Summer is almost here - and in many ways has already arrived. School is out of session until the fall, it seems like we skipped spring weather altogether and VBS starts one week from this morning! I love summers - and they also provide their challenges for the local church. Two quick reminders/encouragements: First - please stay faithful in your attendance this summer! It is good to be with your church family - especially during the summer months! Second - remain faithful in your stewardship this summer, please. Many, if not most churches experience the financial summer slump - let's skip that trend this year at FCC!
Yesterday was a really encouraging day at Clinton FCC! Our 9 Rooted groups are in the home stretch - just one week to go; both services yesterday brought glory to God; Ben Dial's ministry ordination reminded us how important Children's and Student ministry truly is - what a blessing to see a "grown up" Ben Dial "set apart" for kingdom service! Before I begin this morning, I want remind ALL of you of something important in my personal life: our daughter Jordan is getting married THIS Saturday June 9 at 2pm at FCC - and YOU are invited! Marla and I would be honored to have you attend! This morning, I want to share just two things w/ you: First - the head of our safety and security team, Jered Shofner, shared yesterday about changes that are going into effect beginning Sunday June 10 and I want to make sure everyone is aware and ready for these changes: ** On a typical Sunday, the building will ONLY be able to be accessed through the three main entrances on the WEST side of the building: Sanctuary doors, Office doors and Bell Tower doors. The other four entrances will remain locked. ** Electronic locks and a key fob system will be in place to provide access to the building outside of regular office hours. ** East doors, kitchen door and the south entrance to the FLC will remain locked at all times. ** The key to ALL of this is COMMUNICATION - please let staff know in advance if you need access to the building outside of regular office hours during the week. ** Questions? Contact Dana Korneman or call the church office at 935-3139. Second - yesterday we shared "info sheets" about each of the five Elder nominees - they each answered questions about their potential service as an Elder at FCC. I would humbly encourage you to consider each candidate individually and not take this process lightly or flippantly. Here is what was shared yesterday: Dear FCC Member, The elders would like to thank you for your interest in the elder selection process. A Congregational meeting has been called for June 24, 2018 to vote on the following men who have been duly nominated by this congregation for the position of Elder: Dick Koritz Gage Lyons Ryan Sosamon Jim Taylor Jim Weikel Attached to this letter is a informational questionnaire completed by each candidate which gives a brief insight to each and is our prayer will be an aid in your decision making process. Please remember, this is not a vote to affirm a slate of candidates, instead we ask that you please prayerfully consider if each individual candidate meets the criteria set forth in I Timothy 3:1-7 and in Titus 1:6-9 and then cast your vote accordingly. Please seek out any of the Elders should you have additional questions. Thank you for your prayerful involvement in selecting the leaders. May God bless you and His Church. Sincerely, Mark Behrends Elder, FCC 1 Timothy 3:1-7 New International Version (NIV) 3 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. Titus 1:6-9 New International Version (NIV)6 An elder must be blameless, faithful to his wife, a man whose children believe[a] and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient.7 Since an overseer manages God’s household, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8 Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it. Dick Koritz (Three Year Term) Dick Koritz 19420 State Highway 54 Farmer City, IL 61842 217-622-8280 koritz1@itsintheair.net Biographical Information I have been married to my wife Ivanna (Ivy) for 48 years this summer. We have four adult children and two children at home, who attend Decatur Christian School. Scott is our eldest and is currently an Army Major stationed in the Iraq theater. Karle is the resident circuit judge of DeWitt County. Kristy is in customer service in the St. Louis area. Kelly is a homemaker in Louisville, Ky. Merci and Micah are our adopted grandchildren and attend Decatur Christian. I am the retired State’s Attorney of DeWitt County and currently have a very limited private practice. Ivy was a CPA for many years and then owned and operated a quilt shop in Lincoln. We moved to Clinton in the winter of 1990-91 and have been at FCC ever since. Areas of Current Service at FCC? I currently do all areas of outside communion and usher during first service. I oversaw the bus ministry for several years, until the Board chose to do away with larger busses. I have done legal work for the church on an as requested basis