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PASTOR'S PERSPECTIVE
Who says New Year's resolutions are not worth making because so many of them fail by the time we get to February? "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength," Paul says in Philippians.
With His strength, here are some of the things we're resolving in 2012...
Dominican Republic Mission. Our Together in Mission efforts have opened the door to having professional missionaries visit our congregation and day school. Through one of those visits a couple years ago from the Kreys in the Dominican Republic, we were given the challenge to send teams of people on an ongoing basis. In my first visit in 2010 with three others from our district, we helped a flourishing congregation which was worshiping under a tent move into their first church building. We saw the Good Shepherd Lutheran Group Home for special needs children and youth who otherwise were uncared for. We witnessed the student body of Concordia Lutheran Day School in Palmar Arriba in its first year with 80 students enrolled. We also saw the harvest in and around Santiago ready for more church workers, churches, and group homes. As I write this, we have a team of five committed for this May. Our goal is to have a team of at least 8 and no more than 14. Our team will not be limited to Immanuel, but to anyone with a heart for cross-cultural outreach.
Mens' Ministry. There is renewed interest in raising up opportunities and fellowship for men who prefer to be active with their faith and in service to others. A Saturday morning breakfast is being planned at a community site away from Immanuel Lutheran. The hope is to reach out beyond ourselves to other men interested in growing friendships and relationships together.
Sermon outlines. I forget 90% to 95% of what I hear within 72 hours of hearing it. That means by sometime Tuesday or Wednesday I'll forget almost all of what I heard shared from God's Word. But if I read it for myself, or if I take notes, and, better yet, take what I heard, and then what I have read or written down, and put it to use and do it, God and His Word will be stronger and will make me to be stronger in all that I do and in all that I am.
Bible studies and other Biblically related courses. One of the things Ted Kober was most impressed with in his visit to Immanuel was the number of Bible studies available. We are once again organizing and offering opportunities to be in the Word with others, whether in smaller groups or larger groups, on Sunday mornings and during the week. If you want to know more, contact Sheila Thomack.
These are all great resolutions so long as we keep looking to the One who promises to guide our steps – God The Father and The Holy Spirit, with whom we continue to reach out to all, teaching and sharing God's gift of Jesus Christ.
-- Pastor Chris
Feel free to contact us with
questions and/or comments.
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