What a Week!

daytimer

Well, another week has past and today’s blog will be more about current events than ministering the Word. 2014 hit us quickly and hard. With my determination to keep moving forward, I realized what God spoke to my heart last year about time management cannot be “put off,” so to speak.

Susan and I have managed to get a start on the stairwell in Dean Hall this month. Our leadership team is digging into the new program to increase our devotional lives and raise our leadership abilities (more on that in a moment). We are developing an overall plan for our church in regards to it’s facilities, structure, ministries, and outreach to this community. 
I have begun the all illusive Policies and Procedures manuals to nail down the foundations of our church. And finally, I am focusing on a new avenue of ministry — initially through study, but soon through conversation.

Completion of our overall ministry in Union City must include reaching our schools. Waiting for a miracle to happen is one thing, but being prepared to receive a miracle is another. I am devoting some time, thought, and study into what Student Ministries should look like at Calvary. I want to bring what now seems fuzzy into focus. In my years of ministry I have worked to a great extent with children and adults. However, I have never directly ministered in the area of youth, young adults, or singles. In our community it is very necessary for our church to become the spiritual moms and dads to this critical segment of young adults.

Calvary is in a foundational time in our rebuilding process. First through living bigger and better lives. Then through developing solid foundations for ministry and equipping qualified leaders to fulfill those roles in our church. I have found the definition of these ministries rests squarely upon the leadership of those who feel called to them. We want to insure that these leaders are well equipped to express their callings and fulfill their ministries within the context of our church.

One of the victories that expresses our vision of being a church of regional influence is what is happening at our sister church in Portland. Pastor Mike and Angie are digging in and taking hold of the vision God has given them for Banner Christian Assembly of God. We had to cancel our services Sunday because of snow right before our service time. So Susan and I took the opportunity to travel the snow-ridden roads to be with Pastor Mike and Angie at Banner.

They were hosting our Superintendent, Don Gifford, and his wife, Diane, for what was supposed to be Pastor Mike’s consecration service. With only about a third of their church in attendance because of the snow, Pastor Don decided to hold the consecration service at a later time and instead spoke on our personal devotional lives. Diane also shared Through the Fire, a song by The Crabb Family. Afterward the church hosted a great Italian dinner and Pastor Don and Diane stayed for a brief time of fellowship before they made their way through the snow back to Indianapolis.

This week Susan and I will be working on Calvary’s February newsletter, working on the new website for the Union City Chamber of Commerce, laying out a special Tuesday night live stream of the Ken Ham / Bill Nye Evolution Versus Creation Debate on February 4th, and continuing to work on completing the stairwell.

I know it seems like we are busy all the time — not to mention having to stop and shovel snow from time to time (thanks Sonny Pettie and Mike Sanders for all your help). That’s what time management is all about — making yourself do what is on your calendar to do no matter how you feel about it. If we can master this truth, then we can only imagine what we can accomplish this year for the Lord, all the while maintaining our fervency and excitement in serving him.

On that note, I want to constantly emphasize that we are always in “lay down our lives” mode. That means, although we are not sitting around waiting on a call, we are always ready to lay down everything we are doing at any given moment in time to minister into your lives the Word of God. We want everyone to know we happily will drop what we are doing in a moment and be right where you need us to be, any time of any day. You are why we do all we do. Rebuilding the ministries of Calvary are for the rebuilding of your lives. Don’t ever hesitate to call us when you need us. We might have to take a bath before we come to see you, but we are always no more than a phone call away —anytime!

ready_set_frntcvr

Now concerning our leadership team: I am so excited about what is happening with them. Last December I introduced a concept from Scott Wilson’s new book Ready, Set, Grow! — the bigger and better we are as Christian’s on the inside the greater the influence we will have on others on the outside. From this we have developed a plan to raise ourselves to the next level in our leadership by moving from dedicated workers to influential equippers.

In this program, we are holding each other accountable to build our inner-selves into the people God desires for us to be. This has been met with great enthusiasm among our leadership and we are beginning to see its effect on our lives. It is wonderful to have a renewed confidence in knowing what God wants of us and being committed to make it happen. By the end of this year I am confident our team will begin to move out and influence the lives of those around them. This is what causes ministry to grow within our church. It means touching lives by who we are, not what we know or what we do. True ministry grows out of a passionate relationship with Jesus Christ. The better we know him the more able we are to serve him. The greater our service to the Lord, the greater our ministry to others.

Well, I think I have begun to minister the Word instead of just accounting for a busy week. 
It always gets me excited when I see others moving forward in their walk with the Lord. I measure ministry by changed lives. On that note: If you are a friend of Christina Welch on Facebook, be sure to check out the daily devotional she posts. It has been a devotional for me just to read her insights. Christina expresses herself well through the written word. This is further evidence that our church is learning to minister to itself in love.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves,
and blown here 
and there by every wind of teaching
and by the cunning and craftiness of men 
in their deceitful scheming.
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things
grow up 
into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
16 From him the whole body, joined and held together 

by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love,
as each part does its work.”

Ephesians 4:14-16, NIV.

Pray for me, as God puts the finishing touches on a complete vision for the ministry of Calvary Assemblies of God. Not only am I now able to see the whole plan, I realize we are closer than we assumed to reaching it. God is able to bring it to pass, he is able to show us the steps, and he as able to do exceeding abundantly above everything we can ask or think.

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly
above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus
throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Ephesians 3:20, 21, KJV.

“And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant
with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.”

1st Timothy 1:14, KJV.

Calvary Assemblies of God | 720 N Plum St Union City IN 47390 | Pastor Brian P. Jenkins |  (765) 964-3671 | www.calvaryassembliesofgod.org