My dear Friends.

On holiday a Vicar and his wife went to the local church for a service. That evening they heard the best sermon they had ever heard based on a passage from Paul's letter to the church in Rome. That passage came alive for them!

Back from holiday they shared their experience with others. All agreed it was such a shame that so few were there that evening to benefit from hearing that sermon. In fact the number of people did not even reach double figures! What a waste! Such a superb sermon and so few heard it.

I have never forgotten what my Vicar said during my first curacy and it is a reminder to me that numbers are not all important. Yes, we are in the growth game. Yes, the good news of Jesus must he told to everyone and God longs (do we?) that more and more people respond to His love for them.

So our church, like every church, should always be praying and working for an increase in numbers and I for one have not forgotten the challenge to try and double in size. But on the other hand we must not be discouraged when numbers do not match our hopes and expectations. As a preacher I always hope for as many as possible to be in church to hear God's word for us all. But the message is still God's word whether there be 5 or 500 present.The preacher's heart may sink when he sees only 5 in the pews but we should never underestimate what God can do with 5 people if they are open to His will for them.

So do not be discouraged. You may only have one opportunity this corning month to share with someone else something of what you know of Jesus, but that one person is so important and who ho knows what the Lord may be going to do through them. Very many people could be richly blessed by their future ministry.

As biblical backing to what I am saying, do look up Acts Chapter 8 in the Bible. Philip finds himself in the city of Samaria. Through his preaching and healing ministry very many are helped and because so many became believers, the news gets back to H.Q. in Jerusalem and Peter and John come to check it out and to welcome these new believers in Jesus into the family of the church.

Soon after the Lord calls Philip to leave all that is happening in Samaria and to make his way to a desert road. Not the place to find a big congregation! Philip does as he is directed and lo and behold he bumps into an important official in the Queer of Ethiopia's government. Through Philip's ministry this man becomes a believer and he would now be able to share his faith in Jesus to those in Ethiopia.

The big crowds of the town or the few elsewhere - it does not really matter. What is important is that wherever God places us we are faithful in our working and witnessing for Him so that others have the opportunity of hearing that Jesus is alive and loves them as well.

God bless you wherever you find yourself.

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