Life Matters

A Conceptual Rendering of the Future Worship Center for Fort Caroline Baptist Church

Here is the beautiful rendering created by Lifeway Church Architecture Services. It is a design concept to show what our future campus might look like. The rendering illustrates a worship center on McCormick Road. You can see how the existing facilities are tied together with a covered walkway and a covered drive for dropping off passengers. The worship center would seat approximately 800-1000 people.

 

The Light of the World

This is the video of yesterday's service. I preached a brief message from John 9:1-11 about how Jesus is the light of the world. The message also featured an inspirational video testimony from the Foster family. I also shared an update with our congregation about our "Imagine A Place" building fund campaign and revealed a conceptual drawing of our future worship center. It is not too late to get involved in the building campaign. Just call the church office for more information. Thank you for being such a wonderful congregation!

 

You Surpassed the Goal!

Yesterday was a wonderful day at church. You folks are such a joy to me. And if you missed it, I got my hair messed up by James Hickox. We surpassed our building fund offering goal of $20,000. I had joked with James that if we received $30,000 then he could mess up my hair. Well, you guys gave nearly $37,000 in one day! I couldn't believe how many people from the first service came back after the second service just to see the spectacle! I'll have to post pictures later.

I love you and am thrilled to be your pastor!

Imagine A Place... See The Miracle One Year Later (video)

One year ago our congregation stepped out in faith to expand our ability to minister to our community by enlarging our campus. We constructed a 12,200 sq. ft. preschool building, doubled our parking, remodeled much of our campus, and made room for new adult, student, and children's classes. We also designed the second floor of the new building to house our children's classes (grades 1-5), and children's worship space in the near future. The end result is we now have room to grow to 800 people on campus. We are already seeing growth as God adds new people to our church! Thank you for being such a loving, generous, and faithful group of people. To God be the glory for the great things He has done!

I May Live To Regret This

I opened my big mouth a few weeks ago and made a commitment that I may live to regret. I was announcing our 1-Year anniversary of the "Imagine A Place..." building fund campaign for November 15, 2009. We are completing our first year of a three year commitment to pay off our existing debt on our new Preschool building and expanded campus. Last November many of our members pledged nearly $1 million toward the building fund over and above their regular offerings. We will complete our pledges at the end of 2011. You folks have already given approximately $430,000 in the first year! To celebrate this milestone we are taking a look back this Sunday at how the Lord has blessed our congregation. We will also give you the chance to adjust your pledge for the remaining two years if circumstances have changed for you. We will also encourage people to make a commitment for the next two years of "Imagine" if they have not already done so. We will receive a special building fund offering in both morning services this week. Our goal for the offering is $20,000. This means we could pay two mortgage payments in one week! Every penny we give helps reduce the principle that we owe.

This is where I got in trouble. I said that if we surpassed our goal and gave $30,000 then I would let James Hickox mess up my hair. He has been after me for having perfect "preacher" hair for a long time. He says he just wants to mess it up for all the world to see. Then in my light-hearted moment I said that if we reach $100,000 then I would shave my head! Well, I was just joking, but some of the church members have me scared. They are trying their best to hit the $100,000 mark!  I don't know if we will hit it. I am not sure how to pray! But this I know, you guys are a generous group of people and the Lord is honored in what you have done and will do. So whether I merely get my hair messed up or get my head shaved it will be worth it. I think.

Startling Statistics About Christian Giving

This Sunday, October 11, 2009, is "Prove the Tithe Sunday" at Fort Caroline Baptist Church. We are challenging every member to trust God and give 10% of their weekly income to Him as an act of worship. I am not preaching on giving this Sunday, but here are some statistics that might surprise you from www.generousgiving.org about Christians and their pocketbooks.  

Where Does My Money Go After I Put It In The Offering Plate?

Your tithes and offerings make life-changing ministries possible, here in Jacksonville and around the world. Thank you! (Note: facebook users will need to visit my blog to see the video.)

We Have Reached A Great Milestone!

In November 2008 our congregation stepped out in faith and pledged nearly $1,000,000 towards expanding our campus in order to reach more people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Since then we have doubled our parking capacity, constructed a Welcome Center, a Preschool facility, and remodeled much of our campus. We are already seeing the Lord's blessings on our church. Worship attendance is at an all-time high, as is our Life Group attendance. We have begun new Life Group units in all age divisions and are now running nearly 550 in average attendance! This is a new record for our church. Praise the Lord! We have also seen many people saved and baptized this year in addition to many others who have joined by letter or statement. You can feel the excitement when we gather for church. Last Sunday the Lord added five new people to our church, three of them by baptism!

We have reached another milestone. I am thrilled to announce that since November 2008 our members have given $400,137.73 towards the "Imagine a place...," building fund. Wow! During the worst economic recession since the Great Depression you have been faithful and generous. This is in addition to your regular budget offering. You folks amaze me!

Here is what I need you to do:

1. Pray that God's blessings will continue to be poured out on our congregation and that we will stay in the center of His will.
2. Pray that we will each strive to become fully devoted followers of Christ in our testimonies, time, talents, and treasure.
3. Renew your efforts to invite your family, friends, and neighbors to our church. Invite someone today. 80% of the people who come to our church do so because a member invited them.
4. Help your staff as we seek to start new Life Groups. This is the key to growing our church and effectively ministering to our congregation and friends. We need you to volunteer to help start new units. Be a teacher, a helper, or a member of a new unit. I especially need helpers and teachers in the Preschool division and Children's division.
5. Don't sweat the small stuff. There will always be things in any church that do not line up with our preferences. God-blessed churches are filled with people who refuse to gossip, complain, or murmur, and who choose to be positive and Christ-like in their attitude.
6. Pray for your pastor. Follow your pastor's leadership if it is biblical and ethical. I cannot please everyone, so pray that I will please the Lord.
7. Continue to give to the regular offering that supports the life-changing ministries of your church. Then give over-and-above to the Building Fund. You will be amazed at how much you can give if you give a little each week. While many of our folks are contributing to the building fund, there are many who are not. You may be one of them. Do not sit on the side-lines and miss out on being a part of this miracle! Your church needs your support. The task is too great for only a few of us to shoulder alone. Help us. We cannot all give equal amounts, but we can do our part. It is not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice that God expects and honors.
8. Get into a Life Group if you have not already done so. You will not regret it!

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

Imagine...a place Building Fund Update

I am so glad to report that you have generously given $386,512.40 since November 2008 toward our building fund! Thank you for your faithfulness. Your love for the Lord and His work amazes me! If you were not part of this campaign, it is not too late. Building fund envelopes are provided in the seat-pockets at church. The sooner we finish this phase the sooner we can begin expanding our children's area.

Building Dedication Video