THE ENCOURAGER A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF HUDSON CHRISTIAN CHURCH What is Your Mission? I have been blessed over the last couple months from the newsletters that are sent in from our missionaries. I share snippets of these from time to time on our church Facebook group. What I love is the sense of mission that our missionaries have. They are focused on a specific goal and all seem to have a clarity about what their target is, what their giftings are, and the strategies that are fruitful in the narrow area of God s Kingdom in which they work. There is great value in having a clearly defined mission. A person who gets on a plane and moves overseas with the general idea of I m going to spread the gospel in Timbuktu is not going to be nearly as impactful as say, our Adam and Kristy Griffith who say "we are networking the Christian youth homes of Chiang Mai, Thailand and focusing our efforts on our annual retreat and developing student leaders. That is why CEO s who are tasked with turning around a failing business often begin by clarifying company values and crafting a mission statement. So a company like Dick s Sporting Goods doesn t just say, We are going to try and make a lot of money by selling sports stuff. Instead they say, Our Mission is to be recognized by our customers as the #1 sports and fitness specialty omni-channel retailer that serves and inspires athletes and outdoor enthusiasts to achieve their personal best through the relentless improvement of everything we do. In theory, the mission statement focuses efforts and energy, telling everyone in the company or the mission where time and money are to be spent, how decisions are to be made, shaping the attitude of the workers, and giving a criterion for evaluation. www.hudsonchristianchurch.com 301 Clinton St. Hudson, IL 61748 (309) 726-1253 1
Photo courtesy of whatcomenewlifeassembly.com Our mission at HCC is this: It is the mission of Hudson Christian Church to develop devoted followers of Jesus Christ, disciples who are growing and serving together in unity. We aim to accomplish this by proclaiming the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ through the preaching and teaching of the Scriptures, baptizing those who repent of their sins and teaching them to obey all Christ has commanded in his Word through instruction and correction. We will each use the gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit for mutual edification. And we will be the hands and feet of Christ by showing compassion on Hudson and the surrounding area, and by supporting Christ s work in the world at large. All that we do as a church should be supporting that mission, and as members of the church, we should be seeing that mission accomplished, not just through official programs of the church but by our own initiative and ownership. I think there is great value in each of us identifying our own individual mission. What is our purpose on this earth? Sure it is to glorify God and enjoy him forever, but what is the unique way we have been equipped and called to go about that? And are we really living our life with that kind of laser focus so that if we were to go before a board of review they would look at our time, money, energy, desires, and thoughts and say that we really are targeted on that mission. Christ knew his mission. He expressed it directly in different ways throughout his ministry. I like the summary in John 10:10, I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. All Christ s ministry, his teaching, his life, and his death, were for the purpose of setting us free from bondage to sin and death, and to putting a fountain of living water into our hearts. He was driven every day from before sunrise to after sunset to accomplish that mission. He took no detours. No vacations. No shortcuts. No alternate mission. He carried that purpose into all that he did. Sometime in college, I made the following mission for myself: I will respond to God s call to reconcile people to themselves, each other, and God, by using my passion for being open and real, through gifts of humor and creativity. That was before I knew the specific way in which God would use me, I just knew that relational healing in general was where I felt called. Now I would summarize my mission in this descriptive statement: I am passionate about the role of the local church in God s kingdom. I love to care for my flock, from children to seniors, helping them grow in the grace of God, know his mercy deeply, and live lives of purity and in consistent demonstration of the fruit of the Spirit. I take pastoral ministry very seriously with the day of my account before God in mind at all times. So what is your mission? Do you define your life s purpose in terms of your role in building the Kingdom of God? My fear is that many Christians fall short of that understanding of the meaning or focus of their lives. Many see themselves in relation to their family, their role as Father or Mother. Others in terms of accomplishment or career; to build such and such a business, to be known as such a kind of person. Still others, and perhaps saddest of all, define their life s purpose in terms of their own enjoyment - to be true to myself, to enjoy my life no matter what, to not be hindered by anyone, to be all that I can be. www.hudsonchristianchurch.com 301 Clinton St. Hudson, IL 61748 (309) 726-1253 2
