The church's parking lot was full last Sunday (1/30/11)! We also had to add chairs to the back of the sanctuary for the first service thanks to the return of our Winter Residents. Every year in January our attendance rises significantly because of the 'snow birds' who come from the north, as they try to escape the snow and ice. However, I believe the rise in attendance this year is not just because of them. In November we had a large group of local residents join the church and now we have another group joining next Sunday. It seems that we just complete one new members class and others begin to ask when is the next class.
Needless to say things are going very well at New Hope Community Church. We are seeing a nice steady growth in our attendance, our small group participation, our youth groups, and our service events in the community.
I've been preaching a sermon series entitled: "Everything I need to know, I learned in kindergarten." The congregation has been responsive. You can view those sermons online at New Hope Sermons Online
Showing posts with label Church Update. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Church Update. Show all posts
Sunday, February 06, 2011
Friday, December 11, 2009
"Jesus is Boring!"
On Wednesday night I went with a group of kids and parents from New Hope Community Church to an assisted living apartment complex. About thirty seniors had gathered to hear the kids sing Christmas carols and help the kids with a craft. The evening began by decorating Christmas door-hangers that the seniors could hang on their doors. The hangers had the little town of Bethlehem already pre-printed on the background and the kids and the seniors were supposed to add Jesus, Mary, Joseph, and the stable. As one little boy worked with one of the seniors, the elderly woman explained the story of Jesus' birth to him. The boy became filled with joy and excitement as he seemed to learn of the real meaning of Christmas for the first time. He was so overjoyed that he wanted to tell someone the good news that he had just realized. The boy came running over to me and a few other parents with great enthusiasm and excitement in order to tell us the good news. With a twinkle in his eye and a smile on his face he wanted to say, "Jesus is born!", but instead, he blurted out, "Jesus is boring!"
As I left the assisted living building, I wondered how many times we Christians send out the message that "Jesus is boring" when what we really want to communicate to the world is that "Jesus is born!" Somehow we've forgotten what good news the birth of Christ is to a dark and lonely world that so desperately needs to hear that the Messiah, the Savior of the world, has been born. I wish we could all capture the enthusiasm, the joy, and the excitement of this little boy and communicate the message of Christ's birth to the world. This Christmas let's help the world to believe that Jesus is born; not boring!
As I left the assisted living building, I wondered how many times we Christians send out the message that "Jesus is boring" when what we really want to communicate to the world is that "Jesus is born!" Somehow we've forgotten what good news the birth of Christ is to a dark and lonely world that so desperately needs to hear that the Messiah, the Savior of the world, has been born. I wish we could all capture the enthusiasm, the joy, and the excitement of this little boy and communicate the message of Christ's birth to the world. This Christmas let's help the world to believe that Jesus is born; not boring!
Tuesday, December 08, 2009
Black Friday Evangelism
My wife, Linda, only does her Christmas shopping on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. She goes through the newspaper the night before, examining all the sales. She clips out the adds and organizes her plan of attack like a soldier going into combat. The next morning, actually in the middle of the night, she awakens our daughter and the two of them sneak out of the house with blankets and folding beach chairs in hand while I'm still dreaming about turkey.
On Black Friday, she sat in her beach chair with coupons in hand and reading a Christian book while waiting in a long line to buy two boys bikes for twenty-five dollars each. What a deal! Two ladies behind my wife commented on her book and that they enjoyed the author. As the two women, who were also in line to buy bikes, continued to talk they discussed the need for them to find a church where both their families could worship together. The ladies were best friends but one preferred to worship in large churches and other preferred small churches. So they began to wonder if they could find a medium size church that they could worship together in. Then, one of the ladies mentioned a church over on Guadeloupe, near Val Vista. She said that she had heard that the church just got a new pastor and that some very exciting ministry was happening. My wife couldn't keep silent anymore. She interrupted the conversation and told the two women that she knew something about the church; in fact, she was married to the new senior pastor. Linda invited the two to church.
It's exciting to know that our community is becoming more aware of what is happening at New Hope Community. It is nice to know that our ministries are having an impact on our community for the Kingdom of God.
On Black Friday, she sat in her beach chair with coupons in hand and reading a Christian book while waiting in a long line to buy two boys bikes for twenty-five dollars each. What a deal! Two ladies behind my wife commented on her book and that they enjoyed the author. As the two women, who were also in line to buy bikes, continued to talk they discussed the need for them to find a church where both their families could worship together. The ladies were best friends but one preferred to worship in large churches and other preferred small churches. So they began to wonder if they could find a medium size church that they could worship together in. Then, one of the ladies mentioned a church over on Guadeloupe, near Val Vista. She said that she had heard that the church just got a new pastor and that some very exciting ministry was happening. My wife couldn't keep silent anymore. She interrupted the conversation and told the two women that she knew something about the church; in fact, she was married to the new senior pastor. Linda invited the two to church.
