Comments for PreacherMike http://preachermike.com Sniffing out the work of God in the world... Fri, 18 May 2012 14:25:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on The Tale of Two Churches by Mike http://preachermike.com/2012/05/16/the-tale-of-two-churches/comment-page-1#comment-88188 Mike Fri, 18 May 2012 14:25:11 +0000 http://preachermike.com/?p=4187#comment-88188 Thanks so much, Kathy! And Tammy . . . you're absolutely right. One of the things about Tyrone that amazing me is that he can work the bus system in Abilene like a professional traveler. He can show up at the most amazing times and places! Thanks so much, Kathy!

And Tammy . . . you’re absolutely right. One of the things about Tyrone that amazing me is that he can work the bus system in Abilene like a professional traveler. He can show up at the most amazing times and places!

]]> Comment on The Tale of Two Churches by Tammy Marcelain http://preachermike.com/2012/05/16/the-tale-of-two-churches/comment-page-1#comment-88187 Tammy Marcelain Thu, 17 May 2012 23:30:05 +0000 http://preachermike.com/?p=4187#comment-88187 No one smiles better for a picture than Tyrone ; ) No one smiles better for a picture than Tyrone ; )

]]> Comment on The Tale of Two Churches by Kathy http://preachermike.com/2012/05/16/the-tale-of-two-churches/comment-page-1#comment-88185 Kathy Thu, 17 May 2012 16:11:03 +0000 http://preachermike.com/?p=4187#comment-88185 In one of my daily devotionals this morning was the affirmation that God doesn't give up; Moses, Jonah, Peter, Mary Magdalene were three of the examples given. God doesn't give up! These two beautiful senior citizen churches that had the vision to pass along their worldly possessions are two God-glorifying testaments that truly, God doesn't give up. His Kingdom will continue to make itself known "...to all the world." Blessings to you, Mike for bringing this gentle reminder that the hearts of His people continue to look forward even when it is retirement day. In one of my daily devotionals this morning was the affirmation that God doesn’t give up; Moses, Jonah, Peter, Mary Magdalene were three of the examples given. God doesn’t give up! These two beautiful senior citizen churches that had the vision to pass along their worldly possessions are two God-glorifying testaments that truly, God doesn’t give up. His Kingdom will continue to make itself known “…to all the world.”
Blessings to you, Mike for bringing this gentle reminder that the hearts of His people continue to look forward even when it is retirement day.

]]> Comment on The Tale of Two Churches by Shawna Elliott http://preachermike.com/2012/05/16/the-tale-of-two-churches/comment-page-1#comment-88184 Shawna Elliott Thu, 17 May 2012 03:50:06 +0000 http://preachermike.com/?p=4187#comment-88184 Love this! Thank you! When we let go of the burden of guilt, we open numerous avenues for God to work in amazing ways! Love this! Thank you! When we let go of the burden of guilt, we open numerous avenues for God to work in amazing ways!

]]> Comment on The Tale of Two Churches by K. Rex Butts http://preachermike.com/2012/05/16/the-tale-of-two-churches/comment-page-1#comment-88183 K. Rex Butts Thu, 17 May 2012 00:55:02 +0000 http://preachermike.com/?p=4187#comment-88183 Great post that plants the seed for a new Christian communities. Having spent most of my ministry in the Northeast, I not only know how expensive property is (and that includes rental property too) but I know of a lot of churches that are dying. But some of those churches are unsure of what to do. This gives them a vision. Thanks, Great post that plants the seed for a new Christian communities. Having spent most of my ministry in the Northeast, I not only know how expensive property is (and that includes rental property too) but I know of a lot of churches that are dying. But some of those churches are unsure of what to do. This gives them a vision. Thanks,

]]> Comment on The Tale of Two Churches by Mike http://preachermike.com/2012/05/16/the-tale-of-two-churches/comment-page-1#comment-88182 Mike Wed, 16 May 2012 21:45:06 +0000 http://preachermike.com/?p=4187#comment-88182 erin - Ez 37, indeed! John - Good to hear from someone who was working there in the 70's. Would love for you to be able to peek in on the lively community of faith that's there. Wes - Well, I especially think about how relevant this is in your area of the world where real estate is so expensive! erin – Ez 37, indeed!

