Pastor Mike's Blog

1st Tuesday Prayer Gathering Reminder

Tomorrow evening, October 6, is the 1st Tuesday Prayer Gathering at the church beginning at 7:00 in the prayer room (behind the world map in the church lobby).  We missed getting it in the bulletin this week and I wanted to give a quick reminder.  Darrel Knepper leads the 1st Tuesday Prayer Gathering and would love to have you join him for prayer for our church and community.

Sunday's Service - October 4, 2009

On Sunday, October 4, we will continue the STORIES sermon series.  Sunday's sermon will be a little different than usual. The scripture we will focus on this week is found in Luke 22-23 and is the biblical account of Jesus' final hours prior to his death on the cross.  We will read all that Jesus endured for us and talk about what our response should be to Jesus' Final Hours.  We will conclude the worship service by sharing together the Lord's Supper.  I believe it will be a meaningful time of worship and study and I hope you will be able to join us.  It will also be a great week to invite a friend with you.

I want to encourage you to pray for our services on Sunday.  Pray God would work in a powerful way all over our campus on Sunday.  Pray lives would be changed.  Pray people feeling hopeless will find hope.  Pray that any who have not chosen to follow Jesus will make that choice on Sunday.  Pray for God to help each of us (beginning with ourselves) to come with an open heart and mind to hear whatever it is that God wants to say to us.  See you on Sunday. 

Website Changes - Video Coming

We are constantly looking at better ways to communicate with our church family and those interested in learning more about Otterbein.  In the past several weeks, we have been spending a good bit of time talking as a staff about better ways to communicate different kinds of information and we are beginning to implement some of those changes.  One of the first things we did (a week or so ago) is put up a facebook fan page for Otterbein Church.  We can be found by checking out OTTERBEIN CHURCH WAYNESBORO.  We are also beginning to make a few other changes to our current website.  Our plan to is roll out a brand new website in early 2010, but until then, we are going to make some changes and make sure all the content is accurate and updated.

The other big thing that is coming is the addition of video to our website.  Beginning next week, we plan to not only have audio files of the sermons online, but we will also include the sermon video each week.  We will be adding a media player that will also show other videos from ministries like cadence and our student ministries.  The weekly video announcements will also be available to view online.  We will keep you up to date as things roll out.

If there is something you would like to see us do so you can get better information from the church, please let us know.  You can email me, Denise Lancaster (our Director of Communications), or Rick Duesler (our Director of Administration) and let us know.

Sunday's Service - September 20, 2009

On Sunday, I will continue the STORIES sermon series with a message entitled THE UPSIDE OF LOSING.  The scripture we will be studying together is found in John 15:1-17 and are words Jesus shared with His disciples the night before He was crucified on the cross.  One of the things we are going to look at is Jesus' teaching that God prunes us (allows us to go through hard times and sometimes disciplines us) so that we can grow more like Jesus.  We will look at some of the specific ways we get "pruned" by God and how we need to respond to those times.  We will also talk about what it means to "become and remain connected" to Jesus.  I believe the message will be a helpful, encouraging, and challenging message for us and I hope you will be able to join us.

It will be a great week to invite a friend to join you.  Dave Besecker and our music ministry team will lead us in a meaningful time of worship.  We will also have a chance to learn more about the ministry of Joyel Ministries -- one of our Global Ministries partners -- and we will end the service by listening to someone from Otterbein talk about how they "put into practice" the scripture we are studying while they were going through a challenging time in their life.

God has been doing some great things in recent weeks at our church.  Many have expressed to me how God has been using our worship services to encourage and help them.  I believe God is at work in a very special way right now at Otterbein and it has a lot to do with how we have been praying.  Please pray for our services on Sunday.  Pray for God to pour out His Spirit on all of us and that lives will be changed.  Pray that any who join us Sunday who have not yet committed their lives to Christ will choose to begin their journey with Christ on Sunday.  Pray God will bring new people to our church.  And pray God will help each of us have an open heart and mind to hear whatever He wants to say to us.

It looks like the weather this weekend is going to be great.  Enjoy this last official weekend of summer.  See you on Sunday.

