Tuesday Memo

in

Hi Five Oakers, 7main

I want to share a great letter the campaign team leadership received from one of our members regarding their FOR [  ] Campaign pledge.

I want to thank…you for listening to God and putting together a capital campaign that was so much more than just a fund raising event. I joked with Henry about when the flogging would begin, but I never felt pressured. A solid rational was laid out and the direction was always to look to God for how to be involved.

Let me share the story of my wife and me through this campaign. We always knew we would be involved but we were unsure as to what extent. Over the last few years I have been through several corporate layoffs and our finances have been tight.

Early on we talked about what we thought we could give. My wife tends to be less optimistic than me (she calls it realism) and felt we needed to be very careful. I continued to pray about what we could do and how I could help to bring her along. After last weekend’s service we talked about what numbers were going through our heads. I was thinking a pledge of $7000. My wife completely surprised me and tried my faith position. She had a larger amount in mind and explained how we could do it – if God provided. We are happy to be following God’s leading and are making a $20,000 pledge today.

Last week’s presentation put so much into perspective. This was about more than money to buy land and prepare for future growth. This is also about ministering to our staff and impacting global leadership (you touched my heart there!).

Five Oaks is FOR [a lot of things], but we are thankful that Five Oaks is FOR [where God wants my wife and me to be].

Thanks for a great spiritual journey!

PS – Could we continue to get daily scripture texts that prepare and challenge us?

I love it!

Blessings, Pastor Henry

Monday Memo

in

Hi Five Oakers, IMG_5051I have a few things I want share with you today:

// It was great having so many family and friends come for the child dedications. We got a lot of feedback about the service from them through our folks who had family/friends here, and it was hugely encouraging.

// Loved the wall with the pictures and profiles or our Five Oaks veterans. Great opportunity to honor folks that have served in our military. Having all the food and free coffee and people sticking around talking for so long was extra fun too.

// If you’ve dropped off or sent your FOR [  ] Campaign commitment cards already, thank you so much.

// Connecting with new folks in the service is so important. Guiding them to other connections is equally as important. I see this happen all the time. One young lady who was connected in this way this weekend--to someone who leads the young adults ministry and to someone from her home country--was so grateful. She shared that she has come many times and had not yet had a chance to connect.

// We received on comment from the cards we send first-time attenders:

11/3:  ...this was our first visit.  I’m sure we will continue to attend.  I attend ... and was pleased that they are similar.  I enjoy Bible based churches and was very impressed with this church.

// Here’s a selection from your comments, observations and questions from the weekend Communication Cards.

  • Thank you for encouraging us to trust and step onto the dry land of the sea in front of us.
  • Jeni and Tim. Great job in making child dedication a significant and God honoring moment today. Thanks! [A little behind the scenes: In an effort to speak into the lives of parents at this crucial time in their lives, Jeni initiated a new process for child dedications that includes a class and the opportunity to offer a prayer or blessing you’d like said for your child. Susan Somers is teaching the class and leading this process. I loved it all. And I had the privilege of addressing the class for about 5 minutes, sharing with them the impact the church had on my kids.]
  • It was wonderfully encouraging to hear scripture that parents had chosen to pray over their children during the dedications. Even though my children are young adults, it reminded me that the truths of God’s word still applies to them.
  • May the power and light of God shine greater than ever before through Five Oaks. Pray for revival in God’s land. Creation groans for the revealing of the sons of God. [Amen!]
  • Thanks for the great teaching. What a perfect reminder that we are all stuck somewhere in our lives, even when things seem to be going well.
  • I left this service so encouraged. I feel I was kicked into the sea and God met me there – dry land is before me – a very personal message today. [!!!!!]
  • Great worship music today!
  • Music really loud this a.m.!
  • Awesome God, awesome worship, awesome message! Thank you.
  • One of the best messages I have ever heard. Beautiful, heavy, deep and so truthful. We are all broken and this was so important for all to hear.
  • Great worship set! Response set also great! [Way to go Jeremy, worship team and tech team!]
  • Great sermon today, loved the content, didn’t care for the title.
  • It’s hard to hear the TV’s in the hallway, even when nobody is talking and no babies are crying. [Good to know. We’ll look into it.]

Thanks for all your comments.

Blessings,

Pastor Henry