LBC Coronavirus Update March 17, 2020
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another. --John 13:34
Dear LBC Family,
We continue to adapt to the changing situation related to COVID-19. As we do, we want to provide timely updates to keep you informed. All of our efforts are being shaped by the commands of Jesus to love one another and to love our neighbor.
Worship: Many people joined our first online worship service last Sunday! Special thanks to Joe, Joel, Darin Baker, and Stephen Bowles who made quick work of a challenging project. We loved singing and hearing the message. If you missed the service, you can still view it on the homepage of our website, lakebaldwinchurch.com. You are invited to be part of online worship every Sunday at 10:45, via Facebook or the home page of our website, until we are again allowed to worship in person.
Shepherding: We had a Zoom video meeting with our elders on Sunday evening. The elders want to increase our touch points with the congregation. Be sure to reach out to your elder and deacon with prayer requests and other needs. The deacons will be meeting by video on Wednesday evening to continue to shape our care plan.
SPLASH Kids: Heather Shiflett will be working with the SPLASH team as part of their vision to partner with parents in nurturing the faith of their children. Look for children’s bulletins to help the kids enjoy the worship service this Sunday. Over the next week, you will hear from our SPLASH team about other resources for the kids.
Social distancing: In keeping with guidelines from the government and the CDC, we will be cancelling all church meetings of 10 people or more.
Youth: Youth group meetings are cancelled until further notice. Mark McKinney will be reaching out to youth through a variety of means.
Community Groups: Joe has reached out to Community Group leaders, as these groups are often the best way to provide care, prayer, and spiritual encouragement. We encourage Community Groups to stay in touch through calls, text, or group video meetings.
Discover Grace series online: To encourage spiritual growth, there is a new “classes” link on the LBC website. You will be able to access Discover Grace 1 and the new Discover Grace 2 (starting next week). There are short videos with discussion questions, for personal or group use. Take some time to go through the whole Discover Grace series!
Giving: You can continue to support the church financially by using the “Give” link on the website. Or you can mail your checks to: Lake Baldwin Church, 1300B Lake Baldwin Lane, Orlando, FL 32814. New to online giving? Click here for more detailed instructions.
Prayer: Contact your elder, your community group, or our church office (hello@lakebaldwinchurch.com) with prayer requests.
In all these things we trust a sovereign and gracious God! Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. -Proverbs 3:5-6
With love and appreciation,
Mike Tilley
7 Questions About LBC Finances
Last month the elders of Lake Baldwin Church sent a letter to the congregation, penned by Bart Johnson. He mentioned many reasons to be encouraged about the growth and health of the church, but he also shared concerns and information about a shortfall in giving. This post is a follow-up to that letter, to answer questions that might be on your mind.
Last month the elders of Lake Baldwin Church sent a letter to the congregation, penned by Bart Johnson. He mentioned many reasons to be encouraged about the growth and health of the church, but he also shared concerns and information about a shortfall in giving. This post is a follow-up to that letter, to answer questions that might be on your mind.
What’s the latest on our church finances?
At the end of November we had a shortfall of $94,000 for 2017. However, we have seen a significant increase in contributions for December, and that deficit has been reduced to $54,000. We are praying for continued generosity as we hope to finish 2017 with our budget fully funded and be in a strong position for 2018.
Here's where we stand as of December 22nd
Why the increase in expenses for 2017?
The increase is simply due to the filling of core staffing positions in 2017. We hired Joe White in 2016 and we raised capital funds for that position for the first year. We knew that this strategic “chess move” would be good for our growth, and we also knew that it would stretch us. The assistant pastor role is now being funded through our general offerings. The good news is that the growth of the church in attendance and membership (up 20% in 2017) is happening, just as we had hoped.
In July we also brought on Mark McKinney as youth director, and Heather Shiflett as director of SPLASH Kids. For the year prior to that we were not fully funding these positions. We are grateful for the “temp” staff that kept these ministries going (Lindsay Buono for youth, Jenna Nelson and Molly Tilley for SPLASH), but that was not sustainable for the long haul.
We are grateful and blessed to now have a full staff team, and every staff role is vital to the mission of Lake Baldwin Church.
One other significant item to mention is our commitment to give from our church budget to global missions, local missions, benevolence, and church planting. Just this year we are giving $18,000 to the Florida Church Planting Network to help fund new church planting, including two multicultural churches downtown.
Our budget is provided at the membership class and is updated each year. It is available upon request, and you can look for a summary in the latest issue of the Back Story newsletter.
Why has financial giving not kept pace with our budget and with our growth?
We are blessed to have many who give generously and consistently. While we have often been stretched financially, God has always provided.
However, we began to notice that congregational giving has not been broad-based during 2017. So we want to encourage everyone to participate at whatever level they can.
