Commissioning 2023: ‘Everyone’ and Everywhere’ Saturday morning sessions

By: Lt. Colonel Allen Satterlee

From June 2-4, 2023, Commissioning Weekend for the Reflectors of Holiness session was held at the Atlanta Temple Corps with the theme of "All In: Everyone… Everywhere—A Call to Evangelism & Discipleship Mark 16:15 ERV." Below is a recap of Saturday morning’s sessions, titled “Everyone” and “Everywhere.

Everyone

Saturday morning was bookended by exciting evangelism approaches featuring two guests. Dr. Michael Beck, a United Methodist Church pastor from Wildwood, Florida shared how his congregation has found what he calls, "faith unbundled." Noting the statistical reality that 40 percent of people say they would not enter a church under any circumstances, his congregation has sought to make church incarnational by going to them where they are.

This means church is happening in such unlikely places as public libraries, Mexican restaurants, dog parks and even a tattoo parlor. Building around people's passions, believers are invited to make the place of their hobbies, interests and passions, the locations of their church. While still engaging in the various activities, by sharing 3-5 minute Bible stories, discussions follow to discuss how these apply to everyday life.

Everywhere

The second session featured a celebration of faithful service, first with those officers who have reached milestones of 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years of service. Then, a roll call of officers who have retired in the past year allowed the congregation to celebrate their decades of service concluded as they enter honored retirement.

Then, special guest Marilyn Adamson shared her journey from atheism to salvation. From her experience, she worked with others to provide a unique form of evangelism through an apologetics website: https://www.everystudent.com.

The site answers the most common questions that not only of young people but any person might ask as they seek answers concerning the Christian faith. The effectiveness of this approach is proven through its astounding success of recording 2700 persons each day who accept Christ as Savior. Cards were made available for those present to share with others that has the website on one side and Salvation Army information on the other.

For more information, photos, and to view streaming video of Commissioning 2023, visit the events portal by clicking here.