JANUARY 2005

Dear members and friends of Mt. Olive,

You will be seeing him everywhere! He’ll have a camera in one hand and a microphone in the other! He’ll be taking pictures, gathering video, and recording audio of worship services, Bible classes, fellowship activities – you name it – he’ll be there! If it’s happening at Mt. Olive or involving Mt. Olive members, he’ll capture it digitally!

So what is Ryan Young up to? He’s gathering data for a DVD that will be produced in Deltona, Florida for our congregation. The DVD will first be shown in every Mt. Olive home. A team of volunteers from the congregation is being assembled so that every family in every home will have the opportunity to see and hear how the Lord has blessed us in the past, and how we can all work together to continue to harvest His blessings in the future.

The DVD will then be used to share with our neighborhood, visitors to Mt. Olive, and prospective members, the exciting opportunities our Lord has placed before us. It will invite them to become a part of our family and share in our ministry.

This is just one of many opportunities the Outreach Committee is planning for 2005. The committee is very serious about carrying out Jesus’ Great Commission because they understand the serious consequences for those who do not believe in Jesus. They recognize that there is absolutely no greater tragedy than for a person to die – and wake up in hell. A tragedy that is averted by faith in Christ Jesus.

However, the God of heaven and earth has not promised to send down angels to share the Good News of Jesus with our friends and neighbors. He has instead chosen to send people – people like you and me.

Please understand that it is the committee’s responsibility to provide the ministry opportunities, plans, training, etc., to reach out with the Gospel, but it is the entire congregation’s privilege to carry out those plans. Just as Jesus’ commission to “go into all the world” was not meant only for that little band of original disciples, (nor would that have been possible,) so it is not a committee charged to do outreach, but all Christians.

Another ministry opportunity being planned is our February 13^th “Bring a Friend to Church Sunday”. Now we’ve had such special Sundays before, but they have been disappointing. Why? Well, frankly, because most of you didn’t bring any friends! That will be different this time around! We ask all of you to pray and prepare and plan – and the Lord will grant us a very special day!

So why should we be concerned about reaching out to others with the Word of God? The obvious has already been stated: there is absolutely no greater tragedy than for a person to die – and wake up in hell.

But there’s another reason. The Lord richly blesses a congregation when new people become a part of the family. Case in point: the man behind the camera and carrying the microphone. Ryan and his wife, Angela, (she’ll be at Ryan’s side toting a camera or recorder, too!) are relatively new to Mt. Olive. But they aren’t reluctant recruits for this project. They are enthusiastic, eager, and excited to share the love and life of Jesus. Willing workers for the Kingdom! What a blessing!

Under God’s blessing, 2005 will be a year of personal as well as numeric growth for Mt. Olive. And you’ll be a part of the blessing!

Oh, and don’t forget to smile for the camera!

Pastor Carl Henkel