50th Anniversary Very soon, on October 3, Halteman Village Baptist Church will be celebrating 50 years of Gospel ministry. We will be remembering the Lord’s faithfulness and kindness on this very special day. Jon Nichols and his wonderful team are planning many different activities. I plan to mention their ideas in detail when I write my next newsletter article. What I would like to address now is the preparations planned by Dennis Kirts and our Trustees as approved by the church.
We all want our facilities to look their very best for our 50th Anniversary Celebration. You have probably already noticed our sign out front has a new brick base that looks very sharp - many thanks to the anonymous donor(s) who made this project possible. In addition to this, the Trustees recommend we complete the following beautification projects:
Fellowship Hall: While we may not be able to do everything on our to-do list, the Trustees would like for us to finish sheet rocking and painting the walls, installing sound absorbent ceiling tiles, and placing new ceramic tiles on the floor.
Flag Pole: The flag pole is in desperate need of a new coat of black paint.
Clean grounds: On the side of the church there are items that need to be taken to the dump
Sunday School Classes: Our hope is each Sunday School Class will find ways to spruce up their classroom.
Stained glass windows in sanctuary: The windows have been graciously donated by the Holdren Family
Flowers out front: Completed
Brick around church sign: Completed
New door knobs for education wing: Completed
Finishing the projects mentioned above will enable us to put our best foot forward at our 50th Anniversary Celebration. We will need everyone to prayerfully consider how the Lord would have them give financially and of their time. We will need workers to paint, clean, put up drywall, etc. Let us work together with both unity and enthusiasm as we prepare for this very special day!
July is here, and with July comes one of the most exciting weeks of the year: Vacation Bible School! Tiffany Moore and Susan Pidcock are working diligently to make this year’s VBS one of our best yet. I cannot thank all of our VBS volunteers enough as they prepare for this very special week. Let us all lift up in prayer each worker, child, and parent who will be touched during this wonderful time.
The theme this year is Saddle Ridge Ranch, and our children will be headed out West to find adventure, fun, and the Lord Himself. The children will be hearing Bible stories, eating snacks, and participating in recreation each day. Kerry Jones will be bringing his faithful steed J.W., a horse with Texas roots. Friday will end in a finale of water balloons. Such an ending is traditional, if I understand my history correctly. The pastor may choose to watch from his office window, and Al Holdren is not allowed to participate. (Ask him why if you have not heard the hilarious story!) Needless to say, VBS will be a FUN week where Muncie children hear about the love of Jesus.
Let me close my article with a devotional thought. How precious are the gift of children! As the scripture says: Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward (Psalm 127:3). How true this verse is! Who can help but smile in awe in the presence of an infant? Who can help but laugh when a four year old says the oddest things? Who cannot see that children are the future? The Bible is full of admonitions to adults about the importance of children. Even the Lord Himself said to His disciples “Let the little children come to me.”
Unfortunately, we live in a society that does not have a biblical view of children. Little ones are often spoken of as burdens, career killers, and irritants. Many children are left to raise themselves, all but abandoned by parents who may sleep in the next room but rarely are engaged in the lives of their children. I’m sure you have met children like this… orphans with parents. Oh how Jesus loves the little children. To be His disciples we too must love little ones. We can do this by adoption, friendship, and acts of kindness. Children need love, and the church has an abundance to share.
Vacation Bible Schools is a time where many little ones will hear about Jesus for the first time. Some will have never entered a church before, and what a privilege we have in showing them the love of the Lord. Memories of Bible stories, love, and kindness will stay with their souls for a lifetime. Let us hope and pray that as they grow into adults they will understand there is a place in God’s house for them.
If you would like to serve in VBS please contact myself or Tiffany Moore. There is always a place to serve during the very special week of Vacation Bible School. Lastly, please invite every child you know so that each one can experience the presence of Christ at Halteman Village Baptist Church. Thanks for being a wonderful church!
Community Groups I find myself looking forward to June with much excitement and anticipation. By the time you receive this newsletter someone should have contacted you and invited your family to a community group. If for some reason you did not receive a phone call, please let me know and I will put you in contact with one of our new community groups.
As time goes on, each community group will develop into a unique environment that meets the needs of its members by God’s grace. Your regular presence will help the group become all that God wants it to be. Below is a basic outline that most of our community groups will follow.
6:00 Bless food/snacks with prayer
6:10 Devotional
6:30 Individuals share highs and lows of previous week
6:50 Break up into same gender groups of 3 and pray for one another
7:00 End formal time
?:?? People leave for home (Feel free to stay a while. . . especially if you are at Larry’s house!)
Please take note that community groups are a time where we intentionally live out our roles as the body of Christ. Know your spiritual gifts and look for opportunities to use them. Pray and ask God to enable you to hear the Holy Spirit’s promptings. Each week there will be brothers and sisters in need of encouragement, assistance, and an understanding of the scriptures. Allow Christ-like love to move you to serve others.
