Several years ago a tornado ripped through a small mid-western town. The local newspaper reported on the event, stating that the storm that blew away the Methodist church did no real damage to the town!

That’s a scary proposition that gives every Christian a reason to stop and wonder about the effectiveness of their congregation. If your church would suddenly cease to exist, would your community even miss it?

Jesus calls us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We must always strive to be relevant and effective, impacting the lives of the people around us in a positive way so that the kingdom of God will grow.

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?…You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”—Matthew 5:13-16.