MVCC September 22, 2011

Great Thursday afternoon on this day of our Lord September 22, 2011.

I reported last week about Pastor Joy and the physical attach on her health.  I want to bring you up to date.  She is recovering but in her words “not fast enough”.  Thank you for all your cards, prayers and calls to check on her.  I am blessed to have her in my life and I also know she is a tremendous gift to you our church family and to the community. 

I want to report on several items I have mentioned in past blasts.  The medical clinic is progressing nicely; Nancy Gerrard is working hard making contact, meeting with the future volunteer staff.  One clarification on the clinic, we are not in competition with Cassia Memorial, or Minidoka Hospital.  Our goal is to compliment each of these facilities.  We will not take the place of any of these services offered.  Our business plan is coming together and will continue to do so as we lay it before the Lord.  Thanks for your prayers.  I have a meeting this afternoon to discuss plans for the food bank ware house and site plans.  We do want to build for today but plan for tomorrow.  It is not our goal to have such a ministry that will only last for a few years and then die.  We have to be forward thinking and build a ministry that our Kids and grandkids will take over and, “do it right”.  The site selected to build the facility is just east of the parking lot and drive way of the church.  There is 2+- acres that the church is in negotiations to purchase that will work for the warehouse.  We may have a “barn rising” in the near future.  Speaking of the near future, I just got off the phone from the donor of the refrigerator trailers that have been promised.  According to the point man of the organization, within a month we should have the trailers.  With these trailers it will allow us to expand our current day to day operations from the Food Bank.  A few additions to our monthly distributions, The Idaho Food Bank contacted Mountain View Christian Center and ask if we would host the monthly food pantry distribution on the 3^rd Tuesday of the month.  The team came together and decided that hosting such an event was acceptable.  The process will be a bit different than we are used to.  A registration will be required so the food bank can deliver enough food.  So beginning in October MVCC will assume the responsibility to facilitate this event.  The calls will be fielded by our MVCC volunteer team on October 11^th with our first distribution on October 18^th.  On the food issue.  We have huge news.  In conjunction with the Idaho food bank, South Central Community action Mountain view Christian Center will host the largest food give away to date on Sunday afternoon November 20^th, 2011. We have a verbal commitment of 750+- turkeys, 400+- whole frozen chickens with all the trimmings of fresh vegetables, potatoes, with a Thanksgiving box that will bring great joy to families.  As well at this event we will distribute the coats we have been collecting.  There will be a huge turkey drive that could affect our numbers up or down, so please pray.  We are also planning other events such as a job fair, kids’ finger printing and more that day.  It will be a community event to remember.  The process of getting a Thanksgiving box will be a registration that will begin October 25^th-26^th and November 1^st.  South Central Community action will handle 550 applications with MVCC handling the remainder.  We need to do this so we have enough food.  We do have a plan for those who did not have the ability to register.  We don’t want anyone to do without.  More to come on this event.

The new chairs for the fellowship hall have been ordered and should be here any day.   We will have 245 all weather folding chairs complete with storage racks.  This is a small change of what I had reported earlier.  We were able to get 245 of the all weather chairs for the same price we would have been able to get only 130 of the folding padded chairs.  They may not be as comfortable but they are affordable.  With the 55 folding metal chairs,this will give us 300 chairs available for our larger events. 

We are continually looking at the connection point systems we have in place and are working through the development and implementation of Home groups and church sponsored Interest groups.  We met with Rick Molina today who is the Deacon/Executive leader in charge of this ministry.  We are about ready to launch this opportunity and connection point.  We realize that “just” going to church on Sunday is not enough.  We need opportunities for people to connect with one another.  Our theory is “Don’t do life alone”.   In an effort to connect one with one another, this Sunday we are having a “pot Luck” dinner after the 11:00 a.m. service.  The church will provide the meat, bread, drink and dinner ware, if you all would bring a salad or side dish that would be great.  Oh Yes is it also a birthday Party for …. ME!!!!! Please come out and have a great time of fellowship and food.  We will ask everyone in both services to have a name tag so look for the “hello my name is (Your name)”  and write your name on it.   