since we moved to Clinton. While Serving on the Eldership what would you like to see Accomplished and Why is this Important? I readily acknowledge that attendance by itself is not a measure of one’s Christian walk. However, FCC has gone from pushing 800 to often times not even reaching 600 on a Sunday morning. FCC needs to address where and why we have lost those members. We need to push bringing kids into the church as they will in turn bring their parents to events and services. We need to reach out to those over 40 who have left the congregation. Numbers are souls and that makes numbers important. In your Opinion what are the Strengths and Weaknesses of our Major Ministry Areas: --Worship, Youth & Children’s ministry, Ministries for Adults, Neighborhood Care Center, Missions, Financial Stewardship. Worship in First and Second services reflects two very diverse congregations. There is nothing per se good or bad about either service as people simply have different choices of worship style. The difficulty is that neither service really knows what the other is doing.------I believe the ministry to the younger children is doing very well and is well managed. We have lost attendance in the older youth areas from what I have observed.----Young at Heart is starting to rebuild itself and is making progress. It has lost some of the programming skills that Bob Winger possessed, but it is moving forward.-----The Care Center has rapidly become a true demonstrative ministry to the community.----FCC has always had a distinct history of supporting missions and I see that as a plus.----Stewardship reflects expenditures and many in the congregation feel left out of the decision making process and question the amount of monies spent on the building itself. What Spiritual Disciplines are part of your walk with Jesus? I believe that all spiritual disciplines have an impact on the Christian life, understanding that there are always differences in definitions. What comes to mind as regards my walk is service and discernment. I have spent a professional career in service to the community and in doing that discernment was a key. I have spent years bringing adverse parties to an agreement, which is crucial in resolving disputes in the church before they reach a crisis stage. What Strengths and Personal Qualities do you bring to the Board? I don’t jump on new ideas until those ideas have been intellectually challenged. I am certainly open to new ideas, but I don’t act in a rash manner. I believe in debate and discussion. I have learned far more from those I have disagreed with than those who agree to anything. I have the ability to ask the questions and challenge ideas, to make for a better plan. I have no personal agenda other than to make FCC work for the Kingdom. FCC has adopted the vision – To Become “A Passionate Community of Disciple Makers”: How will You Support and Personally Work toward Fulfilling this Vision? To make disciples is the essence of the Christian faith, which should be the paramount activity of any Christian. FCC is basing much of our Vision on the concept of functioning Ministry Teams, How Do You Envision the Encouragement of having Every Member/Attendee Involved and Serving in a Ministry Team? This is just another name for what the Church has always done. For the Church to advance its members must be involved in the activities of the Church. We may name it Ministry Team, but it still boils down to personal involvement of the individual in the activities of the Church at large. The team concept may be an organizational tool to monitor the corporate mission of the church, but the mission has never changed. N. Gage Lyons (Three Year Term) Gage Lyons 5834 Park Road Clinton, IL 61727 (309) 826-4886 n.gage.lyons@gmail.com Biographical Information Name: Gage Lyons Spouse: Rachel Lyons Family: We have a son, Ben (age 5), and a daughter, Andi (age 2)! Parents: Jeff & Pam Lyons Occupation: Physical Therapy for Orthopedic & Shoulder Center – Normal, IL Years at FCC: I attended FCC off and on in late high school and through undergraduate college (’03-’08). We got married and moved away for graduate school in ’08. When we returned in ’11, we began our regular attendance at FCC. I was baptized and placed my membership with FCC on June 10th, 2012. Areas of current service at FCC? I was called and elected to be an Elder on last year’s ballot and have served in that roll for the past year. I am also currently serving as a ROOTED Facilitator with several other amazing servants of God. Up until the start of this ROOTED cycle, I had been serving as half of the 1st grade First Kids Sunday School teaching team. I have been in this role since 2012 and plan to resume it once this cycle of ROOTED ends. I’m also the Elder liaison to the Neighborhood Care Center’s Advisory Team. Finally, I love our church’s relationship with Scott DeWitt and Casas por Cristo and have been blessed with the opportunity to go on FCC’s Men’s Mission Trip the past two years. While serving on the Eldership, what would