Second Meeting

Well our group met for a second time and once again we had a very nice time. It is fun to fellowship with everyone and encouraging to talk about how we can serve others in the name Jesus Christ.

After discussing a few passages of scripture and the first few chapters of 'The Conspiracy of Kindness' we discussed what service projects we would like to do. We decided to have each family make one (or more) backpacks for the homeless. Once we have assembled our backpacks ( we used this website for a bit of guidance http://www.ushelplines.org/homeless.php) we are going to each try to look for an opportunity to offer it to someone who needs it. Our goal is for each family to give out one and talk through the experience at the next meet and see where it leads.

We also are going to do a few group activities each year. We decided that we would have a fall project to help with yard work for those who need help (we thought we would seek out single mothers, the elderly and those caring for family with Alzheimer's). In the winter, we are thinking about organizing some free babysitting for parents who have a heard time finding time to get out to shop.

We am looking forward to our next meeting.

- Dave and Sarah

One Experience

I have spoken to a few of you about the recent promptings I have felt to reach out to those in need – particularly those living on the streets I see on my drive into work (folks I’ve seen ‘for the 21st time’). Oddly enough, over the past several weeks, I had not seen these people in their regular spots along the I-75 service drive or driving down Fort Street.

I did see a man (Steve) this morning. I felt encouraged by some of my recent discussions with you to step out and try to (in some small way) meet this gentleman. So, I pulled my car over and took out a small amount of money ( I don’t have my care packages put together yet) and offered Steve a small gift. I also mentioned that I was happy to meet him and would be praying for him (I didn’t necessarily mean right there on the street), but Steve bowed his head for prayer. I asked if there was something I could pray for specifically and he mentioned that his health was not that great and his current situation was difficult. So we prayed.

I have to tell you that I was a bit nervous before deciding to talk with this man. But, after speaking with him a bit, I wish would have talked with him a bit more, asked him what other needs he has, or if there was anything more I could do for him. I just felt the desire to help – he seemed like a gentle person who was open to help. So, if you happen to read this – please say a prayer for Steve – for improved health and for God to walk him through this difficult time in his life and for change.

- Dave

Exciting

I am running to work this morning, but wanted to let folks know that our team met this weekend. It was a good time of fun and fellowship. I am looking forward to see how this group develops and grows. I will post more later today when I have a bit more time.

In general our group is gravitating towards 'Invitational' and 'Service' evangelism. So, we are currently 'brainstorming' to develop a list of individual and group evangelism opportunities. More to come......

Creating Opportunities . . .

I am excited to report that our small group had our first meeting this week. We met on Tuesday, did the first session of the "They Like Jesus, But Hate the Church" bible study and then spent some time talking about where to go from here.

Collectively, we came up with three opportunities . . .

1. In June, our small group (kids included) will be holding a free car wash. Our plan is to make arrangement to use the church parking lot on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon and serve the people in our community. (We chose to wash their cars, instead of their feet.) :o)

2. In July, the Scheibers offered to host a backyard BBQ at their house. We are all prayerfully considering who we will invite to the "get together".

3. Also in July, we are going to be providing free hot dogs and sno-cones near the Trenton Mid-Summer Festival. We thought this would be a fun way to show the love of Christ.

At our meeting this week, we challenged each person in our group to choose one person they know who is not a Christian, and pray specifically for them for this month. We are challenging the rest of you to do the same! We also ask that you remember our above mentioned opportunities in your prayers in the next few months.

We would love to hear how everyone else is coming along!

Would love to hear how its going for everyone.

Amanda's friend has been to church 2 times in a row...Praise God!
Not to mention she has been hanging with our neighbors building relationships.
Shes putting me to shame.....

Please be in prayer as God is really using her lately.

Looking forward to seeing everyone Friday . . .

Just a reminder that we are have our large group gathering this Friday evening (4/18) at 6:30 p.m. at the church. We will be discussing our lifestyle evangelism "project" and enjoying some fellowship. Child care will be provided.

Until then, let's all spend sometime in prayer, asking Him to use our group for His glory.

