...CommentsThe Zones Care Ministry
"Here Am I"
(1
Sam 3:17; Isa 6:1-8)
The Zones are established to care for and shepherd the body of Christ at Antioch. An internal ministry is vital to the life of this church. Therefore, we do not want this progress to be left to haphazardness. Fellowship and care will be the heart of each zone.
April 02, 2000
In Acts 6:1-7, we see the church deal with the issues that arise in the life of the church. Here the pastors delegate the responsibility of the widow to individuals in the church. They did not do this because they disliked the widows, actually they did it because they loved the widows and wanted to see them taken care of better. At this juncture we must either believe the pastors are good leaders or lazy good for nothings. The text says that the church said what they were doing was good. Ask yourself a question, will the Zones be a good thing for the church?
Zone #2
Praise, Worship & Benefit Program
For: The Greg Walker / Josephine Vivians Family
When: April 9, 2000 at 5:00 p.m.
Where: Antioch Baptist Church
You are invited to attend a Praise, Worship, & Benefit Program for Greg Walker / Josephine Vivians Family. Greg was shot in a robbery attempt at this home in Minneapolis, Minnesota and we want to show our live by being a blessing both spiritually and financially.
March 12, 2000
I was talking to one of our members a while back and our conversation was about care ministry training. As they shared, I was blessed because what they were excited about Antioch was already trying to do. I said to them that I was acquainted with the particular program (Stephen Series caring Ministry Workshop) and that we have implemented something similar. The member said they were unaware and maybe we needed more education on it, our Zones care ministry.
We have had zones in the past buy they were somewhat different. At the heart of our zones in the past was fund raising for the church building project. Yes, out of that came fellowship, socializing, by teaming up and competing. The difference then between then and now with our zones is the emphasis that is taken. The object at had is to make us a caring community, to bring us to spiritual maturity in the church community. The way we want to do this is by practicing to 'one an others' from the scriptures. The zones will allow us to fortify our internal life as a church. That means we as individual members must be willing to make ourselves vulnerable. We must begin to open up to one another and be the servant of one another.
I was really blessed this week while we were in our revival. There was a great outpouring of servant-hood in the midst of Antioch. I praise God for this blessing and I bless every hand that served. When we work as a team God can accomplish great things through us. As we continue to grow let each of us find our place of service in the work of our Church. Zones , I need you to pull together and pray for our transitional housing ministry. Also, I need you to begin to recruit individuals for volunteer for work on house.
I encourage you as a member of this church to make the effort to find out which zone you are in. Then we encourage you to participate in making the zone active in the care of all the members. Encourage your deacon and captain to strengthen the structure of your zone. Look around and see whom you can help.
March 05, 2000
Surely we have been impacted in a mighty way in the weeks gone past. Several of our families have experienced loss in their family by way of death. Robert Austin Bertha Crawford lost Mae, Lafrance Russell & husband Willie Jr. lost her brother Willie Austin, and Doris Saddler & Leila lost their aunt Grace Greer. I pray that their zones have communicated their sympathy and condolences. We had one family that we could not minister very well to because we did not know where they were in relationship p to our church. Here is where the real life of our faith stands out, when we care for one another. Remember we have only just begun when we make that first call because there are many days of grief that follow.
There is great joy this week. On Saturday before last there was a Zone #2 meeting at the church. I want to encourage them to continue their organizing. Don't be discouraged we are just getting these ministries work together and you are on the cutting edge. In that week Zone #5 sent out to all its members a list so that they could be informed of who is who. Each ministry should serve as a model for each other, if something works we should all implement that procedure. The church fails many times because we are stubborn instead of stable.
Have you looked through the roster of your zone and seen who needs you to minister to them? Maybe you need to become a strengthener of some ones' marriage. Maybe you nee to be a support for a single parent. Maybe you need to be company for one of our seniors. Maybe you need to be a spiritual guide to a struggling member. When you do it do it in the context of the Zones. Don't complain! Keep working and encourage others to get on board and work also. Don't be arrogant but work with a meek and humble spirit. Make sure your deacon and captain knows what is happening in the zone.
God has set us to be a light unto the world. God has given us to be the head and not the tail. If we are struggling in some area it is because we have not applied the word of God to our situation. God has also supplied living testimonies of his glory for us. Be a living testimony or seek out someone who is a living testimony.
