The Current (March 2022)
Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. (John 7:38, NIV)
Good morning, everyone! We pray that you would be filled, comforted and challenged by the presence of Jesus this morning, this week and this month.
Now, for some updates …
Upcoming Events
Men’s Movie Night (Friday, March 11, 6 p.m.): Join us at Adam Bennett’s home to hang out and watch Plan 9 from Outer Space (1959), a campy sci-fi movie that’s been called "the best worst movie ever made." Bring snacks to share.
New Sermon Series (every Sunday in March): God is working even when we can’t see him. Join us as we dive further into the book of Ruth and explore the undercurrent of God’s providence.
***
Notes from Church Happenings:
On Sunday, Feb. 27, we had an awesome time coming together for our first Community Service Sunday! We worked together to benefit Seeds of Hope with tie blankets and handwritten encouragement cards (pictures below). Thank you to everyone who participated, and we look forward to engaging in more creative ways that bring life to our community. Also, we began our new sermon series on Ruth this past Sunday. Check out the message if you haven’t had a chance yet!
***
Church Growth as a Consequence Rather Than the Ultimate Goal:
A Message from Pastor David Welker
We've recently had some additions to the Welker household. I don't know the names of everyone, but I do know they include Vera, Barbara and Pokey. To be clear, these aren't people, but plants (Pokey is a cactus). Shannon thought that our home needed some green and she visited a local nursery, where she was encouraged to name her purchases and was given helpful tips on how to keep them healthy.
I'm not so sure about the naming part, but I will say that the plants are growing and doing well. There is a basic understanding in the plant world that healthy things grow. That got me thinking about the Kingdom of God and the local church.
Over the last few years, I've had the opportunity to work with some pastors of local churches, encouraging leadership development, empowering the church and seeing numeric church growth as a consequence rather than a goal. These conversations have proved helpful when considering that it's more healthy and biblical to measure how our local churches are doing by how well we're loving each other and those in our community rather than by how many seats are full on a Sunday.
Church growth then becomes the consequence of a healthy church engaging and making a difference in the community rather than the ultimate goal. If numeric growth is our goal rather than the consequence of a healthy church of impact, I'm afraid we're aiming too low and missing the point that Jesus makes in Matthew 28:18-20: "Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you, to the very end of the age.’
My friends, let's grow in our love for Jesus, one another and those in our community. Let's focus on proclaiming and demonstrating the good news of the gospel, the message of hope to those around us. Let's be a church family that points people to Christ. When that's our aim, I am certain that more will want to be a part of a life giving community that is centered on Jesus, reflecting the Father's love and moving in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.
Giving and Sharing
One of the ways we worship God is through our tithes and offerings. Consider giving back to TRVC with a donation.
Also, did you know that we're getting noticed online? Reviews mean a lot when people are looking for a church. Have you considered letting others know what you love about TRVC by leaving a review on Google or Facebook?
***
Contact
Have something to share in the next newsletter? Or just a general question or comment? Feel free to contact Cody Benjamin (cody@trvc.org) or Pastor David Welker (david@trvc.org). Find us on social media: YouTube, Facebook, Instagram.