Our Blog

Pastor's Point - December 2024

Dear Church Family,

I have started this Christmas season more differently than ever in my life before. I am currently writing this article traveling in Nick’s van for our next ministry assignment on our mission trip in Japan.

Last night we went to Tokyo Dome to see the Illumination. This is a massive display of Christmas lights with synced lights and large LED Christmas Tree. The feeling of Christmas was everywhere, but the true meaning of Christmas was nowhere to be found. Christmas is understood in Japan as a holiday similar to Valentine’s Day in the United States. There were people bustling about everywhere. Young people, couples, older folks, and a great number of businessmen commuting from work to their next stop.

As people were bustling by all around us, we stood in the middle of the crowds passing out a nice bright red bag that said Merry Christmas on the front and contained inside a candy cane and an explanation of the Gospel in Japanese. The phrase “Merry Christmas” is very familiar here which helped us pass out a good number of bags! But the sad reality of the situation is that almost no one understands what the phrase stands for. I am so thankful for the information inside of those bags because the right understanding of Christmas was there for their consideration. I do not know how many will read the information, or would respond in faith to it, but I do know that if they do, God and His Word is powerful to save!

One group that really caught my attention as they passed by was the Japanese businessman. I felt from some a distinct coldness. From others a dazed distant stare, and still others a sense of weariness. Their lives are so busy and structured. They strive for position, money, and success. As they passed by most of them either ignored the offer of our bags or redirected their path not to engage me. It was sad. The bright lights of Christmas glistened all around them, yet they went out of their way to reject the offer of the light of the world.

There is a character in the Japanese language used to express the word “busy”. The character means “to annihilate the soul”. Sadly, I saw exactly what that looked like before my very eyes as these businessmen rushed by me. They could not be busier, but sadly their busyness is what will lead to their destruction. Nothing the world offers us brings peace or everlasting light.

Whether I am in Japan or right here in Evansville, there are people all around us that are “annihilating their souls” with something that the world is offering them. It may be work, pleasure, or some other shiny something that the world offers. The world is so “busy” with all the wrong things. Let’s make sure to offer them the light of the world that brings peace and everlasting life.

I love you and I love being your pastor!

For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? -Matthew 16:26 NKJV

Pastor's Point - November 2024

Dear Church Family,

Staying on Mission

Over the last several Sundays we have been considering the importance of thinking and seeing with eternal perspective. Christians, of all people, must rise above the temporal concerns and circumstances of life and focus on eternal things. Our church has a great history of living exactly this way and we are now at a time when we need to live that way once again. Three years ago, our church family made financial pledges above their regular giving to the amount of $750,000.00. As we conclude this current pledge time, we will have collected close to $900,000.00 at the end of this year!! These pledges have allowed our South Campus to build out and complete our new student room and to update and secure our children’s wing also. At North Campus, we have made the necessary repairs and updates to address most of the deferred maintenance issues that were prevalent throughout that building.

But for us to stay on mission and to complete the plan that God has given to us, we need to consider what we can give to complete the next phase of work that we need to begin. The new funds raised will allow us to add on to our North Campus foyer, install a new elevator for the education wing, and make the necessary improvements to the sanctuary so we can hold our 8:00 am service as well as our sister Hispanic church service there on Sundays. We also will then be able to move some of our adult Life Groups down there as well which will free up desperately needed parking spaces in the 9:30 am worship hour at South Campus.

The Lord has helped us to exceed our first financial goal, but the cost for all this work went beyond that first goal. We now need to raise funds to help us complete what we have started. Simply put, we need to stay on mission. I have shared with the church that the best estimates we have right now for the scope of work that needs to be completed on North Campus is around 1.7 million dollars. I know that is a quite a number, but it is not bigger than our God. We are praying for people who helped us reach our first financial goal, to help us once again. Would you continue the pledge you have been making for this new campaign? If you are newer to the church, would you consider joining us in giving sacrificially to this need? This is why we need to think and see with an eternal perspective. Please consider what God may have you to give. You will be hearing more about this need leading up to our Thanksgiving Dinner on Sunday, November 24th at 5:00 pm, where we will encourage our church family to consider turning in a new three-year commitment card with the amount that God has laid upon your heart to give.

Going on Mission

Would you please pray for Paul and Amy Willett, and for myself and my wife Paula as we join a team from the state of Indiana and go to Tokyo Japan to share the Gospel with the Japanese people. Many of you know that my oldest son Nick and his wife Melissa serve there as full time vocational missionaries. The trip will be from November 15^th – 23^rd. Please pray for me as I have the opportunity to preach in a Japanese church while I am there. My son Nick will be translating it into Japanese. I never would have imagined that, but the wonderful thing is that it is not a dream. I am very excited about this opportunity. Our team needs your prayers as we shine the light of the Gospel in this country which is so marked by lostness. Please also pray for safe travel. Your prayers are most appreciated!

I love you and I love being your pastor!