The Cross & Crown A newsletter of Oak Grove Church to equip and inform

Transcription

1 The Cross & Crown A newsletter of Oak Grove Church to equip and inform April 2018 Volume 1 From the Elders News about building a new facility at Weary Rd & Route 14 Inside Letter from the Elders Dear Oak Grove Church Family, The Lord has need of your donkey. These are the words that the disciples said to a simple farmer whose family lived in the village of Bethany, on the outskirts of Jerusalem. We don t know how rich or poor the owners of this colt were. We only know their willingness to share what they had with others, even with a controversial Rabbi named Jesus. The pattern of Scripture is that the Lord asks everyone to give something. The widow and her two half-pennies, the rich young ruler, the boy with his two fish and five loaves, Zacchaeus Jesus makes the point that it is not about how much you give, but to whom you give. For whatever we give to the Lord He multiplies! On Sunday, April 15 th, after much thought, prayer and congregational discussion, Oak Grove Church voted to build a new facility. The Holy Spirit of God has given us a heart and a mind to build a house for the name of the Lord. There are strategic reasons to build: like improved visibility, accessibility and flexibility. Yet it really all boils down to glorifying God and joyfully honoring the Lord Jesus who saved us from death and sin and has freely granted to us the gift of eternal life. And having been treated so generously and better than we deserve, we wish others in Evansville and beyond to hear and respond to God s offer of grace. Or to put it like a child might, come meet someone who has been good to me, come meet the Lord Jesus. To build a house for the name of the Lord is a significant endeavor. It will require us to sacrifice. It will require us to give back to the Lord some of the resources He has entrusted to each of us. Dear Christian, the Lord has need of your donkey today. Let us build a house for the name of the Lord. Some have wondered: how much is my share? What is my portion? That is between you and the Lord. Do not concern yourself with what God asks of others. Your responsibility is to answer when the Lord asks you for your donkey. Gifts will vary because hearts and resources vary. Though our gifts will not be the same, let us each have the same heart in our giving namely, let us give sacrificially and let us give joyfully. Paul talks about how the congregation in Philippi gave. He boasts, [continued on pg 2] Facility Improvement Timeline Some Questions Answered Testimonials Pastor Josh s Musings Pledge Form Concept Floorplan oakgrovechurch.com (608) (office) 101 W. Church St Evansville, WI 53536

2 Message from the Elders continued... [continued from pg 1] ESV 2 Corinthians 8:2-4 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints- Why did these believers rejoice at the opportunity to give? Even begging earnestly for the favor of giving? Because the Lord Jesus said in Matthew 6:19-21 that we do not get to keep the treasures we lay up on earth, but those treasures we lay up in heaven are ours forever. Thus, to have the opportunity we have today is actually God doing us a favor! And when you consider that it has been five to six generations since our church has had this opportunity, God truly has favored our generation! For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. And if our treasure is in Heaven with the Lord Jesus, what does that say about our hearts now and in the future?! We re asking you to take 1. 4 steps: Fill out and submit the top half of the enclosed pledge form by June 15, What you choose to pledge is between you and the Lord. Sharing your pledge with leadership will enable us to plan. The pledge forms should be placed in the Facility Capital Improvement box in the back of the sanctuary. These are pledges above and beyond the offerings you give in support of the ongoing ministry of Oak Grove Church. Your gift may be a onetime gift or spread over the course of three years. There is also a line on the form for Other that you may customize for when, what and how you give. Again, it is not how you give but to whom Keep the bottom half of the pledge form for your personal record. It includes a place for you to record the Christ-glorifying, faith-building story that God walks you through in the next months and years. Pray and give as God enables and guides. You may begin giving immediately. You may also give online at oakgrovechurch.com. (Click on Online Giving to give to the Facility Capital Improvements.) Attend the next congregational meeting (date and time TBD). At our next meeting we will share both the project cost and the total amount of pledges made. This determines when we will break ground. Please direct your questions to Pastor Josh (cell: ) or to our fund-raising leader Greg Lancaster (cell: ). God s request was not one of need, but one of opportunity. Rick Reale, principal at Verhelst CPA in Oregon Wisconsin, will be at Oak Grove Church at 7 pm on Wednesday May 9th. Rick will address financial and tax implications of large charitable gifts and he will also address wise decisions regarding access to your retirement savings accounts or other financial assets. Rick has no agenda other than being available to answer your questions. The Lord has need of your donkey. Why did Jesus have to borrow someone else s donkey? Why didn t He use His own donkey or perhaps whistle and command a wild donkey from the Negev to serve Him? It was not a matter of Jesus limited resources or some limit to Jesus abilities. The request was not one of need, but one of opportunity. When Jesus asked to borrow a donkey, he was doing the owner of that donkey a favor. Can you imagine hearing the hubbub approaching? Can you imagine the man and his family rushing to the edge of the street to join the crowd? What was in that man s heart when he beheld the Lord sitting upon his donkey? Joy. Gratitude. Awe. What a favor! To be privileged to give something that supports the praising and honoring of the Lord! Wow! Dear people, the Lord could build His house without you. Yet, in the mysterious wonderful way of God, He chooses to build His house with you, through you, in you. A man almost 2,000 years ago shared his donkey when asked by the Lord and that man has had everlasting joy ever since. John Newton once said, When you get to Heaven, you will not complain of the way by which the Lord brought you. In a similar way, When you get to Heaven, you will not regret any gift given to the Lord. With much gratitude for your partnership in the gospel, Oak Grove Church elders Pastor Josh Brumbaugh Gordie Franklin Darrin Harn Brian Smith Facility Capital Improvement box for pledges and gifts

