Outreach Newsletter Winter 2012

8/3/2019 Outreach Newsletter Winter 2012

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/outreach-newsletter-winter-2012 1/3

onaOutreach North America

Continued on page 2

By Rev. Jan Sattem

Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church, League City, Texas

I pastor Good Shepherd Church, ARP in LeagueCity, Texas. We are a church, now organizedfrom a church plant, and still awaiting landand a permanent building. In the meantime,however, the congregation is vibrant andstrong and interested in transforming our com-

munity.A member at Good Shepherd introduced meto George Haines. George started Fellowship

Community Church in Kemah, Texas many years ago. One failinghurch in the area gave him their land after they closed. Anotherhurch closed their doors, integrated with Fellowship Commu-ity, and left them money to build. George and the congregationuilt a water-tight shell and then the building stopped. Every-ne who drove by noticed that progress had ceased. When I met

George he told me the sad story of how the contractor had ab-conded with their funds. My wife Peg and I meet regularly now

with George and his wife Twyla, and I would like to tell you howhey have blessed our church.

oon after that rst meeting, the Kemah building inspector called

George and ask why the progress had slowed down. George re-lied honestly and the building inspector was horried. He imme-iately drew alongside the church and offered them more timend greater leniency. Then an older man walking his dog stoppedn while George was working alone inside the building. The dogwner was a retired pastor, new to the area, and wanted tonow why the progress had halted. When he heard the story, heaid that he would make some phone calls. Volunteer Christianuilders (VCB) contacted George and asked what he needed and

when. They requested building plans and then arranged for theireams to nish the interior framing and dry-walling. They would

lso do the wiring and plumbing – all for free. George and Fel-owship Community would only have to purchase the materialsnd feed them over the 2-3 weeks that they would be on site. Didmention that Fel-owship Communi-y Church is fewerhan 50 people?

George and Twylaried to acquire ahort term loan forhe supplies. Whenhat failed, theyut the materials

A Community Effort

Have you ever thought about how the variword pictures used to describe the Chuspeak about our vital connection to one other? Let me give two examples.

The Bible pictures the Church as the body of Christ, and eaof us is an important part of the body. But we need the othbody parts to be a healthy, fully functioning body, so we

need each other.

The Bible pictures the Church as a living Temple. We all, lliving stones, are being built into a living building in which Gdwells by his Spirit. As living stones, we are all connectedone another as part of one Temple.

Then there are all the “one another” passages in Scripture ttalk about how we are meant to work together. These inclusuch passages as:

• A new commandment I give to you, that you love one a

other: just as I have loved you, you also are to love o

another (John 13:34).• Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one

other in showing honor (Romans 12:10).• Submit to one another out of reference for Christ

(Ephesians 5:21).• Encourage one another and build one another up

(1 Thessalonians 5:11).• Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and

good works (Hebrews 10:24).

The basic concept of God’s covenant with us is that he willour God, and we will be his people. There is only one covenpeople, the people of God.

God designed us to work together much more than we acally do. In this issue of Outreach, we bring you some stories

churches working together. We want you to consider how woing together can improve our church planting efforts.

From the DirectoGod Designed Us to Work TogetheDr. Alan J. Avera, Executive Director

Churches working togeth

outreach newsletter

WINTER 2012 • ona-arp.orgAssociate Reformed Presbyterian Church

Fellowship Community

Building Resources • Volunteer Christian Builders

www.vcbuilders.org• Builders for Christ

www.buildersforchrist.org• ARP Lay Ministries

George Moser 704.634.9703; [email protected](more info on page 4 in News and Notes)



e 2 Outreach Winter 2012

By Rev. Duff James

Asheville, North Carolina

We moved to Ashe-ville, North Carolinain May to begin ex-ploring the city forthe purpose of plant-ing a church. Shortlyafter moving here, Ibegan taking advan-tage of the consid-erable music scene

in Asheville. While frequenting quite afew of the music venues and concertsthis city has to offer, I was once againstruck by the amazing effort that goesinto making a couple of hours of musichappen. The stage hands, the soundpeople, the lighting crew, the instru-

ment technicians, the managers, andeven the bus drivers work as a team tomake sure that all that needs to be doneis accomplished. And then, there are themusicians themselves who must workin a concerted effort to present theirmusic. I am sure it is a rigorous and ex-tensive endeavor, even for the smallestof shows, and the most experienced ofcrews.

