In the name of Christ, we bid you welcome to this Church
EAMC NEWSLETTER – AUGUST SEPTEMBER 2023
In this Issue:
Chairman’s Corner | Upcoming Events| Reflections | Kingdom Crafters | Spotlight on Local Charities| Minister Selection Committee | Prayer Requests | Upcoming Ministers | Respite Apartment Guests
CHAIRMAN’S CORNER AUGUST SEPTEMBER
CHAIRMAN’S INTERVIEW
W. James Ormond, Board of Governors Chair – 2023-2024
james.ormond@ormondlandscape.com
UPCOMING EVENTS
September 16 – Board of Governors Meeting
REFLECTIONS
What is a Disciple of Jesus Christ?
In the last newsletter, my reflection focused on the mission of Emma Anderson Memorial Chapel* as we began our summer ministry for all who pass through our doors – young and not so young, island visitor and resident, faith inquirer and disciple.
This time I want to reflect on what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ. Being a “disciple” in ancient times meant more than being a student of a teacher in the academic sense. It also meant having close contact with the “master”. It meant not only listening to the master’s teaching, but observing and imitating his lifestyle and his behavior. The teacher was both master and model. This is exactly what Jesus does for us. In fact, He goes a step further and makes us a part of His family. For He says that “obedience is thicker than blood. The person who obeys my Father’s will is my brother and sister … .” (Mt. 12:49 Message).
In the Gospels the term “disciple” usually refers to the “twelve”. But around them was a larger group of followers also called “disciples” (John 6:66). However, some of these were not “true” disciples. So, what are the true hallmarks of a genuine disciple of Jesus Christ?
A disciple is not a volunteer enlistee, he (or she) is “drafted”. Jesus issues His call for us to “follow Me” in various ways. The point is that He is the initiator, we are only the responders. Fortunately for us, He doesn’t call the well and the powerful, but the sick and the weak (Mt. 9:12,13 and Mt. 11:28-30).
A disciple places a priority on Jesus’ teachings over everything else. Just look at the Sermon on the Mount (Mt. 5-7). Three chapters of solid instruction that embraces the whole of life and calls for unreserved commitment to the counterculture lifestyle of the kingdom of God. Jesus even tells His disciples, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free” (John 8:31,32).
To a true disciple, Jesus is everything! Other teachers want to direct their students (i.e. Disciples) to the way, and the truth, about life. But Jesus tells us that He is the way, and the truth and the life (John 14:6). We must learn to trust Him completely, to yield to Him unconditionally, and to embrace Him wholeheartedly. As one professor wrote, “we cannot embrace all of Christ if our hands are superglued with the love of ‘other things’ (Mark 4:29)”.**
To a genuine disciple, the “template” (to use a computer term) for her (or his) life is the cross of Christ (Luke 14:27). Self-denial or self-sacrifice is at the heart of Christian discipleship (Mt. 16:24, Mk 8:34, Lk 9:23).
Finally, the true mark of a disciple of Jesus Christ is love. Love first and foremost for Jesus. “Do you love me more than these?” (Jn. 21:15) was the question He put before Peter by the Sea of Galilee after the Resurrection. The Apostle Paul explains how these last two characteristics (sacrifice and love) come together in his letter to the Galatians:
“I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who lives, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me” (Gal. 2:20).
Five times toward the end of his gospel, John describes himself as “the disciple whom Jesus loved”. I always thought that was his way of saying that he was “Jesus’ favorite disciple.” But I have re-thought this (with the help of Professor Ferguson). First, he does not think John would be so proud as to make that claim and secondly, he believes John is saying something that is true of all of us as genuine disciples of Jesus Christ. All that Jesus has done for us, is doing now for us, and will do for us in the future is because He loves us. It explains why He would die for us and why He sent His Spirit to comfort and strengthen us and why He promises to return to us. It is the reason He calls us. It is what enables us to forsake everything and follow Him. It is what motivates us to love not only Him, but each other. As He himself said, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. All men will know you are my disciples if you love one another” (John 13:34). This kind of sacrificial love is the ultimate hallmark of a true disciple of Jesus Christ who has heard Him say, “Follow Me” and has left everything to follow Him. Amen.
*Mission Statement of EAMC – to glorify God and proclaim Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of all.
**Dr. Sinclair B. Ferguson, a Ligonier Ministries teaching fellow and professor of Systematic Theology at Reformed Theological Seminary.
