Blogs are full of advice this time of year. Thoughts on new habits, new products, new forms of entertainment, and foods you should never eat again have filled cyberspace already in 2015. It makes sense. When there is a new beginning, it is a good time to begin new initiatives and disciplines.
Other articles and publishing works include predictions for the year ahead. Topics involving foreign relations, politics, impending trauma, and even the demise of morality in culture fill pages and websites like never before. If you are like me, you wonder what you should focus on. Should you start or stop something? If you read all of the “Ichabod” stuff, rolling back the clock to more stable days becomes enticing. Or there may be temptation to escape into your own reality, even denial or silence for a while.
One change I would love to make in 2015 relates to sharing my faith in Jesus. I need to tell others more about what Jesus means to me personally. I need to let the world know that Jesus is the only answer to all of what life throws at us. I believe it, but I don’t talk about it enough. Do you? I’d like to challenge you to join me in sharing our faith more this year.
Speak Up! is a 2015 initiative led by the ministry I participate in for The Wesleyan Church. It is not a program. It is not something that is exclusive to my denomination. In fact, every follower of Jesus Christ should get engaged with this emphasis. What is it? It is literally a challenge to pray for and witness to someone you know who needs Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. It is a challenge to Speak Up! There is no curriculum or training event scheduled yet. It is simply the reminder to share your faith in Jesus. Or as Psalm 107:2 says, “Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out!”
You may have taken the “Ice Bucket Challenge” in 2014 in the fight against ALS. I did too. Fighting disease is a good thing. Yet so is the focus to share your faith in Jesus in 2015. There will be social media deliveries to remind you about this initiative. Find them soon at the following locations:
- Website: Wesleyan.org/speakup
- Facebook: Wesleyan Speak Up
- Twitter: @wesleyanspeakup
- Hashtag: #SpeakUpToday
Jim Dunn is executive director of Church Multiplication and Discipleship for The Wesleyan Church.
