As your Pastor, let me say thank you, thank you, thank you for participating in the vision Jesus Christ has for His Bride, “the Church”. He wants us to be faithful followers of Him. As a family, we have been willing to change to become more like Him, and more like the Bride He intends us to be. We have had the opportunity to see people “Come” with whatever they were carrying, just as they are, and “Connect” with Christ. We have seen people right here in this family “Care” in a way that pleases our Saviour, and we have experienced “Change” personally and as a family. We have seen people change to become more like Jesus.
You might say, “Pastor, what does that have to do with a budget?” It has everything to do with the budget in a Church family, and in 2009, we want to be more “intentional” about the vision Christ has given us as a family. I need to stop and say thank you again. I want to thank everyone for being willing to “be transformed by the renewing of our mind”. Recently I listened to a message on “Rural to Regional Church”. The message focused on becoming a church of broader reach and some characteristics of a Church who is willing to reach more people. As I listened I thought of our family. Thank you for a desire to follow the Lord, and allowing me to lead you in following Him. Thank you for praying for me; please continue to do so. My desire is for us to become even more intentional in ministry and mission. While we are in the world, the Lord uses our stewardship financially to carry out the mission and ministry He has called us to. In years gone by, the budget process in most churches has been somewhat of a separation from following Christ, and more a process of what can we do on this much money. In the last few years Jesus has given us faith steps to take in the budget process. We have been able to see Him eliminate a mortgage on this building, which some said would never happen. Jesus Christ is Lord!
As we continue to take steps of faith, your finance team has agreed to a name change for the team, as well as the document we now refer to as the financial report. Both name changes are in an effort to continually remind us of our purpose to see people “wed to Christ”, and our mission to “fish for men”, so we can see the vision of “C4″ happen in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost. The finance team name is now the “Business Administration Ministry” (B.A.M.). The “BAM” team. The financial report is now a “Ministry Investment Plan” (M.I.P.). Hopefully you can see how these name changes will help us stay focused on the vision, “C4″ (Come, Connect, Care, Change).If I could bottom line the “BAM” team focus, I would say they have prepared and are presenting a “Ministry Investment Plan” that has “C4″ explosive potential as the power of the Gospel unto salvation that will advance the Kingdom of Heaven. We will all have to come together in prayer, service, and giving in order to see the power of the Holy Spirit at work in our midst. Jesus has this question. Will you?
In spite of all the challenges the world faces, 2009 has the potential to be the greatest year for the “Fairview family” to shine brighter than ever for Jesus Christ and to remind the world that He is Lord. I want to encourage you to participate in the vision, by praying, serving, and giving in 2009. We are taking some steps of faith in spite of economic conditions, because Jesus Christ owns the cattle on a thousand hills. He owns everything.
Let me say we are going to do a lot of ministry in 2009, and one of the greatest steps of faith the BAM team is proposing is for you to pray that the Lord send us someone to serve as “MOY”. Right now Chris is serving as “MOMMY” (minister of music-media-youth). Chris does a great job teaching our youth the Bible. We have grown to a point where we have as many as 28 from 8th grade to freshman in college and a few just out of college and in the first few years of their career. In light of this, as your Pastor, I am convinced as we survey the circumstances, that we need someone now more than ever that will be able to connect with these young people in their daily lives. Over two thirds of young people leave the Church when they turn 18, and a great deal of kids today are cutting themselves and committing suicide. We need to do all wecan to ensure that this is not the testimony of those who come up in our care at Fairview, and that we reach more than we are today, so we can impact the number of those who are not connected to Christ.
I am excited about the “Ministry Investment Plan” for 2009. I am so thankful for Steve Bennett to be our “MOE” (minister of everything). He will be coordinating leadership training in what we will call “mission possible”. He will also be helping us do a better job of equipping each other and spurring each other on to love and good deeds. Specifically, helping us make sure that people identify their Spiritual gift and begin to serve in ministry. Along with this, he will make sure in 2009 that we have opportunities in addition to our Sunday morning “Life Groups” to be discipled, with marriage enrichment opportunities, financial peace university, International Mission Board discipleship weekends, and others. He will make sure we are moving people from Worship service to Kingdom service.
Also, in 2009, the BAM team will be extending an open door invitation to all who wish to participate in discussions, prayer, and service in providing input through our “Business Administration Ministry” efforts.
I Love you so very much, and I am proud to be your Pastor! God Bless You! God please Bless Your Work!
“INTENTIONAL” is the word for 2009.
Pastor Rick
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