Yesterday, January 24^th, 2010, was a tremendous day in the life of our church family.  As we celebrated our 20^th year of ministry, the Furrows were gracious in allowing us to use the Winery, our future “North Campus” for our Celebration Sunday.  As this wonderful day unfolded, there were a number of things I observed  which warmed my heart, that I ‘d like to share with you….

 

There was a heart of Service.  Where to begin, there were so many instances….

 

 

—the “Tag Team” of Dave and Dave, standing out in the rain and muck directing traffic all morning as we attempted to park nearly 120 vehicles in the frost-softened parking lot.  With smiles on their faces.

 

—Linda and her crew of volunteers putting together yet another great meal for us.  Imagine what they will be able to do with an actual kitchen?

__Annie Furrow and her daughter and daughter-in-law cutting scrumptious desserts and displaying a table of sweets for all to enjoy.

 

—the 30-40 folks who showed up both on Saturday, and then again on Sunday afternoon, helping us move over 500 chairs, dozens of tables, the sound system, and more.  And the decorators, who turned an empty steel building into a warm, inviting place.   A herculean effort made so easy by so many.

 

—The Furrow family, who allowed us the use of the building, even before we have purchased it.  They cleaned it in anticipation of our celebration, too.

 

—Alicia, and her team, bringing all the details together so beautifully.

 

 

There was a heart of Ministry:

 

 

—Annie Fehr leading yet another nursery team, allowing us to worship more effectively.

 

—Ron and those who see the joy and priority of ministering to our children in Children’s Church.

 

—Ardyth and the worship teams.  With the brass, flute, keyboard, and voices joining together to praise our Father in a room that allows that praise to reverberate throughout the building.

 

 

There was a heart of Encouragement:

 

From the flowers sent by our home church, East White Oak, to our greeters and ushers, to our irreverent (but hilarious) greeting from the former Genesius Players out in California, to the spontaneous responses of joy from so many throughout the day, it was a day of remarkable blessing and encouragement, as we more clearly see what our Father is doing in our midst.

 

There was much more, and many more who I have not named, but who served us and the Lord with joy and humility this past Sunday, who in their own ways gave their offerings of praise to our Father, who knows and remembers.  But there was one more thing, that to me, stood out most of all.

 

 

There was a heart of Prayer.

 

I got out to the north campus several hours before the service, but not before Carol, who was there to help coordinate our morning Prayer Walk around the building, one hour before the service.  A Prayer Walk is just what the name implies;  to walk from location to location, praying about specific people/things related to that location.  I did this early on, by myself, in anticipation of all the details I would need to tend to as the morning moved on.  It was great to focus my heart and mind on each of the 8 prayer station topics and locations so early on our Celebration Sunday.

 

But what moved me to such gratitude and joy was to see how, at 9:30 am, an hour before the service, our church family began to come, specifically, to pray.  Some moved from location to location, praying by themselves.  Some prayed as a family.  Some joined with others, in groups of 8-10, moving throughout the facility, interceding for the ministries of CBF, and its outreach.  They were everywhere!  In the midst of all the final preparation, sound checks, greeting our guests and visitors, a significant portion of the CBF church family was walking from area to area, in prayer. 

 

This is what it is all about.  It isn’t about a building;  it is about ministry, of being the hands and feet and heart of our Savior.  That is what I saw the most of on Sunday, and it warmed my heart, and lifted my spirit.

 

Onward, ‘til upward~!

 

 

Our Vision at Community Bible Fellowship of El Paso

 

Our Journey.

 

            For the past three years we have been on a journey of discernment regarding God’s future direction of our church ministry, and how our facilities either help or hinder our ministry.  In September of this year, our Elder Team unanimously recommended to the church family the purchase and renovation of the Furrow Winery property for the purpose of relocating our church family ministries.  In October, the church family overwhelmingly confirmed this recommendation by a 90% majority.

 

 

Our Vision.

 

            One thing has never been a priority to our church family and that has been our own personal comfort or ease.  We have never been about a building; our current facility is proof enough of that.  While it has served many of our needs in marvelous ways from our beginnings in 1990, it is now apparent that it is inadequate in many areas for both current and future ministry opportunities.

 

            Community Bible Fellowship is a church with a recent but significant legacy of ministry in the Woodford/McLean county area.  In harmony with that legacy, we are now looking to the future.  Our commitment is not now focused upon a facility, but rather, upon people, and effectively sharing the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in this culture. A facility that visually welcomes newcomers, offers greater fellowship space, worship space, and better space for all of our Youth ministries is essential to meet the opportunities of ministry we have now, as well as the future.  Our desire is to do ministry better, and a new facility is a tool which can help make this possible.

 

 

Our Dream.    Cost of site/building: $ 400,000. 

                       

• The purchase of the Winery building and 6 acres of property.

 

 

            Additional cost of renovation/expansion $ 250,000 -- $ 450,000  (estimated)*

 

• The option for 2 additional acres.
• Air condition the entire building.
• Expand bathroom facilities.
• Add a commercial grade kitchen, with fellowship area adjoining for 250+ people.
• Design a main multi-use room; a recreational area for IMPACT activities/ministry which can also be used for worship space for 300+ on Sundays.
• Design a full platform area for music/drama/teaching ministries, with all sound/lighting/AV enhancements.
• Add improved Christian Education space for Children’s Church, 2^nd Hour classes, Adult education, Can Do Kids, Club 4:13.
• Centrally locate office space for church staff.
• Add modern nursery facilities for young families.
• Create an open foyer/entry space to welcome/greet/mix.    

