Wesleyan Growth - Poem by Raymond A. Foss

Oh to be like John, John Wesley
our founder, the beginning of the faith
to see the miners, the men in the field
throughout England,
or the work of Francis Asbury,
the Bishop in the colonies
riding circuit, planting seeds,
again and again, Hundreds, thousands,
reaping a bounteous harvest
of men and women, converts to Christ
To have the call the drive, the Discipline
to proclaim the good news throughout the city
the region, the area around our church, our home
to draw from far and wide, under the hot sun,
ringing oratory in the ears, the feeling of the spirit
rising in the swelling congregation, the new members
the offering plates full from the joyful giving,
well above the tithe, great offerings of faith,
inspired giving to the work, the mission
the ministry of the church reborn, renewed,
reenergized by crisis; but by calling too
To reclaim our heritage, or evangelism
our casting of the nets of ministry
far and wide, to new stocks of men
new sources of the unchurched, the forgotten
the lost among the secular world
yearning for spirituality, for saving grace
abundant harvest, the granary full
joy overflowing, if we believe enough

February 20, 2007 20:56