A SAFE HARBOR
You hear often around our church fellowship that God has called us to be a Safe Harbor. Back in the mid-1990’s a firefighter who is an intercessor from New Bedford, Massachusetts, called one day to say that God had given our church a new name: a safe harbor. Since we were not a safe place at the time, we waited for God to make the necessary changes in us and in our church. More than a decade later, we are not what we used to be, and we trust that we are becoming a place of safety and refuge that God can use. We thought you’d appreciate reading about how the idea of a Safe Harbor plays out in our thinking because we realize that this is pretty serious business.
What is the purpose of a harbor? A harbor is a place that receives ships that have spent long months at sea… perhaps damaged… perhaps broken. The purpose of a Safe Harbor Church is to give those people who have been damaged by life an opportunity to be given a new life in Jesus Christ, to be refitted for ministry, and to bring them into the care of Jesus, who is clearly the Harbor Master. The Good News of Jesus meets the heart-felt needs of everyone. The power of God mends the broken, heal the sick, and save the lost.
A harbor is a refuge from the storms that would destroy a ship were it caught at sea, alone and far from harbor. A church that understands it is a Safe Harbor provides the security of genuine Christian fellowship, embraces, welcomes, and offers hope.
A harbor is a serious place, and not a place for carelessness. To allow a vessel to leave a harbor without proper safety equipment would be negligent and even criminal. A Safe Harbor Church, therefore, takes the protection of the weak seriously, and will not allow wolves to come in and harass the flock of God while they are in the place of refuge.
A harbor does not only receive; it also sends. Our church is called by God to equip people for ministry to children and youth, to people caught in addiction, to families experiencing the pain of having “not enough” to live in this area. We understand that we have God’s calling to reach across the globe for the sake of Jesus.
A harbor requires that there be people on hand who are trained, equipped, and available to take care of ships and seamen. If you are part of this church, then you are called by God to be responsive to the people around you. Even if you are one who is receiving ministry, you can be greatly used by God to bless people who have come in out of the cold and storm, seeking a place of refuge in this Safe Harbor. We are praying that, sooner or later, each one of us will respond positively to God, who has called us to be a catalyst for world-wide ministry, to be willing to leave the security of this place of safety and go to the far corners and the near corners of our world.
We welcome you to First Baptist Church of Pocasset, a Safe Harbor Church!The Gospel is Good news for us.
Here is the Gospel in one verse:
"'For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16
You only have to believe it! You don't (and can't) work for it!
Ephesians 2: 8 - 9 'For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast.'
A suggested prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, I receive you and your free gift of salvation. I acknowledge that you died on the cross for me and that your blood was shed for my sins. I turn from my past with thanks that I am forgiven. I commit myself to you and I want to know you are in my life. With great excitement I look forward to learning more about you.
The Response of Jesus: Luke 5: 20 'Friend, your sins are forgiven.'
Did you receive the salvation Jesus offers? Let us know of your decision, and of any questions you may have by Contacting Us
After you have become a Christian, we can offer some suggestions for beginning the Christian life. Go to Christian Living.
2 Corinthians 5: 5, 17 1 John 1: 9 Matthew 5: 43 - 44; 5: 14; 5: 6 Romans 12: 9 - 18 Ephesians 2:10 Hebrews 10: 19 - 26
Additional Bible Readings: Psalm 145: 8 Romans 5: 1 - 11 Isaiah 58: 6 - 7 Matthew 22: 37 - 40The Bible online: Bible Gateway