I have been giving you a few leadership tips each week.  Here are a few ideas to ponder. (Leadership Gold, John Maxwell).

                A leaders Credibility begins with personal success.

                It ends with helping others achieve personal success.

To gain credibility you must consistently demonstrate three things.

1.        Initiative:  you have to get up to go up.

2.       Sacrifice:  You have to give up to  go up.

3.       Maturity:  You have to grow up to go up.

I am preaching the book of 2 Timothy this weekend.  A book that has 4 unified messages.  1.  The power of the Gospel. 2.  The Perseverance of the Gospel.  3. The Protector of the Gospel.  & #4 The proclamation of the Gospel.  Go ahead and read this book in preparation for Service on Sunday.  You will not want to miss it. 

See You Sunday and don’t forget to invite a friend to Church this weekend.

We Love you,

Pastor’s Jim & Joy Powell

Mountain View Christian Center September 16,2011

Greetings the week of September 16, 2011.      As I was setting down to write this on my regular Thursday my life was interrupted as Pastor Joy was admitted to the Emergency room with severe abdominal pain.  She had the flue last week and she thought it was still lingering.  However the pain was so great she could not handle it anymore.  The Dr.’s drew blood, x-rayed her stomach   and determined that a bowel obstruction was present.  It has been a painful venture but thanks to a lot of prayer and great professionals at Cassia Memorial Hospital she is on the road to recovery.  

 Another Great week here at Mountain View Christian Center. This was the first full week having Dan Hendricks our New Family Life worship Pastor with us in the office.  His presence is a breath of fresh air in the office and on campus.  We are still refining his full portfolio of duties, at this point it is playing catch up.  One area he is working on is our intern program. We have been in contact with the college of Southern Idaho audio visual department and offered an opportunity for a student to learn, grow, teach and excel in this department.  The college has been very supportive with the concept and has opened the opportunity to students.  We will have at least one student on campus this weekend that will begin the journey.  It is a great opportunity for MVCC as well as the College of Southern Idaho.   Speaking of opportunities.  We have been challenged with filling a full time Nursery Director.  I have great news to report that the position has been filled.  We will now have staff in the Nursery at all our regular services on Wednesday evenings, Friday evenings and Sunday at both services.  Congratulations to Kerry Zemke as she joins the team at MVCC as the Nursery/Jr. Church coordinator. 

At a recent executive leadership meeting we reviewed some short term and long term opportunities at MVCC.  We have a tremendous amount of things going on all the time at the present campus site.  In an effort to facilitate all the opportunities we have currently going on I delegated to the Executive team areas of responsibility.  We want to remodel the kitchen into a fully Certified Commercial facility.  We have plans for “Home groups”.  I have commissioned Rick Molina the task of fulfilling these objectives.  We are in the process of designing a Food Pantry Warehouse complete with Freezer/cooler compatibility.  I have commissioned John Gerrard this task.  We want to pave the remainder of the parking lot before winter.  I have commissioned Ron Setser this task.  We will be fiscally responsible in each of these areas and commissioned Darrin Preece and the finance committee the oversight of the budget.  In each of these areas it will take a team of like minded individuals.  If you are interested in helping please see one of the Executive committee.  On the building note, we have heard back from Qwest on the building beside the MVCC campus, they have accepted another offer, so we will put into full action building a facility on our property. 

We have some great tings planned in the very near future.  On October 26^th at 7:00 p.m. we will begin a Community wide Marriage Enrichment series entitled, “Love and Respect”.   There will be no cost for the class; however a book will be available for purchase.  The work book cost will be approximately $15.00 each.  What a great investment and opportunity into the future of our Church family and Community. 

Another upcoming opportunity will be the Next food/ Coat give away.  We are planning a grand event around Thanksgiving.  We will let you know for sure soon as to the particulars but I know this will be the Largest event we have ever facilitated.  Please begin praying.

Our Celebrate recovery team continues to hit it out of the park.  Their great organizational, leadership and sponsor team will be hosting an Open house September 23^rd at 6:00 p.m.  The team was features in the recent publication of “The Voice”.  We are so proud of our Team. 

Let me preach at you for a minute on Leadership with a few one liners. (“From Leadership gold”, John Maxwell).

