Pastor's Blog: Let's G.R.O.W. >>>>!

Just a friendly reminder - As a follow up to our stewardship messages the finance team has recommended that we have a “Prove the Tithe Month!” That month is March – and if each member of the church will commit to tithe for one month, we can see what a blessing that would be for the church! “And try Me now in this,” Says the LORD of hosts,” (Mal. 3:10).

The number one reason, by far, that individuals visit a church is that they were invited by someone else, usually a member of the church! Your Deacons want to lead the way and have insisted that we start an evangelistic outreach ministry on a weekly basis. I am for it!! SO – starting in March we will begin the G.R.O.W. ministry – outreach teams that win. Unfortunately, the material is out of print but we are working to get things ready to establish a G.R.O.W. ministry or something very similar. G.R.OW. stands for God Rewards Our Work.

Many of you will remember the standard Monday night outreach visitation plan used by many churches in years gone by. G.R.O.W. is similar but not exactly the same. We will have four teams each meeting on a different day of the week throughout the month. We are asking you to commit to one team, meaning one night or afternoon a month. In a year’s time that’s somewhere between 12 and 24 hours. Not a huge commitment considering there are 8,760 hours in a year.

Each team will consist of “outreachers” – people who go and visit in homes; prayer warriors – people who pray at the church; letter writers and phone callers – people who make contacts from the church with prospects, Sunday School absentees, and new movers to the community; and child care workers for at least one of the teams. One night or afternoon a month. We can do this with the help of the Holy Spirit and GROW our church.

This Sunday we will continue our series in Philippians. We will consider a great doctrinal passage from 2:5-11, titled, “Condescension to Coronation.” How is it that the church in general is so ignorant of the great doctrines that surround the Cross of our Lord? Who is Jesus Christ and what exactly did He do when He left heaven and came to earth?

As always, I am looking forward to what God will do at Tabernacle this coming Sunday. Please be present with your Bibles in hand as we worship the Lord together.

Blessings, YFJS, Bro. Tom