“Growth?”

The older I get, the more I realize the growth (or lack of) of things. For instance, the hair on my head does not grow as it used to. Yet, my waistline appears to have no problem growing (especially during the Holidays). My love for the outdoors continues to grow but my time spent indoors continues to grow as well. I was recently a bit puzzled by the question, “Have I grown more in love with Jesus the older I get?”  As I pondered such a profound question, I remembered a bit of my journey in getting to know, and love, Jesus. When in high school, I was conversant with the routines and rituals of congregational life and the consistent love shown me by “Youth Group” leaders. As important as my relationships within “my” church were, I cannot remember a defining moment of knowing Jesus personally. Please know this is not a negative critique of my church but a critique of my life. I had a community but no personal commitment to Jesus Christ. I enjoyed the games and retreats that offered me fun, but I had no spiritual disciplines that nourished my spirit.

My life slowly began to change after “giving my life” to Jesus Christ at Jumonville as a summer staff member. I heard and believed the story of God’s love found in and through Jesus. I remember the Bible becoming alive when I read it and taught it to campers. I can still recollect the honest and meaningful worship services where I felt the power of the Holy Spirit. Now that I am older, the memories of my time as a summer camp counselor become fewer. Yet, I continue to grow in the story of God’s love. Through God’s grace, I spend every morning in Scripture reading, silence, and prayer. Many times, I look at an icon called the “Good Shepherd” and gaze at Jesus holding a sheep across his shoulders and the sheep is at rest. I do not know if I, or we, can grow more in love with Jesus Christ. I prefer to think that we can grow more into his love for us, the more we enter the story of God’s love. Anne Ashley Community Church will be offering multiple “Grow Groups” this fall to moves us deeper into the story of God’s love. The question I have for you is, “Are you ready to grow?”

Pastor Keith

“So do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Summer is finally upon us! On Memorial Day we joyously commemorated the bravery and sacrifice of our nation’s heroes. Of course, summer means warmer weather, sunshine, and storms. Wait, did you say storms? Yes, there have been storms, and we have already experienced intense storms. Recently, the headlines in the news have been the tornadoes that touched down in our area. Storms are scary. They can develop quickly and almost seem to come out of nowhere. Storms can cause damage, but they are often short-lived. What about the storms of life? That is right, the storms of life.

Everything in your life is going great, but suddenly, something unexpected happens job loss, sickness, the car breaking down, the roof leaks, and so on. The Israelites were faced with an unexpected storm when they were exiled from their home. It was a time of uncertainty for God’s people. It was in this scary and uncertain time that God sent a word of hope. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10). We are not free from the storms of life but as God’s people we have the same hope as the Israelites because God is with us through every storm we face. So, when the storms of life come your way, look to the Lord, who is our anchor and shelter in the storm.

In God’s Grace,
Pastor Dave

¹⁹“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”
(Matthew 28:19-20 New International Version).

Spring has finally sprung (I think). We have celebrated the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we will soon be celebrating the church’s birth with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In Matthew 28: 19-20, we read about Jesus’ command to his disciples to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Jesus gave the Great Commission to his disciples to continue the work he started here on Earth. The Great Commission was not only for the disciples then but for us today. Jesus gave the command with a promise, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” As Christians, we are called to share our faith with those around us (neighbors, friends, coworkers, classmates, family, etc.), and that can seem intimidating, but Jesus promises us that we are not alone. Friends, I want to encourage you and challenge you today to share your story of faith. Everyone has a story of their life before and after they met Jesus. Your story is powerful. Your story might just be what someone needs to hear. Your story could change someone’s life. Pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as you seek to share your story of faith with someone. And don’t be discouraged if you do not receive the desired outcome from the conversation. Remember, you have planted a seed when you share your faith with someone. I also encourage and challenge you to invite someone to church with you. In his article, The Power of Invitation Kent E. Fillinger says,

Research study from 2014 found that 67 percent of Americans said a personal invitation from a “family member” would be very or somewhat effective in getting them to visit a church. And 63 percent of Americans said a personal invitation from a “friend or neighbor” would be very or somewhat effective in getting them to visit a church. (See “Strategic Evangelism: The Power of an Invitation,” by Ed Stetzer, July 21, 2014, www.christianitytoday.com.)

