Momentum Part 2

Well... has it been one week already? I hope you are getting used to meeting me here every week to get in on the discussion!

Today we are going to continue our time from last week where I promised I would introduce you to two new staff members! Here they are:

First we hired Loriel Stutzman to be our part-time administrative assistant! She will be working at Southside for 10 hours a week providing much needed administrative support.

Second it is my privilege to welcome Evin Burt as our new Worship Pastor. Evin is a George Fox Graduate who has tons of worship leading experience. I am thrilled to have him as part of our family!



It is going to take much faith for us to bring on two new staff members, especially during these tough economic times, however I want to encourage you that your leadership team has lead the way in bringing on these two well qualified staff people. In the coming months it is going to take all of us giving with a generous heart to meet our financial obligations, but I know that you and I want to see God's Kingdom built and so I leave you with this question:

Will you be an active partner this year to see God do miraculous things in our midst? We need you now like never before, not just financially but also in volunteering and in prayer support!

May God bless you as you give to His work.

Giving my all with you,

Pastor Willy

Momentum

Momentum can be your friend or your enemy...

When I was in the fifth grade I remember riding my black bicycle around the schoolyard at the end of the day, it was always a kind of release for me to be able to fly around and enjoy the speed of my bike.

There is one day that stands out in my mind in particular; I was one of the last kids left at John Tuck Elementary School on that fateful day when I decided to jump my bike over a protruding manhole cover. All was well until mid flight when I realized that my front wheel had come off and was racing away from me! It would be at this part of the story where everything went black for a while and I came-to a little bit later, well enough to collect my tire and wheel myself home.

These lessons of childhood can be powerful teachers, (paying attention to loosening bike parts for one) but also teaching us important life lessons. This one taught me about momentum.

We always think of momentum in a positive way and certainly it can be. The difficult thing that we must be aware of is, whether or not our momentum is going to lead us in the right direction or into a wipe out.

This last Sunday we shared about having focus like a laser and how the ministry of Southside can have focus like a laser.

I am so excited to be a part of a team that has a growing intensity, both in laser like focus but also in building momentum to see the kingdom of God advance.

This week we added a couple new key leaders! I am so fired up about this, but, unfortunately you will have to wait until next week for the introductions! Until then, God bless you as you gain focus and momentum for His Kingdom!

Pastor Willy<><

P.S.

Where do we go from here?

Four months ago Angel and I moved here to pastor Southside. One of the immediate goals that we had was to meet with the leadership of the church and assess the direction, vision and goals for Southside.

After meeting with lots of different people we re-formed the Leadership Team, Strategic planning Team and Elders Team. It is with this new group of people that we have begun the hard work of defining a clear vision for Southside.
We have worked for a few months now and I am pleased to report the major progress that has been made to that effect. Both the Elders and the Strategic Teams have been discussing how to best move the ministry forward and I have the privilege of giving you some of the details up to this point.

1st the Elders are meeting and praying for the ministry on a monthly basis as well as individually praying daily for Southside.

They are starting a weekly prayer meeting that will be open to everyone, (details on that will come soon).

2nd the Strategic Planning Team has been focusing on how to get a Community Groups System in place at Southside.

This is part of our 5 major goals for 2009. We expect to see great growth spiritually in the lives of Southsiders as a result of joining in on these 12 week Semester based Community Groups.

One of the expected outcomes as we begin this new direction is that more and more casual attendees move their way closer to the core, as illustrated above. We understand that people will only commit in proportion to the level of relationship that they experience in Southside and Community Groups are going to provide that much needed place where new friendships can begin.

The ultimate vision for Southside will be unveiled later on this year but for now here are the Five Goals that we have set as a Leadership Team:

1) Robust discipleship program
Deuteronomy 11:19-21
• Intentional
• Expected Outcomes
• Progressive
• Relational / Small Groups

2) Service opportunities defined and available
Matthew 20:25-28
• Serve and Celebrate
• Pumpkin Party
• Easter Egg Hunt

3) People serving who they know, motivated out of a heart of love
Acts 4:32-35
• Real, known needs being met.
• Celebrating successes
• Telling the stories
• Bringing new people along

4) Competent leadership in place according to gifting
Ephesians 4:11-13
• Passionate leadership
• Multiplying leadership
• Purpose Driven leadership

5) Sunday morning service where real ministry is taking place
Hebrews 10:23-32
• Prayer for needs
• The Gospel preached
• Authentic worship (Excellence and Energy)
• An atmosphere of excitement and expectancy
• Children in an intentional (fully funded) Christian education program

So, as you can see we have a lot of work to do to see all of this happen this year! With that I would like to leave you with two thoughts:


1. If you have a passion for any one of these goals and would like to be involved in seeing them happen this year, please let the Leadership Team know… WE NEED YOUR HELP!
2. If you have any thoughts or ideas on how we can make this year of ministry even better please do not hesitate to speak up, we would LOVE to hear from YOU!

Call or email, 971*832*2427 or info@southsidenewberg.org

There will be much more information in the coming months as we seek God’s will for Southside and as planning come into focus. I hope that you are excited to see what God has in store for us, I know I am!

Blessings,

Pastor Willy

No Pain... No Gain!

Here I am sitting at home with a sore throat feeling dizzy and a bit loopy from taking Nyquil last nigt, contemplating once again why we get sick. Sure I know that sickness and death is a consequence of sin in the world... but I often wonder why God allows his children to get sick.

Now I know that the scriptures tell us that the rain falls on the just and on the unjust so sometimes bad things just happen to us for no real reason at all... we contact germs, we get in a car wreck, we get hurt at work and on and on.

Sometimes though I wonder if God allows us to get sick to slow us down and get our attention focused back on Him. This concept can sound a little bit sadistic but just hear me out. Look at what James 1 tells us:

2-4Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

So, next time you are going through a tough time, don't get angry with God for allowing it to happen or for not cutting it short, instead... consider it pure joy and let your trials have their work in you so that you may be mature and complete believers, not lacking anything at all!

Pastor Willy

Who is YOUR source?

John 15
The Vine and the Branches

"I am the Real Vine and my Father is the Farmer. He cuts off every branch of me that doesn't bear grapes. And every branch that is grape-bearing he prunes back so it will bear even more...

..."Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me...

..."I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples...

..."I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends...


Southside,

Have you been thinking about what in you life needs to be pruned back and how you can increase your love for others?

Next Sunday we will sharing what the Holy Spirit has been telling us, come ready to share!

For me, I have been getting excited about starting a summer time evangelism community group.

I am so excited to hear about what the Spirit of God is stirring in you,

Pastor Willy