A door-knocking pastor, a saintly grandmother

In the early 1960s, a mission congregation was established in a suburb of a large city. This was the era of the post-war baby boom. The Boomer population was increasing and had been through the previous decade of the 1950s.

The pastor went around knocking on doors and inviting the locals to come to worship with the new congregation. Who knows how many doors were knocked on?

A family new in the area might start to attend simply because they were personally and directly invited. They could partake of Holy Communion, support the church with offerings, and participate in the life and worship of the congregation. They could go on as witnesses, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others. Others may have responded not to actual door knocks, but to the call of the Holy Spirit.

We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, including the door-knocking pastor and Timothy’s saintly grandmother, Lois. Some of these saints are with us in the present, and some have preceded us. By the Holy Spirit, they guard the good treasure and so do we.

Our Saviour Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, grant that we, too, share your gospel. Amen. — LI