FAITH PROMISE

"And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly to every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can. " John Wesley, Founder of Methodism

Today is Faith Promise Sunday at our church. In Faith Promise, we give out of our abundance so that others may receive what they need. Faith Promise money is different from a yearly pledge. It is a promise to you from God that he will provide you with a certain amount and through prayer, faith and trust you promise to give what God provides to our church for missions, both local and global.

If you are a long time reader of my blog, you know that this has been a challenging time for First United Methodist Church. Divisions have occurred and some long time members have left our congregation over personnel issues. Gloom and Doom have been predicted. Our church will never survive some have said. BUT those of us who remained, who felt that we were where God would have us be have never lost faith.

TODAY God proved Himself faithful. Our Faith Promise pledge was almost THREE TIMES the amount ever pledged in a year. Praise God.

Some say our church is finished....Some say the Christian church has lost it's relevance..... some say there is no place for traditional worship in today's fast paced world.....some say ( you fill in the blank).

BUT WE SAY FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH IS DOWNTOWN FOR GOOD.
TWO LOCATIONS. ONE FIRM FOUNDATION. OUR MISSION IS TO INVITE, EQUIP AND DEPLOY FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS OFJESUS CHRIST.

To God be the Glory. Great things He has done.

GOD CHILLS

Looks like I completely missed posting in the month of April. I hope to do better in May.

Today when I opened my mailbox I had a card addressed to me from Grayson KY. I immediately knew who it was from and knew it contained something special but I was not prepared for the chills I physically experienced when I opened the envelope. Tammy, a friend I have never met but know ( if you are a blogger, this makes perfect sense to you !) had sent me a coin from India called a RUPEE. The coin is special because there is a "THUMBS UP" engraved on each RUPEE.

THUMBS UP is a very important sign to Tammy and her family. You see her son NICK lost his 6 year battle against brain cancer on 11-29-2008. And THUMBS UP was Nick's sign and God's sign to Nick and his family it seems. One day Nick's grandmother photographed a THUMBS UP cloud in the sky. You can read lots of other THUMBS UP stories and learn about Nick's courageous journey at www.nick7-11.zoomshare.com. Please also visit tammy's website My heart...His words at tammynischan.blogspot.com. You will be blessed by Tammy's words as she clings to God in times of great JOY and great SORROW.

Thank you Tammy for sharing NICK with us . Praising GOD for the way He is using Nick to change lives.