Church on the Move – A Letter to Meadowland Church

Posted by Pastor_Adam on May 16, 2012 in Church Issues, Meadowland Church, Spiritual Journey, Vision | Comments Off

Dear Meadowland Church,

I LOVE the people who are Meadowland Church. We are in one of those seasons where there is a lot of ministry going on, however if we pause long enough to see the bigger picture the reality is all the hard work, energy, sacrifice and effort that has been done over the past several years is paying off and coming to fruition!

Today I was meditating on Proverbs 6:6-8, “Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise! It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,  yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.”

This proverbs reminds me that:  LITTLE things CONSISTENTLY done over a LONG period of time have MAJOR IMPACT!  Many of the great thing that are happening by God’s Grace are a result of past work, sacrifices, and effort.  Let’s continue to press into Jesus, fight the good fight….considering the ant!!

Here are a few things I want to share with you!

#1.  The infamous well will be undergoing some “maintenance” this friday which will allow us to move forward with the tear down of the parsonage.  This has been in the works for a year now, and we are finally making progress.  This is all a part of our “Unleashing The Vision” campaign here at Meadowland.  Phase #1 is to do the work on the existing well and tear down the house!  Once the work is done on the well, the house will be scheduled for demolition! For all of you have been faithfully/sacrificially giving and praying for and towards this work, THANK YOU!

#2. AREA WIDE FOOD DRIVE- As announced in service the last two Sunday’s, Meadowland Church is partnering with Christ Together and other churches throughout the McHenry county area, in a church wide food drive.  We are asking you to prayerfully consider donating non-perishable food and personal items for this great cause. Donations can be placed in the marked bins by the welcome table.  We will be collecting throughout the month of May with a final collection date of Sunday June 3, 2012.  Next time you are at the store, please pick up some nonperishable food items and bring them to church with you on Sunday!!

#3.  COMBINED WORSHIP ON JUNE 3rd- we will be RELOCATING our 6 pm service to the McHenry West High School join in worship with the other area churches that have participated in the food drive for a huge celebration and worship!  Our regular morning services of 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. will be held at Meadowland Church on that Sunday.  We are still have the 6 pm service……just at the McHenry West High School! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Melissa Groza at mgroza@meadowlandchurch.org.

#4.  THANK YOU-  to all of our amazing members and volunteers, thank you for all you do!  I am seriously blown away by the amount of people who are using their time, energy, gifts, and finances to advance the gospel of Christ through the ministries of Meadowland Church!  I love you and am so thankful for each of you!

I love Meadowland Church and am so excited about what Jesus is doing in and through this Church!

Help Put An End To Hunger In McHenry

Posted by Pastor_Adam on May 3, 2012 in Gospel, Meadowland Church, Ministry, Uncategorized, Vision | Comments Off

I am PUMPED about this opportunity to serve our community while partnering with other churches to help put an end to hunger in McHenry County!

This coming month, May 2012 we are partnering with other churches throughout our area to feed McHenry county.  Simply put we are asking that each family in our church consider picking up and donating some non-perishable food items.  We’ll collect them together here at Meadowland Church and then take them along to McHenry West High School on June 3 where we’ll add what we bring in to the pile of food collected by other local partnering churches.  We’ll wrap things up as we take time to celebrate together at a combined church celebration service that night.  It’s going to be great and I hope you’ll be a part of it!  Imagine hundred, perhaps thousands of pounds of food gathered together by God’s people and given as a blessing to our local food pantries and through them to those with real needs in our community.

What can you do?  Pick up a few extra cans of food each time you are at the grocery store and bring them along with you to Meadowland this month.  Then, plan to join us for a great night of worship together on June 3 at McHenry West High School.

So come on, get involved!  Let’s help put an end to hunger!

6 Things I am Thankful For!

Posted by Pastor_Adam on May 2, 2012 in Uncategorized | Comments Off

The last two months have been absolutely crazy…..in a really good way.

Here are a couple things I am celebrating and thankful for!