February 20, 2000
In Acts 6:1-7 we see the church deal with the issues that arise in the life of the church. Here the pastors delegate the responsibility of the widows to individuals in the church. They did not do this because they disliked the widow, actually they d id it because they lived the widows and wanted to see them take care of better. At this juncture we must either believe the pastors are good leaders or lazy good for nothings. The text says that the church said what they were doing was good. Ask yourself lf a question, will the Zones be a good thing for the church?
This week Mr. John Berry, our church custodian, looked at the list in our bulletin and decided to call Vi Norman and check on him. This is the very action that should be alive in our church life . The good thing is that this care is growing in our midst. The zones are set up to make this kind of care grow. The question is, how can we best utilize our resources of people and goods? We already have a benevolence system and it can be used by going through your zone deacon or captain. You can check in the church office to find out which zone you are in. Encourage your deacon to organize and strengthen your zone.
Our church life is also moving in the direction of renovations to our facilities. Al l that the church seeks to do is predicated on allowing us to minister more effectively. When we carry out this work it is not based on personal wants. We have covered the parking lots with concrete, tuck-pointed to building, and sealed all the windows. Now we move inside to concentrate on some of the things that need to be done. Oh yeah, there is more being done outside also. The canopy is being repaired. The flat roof on the educational building will be worked on. This is our internal life. We must work to complete these endeavors. To complete this work we will need to give our tithes, offerings, and sacrificial giving.
There is no question about tithes and offerings but sacrificial giving there is a question. To answer the question we can study Exodus 35 and 36. At the heart of this offering is the willingness to give the Lord. Not only is this true with out monetary resources it is also true with our talents and time. Let us use the Zones as instruments to strengthen our Christian community, Antioch.
February 13, 2000
I was talking to one of our members a while back and our conversation was about care ministry training. As they shared, I was blessed because what they were excited about, Antioch was already trying to do. I said to them that I was acquainted with the particular program (Stephen Series Caring Ministry Workshop) and that we have implemented something similar. The member said they were unaware and maybe we needed more education on tit, our Zones care ministry.
We have had zones in t he past but they were somewhat different. At the heart of our zones in the past was fund raising for the church building project. Yes, out of that came fellowship, socializing, by teaming up and competing. The difference then between then and now is to make us a caring community, to bring us to spiritual maturity in the church community. The way we went to do this is by practicing the 'one another' from the scriptures. The zones will allow us to fortify our internal life as a church. That means we as individual members we must be willing to make ourselves vulnerable. We must begin to open up to one another and be the servant of one another.
I was really blessed this week when Sister Loretta Manning called. She wanted to volunteer to clean one of our members home. This to me was a move of God. I believe God gives conformation to the things we are implementing in His name. Loretta also shared some humor with me. She called me back again and said, "Reverend Coleman I just wanted to let you know I' m not a bench member. I have joined the usher's ministry." We laughed together! These things are a conformation of 'Here Am I' and the Zones Care Ministry.
I encourage you as a member of this church to make the effort to find out which zone you are in. then we encourage you to participate in making that zone active in the care of all the members. Encourage your deacon an d captain to strengthen the structure of your zone. Look around and see whom you can help.
**Mae Austin- Robert Austin - Vi Norman - Robinson**
February 06, 2000
There is an internal life to the church. The church is one body
with many members. There is a question, how is the spiritual and
physical health for our members? The Zones Ministry is set to p
lace to answer this very question and many more concerning the
care of our body.
Before 2000 is was the responsibility of the pastoral care minister to implement the Zones. God has saw fit to move Rev. Cook on and until further notice Pastor Coleman will take over the duties of implemen6ing the Zones Ministry lea d by our deacons. Everyone in the church has been placed in a zone. Each of these zones has a deacon and two captains as facilitators. "You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather , serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."" (Gal 5:13-14 NIV) We have for too long sought to put the load on one person, the pastor. The real reality is that it is all our responsibility to care for one another and the pastor to lead us to that goal. 'Here am I' is the call for Antioch in 2000. This has to do with each of us defining our significance. Each of us are a part of this body and we need to rise to the challenge to love one another. We must stop backbiting and self-aggrandizing. There has to be a central information point so that all of the parties can be connected. We have a secretary in the office who can serve as a channel. She will work to put you in connection with the right person to meet your needs. Many will say we are already doing these things. The problem then is that there are too many members falling through the cracks. If we can make the process more effective we should.