3 Challenges of our current facility Did you know? OGC is the only church in Evansville not wheelchair accessible. Facility Improvement Timeline How we got to where we are - December 7, Union Township Board approved our request to re-zone 3.3 acres on the corner of Weary Rd and Hwy 14 - January 2017 The church body voted to commission and fund a Facility Improvement Team (FIT) to explore options to improve the accessibility, flexibility and visibility of Oak Grove Church. Team members include: Phil Woodworth, chair, Mary Christensen, Mike George, Tony Ryerson, Deb Weaver and Dave Winker. Hannah Sobeski and Judy Winker were added later in the process. - Spring 2017 FIT met with an architect from Groth Design group. He basically told them you can t afford me and you don t need me. - The Woodworth family generously approached the elders to donate 3.3 acres on the corner of Weary Rd and Hwy 14 to construct a new facility - Summer 2017 FIT gathered information on renovating our existing building with a lift and handicap accessible bathrooms. They also put together a preliminary concept design for a new facility. - October 15, 2017 FIT shared their findings on renovation of existing facility and shared a concept design with the congregation at the Quarterly meeting in October. From this meeting it was decided to move ahead with funding the continued exploration of constructing a new facility. - November 19, 2017 FIT shared an updated concept design with the congregation. Congregation approved seeking necessary approvals from Union township and City of Evansville. Congregation requested Design Forums be held to provide comment and input on the concept. - November 30, 2017 Union Township Zoning committee approved our request to re-zone 3.3 acres on the corner of Weary Rd and Hwy 14 - December 10-11, 2017 Phil Woodworth, Pastor Josh, Gordon Franklin, Brian Smith, Dave Winker & Judy Winker visited the Enercept factory in South Dakota. Enercept is the maker of the SIP panels that are part of the concept design plan. - January 13-14, 2018 About 60 folks provided input on the Design Concept. FIT committee considered recommendations and implemented many ideas. - April 2, 2018 Evansville Plan Commission recommended approval of our request. - April 10, 2018 Evansville Common Council unanimously approved our zoning request. - April 15, 2018 At the quarterly congregational meeting, the congregation approved this motion: Let us build a new facility for Oak Grove Church contingent on funding. Approve a maximum construction loan of 3X our annual budget.

4 So I was wondering... Why is our newsletter called The Cross & Crown? Because of a prominent stained glass window in our sanctuary. What about this? What is next? 101 W. Church St. Evansville, WI We don t yet know, but here are 3 guiding principles for us: 1) Let s continue to be faithful stewards of our current facility 2) It currently costs $1000 per month to operate so ministry use by OGC is a possibility. 3) Let s prayerfully seek God-glorifying ministry for it. Spanish-language Ministry? Counseling & Resource Center? Transfer to one of the two evangelical church plants in town? How did we build in 1904? If you didn t do so, read the Elder s letter pg 1&2. Absolutely essential info!!! 2 things are happening simultaneously from now till June 15, 2018: Fund-raising Campaign. (Pledges requested by June 15.) FIT team to finish blueprints and get bids Mid-summer 2018: Congregational Meeting to share results of pledges and expected cost Generous members. Including 7 households who gave $500 each. This was equivalent to 13 1/2 months average salary in their day! Would you defer savings or contributions to your retirement for the next two years to bless the next five generations? What will it look like? An aesthetics team is still to be formed, but here is a simple rendering:

