Gospel Life Community Newsletter

NEWSLETTER March 7,2011 MONDAY EDITION

Greetings!

We have a lot to be thankful for. Let us continue to ask the Lord to "expand our territory" in many different ways so that we can connect with the community around us and make disciples of those with whom we come in contact .

The harvest promises to be rich!

The Church Staff

What's In This Issue

A Delight to Worship

Our First Sunday worship service yesterday was certainly a delightful service, something we offered to our God in praise and adoration. We heard several testimonies of God's goodness and grace from several of you: from Tessa Charles, Ned Espiritu, LJ Dijamco, and from our First Sunday Pastor-in-charge Hansel Orzame.

We were joyful to hear Sperry Anderson's testimony, even more so as he was also baptized yesterday! What a witness he gave in his experience towards being born again. We were glad to see so many of his family here in church with him to give him support yesterday.

And communion was again a joyous, happy celebration. Our Praise and Worship Team just outdid themselves with such awe-inspiring music that extracted all the ethos and solemn emotions from our hearts and our souls. Thank God for our worship team and thank you, Ned, for volunteering your talent with the drums.

Power Point

Church Financial Status

At the Core Group Meeting yesterday, Pastor John gave a power point presentation of the church's finances. It was very informative and also alerted us to the church's needs, how much, and in what areas or departments. Despite the poor economy, the pastor expressed gratefulness to all as the overall church income for 2010 was an improvement over that of 2009.

And yet there are areas that need more funding. We do not actively hear appeals for more offerings from the pulpit because, the pastor says, he knows everyone is doing what they can in support of the church. However, he did mention that if every giving unit of the church plans to invest the cost of a No.2 order from the fast food chain In & Out every week, it would cover the deficits that we now have.

We were also reminded that our church mortgage is due a year from this coming May and that our mortgage interest payments account for more than half of our monthly church budget, which is such a heavy burden for a small congregation like we have. And yet, God hasn't failed us. We recognize that He brought us to this place and He will show us yet another miracle!

The Finance Advisory Committee has been meeting to help in resolving our mortgage obligations.

Homiletics Class

Starts Saturday, March 12

Another Ministry Class will start this coming Saturday, at 9:30 a.m. The last one was on Soteriology. This one is on Homiletics.

Homiletics is defined as the art of preaching. There will be three sessions for this class, including those to be conducted on March 26 and April 9.

This class is a good one to attend for those who preach (or dare to preach), or for those who may be preparing themselves to preach some day in the future. And really, anyone who shares the Gospel with another is a potential candidate for this class.

Registry Cards

Available at the Foyer with Guest Registration

There are Registry Cards available at the foyer for both guests and members who may be attending our church for the first time, and others who may have certain requests from the pastoral staff.

Please avail yourselves of this additional tool when needed, and drop the Registry Cards into the offering baskets when they are passed around.

Today's Devotional

God's Will or Your Will?
by Jon Walker

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:68-69 (NIV)

"God wants you to decide in advance, trusting him and believing that his will is the best plan for your life."

Even if we don't understand God's plan, we need to respond to his direction. In fact, when we don't understand God's plan, it is even more important to do exactly what he directs us to do.

Often, God asks us to make the choice to do his will before we know the specific details of his plan. That's because part of God's plan is to develop in us a trust of his character and his benevolence.

But this is where many of us get into a battle of wills with God, wanting him to reveal his plan to us first and only then will we decide whether or not to do what he tells us to do.

But that's not the way it works. God wants you to decide in advance, trusting him and believing that his will is the best plan for your life, believing that he will strengthen you to do all that he asks you to do.

One reason God doesn't give you the full picture of his plans for your life is that you may be overwhelmed by what you see. For instance, it may appear impossible for you to complete everything he plans for you during this Decade of Destiny. But that's the point-there's no way you can fulfill your mission without God empowering you.

Peter was in a constant battle with Jesus over what to do, but he also realized that there was no one else to trust but the Holy One of God, the Word of God in the flesh, Jesus Christ.

Do you still think there is someone else to go to find out what direction to take? Perhaps you still believe you know best? Tell God, "I don't know that I'm willing to step out in faith without first knowing everything that's going to happen, but I'm willing to be made willing."

(This devotional is by Jon Walker, editor of the Daily Hope Devotionals and author of Costly Grace. Rick Warren says Costly Grace "strips discipleship down to its essentials, where we discover again that, when we face uncertainty, our only certainty is in Jesus." From connect@newsletter.purposedriven.com by Rick Warren)

Coming Up

March 12, Saturday, 9:30 a.m. - Ministry Class (Homiletics)

March 13, Sunday, 2:00 p,m. - Family Finance Workshop

il.gospellifecommunity@gmail.com

http://gospellifecommunity.orgcom

gospellifecommunity@gmagospellifecommunity@gmail.