1. God’s Faithfulness:  I believe one of the most important roles of a Christian Leader/Pastor is to HEAR what God says and then DO it.  The problem is God usually calls us to uncertain, uncomfortable  places that require faith.  I once heard someone say, “If your vision does not scare you, than it is probably offensive to God”.  Over last 8 weeks God has asked us as a Church to take some incredible steps of faith, and I am so amazed how God ALWAYS COMES THROUGH ON HIS WORD!  God is Faithful (1 Corinthians 1:9)
2. The Launch of the 6 pm Service: I am PUMPED about the launch of the new 6 pm service at Meadowland Church.  As a leadership we believed God was asking us to take a step of faith and open up a new service opportunity for people who might not be able to go to church on Sunday Morning.  The idea of launching a third service was scary.  We had more questions than answers (and probably still do), but we have officially launched the 6 pm service and God is doing an incredible work in and through people’s lives.
3. Our Incredible Volunteers:  I am so thankful for our volunteers. SERIOUSLY, if you are a member or volunteer at Meadowland Church we love you and are so thankful for you!  I have been so impressed with how each of you has stepped up to help launch this new service.  Your hard work and sacrifices do not go unnoticed! If you are a volunteer at Meadowland, you are making and ETERNAL DIFFERENCE and I pray for you weekly!
4. Changed Lives: Over the last 8 weeks we have seen about a dozen people take incredible steps on their spiritual journey.  I have personally had the opportunity to walk alongside people as they SURRENDER their lives to Jesus and call upon Him for Salvation…..THAT NEVER GETS OLD!
5. My AMAZING, LOVING, SMOKIN’ HOT WIFE: Seriously, I could not do what I do and would not be who I am if it were not for my amazing wife. Audrey, if you read this – your love for me and our children is LIFE CHANGING, your support and encouragement is LIFE GIVING, and your commitment to Jesus and His Church INSPIRES ME!  On top of all that you are SMOKIN HOT…..just saying!   You are and always will be the love of my life!
6. I Believe…..THE BEST IS YET TO COME!: I believe the steps God has lead us on the last few months are NOT the destination, rather they are PREPARATION for what’s next!  Jesus said, ” I will build my church”  (Matthew 16:13-18).

How To Respond When Someone Get’s Saved by Jesus

Posted by Pastor_Adam on Mar 29, 2012 in Church Issues, Ministry, Spiritual Journey, Uncategorized, Vision | Comments Off

Recently at Meadowland Church we have been asking people who have accepted Jesus to publicly stand up and come to the front of the sanctuary to receive communion for the first time. In the last two weeks, we have seen SIX people publicly stand up announcing their desire to surrender their lives to Jesus and be saved by him! (THAT NEVER GETS OLD!!)

The Reasons We Are Asking People To Do This Is:

1. We believe life is a journey and no one should have to walk that journey alone.  If you accept Jesus at Meadowland we want you to know that you are not stepping into the kingdom alone, rather you are surrounded by people who love Jesus and love you and are committed to walking the journey with you!
2. The Moment of Salvation is always PERSONAL but was not PRIVATE in the Bible.  The Disciples never said, ” with all heads bowed, and all eyes closed……”.  In fact there was always a public declaration of the personal decision.  Some people were Saved and instantly baptized PUBLICLY (Acts 2:41), others have the details of their conversion recorded forever in scripture.  For example Saul = Acts 9:1-19,  Cornelius and the Gentiles = Acts 10:1-48,   Lydia and her household Acts 16:11-15.
3. By publicly declaring that you have accepted Jesus as your Personal Lord and Savior, you publicly invite other believers to celebrate with you, and walk alongside you on the journey.

So the questions is: How Should I Respond When Someone Is Saved In My Church?

1. Celebrate: Seriously, as a Christ Follower nothing (not even your team winning the Superbowl) should be as exciting as witnessing someone get saved by Jesus.   At Meadowland we invite you…we EXPECT you to make some noise and celebrate that the TOMB IS EMPTY and our Great God is still in the business of SAVING People!
2. Congratulate: Take a moment after the service to congratulate someone on their decision to follow Jesus! Say something as simple as, ” So happy for you” or “Welcome to the Family”.  Here is what is most important, just be you and let the person know you are excited about what is happening in their life!
3. Communicate: If you have the opportunity to witness someone enter the kingdom of God, take some time to talk to them about it.  Introduce yourself, offer to walk the journey with them, invite them to a ministry event, your small group, or have them over for dinner.
4. Cooperate: One of the greatest things you could do to encourage a new believer is says something like, ” You are now on a journey, and you will never have to walk that journey alone” and then do it. Give them your phone number, your email address and check in on them from time.  You very well could be a catalyst in that person’s life simply by offering to be there for them, answer their questions, or help them on the journey by investing in them through starting a Christ-Centered relationship with them.

Witnessing people get saved by Jesus NEVER GETS OLD!  At Meadowland Church, I hope we can create an environment where people meet Jesus and then are embraced by other believers who will invest in their spiritual journey!

