STATE OF THE CHURCH
A MESSAGE IN THREE SECTIONS
January 3, 2010
Pastor Michael Palmer
A LOOK BACK AT 2009…
1.
We
began the process of final planning for the Together We Make A
Difference Campaign.
·
Church
Health Task Force
2.
We
implemented the TWMD campaign.
·
Vision
Gathering
·
Prayer
·
Sermon(s)
·
Testimonies
·
Printed
Material
·
Banquet-Commitments
or “Pledges”
·
Commitment
Sunday $465,000 over three years
3.
Why?
·
To
maximize the use of this 4.3 acres to the Glory of God
·
To
reach more people in our community
·
To
“Equip more People” for victorious Christian living
4.
What
will the project do when completed
·
New
Children’s and Preschool area (still in progress)
·
New
32’ X 60’ modular building for Youth Connect Group and other Discipleship times
(also other use for all ages)
·
New
grass pave parking area- provide better and some additional parking in grassy
areas
·
Help
fix roof venting/leaking
·
Provide
$25,000 for a new church plant
5.
We
continued to preach through the book of Romans on Sunday morning.
6.
Wednesday
night Life classes were successful in that many were challenged and
encouraged in their walk with Christ.
7.
Leigh
Carter was commissioned by the International Mission Board of the Southern
Baptist Convention and left for North Africa Middle East (a two year tour)
8.
On
Easter Sunday we had 601 in worship demonstrating to us that it is possible to
do that regularly in this space!
9.
God
continued to work in our midst to call out many more to full time Christian
Service- Missions, Pastoring, Associate Pastor,
Other:
Carter and Tammy Mundy
Dave and Cindy Helfrich
John and Nicole Black
Becky Armstrong
Future: Jeff and Ashley Beckett
10.
God
expanded our understanding of how we can actually make a difference through
supporting various mission efforts:
·
Lottie
Moon Offering
·
·
·
·
·
Uganda-
Rick Via World Reach Ministries
·
·
·
Rescue
·
We
actually voted to increase the percentage we give to the Co-Operative Program
by a full 1% (about $8,000 less for GRBC use and more for Church
Planting and Missions)
11.
Green
Ridge sent Pastor Michael to the Southern Baptist Convention and he was present
and voted for the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force to be
implemented.
12.
We
experienced one of the best summers at Green Ridge with Children’s and Youth
Ministry- VBS, Youth Camp, etc…
13.
We
had Dr. Danny Akins (SEBTS President) at Green Ridge and we had Evangelist Bill
Stafford.
14.
Pastors
Michael and Greg participated in the Executive Committee of the SBCV (helping
with some constructive changes)Pastor Michael completed
two years as the first Vice President of the SBCV. Greg has one more year on
the Executive Committee.
15.
The
church voted to try (pending county approval) and purchase a house next to the
church property. This will be used for the church offices and free up four
rooms to use for Connect Group Space.
16.
Linda
Murphy (part-time secretary) retired after ten years of service and the church
was fortunate to find and hire (call) Kathy Endraske to work twenty-eight hours
per week under Ellen Carawan. Carolyn Zimmerman also works a few hours each
week.
17.
Green
Ridge grew some this past year but there are some signs that a “plateau” has
been reached. And a “plateau” will come unless a majority of the membership
discerns this and is willing to take the necessary steps of obedience in
order to reach people and make genuine disciples of Jesus Christ!
18.
2009
was a good year for Green Ridge and the
19.
Some
statistics from 2009 and before…(Powerpoint
presentation)
SO WHAT IS OUR STRATEGY FOR 2010 ?
1.
WORSHIP
THE LORD GOD IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH
Continue
to give our best effort to worship the Lord and experience His presence week in
and week out. Preach the Word of God
with preparation and prayer and do our very best to have a “Word from God” each
Sunday. Feed the Flock of God! Sing in participatory worship and praise
engaging the heart and mind with sound doctrine and genuine worship of the King
of Kings. This year Pastor’s Mike and
Greg will be preaching through the book of John beginning in February. On Sunday nights in the late Spring we will be doing a series on our mission as a church
called “Compelled to Love”. We believe
that we should meet with the Lord God every time we meet for worship; our
philosophy is that worship should not be boring and the hearers should also
give some effort with their heart and mind.
The combined result is that God should be glorified and the people
present should receive something substantive for their heart and life. We want the very presence and power of God to
work through the worship experience each week.
We believe that the Living God working in His body is one of the best
witnesses to the Lord God.
2.
PRAY WITH PURPOSE
Pray for
the lost, pray for the overall mission of the church. Pray that we would build bridges to lost
people all over our valley and use those bridges for the Gospel witness.
3.
HELP
PARENTS RAISE CHILDREN WITH BIBLICAL WORLD VIEW
4.
CONTINUE
TO PROVIDE CHILDREN’S AND YOUTH EXPERIENCES CENTERED ON GOD AND HIS WORD
5.
CONTINUE
TO DEVELOP OUR CONNECT GROUPS
These are the key to
our overall church’s mission. We need to
be careful of an attitude of business as usual in this area. We have a mission to fulfill and these groups
are central to HOW we do what we do here at Green Ridge. We may try a new
approach with some of these connect groups in the future. We will discuss this on some Sunday nights
this Spring.
6.
CONTINUE
TO HAVE A GOOD WEDNESDAY EXPERIENCE WITH THE MEALS AND THE L.I.F.E.