We can’t be sure why some are not participating in the grace of giving. It could be due to lack of teaching about giving, an assumption that others will take care of it, or a season of financial stress. Often there is a spiritual issue, an issue of the heart. That’s why Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
Since we have a financial shortfall for 2017, does that mean that Lake Baldwin Church has a deficit and is spending money that we don’t have?
No, Lake Baldwin Church is not spending money that we don’t have. Over the years we have made a prudent decision to keep a 3-month cash reserve, so we are dipping into that reserve to cover our shortfall. Our only debt is our office mortgage, and the payment is less than we used to pay in rent. We pay our staff and all of our vendors in a timely way, and we continue to support our missionaries. Our hope and prayer is that God will provide for our church and replenish our reserves through December giving.
What has church leadership done in 2017 to guide the congregation on these issues?
First and foremost, we have prayed and called the church to prayer. We’ve also worked to consistently cast a clear vision to address the “why” of LBC. This happened last May when we talked about future growth milestones, along with information about giving. We also placed our vision before the congregation throughout August, with sermons and animated videos on the fourfold vision of Lake Baldwin Church. Along the way, of course, you’ve seen the monthly financial report in the Weekly Update and the Sunday bulletin.
As pastor I don’t prefer to call the congregation to periodic giving based on the emotion of the moment. This is essentially a discipleship issue that we talk about in membership class and preach on from time to time. We also offer teaching opportunities about stewardship through cohorts like Financial Peace University.
We also don’t wish to use pledge campaigns, and we want to be clear that the pastors, staff, and elders do not monitor your giving. Scripture calls us to generous, purposeful giving from the heart, and not under compulsion. Our primary aim is to preach the gospel, offering good news to the found, and trusting God to stir our hearts to give to the mission of the church.
What is meant by tithing? What if I can’t give a full tithe to the church?
Tithing is based on Malachi 3:10 and is a good rule of thumb used by New Testament Christians. It means returning to God a portion of all that he has given to us, and that portion is understood to be 10%. Tithing has the effect of distributing responsibility equitably. Those who have been blessed with greater resources end up giving more, while those with lesser incomes give less (while still giving 10%).
If you are not able to give a full 10%, I don’t think God would want you to feel discouraged or ashamed. One of my first pastors encouraged people to start with what they could (perhaps 3% or 5%) and trust God to grow that percentage over time.
Sincere followers of Christ might differ on whether the whole tithe should go to the local church. I like what John Piper says: “I can’t prove that, but here’s why I do it.” Galatians 6:9 seems to encourage us to give where we and our families are fed. It’s good to remember that other organizations can raise funds from anyone, but those of us who worship at LBC are the only ones called to give to this church.
LBC would not exist were it not for people who believe that they should give their tithe to LBC (and their additional offerings to other individuals and organizations).
What can people at LBC do at this time to make a difference?
First, I want to express appreciation for what you already do for the church. We thank God for your participation in worship, discipleship, service, and giving.
Please do pray about giving a generous gift to the church this month. And, as you plan your giving for the coming year, please set up a plan to give faithfully, from the heart. It would be a big encouragement if you would return the response card that you received with Bart Johnson’s letter.
Finally, please be praying as a church family for God’s provision. It’s amazing to see all that God is doing in the lives of people through our worship service and our various ministries. Our best years are ahead of us, and we want everyone to share in the joy of praying and giving.
If you'd like to make a year-end contribution or set up a recurring gift to Lake Baldwin Church, you can do so HERE.
Mike is the Senior Pastor of Lake Baldwin Church. Along with preaching, pastoral care, and forward-thinking leadership, Mike loves to invest in developing leaders for the future. Since the beginning of LBC in 2006, Mike and Molly have worked to create a culture where people can grow and use their gifts.
Why We're Thankful for This Community
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!
— Psalm 100:4
“Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!”
It’s Thanksgiving Day, and we’re preparing for a feast with family and friends. Like many of you, I like to remind myself of all of God’s blessings over the past year. At the same time, there is no escaping the fact that Thanksgiving is often tinged with sadness. It’s comforting to know that God can handle this mix of sadness and thanksgiving in all of our lives. Such a gracious heavenly Father still welcomes our expressions of thanksgiving, though faltering and sometimes through tears.
It’s a great blessing to be able to do life, with its mix of joy and tears, with a loving and healthy faith community. With a full heart, I’d like to share why Molly and I are thankful for the church that we serve, Lake Baldwin Church. I’m preaching this Sunday on the “New Community,” so I’ll draw my thanksgiving list from Galatians 6:1-10.
