We're excited to announce the launch of Mark McKinney's podcast! Tune in for an Irish accent plus encouraging daily devotionals focused on the book of Psalms. In this time of isolation, we hope to challenge both students and adults alike to make time to be with the Lord each day, and respond to His Word in new ways. You can click here to start listening now!
P.S. If you have or know of any youths, feel free to forward this in their general direction.
A Message from Pastor Joe
Hola LBC Family,
Click here to watch a brief update from Joe White! And a few quick reminders:
Weekly online prayer as a church: In light of the present crisis, the elders have issued a call to united prayer on behalf of our church, our city, and the world. Join us by Zoom video this Wednesday from 8:00-8:30 pm (call details below).
Worship: If you've missed any of our worship services, click here to access them on our website.
Prayer requests: Please reach out to your elder, deacon, or community group leader if you have questions, prayer requests, special needs, or just want to check in. We are here for you! If you want the staff and elders to be praying for you specifically, click here to let us know how we can be supporting you.
Ministries: Keep a weather eye on the cyber horizon for further updates from SPLASH and Youth, as well as our usual weekly update.
Love and love,
Lake Baldwin Church Staff
Just checking in...
The Church is everywhere represented as one. It is one body, one family, one fold, one kingdom. It is one because pervaded by one Spirit. We are all baptized into one Spirit so as to become, says the apostle, one body.
-Charles Hodge
Please reach out to your elder, deacon, or community group leader if you have questions, prayer requests, special needs, or just want to check in. We are here for you! If you want the staff and elders to be praying for you specifically, click here to let us know how we can be supporting you.
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
LBC Coronavirus Response
If you really fulfill the royal law according to Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. --James 2:8
Dear Lake Baldwin Church Family,
We have all been watching the developing story around the world related to the Coronavirus. This morning I was conferring with our ministry partners in Europe, where the situation has become acute, especially in Italy. One pastor captured the sentiment of many: “We are seeking to avoid the extremes of overreaction and underreaction.”
This week we have seen a travel ban from Europe, the cancellation of major sporting events, and other measures to slow the spread of the virus. In light of this we need to prepare for contingencies. We want to be alert to what God might be doing while taking prudent measures. Scripture reminds us to love one another and to love our neighbors. I would encourage you to view our response through this lens.
One step we took early on was to provide assistance for two of our members so that they could leave China and return to Orlando before the travel ban. Thanks to our deacons we were able to “love our neighbors” in a tangible way.
Here are some other measures we are taking (or can take) to love one another and love our neighbors:
Sunday worship: We will continue to gather for worship unless worship gatherings are cancelled by governing authorities. We have changed the way we will do communion, using pre-packaged grape juice and wafers that will be distributed. Your attendance at worship is, of course, up to you. If you or a family member are sick, then please do not go to public gatherings. If the public schools are closed, we have backup at The Geneva School, as we did during the hurricane.
SPLASH Kids: Our team already has a practice of cleaning and sanitizing items that will be touched by children. We appreciate the safety plans already in place.
Hygiene and social distancing: As you have heard, be sure to wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds, with hot soapy water. For awhile, let’s refrain from touching though handshakes and hugs. If you cough, please cover your mouth.
Digital worship and preaching: In the event of a heightened ban on public gatherings, we will endeavor to provide a way to stay in touch online. If this becomes necessary, stay tuned for communication about that.
Smaller gatherings: Stay connected to your community group and shepherding group. That will be a way to offer care and to continue to share in the means of grace.
High risk individuals: If you need to stay home and cannot get out for food, there are many in our congregation, including our deacons, who will do whatever they can to help. Simply send a message to hello@lakebaldwinchurch.com. This could include purchase of food or picking up prescriptions.
Prayer: Pray daily for those in need and for all in our church involved in caring for others. Pray, too, for those in other countries with high numbers of cases and where healthcare services are overstretched.
Love your neighbor: You might become aware of needs around you, among people who do not have a church family. As God leads, offer practical help.
The peace of God: There is a chance that we and those around us will be worried about our health or our financial well-being (in light of the decline of the stock market and other economic consequences). As Christians, we have the peace of God that passes all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). We have learned the secret of being content, whether in “plenty or hunger, abundance and need.” (Philippians 4:12)
If you have any questions or concerns in the coming weeks, do not hesitate to contact your elder, your deacon, or one of the staff.
Mike Tilley
The Meaning Behind Mardi Gras, Lent and Fasting
An important season in the Christian calendar is upon us but many of us might not realize it. You've probably heard of the terms Lent and Mardi Gras but may not be familiar with their origins or what they truly mean.
Lent is a forty day season of focused prayer, repentance and fasting that takes place each year before Easter, the Sunday that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. These forty days represent the time that Jesus spent in the wilderness immediately preceding the start of His public ministry. Christians around the world have celebrated this season for a number of centuries and many continue to do so to this day.
For those of us in the West, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday before Easter. On Ash Wednesday, worshipers -- most commonly, Catholics -- have ashes rubbed on their forehead in the shape of a cross. This is to represent "repentance" -- or the turning from self to God -- during the Lenten season. During the time of Lent, Christians are expected to fast. It could be fasting from food completely or just meat or, in recent years, some have chosen other items like candy, caffeine or even forms of technology, like television or the Internet. (Technically, Lent lasts more than 40 days since Sundays were originally a day when one could indulge in whatever was being denied since it is the Lord's Day, a day of celebration.)
The day before Ash Wednesday is known as Fat Tuesday or "Shrove" Tuesday (or in the French language, Mardi Gras). Carnivale (which means "away with meat") is an extended festival before Lent that is commonly found in Roman Catholic societies. These are times of celebration and feasting before the entrance into the fasting period. For 2020 the Lenten season began this week with Fat Tuesday taking place on February 25th and Ash Wednesday falling the following day, February 26th. Palm Sunday is April 5th and Easter Sunday falls on April 12th.
For those of us that are Protestant Christians, the observance of Ash Wednesday and Lent is usually dismissed since many regard those as Catholic holy days. But I think that all Christians can appropriately recognize this season. For a number of years, I have participated in the Lenten season and have found it beneficial. It can be a time of dedicated Bible study, prayer, some sort of fasting and repentance and can be great preparation in leading up to the remembrance of the most significant event in world history, the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.