CLASSES.
7.
FIND
AND DEVELOP A MINISTRY TO OUR COMMUNITY AND SEE HOW WE CAN CONNECT WITH MORE
UNCHURCHED AND DISINTERESTED PEOPLE.
8.
CONTINUE
TO BRING THE BEST OUTSIDE SPEAKERS TO GREEN RIDGE.
9.
WE
NEED TO DO MORE TO DEVELOP A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AND HELP PEOPLE GET TO KNOW
OTHER PEOPLE. LOVE PEOPLE WITH A
CONTAGIOUS LOVE.
10.
WE
HAVE THREE INTERNATIONAL MISSION TRIPS PLANNED FOR 2010 AND ONE PLANNED FOR
VERY EARLY 2011 –
11.
CONTINUE
TO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR OUR THREE NORTH AMERICAN CHURCH PLANTS AND GO THERE TO
DO SOME DIRECT MISSION EFFORTS:
Restoration Church Washington DC,
Charlottesville Community Ch,
Hills of Grace in Rapid City SD (we probably will not go here).
12.
CHURCH
VISITATION MINISTRY WILL CONTINUE – Spring and Fall
Semesters. GROW NIGHTS etc.
13.
DEACON
MINISTRY WILL BECOME EVEN MORE NEEDED AND IMPORTANT AS THE CHURCH GROWS. We will continue to ask our Deacons to do
their best to contact people and minister when there is a need.
SOME NUTS AND BOLTS RELATED TO OUR
TOGETHER WE MAKE A DIFFERENCE CAMPAIGN AND OTHER PLANS FOR OUR FACILITIES
·
We
hope to have the
·
We
hope to install the extra GrassPave parking areas
late this Spring and into the Summer
·
We
are still working on the Children’s and Preschool areas.
·
We
need to get bids on the huge roof, cupola, and foyer area roof project.
·
We
will need to refurbish the house to be able to “house” some adult Connect
Groups.
·
We
are looking into purchasing a house adjacent to our church property. If this
goes through (and we believe it will), we will rent it for a year or two and
then move our offices there. This will provide two more preschool connect group
rooms and two more adult rooms for use on Sunday morning and at other times as
well. This will be a major project and
will require a lot of help.
2 Corinthians 5:11-21
(Let’s be crazy for Jesus in ’10 and beyond!)
I.
OUR
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH CHRIST, AND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THAT EXPERIENCE, IS
THE ONLY “THING” THAT CAN MOTIVATE US
See verses 13 and 14 – “the love
of Christ constrains us”
Amplified Version – “for the love
of Christ controls and urges and impels us”
Our motivation will be to help
others understand the implications of the cross of Christ for their life. That will happen to all who have been
changed. - This is all supernatural and a work of God’s grace which should put
us in awe.
To
whom are we to be agents of reconciliation?
Those without Jesus—yes. But who are these people and more importantly
where are they? And what are we doing as
a church and as individuals to really be ambassadors for Christ?
1986 Survey of the
45% claim to have born again experience
25% or less attend church regularly
75% say they are members of a church
25% say they are not members of a church
What would the numbers be
like today?
There
is an increase in the populations of our region that have no church background
and no understanding of the Gospel, the Bible, etc. In fact, many of these have a low view of
church and any “organized religion” in general.
There
is also an increase in the number of people with a weak church background who
have a decidedly post-modern view of their world. (Everything is relative—no outside objective
truth and if there is, they are not concerned with it.)
Some
of our population is aware of Christianity and actually have a respect for it
(sense a need) and are open to hearing more—but don’t push.
A
few are seeking, they are dissatisfied with themselves
to an extent and want a genuine relationship with God and others.
Some
are saved and just seeking a church that is genuine and on mission with God,
not playing church, also not stuck in tradition (evaluate spiritual progress by
one’s attendance in S.S., worship, Sunday Night, Wednesday Night, etc.)
God
is calling Green Ridge to all of these type people HERE in our
Valley and around the world!
As
we think about those who would not attend a church . . . what can we do to go
where they are and engage them with the message of the Cross? Are we “constrained” to do this? Do we really love them?
God
is working in our midst – we must be willing to follow Him to be an ambassador
for Christ. We may need to change some
ministries, programs, personal habits, etc. in order to be more effective
in our outreach and our personal discipleship.
Let me ask you an important
question:
What are we doing at
Green Ridge that has the following characteristics?
1.
Life on Life –
open and honest sharing together between believers
2.
Word centered
3.
Is consistent and
intentional as a regular part of life
4.
Has depth
5.
Is
intergenerational
6.
Has conviction
and repentance taking place regularly (individually and as a group)
7.
Is under the
authority and protection of undershepherds designated
by the leadership and confirmed by the body
8.
Reproduces
through relationship centered evangelism and intentional leadership
development. This is the New Testament
model.
What are we doing that has
the above characteristics?
Illustration: A half hit two iron
versus a well hit three wood – some distance is better than nothing! But greater distance with accuracy is
best. Are we willing to try the three wood? If we can do
something else as a body and have even greater effectiveness for the gospel,
would you be willing to try something a little different?
God is calling us out at
Green Ridge to be God’s Church, His church in this messed up world. And God has called us (those formerly in a
mess!!) to grow strong and go to this world.
Our Valley needs us to give ourselves to God and to this ministry
of reconciliation. Let’s do whatever it
takes to bring this Valley (and our world) to Jesus!