If you are born again, you are a new creature in Christ, and that creature was created with a specific design for a specific purpose. That is found in Ephesians 2:10. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Notice that this was pre-determined by God. Notice that it is accomplished by God. Notice that they are specific good works. There is a created purpose to your new life in Christ, and it isn t about you at all! It is about the Kingdom of God! I think it would be great for you to take some time with a pen and a paper and answer these questions: What is the purpose of my life? How have I been uniquely created by God? How am I called to build his Kingdom? What would it look like if I was focused on that purpose every day? Then write a mission statement about what that purpose is, and how you will accomplish it. Put that mission statement somewhere were you will see it frequently and evaluate your day by it. If you would really like to bless my heart, write that mission out and give it to me! I would love to pray for you specifically in that, to encourage you in it, and be encouraged by the grace of God working in you to build his Kingdom. - Pastor Brandon Current Summary of the Deacons & Elders Meeting March 8, 2018 The meeting was called to order at 5:38 p.m. and was opened in prayer by Donnie McKinley. The members present were Brandon Current, Donnie McKinley, Dave McGraw, and Larry Dowden. The February 15, 2018, meeting minutes were reviewed and approved. The financial reports were reviewed and approved. Giving and expenses from 2018 were compared with the same time from 2017. There were no reports from the and Education Teams. The Building Team reported that two estimates were received for the entry doors. After review of each estimate, England Window and Door will be contacted to do the work on the two south entry doors and the north entry door. All of the electrical work from the fall 2016 electrical inspection has been completed or is in the process of being completed. The last items will be addressed by an electrician. An estimate for the repairs is being completed now by Emmett-Scharf. Little Galilee Christian Camp will have its annual meeting on March 13 at 7:00 p.m. at the camp. Brandon presented the report of his activities. No Old Business or New Business was presented. The meeting was adjourned at and closed in prayer by Donnie McKinley. www.hudsonchristianchurch.com 301 Clinton St. Hudson, IL 61748 (309) 726-1253 3
Our Mission of the Month Living Alternatives is committed to saving the lives of unborn children by promoting life-affirming options and providing practical assistance, while sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed, and to minister restoration to those who have been wounded by the trauma of abortion. For more information about Living Alternatives see our HCC contact - Jan Wills or go to http://www.hopeforafuture.com/contact) Date and Time: Saturday, April 21, 2018 9:00 am 12:00 pm Christ Church, PCA 1301 North Linden Street Normal, IL 61761 Hudson Garage Sale Pie Making Day April 26 at HCC A sign-up sheet will be placed in the foyer on April 8 with a list of ingredients needed for making pies which will be sold at the Hudson Garage Sale Day in May. The ingredients need to be at the church by Sunday, April 22. The Ladies Aid thanks you for all of your help and support. Anyone who wants to come and help make pies is welcome! See Wilma Hoover, Miriam Koons, or Margaret Meyer if you have questions. www.hudsonchristianchurch.com 301 Clinton St. Hudson, IL 61748 (309) 726-1253 4
April 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 EASTER! 6:15 a.m. Sunrise Service- Comlara 7:30 a.m. Brunch at HCC No Sunday School 2 3 4 5 Food Pantry Preparation Day 6 7 10:00 Food Pantry 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 SIGN UP SHEETS FOR PIE DAY SUPPLIES Deacons/Elders Meeting followed by Spiritual Focus Meeting 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 9:00 a.m. Ladies Aid 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 PIE MAKING DAY 29 30 April Birthdays Brandon Current 4/2 Kim Taylor 4/3 Cricket Miller 4/7 Ashley Richard 4/9 Mary Lobdell 4/20 Jerry Wills 4/22 Steven Baird 4/23 Terry Dowden 4/27 www.hudsonchristianchurch.com 301 Clinton St. Hudson, IL 61748 (309) 726-1253 5