In Christ,

Jen McConnell
Matthew 28:19

Woo hooo

This is long overdue. I'm looking forward to getting to know each and every one of you better. When you see J David Barr or Dave Barr, that is my work name alias. Why? My dad (also named Jerry) works here and Barr is a whole lot easier for folks to remember in sales than Barwikowski. I am a partner in this family business and we wholesale steel. Oddly enough, more people know me as Dave than Jerry. Jamie and I stumbled into First Pres in 1993 after leaving her childhood Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod church (aka WELS). We had to leave her church because WELS members, "Should never pray with non WELS folks, and non WELS folks won't be entering the Kingdom of God." I don't know how many WELS folks subscribe to that, but the pastor sure did and that was enough for us. I was instantly smitten by the Westminster Confession and the liberty of believers in 'non essentials' at First Pres. We have a very good thing here, and we can't take it for granted.
Jamie and I love to entertain, and I LOVE to grill. I have a natural gas and a charcoal Weber grill. One of my other likes is French and Italian wine. Believe me, I'm totally against drunkeness and even getting close to .080 BAC, but there's something glorious about matching food and wine and I have a very hard time enjoying a good steak and chasing it down with iced tea. Jamie and I often mix believers and non believers in food and wine settings in order to provide relaxed settings and encourage real conversations. Some of my non believing friends are real challenges and are entrenched agnostics, but they've witnessed our very sincere and spritual fellow Islander Christian friends and they are intigued by them.
Folks, this evangelism thing is very serious, for we know the fate of those who don't believe. Jamie and I intend to do more events like these, and it would be great to have you participate as well.
Jerry Barwikowski

Procrastinator Does It

Well - the Lord has seen fit to prompt three families to join my group. I really am excited. I have one more invitation that I have extended that I am hoping will they also will want to participate. It's April 1st and we are getting together for the 'kick-off' meeting on 4/18. I am not sure if I will be able to have my first meeting prior to 4/18 - but I will try.

I have been reading the Contagious Christian. The author re-iterates that God sees tremendous in value in every person - even people we think might not be so great. I need to do a better job of not judging or assuming I can know someones heart or worth - everyone is incredibly precious in Gods eyes.

Be Sure To Attend

On April 6th at 7pm our church will be showing the CCN Broadcast of "Choosing Your Faith In a World of Spiritual Options" This Discussion may be a very helpful tool for those of us involved in the Lifestyle Evangelism. Mark Mittleberg describes it by saying "We’re being bombarded by a variety of conflicting religious claims and ideas, while faith in general is increasingly under attack by those who don’t believe in God at all. How can we weigh all of these confusing messages, reinforce our Christian beliefs, and become more confident that we’re standing on the solid bedrock of truth?"

The broadcast is based off of Mark Mittelberg's new book sharing the same name.

Speakers are:
Mark Mittelberg — Speaker, writer, and evangelism strategist;
author of Choosing Your Faith...In a World of Spiritual Options.
Lee Strobel — Best-selling author of the Case for Christ and Inside the Mind of Unchurched

Harry and Mary.

with Special Musical Guest
Matthew West — Award winning singer and songwriter.

Check out the CCN Broadcast at:

http://www.ccn.tv/programming/event/evt_06apr08.htm

As Jim Henderson says in his book, Jim and Casper Go To Church, "Telling me that he or she trusts me is the highest compliment a non-Christian can pay me..." Our friends and family show us their trust when they are willing to join us at an event like the Kitna, SNL...

Please pray as Mandy and I have invited some friends who are planning on coming April 12 to the SNL, we want it to be a good experience for them, as they are placing their trust in us by coming to an event we suggested. We are especially praying for their ears to be opend and that they may clearly hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thanks in advance for your prayers

Culturally Relevant

Hearing about the coming of Jon Kitna to our Church really offers me an opportunity to reach out to my community! What sports fan won't wait in line to get an autograph or even pay top dollar to have the opportunity to be near a sports star. We have someone coming into our Church which will draw attention like no other, if for no other reason than he plays America's MOST watched game. I believe we all really need to seize this opportunity to invite our families and friends who like football. Jon is willing to hangout following the event which is really something special for those would would like to say they "Hung with a starting NFL quarterback"

The Fact that this will be a Church wide event...with the kids having their very own TAILGATE PARTY...only makes it an easier sell. At the Party their will be drawings for NFL Jerseys and sports ware. (and a little known secret is that we are trying to get ROARY the Lions Mascot as well) I really believe this is a Great opportunity for us to be Intentional! Lets seize the opportunity.

Great Expectations

Thank you for the invitation to join this blog! I love to write blogs and I love reading them even more. I have a personal blog found here. And my family's blog is found here. So as you can tell, I am a blogging fool!

Anyway, I am truly looking forward to getting to know all of you better. Small groups are perfect for forming close relationships and for challenging one another spiritually. I think the premise of your small group idea is excellent. I have great expectations for the upcoming weeks/months. I'm looking forward to getting started!

Love In Christ,
Amy

A SHOUT OUT!

For all those over achievers...we will be meeting on April 18 for Our First Gathering...procrastinator's I will be sending out an email a few days before D-Day, So don't worry, Not that you will. Also Note: that if you have not set me the emails of those in your group please do so so that they too can begin to contribute to the BLOG.

Please pray . . .

We have our three couples, and a fourth that is still deciding. I just ask that everyone pray for them to sense which direction God is leading them. Nick and I think they would make a great addition to the group, but we are trying to leave the recruiting up to Him.

We are tentatively planning an evening at our house for our group the first week of April. We are thinking about doing the "They Like Jesus, But Hate the Church" study beginning that week and for five weeks after. The format is one hour, so shouldn't be too time consuming for people.

