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Wednesday Nights
7:00pm
912 Eastwind Drive
Westerville, Ohio
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The Treasure of Friendship
Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy. Proverbs 27:6
Friends are like bananas, when they come in bunches, they quickly go bad. Like “love”; friend is a word that is overused. True friends don’t come in bunches, in fact if you find one or two sincere friends in this life you are entirely blessed.
As a young man I wore my heart on my sleeve and “fell in love” with nearly every girl I ever had any kind of a relationship with. I was usually certain by the second date that we would eventually be married. This behavior started long before I was in school and continued until I found my true love in my wife.
As a man, I have made the same fatal error with acquaintances. I always assume that each acquaintance is going to be my sincere friend for life; that our friendship is unconditional and a sacred trust. I have spent most of my adult life being repeatedly hurt by people whom I have cared about more than they care about me.
An honest friend speaks the truth in love to you; an honest friend doesn’t tell you how wonderful you are, when you’re not, but an honest friend is equally committed to being a part of your life for the remainder of their lives. A sincere friend, like a sincere love, cares for you even when they don’t care for how you are being. What a rare gift it is to find people who will allow you to invest in their lives and in return are willing to invest in yours.
We would all do well to remember the words of Jesus, “ Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for their fathers used to treat the false prophets in the same way.” Luke 6:26
Empty kisses leave behind broken hearts. When I think of my friends, my sincere friends; the ones who go back years and years, I don’t think of their kind words or their flattery or their praise; what I know, even when we don’t see one another for months or years is that when we do, we pick-up right where we left off. In as much as NOTHING can separate us from the Love of God, there is Nothing that destroys a real friendship.
Just as the desire for love may leave you with a broken heart, the desire for sincere friendship will do the same, but in both cases, the treasure you find is worth all the pain endured in seeking.
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“THE CHURCH” is Not “ONE LARGE MOUTH” that God speaks through. The “CHURCH” has not only “ONE LARGE EAR” that hears what He is saying. The “CHURCH” is not “THE ONLY EYE” that sees Him moving or “THE ONE HEART” that feels His presence. The true living “CHURCH” of the living God is not “ONE HAND” that reaches out or “ONE BIG FOOT” that moves her forward.
True worship is NOT a spectator event; where ONE MAN performs, while all others listen. NO! The “CHURCH” is all of God’s People; His royal Priesthood speaking the truths shown to them by God; listening for His voice, seeing where and how He moves; multiple hearts intoned to God, feeling His presence, reaching out together in compassion; staying in step with The Holy Spirit.
The platform in the church should be the platform of God’s ideals which lifts Him up rather than a physical one that raises one believer above the rest. Isn’t Pastor be a gift rather than a position? The Word of God does NOT say “AND HE GAVE THESE POSITIONS . . .”
Finally “THE CHURCH” is NOT a building. God has never asked for temple made with human hands; He says that you and I are to be His dwelling place. Wherever we gather together in one place, that is “THE CHURCH”, that’s where HE lives.
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Gary Says,
Favourite Quotations:
Preach the Gospel; use words if you must!
About me:
"I love God, but I hate religion and I'm tired of Church as it has been taught and practiced. I love discovering God in the world around me. I love finding His truth in music, art and creation. I don't believe in tags of "secular" or "Christian" such as in art, movies or music. I am not interested in making God over in my own image. I find most sinners to be honest and most "christians" to be pretentious; just the same I really do love people, rich and poor , educated or not and I believe friendship to be a sacred gift that should be preserved, protected and honored at all cost. Pure faith is loving God and others just as they are. "
Has been in Ministry over 35 years; founded New Hope Community Fellowship almost 12 years ago.
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Family and Friends,
Just over two years ago our church family was over $20,000.00 in debt with dropping attendance and under a general cloud of discouragement.
God spoke to my heart to challenge us as a church to become debt-free so that we could become more effective in reaching the hurting and the lost. The mission seemed so impossible that we lost a couple more families. As the church shrank, I felt the need to do away with the inter-structure of the” church"; we simply didn't need an administrative team if there really wasn't anything to administrate.