5 Church isn t a building or a service you attend. Church is a people following the Lord Jesus together. I was immediately aware of Christ being front and center. Therese (Terry) Porter Almost 2 years ago I came by myself to OGC, since my husband spent the weekend with our adult kids Up North. Although I found the pews uncomfortable, only saw a few familiar faces, and didn't even know most of the songs, I was immediately aware of Christ being "front and center". I appreciated greatly from the beginning how the Word is being taught. I had the experience of being able to "breathe" deeply and freely. Over the course of us attending regularly, getting involved in various ministries, and getting to know some folks better, Christ remains "front and center". It is hugely freeing, and I am excited to see what the Lord will do in and through our lives! - Terry Jeff & Therese Porter I am excited to see what the Lord will do in and through our lives! The fact is, Evansville is growing & expanding. The question really is how God's people at OGC can serve Him best. I have serious doubts that the current building can accommodate much growth, just plain space-wise. So, YES- a larger, easier accessible, very visible building would greatly facilitate that. Why on the East-side? Because the LORD graciously provided the LAND through His faithful servant (a BIG deal), and eliminated ANY zoning obstacles (another BIG deal)!! HE did that 4 times! We asked for open or closed doors according to His perfect wisdom and plan. HE opened them. Let's walk through them! "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; Lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes..." Isaiah 54:2 also Joshua chapter 1. - Jeff Demographics of Evansville Population in 1904: Population in 2018 : 5,012+ There are approximately 10,000 residents in the Evansville Community School District Did you now that the City of Evansville is one the few towns in Wisconsin that is both retaining and gaining young adults years old? The first time I walked into Oak Grove church I was swarmed with hugs and excited greetings from the friendliest people I had ever met in my entire life. It did not take long before Oak Grove became home, a home that brought a twinkle to my eyes, and filled my heart with the love of God. This is the strength of Oak Grove and it is the thing I love most about it. The people here don t hold back their love for Jesus and his people. They keep on giving and giving, and I have been on the receiving end for many of these loving and thoughtful actions. Throwing my graduation party in itself was a big task - but the entire church got together to provide a location, food, and blessed me with a ton of gifts that are very much appreciated. But the biggest blessing of all is the love I receive every time I walk into the church building, and I am very thankful for it. - Breanna Lawrence

6 Pastor Josh s Musings But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. A Message from Pastor Josh Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. - Eph 4:5 I saw a boy walking to Evansville High School one wintry morning this past February. His posture was of someone carrying the weight of the world. When I looked into his eyes there was deadness there. And I wondered who will share Christ with him? Who will come alongside this young man and mentor him? Oak Grove Church is a congregation that reaches the hurting and harassed of Evansville. How do we do this? By steadfast love and an uncompromising proclamation of the truth, we partner with the Holy Spirit in the work of making disciples who follow Christ in all of life. I believe God has asked us to build a new facility. Judging by the recent vote, you believe this too. Increased Visibility, improved Accessibility and ministry Flexibility are all tangible factors. But the reality is: improving the features of our facility does not build our Church, make disciples or generate worship filled with spirit and truth. If the Church is to grow, if disciples are to be made it is people who will do it. Our Church will grow and the Kingdom of God will advance in our city the same way it always has: by Christians loving others enough to speak the truth in love that we may grow up into Him who is the head: Christ. PJ s Prayer Requests: 1. OGC s fund raising campaign. for faith & love. 2. Men s Retreat at Green Lake Conference Center (April 27th to 29th) for a drawing near to God. 3. Ecuador Mission Trip (June 8th to 17th) for grace to share the love of Christ. Stuart Briscoe once said, Church isn t something you attend, Church is something you are. Putting this in my own words: Church isn t a building or a service you attend. Church is a people following the Lord Jesus together. The Scriptures say God uses all things for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purposes. The opportunity before us will test and grow our faith one. As we move forward, remember: the Lord is good and loving and trustworthy and praiseworthy! josh@oakgrovechurch.com