E-note from Pastor Andy 8-9-13

August 9, 2013

Dear Eastridge Family,

The church has fallen into a bad habit in the USA!  We have been sitting back saying to our culture "Come and See" what we have to offer.  We have tried to make Christlike disciples by "attracting" people to the church.  We have come to believe that if we had the right building, the perfect music, great preaching, awesome children and youth ministry, stunning multi-media, etc. then the church would be full of people.  Somehow we have allowed this American culture of entertainment to permeate the church.  So much of our time, money and energy is directed on our "programs" that we have lost the ability to “engage the culture.”

Michael Frost says in his book, The Shaping of Things to Come, "the missional church recognizes that it does not hold a place of honor in its host community and that its missional imperative compels it to move out from itself into that host community as salt and light."  A missional church or a biblical church, is one who engages the community.  A missional church has "GO-TO-THEM" mentality.  Christians must wake up from their slumber and look around at the harvest field around them.  We must start making relationships with people beyond our comfort zones and live out our faith in authentic ways.  

How do you engage the culture?  Let me offer a couple of suggestions:

1.  Pray for your neighbors! - I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God’s mercy upon them, and give thanks.  1 Timothy 2:1 (NLT)

2. Look for ways to serve  - Do you not say, ‘Four months more and then the harvest’?  I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.  John 4:35

3. Develop a relationship with unbelievers.

4. Invest and Invite  - “Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.  But who can ask Him to save them unless they believe in Him?  And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him?  And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells him?”  Romans 10:13-14 (LB)

The church will never fulfill the mandate of Christ to make disciples, if we just sit back and wait for people to walk into church on Sunday morning!  It will only happen, if we the people of God, go to them and engage our culture.  

• Youth Group Bible Study

On Saturday, August 10^th at 6:00pm, there will be a short Bible Study with root beer floats at the Heer’s house. Following the Bible Study, there will be the showing of ”Facing the Giants”. Also, the church van will take people from the church to the Bible Study at 5:45pm. Ages 7^th – 12^th grade are welcome to come.

• Back to School Party

On Saturday, August 17^th from 11:30 am – 2:30 pm we will have a Back to School Party for our students ages 3 to 6^th grade.  The Registration will begin at 11:15 am.  We will be serving lunch along with a Bible story, craft and games.  We have sign up sheets on the information table if you would like to help.

• Saturday Morning Prayer Service

Each Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m. here at the church Pastor Daniel will lead our prayer service.  Everyone is invited to attend.

• Promotion Sunday

On Sunday morning we will recognize our students who have been promoted to the next Sunday school class.  Our Sunday School Superintendant Riley Carswell will be heading this up on Sunday morning before the morning worship service.

I’m looking forward to worshipping with you Sunday.  I plan to preach from Micah 6:1-8 where the prophet ask and answers the question, “What does God require from us?”

Pastor Andy