The last Sunday of the month will be a fun time. Groups may choose to play board games, go to the movies, or simply eat a large meal. My prayer is that on these evenings you will bring unchurched friends and family. (Just in case you are wondering. . . you can bring any visitor to any meeting at any time.) In the first century lost people marveled at Christians by saying “Behold how they love one another!” By spending time with believers your lost friends and family will be able to see that Christians really have been changed by God. So while our fun evenings may seem insignificant, they are actually very important because lost souls will be seeing Christ in us.
Please make attendance to your community groups a priority. These groups simply will not work without you. . . all of you. We, the church, need your presence as well as the spiritual talents God has given specifically to you. After all, God did not give you spiritual gifts to serve yourself, but to serve His much beloved church.
A Word from the Pastor Let me start by thanking everyone for your wonderful service. All of you have done so
much for myself, our church, and most importantly the Lord. Please allow me to paint
a big picture of what is happening at Halteman.
Four major events are about to happen simultaneously in the next two months. Each
of these events is important and will need the full attention of our church body. As
with all important church tasks, success requires unity, cooperation, and God’s grace.
Let us look at these four important activities.
First, our association’s On Mission Celebration will bring to Muncie some of our
Southern Baptist missionaries. This will be a special time to hear what God is doing in
America and around the world. Your heart will no doubt be warmed as you hear how
God is saving souls. These testimonies will help explain why our church gladly gives
over 10% of our offerings to missions. The dates of this event will be May 15-19.
Second is our Community Groups. My prayer is that Community Groups will be a
fellowship time where people relax, learn, eat a bit, and share about what God is doing
in their lives. I very much desire that we in the church family know what God is doing
in the lives of others. Community Groups provide a way to make this a reality. I also
pray this will become a welcoming place for visitors to see what is best about our
church: a people transformed by Christ. Lord willing, Community Groups will begin
June 6.
Number three on our list of important activities is youth camp. Our young people will
be heading to North Carolina on June 7. Many of you will remember that Maddie Holdren
was saved by the Lord at camp last year. God moves in a mighty way when
young people gather to focus upon Christ. The youth will soon be offering their labor
for assistance in raising funds for camp. Please be generous, as you always are.
Lastly, thanks to such generous giving for our Fellowship Hall renovation, work will
soon begin on phase one. Our Go Time workers are looking forward to having specialized
ceiling tile installed so that echoes will be reduced during tutoring. Please thank
our Trustees who are working diligently to prepare our building for the 50th Anniversary
on October 3. How very thankful I am for their hard work!
As you can see, we have four large tasks to accomplish. Please take time to pray to
God, and ask Him how you can assist our church in making each of these four events a
success. I cannot thank you enough for your generosity, love, and service for HVBC. I
am certainly blessed to be your pastor!
I am very excited about our Community Groups that will be starting, Lord and church willing, the Sunday evening of June 6. Our prayer is that this new ministry format will enhance church fellowship and empower us to walk with God together. What is a Community Group you ask? Well, let us look at the answer to that question.
Community Groups are a practical way to “Fellowship in the Gospel” (a phrase from Philippians 1:5). Living the Christian life is not to be done alone. We, the church, are to encourage one another to walk with God. Community Groups offer an opportunity to know how others at Halteman are living for the Lord. In addition, others are able to see how your relationship with God is working itself out.
A frequently asked question at church is “How are you?” Yet in the midst of all our activity, rarely is the long, real answer given. Community Groups have a designated time for people to share their “Highs and Lows” of the previous week. Such sharing strengthens friendships and enables prayer, encouragement, and helpful advice. Let us be honest. Who really knows, understands, and empathizes with how our walk with Christ is going week to week? If the answer is no one, then there is most certainly a need for Christian fellowship.
Currently we are planning to have four Community Groups meeting on Sunday Evenings at 6:00. The leaders will be Larry Markle Jr., Kerry Jones, Jon Nichols, and myself. Jon will be hosting his group at the church, while the others will be in miscellaneous homes every week. As each group meets at its designated home, attendees can bring some type of snack or drink. After a time of eating and greeting, the leader will give a short devotional. Following this, every person will have the opportunity to share about their walk with Christ during the previous week (“Highs and Lows”). This will be followed by prayer. The whole event should last no longer than an hour to an hour and a half.
The whole family, children and all, are asked to attend the group. There will be individuals designated (if needed, children may simply play together) to look after the children during the formal meeting. We hope that having the whole family together will make this a special and fun time. (Don’t worry about your children acting like children. . . the other adults won’t mind a bit.)
In conclusion, let me ask you to pray about committing yourself to this new ministry format. We will be giving this a test run from June until the end of summer. When school begins, we will step back and reevaluate. All new groups take time to bond, and there is no substitute for time and presence. Next month you will receive a call from a Community Group leader asking you to attend their group. Please make an effort to follow through and attend. Authentic Christian community is a beautiful thing and a wonderful blessing. I promise you will be glad you participated.
