Why does the Christian Church exist? Why does the Presbyterian Church exist? Why does Parkwood exist? A few years ago, our congregation considered these questions and we came up with a Statement of Purpose for Parkwood. It goes as follows:

"THE PURPOSE OF PARKWOOD IS TO ENABLE INDIVIDUALS TO DISCOVER, GROW IN, AND SHARE THE LOVE OF GOD FOUND IN JESUS CHRIST."

      "Help people discover" and "share the love of God" are missionary terms. Two thirds of our Statement of Purpose have to do with reaching out to others with the Gospel. How are we doing? The Billy Graham Mission coming to the Corel Centre in a few weeks ought to remind us of why we primarily exist. The following parable highlights the necessity of keeping our Mission in focus:

"On a dangerous seacoast where shipwrecks often occur, there was once a crude little life-saving station. The building was just a hut, and there was only one boat; but the few devoted members kept a constant watch over the sea, and with no thought for themselves, they went out day and night, tirelessly searching for the lost. Many lives were saved by this wonderful little station, so that it became famous. Some of those who were saved and various others in the surrounding area, wanted to become associated with the station and give of their time and money for the support of the work. New boats were bought and new crews were trained. The little life-saving station grew. Some of the new members of the life-saving station were unhappy that the buildings were so crude and so poorly equipped. They felt that a more comfortable place should be provided as the refuge for those saved from the sea. So, they replaced the emergency cots with beds and put better furniture in an enlarged building. Now the life-saving station became a popular gathering place for its members, and they redecorated it beautifully and furnished it exquisitely, because they used it as a sort of club. Fewer members were interested in going to sea on life-saving missions, so they hired life boat crews to do this work. The life-saving motif still prevailed in the club decorations, however, and there was a liturgical life boat in the room where club initiations were held. At the next meeting, there was a split in the club membership. Most of the members wanted to stop the club's life-saving activities as being unpleasant and a hindrance to the normal social life of the club. Some members insisted that life-saving was their primary purpose, and pointed out that they were still called a life-saving station. But they were finally voted down, and told that if they wanted to save people shipwrecked in those waters, they could begin their own life-saving station down the coast. They did."

"As the years went by, the new life-saving station experienced the same changes that had occurred to the old. It evolved into a club, and yet another life- saving station was founded. History continued to repeat itself, and if you visit that seacoast today, you will find a number of exclusive clubs along that shore. Shipwrecks are still frequent in those waters, but most of the people drown."

      The parable is clear. A church, to survive, must be obedient to her Lord's command:

"GO INTO ALL THE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOOD NEWS TO ALL CREATION" Mark 16:15.

In Christ's love,
Floyd McPhee