2024 Convention Recap

ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Church Picnic, Camps, VBS, Lawn care, Remodeling

*CHURCH UPDATES: Digital and paper connect Card

sangamonvalley.net/ConnectCard and paper connect Card

Text keyword “prayer” to 217-583-1112 for prayer

Giving: box, web, app, mail

DECLARATION:

Ephesians 2:20–22 (ESV)

20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Our Church family is built by God, upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, and with Christ Jesus as the cornerstone.

We are joined together by union with Christ, we are growing, and we are a dwelling place of God by his Spirit.

We are reaching out to our family, friends, and neighbors as the body of Christ.

Prayer for...

INTRODUCTION:

Review:

WHY?…

TODAY: Foursquare Connection - Recap

2023 Business:

U.S. Churches: Salvations: 41,915 Holy Spirit Baptisms: 6,982 Water Baptisms: 10,764 Healings: 22,002

Total ministers: 6,664 4,043 men + 2,621 women (39% women)

U.S. Ministerial Licensing Process in 15 Languages: Arabic, Armenian, Chinese, Filipino, French, French Creole, Indonesian, Iranian, Nepali, Nigerian, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish*, Tagalog, and Urdu.

360 deployed missionaries in 156 nations with around 100’000 churches

48 Disasters responded to by FDR

Ukraine since 2022:

240’000+ meals

4 Bakeries

178 Homes built

Business and…

A time to connect

A time to celebrate - A RENEWED SENSE OF MISSION

Opening Scripture:

Psalm 56:3–4 “3 When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. 4 In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”

This I Know: God Is For Me

Speaker: Mark Chester

Psalm 56:9 “9 Then my enemies will turn back in the day when I call. This I know, that God is for me.”

The Process of Stewarding Our Heart

Speaker: Stella Reed

Preventing our hearts from drift

1 Samuel 16:7 “7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.””

Where today could you be drifting?

You Are On An Assignment From God!

Speaker: Dr. Doretha O’Quinn

1 Corinthians 15:58 “58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.”

On your knees is where the work gets done

The Call To Shepherding

Speaker: Benji Horning

1 Peter 5:6–7 “6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

God’s vision for leadership is to shepherd!

Do we love Jesus (The great shepherd)?

Conclusion/Reflection:

Our Target: More & Growing Leaders Together On Missions…

Training and sending more planters (churches, missionary workers, chaplains) to take the gospel to new spaces and places.

More pastors resourced and equipped to lead thriving churches and movements.

Empowering a rising generation of future leaders (i.e. the younger).

Transition: This will only happen through Christ Centered and Spirit-Filled Discipleship

We are all called to make disciples…who are you discipling?

Apprenticing in the ways of following Jesus?

Those in your home first

Those in our community

Reaching out to others in the power of the Spirit?

Intentional: 3 people far from God - caring for and connecting with!

People God brings across your path

***COMMUNION

COMMUNION IS A TIME TO RENEW THE COVENANT/COMMITMENT FROM GOD TO US

OUR REPLY TO GOD’S COMMITMENT (HE’S FOR US):

RENEW YOUR COMMITMENT TO FOLLOW JESUS

RENEW YOUR COMMITMENT TO REACH OUT IN THE POWER OF THE H.S.