The Foray

An Exciting Meeting!

  I know, I know. Sounds oxymoronic, doesn't it? But it really was an exciting meeting tonight with some of this year's Community Group leaders! The enthusiasm is growing as our groups prepare to get underway, beginning with the C.G. Kickoff this Sunday night (6pm) in the Ministry Center auditorium.

The prospect this year of being able to invite Sunday morning guests to Sunday afternoon/evening Community Groups has our group leaders fired up. We think it's going to be the perfect bridge for helping Sunday morning guests get to know people in the church. "We're grilling out tonight and doing some Bible learning afterwards. How about coming along?"

For one thing, Sunday night Community Groups mean we're going to be a lot more deliberate in trying to connect (meaningfully) with our Sunday morning guests each week. Personally, when new people visit MVB, I hope they get multiple invites from smiling, enthusiastic, joyful church members. Beats the heck out of "I-went-to-that-church-and-nobody-said-a-word-to-me." (By the way, Tim Keller's book, The Prodigal God, will be our starter text for 2009 -- and it's outstanding!)

Can't wait to hear a bunch of exciting reports from this year's groups! It'll be neat to see what the Lord does.

Greg

PS Remember that I'll be leading an interactive Bible study on Sunday nights at 6pm in the Fellowship Hall (complete with coffee!) for anybody who wishes to come. Mike Kean will get the ball rolling for this week, as I'll be on my way back from a trip to D.C. with my dad.

Way to go, church! You came through!

This past Sunday morning at the end of our worship gathering, we presented a practical opportunity for the people of MVB to "follow Jesus into the world" through an act of "creative goodness": a love offering for a family in need. 

And you came through!   

This afternoon it will be my good pleasure to put a $750 check in the hands of this family. What a blessing it will be for them, as their need is as urgent as it is serious.

You know what? I'm just guessing, but I suspect that a few years from now (for some of us, a few months), we'll have forgotten that we ever gave to this love offering. 

But Someone else will still remember!

"And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded" (Matthew 10:42; NLT).

Way to go, church! You not only blessed a family in need, but you also honored our King!

And he says that he won't ever forget!

Greg

Sunday Evening at Bethel Bible Village

We had a fantastic Sunday evening at Bethel! Thanks to everyone who turned out to encourage some kids dealing with some very discouraging situations. From all appearances, everybody had a really good time! The giant ball at the volleyball net was a smashing success. The football and basketball games looked like a lot of fun. And I can personally attest to the fun on the tennis courts.

I especially appreciate Walt Kean and Ryan Schorle for handling the grilling responsibilities. The mammoth-sized grill that Ryan was able to get (used 50 pounds of charcoal) was perfect for the occasion, as were Walt's burger and hot dog flipping techniques. And I want to thank all of our outstanding ladies who helped with the plates, forks, napkins, chips, and drinks. It was a great TEAM effort that succeeded wonderfully for the kids and team at Bethel.

From the conversations I had with Myron (Exec. Dir) and various Bethel staff and house parents, the church's effort Sunday evening to throw the kids a special holiday picnic was deeply appreciated. It gave the kids something to look forward to and enjoy.

Isn't it exciting how God is turning the vision of MVB outward? As I said Sunday morning, it's kind of weird, but nonetheless true: If you want to be your best self, find ways to serve others. I don't quite understand why that is, but I'm sure it has something to do with what our Lord said: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." 

Thanks, church! Awesome job!

Greg  

MVB's Prayer-Walking 20

A great group of about 20 come out to Gann's yesterday evening to walk the halls and pray for the school. We prayed for the teachers to be blessed in their classrooms and personal lives. We prayed for the students to meet with success in learning. We prayed for their parents and families to know peace and joy. We prayed for the custodian, the lunchroom staff, and of course Principal Hollis and her administrative team. Finally, we stood as a group at the front door and prayed that no "rage or violence" would enter the school this year.

We also asked the Lord to lay upon our hearts practical ways that we might be able to help Gann's this year. We've already learned that volunteers are "badly needed" to help children with reading and math. A teacher at Gann's told me that, if we would let her know, she would gladly work with the volunteer's schedule if that volunteer could take 30-60 minutes once a week just to listen to a child read.

Might you be able to do something like this? If so, let us know by contacting the church office. We will then contact the teachers and share with them whatever time you tell us that you can be available. In coordination with the school, we'll arrange a time for you and some students to do some learning together. (I say "learning together" because, from my own experience in working with children at Ganns, the learning is a two-way street.)

Volunteering time with struggling students in a public school setting is an example of what I mean when I talk about "following Jesus into the world."

Greg

"My Name is Brian."

What amazing things we heard yesterday morning! To hear a man, once filled with the deepest loathing for himself and others, say very simply and quietly in peace, "My name is Brian ..." was tremendous! What a work of God's grace! Whenever you've spent decades telling yourself that you and other human beings are worth absolutely NOTHING, and acting in a self-destructive fashion that lines up with what you've told yourself, to stand before a group of 300+ people and speak as Brian did yesterday  ... WOW! What can you say?!

