If you will notice in other places of this month’s Journey you will find that a lot of activity is beginning. On Easter day we will celebrate with a sunrise worship followed by breakfast, followed by Sunday School, followed by our regular morning worship. What a day it will be for us! The activity of Easter signals for us the start of a very busy spring and summer at Antioch. Soon we will be gearing up for VBS, GAP, and then for Camp Meeting Days. Just as the resurrection produced in the disciples an enthusiasm to share the good news, so Easter prompts us to be aware of our blessings as followers of the living Lord Jesus and to be faithful in telling the story.
Through Lent we have been in a season of prayer for our church and for our community. I believe that prayer truly makes the difference. Perhaps the change that prayer brings about will be more evident in us than in what God is doing. It is my hope and my prayer that our attitudes and our activities will be more reflective of God’s plan for Antioch. God has given us every person we need and every resource we need to do everything He has called us to do. Through our season of prayer I trust that God is revealing to us what it is we are called to do in this community, in our town, and in our world. Now we must pray that God will give us the courage to move out and do what He has gifted us and called us to do.

Now, I want to ramble on to another subject. A few days ago the clergy of the North Georgia Conference gathered in Atlanta to hear Bishop Watson share a need that is upon his heart and then to challenge us to help meet the need. The Central Conferences are made up of churches in other countries of the world. Some of our churches in Africa are experiencing dire poverty and consequently the clergy of those churches are in serious need. I do not have the space here to share all that we heard but I do want you to be aware that this year at Annual Conference our churches are challenged to send an offering that will be used to help the clergy in Africa. Each year, at Annual Conference there is an offering received called The Bishop’s Initiative Offering. This year Bishop Watson has chosen to use that offering for the clergy in Africa. During the next few months more specific information will appear in your bulletins and the Journey.

May God bless you and I will see you Sunday.
Randy