New Life Christian Church

PASTOR’S REPORT

Dear Saint(s),

Before I write anything about the coming month or what is going on at New Life, I’d like to express the following. Carolyn and I were deeply touched by the love and support we received at our 25th Wedding Anniversary party. We want to thank you so very much for the cards, the financial giving, and the ultimate gift of the trip back to our honeymoon location. What a great blessing to us! Thanks so very much. Please know that you are just as deeply loved as you all showed us on that evening. We also can’t express enough how much we appreciate the wide support for the parsonage blessing project the NLCC Board is working on. Your love and generosity blows us away. You are simply the best and we are touched by your hearts.

I want to share two very important pieces of church information. First, our new website is up and running! Our plans are to write and share information on the website in a very clear and concise manner. In fact, read my newest and greatest blog online under the heading “The Web Coats are Coming.” Soon, virtually all of our information will be on this site. This means you will be able to hear all of the great sermons over and over again. Ha! You will also be able to get updated calendars of church events and news. Yes, prayer requests to softball game news will all be at the tip of your fingers. This should help one and all. Think of it. On a stormy winter night, rather than wondering if church has been canceled or not, you will be able to get the news right online as soon as the decision is made. Click on www.newlifenny.com and get updated information. Also, please remember we will be working very hard as a staff to get you the information as soon as possible, but be patient – we’re not perfect yet! Also, realize we are working hard on transitioning most of the church info to the website, so you’ll want to start learning it and using it. Thanks for that!

The other issue I want to write to you about is Home Groups. As you know, or should know, we are reorganizing and retooling all of our Home Groups towards the 7 Mountain paradigm. This means there will most likely (depending on the needs and giftings) be home groups functioning in all 7 areas (Business, Education, Entertainment, Religion, Media, Family and Government). I’d really like to encourage you to attend for two primary reasons: One, is that the home groups will be our primary means of pastoral care and ministry. We don’t want anyone to fall through the cracks, but really cannot maintain or assure that you won’t unless you desire to be pastored in that way and find yourself faithful to a group. We want to shepherd and love on you – so please find and plug into the group of your choice. Two, the home groups will no longer be assigned. We’re simply getting too large and it is too easy to miss people to make those assignments.. What we are asking, however, is that you would choose a home group and commit yourself to that specific group for a period of one year. In other words, we really are not looking for people to move from group to group, but to stay planted. This is for the reasons stated above and also to have some continuity. It is so important we spend time with each other and get to know each other. The only way this can happen is if we work hard at finding a place of gifting in which we can join. Please be there week by week; you will be blessed!

With that said, I love you all and am privileged to a part of what the Lord is doing!

Pastor Kirk

33 LIVE

I have never been so excited to enter a Fall season as I am right now! The expectation in my heart seems to increase everyday, and my spirit is full on anticipation for the powerful days ahead. So much is upon us that deserves recognition (and I will hardly get to it all), but each point is simply a reflection of one thing: God is moving among us and causing great growth!

Brad and Robin Ringer are officially residents of Cape Vincent, NY! A very special thank you to all those that helped move them in to there wonderful new abode. I am so excited to have the Ringers on staff with DIBOR and 33 Live, working together to build young people! This week the church also gets a new receptionist, Chrystelle Ilunga. She is coming with the Ringers to serve them, New Life and DIBOR. So don’t be surprised when you hear a new voice on the phone or a new face greeting you as you walk in. She is a tremendous blessing and we know you’ll love her.

Dibor has been blessed by the donations of bedroom furniture from everyone. Orientation for the school is September 19th and the first conference is September 21st. If you would like to attend any or all

33 Live is vamping up for its best season yet. We’re taking a special interest in developing our leaders this year. We’ve added a Sunday night training class called Boralee, mandatory for all Youth Leaders. The hope is to enable them to serve the growing number of teens in our midst and to be better situated to affect the county as a whole.

We’re also slightly restructuring our Wednesday night services at 33 Live to incorporate more of small-group feel while still preaching the Word and entering into corporate worship. The addition of the small-group model will allow us to spend more quality time with teens and eliminate the feel of “getting lost in the crowd.” We also hope to dive deeper in the week’s subject and challenge them in their walks with Jesus.

On a technical note, I’m happy to announce, if you haven’t read it already, that this is the first NLCC Newsletter online (which you should be reading right now)! That’s right! We’ve been working very hard over the last few months to create a brand-new website, tailor fit for our church and the things we think are most important. Not only does it look snazzy, but it is snazzy! From current events (like cancellations and last minute changes) to Pastor Kirk’s latest sermon (normally posted within 48-hours now), you’ll be able to get a information right of the website! Including this newsletter! You can also find pictures and videos, as well as general information like the church history, frequently asked questions, and staff bios.