Why we're thankful for THIS community:
1. When we wander, we’re restored.
In the early days of the church, my wife Molly used to say that “we move forward together as sinners.” That means that we relate humbly and tenderly to those who wander. We all fall into sin, but we believe that the church is a hospital for sinners, not a showcase for saints. Galatians 6:1 encourages us to “restore that person gently.” Jesus dealt tenderly with sinners, too. “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” The good news of the gospel is for all of us, and we all need a Savior every day. I’ll never forget the night this year (this year?!) that I lost my temper during our community group. I was devastated that I could be so hurtful. But when I apologized, they restored me tenderly. One guy even said, “That’s why we like this church.” As the chief repenter, that’s why I like this church too!
2. When we have burdens, we are supported.
Galatians 6:2 says, “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” The law of Christ is to love one another. So that’s one of our core values. It’s been beautiful to see that played out this year. Sometimes the help is financial, through our deacons fund. Sometimes the help is practical, like helping others with home repairs. Sometimes the help involves meals, or baby sitting, or hospital visits. Sometimes the help is emotional, weeping with those who weep. I wish we could share all the stories, but much of the help is given confidentially. But it’s happening in many ways, both visible and unheralded. That’s why we’re thankful for this church.
3. When we partner in the mission, we all do our part.
One of the pitfalls of the modern American church is that we can be consumers rather than partners. At our first worship service in 2006, we compared the church to a restaurant. Our vision is that we would all work together to serve the bread of life to those who come our way. Galatians 6:5 says, “For each will have to bear his own load.” The word for load here is not the same as the burden of Galatians 6:2. It is rather the word for “backpack.” Everybody does their part. Today, I think that 80% of our church serves on a once/month team. That’s how a miracle takes place each Sunday, when Glenridge Middle School is transformed into a full-service church. The bee hive has people doing set-up, greeting, serving coffee, teaching our children, or working with our A/V and worship team to give us a beautiful worship service. That’s why we’re thankful for this church.
4. When we hire church staff, we care for them.
Galatians 6:6 says, “Let the one who is taught the word share all good things with the one who teaches.” We used to be missionaries, and the first year of the church we were bi-vocational. Over the years, Lake Baldwin Church has taken good care of us, and we don’t take that for granted. We are more than thankful. We love this church, and I often say that I would not move to another church even if I were offered a million dollars (but Molly might be tempted). As the church has grown, we have worked with our leaders to hire staff, and our aim has been an “optimal” staffing plan. So the biblical principle of remuneration is applied to our children’s director, our youth director, our administrative manager, our worship director, and our assistant pastor. None of them are in it for the money, and I can vouch for them that they are more than grateful for the care extended by Lake Baldwin Church. That’s why we’re thankful for this church.
5. When we see needs in our city, we do good.
Galatians 6:10 says, “…as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone.” This fits with the first line in our original DNA document: we are for the city. Over the last few years, our culture has sadly become quite hateful and divisive. In this climate, we’ve stayed away from politics and division. Jesus did not draw lines when he related to those on the margins, and nor do we. After the Pulse massacre, we saw people in our church rush to offer care. Last summer, our SPLASH Kids and families had a “SPLASH Serves” day when they put together over 50 backpacks for kids in need at Glenridge Middle School. During Advent season people bring Publix gift cards for those same families. Space would not permit me to list all of the grassroots efforts that happened this year to work with excellent non-profit groups serving the city. This past summer that care extended to a building project in La Paz, Mexico, and in 2018 the care will be extended to a medical mission in Nicaragua. That’s why I’m thankful for this church.
With thanksgiving,
Mike and Molly Tilley
Mike welcomes your comments, questions, and feedback. You can email him here: mike@lakebaldwinchurch.com
Mission to Europe: On the Front Lines
Recently Mike and Molly Tilley participated in the annual Pastors Retreat for International Christian Community (ICC), a network of pastors and churches bringing the light of the gospel to the cities of Europe. Here is Mike's report.
Recently Mike and Molly Tilley participated in the annual Pastors Retreat for International Christian Community (ICC), a network of pastors and churches bringing the light of the gospel to the cities of Europe. Here is Mike's report.
Drew and Becky Stephens live in Prague, Czech Republic, where Drew serves as pastor of the International Church of Prague (ICP). The church of 280 draws people from many countries to its English-language worship service. Of the four elders in the church, two are American, one is British, and another is Chinese. The church began in 1990 as a Bible study for people working in the British and American embassies. Today, the church is reaching internationals (ex-pats from various countries), Czech nationals, and immigrants from the Middle East and Africa.
Drew and Becky Stephens (left) with Mike and Molly Tilley
To better reach immigrants from many countries, ICP began a ministry center right off the main square in downtown Prague. Refugees are offered a meal and a chance to shop for clothes in the basement. They can get haircuts, Czech lessons, and even access to a lawyer who is an advocate with the Czech government. New fellowships are being started for various sub-cultures within the church, such as Filipinos, Indonesians, and Chinese. Recent baptisms have included people from the Arab world.
The ministry center location is not for the faint of heart. The staff and volunteers walk past 500 sex workers each day. Drew and Becky are truly on the "front lines" of the gospel!
