People are unique. People can drive us crazy. People can amaze us. People inspire us. People can bring the very best and very worst out of us. And people are God’s greatest creation!
All over the world, there is a common thread of humanity. We look very different from each other depending on which part of the world we come from. However basic human needs remain the same. We all enjoy comfort and despise pain. We all require food and water to live. And we all are in need of the saving grace of God expressed through Jesus Christ!
Through Fellowship Church people all over the world are being touched by the love of Jesus through our missions support. Through your giving, we are able to directly support missionaries in the Philippines, India, Pakistan, and all over Central America.
Every year during this time, we collect a monetary offering on Easter Sunday called Bring Your Best. Easter Sunday is a day that we celebrate God giving His best to us in Jesus. In like manner, we too want to give God our best in the form of a love offering. Part of this years Bring Your Best offering will support building the second floor (four additional rooms) of Pastor Joseph Matcha’s home to enable his ministry in India to have adequate office and storage space as well as lodging space for missionaries and widows.
People have needs all over the world. And you can make a direct difference in the lives of people on the other side of the world through your generous giving to the Bring Your Best offering on Easter Sunday, April 24. Thank you for having a direct impact in people all over the world. Through you, people are being touched by the love of Jesus!
Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
BIGGER & smaller
As our world has grown BIGGER, it has also gotten smaller. We can now get places faster than ever before. And communication is nearly instant across the world.
As a church, I believe that as we grow BIGGER, we too must become smaller. Now on the surface this sounds like a great contradiction: How can we become both BIGGER and smaller at the same time?
As Fellowship Church grows BIGGER numerically, we must make an intentional effort to develop a network of real relationships. This can most successfully be done through Small Groups. A person cannot know everyone in Fellowship Church, but they can know those in a Small Group! So if you aren’t yet connected to a Small Group, get connected to one today.
In like manner, as Fellowship Church grows BIGGER in the number and scope of ministries that we engage in, the only way to successfully organize for diverse ministries is through a network of Small Groups. For instance, we are gearing up as a church family to engage in the BIG SERVE on April 16. As of right now we have approximately 8 projects lined up spanning many miles across our community. The only way we can successfully engage our community through an event such as the BIG SERVE is through the organizational structure of Small Groups. Small Groups allow us to quickly mobilize people in an area of need in our community.
If you are not already connected to a Small Group, I hope that you will get connected to one soon. And I hope that you are planning on being a part of the BIG SERVE on April 16. Your church and your community need you on that day!
Growing BIGGER and smaller,
Jeff Powell
As a church, I believe that as we grow BIGGER, we too must become smaller. Now on the surface this sounds like a great contradiction: How can we become both BIGGER and smaller at the same time?
As Fellowship Church grows BIGGER numerically, we must make an intentional effort to develop a network of real relationships. This can most successfully be done through Small Groups. A person cannot know everyone in Fellowship Church, but they can know those in a Small Group! So if you aren’t yet connected to a Small Group, get connected to one today.
In like manner, as Fellowship Church grows BIGGER in the number and scope of ministries that we engage in, the only way to successfully organize for diverse ministries is through a network of Small Groups. For instance, we are gearing up as a church family to engage in the BIG SERVE on April 16. As of right now we have approximately 8 projects lined up spanning many miles across our community. The only way we can successfully engage our community through an event such as the BIG SERVE is through the organizational structure of Small Groups. Small Groups allow us to quickly mobilize people in an area of need in our community.
If you are not already connected to a Small Group, I hope that you will get connected to one soon. And I hope that you are planning on being a part of the BIG SERVE on April 16. Your church and your community need you on that day!
Growing BIGGER and smaller,
Jeff Powell
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Inspired By You!
People inspire me. And people no doubt inspire you. What types of people bring us inspiration?
Bold people inspire us. We are all passionate about something. Life is too short to be lived quietly. Followers of Jesus, “live out loud” for their King!
Loving people inspire us. It is easy to tell someone you love them. It is much harder to show someone that you love them. Love requires action. Human actions either confirm or deny words of love.
Honest people inspire us. In the moment, it is much easier to tell a lie, than tell the truth. Followers of Jesus tell the truth, even when it is difficult to do so. Honesty is the best route to take all the time. For instance...
An elderly woman walked into a local church. An usher greeted her at the door. “Where would you like to sit?” he asked. “The front row please,” she answered. “You really don’t want to do that,” the usher said. “The preacher is really boring.” “Do you know who I am?” asked the woman. “No,” said the usher. “I’m the preachers mother,” she replied. “Do you know who I am?” asked the usher. “No,” she said. “Good,” he said as he disappeared into the crowd! Yes, honesty is the best policy!
Jesus lived His life boldly and now calls us to do the same. Jesus loved others with actions of sacrifice and service and now calls us to do the same. And Jesus was honest to all that He encountered and now He calls us do the same. The remaining question is will we be people who inspire others through our boldness, love, and honesty?
Inspired by You,
Jeff Powell
Bold people inspire us. We are all passionate about something. Life is too short to be lived quietly. Followers of Jesus, “live out loud” for their King!