Whatever you might choose to do or not do during this season, I trust that your focus will be on the One who loved us and gave Himself for us. Entering into a time of self-denial and focus on Jesus can help in leading us to a place of maturity where we are more committed to Him throughout the year, whether it is a designated holiday or not. May God bless you richly as we anticipate the celebration of His victory over sin and death.
Click here to read more from Scott Crocker!
Growing in Grace: LBC 2020 Ministry Plan
What are our hopes and dreams for the coming year at Lake Baldwin Church?
What are our hopes and dreams for the coming year at Lake Baldwin Church? We are trusting God for a new season of spiritual growth for each of us.
We are also looking forward to a major milestone in 2020: the transition to Joe White as senior pastor. This is a process that began at my initiative four years ago, and we have already seen the fruit of Joe’s labors among us. Joe and I have worked closely with the elders to refine the transition plan, and we shared the plan with the church at our congregational meeting last September. We’ll have a vote on May 3 to call Joe as senior pastor, and to change my call to associate pastor. After that we expect an overwhelming endorsement by our fellow pastors at the Presbytery level, followed by the official installation service on September 13th. We thank God for bringing Joe our way, for his fit with our church, and for the heartfelt support of our church family.
With these milestones in mind, Joe and I remain focused on the mission of our church: to make disciples by helping people connect to Christ, grow in grace and truth, and love as we have been loved by Christ. In fact, this mission has shaped our ministry plan for 2020. We’ve simplified our plan to four steps (and three of them come from our discipleship plan): pray, connect, grow, and love.
Pray
Since God causes the growth, we carve out time for intentional prayer for the worship and work of the church. As elders, we believe that God has called us to lead in prayer, and to call the congregation to join us in seasons of prayer:
Weekly, through the Weekly Prayer Alert. We only send these fresh requests to those who sign up, so let us know at hello@lakebaldwinchurch.com.
Monthly, through the Monthly Prayer Gathering. Led by elders, we gather at the LBC office on the 4th Wednesday of every month from 7-8 pm. Try to join us when you can, but commit to coming at least once this year. It’s a sacrifice in our crazy-busy world, and we’ve learned that no time in the week is convenient. Just take a step and do it.
Annually, through the August Prayer Initiative. Many of you have already enjoyed this focus each August, when we take a few minutes each day to pray for specific requests. In this way we bathe our church and all future events in prayer.
Connect
We believe that the beginning of our mission is to help people connect with Christ and with community. In John 15 Jesus says that he is the vine and we are the branches. This speaks of our “union with Christ,” a vital relationship with him and with his church.
You play a big part in this as you welcome new people to our church each Sunday. We’ve learned that our worship service has become a great venue for guests to be part of our community and to hear the gospel in language they can understand.
How do we as a church reach out to our neighborhoods and our city? We do it by building three types of bridges:
Relationships: Most people who come to faith and visit our church do so through the “friends and family” plan. Jesus was a friend of sinners. Let’s join him in forming natural friendships with those who don’t yet have a church, and let’s see what God will do!
Events: We have seen fruit through our participation in community events, such as the Baldwin Park Easter Egg Hunt, the Independence Day Bash, and the Winter Spark Parade.
Media: Recently another family began coming to LBC because of an invitation they received in the mail. Check out the recent upgrades to our website. In a variety of creative ways, we want to get the message out.
Look for other creative outreach initiatives such as the Alpha Course. Click here to get a preview of the Alpha Course.
Grow
Spiritual growth flows naturally from our abiding in Christ. We remain vitally connected to Christ through the means of grace: the Word, prayer, and fellowship. The Holy Spirit flows through these means of grace and produces the fruit of the Spirit.
You already know that weekly worship is central to our church’s vision, and to our growth in Christ. In worship we experience all the means of grace. The habit of worship shows us Jesus, and stirs our love for him. It overthrows the insidious idols of our hearts, and replaces our stories of shame and worldly competition with the story of redemption.
How do we grow in grace?
The Word: Jesus said that we do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God (Matthew 4:4). Become a self-feeder from the Word by learning the habit of regular personal Bible study. Learn the Word in community through sermons, classes, and your small group.
Prayer: Combine your Bible study with prayer and fellowship with God. Read the book, The Praying Life, by Paul Miller. Pray with others to grow in the language and practice of prayer. When you pray you will begin to feel the strengthening grace of God: “Let us draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
Fellowship: We were not created to grow in isolation. Get plugged into a Community Group where love is practiced and where your faith can be encouraged. Check out the Community Groups page on our website.
We realize that we live in a frenetic, media-saturated culture. Spiritual growth can take a back seat, especially if we are not clear about the path of growth and if we don’t set some goals.This year we hope to close the gap and support your growth process by clearly communicating growth steps and by creating more accessible venues.
For example, we hope to offer summer classes during June and July, when many Community Groups take a break. You’ll have a choice of Sunday morning (with child care) or a weeknight. And, you’ll be able to choose a class that naturally suits your spiritual growth journey. Start with milk, but move on to solid food!
We are also creating a resource that will explain the avenues of growth offered at Lake Baldwin Church. While you have responsibility for your growth, we want to place this resource in your hands to help you plan for growth. Look for the new booklet, Growing in Grace, coming soon!
And, save the date for your next shepherding group dinner, either April 25th or May 2nd. The theme this spring will be spiritual growth.
Love
The fruit of spiritual growth is love. “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12) As we experience the love of Christ in the gospel, we will extend his love and compassion to others. Love is expressed in action. “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and truth.” (1 John 3:18)
We have seen vivid expressions of this mutual care in our church: individuals who came alongside Doug and Denise Anderson following his stroke; those who brought meals and visits and prayer to the Shiflett family when they were hit by two medical crises in two weeks; the financial gifts of the deacons’ fund; and the many meals and hospital visits.
Here are three more practical ways to put love into action:
Serving on a once/month team: We have close to 80% of our members serving as part of our volunteer culture. If you are not currently serving, jump in to help with our growing church or to give someone a one-year break. In SPLASH, check out the SPLASH orientation offered the first Sunday of each month to find out what it’s like. Take the step by contacting hello@lakebaldwinchurch.com.