Already Gone - Interesting Book

Several weeks ago, someone from the church gave me the book Already Gone by Ken Ham.  Ken Ham is the founder of Answers in Genesis - U.S. which is also the group who recently constructed the new Creation Museum. The book is basically a research docuement on why kids who grow up in bible-believing, evangelical churches (like Otterbein) are leaving the church in droves as young adults.  Their research says that 61% of today's young adults who were regular attenders are now "spiritually disengaged."  They are not actively attending church, praying, or reading the Bible.  The question is WHY?

That is the purpose of the book.  It shares what they believe is the key factors involved with kids disengaging from the church and some solutions for the church and for parents. 

I am about half way through the book right now but would encourage parents to consider reading the book if you are concerned about what is happening with your kids spiritually.  As a church, we are considering the results of the study and will be talking further about what our response should be to the research. 

You can get the book at Amazon.com.  It may also be available at Lifeway Christian Bookstore.  If you have a chance to read it, I would love to hear your thoughts about it.  You can email me at mike@otterbeinchurch.org or use the comment section on the blog. 

Sunday's Service - September 13, 2009 / OC Logo Wear

On Sunday, I will continue the STORIES sermon series with the message NEVER SAY NEVER.  The story this week is really two stories.  The first is the feeding of the 5,000 (really 10,000 - 15,000 when you add the women and children) with five loaves of bread and two fish.  The second story happens immediately after the other and is about Jesus calming the storm.  If you want to read them ahead of time, look at Mark 6:30-52.

We are going to focus on a number of lessons from the stories, but one of the big things I think we learn from the story is our human tendancy to see everything we face through the lens of what we can control instead of what God can and will do.  As a result, we often end up with emotions of fear, anxiety, worry, and many others because so much of life is outside of our control.  The good thing is that everything that happens in our lives is within God's power and control. 

I hope you will be able to join us for what I believe will be a thought-provoking, helpful, and encouraging message from the Bible.  It will be a great week to invite a guest to join you.  Our music ministry team will lead us in a meaningful time of worship and I believe it is going to be a great Sunday.

Please pray for God to do something really incredible at Otterbein on Sunday.  Pray God does something incredible in your life.  Pray God will work through all those who are serving and teaching on Sunday so that people's lives are impacted and changed.  Pray for people who aren't yet followers of Jesus to make the choice to become followers of Jesus.

The other thing I want to remind you about is that this is the last Sunday to order your OC logo wear.  After this week, we are ordering the shirts.  If you haven't ordered yet, make sure you stop back at the table in the church lobby before or after one of the church services on Sunday and place your order.

See you on Sunday.

Sunday's Service - September 6

On Sunday, I will begin a new four-week sermon series called STORIES.  Each week, we will look at a story about Jesus or a story Jesus told that helps us live our Christian life and/or teaches us some important truths about God.

This week, we are going to look at the story of the prodigal son.  You can read it in Luke 15:11-32.  As I have studied this week and prepared, it seems to me there are some great lessons to be learned about how we view others that are distant from God, how we need to respond to our own sinful choices, and how God loves us and demonstrates compassion to us when we fail him and do our own thing.  I think you will find the message helpful, practical, and encouraging and I hope you will be able to join us.

It will be a good week to invite a guest to join you for the service.  Dave and our music ministry team will lead us in a meaningful time of worship.  The service will include a personal testimony from someone in the church and we will also share together the Lord's Supper.

Don't forget that this Sunday is the beginning of a new session of OC Sunday Classes.  We will also offer two OC Core Classes - Starting Point and My Life's Mission.  For descriptions, locations, and times, click here. 

Please pray for Sunday's services.  I am more and more convinced that the most important thing that we can do to help make our worship experiences meaningful on Sunday is PRAY.  Pray for God to pour out His spirit and to work in all of our hearts in a special way.  Pray for God to guide and direct our staff who are teaching and serving on Sunday.  Pray that lives will be changed and that those who have never chosen to follow Jesus might make that decision this week.

Until then, enjoy this beautiful labor day weekend God has provided for us.  See you on Sunday.