If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.1 John 1:6-8
What is fellowship for the believer?How does fellowship look when lived out?Is there a way we can grow as a church in this area?
Fellowship (koinonia) is a partnership or union with others.Church fellowship is founded on the basis of our personal relationship with God.As Christians, we have been saved and changed by Yahweh.The Lord’s life is present within our souls and His Holy Spirit guides us day by day.God’s word, the Bible, gives us instructions on how to live, raise our families, and conduct our careers in this world.These principles for living bring believers together in fellowship.
This radical change toward holiness that God imparts to Christians unites us together.The world does not understand our God or our doctrine.The Holy Spirit is an abstract concept to the lost, but believers know this holy presence to be the source of life itself.Christians are able to understand one another’s experiences and are all working toward the same goals: personal holiness and the salvation of the world.As we become more Christ-like our fellowship grows stronger and sweeter.This is what 1 John is referring to when it says “But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another”.Holiness brings us closer to our church family while sin sows the seeds of division and quarrel.
Thus great ministry must start with great fellowship.Wonderful fellowship is founded upon a strong relationship with God.How is your personal relationship with God?Do you understand the scriptures and as a result know what God expects of you?Do you live a blameless life where you and others notice God’s presence in you?If you have answered yes to these questions, who are you discipling?If you said no, who is personally teaching you how to walk with God?
In addition, how important it is for you to warmly greet visitors?Yes you.Yes, I’m really serious. I’m talking to you, my friend.Our church is small enough that you should literally know everyone.Do you know everyone’s name?Can you spot a visitor’s new face?If you answered no to these two questions realize we need you to step things up a notch.Please learn to embody the principles of Christian fellowship for the sake of others and yourself.How we want and need others to walk away from visiting our church saying, “Wow, those people really care about me and one another.”
Lastly, understand that true fellowship requires authenticity.Sunday School classes, for example, can be much more than just an information exchange, but rather an environment where talking about our personal walk with Christ is common place.
Fellowship is a big concept and one that we must ponder together.I have high hopes as our church considers community groups for this spring.Yet even with this new ministry format we must never forget that fellowship is to be a part of all HVBC activities.
Know that you are vitally important to our church when it comes to fellowship.In fact, we literally cannot do it without you.Thanks for being such a wonderful church!
New Years has become more special to me as the years roll by one by one. During this season I find myself pondering the last twelve months and planning out the next year. How exciting it is to look ahead and consider the great things God can do. As I look at our 2010 calendar I see exciting possibilities as we join the Father's work on earth.
January will start us off with a deacon and yokefellow election January 3 at 6:00 p.m. Randy Toomey has already returned to our deacon body and Larry Markle Jr. remains our anchor and chair. Yokefellows will also be assisting our deacons as they care for each of our church families. Kerry Jones will be considered for deacon, while Dick MacDonald and Al Holdren have agreed to be considered as yokefellows. Deacon family care ministry will be extremely important as we grow in both number and Christ-likeness.
Fellowship Hall renovation recommendations will also be presented to the church in early 2010. Shana Markle and the decorating team along with our trustees have worked diligently to find colors, lights, and kitchen appliances that will enhance our facilities as we minister to the community. Donations will be accepted as we try to prepare HVBC's facilities for our 50th Anniversary in October.
January and February will also present us with special emphases on prayer. The Southern Baptist Convention is in a time of transition as new individuals are sought to lead important institutions. On January 31we will spend extra time on our knees for the SBC mission boards. In February we will pray directly for Muncie during 40 Days of Prayer for Muncie. How does God want to use each of us to reach our city for Christ? We will never know if there is not fervent prayer seeking God's direction and power.
Spring will bring a new format for ministry that will enable spiritual growth and connections among believers. We hope to begin a community group ministry meeting at different locations, most being in homes. Our hope is that a warm environment will bring a personal touch as we study the Gospel of God together. Many details remain to be worked out, but this gathering will help our church incorporate new faces into our wonderful church family.
Summer will bring hot weather and plenty of activity. Vacation Bible School and youth camp will be major events in the life of our church. How pleased I am to see children and youth introduced to the truths of God. Investing in the next generation is always to be a priority for Christ's Church. New stained glass windows, handcrafted and donated by Al Holdren, will also be installed in the sanctuary over the summer. What a blessing this will be as we worship alongside these symbolic windows that point to God's glory! Also, at the end of summer as the school days begin, we plan to have a pictorial directory made so that church members, both old and new, can be in contact with one another. Such a directory will also help new members put faces with names.
As fall approaches we will celebrate 50 years of ministry at Halteman Village Baptist Church! Please mark your calendars on Sunday, October 3, and make sure you can join us for this very special celebration. Over the past 50 years God has shown Himself to be so faithful. People have been saved, baptized, and transformed by the life of Christ. As we celebrate the past we will also be laying the foundation for our next 50 years of ministry. We will both review and renew our church covenant for this very special day! Please talk to Jon Nichols and our 50th Anniversary Committee about any ideas you might have for this big celebration.
