What Does the Lord Have in Store for Praise in 2008?

Posted by Pastor Dancy on December 22, 2007

     My first year at Praise has been an incredible experience for me!  I have never met Lutheran Christians who were so willing to think “outside of the box” in ways to minister to one another and to those in our community.  The genuine warmth, care and eagerness to serve that I have seen in God’s people at Praise is simply the work of the Holy Spirit doing what He does in us!

      I’ve seen wounds slowly but surely healing in many who’ve been hurt in past conflicts- some petty and some serious.  The walls and fences are coming down, and the same forgiveness of Christ that we so dearly need ourselves is being shared with one another. “Love covers a multitude of sins.”  Several former members have returned to Praise.  Other fires are finally burning out for lack of fuel.

     The finances of the church are coming more into line with expenses- even in these difficult times.  I’ve noticed that when God’s people at Praise are faced with a challenge or a need that they step up in faith and gladly do what needs to be done- and even more! 

     I was completely “blown away” with the enthusiasm and joy shared by those who participated in Praise’s recent “Journey to Bethlehem” live nativity.  Dozens of people jumped in to build sets, to drive all the way to Marshall, Michigan more than once to get equipment, to plan, to make crafts, to dress up in first-century costumes, and to spend hours- in the cold or surrounded by itchy straw, sharing the true meaning of Christ’s birth both with friends and strangers.  (Our deepest apologies to those with respiratory conditions who were adversely affected!)  In order too share the experience with those who could not attend, some of the sets were left up until after worship on Sunday.  And then everything was cleaned up so quickly and completely that I wondered if it had all been a dream. 

     Last spring the congregation participated in a Ministry Fair to highlight the many ministries and opportunities to serve at Praise.  Some boards and ministries, which had been dormant for a while, have been given some helpers, and been infused with new life.

     Worship at Praise has sometimes struggled due to a lack of a regular Music Director, and services were sometimes as varied as the talents and preferences of each week’s lead musician.  Thanks to all who played and sang!  Pray that the Lord blesses us soon with consistency in music leadership in order to provide the blended-contemporary worship style that has set Praise apart in the past.

    Praise’s “ChristCare” ministries began training in 2007, and will be ready to start in the new year.  This comprehensive small group style of ministry resembles first-century house churches in which participants experience genuine support, encouragement, growth and fellowship from other members of the group.  This complements Praise’s Stephen Ministry, which continues to train new care-givers, and which has effectively ministered to many hurting people in and beyond Praise.

     My first nine months of serving alone in the pastoral role has changed dramatically.  Not only has the Lord blessed us with the wonderful ministry of Glenn, but with not one- but now two fieldworkers from the seminary!  In exchange for some supervision and instruction, the Lord is blessing us with Dan and Chad’s enthusiastic labor and readiness to learn.  Praise is greatly blessed to have other ordained clergy and ‘sem’ students as members of the congregation.  These men and women have the training to help us reach out in new ways with the gospel of Christ!

    

     Several major challenges with the upkeep and repair of the facilities have been addressed in 2007, and others are being worked on presently.  I see God’s redeemed saints at Praise coming together more and more in humble and obedient service to our Lord by serving others.  This is what a church is supposed to be.  The congregation has been responsive to my suggestions and leadership, and has been gracious in overlooking my faults and weaknesses.  Both Heidi and I have mentioned many times that we have never been so welcomed, so comfortable and so excited to be part of a congregation as we have been at Praise.  This is truly a unique church in the LCMS- faithful to God’s Word and the administration of the sacraments, and intentionally relevant to twenty-first century believers and seekers.

     Moving on from the blessings of 2007, we find two major growth experiences planned for the very beginning of 2008.  During the first three weeks of January we will have the opportunity to experience “Ten for Ten,” a biblical stewardship emphasis which explores the blessings of tithing.  Prepare to be blessed, encouraged, enlightened and challenged by God’s many promises, and by being faithful stewards of all that He has entrusted to us.  The opportunities for unity, growth and ministry are beyond our human imagination!  Please plan to attend all three Sundays in the beginning of the year, January 6, 13 and 20.

      In addition to that, the weekend of January 25 to 27 will be a monumental, life-changing weekend for Praise congregation.  We are securing the help of Rev. Dr. Robert Kasper, Sr. Pastor of St. Peter Lutheran Church in Macomb, Michigan, to lead a weekend workshop on “Strategic Ministry Planning.”  This is fancy language for developing short term and long term planning at Praise, and “vision casting.” We’ll go back to the reasons that Praise was founded, rediscover our goals, and develop a unified vision for the congregation.  We will answer questions like, “who are we as a congregation, and what exactly does God want us to do to serve Him?”  For years, many at Praise have been anxiously looking forward to building a sanctuary on the north end of the property, but the plan seems to have gotten a bit fuzzy, scattered and unclear.  Before we can resume formal plans to build, we must be unified as a congregation so that all of our efforts will be ‘pulling on the same end of the rope.’ God’s saints at Praise have all they need to build- not only a worship center, but also a growing, thriving congregation that shares Christ’s love in the community and in the world.  But until we are organized and are of one heart and mind, it will difficult for us to move forward.  Dr Kasper earned his doctorate in the field of refocusing and helping congregations to find and follow a “vision” for their future.  His congregation, with the largest school in the LCMS, recently completed a $7 million worship center and office complex.  Normally this workshop is open exclusively to the leaders of the congregation, but we are also opening it to any members of Praise who would like to attend.  A letter and registration will soon be mailed with the schedules and details.  This 3-day seminar will be a pivotal point in the future of Praise; we ask God to lead us in the direction He would have us go.

     We have several other goals for Praise in 2008:  to reach out more effectively to the hundreds of families to whom we minister in our pre school and day care.  We must also expand and organize our outreach ministry to contact effectively those who live and move into our community, bringing them into the fellowship of the congregation, and assimilating them into the life and ministry of the church.  We need to develop in further detail the work of many ministries and boards at Praise, building on the foundation of our constitution and bylaws.  In time, we hope to write job descriptions and annual agendas for each special ministry, as well as to develop policies and procedures for how we agree to do many things together in the congregation.  There is a need for a Men’s Ministry at Praise, as well as ministries to college students, those in the military and some who have wandered away.

     I believe that the Lord has placed all members of Praise in a unique location, at this very time in God’s History, with a relevant, non-traditional ministry, to reach out in unique and effective ways to those who need to hear the message of salvation in Christ’s death and resurrection.  I am genuinely excited to be associated with Praise Lutheran Church, and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for us in 2008!  As the Lord said to Mary through an angel, “with God, nothing is impossible!”   -Pastor Paul Dancy