Live The Great

¿Reconoce esa frase? Proviene del Libro de Ester (4.14), cuando Mardoqueo desafía a su prima Ester a presentarse ante el rey para interceder por su pueblo. Y también es una frase que escuchará muchas veces en las semanas próximas. Esta es la razón de ello.

Nuestro enfoque futuro – Para esta hora

Previamente durante este año, nuestro Consejo Misionero Estudiantil, luego de mucha oración, presentó esta frase de Ester como el tema para La Cumbre, nuestra conferencia misionera que se desarrollará del domingo 1 al domingo 6 de marzo. Les habíamos encargado la misión de planificar La Cumbre con el enfoque afilado de involucrar a las generaciones jóvenes en la misión divina y de unir a toda la iglesia, jóvenes y ancianos, alrededor de una comisión común.

¡Nuestro pastor de misiones, Jay Grimwood, y yo estamos sumamente entusiasmados con La Cumbre! La frescura y creatividad que nuestros estudiantes han traído a la tarea son inspiradoras. Los servicios principales de adoración durante la conferencia abarcarán desde la noche del domingo 1 de marzo hasta el viernes 6 de marzo. Los servicios matutinos de los domingos 1 y 8 de marzo servirán para presentar y concluir este tiempo sumamente especial en la vida de nuestra iglesia. Una cosa seguirá siendo igual entre esta conferencia y las pasadas: será un tiempo para informarnos de lo que Dios está haciendo en el mundo y para hacer un llamado a involucrarnos y marcar una diferencia ahora. Lo que será diferente en esta conferencia ¡será casi todo lo demás!

En las mañanas del martes y del miércoles de La Cumbre, enseñaré un estudio general sobre cómo hacer discípulos en el mundo de hoy y cómo usar el estudio de Direcciones. Cualquiera puede inscribirse para asistir a estas sesiones matutinas. En la mañana del jueves de esa semana haremos una presentación especial dirigida a todos los pastores y líderes presentes (y todos están invitados a asistir) para invitarles a formar una alianza de iglesias en los Estados Unidos y Latinoamérica con el propósito específico de llevar las buenas nuevas de Jesucristo al pueblo kurdo, en donde se encuentre en el mundo. De paso, si tiene curiosidad sobre quiénes son los kurdos, no sólo se encuentran principalmente en cinco países hoy (son el grupo más numeroso de personas del mundo que carece de país propio), ¡sino que también aparecen en la Biblia! Esto tal vez le sorprenderá, pero todo es para esta hora.

El sábado por la mañana desarrollaremos un taller sobre «El Nuevo Misionero». Varios conferencistas especiales compartirán con nosotros.

Esto es lo que le pido que haga:

• Ore con nosotros para que Dios prepare nuestros corazones y nos hable durante La Cumbre. Si está disponible los martes a las 7:00 de la noche, únase a nosotros en nuestras reuniones de oración como preparativo magnífico para esta importante conferencia.
• Planee estar con nosotros todo el tiempo que pueda durante las noches del 1 al 6 de marzo. Esta semana es crítica para nuestra visión del futuro y para que hallemos el lugar que Dios tiene para nosotros en su misión. Le prometo que todo inconveniente, esfuerzo o sacrificio por asistir valdrá la pena.
• Considere aprovechar las demás actividades especiales durante las horas del día, de martes a jueves, y el sábado.
• Únase a nosotros y ayúdenos con algunas de las muchas tareas que será necesario llevar a cabo para que La Cumbre sea posible: estacionamiento, cuidado de niños, servicio de alimentos, alojamiento para nuestros invitados de fuera de la ciudad y muchas otras necesidades.

Nuestro enfoque presente – Para esta hora

El fin del año y el inicio del año nuevo siempre son momentos de reflexión. Personalmente, este es un tiempo importante para mí porque repaso las lecciones aprendidas durante el último año y reflexiono sobre lo que Dios quiere hacer en mi vida y a través de mí en el año por venir. Tal vez éste es el año para el cual nací, para esta hora. Esta frase del libro de Ester es un gran estímulo a la reflexión mientras evaluamos cuidadosamente y en oración nuestro crecimiento y desarrollo en el año por venir.

Con estos pensamientos en mente y como preparativo para La Cumbre, a partir del primer domingo de enero, estaré predicando del Libro de Ester: Para Esta Hora. Ester es un libro fascinante, rodeado de controversia y lleno de lecciones de vida relevantes Para Esta Hora.

Medite sobre esta frase famosa. Hay muchas cosas sucediendo en nuestra iglesia ahora Para Esta Hora.

• Ser padre de sus hijos es algo que no puede postergarse – es Para Esta Hora. Aproveche nuestro Banquete Anual para Padres/Hijas como una oportunidad para crear recuerdos de por vida para su hija.
• Ministrar a los niños a través de los deportes es un método asombrosamente eficaz de moldear sus vidas, Para Esta Hora. El último domingo de enero ha sido apartado para confirmar nuestro compromiso con los ministerios de atletismo y desafiar a tantos de ustedes como sea posible que participen, Para Esta Hora.
• Finalmente, no es demasiado temprano para empezar a pensar y orar por la fecha que marcará un hito en la historia de nuestra iglesia, cuando iniciamos la obra de expansión de nuestras instalaciones, el 15 de marzo. Por años hemos estado planificando y preparándonos Para Esta Hora.

Do you recognize that phrase? It’s from the Book of Esther (4:14) as Mordecai challenges his cousin Esther to go before the king to intercede for her people. And, it’s a phrase that you will be hearing a lot in the weeks to come. Here’s why.

