From Me to You...
Dear Friends,
Well here we are at the midpoint of 2005! I've been sharing of recent times out of Nehemiah's story and the challenge at the half way point of building the walls. I trust as you have embraced the challenge of our recent Sunday services you too are feeling a new encouragement to "push through in God" as we head into the latter half of this year. So much of the year still exists as promises to be fulfilled. What has God spoken to you about and what were your aspirations for 2005? If they haven't been realised yet can I encourage you, don't give up but allow the latter half of this year to see the fulfilment of all your dreams and aspirations.
Jesus All About Life
Over the next month, we will be preparing as a church for a great period of outreach through August and September when we will be combining with the "Jesus All About Life" media campaign that has been planned for our city. It will be a chance for many of you as "quiet Christians" to embark on conversations with your friends and neighbours that will be stimulated by the media blitz scheduled through these months. It is envisaged that every person in Adelaide will have seen at least 10 inputs around the theme of "Jesus All About Life' either on TV, radio, press or billboards. We are scheduling a number of key events during this period under the badging of "Jesus All About Life". As I shared in church the other Sunday, please start praying for this event and begin interceding that it will be a major period of impact upon our community and upon particular friends that you are intending to pray for. Use the prayer card bookmarks that you have been given to help remind you to pray on a daily basis for this event. Also why not check out the web page www.allaboutlife.com.au and keep updated on all that is happening with the campaign. Our own church is registered, and you can go into the web page and see what, not only our church, but what other churches are planning to do as key events during this time. For us particularly, the following key events are planned .
• Winter Wonderland - August 28
Fiona has written the following blurb to indicate to you what the winter wonderland theme is all about ..
"Close your eyes for a moment and imagine yourself in a scene surrounded by Christmas trees and fairy lights, listening to good music with a cup of hot chocolate or mulled wine (non-alcoholic and suitable for the whole family!). Imagine children having their faces painted, jumping on bouncing castles, ice-blocking, choosing from a lucky dip. Imagine the delight on faces of young and old alike as they watch a grand finale performance of music with streamers and 'snow' falling from the sky. All this is what Winter Wonderland is about!"
• Father's Day - September 4
This will be a great opportunity for us to present "The Father Heart of God" in the context of Jesus being sent as God's great gift to humanity. We are planning a really special Father's Day service and look forward to you inviting as many "Dads and Granddads" as possible.
• Mass Exodus - September11
A major youth outreach using bands and the momentum created from previous Mass Exoduses to see hundreds of young people come and be impacted by "The Jesus Who is All About Life".
• Jesus & All That Jazz - September 25
This continues on as one of the great outreach events of our church calendar and again it will be presented under badging of "Jesus All About Life" and will profile some of Adelaide 's top musicians and young musician s from various schools around the community.
So I trust that you can "Spring into Spring (!)" as we head through the latter part of this year. I'm so conscious of the scripture in Psalm 127:1 "unless the Lord build the house we labour in vain". All our activity can so easily be as Solomon, the writer of Ecclesiastes, said in his companion book to Proverbs ".vanity, all is meaningless and a striving after wind". Pray with us for this to be a highly effective latter half of our year for the glory of God in the Stirling District and Community.
A Note to Parents re "Switch", our Youth Programme
I am always so encouraged by the commitment and creativity of our youth leadership team. We have an exceptional youth pastor in Carol Ripberger, and may I just take a moment to express my appreciation of her and also of the whole youth team that works with her.
Fiona and I are so aware with our backdrop in youth ministry from our early days in ministry of the critical nature youth works can play in young people's lives and in the life of a church. We made a commitment early in our family's life that independent of the fact that we were pastors in the church, that our kids would be encouraged to make a commitment to the youth ministry on a regular basis. Somehow in this consistency and commitment that we placed before our children, they developed the sorts of friendships that are so critical in helping teenagers through their formative years.
If you have teenage children, one of the most significant thing you can do is encourage an anchor point for their lives that a great youth program such as our church offers in "Switch". The Youth team are so committed to your children and I'm so grateful to them for their week by week enthusiasm.
I realise these sorts of friendships can't be forced, but they can be facilitated. Parents, at this mid point review of 2005, may I encourage you if you have not already, to take this initiative on behalf of your teenagers. Having raised three teenagers myself, I know I am so grateful for the backdrop that this "Switch" program has been for our developing adolescents. Prioritise your commitment as families and honour the faithfulness of our youth team and the leadership that Carol and the others give. Such positive role models are not always easy to find. I believe in "Switch" our church has them.
The Next Weeks
In closing, may I just thank you all for your ongoing support of our church. The next few weeks are filled with "Mission Focus". Don't forget to support the "Auction" for missions on Saturday 16 th July. I myself will be in Sri Lanka but look forward to being back with you toward the end of the month. Thank you for all of you that are giving support to the ministry opportunity I have in Indonesia and particularly taking the wedding of Jonah Skae to Lena. If any of you still feel to give support towards the costs involved in that trip, please do so through either our offering bags in envelopes clearly marked "Jonah Support" or by donating directly to the church office.
As this year continues to unfold, may God continue to inspire you and encourage us together as we serve Him. With many of you heading off during these July School Holiday weeks, may God refresh, protect and energise you for the times ahead.
It's great to serve Jesus with you at Stirling Family Church!
Yours warmly in Christ
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