Journey of Faith Bible Study Lessons:
Feb. 4, 11 & 18

Dedication Sunday:
February 4

Commitment Sunday:
February 18

Commitment Response Calls:
February 25 through March 1

Celebration Sunday: announce totals:
March 4

You should have already received a post card in the mail reminding you of the details for this very Special Day! Over the next few days you will receive a phone call encouraging your attendance on February 18 – Commitment Sunday – our destination in time for the Journey of Faith program.

It will be on that Sunday, during the morning worship service, that every member or our congregation will be given the opportunity to register a financial response to the program.

You will not want to miss this day of praise and commitment in the life of Lakeside Community Church.
Upon your arrival, you will be greeted with warm donuts and coffee by one of our hosts.

Our morning worship service will feature the following; inspiring music by our worship team and choir, the Advance Commitment Team will announce the total amount that has been committed to the campaign through the leadership of our congregation, Pastor Dave will present to us a special message, and the entire congregation will be invited to bring their Journey of Faith commitments to the front and place them on the altars.

After the service, we will all head to the Adams County Fairgrounds for the banquet and activities that have been planned for our church family. We look forward to worshipping with you on this important day! Please pray for God’s guidance as you continue on your personal journey of faith.

A commitment card is not a contract but rather a statement of intent. Knowledge of what dollar amount to expect, and on what schedule they might be given, is critical information for wise planning for future expenditures.

Is my commitment confidential?

Absolutely. Only our church’s financial office will have any knowledge of such confidential information.

May I change my commitment?

Of course! Should changing circumstances alter your commitment, increasing or decreasing your giving plan, simply call the church’s financial secretary.

When do I receive my card?

Within a few days, Commitment Cards will be mailed to every household. Cards will also be available in the worship bulletin on Sunday, Feb. 18.

How do I turn in my Commitment Card?

Bring your completed card to worship on Sunday, February 18, (blank cards will also be available). We want to consecrate and bless our gifts together as a family of faith. If you can not be with us on February 18, mail your completed card to the church office as soon as possible.

When do I begin giving? And how long and how often do I give?

The three-year giving phase begins Sunday, March 4. You determine your personal giving schedule – it may be weekly, monthly, or on another basis. Schedule your giving in consistent ways that fit for you.

The church’s walk with Jesus Christ for the past 95 years has been a walk of faith. Those who have been around for awhile, can hardly remember when we did not trust that God knew what was best for us as a church. Although there may have been times of doubt and worry, God always seemed to have a way of getting our attention turned toward Him.

During these days of Journey of Faith, regarding God’s plan for our church, I invite each of us to pray about the part we will individually play in this effort, in order to arrive at the amount of sacrifice we believe God wants us to bring. The key word in that phrase is ‘sacrifice’. I was visiting with a fellow church member the other day, and he shared with me that he quickly put down a number on his commitment card the he believed was a generous gift, and one that would make a difference. It wasn’t long before God convicted and reminded him that our part in this campaign is not about the size of our gift, it is all about the size or our sacrifice.

Sacrifice means different things to different people.

Maybe you have never looked at what you have been able to do for God’s kingdom as being a sacrifice. Jesus sacrificed His all for us, and what we do seems so insignificant in that light. Although we can never out give God, He still desires our willingness to allow Him to use the resources and the talents He has given us for such a time as this. Our obedience will provide a peace in our hearts as we continue to trust Him with all we have.

May God guide each of us on this Journey of Faith and may our sacrifices multiply into countless blessings.

My faith quest has been like a safari for treasure in a rugged and hostile terrain. I was raised in a family that wouldn’t enter a church if their hair caught on fire and the extinguisher was inside! “Hypocrites” and “weak-minded” were terms I came to know all too well as a child. “you don’t need church to be close to God,” my family said. “You can go it alone.” And I believe them – until God taught me otherwise.

After I met my husband, I sporadically attended church in the denomination in which I was raised. I sat in the back pew, listened to the sermons, sand myopic hymns about “celestial balls,” and tried to wipe the confused look from my face. I considered religion to be some sort of special club into which few were accepted. But I hung on to the hope that I’d someday figure it all out. That someday came three years ago, when I witnessed unbelievable conflict and upheaval in the church I was attending.

The experience left me badly shaken, and I caught myself reconsidering the “go it alone” mantra of my childhood.
A friend told me about Lakeside Community Church, so I gave it a shot one Sunday. A greeter clutched me in a bear hug and people seemed genuinely glad I was there. We sang songs I actually understood, and, even more amazing than that, was the fact that I enjoyed and comprehended the sermon! God didn’t seem so far away anymore. He was right there in the pew with me, holding my hand and telling me I’d finally come home.

Since attending Lakeside, I’ve joined a Bible study, built sets and slung hast at Christmas musicals, and made more friends than you can shake a stick at. I often joke that complimentary bottles of water should be handed at the door, because the flow of joyful tears can leave a body dehydrated. And in a land of spiritual barrenness, Lakeside Community has become my oasis.

Thanks, Lakeside, for all you’ve done for me, for my husband and sons. My faith safari has been eventful and long, but the treasure has been worth the trip.

Recently I heard the phrase “Year of Miracles” on the radio and, in my thoughts; it applied itself to the church building project. I have been reluctant to even pray about what the Lord would have me do in the campaign, as it seems impossible with my means and current situation.

As difficult times have caused my life to drastically change, I’ve become concerned fro my future. Fear frequently accompanies change, new thoughts, and new ideas, but if God gives us a task, He always provides the means to accomplish the task.

This very truth has challenged me to fervently pray about how God desires for me to faithfully step beyond my own means and abilities, move past my fears and allow God to guide me to be a part of this miracle.

Lord, I ask that You would help us to remember that it is not by our power, nor by our might, but only by Your Spirit that we accomplish anything worthwhile for Your kingdom. Please, Lord, use me. I willingly present myself to You and I ask that You guide my footsteps as You see fit to use all that You have given me to help accomplish this miracle of building Your church!

Included in your Journey of Faith Commitment Card is a designated space to describe a non-cash gift – called a “gift-in-kind.” Often, in capital programs such as this, people give out of non-cash assets such as stocks, bonds, property, collectibles, jewelry, or other items. In most cases, if such a holding has appreciated in value, the donor may gain a significant tax savings (avoiding capital gains taxes) by giving such an asset to the church (which pays no tax on the gift). Check with your tax advisor or accountant about giving strategies that may have a tax-advantage for you. Contact Dean Moors at Heritage Bank (463-6611) for information about transferring such assets to the church.

If you would be interested in knowing more about how YOU can be involved at Lakeside Community Church, please contact Melinda Runcie at 463-6776.