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Pastor's Blog
25 January 2012
Greetings everyone!
One week to launch! It's hard to believe
that "The Island Church" will meet as a church the first time
just one week from tonight! A lot has been going on since my last
e-mail:
+ Yard signs should be delivered today. We
will start placing them around town by week's end.
+ We've received a new daily devotional
called "Words of Hope" that is a similar format to our daily
bread, but seems to be more in-depth. We're also awaiting some
additional resources that will be available next week.
+ My first Ile Camera article will run
this Friday, along with an interview with the editor, Lena Khzouz (pray
that the interview turns out well. Lena has always been kind to me as a
pastor, but you know how interviews can go! LOL)
+ Our ad this Friday will contain a QR
code. That is the weird looking graphic with dots and dashes. Scan it
with a smart phone and it takes you to a specific page on our web site.
It lets us track how many people actually look at the page.
Interestingly, I don't think advertisers in the Camera use these, so it
will make us stand out.
+ We've received a daily devotional that
will work well with children and teens, something I was never able to
track down before!
+ We're on the radar of SmileFM (the
"official" Christian music station of "The Island
Church"), and Paul Edwards from WLQV 1500 (the "official"
Christan talk station of The Island Church). I'm hoping for an interview
on the air with Paul.
+ We're set up with Gordon's Food Service,
Hobby Lobby, Crafts 2000, Amazon, Christian Book, and you can link your Meijer
1 or Meijer credit card to us (122515) and we'll receive a percentage of
your purchase (we don't see what you purchase, btw).
+ We've settled on a logo that will be
used in advertising and communication (see below)
+ I meet with the Island Clergy today for
the first time (in 9 months), and will explain our concept. So far,
their feedback has been positive.
The other night Ronda and I went to the
clubhouse and worked out the initial configuration for "The Island
Church" meetings... it's going to look great, with lots of room
both for comfort sitting and table sitting.
A couple things we're looking for:
> Large white marker board (3'x4' or
so) and an easel
> An LCD projector
We have business-sized invitation cards, 4
x 6 invitation cards, and will have 1/3 handbills and yard signs
available for your use. If you would like some before Wednesday, let me
know and I'll drop some by.
Well, I suppose I should wrap this up.
Remember we are set up with Paypal to receive online donations as well
as by-mail, and all donations are tax-deductible. For more information
go to www.TheIslandChurch.net/donate.htm.
Thanks!
One last, very important thing: PRAY
for this new venture! We are engaged in spiritual warfare (Ephesians
6.10-19). We are about to embark on a journey that will encroach on the
enemy's territory.
Who will you invite to join you on this
journey?
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9 January 2012
Greetings everyone, and welcome to 2012... the year we launch "The Island Church"!
Today I started putting up flyers around town, and the response was very positive! One young lady (18ish) overheard me say the name of the church at Kathy's, and she said to a friend, "I would like to go to The Island Church". She saw me look her way and said, "I wasn't being rude". I told her about the church, and she was very interested. I gave her some info with the web site on it (www.TheIslandChurch.net). She seemed very excited, was even excited about meeting on Wednesday nights, and said to her girlfriend as I walked away, "I've got a church to go to!".
Folks, the more I talk to people about this concept, and even just a new church, the more convinced I am that there is a need for "The Island Church". Ronda
and I visited a church in Carleton yesterday and the pastor gave a passionate plea to his people about how church has become so much "Christian entertainment" rather than "developing fully devoted followers of Christ". AMEN!
Launch is just 23 days away! All the little details are being whittled away, and we'll be ready on February 1st to welcome (hopefully) you and anyone you'd like to bring/drag along with you! We have a phone number (734.469.7716), and mailing address (PO Box 54, Grosse Ile, MI 48138), an account at PNC Bank (thanks to the fine folks there, btw -- NO fees of any kind!), and we'll be placing our first advertisements in the Ile Camera and other spots later this week as well as ordering signage to be placed out on Wednesdays. We've even received the key to the Colony Clubhouse, and are paid up through July! P.T.L.!
Now, may I ask you a couple
favors?
1. Will you pray for this? We can do all the marketing, and the preparations, and all the planning, but "Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is useless..." (Psalm 127.1
NLT)
2. Will you prayerfully consider who you know that might benefit from this? Maybe someone who thinks the roof of a church would cave in if they entered it; Maybe someone who has said, "I'll never step foot in a church again"; Maybe someone who just has stopped looking for a church; or Maybe someone who has just dropped out. Invite them. Bring them along with you (if that's what it takes). I believe with all my heart there is a need for this ministry. But the story has to be told, the invitation has to be given.
May God bless us as we work in His Kingdom for His Glory...
In Christ,
John Russell
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30 December 2011
We are now set up to take
online contributions via PayPal! These tax deductible contributions are
currently one-time contributions via debit/credit card. If you are
interested in a regular, ongoing contribution, please contact me at john@rjassociates.com.
-- Pastor John
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27 December 2011
Greetings everyone... I hope you had a great Christmas with friends and family!
Just a brief update on "The Island Church":
We have filed the papers with the State of Michigan!We have obtained a Federal Tax ID number!
We have a mailing address! (The Island Church, PO Box 54, Grosse Ile, MI 48138)
We have a place to start meeting! (The Colony Clubhouse on Macomb)
We have a launch date! (Wednesday, February 1st, 2012)
We are looking forward to begin meeting on Wednesday nights from 7:00-8:30, and promotion will start in another two weeks, getting the word out about Grosse Ile's newest church!
We definitely need people to pray for this new venture! Even if you don't plan to attend, will you pray for it? We're reaching out to people who don't go to church, or have stopped going to church; at the same time challenging Christians to live their faith 24/7 and be equipped to share it, explain it, and defend it.
We are also ready to accept tax-deductible donations to "The Island Church". In fact, if we receive any donations postmarked by 31 December, they would be deductible on your 2011 taxes! The two biggest items we need to cover is the first 6 months rent on the clubhouse (just $750), and the cost of advertising (pricing varies). If you care to contribute, checks can be made out to "The Island Church" and mailed to PO Box 54, Grosse Ile, MI 48138.
The next steps are to get a phone number, some banners and signs to put out on Macomb on Wednesdays, and church insurance. Many more items are on the checklist, but I've prioritized them so we can get off and running!
We continue to hear positive buzz about the new church. We're thankful for the opportunity that lies before us, and look forward with great anticipation to see what God is going to do with us and through us!
May God richly bless you and your family in 2012!
-- Pastor John
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