Loving people inspire us. It is easy to tell someone you love them. It is much harder to show someone that you love them. Love requires action. Human actions either confirm or deny words of love.
Honest people inspire us. In the moment, it is much easier to tell a lie, than tell the truth. Followers of Jesus tell the truth, even when it is difficult to do so. Honesty is the best route to take all the time. For instance...
An elderly woman walked into a local church. An usher greeted her at the door. “Where would you like to sit?” he asked. “The front row please,” she answered. “You really don’t want to do that,” the usher said. “The preacher is really boring.” “Do you know who I am?” asked the woman. “No,” said the usher. “I’m the preachers mother,” she replied. “Do you know who I am?” asked the usher. “No,” she said. “Good,” he said as he disappeared into the crowd! Yes, honesty is the best policy!
Jesus lived His life boldly and now calls us to do the same. Jesus loved others with actions of sacrifice and service and now calls us to do the same. And Jesus was honest to all that He encountered and now He calls us do the same. The remaining question is will we be people who inspire others through our boldness, love, and honesty?
Inspired by You,
Jeff Powell
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
What Is Our Vision As A Church?
I have been asked why I go to foreign countries to engage in ministry. My response has been Psalm 96:3, which says, “Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples.” This is the vision that I seek to live by.
In the same way, we as a church have a vision. This vision is Matthew 28:19, 20. Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.”
As a church we seek to exist according to this vision by...
1) Focusing on those that have not yet accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.
2) Publicly baptizing people in a celebratory manner.
3) Offering age-appropriate environments where the Word of God can be learned and applied to everyday life.
What role do you play in helping our church fulfill the vision?
First, you can invite people to attend with you. Easter is a great opportunity to do this. Start praying now about who God would have you to invite to attend with you on April 24.
Second, if you have not been baptized, consider following Jesus’ command to be baptized as His follower. Baptism expresses outwardly what has happened on the inside of you - that Jesus is in you! It is also a picture of our past sins being buried and us receiving new life in Jesus.
Finally, if you aren’t connected to a Sunday Morning Bible study or a Weekly Small Group, make that a priority!
Thank you for helping us fulfill the vision,
Jeff Powell
In the same way, we as a church have a vision. This vision is Matthew 28:19, 20. Jesus said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always to the very end of the age.”
As a church we seek to exist according to this vision by...
1) Focusing on those that have not yet accepted Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.
2) Publicly baptizing people in a celebratory manner.
3) Offering age-appropriate environments where the Word of God can be learned and applied to everyday life.
What role do you play in helping our church fulfill the vision?
First, you can invite people to attend with you. Easter is a great opportunity to do this. Start praying now about who God would have you to invite to attend with you on April 24.
Second, if you have not been baptized, consider following Jesus’ command to be baptized as His follower. Baptism expresses outwardly what has happened on the inside of you - that Jesus is in you! It is also a picture of our past sins being buried and us receiving new life in Jesus.
Finally, if you aren’t connected to a Sunday Morning Bible study or a Weekly Small Group, make that a priority!
Thank you for helping us fulfill the vision,
Jeff Powell
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Mission Possible
If you have ever watched any of the Mission Impossible movies or TV shows, you are probably familiar with the lead in to the teams next mission. It went something like this..."Good morning. Your mission, should you decide to accept it is to...As always, should you or any of your team be caught or killed, the Secretary will disavow any knowledge of your actions. This tape will self-destruct in five seconds. Good luck."
The reality is we all have a mission. It goes something like this... “Your mission, should your decide to accept, is to be the salt and light wherever your day may take you. You are to be a living example of my love for you and the world. It won’t always be easy, but as always, should you be caught as one of my followers, rest assured that I will personally be identified with you - you will not be alone! This mission is to be shared with everyone who follows me. I will give you the strength you need to complete the mission, God.”
Our mission needs to be lived out in our home, on our job, at our leisure, and in all of our relationships wherever we go. In a week, I will be traveling to the countries of Pakistan and India to continue being on mission for Jesus. This particular journey will not be easy and does have a higher than usual risk factor.
Thank you in advance for going with me through your prayer support. I plan on posting a few audio updates and real time pictures during the journey so that you can pray with real time information.
Don’t ever forget, you too have a mission to live out in your everyday life. The question is will you accept the mission?
On Mission,
Jeff Powell
The reality is we all have a mission. It goes something like this... “Your mission, should your decide to accept, is to be the salt and light wherever your day may take you. You are to be a living example of my love for you and the world. It won’t always be easy, but as always, should you be caught as one of my followers, rest assured that I will personally be identified with you - you will not be alone! This mission is to be shared with everyone who follows me. I will give you the strength you need to complete the mission, God.”
Our mission needs to be lived out in our home, on our job, at our leisure, and in all of our relationships wherever we go. In a week, I will be traveling to the countries of Pakistan and India to continue being on mission for Jesus. This particular journey will not be easy and does have a higher than usual risk factor.
Thank you in advance for going with me through your prayer support. I plan on posting a few audio updates and real time pictures during the journey so that you can pray with real time information.
Don’t ever forget, you too have a mission to live out in your everyday life. The question is will you accept the mission?
On Mission,
Jeff Powell
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