dr. Jack Connell from Northeastern Seminary, and singer/songwriter/worship leader, Vicky Beeching, began on Sunday, September 20 and ran through October 11. The theme was "Where the action is!" and it emphasized that God has picked us to do His work in the world, and that as followers of Jesus we need to move out of our comfort zones and share His Kingdom of grace with those around us both near and far.

We learned that "Where the action is!" means we are to step out in His strength knowing that He is with us. It may get scary, and we may want to turn back, but our assignment is truly an exciting adventure because God is already at work in people and in us. And in Christ, God has already gone before us, and the real action is where Jesus is. So, the adventure is to follow Him into the world, reaching out to people He is already calling.

Discipleship Emphasis 2009 challenged us to go "Where the action is!" to do Jesus’ work with Him. On October 11, the church did just that as it went out into the community that Sunday morning to do a variety of works to serve people in the name of Jesus. We gave encouragement to shut-ins, helped people move, washed cars, delivered food to area fire and police workers, and other works of service.

We ate a lot of spiritual food during Discipleship Emphasis. But the feast didn’t stop on October 11. No, we simply continued on a road of discovery and growth as part of the journey of a life in Christ, a journey that goes on until we breath our last. So our final encouragement was that we follow Jesus with all we have, especially “outside” where the action is, always looking up and out, as Vicky Beeching exhorted us, always keeping on, and then keeping on some more.

Discipleship Emphasis 2008 Recap

The theme of DE2008 was "Never the Same Again," which spoke to the reality that a relationship with Jesus transforms one's life - it's never the same again! When Jesus truly leads a church - it's never the same again! His love will pervade all that happens as people work together to share His love.

You can download the digital 2008 Discipleship Journal used during last year's emphasis and employ it even now to aid in your spiritual growth.

Our special guest in 2008 was songwriter and worship leader Lenny LeBlanc, writer of We All Bow Down, Above All and many other popular worship songs. His singing and testimony last October 5 was a blessing to all.