As you can see, we have a big year ahead. We will need all hands on deck as we strive to fulfill God's will for our very beloved church. Thank you all for using your time and talents for Christ's Kingdom, and have a wonderful new year in the Lord.
Christmas is such a wonderful time of year. Families gather to eat, greet, and give gifts. For believers there is an even greater reason for the season. On the first Christmas two thousand years ago a great promise was fulfilled: the Messiah was born.
The Child that was born to be King of kings literally changed the world and eternity. Just as God had promised, His Son would take away our sins and bring peace between God and man. Through Christ we can be born again and made new. By grace purchased by His blood we are indwelt with the Holy Spirit. What a majestic gift we have been given!
So many promises have been made to us by Almighty God. Promises of provision, presence, and security give us solid hope as we face the future. We do not know exactly what tomorrow holds, but we understand that God will be with us in trial and tribulation, peace and prosperity, life and death. We walk by faith not sight being warmly held and sustained by the sure promises of God.
All these blessings are ours because a baby was born in Bethlehem. Confidence is possessed by faith in the child laid in a manger. Take time to ponder the promises that are yours in Christ. Allow your soul to rest in a God who sent His only begotten Son to die for you. In so doing you will understand the angels proclamation to the shepherds "Peace on earth, goodwill to men!"
Thanksgiving Thanksgiving Day commemorates the pilgrims' bountiful harvest in 1621.
These devout Christians came to America so they could worship God in
freedom, without fear of persecution. Religious freedom remains one of
Americas' treasured right to this day. George Washington proclaimed the
first national day of Thanksgiving on November 26, 1789. Abraham Lincoln
put in place Thanksgiving Day as we know it in 1863. Families found time to
give God thanks even in the midst of our tragic Civil War. Americans have
celebrated this holiday fourth Thursday of November since then.
I hope that you will take time to thank God for his kindness as you gather
around the big bird with your family and friends. The hustle and bustle of
life sometimes makes us forgetful of God's goodness. We live in the richest
country in the world. We are free to worship God without fear. We have a
great church family, as well as wonderful kin. Most of all, we have a
glorious God who saves-and is always with-us. I hope we will take time to
stand back, notice the wonderful blessings around us, and give God heartfelt
thanks this Thanksgiving.
Mayflower Compact
In the name of God, Amen. We whose names are under-written, the loyal
subjects of our dread sovereign Lord, King James, by the grace of God, of
Great Britain, France, and Ireland King, Defender of the Faith, etc.
Having undertaken, for the glory of God, and advancement of the Christian
faith, and honor of our King and Country, a voyage to plant the first colony
in the northern parts of Virginia, do by these presents solemnly and
mutually, in the presence of God, and one of another, covenant and combine
our selves together into a civil body politic, for our better ordering and
preservation and furtherance of the ends aforesaid; and by virtue hereof to
enact, constitute, and frame such just and equal laws, ordinances, acts,
constitutions and offices, from time to time, as shall be thought most meet
and convenient for the general good of the Colony, unto which we promise all
due submission and obedience. In witness whereof we have hereunder
subscribed our names at Cape Cod, the eleventh of November [New Style,
November 21], in the year of the reign of our sovereign lord, King James, of
England, France, and Ireland, the eighteenth, and of Scotland the
fifty-fourth. Anno Dom. 1620.
One-Year Anniversary I find it almost hard to believe that October marks my one year anniversary as your pastor. What a wonderful and exciting year it has been. Let us ponder and give thanks to God for what He has enabled us to do together!
Music Ministry: Kerry has continued to give strong and steady support for our Music Ministry. New faces have been seen in our choir, and the Easter and Christmas cantatas were fabulous.
Sunday School: Joyce has kept all of our ducks in a row! We now have a computer system for attendance that emails your pastor and Sunday School teachers with vital attendance information.
Men’s Ministry: Al has mobilized our men for community involvement, ministry at the men’s shelter, and regular fellowship. Even after so many wonderful accomplishments, this ministry is still ripe with potential!
Women’s Ministry: Elaine has done a superb job leading our ladies. From service projects to promoting our missions offerings, our ladies love to serve our Lord.
Children: Jayne and Marsha have done a wonderful job starting our new tutoring ministry called “Go Time.” Through this wonderful Wednesday night program children not only learn to read, write, and multiply, but also learn about God’s love for them. Stephanie and Julie organized VBS, which is a huge job, and blessed so many. There are also numerous new faces ministering to our children. How grateful I am for all of our various ministries to children.
Youth: Our Fab Four (Larry and Shana Markle, Kim Kirts, and Chris Holdren) do a wonderful job instructing and leading our youth. Youth camp at Ridgecrest, North Carolina, was a great trip - especially when God saved Maddie! This made my year!!!
Deacons: While we have had some musical chairs in our deacon ministry this year, I am thankful for the honorable service rendered by each. The first year of a pastorate is filled with many unknowns, and Larry and the other deacons have been extremely helpful by filling me in on history, needs, and other situations.
