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Retirement Service for Dr. Vernon J. Jackson National Association of the Wed. August 4 Thurs. August 5 Fri. August 6 Sat. August 7 Sun. August 8 St. Louis Camp Meeting Speaker: Dr. Kerry Robinson Comedy at the Camp! On Thursday, August 5th at 7PM at the Tabernacle of the St. Louis Campgrounds, Food 4 Families Now that the Metropolitan parking lot has been completely repaved, we're ready to turn it back into a drive-thru! We're going to give away groceries to another 300 families on August 14th. FREE Groceries September 11, 2010 September 14, 2010 September 17-19, 2010 September 25, 2010 November 2-3, 2010 Church Builders Plus invites you to join us at the ’24’ conference– designed for church leaders interested in learning valuable leadership
lessons. This event is a unique conference, which allows you to sit Dr. Jones Speaking Schedule: Aug. 8: Rev. Bill Ferguson installation Aug. 15: Preach at Mio Aug. 22: Preach at Beaverton Aug. 22: Rev. Kristi Rhodes installation |
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| XPastor - Dr. Milfred Minatrea Missional Church |
3rd Quarter 2010 ACTION Online |
If you download ACTION Pennway Church of God in Lansing has 80 plastic folding chairs they would like to Church at the Crossing, Indianapolis, has pews in need of a good home. For information regarding either the Grinnell piano or the Gulbransen organ please contact Chuck Richard at 517-646-0670 or 517-281-6777. Grinnell Piano
Gulbransen Organ
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Bill Jones Reacting, Responding, Initiating
Reaction is the easiest thing to do. It is also usually the worst thing to do. Zig Ziglar says that react is what your body does when you take the wrong medicine. It is what we say when we hit our thumb with a hammer. We react with words and actions that are more instinctive. Reactions are not thought out and they often get us into trouble. When Jalene told me her flight was canceled and she was stranded for an extra five hours, my reaction was bad thoughts about that terrible airline. Some people live their whole lives reacting to everything that comes their way. It is the easiest way to live, but it is the least productive way to live. We have all known preachers who strike out at news, disasters, and crises. Reactionary preaching often hurts someone. Churches should do as little reacting as possible. Reaction is the easiest thing to do but the least productive. Responding is the next easiest thing to do. It is a much better alternative. The world is responding still to the earthquake in Haiti. Our nation is responding to the oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Responding involves thinking through what can and should be done. Responding is usually productive. It is not necessarily easy because it takes thinking and planning. But it is easy because the need is clearly defined. When I thought for a moment about Jalene and her sister being stranded, my response back to her was, “perhaps the Lord saved you from a crash?” Response is not as easy as reaction because it takes some thought and planning. Churches are regularly called on to respond to death, to disaster, to critical needs. Initiating is the hardest. Godin says, “Initiating is really and truly difficult, and that is what leaders do.” (Godin, Seth, Tribes: We need You to lead us, Portfolio, NY, NY. 2008 p. 86.) Initiating involves seeing needs that others are ignoring and setting out to meet those needs. It is hardest because the need is not necessarily obvious and the meeting of the need may take sincere thought, planning, and sacrifice. Our congregations around Michigan need to be willing and ready to respond in times of emergency, but we also need to become a body of people looking for opportunities to meet needs in our communities with the love, generosity, and power of the Gospel. If you are a small church you may be able to only move on one initiative right now, but move. Larger congregations may be able to attack several needs all at once, but attack. Christ has not called us to a holy huddle but to a fierce battle for the lives of women, men, and children. Do we believe that Jesus is the answer? Then let’s address a question. Do we believe that Jesus transforms lives? Then get in relationship with lives that need him. Do we believe that Jesus heals the sick and binds up the broken hearted? Then let’s go to the sick and the needy with Christ’s healing balm. May we be less and less reactionary, and become more and more purposeful in our ministries! Send your comments/thoughts to Bill regarding this eAction article. Good News from the Front Summer is a great time for Baptism in Michigan. It is nice to be baptized and not get pneumonia. Three churches have reported to me this summer of great Baptism services. In Niles, Hope community has reported 80 persons coming to Christ in the past few months and recently baptizing 35. In Mio, our church there recently baptized 12 including our first person from the church plant in Rose City. In Redford, Lighthouse Church of God baptized 10 new believers in a joint service with Riverside Park in Livonia. The Kingdom of God is increasing! Do you have stories of conversions and Baptisms? Please email your stories to me at billjones@choginmi.org. We want to celebrate together the great things God is doing in our congregations!
ThinkNEXT ThinkNEXT is a conference for Church of God pastors and leaders who are ready to move beyond the past and the present, and are willing to accept the challenge of fully engaging in God’s mission and being more effective as a church. Doing so requires new knowledge, skills and behaviors. Does your church feel “stuck”? It’s easy for churches to become bogged down with programs, routines and maintenance. In the process the essential nature of being the Body of Christ within the world is sometimes eclipsed. Bring a team from your church and participate in this intensive event. You will be equipped with new insights and encouraged by your interaction with leaders from other churches across S. E. Michigan. If you prefer to register with PayPal, send funds to the Service Center. Be sure to include the names of those attending when submitting payment.
Church Health Ministry Recommends Jesus Manifesto Your Church Health Ministry recommends the latest book by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola, Jesus Manifesto.
In another challenging discussion to the Church on 'being the Church', this book seeks to seat Christ in you, me,
the CHURCH!!! Sweet and Viola remind us that conversion is more than a change in direction; it is a change in
connection! Jesus in us is more than a cute phrase. It is a vital testimony - it is the Good News! In calling for a
Crescent Project's Book of the Month August's Book of the Month: Author Michael R. Licona imagines a futuristic face-off between two historical heavyweights, each speaking on the validity of their respective doctrines, forming arguments and rebuttals while citing evidence from the Qur'an and the Gospels. Intriguing and entertaining, this apologetics page-turner uniquely offers a comprehensive defense of Jesus' resurrection and of Christianity itself. Youth Summit on August 21st, 2010 Fraser Road Church of God is hosting a Youth Summit on August 21st, 2010. This will be a day Noon-1:45pm-Registration/welcome We hope you can come! You can let us know through email how many (including leaders) You can view a short video of one of Mark Cahill's messages here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JfF-jcfTfj8 God Bless, 91st General Assembly
Dr. Richard A. Mansfield, speaker
BRIDGES One-Day, A Seminar for Christians to Share the Hope with Muslims, taught by author and teacher Fouad Masri, is coming to Chicago on October 2nd. This unique training session will replace fear and intimidation with love and gentle boldness, reshaping the way Christians view and respond to their Muslim neighbors. Over 10,000 have been equipped though this dynamic event, and now it's available to you! October 2, 2010 (9am-4pm) "Wow! BRIDGES is doable and fun...loaded with personal stories. In my opinion this is the finest initial training around." - Edward Hoskins, Author of A Muslim's Heart "Crescent Project's training is practical, biblical, sensitive and much needed in today's climate of misunderstanding" - Ravi Zacharias Register today at www.crescentproject.org/chicago or 888.446.5457Part-time Executive Director 50 year old Lansing nonprofit, 501(c)(3) charitable organizationrequires a part-time Executive Director leading to full-time. Bachelor's Degree preferred. Leadership, organizational, public speaking, and fundraising skills required. Send resume to nonprofit1120@sbcglobal.net. |
