Ministries

August 21, 2011

No Man Left Behind

This weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Men’s summit at Central.  I had no idea what to expect, but the reality was far better than anything that I imagined.  One of the things that surprised me the most was the turn out.  I assumed that several guys would show up for the event, but I was stunned to walk into a sanctuary packed with tables of more than 350 men!  It was also great to see that we had attendees ranging in age from young teens all the way through the 70’s.  After all, one of the main themes of the Summit revolved around the fact that older generations of men need to pass on godly disciplines and wisdom to the younger generations.

Friday evening kicked off with beef sandwiches, baked beans, potato salad, chips, and cookies!  A big thanks goes out to all of the women who volunteered their time to put together the glorious meals that we enjoyed over the weekend.  We also enjoyed a time of worship led by Scott Sturdyvin and the worship team.  Imagine the sound of men’s voices, 350 strong, raised in unison to praise the God who has no equal.  It was a truly powerful experience!



The majority of the time this weekend was devoted to discussion panels which covered the topics of church vision, devotion, discipleship, doing life, and men’s studies.  Various church leaders were chosen to speak on these topics and shed light on what Central is doing in each area.  I am sure that every man there took away something different from the discussions, but there were a couple of things that stood out to me.
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First, guys tend to think that in order to be a real man, you have to go through life without the help and support of fellow-men.  The reality is that God’s plan is just the opposite!  God’s word and Jesus’ example tell us that men are designed to fellowship with each other, to build one another up, and to help bear each other’s burdens.  If there is an area in life that you are struggling with, you should have a few close christian friends that you can rely on to pray for you and encourage you.

Secondly, guys tend to struggle these days with being real men!  Some startling statistics were shared that really caught me off guard.  Did you know that the number of men in their 30’s who still live at home with their parents has grown exponentially over the past 20 years?  Did you know that the average video game user is 35?  Those are just two examples among many that show the alarming trend of men postponing their transition into adulthood.  So what happens when we no longer have men?  The world, and the church in particular, suffer.  When guys fail to step into the roles left by previous generations, leaders become scarce, core values begin to vanish, and future generations begin to forget what really matters in this life.  One quote from the weekend drives this point home very nicely:  “If you are failing to lead, you are leading to failure.”


So what can we do to change the crash course that we are headed on guys?  Invest in each other.  Invest in your sons.
 Invest in the body of believers.  Learn from those who are older and wiser.  It is time to stand up and take on the role of a leader.  I know that can sound like quite a challenge, but remember…you have more than 300 brothers-in-arms in our church alone!  Changing our city and our world can seem daunting, but this weekend I witnessed first hand that God can call up an army of His own.  Strong christian men united with a common goal are a force to be reckoned with.  It seems rather convenient to pull out one of my favorite quotes in light of the turn out that we had at the Summit…

“If I had three hundred men who feared nothing but God, hated nothing but sin, and were determined to know nothing among men but Jesus Christ and Him crucified, I would set the world on fire!”   ~  John Wesley

For all of those that could not make it to the Summit, we will see you next year!

August 14, 2011

The Gallery Service Returns!

Did you know that Central Christian provides two types of Sunday services?  While most people are familiar with the main services in the church sanctuary, there is another option for those that enjoy a more contemporary style of worship.  The leadership at Central recognized the need for a service of this type and launched what we now know as the “Gallery” service.  The Gallery meets each Sunday at 10:45 and has attracted an ever-growing group of regular attenders.

So what can you expect if you decide to visit the Gallery?  You can expect to meet a group of people who share a common theme… a love for God and each other!  While the Gallery service shares the same basic structure as the main Sunday morning services (worship, teaching, communion, etc.), the setting is a bit more intimate and less formal.  Despite what you may think, this service is not just for the young folks!  If you join us, you will be surrounded by teens, college students, the career crowd, and those of us that are a bit more…seasoned.  In fact, I would guess that the Gallery plays host to representatives from just about every generation currently attending Central Christian!

So what are you waiting for?  Come on by next Sunday and join us for great music, worship, and teaching.  Come and be encouraged in your daily walk, and meet like-minded believers.  If you think that church “just isn’t for you” for one reason or another, we invite you to join us and see what the Gallery is all about.  If you are anything like me, you will leave the service wishing for more and feeling like you found your home!

“Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another–and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” ~ Hebrews 10:25

June 11, 2011

Acts 2 Yard Sale!

The second chapter of Acts talks about how the believers in the early church sold their possessions to provide for those in need.  That was a great idea back then, and it is a great idea today!  In an effort to help members of Central Christian who may be struggling to make ends meet during this economy, Central hosted a church yard sale!  Starting at 7:00 this morning, Central began to sell items donated by the congregation.  I arrived just after eight (I am too old to wake up early) and was very impressed by the vast array of merchandise available for such fantastic prices.  Stretched down the length of the church was a variety of clothing, furniture, electronics, games, toys, movies, books, and more!  I checked in with Wade Little, a volunteer that I have spotted at several church functions, who filled me in on some of the details.  The Acts 2 program is designed to do exactly what the early church had in mind.  The proceeds of the sale will be collected and distributed to church members that have fallen on hard times and are in need of outside help.

I am sure that all of us have been affected in some way by the recession that we are going through.  Some have lost jobs, some have lost homes, some are clinging desperately to hope, and all could use the help of fellow believers.   Did you know that the church takes an Acts 2 offering each month?   That means that if you weren’t able to make it to the sale today to donate or purchase items, you can still make a difference in a practical way!

“They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need” ~ Acts 2:45