Dear Church Family,
Happy New Year! 2020 has come to a close and we now must look to 2021 to be a year of Spiritual growth and impact for our church family. We are a blessed people! Life must move forward, and it will. This is a good time for evaluation. If you are like me, you are holding on to the promises of God. This coming Sunday, I’ll be sharing a passage of Scripture that I believe contains the most wonderful promise from the Lord for His children. Don’t miss this coming Sunday either online or in-person as we look at this strategic passage of Scripture.
On Sunday, January 10th, Paul Worcester will be preaching in our morning service. Paul is the newly appointed strategist for all Collegiate work for Southern Baptists. He has been a church planter and has been used by God to equip hundreds of individuals and churches in evangelism and discipleship across the country. He has impacted many on our campuses here in Gainesville, through his conference speaking and example. We are privileged to have Paul here to speak to our church family.
The Life Impact Conference will be Jan. 6-9 here at North Central. Students are coming back into town early to participate in this regional conference. We are honored to host this impactful event. I want our folks to know that you can participate in the entire conference for a deeply discounted fee of $25 (this doesn’t include meals) OR you can come free of charge to the large group meetings in the evenings, Wednesday through Friday. The speakers are amazing. This is a who’s who of Collegiate ministry experts who are passionate about reaching college students and others for Jesus. The principles shared are transferable to all of us. You will not be disappointed. Why not come for each of the evening services?
Our teenagers are signing up for their DNOW weekend, scheduled for Jan. 15-17.Brother Kris Woods has put together an amazing event for our students. He has put in place all of the proper protocols for the safety of your students and their leaders. Dan Elkins, who works with College students and youth at Fruit Cove Baptist in Jacksonville, will be the speaker. I’ve known Dan for more than two decades. He and I served together in youth work in Jacksonville, prior to my coming to North Central. Our youth will love Dan and his passion for Jesus. Parents can get more information and sign up their students online at www.gatorchurch.com.
At the writing of this article, North Central has given over $69,000.00 to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for Foreign Missions! This is most likely the largest Lottie Moon Offering we have ever given! We believe in the work of our International Mission Board, as they train and send hundreds of missionaries worldwide. I want to encourage you to give monthly to this offering. We always emphasize it at Christmas but you can send funds to this offering all year long. Years ago, I was challenged by a member of our North Central family to give to the Lottie Moon offering monthly. This is an amount over and above your regular tithe to the budget that you can give. It allows you to give all year long and helps us reach our Christmas goal. Thank you for your faithful giving to our church budget and to special offerings like Lottie Moon.
I want you to be praying for John and Mollie Wells and their rapidly approaching ministry launch to Malawi. This African nation is in great need of the gospel. God has called John and Mollie (and Paris) out of our fellowship to go take the gospel to them. We are so thankful for their heart to go. We want to do all that we can to help them go. We are committing some of our Missions budget to this cause but also wanted to give you an opportunity to give to a special offering to help them launch. We will take this offering beginning on January 17th and give it through the last Sunday of February. Please mark your special offering for Malawi Missions.
What an exciting year this will be. We are hitting the ground running, as I’ve heard it said, with opportunities to share Jesus and bring people into our church community. Please be on the lookout for those who need Jesus. Let’s make an eternal difference this year!
God Bless You,
