Zion E-News (1-10-2019)

This Saturday, we will once again host a mini-golf course at our church. This is a great opportunity to invite friends and neighbors to enjoy a time of fun and simply hanging out. As I was watching Pastor Rick and Tom Boeve set up the course this morning, I was reminded of a great book I read 15 years ago or more called Irresistible Evangelism. 

The book challenges Christians to go beyond random acts of kindness and what we might call Benevolence Evangelism to actively sharing their faith with non-believers. But, they also highlight the importance of first adapting your approach and goal based on the current spiritual interest of the other person. 

Just like you need a driver when teeing off and a putter on the green, we need to take a different approach in sharing our faith with people depending on their current knowledge of and interest in the things of God. Using the golf analogy, they suggest four basic steps and approaches to influencing people to take a step toward Jesus.

1. For people hostile to the faith, simply do kind things for them to give them a more positive impression of Christians. We do this through random acts of kindness and benevolence outreach ministries like Camp Zion, Hand2Hand, and the Personal Care Pantry. They are all worth doing simply to show the kindness of God to others and they are especially important to begin reaching people who are hostile to the faith.
2. For those who are open Christianity, we need to develop genuine friendships. Not friendships to convert, but friendships based on mutual interest and genuine affection. This requires actively listening to them and taking an interest in their life and showing them the unconditional acceptance of God by your acceptance of them.
3. For those who are not only open, but trust you because you have been a true friend, we need to be ready to ask open ended wondering question that help them begin to think more about Jesus. Questions like, where do you find meaning in your life? Who have been some major influences in your life? Why? Take an interest in understanding their view of the world so you can explain your view of the world and God in a way that will make sense to them.
4. For those who show interest in our faith, we need to new ready to share our hope in Christ. 

Drivers. Irons. Wedge. Putter.

Kindness. Friendship. Wondering. Sharing.

And through it all a whole lot of prayer. On the golf course and when loving people far from God whom we know God loves, too.

Join us Saturday on the course with your friends to depend relationships, maybe ask some wondering questions, and be open to sharing your hope in God. See you Saturday!

Connect to God
While Matthew, Mark, and Luke tell many of the same stories of Jesus, John tells many different stories and in the process give a unique theological view of who Jesus is and how he now calls us to live. We begin our study of John this year by studying the 7 signs of John. The second sign occurs once again in Cana after Jesus returns from celebrating the passover in Jerusalem. The crowds gather looking for signs and wonders in order to believe. But one man comes to Jesus begging for his own sons life and he takes Jesus at his word. Before he sees the sign and wonder, he believes and his boy is healed. We can often be tempted to come to Jesus because of what we can get from him, but even greater things can be done with our lives when we take him at his word.

If you would like a copy of the worship service, you can receive a complete copy by contacting Tom Verbrugge or you can find the weekly messages on our website.

Grow in Community
We extend our sympathy to Mark & Deb Smith, Paul & Mary Polavin, Matt & Sarah Smith and their families as they mourn the passing of their mom/grandma, Betty Dunnette, who passed away on January 3, 2019. Please remember them in your prayers during this difficult time.

This Saturday, January 12, we will once again host Zion Links. This is a great tradition at Zion as we turn our church into a miniature golf course. This event is free for everyone and is an especially easy way to invite your friends or family to a church event and introduce them to Zion. Mini-golf will be open from 12:30 to 3:30. See you there!

Throughout this fall, many people in our church have participated in a 729 Group. These groups commit to meet together for a meal once a month for three months. It is a great way to get to know some new people in church. I have heard numerous people tell me how much they have enjoyed getting to know people in their group. If you are looking to make some new connections over the winter, new to Zion, or wondering who some of these new people are, sign-up through the connections beginning on January 6 for our next round of 729 Groups.

We had a great first week for our women’s exercise class on Monday. Women of all ages participated and made connections with each other. But there is still room for you. Class will begin at 7:30 pm. See you then!

Serve the World
Lifeline Community Church continues to experience slow and steady growth and effective ministry in Wyoming. They are currently planning a mission trip to Guatemala with members from the church from June 19-26. The trip will cost an average of $2,000 per person which for many of their members is a huge cost. To help defray these costs, Benefit Twice will be holding a special sale January 23-26 and March 20-23. This will only be at the Wyoming store in Rogers Plaza, so mark your calendars and do a little shopping for a great cause and some good deals!

Administrative Details
Our next Leaders Meeting will be not be on January 27, but on March 3 from 5-7 pm. 

Our Consistory met on Tuesday evening this week and approved moving ahead with hiring Elevate Studios to create our building remodel plans. There will be opportunity for many people to speak into this process and share their perspective and hopes for our building use in the weeks ahead. 

We continue to thank God for his provision of all of our needs and for the generous support of our congregation with their time, talent, and treasures.
Fiscal Year to date budget: $348,006.40
Fiscal Year to date contributions: $343,600.23