JULY 2026 EDITION
THE WOODLANDS METHODIST CHURCH
ADULTS 55 OUTLOOK
+ MONTHLY
FIND THE ONE
TIME TO SERVE
by Ashley Goad
by Rev. Chris McLain, Pastor of Caring and Adults 55+ Ministry
At The Woodlands Methodist Church, we often say that missions is the heartbeat of our church. But that heartbeat does not begin with a program, a trip or a project. It begins with Jesus. In John 15:4-5 (ESV), Jesus says, “Abide in me, and I in you … I am the vine; you are the branches.” Before we go, we remain. Before we serve, we abide. Before we reach out to the world, we first receive the love of Christ for ourselves. Missions is not simply about doing more for God. It is about living so closely connected to Jesus that His heart begins to shape our own. And the heart of Jesus is always moving toward the one. This fall, during Missions Month, our theme will be Find the One, based on Jesus’ parable in Luke 15. Jesus tells the story of a shepherd who has 100 sheep, but when one is missing, he does not shrug and say, “Well, 99 is still pretty good.” He notices the absence. He feels the loss. And He goes looking for the one until He finds it. That is the heart of God. God sees the one who feels forgotten. He notices the one who has wandered. He moves toward the one who feels invisible. And when the lost one is found, heaven rejoices. This is also the invitation of missions. We do not serve because people are projects to be fixed. We serve because people are beloved children of God to be seen, known and welcomed. Our mission partnerships, both local and global, are built on this conviction: that every person carries the image of God, every story matters, and every act of prayer, generosity and presence can become a signpost pointing someone toward the love of Jesus. Sometimes “finding the one” looks like supporting a missionary serving in a difficult part of the world. Sometimes it looks like encouraging a local ministry partner who is faithfully caring for our neighbors. Sometimes it looks like joining a mission trip, giving financially, praying faithfully or serving quietly behind the scenes. And sometimes it is much closer than we think. It may be the person sitting alone in worship. The widower whose house feels too quiet. The neighbor who is carrying more than they can say. The new person in class who is wondering if there is room for them. The family who needs help, dignity and hope. Missions Month is coming this fall, but we do not have to wait until then to begin living with the heart of the Shepherd. We can begin today by asking a simple question: Who is the one God is asking me to notice?
If you are looking for a couple of easy reads this summer, you may want to pick up two older books by Mitch Albom entitled The Five People You Meet in Heaven (his most famous) and Have a Little Faith. I am currently revisiting the latter, and it is a great reminder of this truth: All too often, humans spend too much time evaluating and not enough time doing. In Have a Little Faith, Mitch spends a good amount of time with a Christian pastor who has a ministry for people who are “down on their luck.” Poor, homeless, addicted, hungry, disabled and discouraged are only some of the monikers attributed to the pastor’s flock. The author spends 55% of the book evaluating the plight of the ministry, the people, the buildings, and the pastor. I am not going to spoil the ending, but let’s just say the author is moved to action, and it impacts an entire community. Mark 2:1-12 tells the story of four men who take action to change the life of just one man. They do this by lowering him through the roof of a house and placing him at the feet of Jesus. While I’m sure the men were only thinking about their friend getting healed, in doing so, word spreads like wildfire, and the power of Jesus impacts an entire community. As we look forward to another summer, take some time and learn how you can serve this upcoming season. If you are a member of the church, our next Congregational Care Ministry training will be in Wesley Hall on two consecutive Sundays, August 16 and 23, from 12:30 – 3:00 p.m. You can register at twmc.org/caring The time for evaluating is over. The time to serve is now.
May we be a church that abides deeply in Christ, walks humbly with our partners and keeps making room at the table until the whole world knows the love of Jesus.
HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY!