ON DIVINE ASSIGNMENT! I think that’s how all of us at Elevation North are feeling right now. We know that God has given us a divine mandate for the existence and ministry of our church. But the timing of making a move to a facility that will offer us the capability of reaching so many more people is definitely being orchestrated by God’s hand, without a doubt. For so long we have searched for a building that would offer us classrooms and additional space for increased ministry, to no avail. The doors were always closed or the cost was not even feasible to consider for a church our size. It hasn’t been for a lack of faith – we’re all about stepping out in faith and believing and acting. But God’s people must be sure they are being led by God when they make a decision that ultimately affects His Kingdom work – and not just chasing whims and wishes. We never want to put God’s work at risk – or tarnish His Name and His reputation. And at the same time, we don’t want to hold back and lag behind what He planning to accomplish through us! We’ve prayed, actively searched, and prayed some more, all the while actively pursuing every open door. Finally, one door has stayed open. And in faith, together we are walking through that door into this next chapter of God’s destiny for us. Only the final documents remain to be signed by both parties … and we will be ready to make our move! How we’ve been praying that God’s will in all of this would be done on earth, even as it is in Heaven! We want nothing less than His perfect will for Elevation North and for each of us! We are seeing things being manifested right before our eyes! Giving to God’s work is being increased greatly – from within the church and without. And some of this giving “from without” was in the works just prior to all of this coming into existence. Who could have known? Not us. Not them. But GOD KNEW! And He was stirring things up inside of His people here in our church and all over the country, for this moment in time. Do we still have a ways to go? Yes, oh yes! While there is still the matter of obtaining funds for chairs to sit on and tables to use … the sign on the front of the building to let people know we are there – and who we are … already He is sending in finances and volunteers that this might come to pass! Talk about our faith being boosted up to yet another level … what an amazing God we love and serve! Already there is an individual who has committed to purchasing all the paint and supplies, and another individual has offered to do all the painting. Someone else who lives hundreds of miles away called us on the very same day that we had hand-delivered our proposal to the owner (they had no knowledge of this timing) and told us that God was leading them to send us the $800 tithe from their bonus at work … to purchase a piano or keyboard for Elevation North since we’ve been using a borrowed one all this time – and what a blessing that has been to us! Now we can return that one, and we will be blessed with our own. One family is planning to provide needed items for the little ones in the nursery; someone else has already kicked off the fund with $100 for new chairs! A young couple surprised us with the news and a check, saying that they were renewing their pastoral support to us – and shortly after, God laid on our hearts to significantly increase our giving – in faith that He will provide all that He asks us to do! Do you see the divine thread running through all of these commitments … connecting it all together for the glory of God? What a privilege for all of us to get on board this divine assignment and give for the sake of reaching people for Christ – for eternity! What better investment could we ever make that will reap eternal dividends, than to give faithfully and joyfully as our God leads us! To be completely open and honest, this has not come without some moments of human apprehension and questions like, “Can we really do this? Will enough finances come in to sustain the increased obligations?” Yet, we’ve never wavered in realizing that it is not US that will do this … it will be Christ IN us and THROUGH us as He provides! And we have no doubt that if we are to move forward to the next chapter of this ministry journey, this is the time to take the leap of faith and allow God to be God. Romans 4:17 talks about “God calling things that are not as though they were.” Read that again and let it sink in. Read the next few verses about Abraham. I believe God is calling us as well, to “not waver concerning the promise of God, but to be strengthened in our faith and give glory to God, being fully persuaded that God has power to do what He has promised.” The Message Bible explains it this way: that God with a word made something out of nothing. And about Abraham: “When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said he would do.” The Bible says, “And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples.” What is Elevation North’s “AND SO?” What will God make of us? Get ready and get on board for what God has in His mind to do with us and through us! Let’s be a people of faith and action, giving our all for the sake of our God and His work on this earth! And stay tuned … for what’s just ahead!
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
IN A NUTSHELL . . .
- HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD! What a precious time we had last Sunday as we joined together to thank God for His faithfulness and His miraculous work in our midst! What a wondrous God we serve … and how we long to draw closer to Him than ever with each passing day! May He continue to give us God-opportunities to bless His Name!
- LOOKING AHEAD . . .
- THIS SUNDAY, MAY 29TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with a very special Memorial Day service being planned for the Lord’s Day! Pastor Doug’s message on “Memories”, the songs, and partaking of Communion will all point us to remembering what God has done for us – as well as our loved ones and those who protect our freedoms.
- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION TIME … enjoying the fellowship of our brothers and sisters in Christ, bringing encouragement and support to each other!
- MONDAY, MEMORIAL DAY – Enjoy the day with your family and friends – as we remember!
- SATURDAY, JUNE 4TH: YOUTH MOVIE MATINEE – see Pastor Doug for details! Invite your friends!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 5TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with Pastor Doug preaching a message on “Following Christ in Baptism” … if you’d like to know more about this outward expression of our inward experience with Christ, don’t miss this sermon from the Word of God!
- SUNDAY, JUNE 12TH: CHILDREN’S SUNDAY w/ lunch at McDonald’s & swimming after/age 3 through 5th grade!
- COMING SOON … FATHER’S DAY SERVICE, WOMEN OF FAITH PLANNING, SUMMER PICNIC, SPECIAL MINISTRY OUTREACHES, and lots more!
- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .
- HOPE AND TRUST go hand in hand with PRAYER – we ask, we believe, we expect! Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen.” With this knowledge, let’s trust for God’s hand to be upon Justin as he leaves for an overseas military tour of duty, for Johnny & Cherry, Sean, Julia, Shirley, and for our entire church family! May our missionaries and evangelists experience extra strength and anointing as they serve so faithfully, and may each of us be engaged in sharing Christ wherever each day takes us!
- REMEMBER . . . “God puts each fresh morning, each new chance of life, into our hands as a gift to see what we will do with it. Praise God for all that is past. Trust Him for all that is to come.”
Serving Christ Joyfully . . .
Pastor Doug and Debbie
