This past week has truly been a delight to me because of the gospel meeting I was part of with the Arlington congregation in McMinnville, Tennessee. I believe you will be thrilled to see what a congregation with less than a hundred members can do in preparation for the meeting. Perhaps their example will encourage the church in every place as they serve the Lord and endeavor to get the gospel to the lost.
This congregation is in Warren County, which has a population of about 40,000, and in this one county, there are 45 congregations of the Lord’s church. The way these congregations support each other is so remarkable. Years ago, when there were these evangelistic efforts, brethren came to support others, but sadly this rarely happens today. Warren County is the exception. They still do this.
Before the meeting at Arlington, this congregation had mailed an invitation to every home in the county. It was not just a card, but it was a four-page brochure giving details about the meeting and containing two articles I had written. This meant that every one of the 41,700 people in that county knew about the Lord’s church. It reminded me of how Paul described the church in Thessalonica when he said, “For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth” (1 Thess. 1:8). Obviously, no one expected every person to come, but in a sense it was 100% effective, for every person in that county was given an opportunity to read about the church. Remember that the great commission does not tell us to go baptize every creature but to teach them.
They also sent information to one hundred and ten congregations located within a seventy-five mile radius of the building. I love how the congregations in Warren County support each other. Brethren from twenty of these congregations came to the meeting. Brethren from other places also came and that number reflected that support came from fifty congregations, sixteen Tennessee counties, and four states.
Paul said that the church in Thessalonica “…became examples in Macedonia and Achaia who believe” (1 Thess. 1:7). My purpose in telling about this is not to exalt the Arlington congregation above any other congregation, but to encourage brethren everywhere to see what a smaller congregation can do. It is to encourage us to support each other like we did in days past.
The services were streamed live. Christians shared that stream with others and one broadcast had over a thousand individuals who viewed at least part of the program. Thank God for the elders at Arlington and for Justin Reed, their preacher. God help us all to do more for Him!