John – Good to hear from someone who was working there in the 70′s. Would love for you to be able to peek in on the lively community of faith that’s there.

Wes – Well, I especially think about how relevant this is in your area of the world where real estate is so expensive!

]]> Comment on The Tale of Two Churches by Mike http://preachermike.com/2012/05/16/the-tale-of-two-churches/comment-page-1#comment-88181 Mike Wed, 16 May 2012 21:43:24 +0000 http://preachermike.com/?p=4187#comment-88181 Jason - I love that insight into the final days of the Southside Church. What a wonderful story! That church did NOT die! Thanks, Carla (and Jonathan) for affirming the Freedom/Grace stories. Jason – I love that insight into the final days of the Southside Church. What a wonderful story! That church did NOT die!

Thanks, Carla (and Jonathan) for affirming the Freedom/Grace stories.

]]> Comment on The Tale of Two Churches by Carla McDonald http://preachermike.com/2012/05/16/the-tale-of-two-churches/comment-page-1#comment-88180 Carla McDonald Wed, 16 May 2012 20:27:43 +0000 http://preachermike.com/?p=4187#comment-88180 And the story is even bigger than that! Those members who dispersed from these two buildings are bringing blessings to the places they now call home. The building that was called Central served as the starting place for a wonderful ministry called FaithWorks, that literally has the potential to change lives, by giving unemployed and underemployed individuals a new start through equipping for employment fitting to their abilities and talents. Over 80% of FaithWorks graduates find work or pursue advanced job training upon completion of the program. The building that the Southside congregation met in has in the intervening years served people in that neighborhood in many ways, including a VBS, after-school care and tutoring, providing emergency shelter, and many, many meals have been provided for the hungry. God's work takes on many facets when we look to see the needs in the lives of His children and seek to find ways to meet those needs. May we have eyes to see and ears to hear. And the story is even bigger than that! Those members who dispersed from these two buildings are bringing blessings to the places they now call home.

The building that was called Central served as the starting place for a wonderful ministry called FaithWorks, that literally has the potential to change lives, by giving unemployed and underemployed individuals a new start through equipping for employment fitting to their abilities and talents. Over 80% of FaithWorks graduates find work or pursue advanced job training upon completion of the program.

The building that the Southside congregation met in has in the intervening years served people in that neighborhood in many ways, including a VBS, after-school care and tutoring, providing emergency shelter, and many, many meals have been provided for the hungry.

God’s work takes on many facets when we look to see the needs in the lives of His children and seek to find ways to meet those needs. May we have eyes to see and ears to hear.

]]> Comment on The Tale of Two Churches by John Roberts http://preachermike.com/2012/05/16/the-tale-of-two-churches/comment-page-1#comment-88179 John Roberts Wed, 16 May 2012 19:25:34 +0000 http://preachermike.com/?p=4187#comment-88179 Thanks for an uplifting post! I was so glad to hear about the Central church in Abilene. I attended there in the 70's, met my wife there, and even served as their youth minister for a couple of years. Those folks were very dear to my heart. I'm glad that building is still being used to serve in the kingdom. Thanks for an uplifting post! I was so glad to hear about the Central church in Abilene. I attended there in the 70′s, met my wife there, and even served as their youth minister for a couple of years. Those folks were very dear to my heart. I’m glad that building is still being used to serve in the kingdom.

