Dear Friends and Family,
Thank you for your ongoing interest in and support
of New Hope Church. Here are a few updates from the past two months here in
Bangor...
Missions: After our leadership team spent time thinking and praying about where God
may be leading New Hope to focus in this upcoming year(s), one of the areas
that rose to the surface was foreign missions. Long having been recipients of
so much prayer and financial support from individuals and congregations (Thank
you!), we are now considering ways that we can begin to give more broadly,
specifically in the area of foreign missions. We hope that this will develop
into meaningful partnerships—not just financially, but also relationally.
Discipleship: Another area of focus in 2015 was discipleship: the need for further
growth in depth and maturity of faith. One of New Hope’s particular strengths
is how God’s hospitality is expressed through the welcome extended to visitors.
However, we have realized that we need to continue to provide opportunities for
growth toward maturity—not just entry into the church. We are beginning to take
steps to address this growth area (through a mentoring program—explained in
more details below—through an element of monthly leadership training at our
meetings, and perhaps through content in sermon series’), and we pray that God
will be at work to give each member at New Hope an increasing hunger and the
tools to grow in their walk with Him.
Mentoring
Program:
For the past year and a half, the idea of starting a
mentoring program (for the youth at New Hope) has been simmering on the back
burner. One of the most significant memories of mine from growing up in the
church was of the adults who invested in getting to know me, and sharing
something of their life and faith. Intergenerational relationships are crucial
for discipleship in the church, and a context in which God works powerfully in
the lives of both young and old. After thought and prayer—and seeing God’s work
in the youth group that was started last year—this seems like the right time to
step forward. We will begin by asking specific adults in the congregation to
consider being mentors (with the expectations of praying daily for their
mentee, touching base weekly at church or by phone, and doing some more
significant activity together monthly). After this, we will contact the youths’
parents for permission, and then the youth themselves, distribute “get to know
you” questionnaires, and pair mentors and mentees. After a kick-off event,
mentors will meet regularly with a member of the leadership team, as a
sounding-board for the mentoring relationship and to encourage ongoing growth
in the lives of mentors as well. We would appreciate your prayers for God’s guidance
and work through this, knowing that “Unless the LORD builds the house, the
builders labor in vain.” (Psalm 127:1)
I have found it a profound privilege to see the unity, mission-mindedness, wisdom and stewardship so
evident in the leadership team here at New Hope--and to be able to work alongside
these leaders. We are all grateful for the past and present partnerships New
Hope has had as we continue to transition from a church plant to an
increasingly self-sustaining congregation. Thank you for your partnership in so
many ways.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me directly should you
have any questions, or find yourself in the Bangor area!
In our Lord,
Jonathan
No comments:
Post a Comment