Fishers Neighborhood Initiative

We had a great meeting last week and are ready to move towards action as a group. God has provided leaders, vision, and now we just need to go. Adam Zoeller is leading a charge for the next two Saturdays (December 13th and the 20th)at the Target in Fishers to help people unload their shopping carts after their Christmas shopping. The point is to be available to show the love of Christ through some random acts of kindness. If you are interested in being a part of this outreach, please email jenniferb@east91st.org.

Blessings as we celebrate His birth!

Halloween Experiment follow-up

We had beautiful weather for our hotdog cookout on Halloween night. We sent out 70 notes of an informal invitation to our neighbors (we put them on the mail boxes). We prepared for 120 people to come and prayed for God's hand to be in our activity. We probably had about 45 or so people including trick or treaters. We did not have many kids come at all. We did have some great conversation with the adults. Many were glad to come and meet us and other people in the neighborhood. We started a half hour before trick or treating and many came then. We had people in our yard the entire 3 1/2 hours. One man stayed the whole 3 1/2 hours and helped us clean up! It was almost an advantage to have fewer people but longer conversations. It is a start. I think now we can see our neighbors and make further connections easier. We think it was a great time and people appreciated the fellowship and food. We are already thinking about next year. We would like to hand out the New Testament in the message "version" next time and, as a friend suggested, have a table with the Bibles, that is also for prayer requests. If any of you have ideas, let us know.
"What now?" is on our mind now. We need to find further ways to get to know our neighbors. We are not, by nature, hosts, but think that is a key way to know others. Pastor Derek's messages have been the impetus to our recent actions. We do not want to keep trying on our own power but give ourselves over for the Lord to work through us (in spite of?!). We would appreciate input of any kind.
Don and Nancy Meissner

You are a missionary in your community!

October 27, 2008
The Method of Missions
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations . . . —Matthew 28:19
Jesus Christ did not say, "Go and save souls" (the salvation of souls is the supernatural work of God), but He said, "Go . . . make disciples of all the nations . . . ." Yet you cannot make disciples unless you are a disciple yourself. When the disciples returned from their first mission, they were filled with joy because even the demons were subject to them. But Jesus said, in effect, "Don’t rejoice in successful service— the great secret of joy is that you have the right relationship with Me" (see Luke 10:17-20 ). The missionary’s great essential is remaining true to the call of God, and realizing that his one and only purpose is to disciple men and women to Jesus. Remember that there is a passion for souls that does not come from God, but from our desire to make converts to our point of view.

The challenge to the missionary does not come from the fact that people are difficult to bring to salvation, that backsliders are difficult to reclaim, or that there is a barrier of callous indifference. No, the challenge comes from the perspective of the missionary’s own personal relationship with Jesus Christ— "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" ( Matthew 9:28 ). Our Lord unwaveringly asks us that question, and it confronts us in every individual situation we encounter. The one great challenge to us is— do I know my risen Lord? Do I know the power of His indwelling Spirit? Am I wise enough in God’s sight, but foolish enough according to the wisdom of the world, to trust in what Jesus Christ has said? Or am I abandoning the great supernatural position of limitless confidence in Christ Jesus, which is really God’s only call for a missionary? If I follow any other method, I depart altogether from the methods prescribed by our Lord— "All authority has been given to Me . . . . Gotherefore. . ." ( Matthew 28:18-19 ). - Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest"

Halloween experiment

Nancy and I are trying something this Halloween that friends of ours have tried in Ohio with great success. We are going to invite our neighbors for a hotdog dinner from 4:30 to 6:30 PM or until the food runs out. We hope, in this way, to meet our neighbors and make some connections. As people come to our house for trick or treating we will be offering hotdogs, chips and we're not sure what else yet. We will have some chairs and tables out (we don't have many). We just want to try to break the ice with our neighbors. We have been in our house about a year and have not made many connections. So, that is our idea. Pray that this will help us build relationships so we can share the love of Christ.
Don and Nancy Meissner

Encouragment

Some people may remember my testimony a few Sundays ago during service. I just wanted to share a little more with you and encourage you to be bold in your faith! As I continue to go out to places like malls, universities, and festivals to share my faith I know God is hard at work using little old me! I have met many people and shared my faith with them over the last 6 months. I often wondered in my human-ness, "Am I doing any good?" Well I met a dear brother at E91 just 2 weeks ago who is coming to the "One Thing You Can't Do in Heaven" classes. He wrote me an e-mail today to tell me he went to the Castleton mall the other night and ran into people who were reading "One Heartbeat Away" (Mark Cahill's book, which I give to each person I talk to). When he told these people that he knew me personally and was out there doing the same thing their faces lit up. Here is what he wrote:

"I was at the mall last night handing out some tracts and talking to people. Just wanted to let you know that I watered one of the seeds you planted. Her name was Annette. She's a pretty black girl that works at one of the little kiosks. She said you gave her one heartbeat away about a week ago. How cool is that, that God had me talk to her after you had just talked with her. You should have seen her eyes!"

You see, God is at work when we are obedient to Him. My silly concern was just blown away to know that other Christians are stepping out to water the seeds that other Christians have planted. Isn't that what it is all about? If all of us constantly lived for Christ and spoke His name in love and truth people would keep hearing about the good news. I don't have to go out and save anyone...I can't. Only God can change their hearts and bring them to salvation, but we need to do our parts and plant the seeds. Let us inundate our communities with Jesus Christ so people are hearing/seeing the Gospel over and over and over...not what the world is telling them. Don't ever feel pressured that you must see results or must convert people...leave it to the One who can hanlde it. Plant the seeds and let God take it from there!! God Bless you all!
I Corinthians 3:5-9

Washington Township Neighborhood Initiative

We had a great meeting tonight. Different ages and neighborhoods were represented and we left excited to see how the spirit will move through our prayers in the next 30 days! How did it go for you? If you are praying with a group and would be willing to include others, please post details.

Let's continue continue to be in prayer as we seek Him in this 30 day period.

How is He guiding you?

What can you do to practice "Overflow in your community?

Are we expecting to see our Mighty God work in a BIG WAY in our church,our families, our neighborhoods or our world?

Post your comments and thoughts as you reflect and are led to share.

Lawrence Township Neighborhood Initiative

Let's continue continue to be in prayer as we seek Him in this 30 day period.

How is He guiding you?

What can you do to practice "Overflow in your community?

Are we expecting to see our Mighty God work in a BIG WAY in our church,our families, our neighborhoods or our world?

Post your comments and thoughts as you reflect and are led to share.