Annual Pastor's Report 2019

This is my second pastoral report to you, the congregation of Newton Falls Church of the Nazarene. Today I want to remind everyone of our mission statement…We are a church you can belong to, that believes in the gospel of Jesus Christ so we can become fully committed Disciples.

In short, we are a place where people can belong, believe, and become. We wanted to use terms that everyone could understand. Especially unbelievers.

Belong is the term we use to describe fellowship

Believe is the term we use to describe evangelism

(NIV)

and

and

Become is the term we use to describe Discipleship.

15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” 19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” 20 Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is going to betray you?”) 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” 24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true. 25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

I want to describe today, each of those in more detail.

The New King James Version Chapter 1

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—2 the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—3 that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things we write to you that your joy may be full.

BELONG. (FELLOWSHIP)

(NIV)

1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.

We want to be a church where people feel like they belong here. Whether they are gay or straight, rich or poor, black or white. We want them to feel the love of Christ and that they are accepted, cared for and welcomed here.

Some of the way we do this is through different bible studies such as Sunday school, weds nights, and our men’s and womans groups. If you aren’t apart of one of those groups, I encourage you to plug in.

Also, we have put more of an emphasis on what I’d like to call our 1st impressions ministry. Which is a work in progress. We now have gifts for 1st time guests and striving toward not just being friendly to each other(which is great) but, being friendly to everyone.

We’ve been working on creating a space where people feel comfortable such as better seating, painting the downstairs, and eventually getting a welcome center.

To be a church where people feel like they belong though, doesn’t just exist within the four walls of this building. Because WE are the church. People need to feel like they belong in our very lives so we can proclaim to others what we have seen and heard God do within our fellowship!

That brings us to our next part of our mission statement: To be an evangelistic church where people can believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ!

BELIEVE. (Evangelism)

(NIV)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”

We want to be a church that preaches the gospel. Not just in this building. But, in our every day lives! We do that by being relational with people who don’t know Jesus. I encourage you to become friends with someone who doesn’t know Christ so you could share how Good God has been to you and what he has done for you and for them.

Thirdly, we want to be a church where people become fully committed disciples of Jesus Christ

BECOME. (DISCIPLESHIP)

(NIV)

19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Discipleship is so much more than learning. It is doing and practicing what we preach. It has been said that people learn and retain 70% more of what they are taught by practicing it and actually doing it themselves. We want to be a church that is not just hearers of the word but, doers!

Brennan Manning, a theologian, once said “The greatest cause of atheism is Christian who profess Jesus with their lips but, deny Him with their lifestyle. That is something that the world cannot simply believe.

This has been my annual pastor’s report

Can I have a motion to accept the report