Connections

There are many types of connections. Electical connections, flight connections, connections for hoses, etc. As believers there are two connections that are most important, with God and with other believers. We have to be sure not to think that we connect with God only once or twice a week, but we must do so daily. Our connection to God is the most important one we make. It's like a patient that has to be connected to life support, without it you cannot survive.
Out connection to other beleivers is also an important one. Part of the reason we meet together on Sundays is to connect to one another for encouragement, accountability and worship. But that cannot be the end of our connection to one another; we must connect throughout the week. In Acts they believers met daily with each other, because, like it says in Proverbs, iron sharpens iron. We need each other to grow. That's why it is important to get involved in Connections at Bethel, you not only connect with God and with other believers. Let your Journey get you connected.

Staying on Task

The hardest thing in leadership, to me, is finishing one project before starting another. I tend to have 4 or 5 things going at anyone time. I still have to prioritize those things. I can't let my focus stray off the mark so far I forget about the main thing. The church is a lot like that, we get bogged down with so many programs and activities that we lose sight of the main focus, the Gospel. Everything we do is supposed to center around the Gospel. We have to make an individual choice to make know the Gospel of Jesus; we have to take it personal. We just started a small group dedicated to train people for personal evangelism. I want to encourage you to come and find out what it's all about. Come talk to me if you're interested.

Pastor Jon

A Week Behind

Let me just say, we have hit the ground runnin' this new year. Planning and doing the things that have already been planned. As church staff we are committed to increase the spiritual health of Bethel as well as in our own families. I am encouraged as a father when I see my 9 yr old son getting up early to read his Bible and devotion book he received for Christmas. My children have started to catch on, that when we pray we don't just pray for our family, but for other families as well. To here them recount how God has used them to minister to there friends, is such a blessing. I am excited to see what God is doing in their lives and am even more excited as to their future. Most of the time I feel like I am a week behind on everything, but God always seems to show me the progress that is being made. Don't get so caught up in the feelings of being behind, that you don't see the progress that God has made in you. If your not moving then your not on a Journey, so stop and notice how far you've come.

Expand the Kingdom

If you missed it, yesterdays service was off the charts. Pastor Mike gave a great challenge for us, "Each One Reach Out to One". Just imagine if each one of us just focused on reaching out to one person a year, what that would do. If I reach out to one and that person becomes a Christian, and then next year both of us do the same, the multiplication process takes over and not only Jennings, but SW Louisiana can be impacted for the cause of Christ. Don't say it can't be done, the disciples did it in the first century church. All we need is to dedicate ourselves to the task and to the Lord.

This is a Journey I want to be on, and I pray that you will get "on fire" for God and seek to be an impact to those you come into contact with.


"You GO...into the whole world" - Jesus