Where Do We Go from Here? Ronald L. Rushing, Th.D. Senior Teaching Pastor August 2014

Transcription

1 August 2014 El Camino Baptist Church Growing, Serving, Reaching Where Do We Go from Here? Ronald L. Rushing, Th.D. Senior Teaching Pastor August 2014 Before you can get what you want, you first have to KNOW what you want. Over the past months, I have been writing about vision, mission, strategy, and values for El Camino Baptist Church. I think it is important to write down our vision, our mission, our strategy, and our values so that we know them. But it is not enough to have written them down. We have to do something about them. This is what James meant when he said, Be doers of the Word, not hearers only. We need to know but we can t be satisfied just with knowing. We have to do something about it. We have to answer the question, Where do we go from here? I have suggested some ideas for our vision as follows: Vision (What do we want to be?): Every believer a healthy, reproducing disciple of Jesus Mission (What do we want to do?): Impact Tucson and the world with the Gospel Strategy (How do we accomplish our vision and mission?): Celebrate God Grow in Christ Connect in meaningful Relationships Reach the Lost Disciple Others Non-negotiable Values (Why do we do things?): Love for God and each other Truth of God s Word Prayer Christ-like obedience It is great to have it written down and to know it. It is great to have purpose but it s value is not in having them but in doing them. They give us purpose but purpose without effort is futile. So where do we go from here? How do we know we have achieved what we set out to accomplish? So often we simply don t know where to take that first step or the next. Vision sets our priorities and goals help us be accountable and measures whether we are or are not achieving that vision. So we need to set measurable goals. That is what we are going to call our Vision. Yes, this a play on words regarding prescriptions for eyes. But 1 (Continued on page 3)

2 WHAT BIBLE STUDY/TEACHING SERIES DO WE HAVE IN OUR LIBRARY? As the summer Bible study groups finish up, it is time to start thinking about what is available for the Fall. The library has many Bible study and teaching series that you can check out for your own use or for a small group. Below is a listing of materials currently available. This list tells the title, author, and whether it is on DVDs or VHS tapes. You can pick up a more detailed list in the library that tells what other materials are included with each series leader s guide, workbooks, etc. Come in and browse there are some excellent resources that we are sure you will enjoy! Please see one of the library workers for check-out information as the procedure is a little different from checking out books. Biblical Studies The Bible Jesus Read (VHS) Philip Yancey An 8-session exploration of the Old Testament Gideon: Your Weakness. God s Strength. (DVD) Priscilla Shirer Created to Be God s Friend (VHS) Henry Blackaby From the life of Abraham, God shows us how He shapes the lives of those He loves. Chasing the Daylight (DVD) Erwin McManus A 10-lesson Bible Study on the life of Jonathan How Lovely is Thy Dwelling Place: (VHS) Jill Rhodes A Study of the Tabernacle and Temple Appointed Times: Jesus in the Feasts of Israel (DVD) Day of Discovery Studies on the Names of God/Jesus Lord, I Want to Know You (DVD) Kay Arthur The Life-changing Power in the Name of Jesus (DVD) Jennifer Dean Come and Behold Him: A Study of the Names of Jesus (VHS) Jill Rhodes Knowing God Ten Lies About God (DVD) Erwin W. Lutzer Jesus Among Other Gods: The Absolute Claims of the Christian Message (VHS) Ravi Zacharias Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing the Will of God (DVD) Henry Blackaby & Claude King The Mind of Christ (DVD) T.W. Hunt & Claude King Marriage Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage (DVD) Mark Gungor The Love & Respect Marriage Conference (DVD) Emerson & Sarah Eggerichs Marriage Enrichment Seminar (DVD) Walt & Patti Wiley Hidden Keys to Loving Relationships (VHS) Gary Smalley The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate (VHS/DVD) Gary Chapman Dream Marriage Power Pack (DVD/CD) Dr. Randy Carlson 2

3 (Continued from page 1) think of it this way. We need clarity of sight to know where we are going and how we are going to get there. Specifically, where do we want El Camino Baptist Church to be in the year 2020? That is just five years away. Regardless, the answer to our vision and goals is that we move FORWARD not stand still or slide backwards. Here are a few suggestions for our Vision as to how we can implement our Strategy: In regards to Celebration, we desire the church to grow numerically to 1,500 people and have four worship services. In regards to Growing in Christ, we want to see our member families attend at least 75% of the time and see baptisms at least twice a month. In regards to Connection in meaningful Relationships, we want to see 60% of our congregation involved in small group home studies and every family attempting to bring one family into the kingdom each year. In regard to Reaching the Lost, we want to see 50% of our missionary support going to unreached people groups and 50% of our members sharing the gospel with at least 6 people a year. In regard to Discipling others, we desire 50% of our people involved in an Each one reach one, each one teach one relationship and twenty X & Y small groups developed including intentional outreach to Good News Club families. This is not the entire list nor is it the final list. We need your input. These are suggestions to get us started thinking. So let me know what you think about measureable goals in regard to vision. We need to know where we are going and how we will get there. We need to start making the first steps toward accomplishing our vision. You may send your suggestions by to info@elcaminochurch.org or by calling the church office at (520) Children s Ministry Service Opportunities AWANA: We need people to work with Puggles (2's) through Trek (6-8th graders) Sundays from 3:45 pm 6:00 pm, beginning August 17th. From Cubbies on up through Trek, we can always use listeners and leaders to help children learn and recite their Bible verses. Sundays: Opportunities for teachers & helpers in 1st, 2nd, 3rd hour for Nursery, Toddlers, Preschool, Kindergarten and Elementary ages. {KID}hood: 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month, starting Sept. 10, from 9:00 am - 11:30 am. Childcare for [mommy]hood leadership: The 1st Wednesday of the month from 9:00-11:30 am. Childcare for [mommy]hood Bible study: The 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month from 9:00 am - 11:30 am. Please contact Cheryl Alexander, Kristin Wright, or Diane Yeager in Children's Ministries at for further information. If you would like to know more about teaching English to Internationals, you are invited to an informational meeting on Tuesday, August 5 at 9:00 a.m. There will be a training class immediately following. No commitment is necessary. Friendship International is also looking for a volunteer to assist with the preschool program on Friday mornings beginning August 8, Must be qualified to serve in El Camino s Children s Ministry. Please contact Teri Ploski at if you are interested. 3

