The book of Ephesians paints such a beautiful picture of the church and one worth our perusal, especially in light of the FAMILY/Youth emphasis at PBL.
By the mercy of God, He saved each one of us in the church. God “made us alive together with Christ…and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ” (Eph. 2:5-6). “Now…you are…fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household [i.e., family] of God,” and fellow Christians are “being fitted together” in a “building” that “grows into a holy temple in the Lord” (2:19, 21). This is a beautiful picture of the unity of the FAMILY of God! Note the emphasis on “togetherness” and “growth.”
In chapter 4, Paul continues to emphasize “the equipping of the saints” and the “edifying of the body of Christ” that the FAMILY of God “may grow up in all things into Him who is the Head—Christ—from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love” (4:12-16). This is a beautiful picture of the bond created in the FAMILY of God! Note the emphasis on the “whole” and the “every” involved in the “growth” of the body/family.
God’s design for His FAMILY is that each member/part (old and young) work together with all the other members/parts (old and young) to “grow up into Christ.” Growing up into Christ isn’t limited to a certain age! Every Christian must continually grow and mature in Christ. So, what can the church do to help all parts (old and young) in this growth?
That’s where the exciting announcement this last Sunday has its foundation. On Sunday, the elders announced an increased emphasis in a FAMILY/Youth Work at PBL (the word “FAMILY” in ALL CAPS to signify ALL the church family), to help ALL of us (old and young) to grow together (as emphasized in the book of Ephesians). The second part of that exciting announcement is the man they have hired as our Family/Youth Evangelist—Josh Blackmer!
Josh worked with PBL for four years (2004-2008), spent one year preparing for the mission field, and will complete his five-year commitment to the work in Paraguay in September 2014. At that time, Josh and his family will return to PBL and head up our FAMILY/Youth Work, which has as its purpose: “Actively involving the family of God in the faith building of the youth, strengthening of the family unit and edification of the body.” These are truly exciting times!
There will be more information forthcoming in the months ahead. Please keep the Blackmers in your prayers.