From the Pastor's DeskPastor Marlene Steenburg
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September 2017
What Is God Up To At MPBC?
What a couple of months it has been. Summer is usually the time to rest and relax and take things easy. Obviously, we did not get that message! In June, we hosted a summer carnival in our parking lot. At the very end of July and the beginning of August we did Vacation Bible School. Towards the end of August we had a very special baptism.
I know sometimes we get discouraged because our little church is not overrun with visitors and our attendance at Sunday morning worship remains pretty much the same. What we don’t realize sometimes is that God doesn’t care about numbers. He cares more about people. Our job, as His children, really is to be the messenger about the Good News of Jesus Christ.
So how powerful is the God we serve? Do you remember what happened at the summer carnival? We didn’t have money to do fancy ads in the newspapers and TV. All we could do was some nifty colored fliers (thanks to the Hirst family) to spread the word. And the fliers caught people’s attention. If you recall from our June newsletter, we were overrun with children in our parking lot. What was the purpose of the summer carnival? To spread the word about Vacation Bible School so children could be exposed to the truth. And guess what? Not one but two TV stations showed up at the carnival unannounced and actually, as part of the interviews they did with us, broadcasted our upcoming VBS program! Wow! And, as an extra blessing, the children that came strongly got the message that people who love Jesus can have a lot of fun!
Did it work? Our numbers at VBS were double what they were last year! Everything the children participated in was coordinated with the Bible story for the evening, even the snacks! That took a lot of work to do that and people to do it but our awesome God brought the two churches together and we were covered. And do you want to hear even more good news? Most of the children who came we did not know! We also noticed something different this year. Last year the parents dropped off the children and left immediately and came to get them at the very end. This year we were surprised to see many of the parents stay for the opening session as well as the closing session. Not only did the children hear the message of the Good News, so did the parents! That’s what happened at VBS this year!
And, then came August 20. It was a very special day for us at Memorial Park. Over the past several years, we have prayed, cried, talked to, and you name it over a gentleman caught up in the thrones of addiction. If we are honest, there were times we thought the chains that bound him would never break. But guess what? I John 4: 4 remind us that greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world! One year ago, Rob fully surrendered to God and on his one-year anniversary; we baptized him on August 20. The lesson we learned is never give up on someone. Keep praying. Keep in touch. Keep encouraging. Keep loving. God will and does answer prayers! It was a very special day indeed not only for Rob but also for us.
What a summer! We may be small but God obviously has a plan for our church to continue to be a witness in the Vestal community. And I, for one, am so blessed to have such a congregation willing to step out in faith to do what needs to be done! Thank you for all that you do at Memorial Park. It is making a difference!
See you on Sunday and bring someone! They too need to know just how much God loves them.
Blessings,
Pastor Marlene
I know sometimes we get discouraged because our little church is not overrun with visitors and our attendance at Sunday morning worship remains pretty much the same. What we don’t realize sometimes is that God doesn’t care about numbers. He cares more about people. Our job, as His children, really is to be the messenger about the Good News of Jesus Christ.
So how powerful is the God we serve? Do you remember what happened at the summer carnival? We didn’t have money to do fancy ads in the newspapers and TV. All we could do was some nifty colored fliers (thanks to the Hirst family) to spread the word. And the fliers caught people’s attention. If you recall from our June newsletter, we were overrun with children in our parking lot. What was the purpose of the summer carnival? To spread the word about Vacation Bible School so children could be exposed to the truth. And guess what? Not one but two TV stations showed up at the carnival unannounced and actually, as part of the interviews they did with us, broadcasted our upcoming VBS program! Wow! And, as an extra blessing, the children that came strongly got the message that people who love Jesus can have a lot of fun!
Did it work? Our numbers at VBS were double what they were last year! Everything the children participated in was coordinated with the Bible story for the evening, even the snacks! That took a lot of work to do that and people to do it but our awesome God brought the two churches together and we were covered. And do you want to hear even more good news? Most of the children who came we did not know! We also noticed something different this year. Last year the parents dropped off the children and left immediately and came to get them at the very end. This year we were surprised to see many of the parents stay for the opening session as well as the closing session. Not only did the children hear the message of the Good News, so did the parents! That’s what happened at VBS this year!
And, then came August 20. It was a very special day for us at Memorial Park. Over the past several years, we have prayed, cried, talked to, and you name it over a gentleman caught up in the thrones of addiction. If we are honest, there were times we thought the chains that bound him would never break. But guess what? I John 4: 4 remind us that greater is He that is in us than He that is in the world! One year ago, Rob fully surrendered to God and on his one-year anniversary; we baptized him on August 20. The lesson we learned is never give up on someone. Keep praying. Keep in touch. Keep encouraging. Keep loving. God will and does answer prayers! It was a very special day indeed not only for Rob but also for us.
What a summer! We may be small but God obviously has a plan for our church to continue to be a witness in the Vestal community. And I, for one, am so blessed to have such a congregation willing to step out in faith to do what needs to be done! Thank you for all that you do at Memorial Park. It is making a difference!
See you on Sunday and bring someone! They too need to know just how much God loves them.
Blessings,
Pastor Marlene
