Giving Letter (2/2002)

February 25, 2002

Dear Family of Friends,

As I quickly glance at my March calendar, I see one word written across it: opportunity! March is perhaps the best time of year to reach people with the powerful message of the cross. Easter has a universal appeal to people of all ages, and is a wonderful opportunity to share the gospel. We have two specific vehicles planned during the month of March to share the gospel:

First, I will preach a series of messages I am calling “Great Themes of the Bible.” Each week we will look at one of the five “greats” of the Bible: The Great Commandment, The Great Commission, A Great Mystery, The Great Sacrifice, and The Great Decision (The Judge). Throughout this series the gospel will be presented in clear, uncompromising language. Please invite your lost loved ones, friends and co-workers during the month of March, and pray for the Lord to use our church to reach them with the saving grace of the gospel.

Second, Pastor Marty and the Praise & Worship Ministry are working hard to prepare a powerful musical and dramatic presentation of the gospel called The Borrowed Tomb. There will be two performances Easter Sunday morning at 8:30 and 11 a.m. and a special “Dress Rehearsal / Performance” on Good Friday, March 29 at 7 p.m. Please commit yourself to praying daily for the message of The Borrowed Tomb and ask the Lord to use this powerful drama to save many, many people.

These are two important opportunities to reach people during the month of March, and on Palm Sunday, March 24, we also have the opportunity as a church family to give sacrificially towards the work of the Kingdom. This year our annual Celebration Offering has been designated towards Ministry Expansion. As I look forward to the next 12-18 months, I see a great door of opportunity in front of us to expand the ministries and outreach of Grace Church. We want to strengthen the children’s and youth ministries of our church and expand our G.E.M.S. school; we also want to add a new pastoral position to our staff with the specific responsibility of outreach and evangelism. This new pastor would work with our visitors and newcomers to Grace, helping them find their place and connect within the various ministries of Grace Church.

We are asking the Lord for $150,000 to be used towards Ministry Expansion. Our desire is to keep pressing towards the mark, to stay on the offensive and to continually spread the gospel in Central Iowa and to the ends of the earth.

Let me conclude with a challenge: first, pray! Please pray that many will come to know Christ as their personal savior during the month of March; pray that God will use me in the pulpit and the men and women of the Praise and Worship Ministry through the Easter Musical to communicate the simple message of the cross. Second, invite! Ask the Lord to open your eyes to the opportunities around you and to invite those who need Christ to church with you this month. Finally, give! Ask the Lord to show you the amount He would have you give to our Celebration Offering to advance the Kingdom of God through the ministries of Grace Church. I challenge you, my dear friend, to try our God and see if He will not bless you in your personal effort. I am praying for you all. I give you my love and prayers continually.

In Christ,

Pastor Phil