Stand Firm - May 31

Business:

Communications:

Planning Center was ideal and we should seek using that

If we can't reasonably afford use of Planning Center, we'll move toward Facebook Messenger

Update: Planning Center is free for us to use as a church plant for 12 months already, even without anything formal - so we should bring that to the attention of the congregation to confirm that everyone would like to move in that direction.

Planning Center or Facebook or any other future social media and communications platforms: No talk about FCC leadership or how things were handled. The only time FCC should be mentioned is when discussing elements of the church that we would like to continue in or improve upon - but there is no need for gossip, hearsay, or speculation.

If people have anything important / new that they feel needs to be shared, it should just go directly to Tom since he has been more formally "investigating" the situation and keeping track of things.

Financials:

Previously discussed a shared bank account for accountability, but this would not be wise due to the potential of it looking like taxable income.

Cash can be put into a lockable bucket that we'll obtain (hopefully soon), and Gretchen will be the primary point of contact regarding finances.

If you absolutely cannot bring cash, then a check written to cash will suffice.

People providing food will be reimbursed in cash.

Money beyond covering current costs will be saved for purposes still TBD.

Briefly mention that people can have "tithe accounts" in with their bank and put that money aside so that when we more formally establish ourselves with a bank account people can donate that money all at once.

Location: 

Meeting at the Ness' home is currently the most ideal for the sake of space.

Ask that people who may have a suitable home and are willing to host let us know ASAP so we can potentially rotate (emphasis on homes that have indoor space, as outdoor space is much easier to come by)

Kungfu Center in Mechanicsburg has offered their space for indoor gathering; we'll need to figure out what seating and meals look like.

Let's all keep an eye out for places to rent/buy/meet. Ideally everyone travels less than 30 minutes max. Might not be possible to establish that for everyone, but that's a good goal.

Formal Establishment of a Church: In order to register for an EIN, we need the following:

Board members: President, Secretary, Treasurer - bare minimum

Articles of Incorporation which state our purpose and why we should be incorporated

Bylaws which can be changed but we need something at least to get started

No formal name is required for us to become a 501c3

Strategy: Church Plant Committee starts forming the documents, but nothing is filed until the documents have been shared with and accepted by the congregation.

First up: Articles of Incorporation, Description of Board Roles, and a vote on Board Roles being filled

Next up: Development of bylaws to later be voted on, which will include clarity on how future decisions will be made - specifically, what matters should be voted on, and what matters are reasonable for the board to decide independently. 

Church Name:

While not necessary for us to start moving forward, it would be helpful.

Name suggestions

Clear meaning

Thoughts on imagery to be used (logos, etc.)

Tagline would be nice (ex. West Shore Free Church: "Follow Jesus & Make Him Known")

Submit ideas in writing so we can form a list to pray over and consider (I can make "forms" available and ask people to bring them back next week?)

Message:

The setting...

Time period: Around 605–536 BC, during the Babylonian exile.

Location: Babylon, the capital of the Babylonian Empire — the superpower of the ancient world.

Political climate: Babylon is aggressively expanding, conquering nations, and absorbing their people and cultures.

The 3 boys: They were young Jewish nobles taken from Jerusalem during the first Babylonian deportation (Daniel 1:3–4).

Their Hebrew names:

Hananiah → Shadrach

Mishael → Meshach

Azariah → Abednego

Political climate: Babylon is aggressively expanding, conquering nations, and absorbing their people and cultures.

Daniel 3:1–18

King is crazy.

Question 1

Where in life do you feel the most pressure to compromise your faith or values?

Daniel 3:19-30

Why do you think that God chose to be with them in the fire instead of saving them from it entirely?

1 Corinthians 10:13

You will never be tempted beyond what you can handle.

But going through things you can’t handle? 100% you will.

Babylon demanded compromise.

It was more than they could handle - but not the temptation to compromise - that they knew what to do with. The consequences of that is where God stepped in.

But even if God did not keep them from suffering… what would that mean?

1 Peter 4:12-16