It's exciting to know that our community is becoming more aware of what is happening at New Hope Community. It is nice to know that our ministries are having an impact on our community for the Kingdom of God.
Sunday, December 06, 2009
End-of-Year Pastoral Letter to New Hope Community Church
I’m so proud of the New Hope Community Church. It is the type of pride that you feel when your child takes his or her first step. I am proud of our Faith in Action Day and the wonderful acts of kindness that we provided our community. I’m proud of our staff because of their “can do – whatever it takes” attitude and their willingness to make enormous personal sacrifices. I’m proud of our many volunteers who work hard all week in their jobs, provide for their families, and still manage to contribute significant amounts of time and energy to the church. I’m proud of the people who quietly pray and who persistently call upon God for His protection of this ministry. I’m proud of the highly competent lay leadership in this church. I’m proud that New Hope is a place where broken people can come to find grace, healing, and hope.
This past year, God has taught me some very valuable lessons about what it means to be unemployed, unable to make a mortgage payment, to lose all of one’s savings, and what it means to lose your home. Not that I ever want to repeat those circumstances again, but as I look back at what my family experienced this year, I am actually thankful for the lessons I have learned. I have learned that there is much more to life than what I thought I needed and I have learned how proud I am of my family for their willingness to adjust their lifestyle so that our basic needs could be met. I know that in the midst a poor economy it has been difficult and all of us have had to cut back. I empathize with those who have lost their jobs or their homes, who have been forced into bankruptcy, or who have had to support loved ones because of medical or financial difficulties. I want to thank you for whatever contribution you have been able to make to New Hope during your struggle. Please do not feel that you need to make any further contribution to this ministry until you are able to make ends meet once again. Our prayers and thoughts are with you.
I am proud of New Hope Community Church because in light of the current economic situation, we have cut our expenses by $45,475 from what was budgeted. However, we are $72,750 behind in what we had budgeted for income. Our goal is to make up the difference of about $30,000 by the end of the year so that we can start the New Year afresh. To make ends meet we have had to take money out our savings to pay basic bills and we have had to compromise some of our goals.
I am proud of all of us who continue to provide for this ministry whether it is through time, talent, or treasure, or most importantly through prayers. But for those of us who have survived this economic crisis and who have continued to feel blessed by God in a special way, I ask that you consider making a year-end gift to the church. Perhaps you give every week but you know you can do something more; please consider giving something additional above your regular contribution. Or perhaps you are working toward tithing but you are not quite there. I am thankful for your goal to tithe and I encourage you to continue to give in that direction. Or perhaps you already tithe because you recognize the value and joy you receive from making that kind of sacrifice. Perhaps you might consider making a gift to the church that is above and beyond your normal giving.
May God truly bless you and your family this Christmas and in the New Year!
In Christ,
Pastor Jim Poit
This past year, God has taught me some very valuable lessons about what it means to be unemployed, unable to make a mortgage payment, to lose all of one’s savings, and what it means to lose your home. Not that I ever want to repeat those circumstances again, but as I look back at what my family experienced this year, I am actually thankful for the lessons I have learned. I have learned that there is much more to life than what I thought I needed and I have learned how proud I am of my family for their willingness to adjust their lifestyle so that our basic needs could be met. I know that in the midst a poor economy it has been difficult and all of us have had to cut back. I empathize with those who have lost their jobs or their homes, who have been forced into bankruptcy, or who have had to support loved ones because of medical or financial difficulties. I want to thank you for whatever contribution you have been able to make to New Hope during your struggle. Please do not feel that you need to make any further contribution to this ministry until you are able to make ends meet once again. Our prayers and thoughts are with you.
I am proud of New Hope Community Church because in light of the current economic situation, we have cut our expenses by $45,475 from what was budgeted. However, we are $72,750 behind in what we had budgeted for income. Our goal is to make up the difference of about $30,000 by the end of the year so that we can start the New Year afresh. To make ends meet we have had to take money out our savings to pay basic bills and we have had to compromise some of our goals.
I am proud of all of us who continue to provide for this ministry whether it is through time, talent, or treasure, or most importantly through prayers. But for those of us who have survived this economic crisis and who have continued to feel blessed by God in a special way, I ask that you consider making a year-end gift to the church. Perhaps you give every week but you know you can do something more; please consider giving something additional above your regular contribution. Or perhaps you are working toward tithing but you are not quite there. I am thankful for your goal to tithe and I encourage you to continue to give in that direction. Or perhaps you already tithe because you recognize the value and joy you receive from making that kind of sacrifice. Perhaps you might consider making a gift to the church that is above and beyond your normal giving.
May God truly bless you and your family this Christmas and in the New Year!
In Christ,
Pastor Jim Poit
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