4 August Dates to Remember 3 Baptism Class, Part 2 10 Baptisms 3, 10, 17 Awana registrations 17 Awana begins 27 Good News Club begins 31 Fiesta to Celebrate Dave & Olivia Wolf Awana starts August 17!! Register in the Children s Welcome Center August 3, 10 & 17. Registration forms also available online! Summer Reading Celebration: June 1-July 20. Twenty-four children read about 200 Christian-based books this summer, filling their hearts and minds with the goodness of the Lord. We pray that what they read will help transform their minds and hearts for the Lord. An extra special thank you to Jenny Osborne for coordinating it! Children s Bible Studies: June/July God worked mightily through the Summer Bible studies. We are thrilled with the heart change we see in the children, especially those who were in the Dare to Be a Daniel study. They learned to share their faith and have a heart to see their friends come to know the Lord. God gave one of our core high school volunteers, Bailie Simpson, an opportunity to learn to teach more proficiently. He gave Danny Klingenberg, our college intern, the opportunity to apply what he is learning in school. Children love teens, and had a wonderful time! And the families appeared to really enjoy the dinners. 4 (Continued on page 5)

5 (CHILDREN S- continued from page 4) Many Extra Blessings God provided extra scholarship money this Summer. In addition to meeting all scholarship requests, we were able to scholarship nearly 30 unchurched children for Fine Arts Camp. We are still in the process of following up with them all, but so far their parents are thrilled with the experiences they had at Summer Science and Fine Arts Camp. We are hoping that some will choose to be baptized, and that God will continue to bring them and their families to El Camino, and continue to grow them up in Himself. An extra special thank you to everyone who selflessly contributed!! May God bless you abundantly! SUMMER STATISTICS Camp EDGE 86 participants 8 salvations Summer Science 121 participants 7 salvations Fine Arts Camp 90 Participants 15 salvations 6 additional salvations Six children are signed up for the next baptism class. Counseling Children for Salvation Camp EDGE...the story of Moses Newsletter Deadline: August 22, 2014 The Torch is a publication for the members and friends of El Camino Baptist Church, 7777 E. Speedway, Tucson, AZ Phone: (520) torch@elcaminochurch.org. All submissions need to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on the date specified. 5

6 Monday: 1pm 7pm Thursday: 11am 5pm 627 N. Swan /7 phone # We are in our new center and by the time you read this we will have been open for two weeks. Answers For Life owes El Camino much gratitude for the start we were given in West Campus, Rm #8. From November 3rd to July 10th, we witnessed to many clients and 32 accepted the Lord as their Savior. Because of your willingness to step out and accept a different kind of ministry, this legacy belongs to you. Being on a church campus was never a hindrance for abortion-minded or abortion-vulnerable clients to come for our services. They all knew they were in a safe place, where they were cared for and loved by God. No other joy can be felt when a client thanks you for sharing the Gospel and showing God's love so that she can raise that baby in a home that has a personal relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ. God called ten committed ladies to His ministry knowing there would be times of disappointment, mistakes, and giant tasks ahead that would take great determination and much prayer. Thanks be to God for covering us with His grace and mercy! Please continue to pray for our 501C3. The IRS told us that we would receive it in 90 days if no questions were asked. The 90 days were up this month, but the IRS now say that we have been assigned to an agent and it will be another 90 days if no questions are asked. But GOD can still make this go smoothly so that we will soon get our 501C3. If you would like to join this rewarding ministry, training will be the week of September 8th beginning at 9am to 1pm at 627 N. Swan. Please call for details. With more volunteers, we would like to expand our hours of operation. Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do no know. Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV) Hey Ladies!! Mark your Calendars!! We are hosting the Beth Moore Simulcast on Saturday, September 13. From 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. You don t want to miss this! 6

7 August Food Drive For Nogales Baptist Seminary Collection boxes are in the Main Kitchen See bulletin insert for list of items to donate Choir Preview Day Saturday, August 9 9:00 a.m. 12:00 p.m. On the Worship Center backstage If you are interested in the joining the choir, come and preview the music we will be singing for Fall/Winter and the Christmas season! Media Team Meeting Saturday, August 23 9:00 a.m. On the Worship Center backstage If you are on the Media Team or interested in being a part of our Audio Team, please join us. Come Celebrate Dave and Olivia Wolf s 35th Ministry Anniversary UIM Aviation Sunday, August 31st 11:15am & 12:15pm Family Activity Center 7

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