Category: Leadership

During the month of October we have noticed a sharp increase in the number of people asking for financial help. We have processed well over 20 applications this month. That does not include the phone calls we get just asking if we can help.

What I am noticing is that many other organizations do not have the resources to help people and are referring them to NewPointe Community Church. As things get tougher economically, not only do individuals and families struggle more but non-profit agencies and small businesses struggle as well. If you were having problems before the downturn, it is amplified now.

I see our Helps ministry as a way to show the love of Christ to hurting people. Financial problems are usually just a symptom of much deeper problems. People come looking for help to pay a bill, but there are many other bigger problems below the surface. The way we try to help these families and individuals is to help them learn new behaviors and stop bad behaviors.

We first have an application that must be filled out and we get a copy of their drivers license. If they do not attend NewPointe, we require that they attend two services before we give them any assistance. Once they have met those requirements we give a limited amount of assistance. After that we try to get them to meet with a financial counselor to help them fill out a budget and put a plan together. If they are willing to do that we will consider future help. If they do not, then we will not give any more assistance.

For people that really want to make a change, we work very hard to help them and equip them to get a grip on their finances. We also try to encourage them spiritually and emotionally.

This ministry can only happen if people donate to our Helps Fund. All of that money goes directly to families and individuals in need. We collect money at our First Wednesday service that we hold once per month. The next service is next week November 5th at 7:00 pm.

Nearly all the people looking for help are willing to come to two church services. Some cannot because of transportation issues. We believe they will be impacted in some way by hearing the word of God and being around other people that are worshipping God. Our desire is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. For some this is through our Helps ministry. Helping them pay the rent or utilities and helping them develop a budget or find employment can be the first step in getting to know about Jesus.

We also offer a couple of classes on finances. One is called Financial Peace University and the other is called Crown. Both teach people about what the Bible says about money and possessions and how to handle them in a practical way.

I try to treat each person with respect and as a person, not a number or application. Many times I will pray with these folks after I meet with them to try to encourage them. I realize that some are out trying to get a handout and are not interested in making any changes. A lot of those folks don’t come back or do not follow through on what we ask them to do. That is why we have a system in place.

Helping people when they are down is what we are called to do. Sometimes we kick people when they are down, by judging, blaming and criticizing them. It is similar to the good Samaritan story in the Bible, do you go to help them or walk on by?

Here are several projects that happened in the Uhrichsville area on Sunday August 3rd:

This is the project in Sugarcreek, staining a pavilion for the Village.

This is a project in the Baltic area. Cleaning up the property and working on the house.

This was an amazing week. Go ’08 at NewPointe Community Church wrapped up with a Community Impact day today. During the month of July we had a food drive with a goal of 1,500 boxes of food. We counted 12 items to fill a box. Things like canned goods, cereal, peanut butter, pasta and other nonperishable items. Two weeks ago our count was around 450 boxes, and last week our count was 1,008. I was a little sceptical that we could reach our goal. I remember praying about it and telling God that He would have to do an amazing work to reach that goal. Well God and the people of NewPointe came through. Our final count, which includes outdated items that went to a fifth food pantry and monetary donations, is 1,720. Can you say Wow! God is Good.

We also had around 600 people sign up to participate in this Sunday’s Community Impact day last Sunday. That put us at around 1,000 people to get connected into a project. It was a busy week and we had some amazing volunteers help put it together. We ordered 1,200 yellow shirts and all of them are gone. Can you believe that over 1,200 people went out into the community to serve? I was blown away by the spirit of the people that attend NewPointe.

I ran into a couple that just moved to our area from Nigeria (Africa). They had been to NewPointe two times and wanted to serve. They came to the church and got some cookies and delivered them to a local nursing home for the employees. They told me that they really enjoy the church and wanted to be a part of this day of serving. How cool is that. We had many such stories of people that have been coming for a short period of time, but wanted to help be the church.

Another lady that is in a wheel chair wanted to help serve, so she made over 20 silk flower arraignments that we delivered to homeowners of projects, elderly and people that had been hospitalized or had cancer. Way to go Sharon, you really made a difference.

I talked to one lady that was babysitting her grandchildren so that the parents could go serve on projects, Way to go Marlene, you made a difference. We had a group of ladies that prepared meals for 12 families, way to go Laura, Susanna and Joy you made a difference. We delivered cookies to the employees of all the local hospitals, nursing homes, fire stations, police stations and group homes. That is really untypical.

We helped get Dover’s Crater stadium ready for the football season and helped the Holmes County Fair grounds get ready for the Fair. We had teams at the Dover schools, New Phila schools, Tusky Valley schools, West Holmes High school and Strasburg High School. We had a team help get the new Clay Museum in Uhrichsville ready to open and a team at Schoenbrunn Memorial Park getting it spruced up.

