Church Family Meeting. 4.11.23
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What we are going to go through tonight
What we are going to go through tonight
Little bit about us | What’s happened in transition | Building - Where we are at | Dinner & Q & A
When Transitioned - Explained, that we would have these Church Family Meetings to provide transparency, and get feedback on what we are doing as a church.
Quick one, just in case you have no idea what 242 is or means - Our Logo.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.
There is this picture of getting unity right in here first - We often want God to move, but we forsake what comes first - Unity - If we are all in unity, we are listening to what the Spirit is saying ,and in that environment - God will bless, God will add to the number.
We often say that Deliverance starts with a decision, so does Unity, Unity starts with Devotion.
Firstly - Thank you - For walking with us | We as a church have made massive step of faith in being released and replanted as our own body
This was a step of faith | I have felt the support | The leadership teams we currently have in place - have felt the support - so thank you.
Just a reminder for some, or new information - Our structure;
Leadership Structure
Shepherding / Elders - Titus 1:5-9, 1 Tim 3:1-7, 1 Peter 5:1-4,
Daily Leadership Team - 1 Tim 3:8, Titus 1:7
Leaders - Same as above, in line with Acts 6
We had one team, but they slotted into each of these | We have named them to make it a little bit more understandable.
Some more information
Groups
Mission - Empart Ministries
Church App
Book
Church Finances - Snapshot
Tithe Trend -
2019 - 7,908 | 45
2020 - 8,956 | 51
2021 - 7,863 | 48
2022 - 9,025 | 79
2023 - 14,166 | 98
Financial Position for 2023
Tithes;
Budget - 90,000 | Actual 125,712
Expenses - 78,726 | Actual 85,261
Operating Profit: 372% Under Budget
Money in Bank - $124,504
Biggest Expense - Wages - I’m paid according to Churches of Christ Guidelines.
Tithe 10% to Missions - $1,000 per month to Empart, as you saw before and then the remainder gets given to a local missions fun - so we can be the hands and feet here.
Discretionary funds for all our ministries.
$256 rent here per month.
$600 per month to a building Fund.
However - Doesn’t tell the whole story.
Little - to no Overheads.
That’s where we are financially - More information to come at the AGM - Early next year.
New Ministries.
Activated | Switch | Grounded | Agape | Devoted | Dedicated | Primetimers
These are all intentional - and will be launching in the new year.
The Building…the reason we are all here.
Back in January, we shared this picture - And we said that Vasse needs a lightouse - For lost souls - So they know where to go.
Another story of so many confirmation of this being our next step as a body of Christ and we said that two questions going into this;
Does what ever we do, advance the Kingdom of God?
and If the church was gone tomorrow, in Vasse, would the Community notice?
Can honestly say, I have been convicted of this.
for those of you that where here in June, You heard me say at first I thought it was a community centre taht we could use on Sunday - but God has really been shaping this and we should stand firmly and BOLDLY on the Name ofJESUS CHRIST and build a CHURCH that will serve the community all week.
It’s also that there is NO MISTAKE of where to go if broken and desperate. The amount of people that say “I didn’t even know you where here” -
So for those of you who are new, what has been the process?
Pray and Hear God | Consult - Both in our congregation, external mentors | Divine Appointments - Bill Addison | Andrew - Senior Ministers Conference | Just recently in the Gold Coast - NewLife | Released Vision in January | Investigate - Other buildings, Land, Finances | Listen - people, Holy Spirit | Pray and seek Guidance | Discuss - Motion Passed.
2 Motions where passed -
Church 242 will actively pursue purchasing land, ideally 13 burler drive, Vasse for the purpose of building a permanent premises for the function fo fulfilling our mission and vision for the Church.
Church 242 will pursue office space with Kitchen Facilities and Op shop space to generate income and have space for Church 242.
Very Vague - And they are vague for a reason - because like transition, we want to walk through this together.
We have some draft values that we want to present, and get opinion and feedback on;
So - Draft Values -
Mission:
To build a lighthouse in Vasse that can reflect the light of Christ to the whole South West while providing a home to God’s people where they can be devoted to; apostles teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer.
Vision:
To give glory to God by providing a place that facilitates growth, love and truth in God’s people and assisting to equip them to ser Jesus and advance God’s Kingdom. To have a place that can be the hands and feet of Jesus for our local community.
We worship together
We are one unique body of believers and must have enough space to worship together in one place, at one time with our entire family (including kids).
The building will contribute, not consume.
The church does not exist for us. We are the church, and we exist to represent Jesus to the world and thus the building will have missional avenues to serve our local community.
We will be a part of the "new thing" that God is doing.
God is a Creator, and we will always seek to discern and follow the fresh direction He wants to bring. This building may be different from what a Church looks like in the Southwest, or WA. We will follow the Holy Spirit with how he directs us to build.
We will not hide Christ.
The local community will know that the light comes from Jesus Christ, and thus there will be no mistaking that the head of our Church is Jesus Christ.
We will not limit the Provider, nor be controlled by the (perceived) lack of provision.
Our God is not limited by provision – If God is calling us to build it, we will believe that He can provide what is needed and we will walk in His plans to further His Kingdom.
The facility will be multi-purpose and used throughout the week.
We have 7 days to do ministry and to provide value for the community and thus we will look toward the needs we have now, and into the future and build something that will look to serve throughout the week as well as providing a place for Worship on Sunday.
Provide a space that lives out our call to fellowship together.
The local community will know that the light comes from Jesus Christ, and thus there will be no mistaking that the head of our Church is Jesus Christ.
We want it to be a welcoming Church.
God is light and God welcomes us, we want our building to reflect these traits as well.
How these values play out - is up to the Church Body, as a Whole.
Share something that is on my heart - then some Q&A.
Faith comes before the funds - This is our story - A story of Faith.
Now the Lord said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.
This seems to have been our Church
Praying the other morning.
Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man. And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.”
Trust here - the water was still flowing until they put a step in
and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.
God was Faithful | God is Faithful | We aren’t carrying an Ark - We have the Holy Spirit inside us | We have his Power
When Joshua got over, they where given a task - You may remember, teh walls of Jericho - You might forget how ridiculous it was;
And the Lord said to Joshua, “See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. You shall march around the city, all the men of war going around the city once. Thus shall you do for six days. Seven priests shall bear seven trumpets of rams’ horns before the ark. On the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets. And when they make a long blast with the ram’s horn, when you hear the sound of the trumpet, then all the people shall shout with a great shout, and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people shall go up, everyone straight before him.”
I believe that God is asking us, as a church to march around the walls of Jericho, together, however, we don’t have the Ark - We have the Holy Spirit - They aren’t the walls of Jericho, they are the Gates of Hell in Vasse in which JEsus has already given us the Keys, and the promise that they. will. not. prevail!!!
It’s not lost on me, that this is a huge step of faith - If we had everything together, it wouldn’t be faith | It’s not lost on me, that this is not a small thing to do as a church body | However, it’s also not lost on me how big our God is.
It’s not lost on me....
What I am asking, What we are asking, is that yes, the water may be rushing - There will be spiritual attacks, but we feel as though God has directed this - and will you step in the River Jordan with us and walk through this as a church - because you are all required.
building
Let me pray
Q and A in a fun way!!!
4 jars
how will building be contributor
what new thing
general ideas
questions
Jars and Dinner.
Faith and Vision Board.