BY PAUL AYARS
THE COURIER

MOUNT PULASKI — A unique door of opportunity stands wide open these days, minister John Robertson of the First Christian Church of Mount Pulaski said this week.

Robertson also teaches an evangelism class part-time at Lincoln Christian College.

Robertson said, for him, evangelism means, "to allow God to use you to reach others the way he’s wired you. You can almost celebrate the fact you can reach others."

He said he sees a new door of Christian witness opportunity opening wide, thanks to Mel Gibson’s "Passion of the Christ" film, which opened in theaters across the country Feb. 25.

Now, they can visualize how terrible it really was," Robertson said, referring to public response to the graphic portrayal of the Christ’s death. "Mel Gibson has shown the ultimate love of Christ. I have never experienced anything like it. The church has an incredible opportunity. They really need to act on it."

Not only is that door of opportunity open in and for the 140-year-old church Robertson has led for eight years, but in churches everywhere, he said.

First Christian Church of Mount Pulaski finds itself in the midst of a growth spurt. Attendance averaged 261 people in 2003, 283 people so far this year and more than 300 people at one service in February alone, Robertson said.

"I think the growth we’ve seen is a lot of young families," new to the church, including some from communities such as nearby Illiopolis and Chestnut, he said.

First Christian Church of Mount Pulaski has an 8 a.m. traditional Sunday service followed by a 10:15 a.m. contemporary service, he said. The church has a congregational meal at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays followed by a 6:30 p.m. worship service.

Bill Miller leads the church’s children’s ministry, Jeremy Thomason is associate minister, Teresa Montgomery the church secretary and Laura Lee is the worship service organist. Josh Weber leads contemporary services and Colleen McKinney of Mount Pulaski is church custodian.

Robertson’s length of ministry at the church is similar to that of Marvin Flowers, his predecessor.

Flowers now serves Broadway Christian Church in Mattoon after also serving for a time at Alton since leaving his Mount Pulaski ministry.

Robertson attended St. Louis Christian College and previously served congregations in Bloomington, Ind., and Fairfield before starting his current duties.

He said a fall stewardship campaign is being considered for a new Family Life Center on church grounds in the 100 block of North Washington Street.

The center will be used for a variety of activities, Robertson said.