1.       Leadership is willing to put oneself at risk.

2.       Leadership is the passion to make a difference with others.

3.       Leadership is being dissatisfied with the current reality.

4.       Leadership is taking responsibility while others make excuses.

5.       Leadership is the readiness to stand out in a crowd.

6.       Leadership is the power of one harnessing the power of many.

7.       Leadership is a dream made reality.

I will be preaching on the Book of 1Timothy this weekend. It is filled with church leadership principles, instructions and guidance.  If there is any doubt in your mind if MVCC is following the biblical leadership model this service will be for you.  We have a team of Leaders (Deacons) that would do anything for the body they serve.  I addition they are a great support and help for me.  I know they would respond to any need I present them with.   As well they make sure Pastor Joy and I am taken care of.  It is comforting to know we are not alone in this Kingdom service.   Ok I’m done for this week.  Hope to see you on Sunday and don’t forget to invite a friend to service.

Love Ya,

Pastor Jim Powell

Mountain View Christian Center September 8,2011

Great Thursday fall afternoon to you all on this September 8, 2011. 

We continue to be extremely blessed in our ventures at MVCC.  Last Saturday September 3^rd  at 7:45 a.m a local grocer called me and said, Pastor I have 7+ pallets of cantaloupe I would like to donate to you. I said well give me a minute to devise a plan and I will call you back.  Well I put a plan into action.  I decided that I would go get a pallet and pass them out to my neighbors, send 2 pallets to Twin Falls First Assembly of God, who in turn has a new pastor in his second week, send 1 pallet to Hazleton Christian Center and we would distribute a total of 3+ pallets after each of our Worship services.   What a great plan.  I say that because it worked.   I pulled into my neighborhood, I spotted a family I had not met, pulled into their drive way and said; Can you use some melons?  He said well I guess I can.  He had two teen age boys so I loaded them up.   Then I said, can you boys help me?  Let’s see, Paint a house or pass out melons.  You guessed it.  We passed out an entire pallet to my neighborhood.  What a great out reach.  At Church I contacted Craig Byce who was able to pick up the 3+ Pallets Sunday morning and have them ready to pass out to many of you.  What a great blessing and outreach opportunity we were afforded by a gift.  Wow we are blessed.  The great news is that  Not one box went to waste.  Speaking of food, we were contacted several months ago from an agency who wanted us to partner with them.  We have had a great relationship with Freedom Resources/Northwest Food Bank and will continue to do so but this came out of the blue.  This agency has the ability to supply us with a tremendous amount of fresh produce, meat sources, and all the canned goods we can utilize on a monthly basis.  We had a meeting today and the memorandum of understanding is signed.  We will have the ability in two weeks to have vast amounts of food to supply to our community. The Goal of MVCC food bank is to continue serving the public two days a week with the ability to expand as necessary as well as hosting the large events like the fish give a ways.   I will keep everyone up to date as this partnership unfolds and we have the ability to expand services.  In the way of reporting MVCC Food bank received Gift in Kind donations of $9.843.71 and distributed $16,630. Serving 340 people in August with a year to date number of 3559 people served. It is truly amazing what we are able to do.   An update on the quest building beside the church.  I have received no word on the Letter of Intent.  However we are proceeding looking at building a metal structure on the church property that would be large enough to handle the Food Bank daily operations.  As I mentioned last week we have secured dry storage space from a local business man that should be adequate to handle the need for unrefrigerated space.   

You will notice that the green/blue fellowship chairs are dwindling down.  The executive committee made a decision to sell the large outdated bulky chairs and purchase padded folding chairs.  Two churches in the local area have purchased the chairs and we are awaiting the arrival of our new seating. 

This Saturday September 10^th the MVCC Kids Church is having a Yard sale to get a jump on Camp 2012 come by the church and help out with the treasures. 

Sunday We will have a great announcement:  Dan Hendricks will be officially on full time staff starting Monday, September 12^th .  His official title will be “Family Life Worship Pastor” with the oversight of Youth, Worship, Audio Visual and Gofer.   We are so blessed to have Pastor Dan Join us in this capacity.  He will officially vacate his board seat to be able to fulfill this call.   

