A few weeks ago, I took the bold step to camp out with Austin and Joshua Hosey in the backyard. Even though it was hot, I was ready to brave it for these two young men. Okay, so I did run an extension chord and set up a fan for myself in the tent:) As light turned into night, it became time for us to go to sleep so I said our prayers and told them good night. Not even 15 seconds had gone by and the two were still talking. After another 10 minutes I quieted them down again. Again not even 15 seconds and they were passionately discussing all the wild animals that could be roaming outside. I let another 10 minutes go by and repeated our previous routine for the third time. And again, they repeated their routine. By this time I knew if any of us were to get any sleep we would have to move indoors, so I made the bold call to head inside and my brave campers joyfully followed!
Inside the fun continued until finally these two adventuresome kids went to sleep. As I thought about this “camping” experience, I began to think about our “missions” experiences. You see for Austin and Joshua, camping was never the goal, just a means of accomplishing the goal. Their goal was have tons of fun together and imagine many adventures together - all of this they did from the comfort of my home...and the tent, during the day:)
In the same way, the goal of missions as a church is not to just take trips or to just send money. No, our goal is to see these areas touched and changed by the love of Jesus. Going and sending are just two ways we accomplish this goal. We go to and we send monies to these lands, but let us not forget the goal - to see people touched by the love of Jesus! In September of this year, I plan on going again to India to further accomplish this goal. Some of you may physically join me. Others of you may help by giving. All of us will take part in furthering our goal to see lives touched by the love of Jesus in this foreign land!
Going and Sending,
Jeff Powell
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Monday, June 20, 2011
People Watching At An Airport...
Recently I was in the Tampa Airport waiting for Tyler and Allie. As I was waiting, I made an intentional effort to “watch people.” Some were sad, some were glad. I noticed a father telling his daughter goodbye. Moments later a wife gave a passionate kiss to her departing husband. Later in my wait I observed a few college aged people excited to go through the gate to their plane. I also observed several traveling families with young children. I took pity on them....and those that would be near them :)
In the midst of all these relationships, I also noticed many who were alone. All were serious looking and focused. Could it be that they were focusing on their destination ahead? Or could it be that they were just tired? Or could it be that they had just left their last hug or kiss or goodbye before their journey began? I will never know. What I do know however, is that even in a busy airport, it is obvious that we humans are created for relational connections.
A life lived alone is a very alone life. A life lived with the mask of “everything is okay all the time,” is a life that is robbed of true community. A life lived only for oneself is a life void of true meaning and value.
Here at Fellowship Church we are seeking to become a place where REAL relationships begin. This will only happen as we intentionally connect with each other. And this cannot happen only on Sundays in corporate worship. The solution? Link up with a small group! You will find a place where REAL relationships begin!
Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell
In the midst of all these relationships, I also noticed many who were alone. All were serious looking and focused. Could it be that they were focusing on their destination ahead? Or could it be that they were just tired? Or could it be that they had just left their last hug or kiss or goodbye before their journey began? I will never know. What I do know however, is that even in a busy airport, it is obvious that we humans are created for relational connections.
A life lived alone is a very alone life. A life lived with the mask of “everything is okay all the time,” is a life that is robbed of true community. A life lived only for oneself is a life void of true meaning and value.
Here at Fellowship Church we are seeking to become a place where REAL relationships begin. This will only happen as we intentionally connect with each other. And this cannot happen only on Sundays in corporate worship. The solution? Link up with a small group! You will find a place where REAL relationships begin!
Loving and Leading,
Jeff Powell
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Blindness, A Brick Wall, And Sight
“Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back.
The men talked for hours on end. And every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods.
As the man by the window described a park with a lovely lake, ducks and swans playing on the water, young lovers walking arm in arm, grand old trees gracing the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the scene.
One morning, the nurse arrived to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse made the switch and left him alone. Slowly he propped himself up to take his first look outside.
He strained to turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his roommate to describe such wonderful things. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall!” - Author Unknown
When troubles hide your sight, what do you see? When confusion hides your sight, what do you see? Prayerfully during these and all other times, we will always see God’s great and glorious ways for us by faith!
Jeff Powell
The men talked for hours on end. And every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. The man in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods.
As the man by the window described a park with a lovely lake, ducks and swans playing on the water, young lovers walking arm in arm, grand old trees gracing the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the scene.
One morning, the nurse arrived to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse made the switch and left him alone. Slowly he propped himself up to take his first look outside.
