A quick thought,
Jesus said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” – Luke 10:2 (ESV). We pray for laborers but would we be ready if God sent them? Are we inadvertently turning away those who are being sent to our doorsteps instead of encouraging, engaging, welcoming, listening, learning, and growing with them? Join us as we discuss how to have time tested, contextually conscious, Great Commission driven conversations with your community as your church engages in revitalization. The revitalization process is not a trending terminology of our times, but a humbling tool that God uses to revitalize us personally, along with our churches and community.
About,
Johnson Rethinasamy serves as the Senior Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Whitestone in the borough of Queens, NY (www.immanuelwhitestone.com), and as the Mission Executive overseeing church planting initiatives for a regional judicatory of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod. The congregation is a church planting and church revitalization laboratory to learn, unlearn, and engage in the gospel telling and gospel living mandate of Christ’s great commission. They have worship services in four languages.
He has engaged in initiating several worshiping communities/ church plants for the Lutheran and non-Lutheran tribes around the globe. He focuses on identifying leaders, equipping them, mentor them, being there for them as their support system when the new workers and volunteers are at their lows and highs. A creative missiologist and a global networker, God enables him to be resourcefully connected so well, to guide and consult for any supply and demand needs of the church planting/ revitalization initiatives.
He co-founded www.gelnet.net (Global Evangelical Leadership Network) – a think-tank and hands-on mission planting, mission leaders, and church planters networking platform. GELNET is an alternative space for local congregations that are looking to seek help to engage, encourage, equip, and partner with indigenous leaders and churches around the world. They will be happy to be of any assistance in guiding and consulting your congregation or organizations.
He holds degrees in Teaching, Education, and Theology from the University of Madras, Annamalai University, and Serampore University in India. He also holds a doctorate from New York Theological Seminary, New York. He has taught Evangelism, World Religions, and Theology courses in Concordia College, New York, and a few other colleges and seminaries.
He is a strong believer in taking challenges to rescue struggling congregations and organizations, revitalizing them towards a new outlook and a new ministry presence in the same location instead of closing or selling the properties. He has been there and done that time and time again.
Married to a loving wife Sharon for 25 years, blessed with a daughter, Susan who is in her senior year of college, they ask for your prayers and friendship. Interested in knowing more about GELNET initiatives? Please write to johnson@rethinasamy.com.
P.S He is a soccer fan and roots for NYCFC team. Still learning to follow baseball but with little or no success he continues to like the NY Mets!
He also loves music and has released two Christian music albums.