Ten Painful Sentences Not to Share with the New Pastor Here are ten of the most common painful sentences uttered to pastors by church members. 2019 Jamie Conkling Worship Arts Pastor Beau Butcher Youth Director Stacy Krull Director of Children s Ministries Nancy Krick Office Manager Notary I love you pastor, but The pastor will only hear the words after the but. And they usually are painful. Why didn t you visit her? Of course, she s not a member of the church. She was in a hospital 70 miles away. And she s married to the third cousin of the church member. Gotta minute? This question is typically asked in the time frame of one to five minutes before the pastor preaches. Have you heard this podcast pastor? Meaning: That podcast pastor is better than you. Pastor, people are saying Of course, there are no people, just the gutless person who won t speak for herself. We ve never done it that way before. And that is one of the key reasons the church is dying. I do pay your salary, you know. In other words, it s not God s money; it s my money. I wish he had heard that sermon. And the pastor was hoping you heard the sermon. I wish I worked just a few hours a week like you. After all, the pastor just needs 30 minutes to prepare a sermon and 30 minutes to preach it. Your kids need to behave like pastor s kids should behave. You can find those standards in the Bible: Hezekiah 3:16. These are just a few thoughts to keep in mind as you prepare for the arrival of your next pastor. Blessings in the New Year! Pastor Brink
HIS FOOD PANTRY SUNDAY January 6th Items Needed: applesauce, pineapple, cereal, corn, mixed vegetables, beans w/ bacon soup, chicken & star soup, spaghetti, Ramen noodles, beets, toilet paper, paper towels, toothpaste, deodorant Please put your items in the cart down by the office. Thank you! 1-13-19 6 PM Towne Meeting Annual Reports available 1-20-19 10:30 AM Annual Business Meeting Pairs N Spares (a group for those over 50 years old) New Year s Eve Party will be 7:30 pm -? at the home of Barb Fox, 532 Stratton Way. Meat and drinks will be provided. Please bring a snack. Come for good food and fellowship! Faith Promise Convention - January 27th Tom Hinton Guest Speaker Our DAY CARE is currently looking to add staff members. If you would like to apply or know someone who would enjoy working with children, please contact Ashley Garcia, Interim Director, or call the church office for an application. Volunteers are also need. Please contact Ashley if you would have a few hours to help in our Day Care. 2019 Offering envelopes are available in the lobby. If you need giving envelopes, please see Deon Shoaf or call the church office 724-2580.
From the desk of Pastor Jamie January 2019 Edition The Worship Choir will begin practices starting January 9, 2019. If you would like to join the choir for the 2 nd half of the year, we would love to have you. Practices are at 6 PM Wednesdays in the Fellowship Hall! On a personal Note: ۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰۰ Beverly and I have been so blessed to serve with Dr. Brink and Debbie for the past 5 years. He has been a terrific pastor to serve under and I consider it an honor to call him friend and my pastor. We wish him all happiness and success as he leads the congregation God has placed in his care. I will miss them both! I would like to encourage our congregation to remain steadfast in prayer as we search for that person to lead us in 2019 and beyond. Now is the time to buckle down and get involved with the different ministries here at DCOG. We need each of you to invest in this place with your time and resources as we do LIFE together. Thank you to those who blessed us with cards and gifts for Pastor s Appreciation month and also Christmas. Your thoughtfulness and generosity is felt and appreciated by us. DCOG is loved by The Conkling s! Have a blessed 2019! Be the SALT! Pastor Jamie Thank you for the blessing you bestowed on me and my family at Thanksgiving. Leilani Lee
