Enote From Pastor Andy 8-3-17

August 3, 2017

Dear Eastridge Church Family,

Last summer I planted a few sunflowers and I was able to harvest most of the seeds before the squirrels got to them.  However, when I was harvesting the seeds last fall the wind was blowing and a few seeds blew off the edge of my patio.  This spring I noticed that I had a few volunteer sunflowers come up so I just let them grow.  A couple of them look pretty good as they recently began to bloom.  

This reminded me about sowing seed.  Our job is to sow seed and water and let God bring the increase.  If we are faithful to do our part God can work in and through us.  You may be surprised that God would give you an unexpected harvest.

1 Corinthians 3:6-9 (NIV) I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.  So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.  The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor.  For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.

Church Board Meeting

Our monthly meeting will be Sunday following the morning worship service.

Youth Ministry

This Sunday our youth are planning to lead the Sunday morning worship service.  Pastor Kobe will be preaching and this will be his last Sunday with us as his summer internship concludes.  Kobe will be going back to see his family in Iowa City, Iowa before returning to MNU to begin his junior year. 

Pastor Kobe has been a real blessing for us at Eastridge this summer.  I want to thank Ben and Elaine Hunter for opening their home for Kobe to stay this summer.  I also want to let you know it is not too late to share your appreciate to Kobe and his ministry here at Eastridge.  Maybe you could invite him out for lunch or fill his car with gas or just give him a gift card to say thanks.  Let me also encourage you to pray for Kobe as he answers God’s call to ministry.

MNU Offering

Each year Eastridge Church has received a special offering for all of our MNU (MidAmerica Nazarene University) students.  This offering was used as a church matching scholarship from the University.  MNU will match up to $500 for each student.

Our two students Ashley Heer and Olga Vargas could not afford to attend MNU without the support of Eastridge and other scholarships from Nazarene Church members.  Last year we witnessed a miracle from God to help Olga attend her freshman year.  I encourage you to pray how you can participate in the ministry of MNU to our students.

MNU was founded like the other Nazarene regional colleges and universities to be a place where students could go for training as pastors and missionaries.  The schools also provide education for other professions like teaching and nursing.  I want to encourage you to begin preparing how you can help our students financially and more importantly to pray for the students.

Church Work Day

On Saturday August 12^th the trustees will have a work day at the church where everyone our church family is invited to come and help.  We will be starting work at 8:30 am and we will end when the work is complete.  We will be painting, fixing fixtures, killing and trimming weeds, replacing doors, general cleaning and many other task.  Come out and help for as long as you are able while you enjoy your time working with fellow brothers and sisters.