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I Like What I See
It has been exciting to see how many of the adult Sunday School classes have embraced the vision that Josh Hunt shared with us about growing and dividing. Josh reminded us that church is not about us. It never has been and it never will be. In fact, if church is about us, then it has ceased to be church. One may call it whatever he or she wants, but it would be in error to call it church. Church is about God. Church was established by God. Church is for His honor, His glory, His majesty. Church is for reaching His world, His children. Again, many of our classes are getting it now.
Of course, most of the people in our church would probably agree to the statements above or to something very similar to them. If someone, however, is not driven to action because of his belief, then the belief comes into question. A belief – derived from Scripture, inspired by God, heard by the person, understood in the heart – is not a belief unless it is expressed through faith in action.
By October 7, the adult Sunday School division will be on track to create four new classes. These classes are or will be healthy, enjoyable, meaningful, vibrant, spiritual, social groups that intend on growing and dividing. The people in these classes look forward to meeting new people, having incredible relationships with people they’ve not yet met. In doing so, these classes will have been obedient to God’s desire in bringing His world into the fold of His people.
Each of the other three divisions, preschool, children, and youth, are also looking to expand by adding at least one class each. There are two hurdles to making this happen – space and workers. Pray that God will unfold His ideal and His ideas to those in leadership and those who should be in leadership.
In addition to all of this, God has also seen fit to entrust to our care for brief periods of time on Sunday morning and Wednesday evening special needs adults from three area group homes. What a gift from God! The work in this area may be difficult, but it is certainly rewarding for those involved with this ministry. It seems that with this ministry, the parable of the talents holds true. Should one remain faithful with a little, God will grant much more.
Let’s pray together for God’s desire to be our desire. May they become so one together that we no longer realize the difference between His and ours.
God Bless,
Jason
Pictures from Hot Summer Nights: Summer Fun Water Park
Attention: now available at The Creek Photo gallery are pictures from this afternoon’s extravaganza at Summer Fun Water Park in Belton.
Enjoy! 
Communication
In an effort to make sure people know the scheduled events please be aware of the following locations for passing information. Information will be duplicated in these places:
1. Sunday morning bulletin, both announcement section and upcoming schedule
2. Sunday morning verbal announcements
3. Sunday morning powerpoint announcement loop on the screen before the worship services
4. Up-to-date calendar on the church’s website
5. Schedule of events on a website called Mychurch
6. Wednesday prayer guide
7. Newsletter articles written by area leaders and staff
We work with teams and coordinators and sometimes plan for an imminent event so as only to make an announcement a couple of times. We will continue to communicate in these various ways depending on church members to take advantage of these means and verbally communicate events within their classes and groups.
Surely He Didn’t Mean That
Just over a week ago Josh Hunt said, that if a group is not working to start new groups it is caught up in its own self-centeredness. His exact words (as fast as I could write) were, “get out of the self-centered model to the doubling model… which is a service model.” Could one of our groups really be identified as ’self-centered’? But, we do love Jesus, we do love each other… and if people come we will welcome them.
Friendly and open may be different from building into your group’s DNA the expectation that we will have a goal of starting a new group and then having this many people again by August next year.
There are probably a people new to your group this year. You have come to really like them and cannot imagine your group without them. Imagine this, there is another couple, or another person who is just like that. You haven’t met them yet, and they need your group.
Can you see to it that your makes doubling a part of its DNA.
Look at the article http://www.joshhunt.com/friday.html and talk about it with a friend at church.