Our future focus – for such a time as this

Earlier this year, our Student Mission Council prayerfully submitted this phrase from Esther as the theme for The Summit, our mission conference that will spread from Sunday to Sunday, March 1-8. We had tasked them with the mission of planning The Summit with a razor-sharp focus on engaging today’s younger generations in God’s mission while bringing together the entire church, young and old alike, together around our common commission.

Pastor Jay Grimwood, our mission pastor, and I are very excited about The Summit! The freshness and creativity that our students have brought to the task is inspiring. The main worship services during the conference will be from Sunday evening, March 1 through Friday evening, March 6. Sunday morning services on March 1 and 8 will introduce and conclude this very important time in our church life. What will be the same about this conference from those in the past – a time to inform about what God is doing in the world and a call to get involved and be part of making a difference now. What will be different about this conference – just about everything else!

On Tuesday and Wednesday mornings of The Summit I will be teaching an overview of making disciples in today’s world and use of the Directions study. Anyone can register to attend these morning sessions. On Thursday morning that week we are going to make a special presentation to all pastors and leaders present (any of you are welcome to come) to form an alliance of churches in the United States and Latin America to specifically take the good news of Jesus Christ to the Kurdish people wherever they may be found in the world. By the way, if you are curious as to who the Kurds are, not only are they found principally in five countries today (they are the largest group of people in the world without a homeland of their own), they are also found in the Bible! You might be surprised, but it is all for such a time as this.

On Saturday morning there will be a workshop on “The New Missionary.” Several special speakers will share with us.

Here is what I am asking you to do:

• Pray with us that God would prepare our hearts and speak to all of us during The Summit. If you are available on Tuesday evenings at 7:00pm, you can join us for our prayer ministry as a great place to join together in prayer for this important conference.
• Make plans to be with us as much as possible each evening from March 1 – 6. This week is critical to our vision for the future and each of us finding God’s place for us in his mission. I promise you that it will be worth whatever inconvenience, effort or sacrifice to be there.
• Consider taking advantage of the other special activities during the day, Tuesday through Thursday and Saturday.
• Join up and help us with some of the many tasks that will be necessary to make The Summit possible – parking, child care, food service, lodging for out-of-town guests, and many other needs.

Our present focus – for such a time as this

The end of the year and beginning of the new year is always a time for reflection. Personally, this is an important time for me as I review lessons learned over the past year and reflect on what God wants to do in and through my life in the year ahead. Just maybe this is the year for which I was born – for such a time as this. This phrase from Esther is a great thought stimulator as we carefully and prayerfully consider our spiritual growth and development in the year ahead.

With these thoughts in mind, and in preparation for The Summit, beginning the first Sunday of January, I will be preaching through the Book of Esther – For Such a Time As This. Esther is a fascinating book, surrounded by controversy and filled with relevant life lessons For Such a Time as This!

Meditate on this famous phrase. We have many things happening in our church right now For Such a Time as This:

• Being a parent to your children is not something that can be put off – it’s For Such a Time as This. Take advantage of our annual Father/Daughter Banquet as an opportunity to build memories for life with your daughter.
• Working with kids in sports is an amazingly effective way to mold their lives – For Such a Time as This. The final Sunday of January has been set aside to confirm our commitment to our athletic ministries and challenge as many of you as possible to get involved – For Such a Time as This.
• Finally, it’s not too early to be thinking and praying for a day that will mark a milestone in our church history as we break ground for our campus expansion on March 15. For years we have been in planning and preparation – For Such a Time as This.

As Esther begins to work her magic into our hearts, I can’t help but think about how God has placed you and I in this city, in this local church, for today’s mission.  He doesn’t make mistakes.  He has plucked us from oblivion, to minister to Him, his Church, and those needing answers to life.

The Reasonable Service ministry focuses on ministering to His Church.  Very specifically, church members taking care of the facility God has given us, so that ministering to people can happen effectively in this place.  Will you take part in this process?

The three examples below are just a small part of the needs here at KCBT.  If one of these or anything from the list below interests you, please contact Chris Ruzicka at 816.358.0988 x 2041.  Please include your name, phone number, area of interest, any related skills and any questions about the ministry.  You can also find additional information about these areas and others in the Get Involved section of our website.

Snow Removal

When it snows, this team makes a way into the parking lots and buildings.  Sidewalks, drives, and parking spaces are all cleared and salt is applied to help our members get in and out of the building safely.  This is an on-call ministry.  You could receive a phone call at midnight on Saturday night asking for your service.  We all need to get in the building on Sunday morning, and that doesn’t happen without a lot of work from our snow removal team.  We really need your help so please consider signing up today.

Sunday Greeters

These are the individuals who help welcome people to our church and get them pointed in the right direction:   toward classes, student and children’s ministries, and the main service.  We need smiling faces who are willing to devote one Sunday a month to this ministry.

Facility Cleaning

This dedicated group works on different cleaning projects throughout the year.   We currently meet the second Friday of the  month at 8:30am.  We are hoping to expand this to different days and times.  When can you volunteer time to clean?

Other current areas of need include the following:  facility cleaning, mowing, Sunday shuttle rivers, on-call weekday drivers, snow removal, Sunday greeters, vehicle cleaning, flower garden maintenance, kitchen cleaning, floor cleaning, concession stand workers, ball field setup, power washing, painting, Sunday watchmen, and Sunday EMTs.