Kingdom Crafters knit and crochet all year, so we were glad to share some of our Christmas Operation Christmas Child items with the youth group. We gave the youth items listed and they filled 20 boxes!
16 teddy bears
22 washcloths
8 hats
1 pair of wool knitted slippers
We have had a build up of scarves and Operation Gratitude needed items for Christmas in July; so, we sent 111 scarves and 17 washcloths!
We also have been hearing from Knit for Kids (World Vision) for the need for baby items for refugees, so we sent them 1 adult and 7 child knitted hats, 7 baby afghans, 2 fleece hats and 10 scarves. We hope refugees feel God’s love keeping them warm.
We took the month of July off, but are ready to start up again second week of August, if anyone new would like to join us. We might try 9:30 instead of 10. If you’d like to come see what we do, please feel free to visit us 9:30-11 on Wednesdays, or contact me, Julia Pollock 910-398-1923 for specifics.
Thanks again to all the ladies, and often husbands who help out occasionally.
Crafting for the Kingdom,
Julia Pollock, Kingdom Crafters Chair
SPOTLIGHT ON LOCAL CHARITIES
We are indeed blessed at Emma Anderson Memorial Chapel to have affiliates who are generous in many ways, including financially. As a result of affiliates’ generosity, the Benevolence Committee is able to offer contributions to several local, national and international entities that help spread the Word of God. In this series for our newsletter, local entities that we support as a church will tell us about their mission and activities. Each newsletter will feature a different organization that your Benevolence Committee has prayerfully chosen to support on your behalf.
Food insecurity is pervasive, affecting the working poor, the unemployed, children, teens, seniors, military families and, yes, even those above the poverty level. One bad month can be enough to plunge a household into food insecurity. Share the Table has been responding to the need in our community for over 12 years, helping feed and encourage our neighbors.
It is an honor to be able to supply the basic need of food to approximately 1,000 individual neighbors weekly who are food insecure. And we supply more than food. We show kindness, respect and caring to everyone who comes to Share the Table. We want people to feel comfortable and at ease. Our volunteers are the heart and soul of Share the Table and they take the time to talk to our clients, learn their situations, family issues, health problems, etc.
Share the Table was founded in 2010 by Dawn Ellis and Faith Harbor United Methodist Church in Surf City to serve a weekly meal. Since its inception, it has grown to assist weekly through a food pantry, school backpack program and weekly community meal. In 2022, Share the Table distributed 587,522 pounds of food. That equates to 494,755 meals!
Our biggest impact is encouraging and empowering the community; both the neighbors we serve and our volunteers/donors. We have been so blessed with all the support Share the Table has received over the years. Our clients feel they are cared for and can shop with dignity in our free pantry. The community children are receiving food both through the pantry and school back program. Our volunteers feel they get more out of volunteering than they give; and our donors know they are supporting a good cause.
We are all working together to fight food insecurity in our community!
Share the Table launched a capital campaign two years ago to enable us to build a larger safer facility to grow our organization to meet community need. We are clearing the lot and are in the end stages of the permitting process and hope to do a ground-breaking ceremony soon. We are so grateful for the community support to make this happen. We are still raising money and writing grants to upfit the building with a teaching kitchen, learning center and other needs to get us up and running. We are excited about the future of Share the Table and what we can provide the neighbors we serve. Our ultimate goal is to work ourselves out of a job and have no food insecure neighbors. However, our society is a long way from that goal, so we will continue to do our best to serve our neighbors.
A special THANK YOU to Emma Anderson Memorial Chapel for your partnership and support of Share the Table over many years! We greatly appreciate the support and the neighbors we serve are extremely thankful.
Share the Table is a faith-based nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization supported by six charter churches, community churches, civic organizations and local businesses and individuals in Pender and Onslow Counties. To learn more and donate, visit www.sharethetablenc.com.
Submitted by Tommy Newton, M.D.
MINISTER SELECTION COMMITTEE
The Minister Selection Committee encourages all EAMC affiliates toconsidersponsoring a minister for the 2024 church year. Applications are available at the church or by request. The deadline is October 18th. If you have any questions, please contact Julia or Frank Sherron at 910-690-2595 or 910-690-2194.
Julia and Frank Sherron, Co-Chairs of the Minister Selection Committee
Emma Anderson Memorial Chapel is a nondenominational church that gathers for worship, the preaching and teaching of God’s Word, and Christian fellowship.
Our mission is to glorify God and to proclaim Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior of all.