]]> Comment on The Tale of Two Churches by Wes Woodell http://preachermike.com/2012/05/16/the-tale-of-two-churches/comment-page-1#comment-88178 Wes Woodell Wed, 16 May 2012 18:58:22 +0000 http://preachermike.com/?p=4187#comment-88178 Hey - you wrote down my thoughts exactly. How'd you do that? :) Hey – you wrote down my thoughts exactly. How’d you do that? :)

]]> Comment on The Tale of Two Churches by erin http://preachermike.com/2012/05/16/the-tale-of-two-churches/comment-page-1#comment-88177 erin Wed, 16 May 2012 18:20:32 +0000 http://preachermike.com/?p=4187#comment-88177 I find my heart beating fast at the moment. It's easy to live in despair; this suggests that what we thought was the end is, with the Spirit of God, just a new beginning. Ezekiel 37 comes to mind. I find my heart beating fast at the moment. It’s easy to live in despair; this suggests that what we thought was the end is, with the Spirit of God, just a new beginning. Ezekiel 37 comes to mind.

]]> Comment on The Tale of Two Churches by Jonathan Storment http://preachermike.com/2012/05/16/the-tale-of-two-churches/comment-page-1#comment-88176 Jonathan Storment Wed, 16 May 2012 18:10:43 +0000 http://preachermike.com/?p=4187#comment-88176 Thanks for this Mike. That's a great way to reframe the life cycle of a church. One of the things that God has been teaching me lately is my tendency to confuse the group or ministry I'm passionate about/involved with with the Kingdom of God which just keeps pacing along. And as someone who also gets to see what Freedom and Grace are doing in their neighborhoods, I'm very thankful for these previous churches' vision outside of themselves. Loved this blog Mike! Thanks for this Mike. That’s a great way to reframe the life cycle of a church. One of the things that God has been teaching me lately is my tendency to confuse the group or ministry I’m passionate about/involved with with the Kingdom of God which just keeps pacing along.

And as someone who also gets to see what Freedom and Grace are doing in their neighborhoods, I’m very thankful for these previous churches’ vision outside of themselves.

Loved this blog Mike!

]]> Comment on The Tale of Two Churches by Jason Graves http://preachermike.com/2012/05/16/the-tale-of-two-churches/comment-page-1#comment-88175 Jason Graves Wed, 16 May 2012 18:08:22 +0000 http://preachermike.com/?p=4187#comment-88175 Thank you so much for telling these stories. I had the privilege of worshipping with the Southside congregation the week before they met for the last time. During class time, the leaders shared their reasons for giving the building to Highland. It was one of the holiest moments I have experienced in any church. The humility, compassion, and sacrifice they displayed as a church made it known that they did not consider it a failure, but rather a faithful move that had the potential to bring new life and hope to that area. Praise God for the things that are going on there now! Thank you so much for telling these stories. I had the privilege of worshipping with the Southside congregation the week before they met for the last time. During class time, the leaders shared their reasons for giving the building to Highland. It was one of the holiest moments I have experienced in any church. The humility, compassion, and sacrifice they displayed as a church made it known that they did not consider it a failure, but rather a faithful move that had the potential to bring new life and hope to that area. Praise God for the things that are going on there now!

]]> Comment on The Tale of Two Churches by Bruce http://preachermike.com/2012/05/16/the-tale-of-two-churches/comment-page-1#comment-88174 Bruce Wed, 16 May 2012 18:02:17 +0000 http://preachermike.com/?p=4187#comment-88174 What an awesome post Mike, In our fellowship, it is estimated that if just 1/10th of the money gained from the sale of our buildings that have decided "to land" was given to church planting organizations/projects, we would have "all" the money necessary to fund our next generation of churches. What an awesome post Mike, In our fellowship, it is estimated that if just 1/10th of the money gained from the sale of our buildings that have decided “to land” was given to church planting organizations/projects, we would have “all” the money necessary to fund our next generation of churches.

]]> Comment on The Tale of Two Churches by Keith Brenton http://preachermike.com/2012/05/16/the-tale-of-two-churches/comment-page-1#comment-88173 Keith Brenton Wed, 16 May 2012 17:52:14 +0000 http://preachermike.com/?p=4187#comment-88173 May God be praised for churches having a vision beyond their own lifespan! Believers, too. May God be praised for churches having a vision beyond their own lifespan!

Believers, too.

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