New Hope M. B. Church
Newsletter
3005 East Ellicott
Tampa, Florida 33610
September 25, 2016
Issue #10
Pray for New Hope Missionary Baptist Church Take Seriously your Membership! NHMBC thriving for decades to come.
Deacon Ron Peterson, Deacons Board Chairman
As the New Hope Church family prepares itself for its next Pastor, it is my prayer that we all are praying together as a family to be led by the Holy Spirit and faith in the selection of a Shepherd. We know that God has already picked out for us the Man whom he would have be our Shepherd. Lets make sure that we all are in continual prayer for our Pastor Search Committee as they continue to do the will of God through faith and the Holy Spirit. I am confident that they are walking in the will of God as they move forward seeking His guidance in their decision making. As we all know the selection of a Pastor is a significant phase in the history of New Hope or for that matter, any church. You, the individual member and the collective NHMBC, gets to decide on who will be our next Sheppard. This is a serious responsibility that each of us has and it should not be taken lightly. We know that God ultimately is in control and He has chosen to work through us. Let us prayerfully ask Him to lead and guide us as we go through this process. I am reminded of one of the scriptures we studied for Vacation Bible School; Psalm 119: 105, it reads “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”. If we allow the Lord to be our light, as we walk a walk of faith on this path He has set before us, we can look forward to
As I look out into the church at its’ various ministries and auxiliaries, it becomes apparent that we need to work to strengthen all of our ministries. This is where you who are not presently working in the church need to seek out and find the calling God has for you at New Hope. As a Christian, we have all been called into service for the Lord. We are all ministers for Jesus Christ. Ephesians 2:10, (The Living Bible (TLB)), reads as follows: “It is God himself who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago he planned that we should spend these lives in helping others” . God put us here to serve. There are many fields of service here at New Hope. God did not put you on earth just to live for yourself. You may recall from our August newsletter column, written by Sister Marcia Agee, that there are two different types of church membership; one was a country club membership. (continue on page 2)
New Hope M.B. Church
OCTOBER 9, 2016, 10:55 AM
Pray for New Hope Missionary Baptist (NHMB) Church and take seriously your membership (continued from page 1)
These members have the attitude of joining the church to see what they can get out of it. They want to be served rather than serve. They want to come on Sundays, and that’s the extent of their involvement. They are members who expect perks, privileges and service. When asked to serve, they are quick to say “let me pray about it” (code phrase for ”no”), they get mad, they serve begrudgingly and out of obligation. They didn’t join the church to work, therefore they have a bad attitude when they do serve. On the other hand, there are those who adopt the biblical approach that sees church membership as a gift, something to be treasured. Membership means we have the opportunity to serve and give just as Jesus willing served and gave His life for us. Throughout the bible, we see verse after verse that speaks of the gift of salvation. When we receive the gift of salvation we become a part of the body of Christ. As part of the body of Christ we joyfully look for opportunities to serve our church. Once we grasp that church membership is a gift from God to be treasured, we will not look at serving in New Hope as a legalistic obligation, a license for entitlement, or a country club with perks. We will treasure our church membership as a gift from God. The gift of church membership should not be taken for granted or considered lightly. New Hope will be a healthy church if each of us found joy in being last, instead of seeking our own way and being first. If we want to become more like Jesus, we will serve because we want to please God, not ourselves. NHMBC desires your commitment to do God’s will here.
presents
Ministry
Sister Hazel Stephens, Interim Minister of Music
The NHMBC Mass Choir will sing on Sunday, October 9, 2016 at 10:55 a.m. This is Unity Sunday. All choir, chorus and praise team members are asked to attend rehearsals and sing during Unity Sunday Worship Service. The rehearsal schedule for the Mass Choir is • September 29th @ 7:45 p.m. • October 6th @ 7:00 p.m.
The Adult Choir and the Gospel Chorus will have their regularly scheduled rehearsal on September 29th from 7:00 p.m. – 7:45 p.m..
Church Office: 813-236-3611
Comments to:
[email protected]
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MISSIONS MINISTRY NHMBC Family, Thank you for your gifts of clothes, shoes, toiletries and items for the gift table. Surely your cooperation and support for New Hope’s Outreach Ministry is greatly appreciated. We would not see the numerous accomplishments without you, the faithful volunteers.