Mailing and Next Magazine

On Thursday, we sent out the NEXT magazine to everyone on our mailing list.  The NEXT magazine is something new for us.  Our plan is to send out a quarterly magazine (NEXT) that provides and overview of all the different environments, ministry programs, and events that will are offered at Otterbein to help you Gather, Connect, Grow, and Serve.  If for some reason you did not receive it or you are not on our mailing list, Click here to download it.  Make sure you read my introduction on the inside cover and the "How To Use" section on page 3.  Both will provide some help in finding the information that will help you take the next step on your spiritual journey. 

Our plan is to publish the NEXT magazine quarterly.  Most of what is included in this magazine are events and programs for September, October, and November.  We hope to send another one out in November that will provide information about events in December, January, and February.

As I said last Sunday, the NEXT mgazine is a tool to help you know what is available at Otterbein as you work on taking your next step on your spiritual journey.  If we can assist you or if you have questions or comments about the NEXT magazine, don't hesitate to let us know.

Incredible Day!!!!

Sunday was an incredible day in the life of our church.  In case you don't know what I am talking about, it was our annual church picnic and baptism service.  God gave us great weather and more than 500 people joined us for the picnic.  Following the picnic, 22 people were baptized.  Of those 22, 7 were children and all the rest were students and adults. 

I love baptism services.  It is great to see people GO PUBLIC with their relationship with Jesus Christ.  It is also encouraging and moving to hear people share words of testimony and praise to God as they get baptized.  If you were able to join us, I'm sure you would agree that the service this year was meaningful and it was a blessing to the whole church to hear the words of testimony and how people chose to become followers of Christ.

I want to say a big THANKS to everyone who helped prepare for the day and make it something special for our church family.  Troy Jernigan - who attends Otterbein - made all the chicken.  It was the largest group he ever prepared for and I don't know about you, but I believe it was the best barbeque chicken I have ever had.  John and Sandra Horton oversaw the ice cream (we served more than 700 bowls and cones of ice cream).  Linda Etter oversaw the organization of the food and volunteers to serve the food and Greg Stoner was in charge of making sure the place was mowed and cleaned up for the day.  I want to say a special word of thanks to Gerden Riemenschneider for spending hours doing some extra clean- up around the fence area behind the baptism pool.  The list could go on and on, but let me just say on behalf of everyone who enjoyed the picnic a big THANKS to everyone who served and help make the day special.

God is at work in our church right now.  Attendances are up.  Lives are being changed.  God is providing financially.  People are serving.  Children's ministry programs are expanding.  It is a great time to be part of Otterbein Church and experience all that God is doing.  I look foward to see what He has in store for us in the weeks and months ahead.

Sunday's Service - August 30, 2009

On Sunday, August 30, we are going to conclude our WHY? sermon series.  Sunday's message is WHY? NEXT STEP and will look at a renewed focus at Otterbein in helping those who attend take the next step in their spiritual journey.  We will look at WHY it is important that we each continue to grow spiritually.  We will also talk about the role of the church and our personal responsibility for spiritual growth.

One of the things we have been working on in our staff for several months is a better way to communicate the different environments and ministries we have at Otterbein to help people take their next step spiritually.  On Sunday, we will take some time to share some new information with you that we believe will be helpful to you.  We will also focus on several new ministries that will be available beginning next Sunday.

It will be a great Sunday for guests to join us.  Dave and our music ministry team will lead us in a great time of worship through singing and I believe the message will be helpful and practical for everyone who attends.   I also want to remind you that this Sunday is our annual church picnic and baptism service.  The picnic begins at 12:30 at the pavilion behind the Ministry Center and the baptism service follows at 2:00 at the same location.  The only thing you need to bring is a lawn chair.  Everything else is provided.

Please pray for our services on Sunday.  Pray God would work in all of our hearts in a special way.  Pray that lives would be changed and those who haven't yet made a choice to follow Jesus might make that choice on Sunday.  Pray for good weather for our picnic and that our baptism service would be a very meaningful time for everyone who attends and for those who are getting baptized.

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.  Until then, have a great weekend.