In The Unchurched Next Door, Thom Rainer said that nearly 8 in 10 unchurched persons would come to church if we invited them and accompanied them to the worship service.

If someone responds to an invitation to attend church, they are highly likely to tell others about their experience. Auxano.com reports that “guests will talk about their initial experiences 8-15 times with other people.”

In “5 Questions about Invitability,” Rich Birch suggested these questions for personal reflection:

• When was the last time you invited someone to your church?
• If it was recently, what happened when you asked? What happened when your friend came to church?
• What part of that experience went well?
• What part of that experience was negative?
• If you haven’t recently invited someone, why not? What is holding you back?

If your church is planning a special event in the near future, that would be a good, easy, natural opportunity for inviting someone.

Kent E. Fillinger serves as president of 3:STRANDS Consulting, Indianapolis, Indiana, and regional vice president (Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan) with Christian Financial Resources.

Pastor Dave

Remembrance vs. Participation

There was a time in my Christian journey when I found little necessity in following the church calendar. After all, I had “my” bible and I felt that me and the Lord were doing just fine. On holidays such as Christmas and Easter, I would read the gospels out of religious duty because it was the “season.” Although I considered them authoritative, my privatized view of Scripture made them seem a little more than historical documents that led me to remember parts of the story of Jesus. Yet, a dramatic shift occurred when I began to serve local churches and followed the lectionary readings throughout Advent and Holy Week. As we entered the story of Jesus together, this taught me that the Bible is the “Church’s Book” before it is mine. It also taught me that the story of Jesus is just not to be remembered but participated in through the Spirit. We can travel with the Magi as they follow a star and bow before King Jesus. We can almost feel the water as Jesus comes up after being baptized by John in the Jordan River. We can experience raw human cruelty as people taunt Jesus as he hangs seemingly helpless on his cross.

Friends, Pastor Dave, and I invite you to journey with us as we head towards the cross of Christ. In this Holy season (and every season), we are not leaders of the journey but pilgrims with you. The Spirit, connecting us to the story of Jesus, is our leader. Please see the Holy Week calendar that describes all that Anne Ashley Community Church and Homestead United Presbyterian Church will be doing to participate in Holy Week. Get ready—our journey awaits!

In love,

Pasto Keith

“The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here” (Romans 13:11-12, NIV).

I do not place much value in New Year’s resolutions. Place a visit to any local gym in early January, and you will see the gym buzzing with people who have made commitments to get in shape. Visit that same gym in early February and you will notice that the buzz has become a slow drip. All of us have made commitments to start and/or stop things that we have failed. In fact, we have become so accustomed to this that many of us have given up believing that we can change. In love, I want to challenge us (me included). We must ask ourselves, “If we say we believe in Jesus Christ—do we follow him?” Notice I didn’t say, “Do we follow his teaching(s)?” Knowing and applying what Jesus taught is certainly a crucial part of our faith journey. Personally, my faith has been strengthened and my spirit refreshed by reading the Bible daily. Yet, Jesus is not reduced to ancient teachings or wise sayings. Jesus is alive! Jesus is still teaching! Jesus is still leading! The hope of every believer and the entire cosmos is that Jesus is coming back to earth! Paul put it best, “our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed (Romans 13:11, NIV). Friends, we must not allow the distractions of life to stop us in pursuing and following Jesus. Only the path that Jesus leads us on truly matters and will bring fulfillment. Instead of making a New Year’s resolution, perhaps we can prayerfully make small changes that will make a big difference.

Small Changes

-Read scripture on a weekly, leading to daily basis (devotionals count as well).
-Begin and end each day in prayer (keeping a prayer journal helps).
-Attend a worship on a weekly basis.
-Serve somewhere on at least a monthly basis.
-Pray specifically, “Lord, place me on the path you want me on. Not my will but yours.”