Loving the city: Volunteer with one of our local missions partners, which are listed on our website. Plot with your Community Group to have a Saturday serving day. And get this. We are planning a Local Missions Festival in the fall, to mirror the Global Missions Festival we had last fall.
Global Missions: The world is changing, and there are many ways that we continue to partner with the global church to bring the gospel to the nations. As I write this, Brita Zuelke is leading a medical mission to Nicaragua. Members of our church are involved in strategic initiatives in Europe, Africa, and China. Beyond this, together as a church we support missionaries in various parts of the world. While short-term mission trips are contingent on the local situation, these are a life-changing way to connect to God’s larger story.
Depending on your spiritual gifts and calling, there are many ways to put love into action. Many do this by leading a Community Group or teaching a class. Others teach the gospel to our children in SPLASH or join the Youth Team. Still others will use teaching gifts as we increase our classes, while others are called to serve as elder, deacon, or deaconess.
The Promise of Jesus
As we grow in grace, remember that we are not on our own. It is Jesus who called us by his grace, and it is Jesus who sustains us by his grace.
While we believe that this ministry plan fits our ministry context and the current stage of our church, the entire plan flows from careful reflection on John 15:1-16. Read it again, in light of our vision and plan for the coming year. And remember the promise of Jesus:
“You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.”
- John 15:16
Year End Letter
Dear Lake Baldwin Church Family,
I hope this letter (from your Associate Pastor!) finds you well as we begin another Advent Season. 2019 has been a year of God at work in our midst, and before life gets too holiday-crazed I wanted to encourage you to prayerfully consider being a part of yet another work of God—His financial provision for our church.
A LOOK BACK ON 2019
Our youth ministry has grown to 40/week. They had their first ever Fall Retreat (“Launch”) in October.
Over 100 of you are serving over 100 kids on a monthly basis in SPLASH! The kids have organized back-packs for under-resourced students at Glenridge Middle School and have had Skype calls with missionary families. A number of kids have affirmed their faith in Christ and have joined the church. This fall we added 2 new Splash classrooms to accommodate our rapidly growing children’s ministry.
We had the privilege of encountering many stories of gospel transformation through our Telling God’s Story video series.
This year’s Easter service was our largest yet at nearly 500 people, with many non-churched in attendance to hear the good news of Christ. Additionally, adult attendance is up 21% since June.
This Summer Mike and Molly experienced the Holy Land, Ancient Ephesus and Corinth, and other European sites on their well-deserved (and much overdue!) sabbatical. They returned refreshed and excited to continue to serve and love our church!
In our August Vision Engagement Series, we taught on our church’s mission: to make disciples through helping people CONNECT, GROW, and LOVE.
In September, we announced the timeline and plan for the upcoming succession/transition plan involving Mike Tilley and the guy writing this letter.
Thanks to our missions team and the leadership of Sarah Bergeson, we enjoyed a creative take on a missions festival: a dedicated missions Sunday followed by missions-focused shepherding dinners.
God added new officers and leaders to strengthen our shepherding, care, and discipleship.
Many in our church continued their involvement in grass roots efforts in serving the city.
God has blessed us with a devoted and talented staff team. Our newest members, Margarita Smith and Katie Roggow, have both been such answers to prayer in 2019.
As you may already know, a portion of our 2019 budget went to help local ministries making a difference in our city, front-line church planters domestically, and missionaries world-wide.
We saw countless lives changed by the gospel through the various ministries of LBC this year.
FINANCIAL UPDATE
Due to the many who faithfully give to LBC, we have 91% of our YTD expenses funded as of the end of October. This means that in addition to our expenses for November and December, we need to make up a shortfall of $67,000 to meet our annual budget. We are believing that God will do this as each of us decides in our hearts and gives joyfully (2 Corinthians 9:7).
While there are many worthwhile ministries to which many of us give, we encourage you to make your local church a priority in your giving. This might be a chance to renew your monthly tithe, or to give a special year-end gift. As those who have walked this path can attest, on the other side of trusting God with our generosity is a tremendous joy.
And we want to thank you in advance, as every year we’re blown away by God’s provision through your generosity. Thank you for being a part of this mission with us!
In his grace,
Joe White and the Elder Team
P.S. You can give a secure gift here: https://lakebaldwinchurch.churchcenter.com/giving
A Letter About Our Upcoming Sabbatical
Molly and I are excited that we will soon be taking our long-awaited sabbatical, and I’m writing to let you know of our plans. The LBC elders have been part of our planning, and this letter reflects the thinking of our whole elder team…
Molly and I are excited that we will soon be taking our long-awaited sabbatical, and I’m writing to let you know of our plans. The LBC elders have been part of our planning, and this letter reflects the thinking of our whole elder team.
I say “long-awaited” because our elders approved a plan about 9 years ago that allows for a pastoral sabbatical after 7 years. In our case it’s been 13 years, but in God’s providence we feel the timing is just right.
Why a pastoral sabbatical? It’s been said that “a sabbatical is like Sunday, only longer.” In light of the unique demands of ministry, pastors need a break for rest and renewal. For example, imagine that you’re living at the turn of the last century, when all travel was on horse-drawn carriages. It wouldn’t make sense to wait till the horses were collapsing from exhaustion or starvation to feed them. In the same way, we humans need rest and rejuvenation.
The Presbyterian Church in America even provides guidelines for sabbaticals that dovetail nicely with our church’s guidelines. And recently, Ligon Duncan, Chancellor of Reformed Theological Seminary, released a brief video on the importance of pastoral sabbaticals. You can check out the video here.
What are the goals for our 13-week sabbatical?
Rest: For the past 13 years, Molly and I have maintained an unrelenting emotional focus on the work of planting and nurturing Lake Baldwin Church. We are not burnt out, but we do need to unplug and unwind. For example, we’ll have a week at a place in England called “The Retreat,” which offers free housing for pastors in need of a break.
