Looking Ahead to January Opportunities to Care for Others

Dear Friends,

Some exciting things are happening this winter and I want to let you in on the initial details now. First, some background on why these things will be important.

While reading a recent study I learned 90% of non-churched attenders who walk into a church for the first time have come because they’re hurting. These are people who previously decided they have no use for God, but are now experiencing a rough personal situation that has driven them to consider the existence or maybe the goodness of God. I’m not talking about Christians shopping around for a new church, but people who’ve not yet encountered Christ. These are the people we’re burdened to reach through Waterbrook Bible Fellowship. Then, I just received an email from a WBF member this morning who encountered two individuals from his neighborhood in one day. One was dealing with the sudden death of a spouse, the other with job loss. These are not accidental encounters, and we’re all having them. We all know people who are going through hard times. This presents a great opportunity to us because we have the answer to their needs. In January 2010 we’re going to offer some different ministry opportunities to reach those hurting people.

First, we’ll be hosting a Financial Peace University specifically for teenagers. We have a family willing to sponsor this four-week training. It’ll be open to our own students and any others willing to attend the Sunday evening sessions. We believe there are many parents who’d love to see their kids get a solid education in financial management, therefore helping their kids avoid some of the pitfalls their parents have encountered.

Second, I’m going to begin a special class geared to help struggling parents. Possibly offered at two separate times (same material covered each week for separate parent groups, based on needs. One session specific to parents of younger children on how to prepare kids for the dangerous journey into and through the teen years. The other geared to parents of kids who are already struggling on how to fight for the lives of those teens. The material I’ll be using has proven very effective for outreach and helping people in the past. These groups will also give opportunity for parents to support one another as they face similar parenting challenges.

Third, I’ll be doing a short series of sermons in January on what the Bible has to say to hurting people. I’ll deal with fear, anger and depression. I’m producing additional discussion guides for each topic, and will be inviting Bible study groups and Home Teams to take up these issues for the short, three-week commitment period. We’ll focus on understanding those who struggle with these issues, and finding ways to offer hope. This will be an excellent, and relevant, time to invite friends, family and neighbors to join you and church and for a discussion group on these topics. I’d guess you could easily identify people you know who deal with each of these topics in their daily lives.

I’ve been frustrated many times in my life knowing I live among people hurting in so many different ways, yet unable to figure out how I can help them. This emphasis gives us the opportunity to live out and share the HOPE Christ offers those in pain. You may wonder why I’m writing you this far in advance on these ministry events. It’s because I want to offer you four specific ways to be involved in these ministry opportunities. Most of these options call for immediate involvement.

PRAY. This is not a superficial request for a pseudo-spiritual action. Prayer is the heart of any impact we hope to have in people’s lives. Satan does not want us to interfere or offer hope to those whom he has convinced they are in hopeless situations. He will fight, discourage, attack, and attempt to distract or intimidate us from reaching out. Pray for those who’ll be leading these events. Pray for information about these opportunities to reach those who are hurting. Pray your own heart would be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit as you encounter people who may benefit from the invitation to attend one or more of these activities. Please begin praying now for what God will do at and through the Waterbrook family in January.

INVITE OTHERS. PLAN TO JOIN US YOURSELF. Step out in bold faith to invite someone you know to something listed above. Don’t hesitate when prompted by the Holy Spirit. If you feel intimidated in asking someone to join you, consider this à What if someone you knew had the answer to the biggest struggle in your life, yet they kept it a secret from you? Wouldn’t you want them to be bold and let you know? Also, consider whether any of these ministry opportunities fit a need YOU have. If so, commit now to making attendance at one or more of these items a priority. Maybe share your decision with someone and ask them to hold you accountable.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE with ADVERTISING. We have the opportunity this week to secure a billboard on Rt 78 to advertise our January emphasis of Helping Hurting People. Pastor Don has found a company willing to rent us the space for just under $1,000 for a month prior to these outreach opportunities. The billboard would be evident for the thousands of commuters who travel 78 each day, and shoppers heading to Firewheel Mall and toward Dallas for Christmas shopping. We believe the repetitive exposure of a message like this would be more beneficial than a one time mail flyer. It could say something like (this is just an idea):

NEED HELP…
…coping with life?
…handling money?
…parenting kids?
www.Waterbrook.org

Time is short on this advertising option, and it’s an item we don’t have budget money to cover. So, we’re looking for some people who might be led to help cover this cost. It could be one large donor or many people wanting to help with smaller amounts. This would be a gift above your general giving. If you are willing to help with this cost, please contact Pastor Don BEFORE NOON THURSDAY of THIS WEEK (Nov. 12) with your intention. (Email Don.Moore@Waterbrook.org ) *Special Note: As of Noon, Nov. 12th, we’ve not only reached, but exceeded our financial request through the generosity of our WBF family! This is allowing us to do the billboard a little longer and supplement our publicity for the January outreach. THANK YOU & Praise the LORD!

LEAD A SMALL GROUP. If this subject resonates with you, would you be willing to open your home for a short, three-week small group to discuss the sermons? We’d encourage you to invite some people to join you for those three weeks, preferably friends outside Waterbrook. We would also list the day/time of your group meeting in our bulletin and on the website for others who may want to join you from Waterbrook. If you’re already leading a Bible study group or Home Team, would you be willing to deviate from your planned study for this three-week period? I will provide all group leaders with a copy of the sermon outlines in advance, also an article I’ve prepared and discussion questions for each topic. Since the time is short, I’m inviting any interested potential leaders to join me for LUNCH THIS SUNDAY (Nov. 15) AFTER CHURCH at my home. I’ve tell you a little more about the sermon series and topics. I’ll show you some samples, explain what we’d expect in your three-week commitment, and answer any questions you may have. You don’t have to be already leading a study to do this. Please RSVP if you’d like to join us for lunch to let us know a possible number to expect and materials to prepare. (Contact Deana or myself to RSVP.)

Thanks so much for reading this lengthy letter! I hope your heart is as excited as mine to consider the potential we have in ministering to unsaved people through these opportunities. How great it would be if God would add 5, 10, 25, 100 people to His Kingdom as a result of this month of reaching out to Hurting People.

Praise God that He cares for and offers hope to hurting people. I was one of those hurting people, and am eternally grateful someone cared enough to share with me.

Wishing you God’s best!

Jeff

PS: Please take a moment and reply NOW if you’re willing to commit to any of the above opportunities to help out. Thanks!