“I want to make a difference in life.” What is wrong with this statement, or is anything wrong with it at all?

Recently, Dave Goetz, the author of Death by Suburb: How to Keep the Suburbs from Killing Your Soul, led our deacons’ retreat and a one-day continuing education seminar for our Ministry Staff. In these sessions, Goetz reminded us that often the desire to make a difference is really no more than our desire to make ourselves famous, remembered, and immortal. Goetz reminded us that our purpose in life is to glorify God which means to make God famous. If we are not conscious of our motivation, our desire to make a difference can be more about our fame than about our faith.

Goetz says that instead of trying to make a difference, we should direct our attention toward being faithful and letting God make the difference. Ironically, as we are faithful, we increase the possibility that we will make a difference. Goetz’s statement sounds very much like Dawson’s vision statement: To Be Found Faithful as God’s People. As the Dawson Family of Faith, we are seeking individually and corporately to live faithfully for God. Consequently throughout the summer, we are sending mission teams to many different parts of the world. We send these teams not primarily for the purpose of changing the world, but as a deliberate act of obedience and faithfulness to our Lord, who commanded us to go into all the world making disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).

Being obedient through going to other parts of the world is only one form of faithfulness. We are also to be faithful in our actions as we serve here. I invite you to be faithful this summer in the following:

1. Participate in corporate worship services every Sunday. Even when
   you are on vacation and traveling, find a congregation of believers and
   worship with them.



2. Read your Bible daily and pray for the ministries of the church. Many
   of you began using the Jesus: The Starting Point daily Bible reading
   booklet back in January. I hope you are continuing the good habits you
   established this spring.



3. Give financially to the Lord’s work. God has invited us to be involved
   in a very aggressive mission plan, and we support his plan by giving,
   praying, and going.



4. Invite your unchurched colleagues, friends, and family members to
   attend worship and Bible study with you.

Your pastor,
Gary Fenton

PS: Occasionally, you may want to visit http://www.characterpath.com for help on being faithful through personal character development.