Community Outreach
Labor Day – September 5, 2016
Guests Ministered to
We will not have outreach activities on Veteran’s Day. Mark your calendar for Monday, November 21, 2016. This will be the Thanksgiving outreach for the homeless and less fortunate. We have a need for men’s jeans. Drop off your donation in the Dining Room marked outreach. Sister Linda Padgett, A worker in God’s vineyard Let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. Galatians 6:9
102
Showers
32
Haircuts
40
Bibles requested and distributed
18
Breakfasts delivered to sick & shut-in members
59
Total Volunteers
83
Men
32
Women
38
College Students
4
High School Students
4
Children
5
Brotherhood Ministry Day of Service September 10, 2016 Members of the Brotherhood and Women’s Ministries spent an afternoon visiting residents at several nursing homes.
Monday Night Mission Meeting All members are invited to Mission Meeting the Monday night after the 1st and 3rd Sundays from 7 p.m. – 8 p.m. The mission groups are Brotherhood, Senior Women, Women Intermediate, Junior Women and Children. A timely and relevant lesson is studied from the mission guides.
This is the attendance from the September 19th Mission Night. Brotherhood
21
Senior Women
13
WIA
14
Junior Women
2
Children
3
Total
Senior Women class
53 Women Intermediate class
Church Office: 813-236-3611 Comments to:
[email protected]
3
NHMBC Pastoral Search Committee September Update Deacon L. Oscar Young, Jr. Chairman
Dear Church Family; Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! We are pleased to provide this brief update of the progress being made by the PSC. A few members of the PSC will travel to Dallas/Ft. Worth, Texas this weekend for a visit with Reverend Larry Mouton, his family, and his congregation. We are happy to report that preliminary activities (background check, credit check, references and well-being report) have either been completed or are in an advanced state toward completion. Reverend Mouton will travel to Tampa on Friday, October 7th for a weekend of activities with the New Hope family. It is our desire to provide several opportunities for our church family to observe the candidate to assist with final decision-making. The following is a snapshot of planned activities, so please place them on your calendar: • Saturday, October 8, 2016: Reverend Mouton will meet with our Deacons, Associate Ministers and Trustees respectively. The day will culminate in dinner with the PSC. Times for these activities will be determined by church leadership. • Sunday, October 9, 2016: Reverend Mouton will preach the Word at our 10:55 AM Unity Worship experience, and will facilitate a forum with our Youth Division at 2:00 PM. • Monday, October 10, 2016: 6:30 PM, the church family is invited to hear Reverend Mouton teach and expound on a Sunday School lesson. Plan to stay for a 90 minute Town Hall forum where you may ask questions of the candidate. Thank you for your faith and trust in the PSC. We are doing our best to carry out the wishes of the church, but most importantly, do the work that is pleasing to God.
Yours in Christ, Deacon Oscar L. Young, Jr. Chairman, Pastoral Search Committee
Church Office: 813-236-3611 Comments to:
[email protected]
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CONCLUSION by Sister Marcia Agee
I Am A Church Member by Thom S. Rainer I am a church member. This membership is a gift. When I received the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, I became a part of the body of Christ. I soon thereafter identified with a local body and was baptized. And now I am humbled and honored to serve and to love others in New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. I pray that I will never take my membership for granted, but see it as a gift and an opportunity to serve others and to be a part of something so much greater. Over these past six months we’ve learned what it means to be a church member. Now we must ask ourselves the question, “Which church member am I? Am I the church member who seeks out opportunities to serve using the gifts God has given me? Or am I the church member who wants the church to serve me? Jesus told His disciples whoever wanted to be the most important among them had to be willing to be a servant to everyone (Mark 10:44). This was the attitude of the early church. Paul says all the believers were of one heart and mind. They shared everything they had. They helped the needy. They encouraged one another. Most importantly, they testified about Jesus and led thousands to the Lord (Acts 4:.32-35). Jesus loved the church so much He gave His life for it. The least we can do is give our lives not just to working in the church, but to the work of the church. Thomas S. Rainer reminded us that it is a privilege to be called a servant of the Most High God. Jesus called Himself a Servant. His entire life was spent doing the will of His Father. If every church member had the mind of Christ there would not be one unhealthy church in the world. Decide today to be the church member God wants you to be. New Hope will profit from your membership because you decided to be a functioning member of the body.
F.I.R.E. Night Children and youth are invited to attend Youth Ministry on Tuesday night from 6:20 pm – 8:00 pm.
Choir Rehearsal!
Youth Ministry
Bible Study!
Refreshments!
Lots of Fun!
Develop life-long friendships!