We also had a Health Fair and Haircuts for kids at the Church. We had over 30 kids get haircuts and numerous people got health screenings. Thanks to all the medical volunteers and hair stylists that made that happen.

I want to thank all the team leaders that took on projects and pulled this all together.

I can’t wait to here stories and see all the pictures and video. I will be posting pictures on my blog this week. You can also look for pictures on our website.

The last few weeks have been very exciting. I work at NewPointe Community Church and we have been planning a community Impact day for this Sunday August 3, 2008. A couple of weeks ago, I was not sure we would reach our goal of 1,500 boxes of food for the food drive, and I was not sure how many people would participate in the community impact day. Well it looks like we are very close to our goal of 1,500 boxes. We had money donated as well, that will add to our box total. We also have around 1,000 people participating on Sunday. I hope to have a more accurate number next week. We have over 50 community projects in places like Millersburg, Coshocton, Newcomerstown, Mineral city, Bolivar, Strasburg, Dover, New Philadelphia, Dennison, Uhrichsville, Gnadenhutten, Sugarcreek, Baltic and Dundee.

Someone at work kept telling me all week this is really big (thanks Barbara). I totally agree, because I think this will touch people in ways we will never know. The old saying of people don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care is very true. When people know the church cares about them, maybe they will want to hear what we have to say. Maybe they will want to check out this church that is giving to the community. Maybe their lives will be changed forever.

I stand amazed at how God has brought this all together. I believe He has a plan in all of this, and I am so excited to be a part of it. I have heard so many positive comments and I also want to thank the many people that are leading these work teams and that have given so generously to the food drive and to community impact day. It is amazing what a group of people can do if they work together. God is Good!

Being a single parent has to be a very difficult thing. Unfortunately many people are finding themselves in this reality. I am not a single parent and don’t pretend to understand the challenges they face. My heart does go out to them as they try their best to raise their kids.

On Sunday August 3rd NewPointe Community Church is offering a free oil change to single parents. This is a small way to say we care and want to help. To participate they must call the church office with information about their vehicle. That number is 330-602-5600. We will then give them a voucher good at one of 5 locations on Sunday August 3rd from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. They will get their car serviced, inspected and washed.

We are also offering free health screenings and free haircuts to children 13 and under that same day. The health screenings and haircuts are open to anyone. The church will be open that Sunday from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm. We will also be washing cars outside.

People attending will get free snacks and coffee. We are also handing out toothbrushes and floss. Some of the health screenings include, blood pressure checks, glucose screening, Cholesterol screenings, body mole exams, height, weight and body fat, simple hearing and vision tests and eye glass repairs.

We are hoping people in the community come and take advantage of these offers. We want to bless our community and let individuals and families know that we care about them. This is not a typical thing for a church to do. We believe by giving to our community we are showing God’s love and concern for all people.

Please help spread the word about what is happening on August 3rd at NewPointe.

One thing that I am passionate about is outreach. Reaching out to the people and organizations in our community and in our country and around the world. As a church we can make a difference. My passion to serve the hurting, broken and less fortunate people in our world has been growing. Every day I talk to people that are hurting or struggling in some way. I have seen first hand the poor living conditions of people in our own community. I have talked to people that are unsure where their next meal is coming from. I have seen the destruction of a hurricane and walked the streets of garbage city in Egypt.

I believe God is moving in our community and He wants to use the local church to turn our community on its ear. To do that we all need to play our part. It starts by using the gifts and abilities God has given you to serve people. When we reach out in love to our neighbors, they may not understand it, but a seed is planted. They become curious about a church that gives so freely and really cares about the needs of ordinary people. Those acts of kindness draw people to God. It gives them hope and encouragement and can be the beginning of transforming their lives. It begins to build a relationship of trust that can lead to future open doors and opportunities.

Too often we sit on our hands and stay in our own little world. We don’t want to take the time it takes to really make a difference. What if we all served other people passionately and without conditions? What if we stepped out of our comfort zones on a regular basis? What would happen if that became our culture and we constantly were looking for ways to help and serve others? What if we sent hundreds of people on mission trips to the Middle East and to help with disasters in our country? What if we all gave ten percent of our income? What if we all did just one act of kindness this week?

I want to be a part of a movement like that. An unleashing of the local church that is so untypical, that is has ripple effects that will last for years.

On Sunday August 3rd we are doing a community impact day. On that day we will not have church services, but we will go out and be the church to our community. Groups, families and individuals will gather in locations of up to 20-30 miles from our church and serve people, schools, non-profit organizations and cities. These acts of service will generate a buzz around those communities and draw attention to God. That is the ultimate goal, to glorify God, to show people that His ways are not our ways. That Christians are not typical or ordinary but extraordinary and untypical.

I hope that all those that call NewPointe their home church will get involved and make a difference. This isn’t just about one day of serving, its about changing our communities and changing lives. It’s about being a church that shines so bright, it can’t be ignored.