So next time someone publicly raises their hand or comes forward indicating they have been saved by Jesus, don’t let there be a moment of awkward silence!

Celebrate like crazy!

Congratulate your new Brother or Sister in Christ!

Communicate with them!

Cooperate with what God is doing by offering to walk alongside people on their spiritual journey!

One Invite May Change a Life

Posted by Pastor_Adam on Mar 27, 2012 in Gospel, Meadowland Church, Ministry, Spiritual Journey, Uncategorized | Comments Off

Did you know that studies show that 8 out 10 people will say “YES” to an Easter Invite?  Seriously, right now is the time to start inviting people you know to attend church with you during the Easter Season!  You will never know what God will do with an invitation until you make it!

Who has God put in your life that you could be inviting to church with you?  Now is the time to make the ask!

In fact there are several opportunities coming up at Meadowland Church for you to invite people to:

• Psalm Sunday  (This Sunday, April 1st)  - some of the kids from the Children’s Ministry will be performing during the service!
• Good Friday (April 6th)  - we will have services at both 5 pm and 7 pm.
• Easter Sunday (April 8th) – on Easter Sunday we have three service opportunities – 8 am – 9:30 am  - 11:15 am. We will be offering Baptisms at all three services!!

I believe we have an incredible opportunity to see lives changed by Jesus this Easter Season.  So take a risk, make an ask, and remember you will never know what God will do with an invitation until you make it!  FOUND PEOPLE FIND PEOPLE!

Read More

We Are Adding Another Service!!

Posted by Pastor_Adam on Mar 15, 2012 in Church Issues, Meadowland Church, Ministry, Sunday Stuff, Vision | Comments Off

Just in case you missed it, last Sunday (March 11th) we announced that we are adding another service time here at Meadowland.  Our heart is to see lives changed by Jesus and disciples made.  As we continue to follow Jesus, we believe our next step is to open up another service time to invite more people to hear about Jesus and have the opportunity to be surrounded by other people as they take the next step on their spiritual journey.

We will still have 9:00 am and 11:00 am Sunday Morning Service Times.  Beginning April 15th, our new service will begin meeting SUNDAY EVENINGS @ 6:00 pm, as we launch our New Sermon Series – “CowTipping”! 

We believe God is calling us to take this “faith – filled, bet the farm” step as we follow him!

Here are some ways you could help:

• Please pray for us as we begin to work out all the details
• Please help spread the word about the 6:00 pm Service time
•  We are still looking for volunteers to help at the 3rd service!

We are excited to see what Jesus will do as we continue to follow him!!

Prayer Night – Sunday, March 4th

Posted by Pastor_Adam on Feb 29, 2012 in Church Issues, Meadowland Church, Ministry, Prayer, Spiritual Journey | Comments Off

I seriously believe God wants to do something incredible in and through the people who are Meadowland Church (you can read more about that here).  I also believe that for any of this to happen we need to HEAR WHAT GOD SAYS and then DO WHAT GOD SAYS  according to HIS – GRACE, LEADING and POWER.

I believe our God is a Powerful God !

I believe our God still Answers Prayers!

In fact we are encouraged in Ephesians 3:12 that we can approach God with confidence. Jesus tells us in Luke 11:5-13 that we can and should pray big bold prayers persistently because God wants to bless us with good things.

• God STILL answers prayers!
• God DESIRES to see Lives Changed by Jesus!
• God still  HEALS people!
• God still performs Miracles!

That is what I want to personally invite you to Prayer Night this Sunday, March 4th at Meadowland Church!  Here are a few details:

Prayer Time:

• We will host prayer from 5:00 – 6:00 pm
• You can come whenever and pray as long or as little as you want
• Some of our Elders will be available if you would like to be prayed for
• You will not be forced to pray out loud!  We are more interested in you communication with God, than worrying about impressing people
• We will provide you with ideas, prayer requests and scripture – our hope is you could use these as a spring board.
• The nursery will be open for childcare
• We will be hosting prayer night every 1st Sunday of the Month

Dinner: 

• After prayer you are invited to join us for a meal downstairs that has been provided by one of our small groups from 6:00-7:00pm
• This will be a great opportunity to get to know some people over a meal
• Kids are welcome at the dinner

So join us this Sunday, March 4th from 5-7:00 pm!  Let’s Pray Bold Prayers, Expecting God to do Big things!!

• Pray for one another
• Pray for our community
• Pray for healing
• Pray for families
• Pray for our country

He (Jesus) said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,…… Matthew 21:13