LOVE INVESTS #4AM
This month our theme is LOVE INVESTS. The scriptures teach us the value of considering the future generations: Prov 13:22 A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous. (NIV) Love thinks not only about the present needs but lays up in store for the future so that those following may have their needs met. Love makes provision for the future so that those you love, who come after you, will be blessed with all that God can provide for them. Love shows wisdom in not only leaving a financial blessing but providing it in a way that is most beneficial to the receivers; such as an inheritance kept until you are 18.
As Christians we are concerned not only about the material provision for future generations but about the spiritual provision also. Love sees far into the future and looks longingly for the next generation to know Jesus Christ and sees the families, cities and nations turning to God. Love invests financially for kingdom purpose into the future. That is why in this church we gather together, then we dream a dream of what the future may hold and sow a seed of finance to make the future better for others. We call this Kingdom Advance.
What you gave last year made a difference!
YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS
Last Friday night we had 82 youth at the Foundation including a small number from two other churches. Right now we have 12 trained youth leaders with 6 UC’s in church and homes and 6 more operating in the schools themselves.
We have 7 Young Adults leaders with Red Frogs ministry taking place in four locations at Latrobe Uni and NMIT. There are 3 UC’s operating with Young Adults.
Yesterday we had training for the state youth leadership. Of the 15 or so there 11 of them were from this church.
These leaders are the future church planters and leaders of our movement into the next three decades.
BECAUSE YOU GAVE LAST YEAR THERE ARE MORE AND BETTER EQUIPPED YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS LEADERS TO TAKE OUR MOVEMENT FORWARD
DESTINY RESCUE
On the video message last night Jenni Kirwan shared about an amazing young woman who was terribly abused in a brothel for a long period. She was angry and much damaged, but Jesus changed her life. She was transformed. Later she trained and became a hairdresser and has moved out to own her own business. Saved and filled with the Holy Spirit.
BECAUSE YOU GAVE LAST YEAR MORE GIRLS LIKE THIS ONE HAVE BEEN RESCUED AND THEIR LIVES TURNED AROUND FOR GOD.
COMMUNITY KITCHEN
Every week on a Tuesday, this church feeds about 100 people at the Community Kitchen. Not just food but also love is provided to a multitude of people who are lost and lonely, the disabled, the elderly, the carers, those suffering with mental illness and the poor. Together we are doing what Jesus asked us to do when He said, in Luke 14:12-14 Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbours. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. 13 Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. 14 Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.” (NLT)
BECAUSE YOU GAVE LAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO FEED THESE PRECIOUS PEOPLE AND PROVIDE THEM WITH LOVE AND ACCEPTANCE.
The local City Council CEO spoke glowingly about our local church to people who are not part of this church because we are making an impact in our community.
COMMUNITY IMPACT EVENTS – FAMILY VIOLENCE
In the last 12 months this local church has run a White Ribbon Dinner and participated in community events to assist in the prevention of Family Violence. Changing the culture of a large community is a long range and difficult task, but this church is firmly located in the being part of the answer side of the issue.
BECAUSE YOU GAVE MORE PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THE FAMILY VIOLENCE ISSUE AND WE ARE CLOSER TO SEEING A REDUCTION IN FAMILY VIOLENCE.
REFURBISH MEDIA, SOUND AND STAGE.
Now that we have occupied this building for four and a half years, it’s important to upgrade those resources that wear out, grow old and stop working. It’ also important to stay relevant with the best sound and vision equipment so that we can communicate more effectively with the people coming to our church.
BECAUSE YOU GAVE LAST YEAR WE WERE ABLE TO UPGRADE OUR COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR WIDE SCREEN AND INCREASE OUR SCREEN SIZE, ADD NEW MICROPHONES AND PAINT SOME AREAS OF THE CHURCH AND PURCHASE MORE FURNITURE.
Over the last twelve months, the givers made a difference.
I bought a bible and changed a nation
Until the last half of the Twentieth Century, Korea was one of the most resistant nations in the world to the message of the gospel. A deeply Buddhist and shamanistic culture, Korea was known to the world as the “Hermit Kingdom.” The first Christian mission to Korea came when Catholic missionaries arrived in 1784, but these Catholic missionaries met mostly resistance in the form of indifference, persecution and even martyrdom. Anti-Catholic persecution climaxed in the infamous 1866 massacre when 10,000 bishops, priests and Korean converts were martyred for their faith. (1)
A century after the Catholics arrived the first Protestant missionaries landed at Inchon near the city of Seoul. In 1865, an abortive landing had been made by the Welsh missionary Robert Thomas who was beaten to death by anti-foreign Koreans but not before he had thrown a bundle of Bibles to the watching crowds. Although most of the Bibles were burned, a few were saved and were used to convert to Christ the very man who had murdered Thomas. Later the way had been prepared during the 1870’s when John Ross, succeeded in translating the New Testament into the Korean language. Coming from America in 1884 were Horace Underwood, a Presbyterian, and Henry Appenzeller, a Methodist. Both men were from the Student volunteer movement and came together on the same ship. Since the Presbyterians sent more missionaries to Korea than the Methodists, Presbyterianism soon became the largest Christian movement in the country, with the Methodists and Catholics growing more slowly. Progress was difficult for all Christian churches for the first century. By 1900, Korean Christians numbered only .4% of the population. In many ways, Korea was like Japan which still has a similar tiny proportion of Christians.
By the end of the century, it was clear that South Korea was well on its way towards becoming a Christian nation. By 2012 the percentage of Christians in the population of the nation stood at 47.7%. From small beginnings in the early years of the century, the Korean pentecostals added their spiritual fervor and organizational skills to the massive growth of the church in the nation. By 1995, the Pentecostals had grown to be the third largest church in South Korea with almost 2,000,000 members. The record of Korean church growth was unparalleled in any other part of the globe. The growth from a tiny persecuted minority to an almost certain majority of the population is a quantum leap that can only be explained in spiritual and supernatural terms. The pentecostals and charismatics, with their gifts and zeal have led the way in Korea as they have in many other parts of the world.
The bible that missionary Robert Thomas brought to Korea was paid for by church people in Ireland. That bible was a seed that started a change that impacted a whole nation. What you do for God in giving, praying and going to the mission field is a seed that will have multiplied effective results over the years to come.
In last year’s giving, we set a goal to raise $60,000 and received pledges for approximately $70,000. Of this amount $45,000 has been received. The reasons for this shortfall are not clear, but what is more important moving forward is that all last year’s giving is completed. If you have not completed your pledge, that amount is forgiven. A new season of giving is now about to begin. This year let’s set a more achievable goal and seek to raise $40,000 for the year to be divided evenly over the four projects.
This giving represents a little over 10% of our total income and all of this will go outside our own local church to the work of God further afield. The work of Youth Young Adults and Community Kitchen will all continue through 2015, but will be funded out of our tithes and offerings income.
Here’s how to give.
This giving is over and above your normal tithes and offerings. That finance provides for the church to function with wages, rent, electricity, catering, travel, and many other things. This giving is a faith pledge. It’s partnering with God to believe that He will show you an amount to give. You will be in faith that God will provide for you over and above your normal income in unexpected ways. It could a pay rise or a gift you receive, starting a small business or any number of unusual circumstances that will enable you to give what you pledged and at the end of the year you are better off than when you started.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS
1. In world wide terms where would Australians rank in the world’s richest to poorest people groups?
2. Does your eternal perspective change the way you value money and people?
3. How does it feel to give and make a difference with your giving?
4. Is it about how much you give or is it about listening to God and obeying what He has asked you to do ?
5. How can we hear God’s voice in the task of giving?
craigmanderson 