e-news for week of 4/4/10

Excellent, great, phenomenal, and a challenge.

Those are the adjectives that describe what I’m about to write.

Excellent:

• The services on Good Friday and Easter were excellent and glorifying to God. Thanks to Tarry Koutz, the choir, and all those who participated in the drama on Good Friday – you all helped us to experience Christ in a God glorifying way.
• The Easter Services lifted up Christ and affirmed His resurrection in a powerful way. It was great to see Jeff Hemme baptize his son Noah and Chris Wilson baptize Gene Underwood in third service. Joe Brown did a fantastic job leading 2nd and 3rd services. I heard Jared Wortman and Tyler Morris were outstanding out at the north campus. In all things, God was glorified.

Great News:

• The leadership of Forum has after a period of seeking the Lord, as well as searching the country, made a decision connected to the worship ministry. Specifically, it is my privilege and honor to communicate to you that both Tyler Morris and Tarry Koutz are coming onto the Forum staff full-time. In that their dossier would be quite lengthy between them, I’ll give you a brief overview in this article and as you come to know them more – you’ll just be thrilled – I know I am.
• Dr. Tarry Koutz served as the worship minister for Forum for years and years. He has also been a professor at Central Christian College of the Bible (Moberly, MO) for decades. Tarry has been married to his wife Poppy for 39 years. His son-in-law Tim Crockett, daughter Julie, and 2 grandchildren - Emery and Carson (with one en route) actively attend and serve at Forum. As I say, we’re all thrilled. Tarry will lead our first service, coordinate and lead our productions (they have been off the charts), and oversee and coordinate the children’s choirs, and we are praying about the development of a Fine Arts Academy down the road.
• Tyler Morris is the husband of Katelyn Morris – our children’s minister. Tyler is a phenomenal musician and servant hearted individual. Before coming to Forum, he was the worship leader for a new church. We hired Katelyn in the area of Children’s Ministry and he hesitatingly moved out of that area to follow God’s lead for their family here. When the north campus opened, Tyler began serving exemplarily and once again was able to lead out north a lot as well as coordinate the set up of everything musical out there (that’s one of the reasons south campus hasn’t gotten to know him real well – he’s always out north). Tyler will lead/coordinate 2nd, 3rd, and north campus services, coach our teen bands, set our serving schedules, and lead the creative development of our services. Tyler and Katelyn are a phenomenal couple and we’re so glad God led them here.

Phenomenal ministry:

• Our deacons serve and serve and serve. The grounds and the campus looked perfect for Easter. A bunch of people repainted the entire gym, halls, stairwells, etc. this month and it looks so crisp. Thanks for all of your service and leadership.

A challenge:

• In that we operate very “lean and mean” as a ministry, we don’t dialogue much about money. To me, people who love the Lord love to give and give cheerfully. In that we are adding staff, we have been running tight and then some at our current giving levels. I’m going to encourage each family to consider giving an additional five or ten dollars each week or if the Lord prompts you to do more I sure don’t want to limit you.

We’ll also have light construction to make over a lot of our classroom areas in the very near future as well. With these opportunities come additional financial needs. Let me encourage all of us to rise to the challenge.

Pizza With The Pastors is this Sunday night at 5 in room 104/106. Come meet with some of the ministers and learn more about Forum and have a time to ask any questions you might have as well. Childcare is provided.

Men’s F.I.T.ness Seminar is Saturday, April 24 from 7 – 9:30 p.m. in the auditorium at the south campus. Come at 6:30 for snacks. Worship begins at 7. Come for an evening centered around intentionally connecting men to Christ through teaching, worship, and fellowship.

This Sunday we’ll finish out our “Gameface” series studying out of John 21. Bottom line: so the resurrection/Easter happened, what’s next? What do we do? It will be a great encounter with Jesus. Can’t wait to worship with you this Sunday - Scott