INTRODUCTION – The importance of perspective in viewing reality
THE BUZZARD: If you put a buzzard in a pen that is 6 feet by 8 feet and is entirely open at the top, the bird, in spite of its ability to fly, will be an absolute prisoner. The reason is that a buzzard always begins a flight from the ground with a run of 10 to 12 feet. Without space to run, as is its habit, it will not even attempt to fly, but will remain a prisoner for life in a small jail with no top.
THE BAT: The ordinary bat that flies around at night, a remarkable nimble creature in the air, cannot take off from a level place. If it is placed on the floor
or flat ground, all it can do is shuffle about helplessly and, no doubt, painfully, until it reaches some slight elevation from which it can throw itself into the air. Then, at once, it takes off like a flash.
THE BUMBLEBEE: A bumblebee, if dropped into an open tumbler, will be there until it dies, unless it is taken out. It never sees the means of escape at the top, but persists in trying to find some way out through the sides near the
bottom…. It will seek a way where none exists, until it completely destroys itself.
1 Chronicles 4:9-10(NLT) 9 There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful. 10 He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.
1. Glancing back
Salvations – 292 total: – 127 Kids Blitz – 62 Cross N Dagger – 103 other
Attendance average: 2009 – 550 – 2008 – 444 – 2006 – 329/up 221 since 2006
Missions giving: 2009 Undes ytd – $64,296.23 – 2009 Total ytd – $169,256,88
Community Groups: 20 with 227 participants
Daymaker volunteers: 106 – Ushers/Greeters/Coffee House/Welcome Center
Warehouse: Students – 80 – Workers – 14
Children’s Ministry: Straight Up – 46 – Birth – 5th grade – 180 – Workers – 101
*Birth thru 2 years – 38
2. Looking ahead
Continuing to grow and to reach new people
Continuing to expand reach – neighbor, city, country, world
Continuing to effectively impact the next generation
Continuing to be innovative – Pink Droyd – Cross N Dagger – American Heroes
3. Challenging opportunities
Crossing every barrier – Monday night 17 people went to the streets of Fort Wayne to share Jesus with the homeless. Hot coco,peanut butter sandwiches, pretzels, homemade Christmas cookies along with other snacks…singing Christmas carols, visiting with compassion and sharing Jesus when the door opened…giving out socks, hats, gloves, blankets and clothes too. – Dec 10 participating in the service with the various religions represented in Fort Wayne
Maximizing our building – 727 two weeks ago on Sunday – 624 last Sunday – first December to be over 500 in attendance on any Sunday – need to increase early service attendance – ready to shift and to expand as we grow
Expanding our resources – Asked Ray to share info – 448 active family units at LBC – General Fund – 125 giving units who have given $1000 or more in 2009 – 178 giving units who have given$1- $1000 in 2009 – 145 who have given $0 – if everyone giving less than $20 per wk would give $20 per wk – would be above budget for the year
Increasing Biblical integration – 7 basic videos for new believers packs/for new believer classes/for one-on-one mentoring – meetings with staff/tomorrow on Community Groups
4. Jabez resolution
A New Year – A New Decade – began the last decade – millennium – fear of Y2K – in 1999 4.6 million websites – today – 100 million websites – over a billion users worldwide – 350 million on Facebook begun in 2004 – Youtube was begun in 2005 – Iphone/Blackberry now make a phone a place to send email – text messages – take and send photos – play games – watch videos – and get GPS directions
BLESS ME – EXPAND MY TERRITORY
BE WITH ME IN ALL I DO
KEEP ME FROM ALL TROUBLE AND PAIN