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Fall 2008

Submitted by John on November 18, 2008 - 3:36pm.

Dear Moorpark Ev Free Family,

It is amazing how the summer flew by and the fall is upon us.  As promised, I am sending out another update on what is happening here.  It looks like these “epistles” will come out quarterly.  It is important to read all the way to the bottom… J  And don’t forget to “fall back” and change your clocks on Saturday!

Ministry Leaders:  I am so proud of those of you who have stepped up to serve and lead our various ministries.  Please contact these folks directly and volunteer to serve on their teams.  Here are the latest appointments:

  • College/20’s Ministry:  Max MacLaury and Morganne Parsons are heading up this brand new ministry.  Their first “gathering” is at 9:09PM on Wednesday, November 5 at Denny’s in Moorpark.  It will be discussion-based, topic-focused, and visitor-friendly.  If you know someone between the ages of 18-24, invite them to check it out!  In fact, get us their emails and cell numbers, and we will give them a personal invitation!
  • Children’s Ministry:  Having just said goodbye to Kathy Nash, our interim team is hard at work.  Cheryl Erwin is coordinating a teaching team that includes Doug and Janet Grossman, Kathy Johnson, Kathy and Rodney Nash, Jolene Rumph, Ron and Kari Todo, Sarah Trudell, and a great team of nursery and craft helpers.
  • Community Impact:  Look to hear from Mark Ponds about some exciting opportunities coming up!  Heading up the Moorpark Food Pantry ministry are Melisa Castanon and Maggie Ponds.
  • Futures Team:  Pat Johnson heads this team up as they look at options for our future facilities.  Team members include Greg Gibson, Dick Heinzelmann, Rich Saiki, Ron Todo, and me.  Keep us in your prayers as we discuss, strategize, and look at properties.  We have set some benchmarks (involving attendance, membership, and giving) that will indicate when we can move forward.

§  Salt and Light Ministry:  Cherie LaSala is launching this ministry for those who want to stay informed about culture, politics, worldview, and faith.  The Salt and Light Ministry will primarily be involved in education, issue awareness, and some occasional projects.  After the initial email, you will need to “opt in” to be added to this distribution list in order to keep receiving these emails.  I will also use this list to share with those of you who really want to know how to engage the culture in a biblical way.

  • Care Ministry:  Greg Gibson is gearing up for an orientation meeting soon.  Contact him to get involved in the practical care needs of the church.
  • Visitor/Guest Follow-up:  Cheryl Erwin heads this up.  She sends out visitor letters each week, as well as hosts our Welcome Lunch every other month.  Our first lunch is Sunday, November 9.  If you are new to the church in the last 4 months, we will see you there!
  • Men’s Ministry:  Bill Hart officially has a ministry team called the Strike Force which includes Mike LaSala, Mike Lee, Al MacLaury, Zac McCollum, Rodney Nash, and me.  Men’s Fraternity is off to a great start.  20 different men have now attended.  It is not too late to get involved.
  • Missions:  Rebecca Carroll is coordinating this team with David Olson also serving.  Our newest missionary, Bill Drake, was approved by the Elders upon recommendation from the missions committee on October 19.  You will find out more about Bill’s ministry when he joins us again in January.
  • Student Ministries:  Chris Hayes joins Trisha Letourneau in leading this ministry.  They and their team of 6 are doing a great job!
  • Other teams:  Space does not permit me to list all of our other teams that have been in place for awhile, but thanks to Dick Heinzelmann (finance), Marc Judd (worship), Kathleen LaCanfora (women’s), Anne Saiki (administration), Rich Saiki (outreach), and Scott Voorman (home groups).  These teams combined have over 20 other people helping them.  Way to go!  You are making a difference.

One-Year Bible:  This Sunday Steve Highfill (our very own District Superintendent for EFCA West) will be preaching.  Please come out to hear what God is doing in the district, but also to be challenged to read through the 1-year Bible starting in January.  Who wants to join me in reading through the Bible this next year?  Email me if you are in!

Budget:  Please pay close attention to the information in our bulletin each week.  So far, we have not met budget in the first 2 months of our new fiscal year.  However, we have kept expenses down, and we haven’t had to dip into our savings account too badly.  We need to average almost $26,000 per month or $6,000 per week.  I know these are difficult financial times!  My prayer is that we would all consider tithing 10% of our income to our church. Please contact any of the elders if you want more information.  As we know, our giving is a reflection of our hearts and our spiritual commitment to God.  You are an amazing church!  I know you are faithful, and God will bless you as you are obedient to Him.

Prayer and Fasting:  Please join me as we fast and pray for our church, our community, and our country.  Details were shared at our prayer meeting on Wednesday night.  You can fast from TV, sugar, internet, etc.  The key is to substitute that time with time with the Lord!  Try it for a week.  You will be amazed!  Email me and let me know if you are in!

Moorpark 101:  Our next Moorpark 101 (membership class) will be at my house on November 9.  If you are ready to find out about the church, membership, our doctrinal statement, etc., this is the class for you.  Details are in the bulletin or contact Rich or Anne Saiki for more information.

Baptism:  Our third baptism of the year is Sunday, November 16 after church at the Sagewood pool.  A simple one-hour class on Sunday, November 9 (8:30-9:30AM) is required.  If you were sprinkled as an infant and want to explore the option of being baptized as a believer, please come to the class to find out more!

Leadership Team:  I am gathering our key leaders for a “briefing” on Saturday night, November 15.  You will be receiving a personal invitation from Anne Saiki on my behalf.  As the “staff” of the church, we will gather 4 times per year for prayer, strategic planning, ministry coordination, etc.  It is critical that we stay focused on the vision of reaching Moorpark for Christ, and these quarterly gatherings will keep us all on the same page.  Look for specifics from Anne and reply accordingly!

Christmas Eve Service:  Mark your calendars now for our Christmas Eve service at Moorpark Country Club on Wednesday, December 24 at 4:00PM.  Great music, a reading of the Christmas story for the kids, and a message of hope for the unchurched will make this our most significant outreach service to date.  Please begin praying for 3 people that you will invite to join you.  Think of families who haven’t visited yet but would come if you invested in them.  We will provide invitation cards to make it easy.  If we want to reach our community, this is our chance.  For those who celebrate Christmas Eve at home, what a wonderful new tradition you can start this year as you put outreach on the top of your Christmas list.  This 70-minute service still allows plenty of time for your Christmas dinner and family time.  Let’s not just talk about reaching Moorpark…let’s do it!

Final Thought:  It is a privilege to serve as your pastor.  There are so many exciting things happening, and God is in the middle of all of it.  You folks are the best!  I love you and I am proud of you.  Thanks for all you do in making a difference in the kingdom!

 

In His Grip,

Pastor John