After his installation as the General Minister and President of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) last October, Rev. Chris Hobgood humbly stood before thousands of Disciples and asked us to do one thing for him and for the church:  “Pray our confession of faith daily.”  By our confession of faith, Chris meant the statement of faith we all affirmed at our baptism or our acceptance into membership in our church: “Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and do you accept him as your personal Lord and Saviour?”  This great confession of faith, which is based on Matthew 16. 16,  is all we Disciples claim is needed in order to be saved and in order to join a particular Christian church.  But what will it mean for us to pray this confession of faith daily?

    Through the Lenten season, I have been starting my morning prayer time by walking through this confession of faith. Here is a taste of what that “prayer walk” through our confession of faith sounds like for me:

I believe  with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

That Jesus is the Christ - You are the anointed one of God, the one truly holy person to walk on our earth.

The Son of the living God - You are the Son of a personal, real, living God who cares deeply for me and for each person I will meet today.

And I accept him today - I rededicate myself today to you, Jesus, in all I do and say and think.

As my personal Lord - Jesus, you are my mentor, my role model, my wisdom, my strength, my peace, my Way to God.

And Savior - You are the One, the only One, who can save me from my sin, selfishness, stresses and sorrows.  You are the One who is the Savior of the Church, who saves us from all which would threaten to destroy our joy and faith. You are the Savior of the world who is the Way out of hate, hunger, homelessness, war and violence.

I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God and I rededicate my life to you today as my personal Lord and Savior of the Church and the world.

    As I have prayed this confession daily, I have found renewed strength for the day and for my ministry.  There is power in this prayer!  So on behalf of Chris and our wonderful church family, the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), I ask you to join us as we pray our confession of faith daily.
 
Blessings Always,

Pastor Janet