Renewal: While Molly and I seek to maintain a vital spiritual life, we know that we will benefit by having some extended time to read, listen to podcasts, and seek the Lord. Our plan includes a variety of worship experiences in various settings in Europe, such as St. Andrews Church in Athens, Greece. In addition to spiritual renewal, Molly and I also look forward to times of marital renewal. We work as a team and cherish our relationship, and we anticipate that the change of pace will be refreshing. Our time for renewal will also include education as we will begin our journey in Israel, with a guided tour of biblical sites. After that, we’ll trace some of the journeys of the Apostle Paul in Greece.
Re-imagining: We’re usually pretty reflective about our growth journey in the Christian life, but we also know that we will benefit from outside input. So we look forward to 3-4 hours of video conversations with a trusted friend in Belfast, who specializes in helping people with their leadership journey. Our learning and re-imagining will also take us to Holy Trinity Brompton, a church in London that is the birthplace of the globally influential Alpha Course.
You might be wondering, how will Lake Baldwin Church be led during our sabbatical? In many ways a sabbatical is beneficial to the church because of the empowering of the church’s leaders. In this current season we have excellent lay leaders as well as a talented and devoted staff team. We are thankful that Joe White will be available to lead in our absence, and we have confidence that LBC will continue to flourish.
There’s one more reason that this timing is providential. Since Joe joined our team in 2016, it has been my hope (and the hope of our elders) that Joe would one day become the lead pastor of Lake Baldwin Church. While that transition is not imminent, we have been engaged in an intentional process of preparing Joe and the church for that future day. This sabbatical season will provide yet another opportunity for Joe to experience the mantle of leadership, and for me to prepare for this new season of transition.
Molly and I wish to thank the elders and the whole church for this opportunity to have a time of rest and renewal. Over the years we have not lost one ounce of vision or passion for our congregation and its mission. While we will be out of town from May 1 to July 31, we look forward to returning and once again working with our staff and our church family to pursue the vision that God has for us.
Some folks are planning a "Bon Voyage" picnic on April 28th after church, and we hope you can join us. It will be catered, so please RSVP to Margarita Walsh so that we can know how much food to order.
If you have any questions about our sabbatical plans or this letter, feel free to click on the link below to send me an email.
Telling God's Story In Istanbul
What role does Lake Baldwin Church (LBC) play in fulfilling the Great Commission and sharing “The Good News for the world?” One way is LBC’s support of International Christian Community (ICC) Eurasia, and this support recently took LBC members to Istanbul, Turkey…
Telling God’s Story in Istanbul
John Heidmann
Thursday, 28 February 2019
What role does Lake Baldwin Church (LBC) play in fulfilling the Great Commission and sharing “The Good News for the world?” One way is LBC’s support of International Christian Community (ICC) Eurasia, and this support recently took LBC members to Istanbul, Turkey.
ICC Eurasia (http://icceurasia.com/) is a network of over 20 evangelical “international churches” strategically located in major cities in Europe and Asia. These international churches typically conduct all their activities in English, and include church-planting and pastoring, evangelism, and discipleship focused on reaching internationals (e.g. foreign students and workers), in-country nationals (the locals), and immigrants/refugees in these major cities.
Partners from across Europe and the US, praying in Istanbul for the advancement of the church.
LBC’s involvement with ICC Eurasia includes financial support to ICC, but it also involves much more. Imagine that you are an ICC pastor who left behind everything familiar about the United States, moved your family to a major city in Europe or Asia, and have tried to manage your family in a foreign country with little supportive infrastructure while also trying to manage a fledgling church and all of its activities. It’s easy to understand how people in this role–even when well-trained and amply funded–might quickly feel isolated, overwhelmed, and unable to see the forest for the trees! This is where LBC’s involvement in ICC makes such a unique difference. For years, LBC’s Senior Pastor Mike Tilley has served as the Chairman of ICC’s Leadership Board, and has helped develop an ICC infrastructure that provides strategic planning, mentoring, partnering, community, and accountability among the international church pastors. Part of this infrastructure is an annual conference in which the pastors gather in-person to share about their challenges and successes, to pray for and encourage one another, and to plan solutions and initiatives. This 2019 ICC pastoral Days of Prayer Retreat is what brought two LBC members to Istanbul.
Bo Lancaster (center) is supported by LBC, working in Rotterdam.
As the setting for the ICC event, the city of Istanbul, Turkey, demonstrated the amazing opportunities available to the ICC in the 21st Century. Large European and Asian cities like Istanbul represent the modern version of Athens’ Mars Hill, an ancient forum where people from around the world met to exchange new ideas such as Christianity as presented by the Apostle Paul. With English as the modern world’s lingua franca, and with globalism drawing people from across the world into major cities for economic and educational opportunities, ICC pastors have a unique opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with people that would otherwise be difficult to access.
The International Church in Istanbul, with 40 nations represented.
We enjoyed joining the ICC-affiliated international church and its diverse congregation for worship on the Sunday after they arrived. Later that week, they joined an ICC meeting with an affiliated Migrant Rescue office in Turkey. During the meeting, two refugee Afghani women, covered from head to foot in burqas, arrived at the Refugee Rescue office with their small children. They had paid smugglers to traffic them from Afghanistan, across Iran, and into Turkey to find a better life; but at the Turkish border, their husbands were arrested by Turkish Immigration Services, and the women now found themselves trying to fend for themselves and their children in a foreign city that they knew nothing about. Such refugees and their children are at-risk for exploitation, and need assistance. The Refugee Rescue office acts as the hands of the church, with Registered Nurses examining the refugees’ medical needs, and administrative staff helping such refugees to make contact with trusted representatives of their respective local ethnic community for shelter and support. Refugee Rescue staff said they’ve never had refugees turn down the opportunity for them to pray with them, and they always do it in Jesus’ name. If refugees speak English, they are invited to visit the international church in Istanbul.
Because Turkey borders Syria, Iraq, and Iran, there are over 3 million Syrians, 120,000 Afghans, and 30,000 Iranians living as refugees in Turkey. Many of them come to Istanbul. Many of the other ICC cities also attract large groups of such refugees in addition to other less desperate foreign visitors such as working professionals and university students. Regardless of their economic status, such city inhabitants, as well as their city hosts, desperately need to hear and believe the Good News of Who God is, what He has done for them, and the abundant and eternal life He has for them in Christ. Getting this message out through the work of the international churches is at the heart of ICC’s mission.
