Our Ministry Leaders Need Your Help

Have you filled out your Involvement Profile?

          God’s kingdom here in Fort Gibson has a lot of work to do these days more than ever.  There are souls that need to be saved, and others who just need a listening ear. There are entire families in our town who are just existing with no real purpose and no faith community to help them with life. We also have brothers and sisters in Christ who are at a time in their life when they need your support in a variety of ways. We’ve all been there, haven’t we? And we will be there again at some point.

Our church family already makes a huge difference in the lives people of all ages in our town, our nation, our world. Much of this happens naturally through friendship evangelism and by being a good neighbor, kind of the “bloom where you’re planted” concept. But other important efforts need lots of planning and help from brothers and sisters in Christ like you who have been gifted by the Holy Spirit with specific passions to help in ways you are best suited for. Gifts of hospitality, leadership, mercy, evangelism, helps, discernment, and teaching are just a few of those gifts the Bible mentions.

 When it is time to plan events or activities, our deacons who serve in the various ministries call on women, men, elders, and other deacons who have indicated on their “Involvement Profile” that they are interested in helping in that area. This makes any task a much more pleasant experience for all involved since those doing the jobs actually enjoy helping in those ways.

As of right now, only 75 of our members have turned-in their “Involvement Profile.” This is 75 profiles out of 208 households (which either have one or two adults). We are making progress, so thank you. But we have quite a ways to go before this task of pairing ministries with helpers is complete.

Each ministry leader needs to be able to identify willing members, including elders and deacons, who have indicated on the “Involvement Profile” they would like to help in some way. This does not mean you are “locked in.” It only means you may be contacted to see if you would do a specific task, either short or long term.

Until then, work still has to get done. Our deacons still need help with Bible classes, funeral dinners, property maintenance, fellowship dinners, hospital visits, hosting Bible studies, providing transportation for shut-ins, community outreach events, grading correspondence courses, serving during worship, audio/video, cleaning buses, child care during events, chaperon for youth, and dozens more opportunities to serve.

Our deacons, just like you, are volunteer church workers. Their service is in addition to their “real” jobs. Please, prayerfully consider helping make their burdens a little lighter by turning in your “Involvement Profile.” In the end, lives will be changed for the better, and God will be glorified. Have a great week!

Barrett Vanlandingham, Family Life & Involvement Minister

The Beauty and Hope Found in the Autumn Season

by Barrett Vanlandingham
October 9, 2022 

I am going to go out on a limb here and say that most Okies look forward to the changing of the seasons. Each one gives us something unique to enjoy.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

Autumn in our neck of the woods colors our thoughts with wonderment as we see the leaves change from green to shades of yellow, orange, red, and eventually brown before the cool winds blow, and the leaves turn loose, falling to the ground. Autumn is known as a time when colors change and vegetation dies off, but it is also a time when seeds fall and lie dormant until awakened by spring or summer. Jesus used this process as a way to teach people some very important lessons.

John 12:24 says, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit.”

Jesus is talking about two things here:

1) His own death, burial, resurrection, and ascension that continues to bring many sons to glory (Hebrews 2:10) with the help of the Holy Spirit whose powerful work was only made possible by Jesus’ earthly departure.

2)  Disciples of Christ who die to self, but live for Him, and look outward for opportunities to save more souls and make more disciples.

In John 11:25-26 the writer tells about the conversation Jesus had with Mary (sister of Lazarus) before he raised Lazarus from the dead.

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”

Jesus’ words are echoed by the apostle Paul.

“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).

The Psalmist compares those who obey God’s will to trees connected to an eternal Source of life.

Psalm 1:1-3 says, “Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, 2 but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. 3 That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.”

The autumn season is one of many blessings God provides for us to be in awe of His creativity, His care and attention to detail, and for us to experience it first-hand, year after year. All good things come from God, and the beauty of each season is a great reminder that if He can create beauty on earth like we’re seeing right now, just imagine what heaven must be like. Have a great week!