Witness Ministry

OVERVIEW

At St. Paul United Methodist Church, every member is a minister. We are called to do our best to recognize and take advantage of everyday opportunities to share our faith, to be examples of Christian living, and to embody the long-time United Methodist motto “Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors.”  

For John Wesley, the founding father of Methodism, there was “no religion but social religion, no holiness but social holiness.”  In other words, faith always includes a social or communal dimension. One cannot be a solitary Christian. As we grow in faith through our participation in the church community, we are also nourished and equipped for mission and service to the world.

GOALS

The specific goals of Witness Ministry at St. Paul UMC are:

  • To foster radical hospitality — which encourages people to attend church, makes visitors feel like welcomed guests, and assists newcomers to assimilate into the church family — and to encourage diversity and the recognition that all people are our brothers and sisters in Christ.
  • To encourage and assist congregants to be more fully engaged and active in the ministries and activities of the church so that we can grow in faith and fellowship and in our understanding of what it means to be obedient to Christ, to be a disciple of Christ, and to be part of a church family.
  • To improve every aspect of our church communications, using all available means of communication.
  • To support special programs based on personal development and fellowship, such as Cub Scouts and church sports teams.

BOTTOM LINE

As disciples of Jesus Christ, our witness is an integrated part of everything we do and say. It is the prayer of the St. Paul Witness Ministry Team that we all make witness a part of our worship, our service, and our lives.