Drew Stephens is just one of many pastors who attended this year’s Pastors Retreat, held October 23-27 in Germany. Retreat attendees included front-line pastors from Moscow, Budapest, Nice, Marseille, Munich and other European cities. ICC's dream for all of these churches is the same: to be flourishing, gospel-centered churches reaching internationals, in-country nationals, and immigrants.
Molly Tilley with attendees of her seminar, "What Your Wife is Trying to Tell You."
Molly and I know how much stress pastoral ministry can put on a marriage. This stress is especially intense in Europe, and we have seen marriages struggle. That’s why Molly taught a seminar for pastors called, “What Your Wife is Trying to Tell You.” Molly should know. She has a lot of experience trying to get through to a stubborn husband!
My part was to teach a 3-part seminar series on “Gospel-Centered Leadership.” These pastors need tools to lead effectively on such a complex playing field. I also worked with the Euro Team, a group of pastors on the continent who guide the overall work of ICC. In addition to the strategic work we do together, I’ve enjoyed growing friendships with each of these guys.
I’m thankful that the LBC Global Missions Team has adopted this network (ICC) as one of our global partners. The partnership has grown as leaders from Europe have visited LBC, and as our church has freely lent expertise to the work in Europe. This has included Joel Pollard leading worship for the pastors the last two years, along with Katie Pollard designing and maintaining the ICC web site. And, we all can play a part through our prayers and investment in the vision of LBC, including “good news for the world."
2017 Retreat attendees at the Mirabell Gardens during a day trip to Salzburg, Austria
Mike is the Senior Pastor of Lake Baldwin Church. Along with preaching, pastoral care, and forward-thinking leadership, Mike loves to invest in developing leaders for the future. Since the beginning of LBC in 2006, Mike and Molly have worked to create a culture where people can grow and use their gifts.
Why Europe? 3 Surprises That Compel Our Mission
This week I'm joining with pastors in Europe to pray for the advance of the gospel in the "prodigal continent." This is one way that LBC partners with front-line churches in Europe, in line with our vision to bring good news to the nations.
This week I'm joining with pastors in Europe to pray for the advance of the gospel in the "prodigal continent." This is one way that LBC partners with front-line churches in Europe, in line with our vision to bring good news to the nations.
But why Europe? Here are three surprising things I've learned as I've worked with church mission leaders over the past few years.
1. The opportunity is greater than I thought.
The big surprise here is the opportunity afforded by the English language. I knew that English speakers living abroad needed churches. I did not realize that opportunities to worship in English could reach nationals, such as the Germans and the French. This week I'll be praying with Steve Henderson, pastor of the international church in Munich, Germany. The church is slightly larger than LBC, and 25% of the participants are Germans.
But the gospel opportunity has grown even more, as refugees are flooding into Europe from the Middle East. What do people from these nations have in common? Quite often, it's the English language. There is a growing missional niche in the cities of Europe, and international churches are seeking to fill that void.
2. Our front-line church partners are more effective than I thought.
At LBC we believe the gospel of God's grace is powerful. In the cold spiritual climate of Europe, the gospel is thawing hearts. Our partner church in Prague has seen their first professions of faith by individuals from Middle Eastern backgrounds. In Nice, Marseille, Athens, Geneva, and Istanbul, the love of Christ is compelling believers to reach out to refugees and to care for them.
Another visible sign of gospel power is the gathering and uniting of people from many countries and cultures. The international church in Geneva has 55 countries represented. In a world fractured by selfishness and strife, he gospel is breaking down walls and teaching love of neighbor.
3. The challenges are greater than I thought.
In this age of people on the move, church members can be short term and transient. In Europe, Christians are a small minority, with a church attendance rate of 3% in some countries. Laws are not always favorable to Christians. Some pastors feel isolated, and the rigors of ministry can take a toll on marriages and families. Churches can be blind-sided by sin and spiritual conflict, just like anywhere.
So our friends in Europe often need an infusion of hope.
That's why International Christian Community (ICC) plays a vital role in the lives of pastors and churches in Europe. Pastors' retreats and prayer events bring these faithful mission leaders out of isolation and into community. Prayer events like the one this week in Lyon warm the icy resistance on this continent. You can check out the mission of ICC HERE.
While these three surprises inspire our European partnership, we need not be surprised at God's gracious providence in orchestrating these gospel opportunities.
"The God who made the world and everything in it...made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him." (Acts 17:24-27)
Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.
We Will Feast
We have a big event coming up this Sunday. Of course, there’s the Super Bowl. But there’s also the LBC 11th Anniversary. My heart is full today, and I wanted to take a few moments to express my heart as we look forward to our 11th birthday.
