SHARING THE FAITH IS PART OF THE VISION

Every church has distinct gifts and unique capabilities. Pastor Curtis Mulder of Ekklesia -Church at Raleigh is well known for his worship skills. He and the Ekklesia Worship Team are coming to the Goldsboro Wesleyan Church on Sunday evening, September 12th, at 6:00p.m. They will share their giftedness and lead us all into the presence of God.

What if churches assisted in building each other up? This event demonstrates that intention! We all need fresh ways of expressing our devotion to God...and the Ekklesia Worship Team is going to share both their music and vision with us. They are demonstrating the first phase of our own church vision for 2010-11. We need to return to the passion of a church plant:

"Renewing the Passion of a Church Plant We were a church plant twenty-five years ago. We were hungry for new people and they came. We rejoiced in the people God brought our way, but we also put our hands and feet into reaching our community as God directed. Passion is contagious. Interaction with nearby district church plant ministries will keep us from becoming dulled to the real work of the ministry. We must support them, but we must also listen to their stories and learn to partner with them. They do have something to teach us!"

Thanks Curtis and the Ekklesia Worship Team for participating in the renewal of our own passion for God's purposes. I pray that we also take this event as a means of supporting what you are doing in Raleigh. May God bless us all. Pastor Al

Stan Toler Return's to Eastern North Carolina

Stan Toler is the Senior Pastor of Trinity Nazarene Church in Oklahoma City. Stan presented his 'The Vibrant Church' seminar in Goldsboro last month. He invited me to attend his additional seminar in Garner, NC on May 21st...and to bring some of our local church leadership.

Why see Stan Toler? He has real vision for the 21st Century church and for church leadership. Pastor Stan is a practitioner...he has grown successful churches. Pastor Stan is leading a successful church now. This presentation is called, 'The Five-Star Church.'

Does Stan want your church to look exactly like his? No. Stan desires that we seek God's vision for our ministry.

Stan Toler, a favorite speaker, taught seminars for John Maxwell's INJOY Group for several years. He now serves as the executive director of the Toler Leadership Center located at Mid-America Christian University.

Why am I asking that you go with me? I want you to see what I see. Shared vision is powerful...in a church...or in your corporate life. Help me to accept Stan Toler's invitation. If you are a leader, Stan Toler is gifted as a leader of leaders. This is a seminar about leading in tough times. Get ready and let's go together.

PastorAl ..."We are laborers together with God."

Setting the Connecting Vision

Vision casting might be described as dialog between God and His human spiritual leader/servants. Like most spiritual activies...this is impossible without Divine intervention. We prayerfully ask, "Where do we go from here?" "What direction and what steps must we take to please God and fulfill His purposes...not only for ourselves...but those who follow our leadership?

This year the word--Connection --speaks of that needed direction. The first thought is 'Connecting with God' or worship. For those of us committed to spiritual journey, nothing else matters if this connection isn't both real and well maintained. Focusing on our personal relationship will be the first and foremost key to everything else we might accomplish. We can't lead without being connected...in prayer, Bible reading, and particularly with obedience. We demonstrate how much God means to us, when we hear His voice and follow Him.

Why pray for vision, if we are not willing to follow?

Pastor Al