With the excitement of moving into Watertown, as well as all the progress being made from staffing to technology, I know now more than ever that we are poised to affect Jefferson County, and ultimately the world, with the Spirit of the Living God like never before.

Blessings!

Pastor Christopher

EQUIPPING THE SAINTS: SUNDAY SCHOOL IN TRANSITION

We’ve been getting a lot of questions this month regarding Sunday school with September nearly upon us. As you know, we are in transition as a church with the renovation of the Watertown campus. As we discussed this past Spring at the Annual Business Meeting, we intend to move our ministry of Christian Equipping (traditionally called “Sunday School”) to Sunday evenings, when the building is outfitted with enough classroom space to get started. The building is not yet ready for this transition. Further, we’ve felt it unwise to begin a Sunday morning program only to change midstream to a Sunday evening platform. Therefore, we will continue with the schedule we’ve followed this Summer–namely the two Sunday services (8:30 and 11:00) with a break in between. This will also help alleviate some of the parking gridlock we face every Sunday as well. We will focus our discipleship of children, teens and adults on Wednesday evenings with Royal Rangers, Missionettes, 33 Live and Home Groups. So we will not be resuming Sunday school this Fall as we’ve done in the past due to the fact we’re in transition as a church. Please be praying for God’s blessing as we prepare the new sanctuary and classrooms so that we can complete the move and give our Sunday evenings to equip and prepare God’s people–of all ages–to do the work of the Kingdom. If you have any questions, please call me.

Pastor Christian

KIDS Church

The summer has flown by! I can’t believe that it is time for you to start school again. Now you all have a very important decision to make! Are you going to make this your best year in school? The choice is yours. You have the power to choose, to have good attitudes, to get good grades, to study diligently, to treat your teachers with honor and respect. I know you hear this every year from “everybody,” but it is the truth. If you make these few positive choices, you will have the best year ever!

I challenge all of you to show Christ this year, more than you ever have before. Whether you attend public school, Christian school. or are home schooled, it is still very important to show Christ in you, the hope of glory! I will be looking for good reports from your parents and friends, about your behavior in school. Remember, God rewards the diligent…..and so does Miss Leah:-)

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

submitted by Karleen Bognaski

We only have two short months left for “Operation Christmas Child” monthly collections. Last month was Back to School in which we collected crayons, pencils, scissors, pencil sharpeners, rulers, glue and small pads of paper. For the month of September, we will continue the idea of Back to School. The items we are collecting include markers, erasers, calculators, and other school supplies.

Remember there is only two short months left before we have to start putting boxes together. If you haven’t had a chance, we can still use any items that can fit into a shoe box and will give a child great joy! We sincerely thank all of you who have given. This is an opportunity to spread God’s word to the world. Each box not only contains prayers and gifts, but also enclosed is Gospel literature, which tells of Jesus Christ. Help show God’s love and pack a small box for a child.

God Bless!

BULLETIN BOARD

· We are in need of volunteers to take a rotation during the Wednesday Evening Kids’ Groups. If you can help in this area, please contact Dan or Tanya Byers.

· We are also in need of individuals willing to help with KIDS Church during the 11 am. If you would like to help out with this ministry, please contact Leah Woodkirk

LADIES’ BIBLE STUDY

Starting September 7 at 9:30—11:30 am at NLCC

Patty Jennings will be leading us in a Kay Arthur study entitled, “Kingsman Redeemer”. The classes will run for 12 weeks and will meet every other week. Work books will cost $6.00 each and need to be paid at the first class. Bring colored pencils if you have them. It is recommended that you read through the book of Ruth once or twice before coming to the first class. I hope you can join us, we always enjoy interacting around the Word with one another. If you have any further questions, please see Julie Hoppel or Patty Jennings.

P.S. If you need child care contact Julie Hoppel at least two days prior to the class. Thanks!

MISSIONS REPORT

Central African Republic

Size: 623,000 Sq. Km.

Population: 3,306,000

Capital: Bangui (597,000)

Religion: Christian 83% Muslim 3.3% Tribal Religions 12.7%

CHALLENGES FOR PRAYER:

· Few countries have been evangelized!

· Growth has outstripped the resources of churches to give adequate discipleship to new Christians.

· Bible teachers are in short supply.

· Pray that present opportunities may well be used.

· There has been an influx of Muslims who present the greatest challenge at present—a task for which local believers are not yet equipped.

The Lord has challenged us (NLCC) to touch every country in the world. So every month we choose a nation (alphabetically) and we target them by prayer and giving. Souls are ripe; please join us in taking this opportunity to bring in the harvest! If you would like to give, please add a note on your offering that it is for the “Country of the Month”.

Thank you.