District Transformation Update

Our church at Cobleskill, now the Fusion Community Church, went mobile on January 22, 2012.  By 'mobile', I mean that they left their small inadequate building and began meeting in the auditorium of the Cobleskill-Richmondville High School.  On launch day, 324 people gathered, an increase of 50%.  Since then attendance has stayed in that area, 21 people have prayed to receive Christ, and visitors are coming in record numbers.

In the midst of this awesome outpouring of God's Spirit, some in the community, including some members of the school board and press have expressed opposition to a church meeting in the local school.  On February 13, at a school board meeting, the matter will be discussed.  The pastor, Andrew Fetter, and leaders of Fusion, are calling their church to prayer and fasting during this weekend.  In a letter to his people, Pastor Fetter wrote...

Hey Fusion Community Church family,

This Monday night starting at 6:00 pm we will be opening the doors of the church building on Legion Drive for a time of worship and prayer.  The purpose of this time is to be engaging in spiritual battle against the enemy precisely during the time when a decision will be made about whether or not we can continue to use the High School on Sundays to reach people with the gospel.

I share this not to worry anyone.  I am very optimistic and hopeful that we will be allowed to continue on, but I also feel that this is a moment where we as a church can rise up together with one voice and passionately ask God to intervene and continue to pour out His blessing.

There is a Cobleskill-Richmondville School Board Meeting scheduled for Monday night at 7:00pm and I do not know what your intentions might have been for Monday night, but I am humbly asking you, as your Pastor, and as a part of Fusion Community Church, to join me at the church starting at 6:00 for this time of worship and prayer.  Please do not attend the school board meeting as great as your intentions might be! Make no mistake about it, you are needed more at the church building on Legion Drive to pray and you will be more useful there than you would to be present or speak at the school board meeting.

Leaders from the church will be meeting for prayer at the church building and then removing themselves to attend the board meeting because I will be reading one unified statement that we have drafted under the direction of the Holy Spirit to present. 

Pastor Tim and other leaders will remain at the church building facilitating a time of continued prayer and worship after our departure for the board meeting.

Whatever you might have planned to do on Monday night, I ask you to change those plans and lets lock arms together so that God's Will would be desired and His renown would be spread all throughout this county and beyond.

For those who are serious about spiritual disciplines, I also invite you to fast with me either over the weekend and/or on Monday in anticipation of this decision.

Remember... we battle not against flesh and blood... our enemy IS NOT a group of human beings... but against spiritual powers of darkness that seek to steal, kill, and destroy what God is right in the middle of doing! Together lets press back against God's enemy knowing that we have read the end of the Bible and we know that Satan loses!!

Just One More At Any Cost!

Fetter

This blog and and the district email distribution list goes out to hundreds of individuals who care greatly about the Kingdom and Kingdom building.  Would you join our people at Fusion Community in prayer regarding this issue.  A note to the pastor that you intend to stand with them would be very encouraging.  His email is andrew.fetter@fusioncommunitychurch.org.  Also, to learn more about the ministry of Fusion Community, visit their website--www.fusioncommunitychurch.org. 

Another church, Vantage Pointe, in Queensbury/Glens Falls, is nearing their Re-Launch.  The closer we get to the Preview Services, Saturdays, February 18 and March 3 and the Launch Date, Easter Sunday, April 8, the more we sense opposition from the evil one.

Pastor Dean has experienced an eye infection and a reaction to a drug that put him in the hospital overnight.  His grandmother that he cares for was placed in a nursing home and his son-in-law was detained at the Canadian border and can't rejoin his family here in the states until certain paperwork is completed.  Families in the launch group have also come under Satan's attack.

This rugged band of pioneers also need your prayers.  They believe, and I concur, that with these types of distractions and opposition, something wonderful is about to happen.  When Nehemiah said, Let us rise up and build, Satan said, Let us rise up and oppress.  And as Nehemiah and the people of Jerusalem responded so long ago by working harder and believing more, Pastor Brown and his people have a mind to work.

Two of the Preview Services have been scheduled on Saturdays (February 18 and March 3) so that people from our area can attend and I urge them to do so.

Part of the preparation for the Easter launch includes new chairs for the worship center.  You would greatly encourage this fledgling church by purchasing one or more of these by donating through the Paypal option on Vantage Pointe's website--www.vantagepointechurch.com.  Each chair costs about $33.  From the website, click page 3 of the rotating banner and then click the 'Donate' button, or follow this link to see the promotional video and also to donate.  If you prefer, you can send a check to Vantage Pointe Church, 543 Ridge Rd., Queensbury, NY  12804 with the notation 'Buy-a-Chair Campaign'.

Winter Blues

I have lived long enough to discover some of the rhythms of life--those reoccurring feelings that come at about the same time every year.

For example, in late November and throughout December, I get this tremendous urge to get organized for the new year.  I clean closet and drawers, shine shoes, organize books and planners, set goals and re-organize the garage if it’s not too cold.  I don't understand why!  It is just something within my wiring that goes off every year.

In February the signals are totally different.  The winter has taken a toll in me.  My outlook on life can get skewed.  After years of observing myself, I have come to the conclusion that I should never make a major personal decision in February.  It I do, it is impossible that I will come to regret it.

