First Baptist Church Muncie » discerning

Schedule Change Update

wadeallen — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 20:58:43 +0000

I wanted to update you all on where we stand in terms of a Sunday morning schedule change. We met on January 22 to discuss the decision as a congregation. The church council shared the journey of discerning a potential change in the Sunday morning schedule. The discernment process involves a 4-stage process (explore, listen, examine, communicate). The process involves prayer and seeking God’s direction. Leaders shared their experience of the process in the January 22 meeting. The Council felt that a flip-flop schedule would allow both early and late services, Sunday school, and fellowship hour adequate time. This new schedule would also keep the early service at 9:15 a.m. It would also allow the late service to begin a bit earlier, allowing for students to make it back to campus at lunchtime. The new schedule would look like this:

9:15 a.m. – early service/early Sunday school
10:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. – fellowship time in the lower auditorium
10:45 a.m. – late service/late Sunday school

The church council will meet again on February 12 to determine next steps. At the January 22 meeting, the congregation overwhelmingly supported such a model. We will keep you updated on further developments as they are planned.

Sick Day

wadeallen — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:40:57 +0000

This past weekend was a difficult weekend for me. I sat at home with a stomach virus while you all gathered for worship on Sunday. To make matters worse, you also gathered to reflect on an important church decision about changing our Sunday morning schedule; I was unable to join you. This was the first Sunday that I can remember missing church because of sickness. It was not fun.

However, I don’t believe it was coincidence that the virus hit on Saturday afternoon. As I fought through the symptoms, you all stepped up in a variety of ways. Matt delivered the planned sermon articulately and authentically. The church leaders (the Leadership Council) communicated their discerning over the past few months regarding our Sunday morning schedule. It was fulfilling to see my efforts made complete through your efforts.

While it is always a stretch to compare our own experience to the experience of Jesus, I find a correlation to Jesus leaving the Kingdom work in the hands of his followers. Jesus knew that his work would culminate with his death and resurrection; he knew he would be leaving his friends. Jesus prayed for those he would leave behind; he also prayed for all who would hear His message in years to come; this includes you and me.

(John 17:20 NIV) My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,

Jesus then describes how all of this would work out.

(John 17:23 NIV) I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.

Jesus’ work extends to you and me. John tells us that Jesus is “in” us. In his first letter, John describes how Jesus’ love for us is made complete; we will talk more about this on Sunday. God’s love is complete as we love one another.

(1 John 4:12 NIV) No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Jesus is not physically with us; yet as we love one another, we complete the work of the Kingdom. He works “in” us to “complete” His work. As we consider the second action verb of our mission statement, we understand that our caring for one another is rooted in Jesus’ love for us. But it doesn’t stop there; as we care for (love) one another, we are completing the work of Jesus.

It is gratifying to know that First Baptist Church Muncie does not depend on my presence. God’s Spirit in you is what makes First Baptist Church Muncie. As each of us follows the leading of the Spirit, he does his work in us. I am looking forward to being with you this weekend; it is no fun missing out. Yet, I am thankful that God has equipped you with all you need when I am not with you.

continual conversation

wadeallen — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:38:18 +0000

As we move into this second month of the year, I return from Lombard, Illinois having spent a week considering what it means to be a “missional” church. I was talking with a small group yesterday evening about this concept. I want to point out one trait of this dialogue.

Being a “missional” church is not a program, it is a mindset. The conversation begins with God. God, by his very nature, is a sending God. He has sent people throughout history to do his work in the world. He sent his Son to redeem His people. He sends us as representatives do do his work in the world. We, therefore, operate in the mindset of a sent people. We are not here for us, we are here for the world. We are not here to serve us, we are here to serve the world.

We are not beginning a new program, a new service, nor a new initiative. We are simply asking God to form our minds to His mind. We are seeking God’s heart in all we do. We will do this through our worship together, our praying together, and our conversing about what God is doing in us and in the world.

We continue this conversation about who we are as a church. We ask God for His direction, His leading, His power to do what He is calling us to do. Over the next several months, we are hoping to clarify what we have discovered. Please continue to pray that this continual conversation would prompt us in the directions that God would have us go.