Church Finances: Jayne has jumped in with both feet when it comes to our budget. Wilma, who passed the torch to Jayne, did a wonderful job. How blessed we were to have such a seamless transition in such a difficult job.
Prayer: Charlotte has accomplished much by keeping the priority of prayer in front of our church. Weekly prayer sheets are now a part of Sunday morning, which gives us the tools to pray for one another all the more. The Prayer Tree and PrayerNet, operated by Natah and Tiffany, also allow us to seek the Father quickly in times of need.
Recreation: Mike has done a magnificent job organizing church activities! From corn hole to shower curtains he makes sure our time together is both special and fun.
Trustees: Charlotte and our trustees are truly go getters! From bathroom renovations to a major hall overhaul our trustees have gotten the job done with excellence. In addition, our church has been more than generous in giving. Thank you!
Outreach: Joyce, Jayne, Tiffany and Margaret have been instrumental in enabling us to create a follow- up system for visitors. Contact cards are now placed in every pew in our church. World-renowned Markle bread baskets are delivered to each visitor’s home along with a new brochure about our church. Jeanne is the definition of faithfulness when it comes to our weekly bulletin. Lastly, our web site has been updated and is a great window into our loving church family (hvbchurch.org).
As you can see, we have had a busy year! How I thank God for each one of you. Your time, tithes, and prayers directly contributed to the accomplishments above. How excited I am about what the Lord has in store for us next year! As most of you know, 2010 will be our 50th anniversary as a church. Much planning, prayer, and activity will be a part of this historic year. I look forward with great excitement to what God has in store for Halteman Village Baptist Church!
As most of you know, we are a Southern Baptist church. In a day where there are many, many mission organizations that do good work, what makes Southern Baptists special? Why is a shortage of funds for Southern Baptist missionaries a concern for Halteman Village Baptist Church? Well, I’m glad you asked!
The first thing that sets Southern Baptists apart is that our missions organizations are confessional. All workers and missionaries who minister for Southern Baptists must sign a statement that affirms the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. The Baptist Faith and Message, or BFM, is a doctrinal statement that says the Bible has no mistakes and that the Word is to be our guide while we reach the world with God’s Gospel. The BFM addresses foundational beliefs about the Trinity, Man, The Church, Family, Evangelism, etc. By having strong accountability in doctrine, we can be sure every Southern Baptist missionary is sharing the Truth as communicated in God’s Word. Feel free to read this doctrinal statement for yourself at www.sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp
The second characteristic that sets Southern Baptists apart is efficiency. There is always a burning desire to stretch funds as far as possible for the Kingdom of God. Even now, there is a group meeting to determine how our missions efforts as Southern Baptists can be even more efficient and effective.
Thirdly, Southern Baptist missionaries are fully supported. The Cooperative Program (CP) created a system of pooling together money for missions from thousands of SBC churches to support our missionaries. The cooperative effort began after observing missionaries constantly struggling for funds. Before the CP, missionaries would go to church after church pleading for money. When enough money was raised the missionary would head overseas. Yet when the funds ran out, the person would have to come back to the U.S. and rally churches to give support. While the missionary was back home, new converts would languish without a leader. Southern Baptists found a better way: Encourage all churches to combine missions giving, and through cooperation our missionaries would have full, continual support. The CP kept missionaries from literally being hungry, and allowed them to fully focus on sharing the Gospel of Jesus. . . not raising funds.
Another strength of Southern Baptist missionary work is strategy. Southern Baptists, by working together, have been able to identify every people group that has not heard the Gospel. By sharing Christ with these unreached people groups we are able to be a part of the Lord’s salvation to every tribe, tongue, and nation (Rev. 5:9). By working together Southern Baptists are laboring to complete the Great Commission commanded by Christ.
Yet for all the good Southern Baptists are doing together, there is a problem. A shortage of funds has kept called men and women of God from going, telling, and seeing the nations saved. Right now there are hundreds of trained missionaries ready to go to the ends of the earth, but no funds to send them. For this reason we and many other Southern Baptist churches are taking up a special Lottie Moon Missions Offering this summer. How would the Lord have you give? How would the Lord want you to be a part of reaching the nations with the gospel?
Renovation Project Kudos to our Trustees and Décor Committee for their dedication and good work with regard to our education wing renovation. Lord willing, multiple contractors and numerous church members will soon be hard at work renewing our facilities. God truly has blessed our church with members who care deeply about our facilities. As we will see from the scriptures, concern for our worship center is very important.
In the Old Testament, God rebuked the Israelites for not taking care of the temple. The prophet Haggai says, “Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?” (Haggai 1:4). The Israelites were constructing nice wood-paneled homes for themselves and allowing the temple to deteriorate. This kind of lethargic behavior from God’s people was sin-- and it still is.
God inspired the temple structure to reveal theological truths to His people (Hebrews 9:1-10). Our building does not come from such inspiration, but Baptist would be wise to use architecture to communicate God’s glory and splendor. By doing this, we would be following a pattern of behavior laid down by God Himself.