MISSIONARY OF THE MONTH Barnabas Task Ministry For the month of January our Faith Promise Mission focus ministry is Barnabas Task Ministry. This is a ministry that was founded by Tom and Nancy Hinton in 2008. The mission of Barnabas Task is an expression of compassion to transform communities by equipping, empowering and encouraging. The message of Barnabas Task is the transforming power of the gospel of Jesus Christ. On January 12, 2019 there will be a Dental mission trip to the barrios of Santiago, Dominican Republic. This year we will set up three dental clinics in the barrios of Cien Feugos, Ensanches Ramos and Villa Gonzalez.. This is a significant undertaking to open a third clinic in a new area that we have not served in before. However, God is so good and has blessed us with more dentists than could be used in just two clinics. This year Dr. Allyson Feasel, Ron Hammond s daughter, rejoins him for her third dental mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Ron Hammond along with an oral surgeon and three hygienist will provide dental extractions and dental cleanings to the people in Villa Gonzalez. At the other two clinics the people will receive needed dental fillings, dental cleanings and dental extractions. But must importantly the love of Jesus will be shared with all. There will be 32 people involved in the dental mission trip. This is the eighth dental mission trip to the Dominican Republic. Barnabas Task Ministry is continuing to expand their involvement in Cuba. Tom is having meetings in home churches and seeing people saved. The teachings of CHE (community health evangelism) are being taught and spread in the communities. Tom completed a very powerful CHE seminar in Fortaleza, Brazil in December. As Tom says Barnabas Task is a StoryTeller of many. It is such a blessing to have the support of the Decatur Church of God. Please pray for the team as they minister the love of Jesus to the people in the Dominican Republic. December was an exceptionally busy month for our youth, especially when it relates to Christmas and giving. The youth group recently partnered with Bethesda- a Christian nonprofit provides people with intellectual and developmental disabilities with home, career, education and faith resources to live full and empowered lives. We shopped at Walmart and bought each resident in the Fort Wayne community 2 gifts, both of which they requested. Many of their gifts were common things we often take for granted, like fuzzy socks, batteries, posters, stuffed animals, clothes, and musical toys. We truly believe this was an eye opening and humbling experience for our youth. As leaders, it was neat to see as well. (See the photo below from this event) December 12th was the youth Christmas party, where we played close to ten high energy games and gave away several Christmas gift cards and games as prizes for the winners of those games. Thank you to everyone who was generously willing to bless our youth with a gift! They truly were grateful. On December 19th, the youth assisted Stacy Krull and the children s ministry team in preparing some special gifts for the congregation. It truly is a treat to see youth of all ages (including the leaders ;)) come together in any capacity. Lindsay is working on the snack schedule for February-June. If you would like to bless our youth with a snack one week, would you please let her know? Thank you in advance.
If you have a prayer need to place on or added to the Prayer Chain, please call Prayer Coordinator Karen Carty #260-223-2789 Email: Lark54@live.com If you need further assistance, please call the church office - 724-2580. Weekend On-Call Pastor: #724-2893 Challenge yourself this new year! Reading plans are available on the lobby table. If you have food service needs for December-February please call: Barb Fox, Karen Baker, or alternate, Karen Fouts. ITEMS DUE: January 15th
Sunday: Weekly Services 9:00 AM Worship & G.I.G.ville 10:30 AM Cross Training, Kid s Church, Sunday School Wednesday: 6 PM Worship Singers Practice 7-8 PM Family Activities 6:30-8 PM Youth 5-12th graders 7 PM Worship Band Practice January 2019 MISSIONARY OF THE MONTH: Barnabas Task Ministry Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 New Year s Day Office closed 2 Youth Group No Children s Group Christmas Break... Jan 1 & 2 No Preschool - No Day Care 3 Preschool Day Care resume 4 5 7:30 AM Men s Fellowship Richard s 1:30 PM Bingo Woodcrest 6 His Pantry Sunday 7 8 9 7 PM Children s Group resumes 6 PM Choir rehearsal resumes 10 11 12 2-9 PM FH/K reserved 13 Annual reports AM available 11:30-4 FH/K & 1-3 PM Sanctuary reserved 6 PM Towne Meeting 14 6:30 PM FE&T 15 16 17 6:30PM Elders (L) 6:30-8:30 PM DC4K SMC Divorce Care 18 19 7:30 AM Men s Fellowship Richard s 20 10:30 AM Annual Business Meeting (S) 21 No Preschool Classes 22 23 24 6:30-8:30 PM DC4K SMC Divorce Care 25 26 6:30 PM B&G 27 Faith Promise Sunday 28 29 30 31 6:30-8:30 PM DC4K SMC Divorce Care WEEKDAYS WHEN DAY CARE IN SESSION Kitchen reserved 10:30 am- 1:30 pm