The Vital Importance of Advance Commitments

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Hi Five Oakers,

One crucial feature of the FOR [   ] campaign is the collection of Advance Commitments. These are not advance gifts but the earliest commitments letting us know what someone hopes to give toward the campaign over the next three years. 

There's a biblical precedent for this and you find it 1 Chronicles 29. David collected first from the leaders when he raised funds for the temple, then he announced their gifts to the rest of the people. The lead gifts encouraged the rest of the people.

Would you be willing to encourage others by making an advance commitment? (The total from the advance commitments will be shared on the day we hand out commitment cards to the entire congregation.)

Here's how you can make an advance commitment. Let me know you would like to, and someone will sit down with you, explain the details of the campaign and leave a commitment card with you. That's it. They will not collect the card or sell you anything. Information and some inspiration. That's it. You will send in the card. You can make a big difference by making an advance commitment.

Some of you have been invited to attend home visit training. I hope this helps you understand why it's important. Will you please RSVP and attend the training on Sunday? If you choose to do some home visits, you will simply sit with someone you know, share information and leave a commitment card. That's it.

Some of you wll be contacted for a home visit by someone you know to share information about the campaign and leave a card. That's it. When asked, please say yes. We're asking to meet with you because you are already invested in this ministry.

The FOR [    ] campaign starts this weekend! I really can't wait. See you on the weekend.

Blessings,

Pastor Henry

 

Wednesday Memo

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Hi Five Oakers,

If you missed the campaign video, here it is. The campaign starts this weekend. We’re launching it because an estimated 20,000 people are moving in within a five-minute drive of our church campus. The campaign is about being ready for them. But, more importantly, it’s about engaging our hearts in our mission. It’s called the FOR [  ] campaign and this video is what it’s all about.

Here's the sermon Tim preached last weekend in 10 tweets: "Teaching the Heart," Titus 2:11-14.

  1. How do we help our kids not just do the right things, but want the right things?  How do we help them have a heart for God?
  2. In Titus 2:11, the grace of God 1) brings salvation, and 2) trains us.
  3. A heart for God must be trained by the grace of God.
  4. Our kids need to experience God's grace through us as we teach them.  Not just in John 3:16, but in the 10 Commandments and David/Goliath as well.
  5. We're born legalists, from NHL players to kids lining up at school. Our hearts don't respond to the law, but to grace.
  6. Our kids need to experience God's grace from us in how we relate to them.
  7. Scolding, embarrassing, scaring, or bribing work for a while, but they're the opposite of what Paul is saying trains the heart.
  8. Our kids need to experience God's grace at work in us.
  9. I don't always know how to practice what I'm preaching. But I don't have to be the expert. God's power is made perfect in my weakness.
  10. You can't lead a kid to a place you haven't been. The first step in showing grace to our kids is accepting God's grace in our own lives.

Looking forward to seeing you on the weekend!

Blessings, Pastor Henry