e-news for week of 6/8 - 6/14

It’s really been a great week around the Forum campus this week! Kids have had a chance to explore, in a hands-on way, the city of Jerusalem. Kids have baked bread, made crafts, petted animals, visited the apothecary shop, gone to synagogue, learned memory verses, sang worship songs, and a whole lot more – all the while interacting with all of the story tellers and learning the Bible in a hands-on kind of way. It’s been a great joy to see. It’s one of those things that I wish every parent and child could have been here to experience. I truly want to thank Jessie Spellman and Pam Tamerius for putting together a world-class event for our kids.

The offering for the week is going toward the multi-site expansion of the ministry of Forum. Just in a nutshell, let me give you a quick update: the second campus is targeted to start on March 1, 2009. There is a team of people who are working on finding and securing a site on the northern end of town where the campus will meet. We will have an over and above sacrificial giving effort this fall that will go toward funding this aggressive step to intentionally connect people to Jesus. There will be a brochure coming out in the very near future that will address some of the questions you might have. In the fall, we will have an intense time of focus, prayer, mobilization, training for those who are moved to serve at the new campus, and – hopefully –one great worship opportunity where all of the nearly 1200 members of Forum can gather under one roof at one moment.

I realize and know that is a lot of information – people continue to ask me – what is the best thing I can do right now? Very simply – you can pray. I don’t mean that tritely. This is a God sized project that I believe God has led us toward. I believe this is one step toward making a significant kingdom of God impact in Columbia. I was telling our staff – right now the key is for all of us, as a staff, as a body, as leaders, etc. to strive to “peak” at the right time. If we peak too early – when it comes time for the launch we’ll be all ready to go in the middle of winter with the launch 3 months away. If we dawdle, lag, and foot drag – it’ll be March of 2009 and we’ll not be fully prepared. Our simple prayer needs to be: God, we want to be in step with you – not out in front of you, not lagging behind, but Lord – may we be in step, in synch with You.

Let’s keep our teens in prayer as they are doing a mission trip with Cookson Hills children’s home down in Kansas, OK. They leave out on Monday. There are weeks of church camp upcoming as well that you can still involve your children in.
I would also highlight the Men of Impact gathering this next Saturday, June 21 – the time on it is: 7:45 a.m. to around 11:00 a.m. Bill Pinkerton will be the speaker for the morning. We are truly striving to have men who are intentional about the spiritual leadership roles God has called them to within our homes, our community, and within our church.

This Sunday is Father’s Day, and we’ll tune in with Christ in Matthew 6. This sermon has the potential to alter your life in a deep and profound way. There will be a gift for all dads. We’ll be in the part of the Sermon on the Mount that is commonly called, “The Lord’s Prayer.” I know you ‘know’ it, but do you KNOW it? It’s one of those profoundly simple and revolutionary teachings of Jesus. I’m very much expecting great things this Sunday – can’t wait to see you then, Scott