My heart for the LBC 11th Anniversary
by Mike Tilley, Senior Pastor
We have a big event coming up this Sunday. Of course, there’s the Super Bowl. But there’s also the LBC 11th Anniversary. My heart is full today, and I wanted to take a few moments to express my heart as we look forward to our 11th birthday.
Our first worship service was on February 6, 2006. We had a ragtag band of dreamers and tire-kickers, some of whom had been praying about the birth of a new church in Baldwin Park. Since that first Sunday, Glenridge Middle School, our building, has been transformed into a full-service church each week. Well... there was one exception, when we had the hurricane last fall.
When I anticipate our anniversary service each year, three things come to mind: Celebration, Appreciation, and Aspiration.
Celebration
Psalm 145:4-5 says: "One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts. On the glorious splendor of your majesty, and on your wondrous works, I will meditate."
It’s good to stop and reflect on the mighty works of God, and on his majesty. This Sunday we will celebrate the majesty and works of God in songs, in readings, and in the Lord’s Supper. As we sing the songs of redemption, let’s reflect on all that our Savior has done for us.
This past year my emotional "water line" has been at a high water mark in my life. I’ve been feeling things more deeply. One happy benefit is the emotion I feel each Sunday when we worship together. I look forward to a feast of worship this Sunday. And to a feast at the Food Truck Event afterwards.
Appreciation
Each year at this time I feel especially grateful for the many volunteers who work to make our gospel feast possible. Actually I feel that each week as I watch people setting up, making coffee, greeting guests, preparing for worship, and working with children in SPLASH Kids.
I so appreciate our serving culture, and the fact that so many serve on a monthly volunteer team. It’s a sacrifice, and sometimes a quiet and thankless one. This week, why not express appreciation to one of our volunteers? Let them know that you notice their faithful service.
Hebrews 6:10 inspires me: "For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do."
Thank you, volunteers!
Aspiration
It seems to me that feasts in the Old Testament also served as covenant renewal. For example, the Passover was a reminder to each generation of the Exodus, and of God’s salvation. I’m reminded of Joshua, and how he called the people to consecration before they went in to possess the Promised Land.
For us, the Lord’s Supper is our “Passover.” It is a chance to re-set our hearts to gospel mode, so that our faith can be renewed and so that we can obey God from a heart of love.
This Sunday, we can look forward to a new group of people taking membership vows. As they take their vows, let’s remember our own membership vows, and renew them.
Aspiration is about the future. Because of the grace of the gospel, we can always have a new beginning. In all the pressures, trials, and temptations of life, our vision can leak. We all need a fresh dose of gospel hope, and grace to pursue the vision that God has entrusted to our church.
When Jesus fed the 5000, there were 12 baskets full left over, one for each of the disciples. That was quite a feast! We may feel our limits, but we have a Savior who is the bread of life, and who gave his life for the world.
Happy 11th birthday, Lake Baldwin Church!
4 Ways Daniel Can Change Our Lives
We begin the New Year with a new sermon series on the book of Daniel. I’ve been waiting a long time for this one! The stories of the Old Testament have a way of engaging our interest, capturing our hearts, and changing our lives. The story of Daniel has a unique way of doing that.
We begin the New Year with a new sermon series on the book of Daniel. I’ve been waiting a long time for this one! The stories of the Old Testament have a way of engaging our interest, capturing our hearts, and changing our lives. The story of Daniel has a unique way of doing that.
In his classic book, Knowing God, J. I. Packer says this about the book of Daniel: “What effects does knowledge of God have on a person? Various sections of Scripture answer this question from different points of view, but the most clear and striking answer of all is provided by the book of Daniel.” Packer goes on to list four ways that a growing knowledge of God (as revealed in Daniel) will change us.
1. Those who know God will have great energy for God.
“The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action” (Daniel 11:32). There is no place for complacency in the Christian life. My prayer for our church is that we will see where God is working and act on it.
2. Those who know God have great thoughts of God.
Packer says this about how the story of Daniel will lift our thoughts about God: “Suffice it to say that there is, perhaps, no more vivid or sustained presentation of the many-sided reality of God’s sovereignty in the whole Bible.” As we immerse ourselves in the story of Daniel, we will all realize that our thoughts of God have been way too small!
3. Those who know God will show great boldness for God.
We tend to be risk-averse, but Daniel and his friends took great risks because they knew God. Just think about Daniel 3, when defiance of the king results in being thrown into the fiery furnace!
4. Those who know God have great contentment in God.
“There is no peace like the peace of those whose minds are possessed with full assurance that they have known God, and God has known them, and that this relationship guarantees God’s favor to them in life, through death, and on forever.” (Packer) It’s often difficult to rest in God in our crazy world, and our hearts need to be drawn to the knowledge of the God of Daniel.
We can’t do any of this in our own strength. That’s why—most of all—we want to see Jesus in the book of Daniel.
