YIKES! It has been a while since I posted something on this thing... Way too much to talk about - so I will not even try to bring you up to speed. I will however mention two times that were significant in the past week - relating to Watermark (the new church).
On Wednesday, last week, we had a core team meeting and focussed on learning our Spiritual Gifts and talked about the fact that everyone who follows Jesus is a minister and God is calling them to follow His lead and serve. (sorry about the run on sentence) Anyways - Dennis S. (a core member) led us through that time. It was awesome to see this guy, who is not a "professional" pastor, take us through the teaching time. What followed after this teaching time was significant for me. We have been in a decision making time regarding where we should locate our Sunday morning gatherings. There has been great discussion and varying points of view on the subject, but all in a great spirit. In this meeting we opened up the subject and people shared different thoughts, ideas, concerns and their desire to follow Christ.
As a pastor of a very very very young church I was extremely excited about the unity of spirit and purpose I saw and experienced during this meeting. I've seen meetings like this before - where people get run over - or people get bitter - or the pastor gets shredded - or the place explodes... Anyways - God knit us together in unity and there is a growing sense of the next step.
One thing I have realized in this - is that - if you do not value and listen to others opinions - you will not learn what God may want to share with you. Also, those who have not been heard will not experience ownership of the final decision. In any case - God is the center of what is happening and I praise God for His movement and the unity He brings.
It is totally and utterly amazing to me how issues like location, colors, style and the like can derail the greatest mission ever mandated. How is it that we so easily slide into pettiness - while the world is crying out for help? I am not innocent from this. But I pray - that His purpose and His presence would be my all and all. Our core team has been walking with God in unity - and for that I give credit to God.
SWITCHING gears... Sunday morning we had a gathering. We were blessed to have 12 adults from a partnering church (Central Wesleyan: http://www.centralwesleyan.org) come and give us a hand with our children's ministry. Their hearts of service were appreciated! Also the whole morning was able to happen because more and more people are stepping forward to serve up front and behind the scenes. I have met soooo many new people. Some looking for a church - some looking for a way out of church - and some who don't know what church is. We spoke about "being the church" - which is the Body of Jesus Christ. We dealt with the areas of being in community or connection together and serving the world and one another.
Anyways it was an incredible morning and we have out grown the room we have been meeting in. Where are these people coming from? In any case - God gets the credit. We pray and desire that people disconnected from God would do life with us and we are beginning to see that happen.
Well - we have got a TON of details to cover.
i am watermark,
sd
On Wednesday, last week, we had a core team meeting and focussed on learning our Spiritual Gifts and talked about the fact that everyone who follows Jesus is a minister and God is calling them to follow His lead and serve. (sorry about the run on sentence) Anyways - Dennis S. (a core member) led us through that time. It was awesome to see this guy, who is not a "professional" pastor, take us through the teaching time. What followed after this teaching time was significant for me. We have been in a decision making time regarding where we should locate our Sunday morning gatherings. There has been great discussion and varying points of view on the subject, but all in a great spirit. In this meeting we opened up the subject and people shared different thoughts, ideas, concerns and their desire to follow Christ.
As a pastor of a very very very young church I was extremely excited about the unity of spirit and purpose I saw and experienced during this meeting. I've seen meetings like this before - where people get run over - or people get bitter - or the pastor gets shredded - or the place explodes... Anyways - God knit us together in unity and there is a growing sense of the next step.
One thing I have realized in this - is that - if you do not value and listen to others opinions - you will not learn what God may want to share with you. Also, those who have not been heard will not experience ownership of the final decision. In any case - God is the center of what is happening and I praise God for His movement and the unity He brings.
It is totally and utterly amazing to me how issues like location, colors, style and the like can derail the greatest mission ever mandated. How is it that we so easily slide into pettiness - while the world is crying out for help? I am not innocent from this. But I pray - that His purpose and His presence would be my all and all. Our core team has been walking with God in unity - and for that I give credit to God.
SWITCHING gears... Sunday morning we had a gathering. We were blessed to have 12 adults from a partnering church (Central Wesleyan: http://www.centralwesleyan.org) come and give us a hand with our children's ministry. Their hearts of service were appreciated! Also the whole morning was able to happen because more and more people are stepping forward to serve up front and behind the scenes. I have met soooo many new people. Some looking for a church - some looking for a way out of church - and some who don't know what church is. We spoke about "being the church" - which is the Body of Jesus Christ. We dealt with the areas of being in community or connection together and serving the world and one another.
Anyways it was an incredible morning and we have out grown the room we have been meeting in. Where are these people coming from? In any case - God gets the credit. We pray and desire that people disconnected from God would do life with us and we are beginning to see that happen.
Well - we have got a TON of details to cover.
i am watermark,
sd
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