Can you imagine spending 4 months locked in an 8'x10' "box" (as Brian described his prison cell), with no human contact? One mom told me afterward that her daughter asked, "Mom, how big is that?" to which she replied, "Honey, our living room rug is 8'X10'." If you have such a sized rug at home, take a look at it later and try to imagine staying inside the boundaries of that rug for 4 months without seeing or hearing another human being, without being able to see anything beyond those limits.

WHY, after all Brian has experienced and endured, is he not raging with bitterness and wrath today? Because, as he said yesterday, lying in that box with his Bible on his chest, he cried out in the night to God for mercy -- and our Lord Jesus delivered!

"To GOD be the glory, GREAT things he has done!"

Thank you, Brian, for sharing your story with us. You testified clearly to God's power and grace, conveying an extremely credible message of hope. And the One who wrote your story and saved you in it was glorified!

Bless you, dear brother!

Greg  

Brian Allen at MVB This Sunday: Tell Somebody!

A remarkable thing is about to happen at MVB: Brian Allen will share his story this Sunday morning (9am). A couple of months ago, I had the opportunity of sitting with Brian and listening to a fairly complete account of his life. What I heard was, in a word, STUNNING! And I believe that you will similarly describe what you hear.

Please tell somebody that Brian will be sharing this Sunday and invite them to be your guest.

Think about it (especially those of you who have long attended a local church): Occasions like this are exceedingly rare.

Don't miss it!

Greg

PS Pray that the Spirit will get hold of the hearts of all who listen and lead them to adore and follow the Lord Jesus Christ.

Greatly Encouraged So Far by the Response

... to our new schedule, that is!

I've checked with the rest of the leadership team at MVB, and we've heard nothing but positive comments so far. 

Maybe this indicates that my plea for the new schedule to be given "an honest, prayerful chance to work" is being answered in the okay.

Honestly, whenever any change is introduced anywhere, I don't blame anyone for having questions -- even for disagreeing. As a leader, however, I must admit that I'm always grateful to be given the proverbial "benefit of the doubt," for I do indeed study and pray about any change we implement. Not that I'm incapable of making a mistake (We all know better!), but after 5+ years in the MVB pastorate, at least folks should know that it's not my typical pattern to "go off half-cocked." (I hope I'm not flattering myself in this assessment.)

Anyhow, please keep praying for God's blessing when the new schedule starts Sept 13 and for those of us who are charged with leading a local church that is most precious to Him.

Greg

PS If you don't know what I'm talking about, see my letter about the new schedule (here).

More on the "Heart to Heart" Conference at MVB

This just in from Janie Ghaffari:

Hello Ladies -
Isn't it awesome when God shows off!!   That is just what He did last night.  I am totally overwhelmed by God's goodness to us!  Donna was such an inspiration to me and I left with a renewed heart towards prayer.   I hope each of you who attended were blessed by the evening.   Our prayer all along has been that God would bless those in attendance and raise up an army of praying women at MVBC!

To those of you who were not able to attend - we appreciate your prayers for the evening.   If you would like a CD of the evening and a prayer notebook, you can call the church office for details (842 - 1911) or contact me. 

To those of you who were able to attend - I would love to hear from you.   I would love to know what your thoughts are from last night, how God spoke to you, anything that is on your heart. 

Ladies - it is a privilege to serve our King with ladies such as you.  

Janie

 

For His Children,

Janie Ghaffari

Chattanooga Area Coordinator
Compassion International

Janie, you and James, and your precious children, are a remarkable blessing to MVB! God continues to encourage and bless his church through you all. I thank God for that day when, moving from Memphis to Chattanooga (several years ago now), you were searching for a house, and James said, "Let's turn down this road and see what we can find." What you found turned out to be your new home in Middle Valley -- and ultimately your new church home at MVB!

I'm so grateful for God's guidance in your lives; it has blessed our lives!

Greg

My Conversation with Jenny about the "Heart to Heart" Conference

I just got off the phone with Jenny Crawley in regards to the women's conference last night at MVB. I could hear the excitement in her voice. I asked Jenny for permission to share some of her thoughts here on the Foray about the evening and she graciously consented.

Jenny described it (and I'm paraphrasing) as "a peaceful atmosphere, a loving atmosphere. The songs that Candice picked out were perfect and the globe team was wonderful -- you know, women just love candles. Donna spoke so powerfully about women's issues (children, husbands, friends) and about how important our relationship is with God, to make an appointment with him in reading our Bible and praying, and to actually KEEP it."

And can you believe this? Jenny said that the approximately 150 ladies who participated last night collected a $900 love offering for Donna, plus almost $800 in donations to the ladies ministry for notebooks and CDs! And Jenny was particularly struck by the fact that, when the conference was over, so many ladies "stayed, visited, and fellowshiped together, even though it was just two days from the beginning of school!"

Jenny's final comments were, "We were greatly encouraged. It was all of God, and we want HIM to have the glory and the praise. We want to do those 'perfect will' things of God in the days to come."

Greg

Wow -- 132 Cars in the Parking Lot!

Way to go, ladies! I counted 132 cars in the parking lot for tonight's conference! That many cars means a really big number in attendance. Can't wait to hear a report! I'll put it up here just as soon as I get some news!

What an amazing thing God has brought about at MVB -- and in such short order! Impressive are his works!

Greg