Istanbul also represented the challenges that ICC and its international churches face. Turkey transitioned from being the Islamic Ottoman Empire to the secular nation of Turkey in 1924, and there remains a tension between the members of Turkish society who would like to see Turkey return to a more traditional Islamic society, and those who would like Turkey to remain secular with a distinct separation between religion and the state. Whereas secular residents may be interested or indifferent to ICC’s work in Istanbul, the conservative traditionalists are not enthusiastic about it, and those in the government have tightened bureaucratic controls that limit opportunities to expand Christian influence. We met with leaders of the ICC-affiliated international church in Istanbul to help them align on a unified vision for how the church could expand its impact in Istanbul without jeopardizing its status with the government.
Even in European cities with Christian rather than Islamic backgrounds, pastors of ICC international churches face challenges. Many secular Europeans in post-Christian Europe harbor indifference or even atheistic antagonism towards evangelical christianity. ICC pastors find themselves working long hours without a deep pool of mature Christian elders and deacons to assist with the work. Burnout is common, with the average service life of an international church pastor being two years (although ICC affiliated pastors have fared much better). Families often suffer as pastors struggle to maintain a healthy work/life balance. LBC members prayed with the ICC pastors for renewed strength, encouragement, and perspective during the conference.
Turkey’s challenging balance between Islamic and secular society has not gone unnoticed by the terror group ISIS, which is able to infiltrate the country through Turkey’s mountainous borders with Iraq and Syria. Since 2015, ISIS has conducted 11 terrorist attacks in Turkey, with five of those occurring in Istanbul. In January 2017, ISIS released a video highlighting Istanbul’s major tourist sites and threatening to attack them. Two years later, members of the ICC conference visited these same sites to enjoy seeing the amazing history, and to subtly and symbolically pray in small groups for peace and spiritual revival in the city.
Whether we face careless indifference or hateful opposition in our efforts to share God’s Good News with the world, the results to the Lord, and our most powerful tool is prayerful reliance upon Him.
John
Understanding Lent
An important season in the Christian calendar is upon us but many of us might not realize it. You've probably heard of the terms Lent and Mardi Gras but may not be familiar with their origins or what they truly mean…
The Meaning Behind Mardi Gras, Lent, and Fasting
By Scott Crocker
An important season in the Christian calendar is upon us but many of us might not realize it. You've probably heard of the terms Lent and Mardi Gras but may not be familiar with their origins or what they truly mean.
Lent is a forty day season of focused prayer, repentance and fasting that takes place each year before Easter, the Sunday that commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. These forty days represent the time that Jesus spent in the wilderness immediately preceding the start of His public ministry. Christians around the world have celebrated this season for a number of centuries and many continue to do so to this day.
For those of us in the West, Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, the seventh Wednesday before Easter. On Ash Wednesday, worshipers -- most commonly, Catholics -- have ashes rubbed on their forehead in the shape of a cross. This represents "repentance" -- or the turning from self to God -- during the Lenten season. This repentance can be driven by our personal sins and for the brokenness and injustice that we experience in our fallen world.
During the time of Lent, Christians are expected to fast. It could be fasting from food completely or just meat or, in recent years, some have chosen other items like candy, caffeine or even forms of technology, like television or the Internet. (Technically, Lent lasts more than 40 days since Sundays were originally a day when one could indulge in whatever was being denied since it is the Lord's Day, a day of celebration.)
The day before Ash Wednesday is known as Fat Tuesday or "Shrove" Tuesday (or in the French language, Mardi Gras). Carnivale (which means "away with meat") is an extended festival before Lent that is commonly found in Roman Catholic societies. These are times of celebration and feasting before the entrance into the fasting period. For 2019, the Lenten season began this week with Fat Tuesday taking place on March 5th and Ash Wednesday falling the following day, March 6th. Palm Sunday is April 14th and Easter Sunday falls on April 21st.
For those of us that are Protestant Christians, the observance of Ash Wednesday and Lent is usually dismissed since many regard those as Catholic holy days. But I think that all Christians can appropriately recognize this season. For a number of years, I have participated in the Lenten season and have found it beneficial. It can be a time of dedicated Bible study, prayer, some sort of fasting and repentance and can be great preparation in leading up to the remembrance of the most significant event in world history, the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.
Whatever you might choose to do or not do during this season, I trust that your focus will be on the One who loved us and gave Himself for us. Entering into a time of self-denial and focus on Jesus can help in leading us to a place of maturity where we are more committed to Him throughout the year, whether it is a designated holiday or not. May God bless you richly as we anticipate the celebration of His victory over sin and death.
Scott
Connect to the Big Picture
Lake Baldwin Church has been telling the story of God’s grace for 13 years. When we gather for worship, we offer the good news of Jesus to believers and non-believers alike. As we experience God’s mercy, we extend that mercy in Baldwin Park, throughout the city, and around the world. Here is how we hope to pursue that vision in 2019.
After our annual church-wide assessment in November, our elders, deacons, and staff defined five top goals for the coming year:
Lake Baldwin Church has been telling the story of God’s grace for 13 years. When we gather for worship, we offer the good news of Jesus to believers and non-believers alike. As we experience God’s mercy, we extend that mercy in Baldwin Park, throughout the city, and around the world. Here is how we hope to pursue that vision in 2019.
After our annual church-wide assessment in November, our elders, deacons, and staff defined five top goals for the coming year:
1. Telling God’s Story: Evangelism
For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. —Luke 19:10
I’ll never forget the baptism of Brittney Williams last year. God’s grace brought her out of a life of despair and into the family of God. We have seen many people come to faith over the years, and we long to celebrate more adult conversions and baptisms.
Over the years, we have discovered ways to build bridges with those who are outside the faith, in order that those who are prepared by the Holy Spirit can respond. Most of us (including me) do not have the gift of evangelism, but together we can see abundant fruit as part of a team effort. Here are some things we all can do this year:
Make friends with people who are far from God
Pray for friends and family members who are not yet believers
Bring a friend to church
2. Spiritual Growth
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. —2 Peter 3:18
Do you know the next step in your spiritual growth journey? Lake Baldwin Church offers a number of clear avenues for growth, such as weekly worship, community groups, classes, and serving. But you are the “CEO” of your growth journey. It’s up to you to engage.