As God always does, we took the first step and He has accomplished what would have otherwise been impossible without Him. Little did I realize that God would restructure our whole ministry and call me into bi-vocational ministry, but He did. He also called us to move and in short order called us to move a second time; first to lower rent and then by the generosity and the loving support of a pastor friend of mine (an extended period of "NO RENT"). This all started once we committed to writing the church tithe check each Sunday befroe we ever left the building, this, as much as Jim and I giving back our salaries has allowed all offerings to the ministry to be divided between touching lives of those who are hurting and needy and debt reduction.
OUR CHURCH IS NO DEBT- FREE!!!!!!!!!!
What does the future hold? Now that the debt is paid, will Jim and I "go back on salary?" Will we rent a bigger building or buy a place? I know we won't return to salary and God will need to pick us up and move us again, but as of now, where we are is our promised land; I want to pour every dime and every spare moment into broken lives; we want to build people, not a ministry. We want to lift-up the Name of Jesus so that those who have yet to come to Him will have the opportunity. Other ministries have supported us TO ENABLE US to be the hands and the feet to reach the hurting where they are.
God's Word says, "Give, and it shall be given to you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, SHALL MEN GIVE INTO YOUR BOSOM. For with the same measure that you mete with it shall be measured to you again."
When God’s people all come into unity caring more about the building people than building their “Own Ministries”, God is gloried and the lost are reached and the hurting (within and outside of the church” are healed. Jesus said, ‘IF I BE LIFTED-UP, I WILL DRAW ALL MEN UNTO ME”.
Join me in thanking God for our brothers and sisters in Christ who have allowed God to work through them to accomplish this first step toward our greater vision. Amen
Gary
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Pastor Rick Warren says today,
"NEVER follow a pastor who belittles other’s success,doubts other's motives,or criticizes other's efforts 4 Christ. (Rom.14:4) Who are you who judge another's servant?"
Allow me to say Amen! and say it, a different way, "If your preacher puts other churches down, critisizes other ministries, speculates why others do what they do for Christ or are critical of what other pastors, churches or christians are doing for Jesus; RUN! GET OUT OF THAT CHURCH! GET AWAY!"
I served nearly 20 years under such a a pastor; I was abused spiritually, emotionally and financially. Until God opened my eyes, I didn't see all of the spiritual abuse that was the security blanket wrapped around and interwoven throughout that church. Deception breeds deception; a little "Right" can help us overlook so much that is "Wrong".
Here are TEN SIGNS of Spiritual Abuse that we should see, The Leader;
1. “Hears” God for you. God apparently “goes through” him/her to speak to you. (This requires a sense of superiority – from him or her and is often framed as being “more mature,” and a sense of being “less” from you.)
2. Alienates (shuns, ignores) you if you do not adhere to his/her guidance, leadership, or authority. (This is usually VERY subtle – so it is easy to deny.)
3. Suggests that rejection of his/her “higher understanding” is done so at your spiritual or even physical peril. (You will hear things like, “Be careful. You will move yourself from the covering and protection of God.”)
4. Rewards your obedience with inclusion, and punishes your questioning or resistance with withdrawal. (Compliance gets stroked, resistance gets struck!)
5. Demands “cathartic” honesty. Unless you spew out every detail of your life you must be hiding or withholding something (and that “something” will, of course, impede your spiritual development).
6. Lavishes you with praise, acceptance, and understanding when you are “good” and “pushes” you away when you are “bad.”
7. Is apparently fixated on the use of titles like reverend, pastor, elder and cannot appear to relax in the company of “ordinary” mortals. The issue is not in the use of legitimate titles (or robes or religious garb) – it is that identity seems impossible without the titles or the trappings.
8. Leaves a trail of cut-off relationships. Usually in the trail are those who refuse to bow, to submit, to stand in awe of, to be thoroughly entranced by, the will of the pastor, the leader or the friend. Always regard with suspicion or caution leaders who are cut off or alienated from members of their family, especially their parents.
9. Lives from a “for me/or against me,” “black/white,” “all/or nothing” platform of “relationships.”
10. Genuinely sees God’s Call so zealously, so fervently that any signs of resistance are seen as the expressions of The Enemy or an enemy – thus, relationships are expedient (disposable) in the light of getting on with God’s work.
Such leaders are broken, as we all are, but lead (many sincerely) out of their insecurity - The Abused often become Abusers. The greatest gift of God is His mighty love and His unconditional love should be evident in the life of those who lead for Him. Amen!