Caring for our facilities shows our reverence for what happens at church. The study and preaching of God’s Word could not be more critical. We therefore care for our facilities in such a way that will demonstrate high regard for our building’s activities. Finally, a building has a function to facilitate. Good lighting is required for reading our Bibles and hymnals. Proper temperature is important to keep the chills from distracting people. A good church building should promote, and not hinder, learning.
As with all things, these ideas can be taken to an unhealthy extreme. God’s Word and the people always have a higher priority than a building. The Israelites in Jerusalem needed a roof over their heads first, before the temple could be properly completed. God blessed His people, but once their own dwellings were done, the people of God should have jumped at the opportunity to rebuild their worship center.
Our worship center’s remodeling is expensive, around $8,000. Thus far, roughly one half or $4,000 has been raise. All these funds must come from you and me. . . the church. How I hope and pray we will be cheerful givers for this worthwhile project. Thank you for being such a wonderful church! (Next newsletter will be about our missionaries in need.)
Vacation Bible Schoo In just a few days our children take off on their VBS adventure Boomerang Express!I cannot communicate enough thanks to Stephanie Ross and Julie Sykes for spearheading this important effort.How blessed we are at Halteman Village Baptist Church with members who are able to lead!!!Assisting Stephanie and Julie are a multitude of names too numerous to recount here, but please know how thankful both your pastor and church are for the wonderful service you will offer July 6-10.
Now that each teacher has received material and all VBS service slots are filled, one task remains: inviting children.During our fun-filled VBS week each child will learn songs, do crafts, make new friends, and, most importantly, hear Bible stories about God’s great love for them. Please make sure that every child you know is aware of this special week!Make phone calls, write letters, and turn on that grandmotherly/fatherly/aunt and uncle/next door neighbor charm!We want as many children as possible to be on our Boomerang Express.
After inviting every child you know age 4 through fifth grade, I have one last request to make of you.Pray.Pray for Stephanie and Julie.Pray for all our VBS workers.Pray for each of the children God will bring under our care.Pray for the children you have invited to this special week.Our goal is not simply to have a fun week with children, though this would be a good thing.Our greatest goal is to glorify Christ before both parents and children.We can do this by simple smiles and kindnesses, Christian cooperation, and allowing our love for people to point toward Christ love given on the cross.Accomplishing these goals at our VBS would be a magnificent week indeed.Let us both act and pray to make this a reality.
Fellowship Last Sunday was a wonderful day! We had fifteen visitors and wonderful fellowship after worship. What was most impressive to me was the way our regular attendees greeted each of our guests so warmly. Michael, one of our guests, pulled me aside and said “You have some really nice people in your church.” I could not agree more! (This good day would not have been possible without the spectacular service of Mike Virgin. Mike did a wonderful job planning the day’s festivities. Thank you Mike!!!)
One of the wonderful things about a church our size is we know every face that belongs to our fellowship. If there is ever a face that is unknown, we should always make an effort to introduce ourselves. The kind of warm welcome our visitors received last Sunday honors God and draws people toward salvation.
The Bible says “God's kindness leads you toward repentance.” (Romans 2:4) With the Holy Spirit residing in our souls, we are often God’s instrument to demonstrate His kindness to a lost world destined for hell. How proper it is that God’s house of worship welcomes the sinner: both the saved sinner and the unsaved sinner. Let us continue to make each visitor feel welcomed and loved.
Please remember our youth in prayer as they travel and seek the face of God at camp. Youth camp is a week where many lives are changed for eternity. Your pastor, as well as thousands of other believers, encountered God’s power to save at youth camp. Chris Holdren, Kim Kirts, and myself also request your prayers as we accompany the youth as sponsors. The youth want to express their sincere appreciation for the incredible generosity of HVBC. The church has truly shown much love through the Valentine Banquet, skills auction, yard sales, baked goodies, and other personal contributions. What a wonderful testimony you have created for our youth! My prayer is that your fine example will be imitated in the years ahead when they, as adults, will have similar opportunities to support the young people of their generation.
Prayer is also needed for our upcoming Vacation Bible School, July 6-10 (note the date change). Your helping hands are desperately needed as our church reaches out to the youngest among us with the gospel. Many of you have wonderful memories of VBS as youngsters. These memories and the Bible stories learned during this special week last a lifetime. Let us all pray and work to make this year’s VBS all that the Lord would have it to be. Please speak to our VBS leaders Stephanie Ross and Julie Sykes about opportunities to serve.
Lastly, the Southern Baptist Convention will be held during the week of June 21. While many pastors joke about the convention being the biggest and longest business meeting in SBC life, important decisions are made there each year. Decisions about millions of dollars of missions money given by over 40,000 Southern Baptist Churches are made during this week. Our cooperation with other Southern Baptists enables us to do far more for the Kingdom than if we were acting alone. Each year we send representatives from our church to participate with other churches in voting how to spend these massive amounts of money to accomplish God’s will. Please pray for Jon & Jayne Nichols, Kerry & Charlotte Jones, and myself as we represent our church at this year’s SBC convention.
