Realigning the Church for the 21st Century

A 38th Anniversary Message from Elder Vincent Calloway

Thirty eight years gives us a lot to celebrate.

We are grateful for every person God has brought through the doors of Westside Church, every life changed, every family served, every baptism, every prayer prayed and every opportunity He has given us to serve our neighbors here in Trenton.

But during our 38th Anniversary service, Elder Vincent Calloway reminded us that celebration also gives us an opportunity to examine where we are going.

His assignment for the morning was clear: How does the Church get back into position for the work God has called us to do?

Getting Back in Alignment

Elder Calloway used the picture of a car that has been knocked out of alignment by the bumps and potholes of the road. Eventually, the vehicle needs to be realigned.

The Church can experience the same thing.

We can continue attending services, serving, running ministries and doing many good things while slowly drifting away from the priorities Jesus gave His Church.

In Matthew 16:18, Jesus declares that He will build His Church and that the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Elder Calloway reminded us that this picture places the Church on the offensive, carrying the Gospel into places where darkness has taken hold.

That requires us to be in position.

Alignment Begins With Our Minds

One of Elder Calloway's first challenges was repentance.

He explained repentance as a change of mind. That matters because our thinking eventually shapes our decisions, our emotions and our actions.

Romans 12:2 calls believers to be transformed through the renewing of our minds.

God's Word has to shape how we think about our relationships, sexuality, finances, parenting, marriage and every other part of our lives.

Alignment requires us to continually ask:

Does the way I am thinking and living agree with what God has said?

Take Our Walk With God Seriously

Elder Calloway also challenged the Church to recover a proper fear and reverence for God.

Our faith cannot simply become something we practice on Sunday morning. We belong to God every day of the week.

Philippians 2:12 calls believers to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. Elder Calloway reminded us that God is working in us, and we have a responsibility to participate seriously in the work He is doing in our lives.

Protect What Matters Most

Another part of getting back into alignment is protecting our most important relationships.

Ministry can keep us busy. Work can keep us busy. Our children's activities can keep us busy. Our phones can keep us busy.

Busyness, even when filled with good things, can leave little room for the relationships God has entrusted to us.

Elder Calloway challenged us to establish boundaries and recognize that we cannot do everything. We have to make room for our relationship with God and the people He has placed closest to us.

Make Disciples

The Great Commission gives the Church a clear assignment.

Make disciples.

Elder Calloway challenged the Church to be intentional about reaching people, particularly reaching and discipling men, and helping believers grow in obedience to Jesus.

Matthew 28 tells us to go, make disciples, baptize them and teach them to obey what Jesus commanded.

That means discipleship requires more than hearing a sermon.

Elder Calloway challenged us to move from preaching into application, the daily process of putting God's Word into practice. That is how the Church develops and multiplies true disciples of Jesus Christ.

Moving Forward After 38 Years

We thank God for 38 years.

We thank Him for the people who laid the foundation before us. We thank Him for every person who has worshiped, served, prayed, given and loved their neighbors through Westside.

And as we move forward, we want to remain aligned with Jesus.

We want to be a church grounded in Scripture.

A church committed to discipleship.

A church that values relationships.

A church that serves its community.

A church that helps people know Jesus and grow in obedience to Him.

Elder Calloway closed by pointing us back to the Gospel. Because of Jesus, those who trust in Him are justified, and now we participate in the ongoing work of sanctification as God makes us more like Christ.

There is still work to do.

And after 38 years, we are grateful that God still allows Westside to be part of it.

Meet us on the West Side.