We believe that the Holy Spirit changes and renews our hearts as we engage the means of grace: the Word, prayer, fellowship, and the sacraments. Neglect these, though, and our spiritual lives will dry up.
We want to challenge people to go deeper in their faith. While the modern American church has moved away from classes and a meatier spiritual diet, we want to push back on that. Look for more Sunday morning classes to be offered, with childcare provided.
3. Growth of the Church
I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. —1 Corinthians 3:6
Did you know that LBC has grown from 108 active adult members in 2012 to 200 active adult members today? We plant and water, but God causes the growth. Often our growth is 3 steps forward and 2 steps back. Last year we lost close to 20 adult members and their children due to out-of-state moves. In today’s mobile culture, we have to grow just to stay even!
As God grows the church, we will have greater capacity to serve the city and engage in global missions. We’ll have a stronger volunteer base and a broader culture of generosity. We will be in a position to see more people come to faith in Christ.
In the past two years we have made some strategic chess moves to position our church for growth. We hired Joe White with a view toward the future, and today over 300 people call LBC their church home. We also hired Mark McKinney to lead our youth ministry, and momentum has shifted. Over 20 students come to youth group on Sundays, with 40 showing up for social events. We also see SPLASH as a major factor in our growth, so we have built up our staffing in SPLASH, with Heather Shiflett leading that ministry.
Quite often our members show up to church and ask, “Who are all these new people?” They are people God has brought our way, but we want to help them become enfolded into our community. The most common refrain we hear from newcomers at membership class is, “We were amazed at the welcome that we experienced at Lake Baldwin Church!”
To help newcomers feel part of our community, we want to expand our “connection plan.” One of our new elders, TJ Sellers, has offered to lead a new connection network. This network will include the greeters, guest services, and representatives from community groups. Over time we hope to see even more people attending the Welcome Lunch, visiting Community Groups, and participating in our community life as a church.
4. Broad-based Giving
But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in the grace of giving. —2 Corinthians 8:7
Recently I had a coffee with a couple who have been part of LBC from the beginning, and who love our church. They referred to a helpful discussion at one of their shepherding group dinners where they talked about tithing. They have adopted the practice of tithing, and they said to me, “We need to teach people to tithe.”
I was also encouraged by a conversation with one of our young adults, who said to me, “This is the first church where I have felt like an owner of the vision, and where I know that my giving is making a difference."
We saw a miracle of God’s financial provision in December of 2018. We received $237,000 in year-end gifts, covering December expenses and erasing a $144,000 deficit. Thanks to God’s grace and the generosity of many in our church, we completed 2018 $14,000 in the black. A big part of the story was the anonymous matching fund of $41,500, generating some $75,000 in special year-end gifts. To God be the glory!
While it’s common for most churches to see 25% of their giving happen in December, we don’t want to rely on urgent appeals. In fact, we believe that it’s spiritually healthier for all of us to have a rhythm of tithing (giving 10%) throughout the year. We have seen member participation in giving grow to 88%, which is a milestone to celebrate.
While many of us love to support great causes and organizations outside the church, there is no one who has the responsibility to support Lake Baldwin Church except for those who call this church their home.
This year, don’t rely on impulse to decide your giving. Begin now to give generously, purposefully, consistently, and joyfully. Let’s excel in this grace of giving!
5. Strengthen our Serving Culture (Volunteers)
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. —Galatians 5:18
David Walker has served on worship set-up for 10 years out of our 13 years as a church. That involved being part of the set-up team 10 times each year (we leave it set up in the summer and over Christmas). Recently he rotated off for a season, and I’m glad he got to do that! That happened because someone took his place.
Every Sunday since February 6, 2006, Glenridge Middle School has been transformed into a full-service church. While being a portable church is not always convenient, we’ve learned that it’s sustainable if everyone plays a small part. Many hands make light work! Our volunteer system is not only a miracle, it is one of the strengths of our church.
In some new churches, 20% of the people do 80% of the work. At LBC, it’s the opposite: 80% of the people participate in serving once/month.
Michael Ballenger is a deacon and our treasurer, and he has also served on Sunday morning set-up for many years. Michael sees his serving as an act of worship. It is in serving that we imitate the servant heart of Christ. It’s part of our discipleship.
We must give a special nod to SPLASH, where over 100 volunteers serve once/month. It’s a sacrifice, because those who teach give up being in the worship service once each month. Yet they serve willingly, out of love for our children and as an expression of their covenant vows.
SPLASH set-up was an area that we shored up this year. It had become onerous, due to rolling bins from the trailer to the hallway in the Florida heat. So we hired David Ruis to roll out the trailers and get the rooms ready each week. Now our volunteers work in the A/C, and the time required has been reduced.
If you’re not serving, will you consider joining a once/month team? We have some gaps in SPLASH and in set-up. As you step in for a season, you can help fill those gaps and even give others a chance to have a break.
This brings up one final topic. While some value and even prefer meeting in a public school, there are others who would like to have our own worship space. This would reduce our need for some volunteers, though it would not eliminate the need (you’ve probably found that all churches need volunteers!).
Given the price and availability of property in this part of the city, we don’t expect to have the capacity to purchase our own worship space until we grow to 600 people. So, while we are on that growth path, we will put the focus not on a building, but on healthy growth dynamics like evangelism and discipleship. Then we’ll see what more God might do as we remain faithful to the mission he has given us!
As we move forward in prayer and dependence on God, let’s remember his promise in Ephesians 3:20-21—Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations.
Mike Tilley
Senior Pastor, Lake Baldwin Church
mike@lakebaldwinchurch.com
2018 Year End Letter
November 30th, 2018
A Letter from Mike Tilley, Senior Pastor
Dear Lake Baldwin Church Family,
We’re gearing up for a beautiful Advent season, and I’m writing this letter to reach out to you before life gets busy for the holidays. My hope is to encourage you with what God is doing in and through your church, and to ask you to prayerfully consider the needs of the church as you plan your year-end giving.
Let’s thank God for some milestones in 2018!
Our youth ministry has grown to 25/week. Five students came to Christ at camp!
