The Holy Spirit was moving!
In the throes of a pandemic that is resurging, The Holy Spirit surged more last Sunday. In a moment when so many are polarized and divided, this church rallied around one Savior and one simple act of obedience in water. Thirty-seven people went All-In last Sunday with an additional three going All-In after service in an Indiana lake!
Forty people whose decisions will ripple into eternity.
And, it appears God is not done! Our Tik-Tok video "Should I get baptized?" has had 79,000 views. 79,000! With 1,000 comments and 11,000 Likes. People are asking if they can/should get baptized and connecting with us like never before. Yea God!
If you are still wondering and still interested in going All-In, it's as simple as ABCD:
Admit humbly you are a sinner and in need of a Savior. "...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23) No one is good enough to earn heaven. Even our righteousness is "filthy rags" to God.
Believe exclusively in Jesus Christ as God's Son. Jesus promised, "I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die." (John 11:25)
Confess publicly your faith in Christ. "If you declare with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9)
Demonstrate decisively your allegiance to Christ by repenting of sin and being baptized as a public declaration of your faith. Follow the Acts 2:38 process... "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, for the forgiveness of your sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit."
Just email us and we'll make it happen!
Power in Prayer
Could I ask a favor of you right now as you read this? Bow your head right now and pray for those 40 who went All-In. They need our support and encouragement this week as the evil one is hopping mad. He was laughing at how he planned to divide and distract us with COVID chaos, but God (and we) got the last laugh!
Prayer is critical and powerful. Our world thinks of praying as just a word we use to give us fleeting hope in the moment. But there is power in prayer! Prayer is how we connect to God, the one who helps us, saves us, provides for us, and comforts us. So when it comes to our lives and relationships, what's really going on when we say, "You are in my Thoughts and Prayers."
That's what we will discuss this coming Sunday as we launch a new series on The Lord's Prayer. Don't miss this week in person or online as this place will become a house of prayer. If you want to whet your appetite for this series, check out this treasure trove of resources.
Continue to pray as well, for our staff and elders as we boldly, yet humbly move through this unprecedented season of ministry. As we begin to recover from the consequences of the pandemic, it is easy to see that everybody in every church is hurting right now. No pastor has been able to maintain the team, momentum, morale, and agendas they initially planned. JT and I have been busy forming a new staff team to lead the present and future mission of the church. You will undoubtedly see and hear about that as we head into a new season and chapter.
Our Harbortown KIDS ministry is an example. Tracy, Megan, and Christina have poured their hearts out this summer and we are so grateful for them. Keep encouraging these ladies whose job is harder than ever. This team has been working hard behind the scenes to reorganize and refocus for the season ahead, and we want to let you know that Christina Montague has accepted the role of Harbortown KIDS Director. We are thankful she has followed God's calling on her life in bringing Hope to kids of all ages.
In closing...
Let me remind you our goal and mission have not changed. We still exist to help people find hope in Jesus and a home in his church, but the who and how for that mission is changing. We're not trying to re-create what we had before the pandemic hit...we're trying to serve where we find ourselves today and where God is leading us tomorrow.
Thanks for your faithful giving of time and treasure. Your giving fuels ministry and days where 40 people make life-changing decisions. I got word you responded BIG time to the Brown Bag action step after my message two weeks ago. We received an abundance of supplies for our Homeless Bags. We have volunteers lined up this week to pack a supply of bags. We will have bins by each exit door after the services this Sunday. Please take several with you as you leave and keep in your car to give out to the homeless you meet as you look for opportunities to serve the least of these.
I am so proud of what God is doing around here, in spite of the challenges we have. Every number has a name, every name has a story, and every story matters to God.
P.S. Got word that our friend, Alisa Childers (who led worship here many times) will be in town to speak at a unique conference on September 10/11. Besides being a very talented singer, Alisa has recently been called to help people with defending their faith. She will be speaking with two other apologists on the topic of "The Real Thing." If an intellectual pathway is your way to connect with God, I recommend this, because you don't have to put your brain on the shelf to follow Jesus!