Give people a vision that's more compelling than what they are afraid of."
Carly Fiorina (former CEO of HP)
Carly Fiorina (former CEO of HP)
As I looked out over our congregation this past Sunday with the expansion progressing and the new faces - I was moved by all that God had allowed us to realize and also moved by what was to come - more people, greater needs to meet, the need for more of our current LFC family to step up and serve. You see, additional seating means, more ushers, greeters, more bulletins and those who fold them. More people mean more children in our nurseries and children's classes and in turn more servants on the Children's team. More people means more parking issues! This past Sunday we did a quick survey and found that 12 cars were at City Hall during our peak parking times. Only 12! We have the rights to 34 spaces over there each Sunday and at all three services - I love parking there and walking over - it is great, simply 149 feet from our church and it allows me some moments to pray, sing, whistle and clear my mind. It also allows for those new to LFC to park where they think they should - closest to the building. What would you endure to see someone brand new find a good parking space to get to church? What would you endure to simply reach out to someone and greet them - just say hello....have we met? Statistical data shows that this is the greatest impact upon people coming to church for the first time. People expect to be greeted by people with name badges but when we all do it - it touches hearts. One lady recently commented that she came to LFC and was greeted by 8 people before she even sat down and was thanked about 5 times for coming to church as she left - this really impacted her.
As we keep giving and serving together, we are a part of a great vision that is more compelling than anything we might be afraid of. It is often that what holds us back is:
Not feeling needed - but you are! Each one of you have a valuable contribution to make and you are needed. With all we are doing as a church we need as many people as we can embrace to step up and out. If you feel this way and somehow it is communicated by our church (unintentionally) that you are not needed, please let me know. email me at pastorb@mylfc.com
Ephesians 4:16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (NIV)
I Corinthians 12: 4 -6 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. (NIV)
Fear - it holds people back. Fear creates blocking, resists buy-in and keeps people in a spectator mode. Fear keeps us from moving from a place in the crowd to being a part of the community, to becoming committed and then moving to the core of the action.
I would enjoy finding out what fears people are dealing with right now - what keeps them from giving their heart to God - from serving with all they have, from living out their calling and using their gifts (both natural and spiritual) for the Lord. If you have a fear that keeps you from serving - giving and sharing. email me at pastorb@mylfc.com I will address it in upcoming weeks and you have my assurance I will not use your name.
I am not only here to bring leadership and teaching but to hear from you. Our team wants to hear from you too.
The future is now: There is a great value in keeping the main thing the main thing. It's easy to follow all types of tangents and miss what the original purpose and design was to be. We are here - the reality of the building expansion, a growing church - new converts to Christ - we had six this past Sunday - water baptisms around the corner and many new people coming who need care and nurture and support. It is time to step up and out and find your place - to keep praying for those in need (we are still praying for over 400 people whose names were giving to us by people at LFC, they simply believed their family member or friend needed a divine intervention from God and so we have prayed and will keep doing so. Let me know what you hear from people - if you have a great story of a life we have been praying for please let me know. email me at pastorb@mylfc.com
Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek Church has stated: "Connect everyone you lead to a compelling cause." Our cause is to embrace the future - get ready for those we have made room for - to pray, to give sacrificially and with all our heart step up and out. There are many teams that need you and need you now. Greeters, ushers, nursery, drama, worship team (we need more musicians - yes we do) creative people, cleaners, handy people, office volunteers, youth team members, children's team, video editors and video creators, harvest party helpers, post game party helpers - people who are stepping up and out right now and living out their call and dream - it is a compelling cause! To be a growing church that is making a difference in our community - it is compelling. To be building, to be planning for more - it is compelling - to see salvation and restoration - it is compelling. What is God saying to you? What will you do? Go for it - and believe. You want to jump in? email me at pastorb@mylfc.com and we (me and our team) will help you get in the water of serving and giving. We need you - it is more compelling than what you are afraid of.
I'm looking forward to the ongoing growth opportunities for me, my family, my team and our church because of what God's up to inside of me and inside of you.
Pastor Bernie
As we keep giving and serving together, we are a part of a great vision that is more compelling than anything we might be afraid of. It is often that what holds us back is:
Not feeling needed - but you are! Each one of you have a valuable contribution to make and you are needed. With all we are doing as a church we need as many people as we can embrace to step up and out. If you feel this way and somehow it is communicated by our church (unintentionally) that you are not needed, please let me know. email me at pastorb@mylfc.com
Ephesians 4:16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work. (NIV)
I Corinthians 12: 4 -6 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. (NIV)
Fear - it holds people back. Fear creates blocking, resists buy-in and keeps people in a spectator mode. Fear keeps us from moving from a place in the crowd to being a part of the community, to becoming committed and then moving to the core of the action.
I would enjoy finding out what fears people are dealing with right now - what keeps them from giving their heart to God - from serving with all they have, from living out their calling and using their gifts (both natural and spiritual) for the Lord. If you have a fear that keeps you from serving - giving and sharing. email me at pastorb@mylfc.com I will address it in upcoming weeks and you have my assurance I will not use your name.
I am not only here to bring leadership and teaching but to hear from you. Our team wants to hear from you too.
The future is now: There is a great value in keeping the main thing the main thing. It's easy to follow all types of tangents and miss what the original purpose and design was to be. We are here - the reality of the building expansion, a growing church - new converts to Christ - we had six this past Sunday - water baptisms around the corner and many new people coming who need care and nurture and support. It is time to step up and out and find your place - to keep praying for those in need (we are still praying for over 400 people whose names were giving to us by people at LFC, they simply believed their family member or friend needed a divine intervention from God and so we have prayed and will keep doing so. Let me know what you hear from people - if you have a great story of a life we have been praying for please let me know. email me at pastorb@mylfc.com
Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek Church has stated: "Connect everyone you lead to a compelling cause." Our cause is to embrace the future - get ready for those we have made room for - to pray, to give sacrificially and with all our heart step up and out. There are many teams that need you and need you now. Greeters, ushers, nursery, drama, worship team (we need more musicians - yes we do) creative people, cleaners, handy people, office volunteers, youth team members, children's team, video editors and video creators, harvest party helpers, post game party helpers - people who are stepping up and out right now and living out their call and dream - it is a compelling cause! To be a growing church that is making a difference in our community - it is compelling. To be building, to be planning for more - it is compelling - to see salvation and restoration - it is compelling. What is God saying to you? What will you do? Go for it - and believe. You want to jump in? email me at pastorb@mylfc.com and we (me and our team) will help you get in the water of serving and giving. We need you - it is more compelling than what you are afraid of.
I'm looking forward to the ongoing growth opportunities for me, my family, my team and our church because of what God's up to inside of me and inside of you.
Pastor Bernie
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