Over 100 of you are serving monthly in SPLASH. The kids have organized back-packs for under-resourced students at Glenridge Middle School and have had Skype calls with missionary families. A number of kids have affirmed their faith in Christ and have joined the church.
LBC now supports six missionary families around the world, along with local ministries making a difference in our city. 3% of our budget assists front-line church planters.
God has added new elders, deacons, deaconesses, and community group leaders to strengthen our shepherding, care, and discipleship.
We voted unanimously to call Joe White as associate pastor.
Last year’s Easter service was our largest yet, and God continues to bring new people.
Many in our church are involved in grass roots efforts in loving their neighbors, caring for one another, and serving the city.
Countless lives have been changed by the gospel, as we all have engaged the means of grace.
God has blessed us with a devoted and talented staff team, fully engaged in serving the church and extending Christ’s kingdom.
Financial Update
Thanks to the many who give faithfully we have 87% of our expenses funded as of the end of October. We are trusting God for $83,000 in special year-end gifts to close the gap.
We believe that all of our ministries will be fully funded as we all participate in the grace of giving. Scripture encourages us to “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” (Proverbs 3:9-10)
Please take a faith step in your giving.
While there are many worthwhile ministries to which many of us give, we encourage you to make your local church, the bride of Christ, a priority in your giving. This might be a chance to renew your monthly tithe, or to give a special year-end gift.
Those in our church who give generously would all tell you that there is great joy in giving. May you experience his joy and contentment as you give back to God the first fruits of what he has given you!
In his grace,
Mike Tilley, on behalf of the elders
P.S. You can give a secure gift at through our online giving platform, found here.
Mike Tilley
Senior Pastor, Lake Baldwin Church
mike@lakebaldwinchurch.com
The Case for Young Elders
This Sunday the members of Lake Baldwin Church will cast their vote for new elders and deacons. Among these are two candidates for elder who are in their 30s, much younger than those currently serving on the session.
Some might raise legitimate questions. Are they too young to serve as elders? Can they shepherd their peers, or those who are older? Have they lived enough life to have the maturity required to serve as elders?
by Mike Tilley, Senior Pastor
“And Saul said to David, “You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him, for you are but a youth, and he has been a man of war from his youth.””
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.”
This Sunday the members of Lake Baldwin Church will cast their vote for new elders and deacons. Among these are two candidates for elder (TJ Sellers and Dwayne Noble) who are in their 30s, much younger than those currently serving on the session.
Some might raise legitimate questions. Are they too young to serve as elders? Can they shepherd their peers, or those who are older? Have they lived enough life to have the maturity required to serve as elders?
I can’t speak for the other current elders, but I’d like to weigh in as one of the older guys. My own view is that this step for our church is both biblical and wise. Here are my reasons for encouraging our church to call young elders who meet the biblical qualifications.
1. The Bible does not give us an age qualification.
When listing the qualifications for elder and deacon, the standards include character, family, and theology. 1 Timothy 3:6 wisely says, "He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil." So we must look at spiritual age, but this does not preclude people in their 30s who are otherwise qualified.
2. Timothy himself was a young elder.
Even more, he was the teaching pastor at the church at Ephesus! Paul even had to shore up his confidence. "For the Spirit God gives us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline". (2 Tim 1:7) At the age of 31 I was called to be an elder at Stony Point PCA church in Richmond—for a while I was a timid Timothy. But my pastor said to me, “You hold the office of elder. Go for it. Take the initiative to reach out to people in your shepherding group.”
3. It’s wise to bring young elders on while the older guys are still around to show them the ropes.
We are blessed with older and younger generations in our church! Sure, the younger elders will be stretched, but we are preparing them for the future. This is good for their personal growth and development, but also for our church’s future. Trust me. You don’t want to have the older guys rotate off and have only brand new officers trying to figure it out alone.
4. Elders have never been called to be our spiritual “gurus.”
Church office has dignity, but you need not think that the elders are your only source of spiritual counsel. Your spiritual growth and discipleship will come from multiple sources, including your community group. Peer learning is healthy, and so is learning from those who are younger. For example, I learn a lot from Joe White and other young leaders. If you end up in a shepherding group with a younger elder, remember that God has clearly used young leaders in Scripture and throughout church history. And that young elder is not your only mentor.
5. Our elder candidates are qualified.
In fact, we need the gifts and younger perspective that God has given them! Both Dwayne and TJ have served for years in our church, and they both have a wide footprint of ministry through leading small groups and serving on teams. They have been theologically trained through a demanding officer training cohort. Finally, we have been able to observe their character and their marriages.
Lake Baldwin Church has an exciting future ahead! Let’s do our part to make sure that future includes a new generation of biblically qualified leaders for our church.
Mike Tilley
Senior Pastor, Lake Baldwin Church
mike@lakebaldwinchurch.com
August Prayer - Day 31
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
—Colossians 3:23-25
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
—Colossians 3:23-25
Take This Job and Love It
By Mike Tilley
We all have stuff about our jobs that we don’t like: the unreasonable boss; difficult co-workers; demanding people; tedious tasks. As we look past Labor Day, it’s back to the grind. Thankfully, the gospel is good news for business owners, office workers, teachers, and all those in the workplace.
In the Bible we discover that our vocation is a calling. There is not a sacred/secular split. We still have thorns and thistles (thanks to Adam and the fall of mankind) but even now God is redeeming our work. What is the good news? (1) We have a new incentive: not just pleasing our boss, but pleasing God. (2) We have a new zeal, doing our work “heartily.” (3) We have a new reward, not just a paycheck but “an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.” And (4) we have a new Master: “...it is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
For prayer:
On Sundays we are “the church gathered,” but throughout the week we are “the church scattered.” Pray for our congregation as God has “scattered” us around the city. Pray that our work will bear the distinctive marks of redeemed people.
Pray for those bearing a heavy weight of responsibility at their work. We do face “thorns and thistles” and many need God’s grace to handle the workload.
Pray for those in our church looking for work, wanting to have a decent income. Pray for open doors, and for God’s provision of “daily bread.”
Jesus said that we are “the salt of the earth and the light of the world.” Pray that our work relationships will create interest in exploring the faith and learning about the hope of the gospel.