He strained to turn to look out the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall. The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his roommate to describe such wonderful things. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall!” - Author Unknown
When troubles hide your sight, what do you see? When confusion hides your sight, what do you see? Prayerfully during these and all other times, we will always see God’s great and glorious ways for us by faith!
Jeff Powell
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Helping Our Sight
I am getting older and with age, my eyesight is not what it used to be. I now wear glasses when I drive and when I watch TV. Having my physical sight diminish has reminded me that over time every organization naturally loses sight of what is most important. Just like my glasses restore my physical sight, being reminded of the purpose behind an organization can restore lost “sight” to that organization.
Fellowship Church is a living organism and a functioning organization. So that our organizational sight remains focused, I want to remind us why we exist. Prayerfully everything that we do involves at least one of the following:
1. Leading others to become followers of Jesus (evangelism).
2. Helping those that are followers of Jesus to know Him better (discipleship).
We seek to accomplish this through praying together, worshipping together, serving together, studying the Bible together, reaching out to others together and giving together. This all leads me to a final component:
3. Togetherness in all that we do (fellowship).
Through everything that we do we are becoming a place where REAL relationships begin! We want this to happen through Vacation Bible School July 18-22, One Story Live from Bethlehem on December 10 & 11, Small Groups, Ministries, and Worship Services that occur every week, and Missions in India!
Evangelism, Discipleship, and Fellowship - that is the vision! I hope you see clearer now than you did a few minutes ago :)
Jeff Powell
Fellowship Church is a living organism and a functioning organization. So that our organizational sight remains focused, I want to remind us why we exist. Prayerfully everything that we do involves at least one of the following:
1. Leading others to become followers of Jesus (evangelism).
2. Helping those that are followers of Jesus to know Him better (discipleship).
We seek to accomplish this through praying together, worshipping together, serving together, studying the Bible together, reaching out to others together and giving together. This all leads me to a final component:
3. Togetherness in all that we do (fellowship).
Through everything that we do we are becoming a place where REAL relationships begin! We want this to happen through Vacation Bible School July 18-22, One Story Live from Bethlehem on December 10 & 11, Small Groups, Ministries, and Worship Services that occur every week, and Missions in India!
Evangelism, Discipleship, and Fellowship - that is the vision! I hope you see clearer now than you did a few minutes ago :)
Jeff Powell
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Preaching in Pakistan
Technology is amazing. The advances that have been made are nothing less than marvelous. Our ability to communicate has exponentially increased (facebook, e-mail, blogs, twitter, etc...). Technology in and of itself is neutral - neither positive nor negative. It is what we do with technology that determines whether it has a positive or negative affect on us.
One such technology that I am excited about is Skype. Through this free service two people can video conference with each other through the internet. Over the last few weeks I have utilized this technology to communicate with Imran Sadiq in Pakistan. It has been a great blessing to share the word of God with Imran and to pray with him all while being able to see him in real time!
Fellowship Church, we are taking our missions to another level through technology. On June 10, I will preach a live message to Imran’s church. I will be in my office here in Florida, they will be in their church building in Pakistan. The message that I will preach will be in celebration of their church’s 1 year anniversary.
At a time when persecution is increasing all over Pakistan, we as a church family have the opportunity to stand with our brothers and sisters in that part of the world. On Friday, June 10 at 11:30AM, I will preach a message that will prayerfully encourage and equip them to stand strong in the face of opposition. Please join me in praying for this special event. And please pray for our brothers and sisters in Pakistan, pray that the boldness of Jesus would overcome all fear!
Thank you in advance for praying!
Jeff Powell
One such technology that I am excited about is Skype. Through this free service two people can video conference with each other through the internet. Over the last few weeks I have utilized this technology to communicate with Imran Sadiq in Pakistan. It has been a great blessing to share the word of God with Imran and to pray with him all while being able to see him in real time!
Fellowship Church, we are taking our missions to another level through technology. On June 10, I will preach a live message to Imran’s church. I will be in my office here in Florida, they will be in their church building in Pakistan. The message that I will preach will be in celebration of their church’s 1 year anniversary.
At a time when persecution is increasing all over Pakistan, we as a church family have the opportunity to stand with our brothers and sisters in that part of the world. On Friday, June 10 at 11:30AM, I will preach a message that will prayerfully encourage and equip them to stand strong in the face of opposition. Please join me in praying for this special event. And please pray for our brothers and sisters in Pakistan, pray that the boldness of Jesus would overcome all fear!
Thank you in advance for praying!
Jeff Powell
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