Bulletin

Your Presence Is Important

If you are a parent and have children, you surely know that the presence of your child is a great concern to you. One of the signs that a child has problems in the teen years is for a parent to not account for the child's whereabouts. We are reminded occasionally from those in our society who have an interest in the stability of our communities of the absence of parental supervision of children–your presence is important.

If we are employed and expect to receive compensation for our services, we know that our employer takes seriously our presence. It not only affects our salary or employment, but it has an impact upon fellow employees.

At the Florida School of Preaching there are former military people who have attended, and while in school some are eligible to receive assistance from our government for the two-year training program. One of the strict requirements of the government is for proper records to be kept by the school. These records are to be available for inspection by a government official at any time. The presence of the person receiving assistance is important to the government. The government wants to see the records of all students who attend school. The presence of students enrolled in classes is most important. The school would lose it standing with the government if we were not interested in the presence of students, and we must be able to demonstrate to them that our interest is genuine.

Our companions have an interest in our presence. If we only come around once a month, and have no sufficient explanation for our absence, would we be considered a faithful companion?

Christians are placed in the world to preserve the world (salt of the earth, Matthew 5:13), and to be a light to the world (Mt. 5:14-16). Your presence is important. How do you expect your part of the world to be preserved if your presence is not what it should be? Who will enlighten your part of your world if your influence is not present?

Your presence in Bible classes and worship services is important. If Bible classes were scheduled as your presence indicates, how many classes would we have? If the worship services of the Lord's church were conducted as your presence indicated, how many services would we have on the Lord's day, and how many Sunday's per month would there be no service?

The importance of your presence in worship may be seen from what is being done when the saints assemble for worship. In singing, we are to teach and admonish one another (Col. 3:16). Who will do this for you in your absence? The Hebrew writer admonishes those who do not assemble to be encouraged and to provide encouragement to others (Heb. 10:25). Can this be done without your presence? You are needed, and your absence affects not only you, but others who need your encouragement. Your presence is important.

Elders must be interested in the presence of members of the congregation that has appointed them to watch for their souls (1 Thess. 5:12-14; Heb. 13:17).

Beginning in July, the elders will make a concerted effort to keep attendance records of all adult classes. As soon as the logistics can be worked out, the attendance for the worship services will be logged. The record of your attendance will be kept in the church office, and twice each year you will receive a printout record from the elders of your attendance.

We need you to help us by being the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We want to do all we can to help you do this, and we need your presence to help us encourage our brothers and sisters in the Lord to understand how important our presence is in the eyes of the Lord.

God is counting on us. Will He be able to say, "well done good and faithful servant" (Mt. 25:14-30)? We need your presence, we miss you when you are absent. Please help us to help others.

–The elders