Dear Members,
We are pleased to announce that six men have announced their willingness to serve this congregation as her elders. The men are Glenn Buffington, Charlie Dauphin, James Hinkle, Butch Jack, Jeff Kuhns, and Stan Whitfield. Read more »
Verse of the DayDear Members,
We are pleased to announce that six men have announced their willingness to serve this congregation as her elders. The men are Glenn Buffington, Charlie Dauphin, James Hinkle, Butch Jack, Jeff Kuhns, and Stan Whitfield. Read more »
Today is the deadline for men to submit their names for consideration to become elders—shepherds of God’s flock at this church. It is an exciting day because it brings us one step closer to what we could and should be as a congregation.
To the men who are considering volunteering, I urge you to bathe this decision in prayer, seek good council, and be willing to stand up and take this wonderful responsibility. The future of this church is in your hands.
To the men, women, and children who will be serving alongside these men, let me tell you that they need encouragement. Elijah had down days. Moses grew weary. Jesus wept. Our leaders are no different. They need your encouragement. A healthy church is full of encouragers. As important as knowledge is, love matters more. “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up!” (1 Corinthians 8:1)
Mark Twain said, “I can live for two months on a good compliment.” William Arthur Ward said, “Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me, and I may be forced to love you!”
I really like this one: “Remember, man does not live on bread alone; sometimes he needs a little buttering up!”
We need to be encouragers. Today, encourage the next generation of this church’s leadership. In a few months, encourage them as they settle into the task of shepherding this flock. Your honest and loving words will make an eternal difference.
Dear Members,
As you are aware, we are at the beginning of a process to select and appoint elders for the congregation. An open meeting was held at the building on Sunday, July 11 at 4:30 to determine the best process to identify and appoint elders. At the meeting, those attending reached a consensus regarding this process. This letter contains a description of this process and instructions for your participation. A group of four men, our current ministers (James Hinkle and Matthew Hiatt) and deacons (John Gabriel and Charlie Dauphin), will serve as a “resource committee” for this process.
If you are interested in becoming an elder, please present a signed note stating your intentions to one of these men, or place it in the locked box available in the foyer. This letter is due by the evening of Sunday, August 1. Read more »
The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you. Titus 1:5
It was always Paul’s custom to appoint elders as soon as he founded a church (Acts 14:23). He understood that leadership was the key to the stability and faithfulness of any church. He did not found any super organization that would control all the churches. There is little organization in the New Testament other than the local church.
Paul left Titus in Crete to get the organization of the church on stable ground. This was to be done by selecting leaders who could give this stability. Titus was to take the lead in getting this done as evangelist for the churches on Crete. Homer spoke of “Crete of the hundred cities.” Paul was concerned that the churches on Crete stand as autonomous as possible.
The Burns church is at the door of appointing new elders to lead this church for the next generation. We need to set in order the things that are lacking and ordain elders for this church. It is a sacred undertaking and one we approach with greatest pray and care.
On July 11 at 4:30 in the afternoon we will have a special meeting of interested members of this church to discuss the process that we want to use to bring this church up to par for leaders. We are asking that all members who have special interest in this process to meet in the technology room for this meeting.
We hope to move back in the direction of having elders to lead this church and you are important to this goal. Please make yourself available for this meeting today at 4:30