When self-righteousness is the default mode of our hearts, we might “dare to be a Daniel” by emulating his courage, but this is to miss the point. When we see in Daniel a greater Daniel, the Lord Jesus Christ, then our hearts will be reset to "gospel mode" so we can press on in obedience, relying on God's grace and faithfulness rather than our own strength.
To see the grace of Jesus in this way, let’s place the sermon series in the context of the entire worship service each Sunday. The gospel-rich songs, the responsive readings from Psalms, the times of confession and gospel assurance—all of these tune our hearts the music of the gospel story that will be revealed in the book of Daniel.
Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.
Darkness in Nice, France
This weekend we lament yet another tragedy at the hands of darkness and evil. We stand with the French people and the churches in France. Pray for worship services on Sunday where the hope of the gospel will be preached. Pray for all of those who lost loved ones on the dark night of July 14 in Nice, France.
image: lovethispic.com
The beautiful city of Nice, France, suffered tragedy last night, when 84 people were struck and killed by a lorry. Citizens of Nice had just finished Bastille Day celebrations with fireworks on the beach. France and the world today are horrified by another terrorist attack.
When I heard the news, I thought of our ministry partners at two international churches in the Nice area. James Arnold serves as pastor of both churches, one in St. Paul just 25 minutes up the road from Nice, and the other in Nice itself. James preached at Lake Baldwin Church in June 2015 as part of our effort to highlight our connection with church partners in Europe. He reports that he and his team are safe. They had just completed a week of Kids Club, so were too tired to go to the Bastille Day fireworks.
This weekend we lament yet another tragedy at the hands of darkness and evil. We stand with the French people and the churches in France. Remember to pray for James and his family and team, as well as the two congregations in the Nice area. They are no doubt grappling this weekend for how best to respond. Pray for worship services on Sunday where the hope of the gospel will be preached. Pray for all of those who lost loved ones on the dark night of July 14 in Nice, France.
At LBC we have been forging bonds of partnership with international churches in Europe that are affiliated with International Christian Community. The vision is for each church to be a radiating center of light, bringing the gospel to internationals, immigrants, and in-country nationals. Please be praying for the churches of ICC, both this weekend and next month as they will be included in the August Prayer Initiative. Pray that the hope of Christ and his grace will radiate from the churches in Europe.
"He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." (Colossians 1:13-14)
You can read an update from James Arnold on the ICC Blog.
Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.
Postcard from Wiesbaden
"What do you like about this church?"
I asked the question of Marco, a new believer from northern Italy. He was the first person who greeted me at Christ Church Wiesbaden, near Frankfurt, Germany.
"What do you like about this church?"
I asked the question of Marco, a new believer from northern Italy. He was the first person who greeted me at Christ Church Wiesbaden, near Frankfurt, Germany.
"First, I can understand the language," Marco replied. As an Italian working in Germany, and married to an Indonesian, the language he speaks when away from Italy is English. That's the power of the international church.
Phil and Nora Gelston with their children, Paul, Tommy, Johannes and Anna.
Christ Church Wiesbaden was planted by Phil and Nora Gelston in 2011. Phil is a young, energetic pastor from Central Florida with a love for the gospel fueled by deep theological roots in reformation theology. Nora was born and raised near Bonn, Germany, and came to faith while living in Spokane, Washington. Her heart longs for her beloved Germany to hear the good news. Their family has grown to six during the five years since they began the church.
"Why Wiesbaden?" I asked Phil, as we sipped coffee after church in his home in the Taunus hills outside of the city.
"It's the headquarters for the U.S. Military in Europe." So the church began with a vision to minister to military personnel. Sure enough, I met several people serving with our armed forces: Megan, from Virginia, who serves with Army Operations and "found a church home;" Jason, a Major who speaks fluent Russian and is an aide to a General; and Sam, a Microsoft engineer who works as a civilian and assists the army with technology.
But the church has expanded to include people from six countries, so the vision is now international. For example, Annika is from Berlin and is married to a Frenchman. Hee-Jae is from Korea.
One ex-pat family from Atlanta found the church they were seeking at CCW. "Attendance has doubled in the last six months," the wife said as we met during the greeting time.
In fact, Christ Church Wiesbaden has outgrown their current facility, so they will soon be moving to a larger worship space. And though Phil and Nora have raised financial support, the work is now 70% self-funding.
Phil is not ashamed to say that the strenuous entrepreneurial work of church planting has stretched him. But he likes how his leadership mettle has been tested and developed. God is refining his faith, and no day goes by without needing to depend on God's grace.
As I write this post, I'm on a train to Zurich, Switzerland, where leading pastors will be praying for pastors like Phil, and for the spread of flourishing, gospel-centered international churches in all of the 100 principal cities of Europe. This is the vision of International Christian Community, a growing network that is a partner of Lake Baldwin Church.
