Quick Reminder of Prayer Circles
At 7:30PM, TONIGHT, we again meet for prayer circles hosted on ZOOM. This is a video conferencing platform, however, for those who are unable to video conference, you may also call in. Please see instructions below, and join others for this time of prayer and praise! You are encouraged to join others in a time of fellowship, faith, prayer, and testimony, with Yvette as our group leader.
If there was ever a time for us to join together, this may be it. I am saddened by the lack of people who have yet to join in for these prayer calls on every Wednesday night. Folks, we need each other. We need the prayer. We need the bonds that God alone can give. We get 22-25 people out of an entire church of 250+ members. As your pastor, I am frustrated, disappointed, saddened, not because I want to brag about numbers, but because even if you are doing swell, and don't think you need the time together, your positive testimony could be the hope someone else needs in their life.
COVID-19 has exposed much in the life of every church in the United States. Frankly it has exposed our issues at Lewisville. The lack of relationships, and sharing the journey of faith with others may be our most glaring. I will not guilt anyone into joining the prayer call. I will ask you to consider why it is you haven't to this point. God is awaiting to pour out a blessing, and Wednesday nights together is a perfect place for us all to feel the Spirit move together.
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IMPORTANT UPDATE, PLEASE NOTE!!!
As you may be aware, as it was communicated via text, email, and OneCall last week we have numerous cases of CV19 in our congregation, and church is closed through at least October 24th. As of right now we have 17 individuals who have tested positive, and are dealing with the fallout of this in their life. While I am not at liberty to say who the others are, I can tell you I have been tested positive, and my wife (not included in the count of 17). My worst day was Sunday, Jody's was Monday. But, praise God, we are feeling better today, and hope to continue the progress.
We are thankful for the mercy shown to everyone, and I am asking for prayers for each individual dealing with COVID, even if you may not know exactly who they are, for privacy reasons we are unable to share. However, God knows, and as you lift them up in prayer, God will link your prayer and their life together.
We had known, as you see from a previous email, that we needed to tighten up the mask policy, even though several who have gotten CV19 from their contact in the church October 3 were wearing masks. There are other precautions we will put into place, such as having someone wiping down areas that are touched often while people are there in service. It also bears wisdom for people to be diligent in washing their hands, using sanitizer, and being aware of their own health. If for any reason you, or anyone in your family is having ANY symptoms that COULD be related to CV19, we ask for that person to stay home. That is one key in the safety of others.
Right now we are considering back on the 24th, but there are some in our leadership who would prefer we wait until the first Sabbath in November. After dealign with this personally in my own life, I am open to either, knowing precautions and cleaning must be a priority, or we will be right back here again with another sweeping outbreak in our congregation. We also will instill procedures that will be followed, or we will not open under any circumstance until we do.
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There will be leadership team this coming Sunday (October 18) @ 6P via Zoom. Asking all leadership team members to be present to engage in the life blood of the church, and also set the table for our upcoming merger with Arlington via district alignment.
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Just a reminder... The movement of district alignment is moving forward quickly, with the Arlington SDA church board to vote. and approve, the district alignment, and all that comes with it. Additionally, they have put together a job description for the new campus pastor position who will oversee the LSDA campus.
This move with Arlington should be significant for LSDA. If approved on October 21st, as we believe it will be, then we will begin a tighter integration with Arlington beginning November 1 with some streaming and integration of programs online.
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F.A.Q for Multi-Site
(this will run each week, with any new questions)
What is multi-site?
The principle idea of multi-site is one church, multiple locations. There are approximately 13,000+ such churches in the United States and Canada, and they allow the focus of resources and leadership to be shared in locations that might not otherwise be able to do the same on their own. Some churches have a dozen or more campuses, all doing the same work, but unique to the context of their community.
If multi-site is so popular, how many SDA churches are doing it.
Not enough, sadly. At present, I can think of only two. Beltsville Church in Maryland, and Crosswalk, out of California. I had the opportunity in 2011-2012 to launch a multi-site initiative in Northern Virginia, and learned much from it. I wish more Adventist churches would do this, and more Conferences would learn the possibilities of multi-site and encourage their churches to work together for effectiveness.
Why is multi-site / district alignment a plus for LSDA?
The sharing of resources - people, finances, programs - as well as the power and influence of the second highest tithe-paying church in the Texas Conference. The training and programs available for children, youth, and young adults is quite strong from Arlington and will be shared with Lewisville. Financial resources will be available as well when needed, as all that is done in Lewisville reflects on Arlington as campus of the primary church.
Why would Arlington want to do this? What will they gain?
They are able to share what God has blessed them with, and share the resources and influence in a broader section of the DFW area. They love to do this, and this is a concrete way to affect another congregation in a positive way.
Also, there are many who live close to the LSDA campus who go to Arlington for the experience and activities. Some may choose to give their talents to the campus and stay closer to home, knowing witnessing to their neighbors and co-workers is much easier when the church is closer. They will also have a campus that reflect much of what they love about Arlington, right there near them!
In many ways this is about going, just as commanded by Jesus. The temptations are always to build bigger and grow larger, asking people to come. But in this case, Arlington is making a strategic investment of resources and people to take what has made them a blessing to so many, further than just one location can do.
Is LSDA surrendering property to the Arlington Church?
No. For the purposes of this alignment, Arlington and Lewisville keep their finances, and property separate. The property is all owned by the Texas Conference at the moment, only marked according to the church which occupies the property. In the event an exit strategy takes place, the respective property remains the same which each individual congregation.
Will LSDA give up their identity?
Yes and no. While the name fo the church will change, hopefully, and the senior pastor will be Kevin Wells, much of the culture and beauty of what makes LSDA will remain the same, as it matches closely with Arlington presently. The new name, to be chosen soon after the approval of the alignment, will reflect the multi-site aspect with Arlington by being noted as Arlington SDA Church, _________________ Campus. For all practical purposes Lewisville will become part of the Arlington Church, and share branding, mission, vision, values, and more. This is the beauty of multi-site.
However, the context of multi-site works best when the campus reflects the community it exists in, and the people it is reaching. This is how the campus pastor becomes effective, bridging the ethos of Arlington with the culture and context of the South Denton County area LSDA ministers too.
Will the entire worship service be on the screen, like watching a movie?
Nope. And there in is one huge misconception of multi-site. Everything on the campus will be liver and unique to the context of the congregation and community, but the sermon will be streamed from the main campus, primarily Kevin Wells, the senior pastor of Arlington Church. But all else, be it music, announcements, etc, will be live and done with excellence by the congregation and participants at LSDA.
Why should I attend in person if I can watch the same sermon at home?
You could, but you can’t. Make sense? Ha! You could watch the sermon in your own home, it is true, but you wouldn’t get the live worship experience, and fellowship of others within the congregation and campus. Many express doubts of watching a sermon streamed on a screen, but it is working for 13,000+ churches, and the doubts are erased after the first couple times viewing.
If you have other questions, share them, and we will add to this FAQ!
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