There are some needs in our church body at this very present time. We should work to meet these needs. I will be directing the deacons and their captains to activate the Zones Ministry to this new depth of care.
Do you know the members in you zone?
January 02, 2000
Be shepherds of God' flock that is under your care, serving as overseers -- not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be;; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never face away.
1 Pet 5:2-4 (NIV)
The up coming year will once again fine me along with you focusing on the need for the ministries of our zones, and there is a need to focus on the zones. The zones have gone woefully neglected to a large degree. This in part, due to a lack of clear understanding and just maybe in part, due to slothfulness. Just what are the zones and what are they designed to do? This we will endeavor to explore in the coming weeks.
The churches relationship to each family should be carefully documented. This information to be used only for the Pastor, myself and Antioch's Deacons hence to provide them with an opportunity for outreach and evangelism opportunities to family members who have not made a profession of faith. The zones list gives us a finger tip close, prayer list. It allows for pertinent information denoting our sick and shut-ins, those receiving communion at home, or nursing home occupants, children away from home and so-forth. There is also a method of referral to Pastor Coleman if something becomes too much for myself or the Deacons to handle. This could also be used to alert other ministries of the church of a situation that they maybe better equipped to deal with. There are times when the Deacons may feel additional training through books and so-forth may be needed, but I'm convinced that hands on may be a better avenue, and of course depending on who you talk to, that's debatable.
In the near future I pan to meet with the various ministries and solicit some input from them as to how to get these zones up and running in a most deserving manner. There will be meetings and the Deacons as well and maybe even a little roll playing if necessary, anything that will put into motion this very workable and worthwhile tool we call "The Ministries of the Zones".
December 26, 1999
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
Luke 2:52
Christmas has come and gone and the greatest gift known to man has once been understated as the reason for the season. The gift has been recognized commercialized, utilized (for our own selfish purpose) and probably now set-aside until next year as we concentrate on paying our bills. Bills on top of last years, you know the ones made on more than likely some unnecessary and expensive gifts to friends and loved ones. How about it? If you really read the Pastoral care pages of the previous weeks, did you think about the gift (s) you already have or prayed for, and are you now ready to present them to the church (A body of regenerated, baptized believers)? I pray it to be so.
The upcoming year will once again find me along with you focusing on the need for the ministries of our zones, and there is a need to focus on the zones. The zones have gone woefully neglected to a large degree. These in part, due to a lack of clear understanding and just maybe in part, due to slothfulness. Just what are the zones and what are they designed to do? This we will endeavor to explore in coming weeks.
The church's relationship to each family should be carefully documented. This information to be used only for the Pastor, myself and Antioch's Deacons hence to provide them with an opportunity for outreach and evangelism opportunities to family members who have not made a profession of faith. The zones list gives us a fingertip close, prayer list. It allows for pertinent information denoting our sick and shut-in, those receiving communion at home, or nursing home occupants, children away from home and so-forth. There is also a method for referral to Pastor Coleman if something becomes too much for myself or the Deacons to handle. This could also be used to alert other ministries of the church of a situation that they maybe better equipped to deal with. There are times when the Deacon may feel additional training through books and so-forth may be needed, but I'm convinced that hands on may be a better avenue, and of course depending who talk t, that's debatable.
In the near future I plan to meet with the various ministries and solicit some input from then as to how to get these zones up and running in a most deserving manner. There will be meetings with the Deacons as well and maybe even a little roll playing if necessary, anything that will put into motion this very workable and worthwhile tool we call "The Ministries of The Zones"
More information about this next week. I welcome any suggestions or criticism (constructive) you may have. God Bless!
December 12, 1999
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of
yourselves, it is the gift of God Ephesians 2:8
Last week, I promised to continue on with the gifts God has given
us. I began with two gifts, one was the Holy Spirit, which we all
need and the other was service or a servant's heart.
