Bob Notes...
Bob Notes…
March marks the ninth month since God brought us and the people of Salem Chapel and Maple Grove together. I believe now is a good time to observe the progress accomplished in building a strong foundation for future ministry.
We are blessed to serve the people of the Salem Chapel and Maple Grove congregations. Here at Salem Chapel, we’ve grown together as a church family in these first nine months. Relationships have begun. A few new couples have started attending. God is moving amongst us.
Some highlights:
· Getting acquainted gatherings helped to bring people together, as well as bring forth many possibilities for future ministry.
· Two Bible Study groups are meeting: a Thursday night group which is clergy-led and a Sunday night group led by one of our co-lay leaders, Walt Pearson. There are also three adult Sunday School classes meeting.
· A contemporary service began on Sunday evenings. Entitled “Sunday Night Alive”, the service gives people who miss the morning service an opportunity to worship. And it serves the needs of those who desire a fully contemporary service. Attendance at this service has averaged 15-20.
· Communication between various ministry areas of the church and the congregation has improved. In the coming weeks, a full report of all the funds disbursed from the Dye Estate will be forthcoming.
· Tammy Monesmith-Bernth was hired as music director. She is in the process of trying to get some new music groups started. She also selects the music for both the Sunday morning and Sunday evening services. She helps the praise team lead the singing on Sunday morning, and she accompanies the offering song in the evening service. She will be serving as keyboard player for the Children’s Praise Band. (see below)
· Adam Raschka was hired as children’s director. He has organized a Sunday School program for kids entitled BASH—an acronym for Born Again Sunday Hootenanny. They are working through a Bible-based curriculum which will eventually lead the children through the entire Bible. A Children’s Praise Band is being formed. And the vision is that by next school year a weekly after-school program for kids will begin.
· Overall worship attendance increased 17% between the first half and second half of 2009. Despite some major snowstorms, we are up 5% in 2010 over the same period a year ago. There is still plenty of room for new people in both services.
An evangelism ministry team has formed. Their first project was the planning for the Purpose-Driven Life program.
These are just some of the highlights of progress made during these first nine months of ministry together. Now is the time to prayerfully support each of these ministries as we given them time to build into the future. It takes time. It takes dedication. It takes consistency. It takes keeping focused.
I count it a great joy to work with the people of Salem Chapel. During this Lenten season, I hope to see us take some giant steps forward as we reach our corner of the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let’s be about making disciples for Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world! Let’s know Jesus Christ and make Him known.
In Grace and Peace,
Pastor Bob