Pastor Steve Lubinski had this to share with you all concerning the MVCC Kids Ministry…All of our Sunday Kids Church classes are currently learning about our old testament forefathers in faith.  Our Beginning Explorers class (Ages 4-K) are learning to follow Joseph, Moses, and King David's example in loving, forgiving, caring, and trusting in God for His provision.  Our two older classes, Young Explorers (Grades 1-3) and Explorers (Grades 4-6), are studying Kings and Castles.  Through the old testament kings and leaders we are learning how to build strong walls, keep then enemy out, guard their hearts, and draw deep from the well, our God, our source. Thanks for your support, Pastor Steve L.

This Friday evening at Celebrate Recovery there is going to be a testimony of a man from MVCC who has a great story of God’s Grace and Salvation.  100 misdemeanors, 17 felonies plus a drug addiction.  Come and hear How Great is our God… Dinner at 6:00 p.m. Taco’s, Worship at 7:00 P.m. with Justin Jones Testimony at 7:30 p.m.

Hey Let me preach at you for a minute.  I just completed a book from John Maxwell entitled Leadership Gold.  A great read about team building.  We Here at Mountain View Christian Center have  great team of Leadership, both volunteer and staff.  Taken from the book are 5 dysfunctions of any team.

1.        Absence of Trust…  2.  Fear of Conflict….  3. Lack of Commitment.  4.  Avoidance of Accountability and 5. Inattentive to results.   As we continue to build great leaders at MVCC we must take into account these 5 areas.  More to come…

This Sunday I will be preaching on the book of 2 Thessalonians.  The early church had stopped working for the Lord thinking it was too late that He had already returned and forgotten them.  It will be a great sermon that will touch every heart.  Also a tribute to 9/11.  Come Experience Jesus in a New Light this weekend.  Be sure to invite a friend to church..

Love Ya All,

Pastor Jim & Joy Powell

MVCC Blast September 2, 2011

Wow September   already.  You can feel fall in the air as the crisp morning temperatures require jacket.  I love this time of year. This week has been a great week for the Kingdom as we preached last week on vision through the book of Colossians.  I had mentioned about the need to step up prayer.  I have had numerous reports of people who are praying like never before.  One report was of a man driving a truck that had to stop and had to go out in a field to pray.  Another is of a couple who have developed a place of prayer in their home for the first time.  Prayer works.  We may think of prayer as boring, dull, non affective, waste of time but let me challenge you to set aside a few minutes each day to “have a little talk with Jesus”.   Some items to pray for is of course your Pastors and Staff of Mountain View, God’s Provision and timing with the Partnership agreements with the service agencies we are pursuing and a mighty move of God in our valley.  This Last week some amazing things have happened.  I was approached by a business owner in the area who is willing to donate storage space to MVCC.  I told you last week that warehouse space was the key to partnership agreements we are working on.  Well God Answered the prayer and request.  Thank you Jesus.  Also we have made great headway with the Medical clinic this week with some great contacts from other organizations that are doing the same thing.  We have been flooded with professional people that are willing to be a part of this project.  It will take a great group of volunteers to facilitate such a venture.  If you know of Dr’s, Nurses, Physicians Assistants, or professionals who would like to be a part of this opportunity please let me know. 

Mvcc had a great midweek family night kick off this week.  The boys and girls who came streaming into the church facility was excited to get back to their classes.  The meal that is served before bible study by Chef Richard is always a hit.   This last week was beef stew, it was awesome.  I started a series entitled, what goes on inside a church building utilizing the WHY questions. Why do we raise our hands? Why do we clap our hands? And other topics of interest.  Make it a priority to be a part of the mid week family night.

This Sunday I am preaching from the book of 1 Thessalonians.  It is a book of instruction on the coming of the Lord, the Day of the Lord and what happens to the believers who die or sleep.   It will be a great message that you won’t want to miss.  Sunday Evening at 6:00 p.m. we are having a membership class.  If you would like to hang out with the Pastors for a couple hours and learn what MVCC is all about come on and be a part.  Well that is all for now… See you Sunday and don’t forget to invite a friend to church this weekend…

Love Ya all.

Pastor Jim Powell