We are still planning on April 18th for a large group meeting, right Aaron?

So far so good...

Up to this point Mandy and I have 2 of our 3 committed. We are just looking for the right time to pounce on the 3rd...HA...HA...
However, I must admit that all of this has made for some interesting conversation lately.

Jen, I too keep seeing the world a whole lot different now, I am amazed at all of the opportunities I have, I just pray that I am faithful and that I seize them...

Well God's Blessings...tomorrow is another day!


Paul, are you out there...we sure would love to hear from you.

My MO

Well - I seem to be the procrastinator of the group. I asked my first two families to join my group today. I definitely could not be a sales person, I think I gave the weakest 'pitch' of all time. Both gentlemen noted that my approach was definitely not the 'hard sell'. I am praying that God will touch the hearts of these families and move them to participate - both are young men with families. So, much like Jen's folks - they certainly have time constraints.

I feel as though I failed a bit today - please pray that God will encourage these men to strongly consider participating and that God will give me courage to be a bit bolder.

So, at this point I have zero committed members of my team - I am hoping to hear back from the first two this week and am going to reach out to another two families early this week.

On a lighter note, I do seem to be a bit more aware of my surrounding lately. I did notice some new faces at the Resurrection party this weekend and tried to introduce myself and hopefully give a warm welcome - however I was on toddler duty and shortly after introducing myself and talking for a minute - I noticed I had lost my son. Well - I quickly began looking for him and noticed after a short while that another person in our group had stepped in and was talking to the family - way to go team.

I must make God laugh!

Last Thursday, after we met, I walked away trying to think of how Nick and I were going to get three or four couples to join us in this adventure. After just a few days, I have realized God will be the only One doing the "getting"! When, oh Lord, will that lesson be committed to my memory!?!

Our update . . . two couples have enthusiastically jumped on board and we are still praying for the third couple we have spoken with. Wow, are God's plans so much bigger than ours!

Friday afternoon I had a conversation with a lady in her 50s who works at Meijer's. I had parked next to the cart corral and she was gathering carts while I was loading groceries in my van. We stood in the cold for few minutes having a conversation. As silly as it sounds, it is much easier to see that God loves those around us as He loves us, when we look at them as people and not as the automatic cart return system. So, thanks Aaron, for reminding us of how we should be interacting with those around us. And, thank God for His limitless capacity to love us ALL.

I am praying for all of you as we serve the Lord . . .

Dropping seeds of your faith everywhere...

Recently I heard a story concerning the time when the Romans ruled Europe. The story teller explained that because of the lack of proper sewage and sanitation the city dwellers began to get very sick, so sick that many died. Over time this sickness spread so vast that it reached plague proportions. Out of fear of catching the disease many family members threw their sick loved ones in the streets left to die next to the other decaying bodies. As shocking as this may seem this was not the wildest thing. It was told that a group of people who were not yet affected by the disease took it upon themselves to search through those piles of decaying flesh and place those who where found alive upon carts, where they would wheel them back to their own homes and care for them as best they could. In most cases all they could do was ease the suffering of the sick until they died. Over time many of the search team became infected with the disease themselves and died. So who where these people who where willing to place themselves at risk? I think you already know, they were the CHURCH! As the followers of Jesus lived out their faith through kindness many of those who watched from their windows could not understand how a stranger would be willing to care for the dying family members they themselves were so quick cast into the streets. This action of love by the Church became one of the seeds of faith that God used to bring many others unto Himself.

The question we must ask is...
"IN WHAT WAYS ARE WE DROPPING SEEDS OF FAITH IN THE COMMUNITY SURROUNDING US?"


The the King will say..."Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me - you did it to me" Matthew 25:40 The Message

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27 NIV

What We Don't Need Any Of...

I would just like to be the first to say...

"Bullhorn Guy sit down and shut up!"

How nice it would be, if we all could learn to open our ear more than our mouths. Maybe then we could actually hear the questions and concerns that are really out there. It is my belief that our personal goal should be to engage in conversations where all... LISTEN, ASK and DISCUSS.

"...Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak..." James 1:19 NIV

"Answering before Listening is both stupid and rude." Prov. 18:13 The Message

Well, here we go . . .

I was on the phone with my first "target couple" until 11:45 last night. The conversation went pretty well, they are going to discuss it, pray about it and get back to me. An issue for them was definitely a time factor. I am praying that if God leads them to get involved, He will show them that He will provide the time ~ that it will not be a burden to their family, but a blessing.

What It's All About

This blog has been created for a community of Jesus followers who are trying to live life intentionally. Our goal is for this to be a place of encouragement and support as we share our journey with one another. May we be faithful to the One who has been so faithful to us! May we begin to look at every situation as a divine appointment to Listen & Share the stories of others, ourselves and our God.

May God bless each of us as we begin this journey together...