Church planting is rigorous and exten-sive too. So much so that it requiresthe concerted effort of individuals, lo-cal churches, presbyteries, and Synod’sboard of ONA to start a new missionwork. An essential ingredient in a suc-cessful church plant is a strong supportteam. This is one of the reasons whychurch planting residencies or intern-ships have been created. The idea is togive potential church planters neededsupport from a local, well-establishedARP congregation through the earlystages of church planting. Through these

rst few months in Asheville, we havebeen connected to Reformation Presby-terian Church in Hendersonville. ThoughReformation is over 25 miles away fromour home in Asheville, our relationshipwith them has been invaluable to us.They have welcomed us with open armsand sought to support us in a myriad ofways: regularly praying for us, caring forus during the birth of our second daugh-ter, allowing us to continue to explore,exercise, and develop needed skills forchurch planting, ministering to us inword and deed, and providing needed

Working in Concertv. Ross Durham

Hill Church, Hillsborough, NC

We wanted to do it,but we also knew wehad to do it. From thebeginning of the vi-sion and plans thathave become GraceHill Church, we knewwe wanted to be asgenerous in partner-

th others in missions as possible.e a mission church ourselves, butn the smallest ways we want to berting, encouraging, and enabling

who are building Christ’s churchxpanding His kingdom. So we builtur budget that 20% of core group

would be set aside to local andmissions (10% to the Denomina-Ministry Fund and 10% for other

and global missions).

urse it is not easy. Just like in thef life, the esh wants to hold onto

y for our own comfort, pleasure,ecurity. But there is great joy ing funds set aside to go to works ofns. When the Spirit is leading us,

y of giving is almost unmatched. Itgreat joy to have the funds to beo encourage Riverside Church withto help “up t” their n ew worship

Other churches had helped Graceith big and small gifts, and so wed to be showing grace (2 Cor 8:7)s we had received it.

we also knew we had to do it. Evenyoung church plant, the world, thend the devil ght to kill the vision

ng as a gospel movement. Having arcentage for outside mission builthe budget encourages a movementmission culture. It helps us as ah; it helps other churches; it ows

he generosity of God. Paul had no

qualms putting the gospel in clearly -nancial terms: For you know the graceof our Lord Jesus Christ, that though hewas rich, yet for your sake he becamepoor, so that you by his poverty mightbecome rich (2 Cor 8:9).

Having a set percentage set aside helpsus practically. We streamline expensesto make sure we have the money togive. We use that second 10% to go tomissions that have a specic face that

we as a congregation can know and weconnect to. So far we have made smallone time gifts to help families get over-seas to their areas of ministry, encour-age an ARP seminarian in his training,and support various local ministries.

Christ gave Himself for us; it was ex-tremely costly, but He also did it with

great joy (Gal 1:4, Heb 12:2). We tooexperience His joy as we walk with Himin giving out of His riches towards us. †

e Joy of Giving

there is great y in having funds

t aside to go to works of missions

Grace Hill

By Rev. Andy Stager

Rock Hill, South Carolina

In April, my wife El-lie and I began part-nering with two localchurches beginninga one-year churchplanting residency inRock Hill. The goalof this collaborativeresidency is for me

to develop ministry competencies andspiritual maturity under a mentor anda coach as we explore a possible ARPchurch plant in Rock Hill.

My mentor is Chairman of Catawba Pres-bytery’s Church Extension CommitteeMarty Taylor, who pastors Living Waters(ARP) Church in Lake Wylie, SC. I oftenpreach and lead Bible studies there, andEllie and I worship there regularly, oc-casionally leading their music. I meetwith Marty each week for accountabil-ity, strategizing, and encouragement.

Collaboration

on their credit card. But, the feeding ofthe masses was going to be a problem.One church leader had priced it out atclose to $10,000!

When Peg and I met with George andTwyla, we assured them that even thoughour congregation did not have manycraftsmen that could help them, we ab-solutely did have a reputation as eaters!Without knowing all the facts, I assured

George that Good Shepherd would loveto handle this responsibility. It was soonafter that I was confronted with a harshreality. The one person that I was certainknew how to feed this large a group wasgoing to be unavailable during that time.It was also then, that the congregationgot involved and they made my dream become a reality. People made phonecalls to businesses and restaurants, andfavors were called in. One member ofthe congregation smoked many brisketsfor two of the meals. A former memberheard of our involvement and paid forall of the participants to be feted at alocal restaurant. A recent attender atGood Shepherd opened up her beachside home for a celebration dinner forall. Folks in the church signed up to beservers and cleaners for each meal oneach day. Overall, it was a love-fest!

Folks from Good Shepherd, VCB, and Fel-lowship Community all working togetherso that Christ might have a lighthouse inthe community.

At one of the dinners, the leaders fromVCB remarked how grateful they werethat people from Fellowship Communityhad also pitched in to work ON THEIROWN BUILDING! Then they turned tous and said that in all of their yearsof helping churches, that this was therst and only time that they had seen

another church from the town pitch inand help. We were all silenced and a bitashamed.