We all can rejoice in the progress of the gospel through churches like Christ Church Wiesbaden.
"I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth." (1 Corinthians 3:6)
Mike Tilley is the senior pastor of Lake Baldwin Church, and has lived in Orlando since 1994. He and his wife, Molly, worked with a core group from the Baldwin Park community to plant Lake Baldwin Church in 2006. Mike loves teaching the Bible in a way that relates to real life. In his spare time, Mike enjoys good movies, long dinner with friends, snow skiing, hanging out with his kids and two granddaughters, and travel.
Why Europe? The Jim Carlson Story
Europe is well-known for its history, culture, and economic prosperity. Europe is less well known as a mission field with an urgent need for churches. Jim Carlson makes a strong case for the importance of Europe in global missions.
Europe is well-known for its history, culture, and economic prosperity. Europe is less well known as a mission field with an urgent need for churches. Jim Carlson makes a strong case for the importance of Europe in global missions.
Based out of Paris, France, Jim is one of the directors in Europe for ReachGlobal, the missions arm of the Evangelical Free Church. He is working on his Doctor of Ministry on the importance of international churches in global missions. Yesterday he spoke to the gathering of pastors and families in Nice, France, that Molly and I have been serving.
In his session, Jim quoted from a book, Strangers Next Door: "An unreached people group is one in which less than 2% of the population are evangelical Christians. Here are the percentages for key countries in Europe: France, 1 %; Germany, 2.1%; Belgium, 1.2%, Netherlands, 4.3%, Switzerland, 4.4%, Austria, 0.5%, and Monaco, 1.2%. We can safely categorize Europe as an unreached people group!
But Europe, according to Jim, is also very strategic at this point in history. It's one of the intellectual centers of the world. It leads the world in educating people from around the world. And it's on the front lines of the global battle for the gospel.
But here's the kicker: "Europe is home to the world's current, and fastest growing, religion: unbelief."
Jim Carlson also serves on the Euro Leadership Team for International Christian Community (ICC), the host organization for this week's retreat for pastors and families. I've had the joy of working with Jim and the rest of the team to chart the course for the future of ICC, with the goal of a vibrant international church for each principle city in Europe.
This morning, Jim spoke to the pastors and wives from Psalm 121, with the famous verse, "Our help comes from the Lord." Then he invited people to request prayer for their personal lives. The floodgates opened up, leading to a rich time of prayer for pastors and wives on the front lines.
It's clear that Jim understands the importance of international churches in reaching Europe. But he also has a shepherd's heart for the pastors and families who have joined in this effort.
Postcard from Nice: the Anil and Anju Story
Anil is a gourmet chef from India, and specializes in food from his home country. He has worked at two of the most famous hotels in Nice: the Negresco and the Palais Mediterranean. He and his wife Anju had something even more significant happen in their lives three years ago.
Anil is a gourmet chef from India, and specializes in food from his home country. He has worked at two of the most famous hotels in Nice: the Negresco and the Palais Mediterranean. He and his wife Anju had something even more significant happen in their lives three years ago.
I met Anil and Anju last Sunday evening after preaching at the International Church in Nice, France. That night, I met a guy from Angola; two students from Romania; two students from South Korea; and an art dealer and his wife, from near Monaco. The church building itself has a facinating history. The pulpit was built a century ago, by some folks who were members of Charles Spurgeon's congregation in London. Like many from the U.K., he would visit Nice on holiday. After meeting Anil and Anju, I learned more of their story.
The Christian faith was new to Anju when they came from India. She and Anil got connected to the international churches in the Nice area, and Anju discovered the love of Jesus Christ. Three years ago, both Anil and Anju were baptized in the Mediterranean. They were baptized by James Arnold, pastor of the International Church in Nice, as well as the International Church in nearby St. Paul De Vence.
After preaching at both churches last Sunday, I was able to see the signficance of the international church. In the new globally connected world, the nations are coming to Nice and its environs. They are students, business people, immigrants, and others from every corner of the globe. Even French people are being reached. I met one woman in St. Paul who was on her second visit to the church. She wants to work on her English.
Molly and I are here to serve a gathering of pastors of international churches, and we're having our meetings at the International Church in St. Paul De Vence. All meals are being provided at the church--a huge savings for the guests. But we had another bonus tonight. Anil, the gourmet chef from India, came to offer a seminar in the preparation of Indian food. All of the pastors and families got to enjoy a tasty meal of Indian cuisine.
We might not be staying at the Palais Mediterranean, but we still got to enjoy some of their food. And that's another benefit of the international church.
Birth of a Network in Europe: the Dan Painter Story
"When do we start?" The new American ambassador to France had just arrived in June of 1985. Col. Dan Painter, liaison with French forces, had just met him at a reception. When Col. Painter offered to pray weekly him, the ambassador gave his famous reply: "When do we start?" They prayed together weekly for four years.