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Our Purpose (Why We Exist) - New Hope Community Fellowship exists to further the Christian Faith through the equipping and edification of the Saints for the salvation of the lost here at home and abroad. We purpose to give ourselves to any worthy benevolent cause, which will cause the witness of Our Lord to be known. We pledge to do any and all things necessary to fulfill our purpose.
Our Vision (What We Intend To Do) - The vision of New Hope Community Fellowship, is to be a "church for the un-churched", to be a church where people can come as they are and meet God as He is. We are to reach out to those who have been rejected by others and offer them new hope of Jesus through community and fellowship.
Our Statement of Faith (What We Believe)
1. ABOUT GOD - God created the Heavens and the Earth and all there is within. He is the Ruler over all His creation. He has eternally existed in three personalities: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. These three are co-equal and are one God. (Gensis 1:1, 26, 27; 3:22; Psalm 90:2, Matthew 28:19; 1 Peter 1:2; 2 Corinthians 13:14)
2. ABOUT MAN - Man is made in the spiritual image of God, to be like Him in character. He is the supreme object of God's creation. Out of all of God's creation only man is given the gift of free will. While man has a potential for good, he is marred by a sin nature, that is a propensity to disobey God. This attitude separates man from God. (Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:3-6; Isaiah 53:6; Romans 3:23; Isaiah 59:1,2)
3. ABOUT ETERNITY - Man was created to exist forever. He will either exist eternally separated from God by sin or in fellowship with God through forgiveness and salvation. Heaven and Hell are places of eternal existence. God's desire is that "none should perish", man is relinquished to Hell only after he has chosen to separate himself from God, and he finally succeeds. (John 3:16; John 2:2; John 5:11-13; Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:15; Matthew 1:8, Matthew 25:41,46)
4. ABOUT JESUS CHRIST - Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is CO-equal with the Father. Jesus lived a sinless human life and offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for the sins of all men by dying on a cross. He arose from the dead after three days to demonstrate His power over sin and death. He ascended to Heaven's glory and will return again to earth to reign as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. (Matthew 1:22-23; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1-5, 14:10-30; Hebrews 4:14-15; I Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 1:3-4; Acts 1:9-11; 1 Timothy 6:14-15; Titus 2:13)
5. ABOUT SALVATION - Salvation is a gift from God to man. Man can never make up for his sin by good works or self-improvement. Salvation comes only through God's Grace (unmerited favor). We come to salvation only when we ask forgiveness for our sins and take God at His Word about His offer of forgiveness for our sins. We receive salvation through Christ by faith. (Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; John 14:6, 1:12; Titus 3:5; Galatians 3:26; Romans 5:1)
6. ABOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT - The Holy Spirit is equal with the Father and the Son as God. It is the Holy Spirit, which woos the heart of men to know Father God, through the Son. He dwells within the heart of man from the point of salvation. He provides the Christian with the power (dynamite power) for living, understanding of spiritual truth, and guidance in doing what is right. It is also the Holy Spirit which brings us comfort through the course of our Christian walk. (2 Corinthians 3:17; John 16:7-13, 14:16-17; Acts 1:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12, 3:16; Ephesians 1:13; Galatians 5:25; Ephesians 5:1)
7. ABOUT THE BIBLE - The Bible is God's infallible word. Although written by human authors, it was written under the direction and inspiration of God's Holy Spirit. It is the supreme source of truth for Christian beliefs and living. Because God inspires it, it is truth without any mixture of error. (1 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21; 2 Timothy 1:13; Psalm 119:105, 160, 12:6; Proverbs 30:5)
Church Organization
Christ-Centered -- Everything at Our Church is geared around our mission to "encourage non-Christians to become Christians and Christians to become more like Christ."
Elder-Led -- The Elders of Our Church lead by example. They set the vision and spiritual tone of the church.
The Advisory Team -- Offers financial counsal to The Pastor of the Church and responsible for carrying out the mission of the church.
Members Involved -- Our Church offers a variety of opportunities for its members to get involved in service and church life from lay leaders to volunteers.
Church Membership
To become a member of New Hope Community Fellowship, candidates have to agree to:
- Go through The Membership Class
- Sign a Membership Covenant
- The Statement of Faith and the Church Organization
- Submit themselves to the authority of the Elders in church matters
To ask a question about membership or to set up a membership interview contact the church office or fill in the form below.
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