I appreciate your sharing that information. Stop by anytime.

Thanks again!

Mark

Re: Compassion – Once a year, in the spring, CI actually comes out to our church. Several representatives set up tables in the foyer, and they have hundreds of packets containing the pictures and info on all the children who need sponsorship. The packets are divided up into areas of the world. Then you just take one, fill out the info and return it to one of their reps. Other than the once a year “push” for CI, that’s about all we do, unless Matt mentions it in a sermon such as the one you linked to.

The whole Albertson’s thing has been a crazy little journey! I’ll give you a little background…our church bldg is not all that big, and it’s located smack dab in the middle of a neighborhood. Not on a main street or anything like that. We do not advertise – no flyers in mailboxes, no billboards or signs, nothing. But we’ve grown by leaps and bounds since Matt came. I contend that it’s b/c people are hungry for Truth and don’t even realize it. Because that’s what we get – biblical truth. Anyway, we have to turn people away from just about every service. For a time, Matt was preaching 6 services – 2 on Sat and 4 on Sun. But he couldn’t physically keep up that pace – although he’d like to. So we went to video services at the 5:00 and 7:00 Sun services – Flat Matt, as we affectionately call it.

We’ve even annexed a church in Denton and made a 2nd campus. God is just growing The Village. We carefully considered a number of options – land, new church bldg, etc. Our entire congregation was called to prayer and fasting, discussion after discussion – this was not a decision that staff took lightly. Anyway, long story somewhat shorter…this empty Alberton’s bldg was for sale and we were able to purchase it. We were supposed to start renovations in Dec and be in it by next May, but since not enough money has been raised yet, we’ll put off renovations until we get enough to start.

Matt is philosophically against being in debt (well, as little as possible) and all the bells and whistles that so many churches seem to have in their buildings. I am truly grateful for this.

Anyway, I could go on and on…sorry to ramble so much! I hope I’ve answered your questions.

Good words! Thanks for stopping by. I am going to ask a few questions so I hope you don’t mind…I hope you’re still reading.

How did you raise awareness in the church family of ministries like Compassion? Do you all promote things like this through men’s/women’s ministries? (If you have them.)

Did you all raise the money for the new building before buying it to ensure the church would be debt free? I know that expanding and fixing the building can be expensive and churches don’t always wait until all the money is given.

Thanks,

Mark

I have very much appreciated being in a church where the leadership actually endeavors to be obedient to and live by what Scripture teaches. We are crowded, to be sure, and are in the process of moving not to a new building, but to an empty Albertson’s. We bought it with cash, and are raising the monies needed to renovate the inside. Whenever that’s completed, we’ll move in.

My husband and I have the honor of sponsoring two Compassion kids, and it has been a blessing. Nothing warms your heart more than receiving letters from the precious children.

You’re welcome. I hope you enjoy the sermon.

For Him,

Mark

Thanks for posting this. Good stuff. I am downloading the sermon.

Press on,
tom