I am blessed to be on this journey with you,
Pastor Keith

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it (John 1:1-5 NIV).

Friends, Advent is upon us. What is Advent? The encyclopedia Britannica tells us that, “Advent, (from Latin adventus, “coming”), in the Christian church calendar, the period of preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ at Christmas and also of preparation for the Second Coming of Christ.” Advent consists of the four Sundays leading up to Christmas,  each with its own theme: hope, peace, joy, and love. We recognize each of these themes (made possible through Jesus) by reading a passage of scripture and lighting a candle on the Advent wreath culminating on Christmas Eve with the lighting of the Christ candle. The Gospel of John reminds us that, “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it.” Through Jesus, we can have hope, no matter what our circumstances may be. Jesus brings us peace in even the most turbulent times of our lives. Because of Jesus, we can know what true joy is. In Jesus, we are loved and called to share that love with those around us. As we prepare our hearts and homes for Christmas let us never forget that Jesus is the reason for the season. “In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.” 

In God’s Grace Pastor Dave

In Luke 10 at the end of the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus says “which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robber? The expert in the law replied the one who had mercy on him. Jesus told him go and do likewise.”

Pastor LeRoy and Evelyn Dick went to Haiti in 1981 and ministered there for over 35 years. The Haitian people became the “neighbors” of Vine Ministry. While Haiti is a beautiful tropical island, it is a dangerous place. Currently 150 rival gangs are in control of about 80% of the capital. 200,000 persons are displaced from their homes, kidnappings are up 2700% and inflation is over 50%. At the end of July all Americans were ordered out of Haiti. 

Anne Ashley Community Church has a long and productive relationship with the Dicks and Vine Ministry. The Dick’s first came to visit and share in 1995. In 2001 we took our first of 3 mission to trips to Haiti. 24 persons traveled to Haiti. 

Vine Ministry is currently responding to the needs of those who are our neighbors in Haiti in three ways:

1. Through support of Vine Church pastored by Rev Dr. Daniel Telfort since 2011.Worship, choirs, Bible studies, along with food and medicine distribution and the proclamation of the Good News of Jesus Christ are hallmarks of this vital NT church.     
2. Through the ministry of student support. Since 1994 Vine Ministry donors have enabled young people to attend elementary, high school, trade school, and university. We now have 230 kids in school because of your support. They are beautiful kids eager to learn. 
3. Through the ministry of six affiliated churches. Last fall donors placed three teams of oxen/plow into rural communities, purchased land for a future church/school and provided a rural pastor with a motorcycle. Soon church leaders will gather for a week of training, study, and fellowship. 

How can you be involved? 1. Pray. 2. Give. 3. Connect  

Vine Ministry has sought to fulfill the command of “Go and do likewise” by looking upon our brothers and sisters in Haiti with such compassion that we are moved to action; to look upon them with such care that we are compelled to respond; and to look upon them with such love that it moves our heart to share. Thank you for your support.

I look forward to sharing with you in worship on November 12. God bless. 

Pastor Greg Golden,
Executive Director, Vine Ministry

Matthew 6:34
International Version

³⁴Therefore do no worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. we are in the midst of the season of change. The temperatures are getting cooler, and the days are getting shorter. The leaves on the trees are beginning to change. But of course, these are all seasonal changes, and we expect them. But, what about the changes we face in our won lives? Expected or unexpected changes in life can be scary. Changing jobs, moving to a new town or city, changing schools or in a more serious case a change in our health can all be causes of stress and anxiety. But it’s in these moments that I encourage you to look to the Lord for strength. In Matthew 6:34 Jesus tells us not to worry. No matter what changes we face in this life Jesus will be with you every step of the way. When we look back at scripture, we see the many examples of people in the Bible who faced significant life changes and yet God brought them through it. So, no matter what changes you face in this life place your trust in the Lord and He will walk with you every step of the way.

In God’s Grace,
Pastor Dave Pogany