This morning, a simple yet profound event unfolded in our church parking lot, reminding me of the core of our mission here at New Sharon Church. Jayne walked into my office with a sense of urgency and compassion in her eyes. She had just found two lost dogs wandering near our church, disoriented and clearly far from home. Her immediate instinct was not to ignore them, but to seek a way to reunite these precious animals with their family.
What happened next was a beautiful illustration of community and kindness. A Good Samaritan, who just happened to be passing by, noticed the situation. She called her son, and together, they lovingly transported the dogs to a local animal shelter in their own car. The story didn’t end there. A post was made to a local community Facebook group, and through the power of a connected community, the owners were found. Within just three hours, we received the joyous news that the dogs were safely back in the arms of their family.
As I watched this unfold, I was deeply moved by a reflection from God. It was no coincidence that these lost and wandering friends found their way to our church. It felt like a divine sign, a living parable for the very purpose of New Sharon Church. We are called to be a place of rescue for the lost.
This incident paints a vivid picture of our spiritual calling. Just like those dogs, so many people in our world are wandering, spiritually lost and searching for a place to belong. They are longing for a home, for the safety and love that can only be found in the embrace of our Heavenly Father. God’s earnest desire to save the lost souls of this world was illuminated for us this morning. He was reminding us that New Sharon Church is to be that sanctuary, that beacon of hope guiding them back to their true home with Him.
The Bible speaks powerfully to this mission. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep, saying, “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” (Luke 15:4-7).
This morning was a tangible reminder of that heavenly joy. The relief and happiness of the dogs’ reunion with their owner is just a glimpse of the celebration in heaven when one lost soul finds their way back to God. God has called us, the community of New Sharon Church, to be His hands and feet in this world—to be the ones who notice the wandering, who offer a helping hand, and who use every means available to guide them home.
Let us take this beautiful lesson to heart. May we always have eyes to see the lost among us and hearts filled with the compassion of Christ to lead them back to the loving arms of our Father. Let us be the church that actively seeks to rescue, restore, and rejoice over every single soul that finds its way home.