With February approaching, I was very interested when I read a devotional on ‘the power of persistence’.  Let me share some of it with you…

Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “The great majority of men are bundles of beginnings.”  Are you merely a starter or a finisher?  When the enthusiasm for a new idea fades, when the odds against you increase and the results diminish, when it looks as if success is impossible… you must keep forging ahead.  Admiral Robert Peary attempted to reach the North Pole seven times before he finally succeeded.  Oscar Hammerstein produced five shows on Broadway that were flops before staging Oklahoma, which was seen by almost five million people during a record-breaking run of 2,212 performances.  Quitting is more about who you are than where you are or what you are up against.

The truth is, external things don’t stop us; it’s what happens to us on the inside!  Most of us stop ourselves from reaching our potential.  We can pretend that people, things and situations outside of ourselves are to blame, but in reality most failures are just the result of a lack of bulldog-like tenacity.

Leonardo de Vinci said, “Obstacles cannot crush me.  Every obstacle yields to stern resolve.  He who is fixed on a star, does not change his mind.”  You must have a mindset to tenaciously pursue your dream.  The only guarantee for failure is to stop trying.  There is no insurmountable barrier except you own inherent lack of purpose and persistence.

Galatians 6:9 (NKJV) – And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

I plan to rise about the winter blues—celebrate with winter parties and believe God for the impossible—do you?

Year-End Musings

Recently, I read a devotional entitled Stop Waiting for Perfect Conditions.  It stated,

Too many of us stand on the dock waiting.  We want the ship in place, the gangplank perfectly positioned, the weather right, and an engraved invitation before we’re willing to launch out.  It will never happen!  Dreams don’t move toward us, we have to move toward them.  One author writes:  ”It’s time to quit waiting for perfection, inspiration, permission, reassurance, someone to change, the right person to come along, the kids to leave home, the new administration to take over, an absence of risk, someone to discover you, a clear set of instructions, more self-confidence, or the pain to go away.  Instead of saying, ‘We’ve never done it before,’ say, ‘We have the opportunity to be first.’  Instead of saying, ‘We don’t have the resources,’ say, ‘Necessity fuels invention.’  Instead of saying ‘There’s not enough time,’ say, ‘Well change how we work.’  Instead of saying, ‘We’ve already tried that,’ say, ‘We learned from experience.’  Instead of saying, ‘We don’t have the expertise, ‘say, ‘Let’s network with those who do.’  Instead of saying, ‘Our vendors and customers won’t go for it,’ say, ‘Let’s show them the opportunities.’   Instead of saying, ‘We don’t have enough money,’ say, ‘Maybe there’s something we can cut.’  Instead of saying ‘We’re understaffed,’ say, ‘We’re a lean, hungry team.’  Instead of saying, ‘It’ll never get any better,’ say, ‘We’ll try one more time.’  Instead of saying, ‘Let somebody else deal with it,’ say, ‘I’m ready to learn something new.’  Instead of saying, ‘It’s not my job,’ say, ‘I’ll be glad to take the responsibility.’  Instead of saying, ‘I can’t,’ say, ‘By God’s grace, I can!’”

I really like this devotional and I hope you do as well. 

As we come to the end of the year, it’s time to put a wrap on District Transformation Project 2011.  In my 40 years of ministry, I have seldom had a year more satisfying.  The prescriptions that were put into place in seven of our churches are already making a difference, and next year promises to be even more fruitful as the seed continues to produce. 

Seven of the eight churches that went through a weekend consultation, voted to go through with the prescription given by their consultation team.  The eighth church, Mooers, had a positive vote, but it was on the borderline of what leadership thought was advisable to proceed.  Subsequent discussion by local church leadership led to a decision not to proceed  with the prescription as presented. 

Meanwhile, the other churches continue to implement changes that will improve their health and make disciples.  Fusion Community Church, formerly Cobleskill, is just a few weeks away from launching afresh in the Cobleskill-Richmondville High School.  Pastor Andrew sent a short video of a new billboard that is a part of the marketing campaign to reach the entire Schoharie valley.

Hadley-Luzerne Church continues to experience an amazing blessing from the Lord.  Morning attendance the last four Sundays have been 163, 167, 174 and 230.  Pastor Dick reports that new people are coming regularly and people are finding Christ.  The new expanded parking lot was absolutely full on the morning of their Christmas program.  Part time staff has been hired.  The children’s ministry area is under construction.  Amazing!

Pastor Norm, at Turnpike, reports attendance averaging in the 180’s over the past two months.  Six people recently found Christ and a whole host of prescription changes will be implemented in January and February.  The leadership team is excited and believes that God is going to help them reach greater Plattsburgh for the Lord.

Pastor Paul Barna, reports that over $8000 was given to jump-start the prescription process at Waterford.  Pews have been removed from the back of the worship center, making way for a small café/fellowship area.  Recently, the church gave out 543 tins of cookies as a Christmas gift to their neighbors.  Notes, emails and phone calls have flooded the church as the Waterford community expressed amazement at the love this church is showing.  Another tradition is the children Christmas caroling at community businesses.  It’s such a tradition, that businesses now call asking what day the children are coming so that they can make sure their business is a part of the schedule.  In this predominantly Catholic neighborhood where we purchased the former Catholic Church and have a former Catholic now pastoring, they are expecting over 200 for their Christmas eve service.

Pastor Marc and the Malone church have sent several emails and photos to keep us updated on their progress.  Recently, 32 children participated in their Sunday morning Christmas Program and 115 worshiped there that Sunday.  Seven indicated decisions to receive Christ.  Work continues on the children’s area in the basement (see pics below).

FWC (Malone) Lower Level: New Paint/Carpet

FWC (Malone) Lower Level: New Paint/Carpet

FWC (Malone) Lower Level: New Paint/Carpet