Scripture reminds us that God gave gifts to men that they might be used in the church. The gift mentioned in the above scripture is two-fold, grace and faith. By grace are we saved or grandma called it-unmerited favor, we can't work for it nor could we possibly pay for it. Only through the shed blood of Jesus the Christ, was our sins forgiven. Because of the love that Christ had for us, seeing that we couldn't be saved through the law, he became the perfect sacrifice. Under the law it demanded righteousness, but in Christ he gives righteousness to men. Romans 3:22.. Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe; for there is no difference.
Again scripture reminds us that we would fall far short of the mark if God was to justly judge us. Isaiah 64:6.. But we are all as an unclean thing and all our righteousness are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. To this, we should remember to say, thank you Lord for this wonderful gift that gives life and life more abundantly. Thank you Lord for the gift that lets us know that we're not longer captive to sin. Thank you Lord for the gift that allows fellowship, to the intent that now, unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places, might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God. In whom we have boldness and access (Fellowship) with confidence by the fait to him.
Ephesians 3:10,12
Once again I find that I am running out of space and will have to continue this search of the scriptures as I look for the many and varied gifts the good master has bestowed upon us. Look for this page next week as the Lord is going to bless us with more.
November 21, 1999
And now, Israel, what doth the Lord thy God require of thee,
but to fear the Lord thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to
love him, and to serve the Lord thy god with all thy heart and
with all thy soul, to keep the commandments of the Lord, and his
statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?
God is the same yesterday, today and forever more, he never changes. Yes I can hear you saying I knew that! Then why is it so hard for us to do it? The directions are simple, and if and when followed, brings us great rewards in life. The songwriter as did the psalmist in Psalms 116:12, declared "What shall I render unto God for all his mercies, what shall I render tell me what shall I give. God has everything and everything belongs to him." Because we have received mercy from God we must therefore show mercy. God has given us His Holy Spirit and he expects great returns from it. When we look at what God expects of us, upon close examination we find what he expects is very reasonable, and when we do it we find that it is not only profitable to us but to others as well. Ask yourself the question, what have I done in the name of Jesus lately that someone else has been the benefactor of, and truly knew it was the Jesus in me that prompted the food deed "Oh Praise The Lord!" It's all about praising the Lord, because with this He is well pleased and when God is pleased and we know all is well with the world, our level of productiveness will increase. In order to be productive, we must ask ourselves the questions, what shall we render? How should we come before the Lord? What shall we bring with us? And in what manner shall we come? The answers are simple by friend, they're all in the word of god. Read the book of Deuteronomy and Micah and discover the faithfulness of the God we serve. Know that he sets before us a blessing and a curse. A blessing when we seek His will and a curse when we continue in our own vain imaginations, doing it our way. What does the Lord require of us, strict obedience!
October 3, 1999
(Jethro) "What is this that you do for the people? Why do you sit alone and judge and all the people stand around you from morning until evening?"
(Moses) said to his father-in-law, "because the people come to me to learn God's will. When they argue, they come to me. And I judge between a man and his neighbor; I teach them the laws of God".
(Jethro) Moses' father-in-law said to him, "What you are doing is not good. You and the people with you will become tired and week. For the work is too much for you. You cannot do it alone. Now listen to me. I will tell you what you should do; and God be with you. You speak for the people before God. Bring the troubles to God. Then teach them the laws. Make them know the way they must walk, and the work they must do. Also, you should choose from the people able men who fear God, men rule over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens. Let them judge the people at all times. Have all the big troubles brought to you. But have them judge the small troubles so it will be easier for you. They will share the work with you. If you do this and God tells you to do it, then you will be able to keep your strength. And all these people will go their place in peace".
(Gary) I wanted to share this story of leadership with you because it so very much reminded me of our situation as a church without leadership; before we received a full-time pastor.
shortly upon Pastor Coleman's arrival he wanted to implement the Zones Ministry to better serve the congregation. The idea is such a great one, according to the Word of God, that it is a shame the implementation of the same is such a slow process. I encourage all Zone Captains to read Exodus 18th chapter and them let's get busy running God's church in a righteous manner.
September 26, 1999
Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; James 5:14
This word goes out to the sick in our zones, as spoken by James the brother of our Lord. It's incumbent upon the sick to call for the Elders of the church when they are down and out for the count, (sick). This is your way of saying, "I'm in the need of prayer and I need the church to pray for me". It's the duty of the Elders to respond when the call goes out. Most of you, on a consistent basis, will let us know here at the church when you, or a love one is sick, and for that we thank you. We sincerely want to be involved in your lives in a most profound way and what better way than prayer.
