As I mentioned in the previous blog post, our grand experiment in helping to revive Zion Evangelical Free Church began on September 1, 1968, with a young member of our congregation, Al Nestor, acting as consulting minister.
Al’s previous experience had been with Chicago land Youth for Christ. And, he had been most effective in his assignment as a youth worker. His territory had covered the near west suburbs, including the very Austin area in which Zion Church was located.
He had become active at Circle Church to the point of preaching during the morning worship service. I had great confidence in him as a person. His wife Lynn was an extremely attractive young woman. In every way, she fitted to be a help to her husband. Both Al and Lynn were in their early twenties.
It was by coincidence, in a way, that Al went to Zion. As we began the Zion negotiations, Al underwent a job change. His future became a question mark with further schooling looming as a possibility.
In discussions of likely candidates to take the Zion responsibility, Al’s name was mentioned again and again. One of his valuable qualities was his optimism. We felt such a quality was imperative for whoever would try to make a go of the effort. Al seemed as caught up with the idea as the rest of us. It wasn’t long before he and Lynn committed themselves to the one-year period agreed upon in the contract.
We determined that Al would preach three Sundays out of five at Zion. This followed the pattern that I maintained at Circle Church. Then, the rest of the staff would provide pulpit-supply on the Sundays that Al didn’t preach. Even when he didn’t preach, Al would always be present at Zion unless he was asked to preach at Circle to give reports of what was taking place at Zion.
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Sunday’s coming. Do you have your sermon ready? Is it relevant? Will it effectively motivate your congregation to walk more in step with the Master? What about that Sermon Series you’e been thinking about?
Or, if you’re someone who plans well ahead, have you asked yourself what you will preach for your Easter Sermon, your Advent Sermon, your Christmas Sermon?
David Mains and Mainstay Ministries can help. We offer a wide variety of Sermon Starters and Full Sermons that will give you Sermon Ideas to help you prepare for regular Saturday or Sunday sermons, Mid-week Bible Sermons, and Sermons for special occasions.
We also offer assistance as you create Topical Sermons, Sermons Series, and sermons for special times of the year. We have resources available to help you with Advent Celebrations, Advent Sermons, Christmas Sermons, Easter Sunday Sermons, Patriotic Sermons, and more.
For more information on how to create better Bible Sermons and how to turn Sermon Ideas into Sermon Outlines, and then into effective, meaningful Sunday Sermons, please click here to visit David Mains’ website.
You will also find a variety of resources for pastors and congregations at the Mainstay Ministries website. Just click here.
