A Sunday to Remember - part 4

Ok, October 2^nd really was a Sunday to remember. 

The final reason it was a Sunday to remember was presenting the Phase 1 of our 3 Remodel Initiatives, from 9-11-16, for approval.  There comes a time in every church where they must be willing to take a step of faith and yes a step of risk to move forward in the God designed plans for it and its calling.  The leadership of New Life believed Now is the Time for us to move forward.

I am grateful for a church that is willing to move forward.  I am grateful for a church that asks questions about the why, when and how we are moving forward.  I am grateful for a church that trusts what its leaders believe is the direction for that moving forward.  I am grateful we can have different opinions and yet still come to a place of unity once we decide to move forward.  I am grateful for New Life – the church I call my home.

Our goal is clear.  We want to raise commitments for and complete Phase 1 of our remodel initiatives.

I’m looking forward to Easter in April 2017 when our lobby improvements will include a brand new check in area for kids ministries, a brand new Next Steps kiosk – a new way for people to see how they can connect in Life Groups and see how they can serve at New Life.  Along with these elements we plan on having new furniture inside the lobby and new paint on the trim outside the lobby.

I’m looking forward to our 60^th Anniversary in July 2017 when our gym will have a brand new roof, furnaces, flooring, lighting, paint and bathrooms.  All of it culminating in naming that space the Thomason Westside Community Center in honor of our founding pastors.  What a way that will be to celebrate what God has done in the first 60 years of our church.

I’m looking forward to the next school year in September 2017 when our kids areas will have a brand new theme – KidsWorld – and with that a whole new look on every wall and in every hallway.  This new theme will create spaces that immerse kids into a new adventure every weekend.

All of this is possible because our church said, “yes, now is the time” to move forward.

What a Sunday to remember, indeed!

A Sunday to Remember – part 3

The morning of October 2^nd was a Sunday to remember at New Life for sure.  Yes, it was the launching point of our new Sunday morning gatherings (We love what is happening in both of them – check out the servant leader quote in the bulletin on Sunday)  and our Life Groups that meet all throughout the week (We have over 13 groups reading and discussing the Plan A book).  Awesome stuff!

But it also had some significant things happen at night too, the first being Momentum Youth Ministries kicked off their 30 day STL (Speed The Light) T-shirt challenge.  I think it gave us a sense of what can happen when a group of people are unified toward accomplishing the same goal.  Seeing about 30 students and servant leaders gather together wearing their STL T-shirts that night was…well…pretty cool!

The students have a goal of raising $2500.  Several of them already have well over $100-200 pledged or given.  Thank you to those who have pledged to give, and already given to the STL T-shirt challenge.  Also thank you to those of you who gave in the offering this past Sunday to STL.  If you haven’t had a student come your way yet, can you do one of two things?

Either look for a blue STL T-shirt and ask if you can give to their efforts or give something to STL in the offering box the next 2 Sundays to help the Momentum students reach their $2500 goal.

Thanks for helping Missionaries get the transportation and the communication tools they need to share the message of Jesus.  It means a lot to our students that you would step up and personally get involved.  It means a lot to me.  It means a lot to Jesus.

Thanks New Life for being a giving church!

Leading and serving you,

Pastor David

A Sunday to Remember - part 2

Hey New Life,

Last week, I said, Sunday, October 2^nd, was “A Sunday to Remember.”

Besides it being our first Sunday going to 2 Sunday Morning Gatherings, it was also the Sunday we launched Life Groups, our new small group initiative from 9-11-16.  Life Groups are a new way at looking at how we can connect with God and with others here at New Life. 

We believe Life Groups can happen wherever life happens (a home, a coffee house, a park, the church, a school campus, a restaurant, etc. I think you get the idea).

We also believe Life Groups can be any size.  The fact that Scripture tells says, where two or more are gathered, God is there, tells us that a Life Group only needs a couple people to accomplish its purpose of connecting with God and connecting with others.

So how are our Life Groups going 9 days into their launch?  As of today, we have at least 13 active Life Groups meeting all throughout the week.  Isn’t that awesome!  Some of the groups are for guys or ladies only while others mix it all up.  Some are meeting at night while others meet in the morning or lunchtime.  Some Life Groups meet on the weekend and others on weekdays. 

I love seeing people doing life together because we are better together.  And I love seeing people connecting with God and others.

By the way, it’s not too late to be part of a Life Group either.  You can call the church and we can let you know when and where Life Groups are meeting or you can talk with Shami, our Life Group Coordinator, and she’ll help you start your own Life Group or get you connected with a Life Group that’s already meeting when you can.

Keep connecting!

Pastor David

A Sunday to Remember - part 1

This past Sunday was a Sunday to remember at New Life.

 

When we first envisioned changing Sunday mornings at New Life, it was clear we desired for 2 things to happen.

Honor those who serve

and

Give God more opportunities to impact people’s lives

 

A third desire came into focus as we drew closer to our relaunch date of 9-11-16...

...to have a greater influence on the next generation.

 

I have to tell you that we saw all three of these desired goals happen last Sunday, October 2nd.

 

Several servant leaders attended 1 and served 1 Sunday morning gathering.  (not to mention our awesome worship team and some of the hospitality team that served in both Sunday gatherings!) It was so great to be able to see servant leaders give AND receive on the same day, and to be able to start our new series, “Plan A” knowing they can be a part of the entire series.  I loved it!!  I look forward to seeing more servant leaders being able to take advantage of this opportunity and it’s my hope every servant leader feels honored by it.

 

More lives were impacted because we had 2 Sunday gatherings.  One story that came out of the second Sunday morning gathering was of one new family that came specifically because we are now offering an additional Sunday morning gathering later in the morning.  The family actually said they were “watching” what was going on at New Life through Facebook and were waiting for this Sunday to be able to come and attend.  Having our second Sunday morning gathering gave God an opportunity to impact the lives of this family!

 

There was a greater influence on the next generation.  Initially because the two Sunday morning gatherings offered, our Kids Ministry servant leaders will have less kids to lead and serve in each gathering.  What this gives them is a chance to have that greater influence on the kids they have with them each week, plus with teenagers stepping up to serve in kids ministry they too will be influenced by adult servant leaders.

 

So what a great successful Sunday we had honoring those who serve, giving God more opportunities to impact lives and having a greater influence on the next generation! 

 

I am so proud of you New Life!

 

Leading and serving with you,

Pastor David