There is one among us who has been on the prayer field for quite some time now and he keeps going like the energizer bunny. 'There was a period in his life where ill health took the driver's seat and forced him to slow down a bit, in body I should say, but certainly not in spirit. He suffered some of the afflictions of Job with the loss of a son, and not long after the loss of his wife; not to mention additional health problems, but like the Timex Watch slogan, "he takes a licking and kept on ticking". Truly God is good! True to the words he preaches and the example he sets forth from the scriptures, "Behold, we count them; happy who endure, ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord, that the Lord is very pitiful of tender mercy". Congratulations Deacon Fred D. Webster, Sr. for being a shining light in the midst of a sometimes dark and dismal world. We thank you for being the constant in and every changing world. We thank you for seemingly never tiring as you look in on the sick even though you yourself are sick at times. We pray God's blessings upon you as you continue in all diligence to take care of the business of and Elder. We're proud to call you our own and more that that, I'm certain God is well pleased. Keep on keeping on. God bless!
September 19, 1999
Brethren, I speak after the manner of men: though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man (annulleth) or addeth to it. Galatians 3:15
Thank god for what is called the irreversible covenant. The covenant rests upon the sacrifice of Christ and secures the eternal blessedness of all that believe and get this, it is absolutely unconditional, and since no responsibility is by it committed to man, it is irreversible. Isn't God just awesome in how he takes care of business? He knew that if we come, some of us would condemn others to hell by what we believe to be a big sin versus a little sin. My thoughts are taking me in this direction because of a conversation I was involved in concerning homosexuality. One of the persons in the discussion felt homosexuality was by far a terrible sin, one that should have no forgiveness for those who practiced it. Obviously this person didn't have a clue as to the saving grace of God, through the shed blood of Jesus or at least I thought they didn't have a clue. I couldn't help but wonder how many of us have decided, which is by far the greatest sin and the type of punishment that should go with that sin and because of our self willed decision won'' reach out to those who need to hear a word from the Lord. i wonder if this is the reason many of us won't bother to preach the word to someone who's in our congregation or as close as our immediate family. Could this be the reason the zones ministry is dragging its collective feet? Have we become so judgmental that we decide on the fate of someone by a mere preponderance of evidence based upon our limited understanding as to what is right and what is wrong. Scripture admonishes us as spiritual being we are to restore those who have lost the way. Restoration can only began when we start to love one another as Christ loved us. Then we can begin to go after those who are morally ship wrecked and hanging on to the broken pieces and minister to them as Christ would have us to do.
For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. Hebrews 8:12
September 12, 1999
We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ: we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honorable, but we are despised.
1 Cor 4:10
We as Christians are sometimes made to look like fools. It seems we do all we can to help those outside of Christ, and the church, only to have them throw it back in our faces. I could give you example after example of how many times it has happened to me and I'm certain you could tell a few tales yourself. Scripture tells us not to be weary in well doing. There has been a thief in the neighborhood lately and just about everyone, who has lost something, believe we know the person or persons responsible. This person (s) we believe is one we have entertained in our homes, feed them, clothed them, gave them money and in countless other ways tried to assist them in getting back into the real world, with a hand up and not just a hand out. One lady spread the word in the streets (and not the Gospel) she felt she knew who had stolen from her and in a short period of time her goods were returned without of course an admission of guilt. The rest of us suffered in silence and turn to the insurance company to recoup our losses. Just like Paul, we are fools, yet we are wise in Christ. The bible says to be angry and sin not. To be angry and sin not is very hard to do especially when your flesh cries out for revenge. It is our mission, our ministry if you will, as Christians to lead those to Christ who know him not in the pardon of their sin. We who are spiritual must work even harder to restore these types of persons and we do so by living them in spite of their faults and letting them know that it's because of Christ in us that we can maintain our cool in an unfair and unjust situation. We may be a spectacle to the world, but in Christ we can do all things who strengthen us. Christians as standard bearers in an army are usually the first to be struck down in the battle, but we must remember the battle is the Lords, not ours. So onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war, with the cross of Jesus going on before!