"When do we start?" The new American ambassador to France had just arrived in June of 1985. Col. Dan Painter, U.S. liaison with French forces, had just met him at a reception. When Col. Painter offered to pray weekly him, the ambassador gave his famous reply: "When do we start?" They prayed together weekly for four years.
When Dan Painter and his wife Nancy took a new posting in Prague, Czech Republic, he became the attache for another ambassador, Shirley Temple Black. While in Prague, the Painters saw a crying need for diplomats and military personnel to have a church, so they helped plant a new, international, English-speaking church. This led to the planting of international churches in Aix-en-Provence, Lyon, and Marseilles.
Like-minded pastors from other cities began to link arms around this vision, and a network in Europe was born: International Christian Community (ICC). Starting October 27, pastors from around Europe will be gathering in St. Paul de Vence, France, for the ICC retreat for pastors and families. This annual event is an oasis of community and vision for pastors laboring in the challenging mission field of Europe. Molly and I will be serving these pastors this week, doing everything we can to encourage them. We are grateful to represent the global heart of Lake Baldwin Church as we partner with this ministry.
Dan Painter and the ICC-affiliated pastors have discovered something. The world is coming to the cities of Europe. The new global culture is a vibrant mix of global business leaders, students, diplomats, immigrants, and host-country nationals, all speaking the new global language of English. It's a new missional space where more churches are needed.
When Dan Painter met the U.S. ambassador to France in 1985, he was in the right place at the right time. Now, with the nations coming to Europe, Dan is again in the right place at the right time. And, with each church that joins the network, more people are echoing the words of the ambassador: "When do we start?"
Postcard from France: the Jean-Raymond Story
Change is in the wind for one denomination of French evangelical churches, and Jean-Raymond Stauffacher is leading that change.
Change is in the wind for one denomination of French evangelical churches, and Jean-Raymond Stauffacher is leading that change.
Jean-Raymond is the pastor of the Reformed Protestant Evangelical Church in Marseilles, France. He is also the president of a union of churches spread across southern France, and up to Paris.
Born in France in 1967, Jean-Raymond was the son of American missionaries. He went through a rebellion of sorts in his teen years. A caring friend invited him to the Reformed Seminary in Aix-en-Provence, where he experienced a deep spiritual renewal.
I met Jean-Raymond in 2013 when folks at LBC hosted a contingent of pastors from Europe for the GCA conference. He joined us for a time of strategic planning for Europe, at the LBC office. Flash forward to our meeting on Thursday in Nimes, France.
Nimes (pronounced "Neem") is a beautiful, mid-sized city with an abundance of Roman ruins. We spent the day with Jean-Raymond and his change team, talking about their plan to re-shape a denomination to advance the gospel and plant churches in today's France.
When our work was completed for the day, we walked the Roman ruins in the nearby city of Arles. What a vivid window into the heart of Jean-Raymond. If God gives life to his vision, the church in France will not be like ancient ruins. it will be a vibrant force for the gospel.
Postcard from Marseilles: the Nelly Vos Story
Upon arrival in Marseilles we were greeted by Nelly Vos and her daughter, Helen. They gave us a wealth of insight into the spiritual climate in France.
Upon arrival in Marseilles we were greeted by Nelly Vos and her daughter, Helen. They gave us a wealth of insight into the spiritual climate in France.
Nelly was born in the northeast of France. She and her family were among the few Christian believers in her small town. She became a missionary and met her husband, David (an American), while working with Operation Mobilization in Marseilles.
They had a heart for the Muslim community, so they moved to Montpelier and began working with Muslim students there. These students were from moderate families in North Africa and the Middle East, and some were receptive. After some years in Montpelier, David and Nelly moved to Lyon where they worked with a team from Mission to the World (MTW).
Sadly, David died unexpectedly of heart failure shortly after their move to Lyon. Nelly continued her work by serving at the seminary in Aix-en-Provence, and then took a position as parish assistant at the Evangelical Church in Marseilles, where she now serves.
Nelly says that less than 3% of the French are believers. Interestingly, Muslims are easier to talk with because they don't mind talking about God. But the French are more receptive of late, and she is surprised to learn of French people who want to "learn about the Bible." Muslims from North Africa and the Middle East tended to be more receptive in the 60s, the first wave of immigration. But lately they have not integrated well into French culture, so they are turning to the Islam of their home culture.
Nelly now enjoys her work with the Evangelical/Reformed Church in Marseilles, where she assists the pastor, Jean-Raymond Stauffacher. They minister to a congregation of about 70.
Just as the gusty winds blow off the Mediterranean against the hills and trees of Marseilles, there are fresh winds of change blowing in France. Next post, we'll meet Jean-Raymond Stauffacher, who pastors the church and also leads a union of churches across France.