The following Sunday, Fellowship Com-munity Church came and worshippedwith us. It was again, a love-fest. Whatjoy this produced in our people to servethe Lord in this way. All I can tell youis that everyone was blessed all around.We all witnessed God working power-fully and we were honored to be a partof it. The occupancy permit has notbeen granted yet, and the work stillcontinues. But, the highest hill has beenclimbed. †

. . . CommunityContinued from page 1

encouragement along the way. It issometimes easy as a church planter tofeel alone, especially when there is noARP church in the city in which you areseeking to plant a church, but Reforma-tion has provided us a church home towhich we may belong while getting set-tled in our new city. They have been oneof the essential team members workingin concert to help plant a new missionhere in Asheville. Of course, the greatconductor of this concerted effort is theLord Jesus himself, to whom we havemuch to give thanks, not least of whichis His work and ministry to us throughReformation Presbyterian Church. †

Rock Hill

The Living Waters congregahad the opportunity to eThe church has been challeparticipation in my evangto cultivate a missionary potheir own community. Livingan 10 years ago as a collfort among local ARP churnow a partner in planting ain the area.

My coach is John Chambetor of Remedy Church in Reformed Baptist church part of the interdenomin29 church planting netwoput church multiplication agospel-centered church colthe heart of Remedy Churcthe church plant’s beginnEllie and I began attendinsmall group in April, and in group commissioned 5 of thto help start the rst mi

group of what we hope wilCity Church (ARP) in Rock plans to commission more vision for Hill City Church d

Beyond developing prospeplanters, collaboration amis crucially important for ttic saturation of cities andlaboration melts away stinmind sets among churches.

replaced with camaraderiwarfare. Both Living Waterare relatively new and smare already involved in plachurch. Collaboration, especal church multiplication,in light of a shared passiothat every man, woman, aongoing opportunities to heand taste its fruit. Ultimaty, John, and their respechave demonstrated, collababout sharing resources, buing a gospel burden. †

Rock Hill

all working together so that Christ

might have a lighthouse in the community



News and Notes from the FielARP Lay Ministries takes donations (organs, pianos, furnithymn books, etc.) from churches and places them when/where needed in mission churches. They help coordinate tpickup, the match-up, and the delivery. They will also helorganize work trips to assist mission churches in various prects (building construction, building renovations, landscap

literature distribution, etc.) ARP Lay Ministries is also inteested in helping mission churches and small congregationswith VBS. Contact: George Moser, 119 Barber Loop, Mooreville, NC 28117; [email protected]; 704.634.9703.

In the Lake Wylie/ Rock Hill area, Andy and Ellie Stagerhosted a BBQ at the end of October. They had 87 people, ait was a great gesture of hospitality and inclusive communfor lots of their neighbors who are not churchgoers.

SonLife Church in Jacksonville, Florida helped raise $1,6and served at the Down Syndrome Association of Jackson-ville’s Buddy Walk, on November 5.

Great Commission Resources are available for free for oyear for mission congregations. Contact the ONA ofce more information.

Mission Developer Retreat January 10-13 at Bonclarken church planters and their families. Main speakers: Dr. RGore (Erskine Seminary) and Dr. Mark Dalbey (Covenant Senary), and the theme is Worship in a Changing Context.

O u t r e a c h N o r t h A m e r i c a G e n e r a l S y n o d o f t h e A s s o c i a t e R e f o r m e d P r e s b y t e r i a n C h u r c h

1 C l e v e l a n d S t . , S t e . 1 1 0

G r e e n v i l l e , S C 2 9 6 0 1 - 3 6 9 6

P o s t m a s t e r : R e t u r n s e r v i c e r e q u e s t e d

8 6 4 . 2 3 2 . 8 2 9 7 x 2 2 9 o n a @ a r p s y n o d . o r g w w w . o n a - a r p . o r g

o n a

Page 4 Outrea

Parent Church Community By Rev. Kyle E. Sims

Three ARP churches in Rock Hill established aParenting Church Community (PCC) in 2009.This is part of ONA’s strategy of helping buildcommunities to support church planters andis designed specically to help establishedchurches plant new churches. The idea ofchurches planting daughter churches is nota new one. Many ARP churches were startedby a mother church. This idea of a Parenting

Church Community is a return to our roots and to a holisticpproach to church planting. It seeks to develop nurturingelationships between several established churches and theiraughter churches. Ebenezer, First Rock Hill, and Tirzah haveormed a community for mutual encouragement, training, sup-ort, and prayer.

We are now in the process of

ooking for our rst mission de-eloper. We continue to meetor encouragement, prayer,nd to spur the local churcheso continue to train their com-

mittees and congregations inhe concepts learned through the PCC. It is our hope to have a

mission developer on the eld next year! †

Rock Hill

Documents

Outreach Newsletter Winter 2012