A Brief Historical Note

...with eternal implications!

by Paul Johnson

The original name of the community that we know as Greenville, SC was Pleasantburg!

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! -Psalm 133:1

Several years ago, two men began praying. Reflecting on the long history of innovation and entrepreneurial activity in the business sector, and the spiritual heritage of a community blanketed with churches and effective ministries, they felt a yearning to harness this dynamic, creative energy to reach all of Greenville with the gospel.

In the winter of 2003, they began to share this vision with others, and more began to pray toward this end. God was doing things in other cities across the country and around the globe. Why not here? Why not now? In Ps. 127:1 "Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." God wants to provide for and protect His people. What might that look like in Greenville today?

Two important realizations came from this: 1) The impact a coalition of churches, ministries, and Christian business leaders could make if they were unified around a focused, broad-based outreach strategy. And 2) the value of leaders knowing all the strategies and tools available to them from other people and groups.

They took their first step in the spring of 2003, inviting Christian leaders from around the community to participate in two brainstorming sessions. They wanted to:

* Explore ways of bringing people and resources together,
* Understand the resources and strategies already at work in the city,
* Identify the needs being met in the city and those not being met, and
* Seek ways to bring people and resources together to better address unmet needs.

From these two meetings, new relationships were established and more awareness of what God is doing in the community surfaced.The group determined that mobilizing the body of believers to serve our city could make a profound difference because servants are welcome anywhere. And if more Christians learned to put aside their differences, come together in their commonality in Christ, start serving the needs of their city, and love their neighbors, God would open doors for the gospel.

Shortly thereafter, they began the monthly lunch meetings we continue today.

This simple combination of good deeds and good news can make the Christians of Greenville known for their love, a love that attracts others and opens them to consider placing their faith in Christ. If this sounds familiar, it should. It's just the way Jesus and the first century church did it.

How do people become members (brothers and sisters) in God's family?

Yet to all who received him (Jesus Christ), to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. -John 1:12, 13

(For a complete explanation of how to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, visit http://www.greatcom.org/laws/english/)

How does a person change as a result of becoming part of God's family?

. . .we obey his commands and do what pleases him. And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.
1 John 1: 22, 23

How did Jesus state this command?

Jesus replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Matt. 22:37-40

How does Jesus describe what loving our neighbor involves? We're to be compassionate to the needy:

'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Matt. 25: 35-40

We're to be passionate about sharing his message:

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.
Matt. 28: 19, 20

We're to be unified as the family of faith as we go about this process:

(This is Jesus' prayer on our behalf) May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
John 17: 23

This is why GreenvilleConnect exists: to bring together the local body of believers in ways that express our love for God and love for our neighbors through doing good deeds and sharing the good news.

GreenvilleConnect, Paul Johnson, GreenvilleConnect Board Advisor

All Scriptures quoted from the New International Version (NIV) Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1986 by the International Bible Society

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