August Prayer - Day 30
Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
—Ephesians 5:18-20
Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
—Ephesians 5:18-20
Take Up The Task of Singing
By Joel Pollard
Recently my family gathered around my mom’s piano to sing hymns together. My whole family was there, including my ailing grandparents. We sang old hymns, known by memory, for an hour or so. The incredible part of this story is that my grandmother has severe dementia. Her mind is failing her and it is deeply sad for those of us who remember her when she was full of laughter, joy, and encouragement.
But one thing about her memory has not failed her. She knows those old hymns better than we do. In those hymns are nuggets of Gospel truth and the memories we shape around them over a lifetime strengthen our faith, give us joy in sorrow, and hope for the future.
Let this be an encouragement to all of us to take up the joyful task of singing to each other. God designed music to be a powerful way of imprinting the Gospel onto our hearts and minds! When we sing together, we’re publicly proclaiming that we actually believe what we believe, and that in spite of whatever is going on in life—good or bad—that God is constant, faithful, and true.
For prayer:
Thank God for blessing our congregation with gospel-rich worship each Sunday. Pray for growth of vibrant worship as we sing “psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.”
Pray for future decisions about worship space. We have bright prospects of a possible move to Audubon K-8 (5 minutes away), a brand new facility. But there are challenges with a move, so pray that our leaders will prepare wisely.
The future of worship will include all the nations! Pray for Holida Boggs and her work with Bridges, a ministry to international students at UCF. Pray that many from other countries will come to faith in Christ through relationships with John and Holida, their team, and other believers at UCF and in churches.
August Prayer - Day 29
Can a man carry fire next to his chest
without his clothes being burned?
—Proverbs 6:27
Join us TONIGHT from 7:00-8:00 pm for the monthly prayer gathering at the LBC office: 1300 Lake Baldwin Lane. Kids are welcome!
Can a man carry fire next to his chest
without his clothes being burned?
—Proverbs 6:27
Too Close to the Fire?
By Joe White
The context of this proverb is a warning to avoid lusting for what you do not have, but the word picture can be applied more broadly. Here’s the question that cuts to the heart: Are there any dangerous practices, behaviors, patterns of thought, that you have begun to treat as though they were safe? Sometimes we think we can flirt with our idols (comfort, pleasure, power, control, etc) without doing any lasting damage. But the reality is one cannot carry fire close to the chest and not be burned. ALL of the ways we reject God and put our trust in idols, no matter how hidden or socially acceptable, have a lasting effect on our lives.
God, in his fatherly grace, wants us to see the dangers of bringing our idols close to our hearts, so that we might stay near to His. This morning, give thanks for the beautiful sacrifice of Jesus on the cross for our rampant idolatry, and ask God to reveal the “fires” we may be carrying a little too close.
For prayer:
- Ask God to open our eyes to see the emptiness of our idols, and the inability of idols to satisfy the true need of our hearts. Ask the God would give us grace, instead, to drink of him, the fountain of living water. (See Jeremiah 2:13)
- Thank God for the volunteers who serve our church so that people of all ages may learn—and experience—the gospel story and the glory of Jesus.
- Pray for Andrew Balducci and his team of volunteers in charge of setting up for SPLASH Kids. Pray specifically for 8 more people to serve once/month to bring the team to full strength for the fall.
August Prayer - Day 28
For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me… After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
—Galatians 2:19, 3:3
For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me… After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?
—Galatians 2:19, 3:3
Rest at His Feet
By Bridgette Cahill
The gospel tells believers that our standing before God is not based on our success of just trying harder, but on Jesus’ work alone. Just as my kids’ play money will never be able to purchase a house, our works can never add up to God’s requirements. The gospel doesn’t tell us to do better and thenGod will help us and be pleased with us. Nor does God require that we have our lives perfected before we come to Him. He longs for our tattered, selfish, ugly, stressed-out selves to come rest at His feet.
What if we rely on the Holy Spirit for strength to tackle all the road bumps and mundane tasks of today? What if we rest in the freedom, thankfulness and all-consuming joy of what Jesus did for us, and wake up in His peace because our worth is not based on how much we do in the next 12 hours? If we try to only work harder in our own strength, we will grow weary and depleted. The Gospel calls us to abide in Jesus, the source outside ourselves, as He offers us the opportunity to bear eternal fruit and share the Great News about Jesus to whomever God brings across our path.
For prayer:
In light of the good news of the gospel, let’s pray that the power of the Holy Spirit will strengthen and change us as we experience the means of grace (the Word, fellowship, and prayer).
Ask the Holy Spirit to use His Word to strengthen us, both in private reading and in the public preaching of the Word.
Ask the Holy Spirit to give each one of us a new heart for prayer and new joy in prayer. Pray for grace and mercy to come to us from his throne of grace!
Ask the Holy Spirit to flood our congregation with grace as we fellowship together in worship, community groups, and in other settings.
August Prayer - Day 27
O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
—Psalm 139:1
O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
—Psalm 139:1
Our God
By Heather Shiflett
Psalm 139 beautifully expresses one of the fundamental differences between Christianity and any other religion. Namely that God is not just God, but He is our God. In that one little adjective, the covenant comes alive. God does not just exist for Himself, nor do we exist for ourselves. Rather we exist to be in relationship with one another. Not only can we know about God, we can actually know God and He knows us. It is mind-blowing! Not only does He know we exist as a matter of fact, but He knows each one of us intimately, completely.
In that complete and full knowledge, He loves us. For someone outside the covenant, an intimate knowledge like that by an omnipotent, omnipresent God could be frightening—and maybe it should be. But for sons and daughters of the covenant, it is like being wrapped in the coziest of warm blankets on a cold day. Be comforted today knowing that covenantal knowledge still results in covenantal love, and there’s nothing we can ever do to change that.
How to pray today:
- Take some moments to praise God today! Reflect on Psalm 139, and worship God for his presence, his power, and his love.
- It won’t be long before Advent season is here! Pray for Joel Pollard as he plans and prepares our Advent worship services, including Christmas Eve.
- Pray, too, for Advent outreaches, including the Winter Spark Parade. With children riding on our float, our LBC volunteers will be inviting hundreds of people to join us for worship in the Christmas season!