I must begin by apologizing for my lack of posting. I have been so busy preparing for the holidays. I love this time of year but it does challenge one's schedule. It does not help that I am wearing far too many hats. Gladly, this is changing.
Beginning in December, Brad Fassnacht will be taking over as facilities coordinator. He has been a tremendous help these last few months. In fact, the whole facilities team has been great. My thanks to Jim Coffin, Mark Gosney, Jim Woodruff, Dave McCabe, Jeff Parks, and Brad Fassnacht. I also want to express my appreciation to everyone else who has pitched in to help clean, organize, and keep the church in good repair.
Several big projects have been completed in the last month. We had to replace the roof on the oldest section of our building. It was damage at sometime by a hail storm. We were able to get the job done at no cost to the church at all, thanks to Mike Tharp for his generosity. An interesting sidebar, the old steeple was removed. While it was down, I got a call from another congregation who was in need of one. They wanted to buy it from us, but I was glad to get rid of it.
It was also necessary for us to replace the pump and pressure system on our well. With the expansion of the building and the age of the pump, it had to done. I saw the old pump, and it was packed with iron deposits. It is a wonder that we got any water or pressure. The cost of the new system will be paid for out of the emergency fund. You should see significant improvement in the water pressure.
Another project has been to switch the church phone system to Comcast and provide internet service here at the church. Soon, you will be able to use your wireless devices in the foyer. However, I want to warn you that using them during a service in the auditorium could result in a virus that transfers all your funds into the offering! (Joking)
We truly have a lot to be thankful for, as a church. Our greatest blessing is not our facilities, but our people. Their willingness to serve and give continues to permit us to fulfill our mission and vision. Thank you God for the people of Crossroads!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Monday, November 2, 2009
Summer Mission Trip
At last count, we are going to be sending fourteen (14) of our members to Show Low, Arizona this summer for our annual mission trip. We will again be partnering with the Francesville church to provide vacation Bible for the Native American children in the community. The group is a combination of adults and students. Some of them are alumni from last year's trip, as well as several new folks making the commitment.
One might ask the question, "Why do a short-term mission trip?" That is a reasonable question, given the great number of local service opportunities and the cost of traveling. The answer is that a short-term mission trip is more than just serving others. It is about getting a taste of both what it means to be a missionary and to minister in a different culture than your own. While the trip is a huge blessing to those you serve, it blesses you as well because it changes how you see the world.
Having been on two mission trips, one to Haiti and one to China, I can testify to this from first-hand experience. When I was in Haiti, I learned what real poverty is. When you work with the poor in America, you are one of many different institutions. In addition to the church, you have other charitable organizations like the Salvation Army and the Red Cross. You also have many government agencies helping out as well. In Haiti, all you really have is the church working with outside organizations like CARE (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere).
If you want to lose weight, try eating your dinner with two hundred (200) starving people staring at you through a barbed wire fence. In your heart, you want to feed them, especially the children. In your head, you know you do not have enough food to even make a dent in their poverty. Feed this group today, and you will have a thousand here tomorrow. Then twice as many the next day, and the next day! When you have experienced that reality, you become a changed person.
If you were in the worship service when the group from last summer's trip shared their testimonies, you would understand what I am saying. They spoke of how the children and their living situations touched their hearts.
This is why we believe in short-term mission trips. It results in changed hearts and more dedicated lives to the mission of reaching others for Christ.
One might ask the question, "Why do a short-term mission trip?" That is a reasonable question, given the great number of local service opportunities and the cost of traveling. The answer is that a short-term mission trip is more than just serving others. It is about getting a taste of both what it means to be a missionary and to minister in a different culture than your own. While the trip is a huge blessing to those you serve, it blesses you as well because it changes how you see the world.
Having been on two mission trips, one to Haiti and one to China, I can testify to this from first-hand experience. When I was in Haiti, I learned what real poverty is. When you work with the poor in America, you are one of many different institutions. In addition to the church, you have other charitable organizations like the Salvation Army and the Red Cross. You also have many government agencies helping out as well. In Haiti, all you really have is the church working with outside organizations like CARE (Cooperative for Assistance and Relief Everywhere).
If you want to lose weight, try eating your dinner with two hundred (200) starving people staring at you through a barbed wire fence. In your heart, you want to feed them, especially the children. In your head, you know you do not have enough food to even make a dent in their poverty. Feed this group today, and you will have a thousand here tomorrow. Then twice as many the next day, and the next day! When you have experienced that reality, you become a changed person.
If you were in the worship service when the group from last summer's trip shared their testimonies, you would understand what I am saying. They spoke of how the children and their living situations touched their hearts.
This is why we believe in short-term mission trips. It results in changed hearts and more dedicated lives to the mission of reaching others for Christ.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)