1 Thessalonians 1:4-10
Rev. Hal Farnsworth
The healthy, vibrant, and thus effective church, is one that is committed to God’s mission to gather the nations. The Thessalonian church stands out as one that was clearly on this mission. In chapter one we see just how effective they were, 8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. In this text we discover some very important keys, when implemented, with the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit, will enable the local church to be a blessing to those inside and outside the church.
Hal Farnsworth is Founder of Edgewood Ministries. Hal is former Senior Minister at Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Athens, Georgia. Before he planted Redeemer in 1996, he was a campus minister with Reformed University Fellowship (PCA) at Vanderbilt and Mississippi State. Besides pastoring Redeemer for almost 26 years and serving as campus minister for 11 years, Hal has trained church planters in the US and Africa. Hal has also been involved with training RUF campus ministers. In 2003, he founded Downtown Ministries, an outreach to the marginalized in Athens, GA. In 2014 Downtown Academy was created as a continuing ministry of Downtown Ministries. Hal is married to Mary Beth Chandler Farnsworth. They have 4 children and 7 grandchildren. He lives with Mary Beth in Athens, GA.