Easter Easter is fast approaching and we, Christ’s Church, have much to celebrate. Our special Easter activities will begin with a sunrise service at 6:45 am. We will meet at Oakhurst Gardens at Minnetrista for a time of prayer, celebration, and contemplation. After a quick run home for a change of clothes, we will then head to the church for breakfast and fellowship at 9:15 a.m. Sunday School classes will all be held together in the fellowship hall. Joint Sunday School is always a special time for sharing and learning. Lastly, we will worship together as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What a blessing Easter will be!
My favorite seminary professor, Dr. Fuller, would have a unique way of making the scriptures come alive for his students. Yet sometimes he would pause, think, and say, “I can’t teach you this.” Then after such an awkward statement from a teacher, he would go on to explain what it was he could not teach us. What I am about to write could be prefaced by my old professor’s words.
We have talked a lot about walking with God throughout the sermon series in John. We have spoken about Christ’s power to transform lives. Emphasis has been made on how truths transform the way we should think and perceive the world. We encountered terms like being “born again.” These concepts are abundantly true and have the potential to produce abundant life in us. Yet I, as your pastor, cannot teach you how to experience these truths in the most personal, intimate ways. Only our Lord, Jesus Christ, can teach such wonders.
Walking with the living Lord is something every man, woman, and child must put first in their own busy lives. Prayer, Bible reading, church fellowship, etc. are all great helps when it comes to walking with our Lord. There is a proper way to do these good things, and an improper way. We do not simply obey because there is a rule saying we should do this or that. The true motivation for obedience is to involve God in our lives, to allow Him to lead and direct us each and every day. As we fulfill our religious duty let us never forget why we strive to do so many good, religious things. It is not to check off a to-do list, and surely not to earn salvation which only comes by forgiveness and grace, but rather we follow the Lord for the purpose of knowing our wondrous, loving, and almighty Creator.
As we approach Easter Sunday, I am reminded of what a significant historical event Christ’s death on the cross was. His crucifixion two-thousand years ago was not just a major happening of the past, but a doorway to life that is open to us in the present. We all know Christ’s death took away our sin thus allowing us to stand on Judgment Day without guilt. We also know that the work of Christ bestows new life upon every believer. What we can all too easily forget is how these truths should create a new reality, a new way to view the world, and a new life in us.
We, as Christians, are able to KNOW God! There is no greater thing! We have the privilege of praying to such Majesty and knowing He has promised to hear us. We live more abundantly as God changes our very own soul, and this happens as we walk with Him day by day, month by month, year by year. We witness God working in other believers’ hearts just as He is in ours. On very special occasions, we look into the eyes of a lost man as he accepts the Lord in faith. In such moments we remember that day long past when God saved our souls. In these things the joy of the Lord is found.
Make sure you are not like the people in Jesus’ day, having eyes to see but not seeing. We worship a mighty God who is ever able to save. Walk with your God daily. Pray to the Father, and by doing so involve Him in every area of your life. Before we can share with the world the power of Easter, we must know the power of Christ in our own lives.
I leave you with a scripture from Philippians 3:8-10. (See left margin). Paul’s faith cost him everything. Yet in losing everything Paul gained far more than he ever imagined possible. Paul knew the Lord, and as a result nothing was more important to him. If we know the Lord like Paul, the same will be true of us.
The Good Shepherd Recently in our Sunday morning service we read a passage in John 10 about how Christ is our Good Shepherd. I thought it would be helpful to review some of Christ’s teachings in this passage. Let us focus on four points.
First, Christ is the Good Shepherd who lays down his life for the sheep. As saved sinners, we were once justly condemned by God because of our guilt. Praise God for the grace which is given through Christ on the cross. Through His death, burial, and resurrection we are able to stand before God perfected because our sin has been removed through Jesus. Where sin once reigned supreme, now abundant life resides and flows like a fountain from our souls. Surely God, in great love, has bestowed wonderful things upon us.
Second, Christ is the Good Shepherd who knows his sheep. Christ knows you in the most intimate of ways. There is not a thought in your head that Christ did not know before you thought it. Jesus knows what our life requires, and is always able to meet these needs. What a blessing it is to have a master who possesses such power!
Third, Christ is the Good Shepherd who acts in perfect harmony with His heavenly Father. While it may be impossible to fully comprehend the inner workings of God in the Trinity, we can know that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost have worked hand and hand to bring about our salvation. To know Christ is God of God helps us understand why our Lord said He is the only way mankind can be saved. There is one God and He alone is the Door that gives way to salvation. For a person to reject Jesus is to reject God Himself.
Fourth, Christ is the Good Shepherd because He willingly lays down his life for the sheep. What great love Christ has for you and me. Christ, in spite of our sin, chose to leave the beauties of heaven to walk on a world in rebellion against Him. What would motivate our Lord to do such a thing? Only a Divine love that knows no limits would act in such a way. To every sinner God offers grace, forgiveness, and eternal life.