Fearless, Inspired, Redeemed, Empowered by God’s Word. 5
Church Office: 813-236-3611
Comments to:
[email protected]
Autopsy of a Deceased Church Chapter 7 – The Preference-driven Church By Deacon Ron Peterson
We have all heard the phrase" Me, Myself, and I". This is an attitude of "it's all about me". Every one of the churches that the author, Thom Rainer, reviewed that closed its doors had some level of this attitude. The focus moved from others to themselves. When a church moves in that direction, it is headed for decline and then death. A church cannot survive long-term where members are focused on their own preferences: My music style My desired length and order of worship services My desired color and design of buildings and rooms My activities and programs My need of ministers and staff to meet my needs My, My, My! The bible describes the attitude all Christians should always have (Philippians 2:5-11).
attitude. Instead the attitude was self-serving, selfgiving, and self-entitled. It was about me, myself and I. The lifeblood of a healthy church is one that is more like the mind of Christ in the members' attitude. A book titled "The Love Dare”, based on the Movie "Fireproof", is about a struggling husband trying to save his dying marriage. His dad gave him a handwritten book that was a forty day challenge to become a better husband. The premise of the book, was that for forty days a husband or wife is to do something selflessly for his or her spouse. The book is a powerful biblical reminder that, in the relationship of marriage, each party is to seek to look after the interest of his or her spouse. It's a book about selflessness and other-centeredness. That is how we are to enter into relationship with others in the church. Membership in the church is not a country club membership. It's not about paying your dues and getting your perks. Refer to I Corinthians 12:12-31. We are members of the body of Christ. We do not exist to serve ourselves; instead we exist for the greater good of the Body. It's not about our desires, preferences or needs.
It describes Christ’s obedience which is an example for us to follow. We are to be servants. We are to be obedient. We are to put others first. We are to do whatever it takes to seek the best for them and our church. The Apostle Paul puts it powerfully and clearly: “Make your own attitude that of Christ". The churches that died did not have a self-sacrificial
Prayer Commitment 7 Lord, open my eyes to the needs of others. Show me how to live more like Your Son, who always put others first. And especially show me that attitude as I serve in my church.
Church Office: 813-236-3611
Comments to:
[email protected]
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Four Types of Churches That Will Soon Die In simple terms, there are four
The Word of God has no
types of churches that will soon die.
power in these churches.
It is sad to watch the churches in these categories. Some congregations are in more than one category. And some are in all four.
The Country Club Church. Members in these churches see their membership as perks and privileges. They
The Ex-Bible Church.
want their styles of music,
These churches have
their worship service times,
abandoned the truths of
their types of architecture,
Scripture. A few are explicit
and their preferred lengths of
in their denials. But many just
sermons. They pay their
give lip service to the Bible.
dues, so they should get their
The congregation does not
benefits. Or so the thinking of
study Scripture. The pastor
the members goes. Don’t ask
does not deal with the biblical
them to evangelize, to put
texts and the whole counsel
others first, or to make
of God. The Bible is just
sacrifices. After all, it is their
another book that rarely gets
church.
read, studied, or proclaimed.
The Bad Words Church. If you want to see a “good” fight, go to these churches. Their business meetings are more contentious than a presidential election. You can count on many of these church members to speak to or email the pastor regularly. And those words of communication are not nice words. These are the churches where bullies go unchecked, where personnel committees and boards work in darkness, and where gossip and backstabbing are common. These churches expend most of their energy on bad words. They thus don’t have the time or energy to share the good news.
The Ex-Community Church. Go into these churches and look at the members. Go into the community and look at the residents. They don’t look alike. They don’t dress alike. They don’t go to the same places. The community has changed, but the church has not. “Those people” are on the outside. “Our kind of people” are on the inside. The idea of building bridges to the community is resisted if not repulsive.
The post Four Types of Churches That Will Soon Die appeared first on ThomRainer.com.
Church Office: 813-236-3611
Comments to:
[email protected]
7
Stephen A. Lanier Stephen graduated from St. Leo University in April, 2016 with a degree in Sports Business. He now works for the University of South Florida in the Department of Athletics as an Event Manager. Stephen would like to thank everyone at New Hope for the spiritual and financial support in reaching his educational goal. Stephen is the son of Samuel and Sylvia Lanier and he is the big brother to Shamond Lanier.
Communion Service 1st Sunday @ 6 pm
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14
Send your questions, comments or concerns to
[email protected] Church Office: 813-236-3611
Comments to:
[email protected]
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