A PERSONAL BOOK REVIEW:

STRETCHING THE SCOPE OF SACRED SERVICE

Rev. Dr. Everette W. Frye, Sr., Interim Pastor

Bethlehem Baptist Community Church, Holyoke

Nearly eight years ago, I wrote and self-published the book, Stretching the Scope of Sacred Service. This writing came after more than twenty-five years of pastoring and half a century of Christian life. As I reflect on the concepts written about in this book, I realize that there is still a very great need to apply the thoughts and principles of this book in the life and work of the Christian in the church and community.

Stretching the Scope of Sacred Service is a systematic, while practical, plan to magnify or extend the mission of the Church and to multiply or enlarge the ministry of the Church.

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” This book gives a simple way to increase the work of the individual Christian and the local Church and to give a view and a vision of what the Church can be and what it can become. In both the Old Testament and the New Testament, the command and challenge is that we “stretch” our “scope” or perception and strive towards our God-given goal of winning the world for Christ.

Stretching the Scope of Sacred Service has been used by Pastors and Christian Education leaders to teach new members and to train and equip church workers. This is a ten-step program and process for enhancing the total life of the congregation.

A major part of this work is found in the eighth and ninth chapters. The eighth chapter, The Distinctions of the Ministry, is a descriptive look at the many opportunities of ministry from “A” to “Z” which can be developed and deployed in a congregation to fulfill the call of the Church to be the “salt” and “light” in the world.

The ninth chapter, The Diversities of the Ministry, is a discriminating concept, which seeks to make clear the areas and boundaries of ministries within the Body of Christ. This chapter raises the need to distinguish, differentiate and recognize the differences within our unique call to serve the Church and its Christ.

Isaiah 54:2-3 calls us to “Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left.”

Stretching the Scope of Sacred Service is a functional application and provides answers to this call of God through the prophecy of Isaiah. It is my firm belief that any congregation that applies the scheme and steps of this little book will find spiritual fulfillment and will fulfill its mission to carry the Gospel to all the world to the glory of God. n