Halteman Village Baptist Church has Good News about the Good Shepherd. Encourage your soul by meditating on such wonderful truths. Encourage your neighbors by telling them the Gospel.
Jesus teaches us about the Kingdom by relating the parable of talents in Matthew 25:14-30. As you know, the master gave three servants talents or great weights of precious metals, which functioned as money. The first servant was presented with five talents; the second servant received two talents; and the third servant was provided with one talent. The master departed on a journey after he had given his wealth to them. When a long period of time had passed, the master returned to settle his accounts with the servants. The first two servants were faithful and wise. Each had invested his talents and doubled the master's money. To the last servant, the master gave a tongue lashing because he had buried his lone talent. The wicked servant's talent was taken away after he was rebuked for laziness, and his end was the darkness of hell.
What is the Lord teaching us through this parable? We, like the servants, have been entrusted with something of enormous value. We have received Kingdom property: the gospel, the Holy Spirit's power, spiritual gifts, and a responsibility to care for souls. With great gifts comes great responsibility! Christ made it clear that we will be held accountable for what we do with Kingdom property.
What have you done with the great gifts Christ gave you? The Scripture reads in 2 Corinthians 5:10: "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad." Notice the "we." Paul, a Christian, says that believers will be judged, too. Good stewards who use their talents have nothing to fear, but wicked servants stand to lose much. This is one of the reasons that both the Old and New Testaments say "fear the Lord" (Psalm 111:10 and Hebrews 4:1). Let love have its perfect work in us, and then we can stand boldly on that judgment day without fear of regret (1 John 4:17). With God's love in our hearts, we will naturally serve the Lord, His church, and the lost for whom He sent his Son to die. A person with such character does not dread judgment, but looks forward to great rewards on that day.
As the new year approaches, I cannot help but be excited about all the ministries HaltemanVillageBaptistChurch will be participating in.The church council has done a wonderful job planning out our church’s calendar for 2009.Let us consider some of the ministry opportunities you will be able to support.
Men’s Ministry:Al Holdren is truly talented in rallying people to support worthy causes.In 2009 our men will regularly be asked to serve in many creative, constructive, and fun ways.
Women on Mission: Elaine Cooksey is a wonderful woman of faith.She will be offering our women many opportunities to serve Christ and support missions.
Sunday School:Joyce Horst is simply a bundle of ‘get it done’ energy.She will continue to direct our wonderful Sunday School ministry.Sunday School is the best way to incorporate visitors and new members into our church family.In addition to accomplishing assimilation, Sunday School is our most important discipleship ministry.Please make sure that both you and your family support and benefit from this ministry through attendance.
Preschool/Children’s Ministry:Jayne Nichols possesses the perfect mixture of compassion and administrative skills for children’s ministry.Many enriching activities will be offered throughout the next year.From weekly activities to VBS and children’s camp, we will be offering multiple activities that ensure the next generation will understand the Gospel.Please make sure the children you know and love are present to learn these eternal life lessons.
Tutoring Ministry:Marsha Virgin is definitely gifted by God in administration.She will be using these talents for the Kingdom as she works with Jayne to organize this ministry to the students at Mitchell Elementary.The ability to read and comprehend the written word is something the church has always strongly supported.The reason for this is simple: if people cannot read they cannot open their Bibles and glean the riches of God’s word.Please volunteer as you are able to this valuable ministry.
Youth Ministry:Kim Kirts and Chris Holdren embody faithfulness and love that can only come from a mother’s heart.They are busy organizing many youth activities and events for 2009.From a Valentine’s banquet to youth camp to Sunday School, we must strive as a church body to raise and disciple Halteman’s next generation of leaders.I have been very impressed to hear many of our adult members speak about how they grew to love the Lord under Halteman’s youth ministry.We must labor today so that in twenty years we have new adult mothers and fathers telling very similar stories.
Prayer: Charlotte Jones is not simply one who talks about prayer, but one who embodies a life of prayer.In 2009, she will be diligently working to encourage us to regularly bend our knees before the Father.Prayer Ministry is by far our most important, because if God is not working in and through our efforts we labor in vain.God is the one who builds His church, and we must seek His blessing if we are to have true Kingdom success.
Recreation:Mike Virgin is another member of our church who is accurately described as faithful.Mike’s deeds of service to our church are numerous, but in this letter I want to write about his leadership in recreation.Throughout 2009 we will be offering various fellowship events.My prayer is that these events will offer chances to grow closer to one another, as well as opportunities to invite friends who need a church home and the gospel.
As you can see, we have a busy 2009!As we minister for the Kingdom of God, let us make sure we have spent adequate time in prayer.Pray for your ministry.Pray for those we will meet who do not have salvation.Pray for our leaders.Lastly, pray for your pastor.God desires to accomplish great things in Muncie this year, let us by our actions and prayers ensure we are right in the middle of His Kingdom work.
