God continues to move in and through us in these days. As I look at the world around us, struggling with insecurity, instability, and fear, I am reminded of the One in whom we put our trust. He is our Rock, our sure Refuge. In Him we trust; in Him we live and move and have our being. We will not be shaken, no matter what comes against us, because we trust in One who cannot be shaken. And that message of hope is what we carry out to this community and to this world as we live our lives in obedience to Jesus’ command to us.
Our partnership with Compassion International continues, and I love to hear stories about how you are connecting with your sponsored children. I’ve heard from the pastors who lead the churches and child development centers where our sponsored kids attend, and they are greatly encouraged by the commitment and faithfulness of Southviewers who are determined to follow Jesus’ command to love others as we love ourselves. To hear the stories of how children’s lives are being changed – that’s something only God can do, and He is using the faithfulness of Southviewers to do it in Rwanda. Thank you for your faithfulness and obedience to God’s Word in reaching out to the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the oppressed in Jesus’ name. What a privilege to serve with you in this and to see what God will do. We are exploring the possibility of a trip to Rwanda next summer (in 2011) to visit these churches and child development centers and to see our sponsored kids. Begin praying now about whether God would have you plan to go with us.
In May, we will continue our weekly gathering for prayer, “We Gather,” each Wednesday night at 6 p.m., and a meal being served each Wednesday. We have opportunities for children to learn how to pray while the youth and adults pray together. I can’t encourage you strongly enough to gather with the church to pray. It is so important not only to pray alone, but also to pray with your brothers and sisters in Christ. We were created to live in community, and praying together is a vital part of being the church. Make it a priority to attend if at all possible.
Our big annual church workday will be on Saturday, May 8 beginning at 8 a.m. You can see some of the projects we’re hoping to complete that day on signup sheets at the foyer counter outside the sanctuary. We appreciate every person who comes and helps to make the building and grounds look as good as possible, reflecting the value of excellence that we commit ourselves to in our work for our Father in Heaven.
Our next Discover Southview class will be on Saturday, May 15 from 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. We provide this class to assist those who are considering membership and those who have recently joined to hear more about who we are, what we’re about, and how we do what we do. Be praying that God would lead those He wants to join with us to be here on that day.
I am excited to announce a new "shared space" partnership with a Spanish speaking congregation who is in need of space for services on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons, Iglesia Evangelica Roca Eterna de los Siglos (Evangelical Church of the Eternal Rock of Ages). The Elders, staff, and I have been working through the details and we are very excited about a greater utilization of the space that God has entrusted to us for the expansion of the ministry of the Kingdom. This building and everything in it is His, and we want to spread His gospel every way we can. We are committed to helping all people become fully devoted followers of Jesus, and we are always looking for ways to “move the ball up the field” in that. This will expand the opportunity for God's message of hope to go out in our community to people that God created and loves so very much. Be praying as we begin this partnership on May 4 that God would be glorified and that His message would go out in a powerful way.
As always, let us keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, following wherever He takes us, and let us commit to serve Him with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength.
Serving Him with you, --William
Our partnership with Compassion International continues, and I love to hear stories about how you are connecting with your sponsored children. I’ve heard from the pastors who lead the churches and child development centers where our sponsored kids attend, and they are greatly encouraged by the commitment and faithfulness of Southviewers who are determined to follow Jesus’ command to love others as we love ourselves. To hear the stories of how children’s lives are being changed – that’s something only God can do, and He is using the faithfulness of Southviewers to do it in Rwanda. Thank you for your faithfulness and obedience to God’s Word in reaching out to the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the oppressed in Jesus’ name. What a privilege to serve with you in this and to see what God will do. We are exploring the possibility of a trip to Rwanda next summer (in 2011) to visit these churches and child development centers and to see our sponsored kids. Begin praying now about whether God would have you plan to go with us.
In May, we will continue our weekly gathering for prayer, “We Gather,” each Wednesday night at 6 p.m., and a meal being served each Wednesday. We have opportunities for children to learn how to pray while the youth and adults pray together. I can’t encourage you strongly enough to gather with the church to pray. It is so important not only to pray alone, but also to pray with your brothers and sisters in Christ. We were created to live in community, and praying together is a vital part of being the church. Make it a priority to attend if at all possible.
Our big annual church workday will be on Saturday, May 8 beginning at 8 a.m. You can see some of the projects we’re hoping to complete that day on signup sheets at the foyer counter outside the sanctuary. We appreciate every person who comes and helps to make the building and grounds look as good as possible, reflecting the value of excellence that we commit ourselves to in our work for our Father in Heaven.
Our next Discover Southview class will be on Saturday, May 15 from 9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. We provide this class to assist those who are considering membership and those who have recently joined to hear more about who we are, what we’re about, and how we do what we do. Be praying that God would lead those He wants to join with us to be here on that day.
I am excited to announce a new "shared space" partnership with a Spanish speaking congregation who is in need of space for services on Saturday nights and Sunday afternoons, Iglesia Evangelica Roca Eterna de los Siglos (Evangelical Church of the Eternal Rock of Ages). The Elders, staff, and I have been working through the details and we are very excited about a greater utilization of the space that God has entrusted to us for the expansion of the ministry of the Kingdom. This building and everything in it is His, and we want to spread His gospel every way we can. We are committed to helping all people become fully devoted followers of Jesus, and we are always looking for ways to “move the ball up the field” in that. This will expand the opportunity for God's message of hope to go out in our community to people that God created and loves so very much. Be praying as we begin this partnership on May 4 that God would be glorified and that His message would go out in a powerful way.
As always, let us keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, following wherever He takes us, and let us commit to serve Him with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength.
Serving Him with you, --William
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