 

*Cost estimates are contingent upon either just the renovation of the current building as it currently stands (approx. $ 250,000) or whether any additional square footage is added to the existing structure ($ 450,000 and up).

 

 

Our Plan.

 

Late November 2009 – Early February 2010

Conduct a capital campaign to raise a target $400,000-850,000 in giving and pledges in order to purchase and renovate the new facility.

 

February -- March 2010

Based on the strength of the campaign, to present to the church family a building and financing plan for the project.

 

April – June 2010

To develop construction drawings and put the necessary projects out for bid. 

 

Summer – Early Autumn 2010

Begin the renovation/relocation process.

 

 

Our Prayer.

 

Our prayer is that God will continue to use us, and be magnified, as we desire to be obedient to His call upon us.  We desire to fulfill His purpose in us to be the Salt and Light to this and the next generation, here in Central Illinois. 

 

~~ Pastor Wes 

In the past few weeks, folks submitted over 50 questions to be considered for Sunday morning messages.  While I can't address all of them in a 5 week series, I will respond to a number of them from time to time here on my blog.  So, here we go . . . . . . .

“The passage I was wondering about is in 1 Timothy 1:18-20.  Could you explain to me whether or not you believe they were born again believers. It sounds like if they were handed over to Satan they had lost their eternal salvation.  Some folks I was talking with were using this as a proof text for people who had lost their salvation.”

 

The passage in question tells us the following:

 

 “Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith.

Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.”  (1 Timothy 1:18-20 NIV)

 

 

Your question has three issues that should be addressed.

 

1. Were Hymenaeus and Alexander believers?
2. Is this a “proof text” for a person losing their salvation?
3. What is the passage actually talking about?

 

1.  Were these two believers?  The text does not directly tell us.  This is important, as it impacts question #2, which we will get to in a minute.  Let’s assume for the point of discussion that they are;  they are at the very least seen as influential men in the local church.  It would seem quite likely that they had made some profession of faith, but this is ultimately an assumption/conclusion that we draw.  They most likely were;  the text just doesn’t tell us clearly.

 

2.  Seeing that the text does not give CLEAR, beyond-a-shadow-of-a-doubt statement that these two were believers, it is a poor choice to use as a proof text.  The premise of a proof text is that it gives clear proof.  To INFER something from a text, and then to turn around and use it as “proof” is counterproductive;  it weakens your point.  Simply stated, this passage doesn’t offer proof of the concept that a true believer can “lose his salvation.”  An obscure passage such as this one, must yield to clear passages, such as Romans 8:35-39 and Ephesians 1:13-14.  These passages (and others) lead me personally to the opposite conclusion;  one who sincerely places their faith/trust in Jesus as their Savior is saved utterly, a salvation that cannot be lost, because it is God who does the saving, not me.

 

3.  So, what is the passage actually talking about?  Paul is speaking of disciplining two who evidently were “shipwrecked in their faith” (v. 19).  What is this and how did this happen?  Paul tells us;  they didn’t hold on to (practice) their faith, or hold on to a good clear conscience.  They “rejected” sound doctrine, and biblical godliness.  People hold to bad theology, in part, to justify their wrong behavior, and Hymenaeus and Alexander were guilty of this.

 

Paul’s response to this is telling:  he “hands them over to Satan” (v. 20).  What does this mean, exactly?  Paul gives us a great clue in another part of the New Testament.  He does the same thing to a man in the Corinthian church (I Cor. 5:3-5)  who was involved in gross sin.  The purpose of this is critical:  the goal was not punishment, but restoration.  To be handed over to Satan was to be put out of the church, and in doing so, removing the protection of God’s hand over them, which they experienced in the local church.  Satan could more easily attack them from this position (think of a sheep separated from the flock, with a wolf lurking about).  Yet the goal was to have the individual “come to their senses” spiritually, repent of their error and sin, and be restored.  This is precisely what happened to the man in Corinth (II Cor. 2:5-11).  And this is Paul’s goal here in I Timothy.  To teach them “not to blaspheme” is to correct them in their belief and practice, spiritually and not to judge them for eternity. 

 

So, Hymenaeus and Alexander were likely believers, who had fallen into sin, and were influencing others to follow in their way (1:7).  Paul rebukes them, and removes them from the church, for the purpose of their ultimate correction and restoration.  The account no where deals with the eternal status of men, but rather with those who are in need of personal correction, because we serve a gracious Heavenly Father who desires that his children believe in and practice the truth.

    

The 2008 Presidential Election is now history, as well as history-making.

Now what?

That the majority of the electorate chose an African American to serve as the 44th president of the United States speaks volumes as to how far America has come as a people.

True to form, this election was easily as partisan in nature as previous ones, and it again polarized much of the nation. Today, you could be rejoicing at the direction the country might take in the future, or you may be hanging your head in despondency. But really, what should be the response of a Christian to the events of November 4? I believe the Bible gives us some great advice at this point.

"This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says to all those I carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: "Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper" (Jeremiah 29:4-7 NIV).

Jeremiah writes to a nation that has been taken captive to a land not their own. He tells them to go on living their lives. This is simple advice. But then, he goes on to say that they should prayerfully see the peace and prosperity of the culture where they find themselves. The reason being, if that society prospers, so will they. This is profound advice.

If your candidate won on the 4th, you likely feel you are "home in Jerusalem." If he didn't, you may consider yourself "exiled in Babylon." No matter. Your response to it all should be the same; to continue to simply live your lives, and seek the peace and prosperity of the culture you are a part of. If you do this prayerfully, not only will the culture around you be blessed, but so will you.

And you can't beat that.