A whole lot has happened since I last wrote an entry for The Pastor’s Page. I know what you’re thinking ….. I have said before that I was going to write a Pastor’s Page a lot more often. Well ….. I’m not going to say that again (but, I am going to write a Pastor’s Page more often). I even bought myself a journal at wal-mart. I hope that it won’t end up on one of my bookshelves with about three entries in it.

 

My Mom passed away on July 5^th . Although I thought that by now I wouldn’t be dealing with that ………. but, I was wrong about that …… I have some bad days . But I know that Mom is much better off in Heaven than she was in the nursing home. You folks were great during the time of our loss. The flowers, the food and the friendship were a great comfort to me and my family. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. My brother, Ronnie also wanted me to convey his heartfelt thanks to the people of New Hope Church.

 

Things are really going great at New Hope. Most of you have heard that the Church has received a very large cash gift which has put our building plans for a Family Life Center on the fast track. The new building will probably house a gymnasium, a large fellowship hall, as well as conference rooms. We’ll be having open meetings for the members to voice their in-put into the plans for the new building. There is, however, a problem …. The three Sundays since I announced that the Church had gotten a large cash gift …. the offerings have been the lowest in months. I hope and pray that this is just a coincidence, because if not, it is the reflection of a very bad attitude.  Not giving what Got has said to give because you think that the Church doesn’t need it is a dangerous attitude. For one thing it is nothing less than disobedience to God. If it seems to be a trend we will be forced to suspend the building plans. Well …………… anyway, I’m sure that is not going to happen.

 

Lifeline is going great but we need more facilitators. I hope some of you will step forward and get involved.

 

I am very excited about a Bible listening plan that we will be introducing very soon. We will furnish cds. By listening for 12 minutes a day you can listen to the entire New Testament in 13 weeks ….. and it won’t cost you anything but your time.

 

My goal is to have everyone in New Hope involved in a small group meeting. I’m working on that.

 

 

Until nextime

 

Jesus never fails,

 

Michael R. Barnett