November 2008 Newsletter


“Ministry Fair”

By: Craig Rippy


Serving Christ is our mission. Jesus has offered us forgiveness so we can serve God with a cleansed conscience. The writer of Hebrews records these words of God, “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!” (Hebrews 9:14 - NIV)

On Sunday morning, November 9, we will have a Solid Rock Christian Church Ministry Fair. That Sunday morning, we will have no early worship service. Instead, we will have 9:30 Coffee & Donuts, 9:45 Sunday School, and a 10:45 Worship service.

The Ministry Fair will be integrated with the worship time. We will have all our regular components of worship, but we will abbreviate the service to allow for each member to view the various work we do.

Thirteen (13) different ministry leaders will be scattered throughout the auditorium and fellowship area. The ministries they lead will be identified with posters. Each ministry leader will have information about the various areas of service within their ministry and a list of ministries to view and sign up to serve in. The dedication will be for one year, but if you find that one of the ministries you signed up to do just isn’t compatible with your gifts you can talk with the ministry leader and be directed to other SRCC ministries.

Why are we having a Ministry Fair on a Sunday Morning? Easy answer: 1) That’s when most of our membership attends. 2) Attending church services without personal involvement in ministry is not Biblical. 3) More members will be informed of the many ministries SRCC offers. 4) Visitors will recognize we are a congregation of service not just attendance.

Moses commanded, “Fear the LORD your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name.” (Deuteronomy 6:13 - NIV)

Jesus reminded Satan, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'" (Matthew 4:10 - NIV)

Jesus said of Himself, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45 - NIV)

Paul recognized how the Thessalonican converts had turned to God, “from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Thessalonians 1:9 - NIV)

The Apostle John was given a revelation as to our activity during eternal life, “His servants shall serve Him.” (Revelation 22:3 - NKJV).

Yes, service is the fruit of Christian maturity. It takes a lot of service to worship corporately, educate one another, and to reach our community with the Gospel.

God expects all of His servants to serve. The leadership of Solid Rock Christian Church can expect no less. And, we are giving each one an opportunity to stretch their wings in service. Why? We are to help the Lord’s congregation to grow in Christ.

There will be service opportunities for all Teens and Adults. Some service activities will only take minimal time and effort and others will be a more involved. Most of us can at least sign up for two ministries. Yet, some can sign up for four or five. Each member of Solid Rock will have to decide what they can commit to.

We will need to remember-we have many service activities that must be attended to or they will not get done. If we only have three people sign up to teach Sunday School, we may have to incorporate a wider age group for classes. If we have only four people sign up to serve communion and offering, those four will be working every Sunday instead of a couple times a month.

Please come prayed up and ready to view the various service opportunities. Also, come prepared to commit to ministry. Without your commitment, Solid Rock will not be active in the ways we have been in the past. Please don’t consider this Ministry Fair a way to alleviate ministry from your schedule. But, do consider it a way to try something different.