Pastor Dan Longmore
Devotional Message
Today, Sunday August 9th, we took time to study the second of ten core values that are critical our mission as disciples of Jesus. This core value reads:
“We value the free gift of salvation in Christ Jesus and the transforming power of the Holy Spirit.”
In 1778 the Brethren in Christ started as a group of believers, disciples of Jesus, who firmly adhered to the Biblical teaching that a personal, experiential, relationship with Jesus was essential for salvation and the ongoing work that the Lord ask of all of His followers. Those individuals, many of whom fled such places as Germany and Switzerland, came to America because the church in these nations was attempting to regulate the church in such things like baptism. For the last few hundred years the church had shied away from the Scriptures calling people to a personal relationship with Christ. This was seen in particular through infant baptism. When a child was baptized the ceremony was seen as a civil and spiritual ritual. In many churches in such places as Germany and Switzerland the state church affirmed that being baptized made you a member of the church, God’s kingdom and a citizen of that particular nation. As many believers in these countries tried to challenge this tenet, they often faced persecution and some even paid with their lives for their belief that a personal relationship with Jesus was necessary for salvation.
Brethren in Christ, Mennonites, Amish, and others are known as Anabaptists. The word essentially meaning re baptizers denotes that baptism should be a personal choice after one has made a confession of receiving Christ as their Savior.
For almost 250 years now the BIC has steadfastly adhered to the Biblical truth that one must personally know Jesus as Savior and continue in a transformative work through the power of the Holy Spirit. Sadly, there are places of worship today teaching that completion of a class or course of study makes you part of the kingdom of God and the church. Others declare that it’s really not important what you believe as long as you have faith.
Here at Marsh Creek Brethren in Christ, we along with over 225 other US congregations boldly declare that we are grateful for the death and resurrection of Jesus so that we may experience grace. Grace that frees us from sin and its power. Grace that allows us to make a personal choice to daily follow the Lord under the direction of the Holy Spirit through God’s Word. This truth is vital to us here at Marsh Creek and we pray it is valued by you as well.
Pastor Dan
Marsh Creek Brethren in Christ Church
Howard, PA 16841
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Me hang gliding with our instructor Mike
My wife Marty and Mike
Pastor Dan is bi-vocational. He works part time for radio station WRGN hosting a contemporary Christian music program called "Refresh and Renew".
It airs from 2pm to 5pm (ET) Mondays through Fridays and can be heard anywhere in the world where there's internet access.
Just go to www.wrgn.com and click "Listen online" or click the link here.