you like to see accomplished and why is this important? While service as an Elder, I would love to promote FCC becoming an undeniable beacon for Christ’s love in the central IL community. FCC is a wonderful structural home for us, but God’s Church extends beyond walls. We are God’s Church and FCC needs to continue pushing boundaries of what is uncomfortable in terms of service those here, near, and far! Unity and mutual identification as brothers and sisters in Christ is essential, so bridging gaps and forging bonds between otherwise separate groups in our congregation is essential is as well. In your opinion what are the strengths and weaknesses of our major ministry areas? Worship: We are second service attendees and I cannot think of a weakness in this ministry area. FCC covers all bases with a traditional worship service utilizing wonderful, classic hymns, as well as an outstanding contemporary service that’s poured over and planned out by Samuel Green and his marvelous team. I love how FCC values worship! Youth & Children’s Ministry: I may sound like a broken record, but again, I cannot think of a flaw in this ministry field! Cassandra Benton, Allison Hitchings, Marla Taylor, and their team of volunteers have put together an amazing, interactive, educational youth program for FCC’s youth. As a father to two young children, I am confident week in and week out that they are loved on and delivered a message based in Biblical truth, all pointing to the reality that only Jesus can save us from our sin. And so many new ideas are being churned out of these wonderful ministry team leaders. The work this group does is foundational to the growth of the Church and they are doing a phenomenal job! Ministries for Adults: I believe this is something that has exploded in the past couple years at FCC. New areas for service and involvement have sprung up and people are filling needs. I enjoy seeing new faces at FCC and it seems that we are getting more and more as of late! Lindsey Moody’s Connection Team has provided numerous people with areas of service and as the first cycle of ROOTED comes to an end, the Staff and current Elder Board have exciting things in the works to aid people in getting involved. One area that I would love to see some growth is in ministry to single, divorced, and/or widowed adults. These people can be hurting and need poured into just the same as any couple. Neighborhood Care Center: Wow. In working with Cody Monkman and his Advisory Team, it’s become apparent that he has an extraordinary mind for community service and what it looks like for our church. If you haven’t familiarized yourself with the Neighborhood Care Center and everything that it offers in terms of service and outreach, get in touch with Cody and you will be blessed. I could not be more thrilled with this area of FCC’s ministry. Missions: I love FCC’s partnership with so many missionaries and organizations across the world. I already spoke of my love for Casas por Cristo. Greg Taylor’s relationship with T. Lunkim and the Kuki Christian Church of India is amazing. But we’re not just focused on the near and far. FCC serves in our central IL community as well, supporting local missionaries and organizations across the area. I would love to see additional adult mission trips planned and taken up by the congregation. If you have a passion for a mission field, don’t wait on someone else to organize it! Do it! Financial Stewardship: I can’t pull the stats off the top of my head, but Jesus talks about money so many times in the Bible – more than anything else. This means it can ruffle a lot of feathers in a congregation so large. I’m of the opinion that FCC has recently poured its financial resources into areas that can most significantly impact the Kingdom of God. A lot of FCC’s money has gone towards updating our ability to minister to children, keep our building and congregation safe, and mission work all over the world. I love these areas and fully back FCC’s choices. When tithing is brought up at church, most everyone considers that to be strictly monetary. A change that I would love to see, and it’s been preached from the pulpit, is that tithing is more than just how much you give the church – it’s giving of your time and talents as well. All we have comes from God, and I believe the Staff and Elder Board operate under this understanding in financial stewardship. What Spiritual Disciplines are part of your walk with Jesus? I have discovered through ROOTED that I’ve been given the disciplines of discernment and trust in God. Especially in recent years, I have been more aware of an ability to know God’s Will (obviously mostly in hindsight!) in situations. And going off that, trusting that God is on the Throne and His Will is being done in all things has been something I’ve been able to rest in. God is in control and He will work all things for the good of those who are called according to His purpose. I find comfort in Romans 8:28 and feel that it gives me a level head when confronted with issue or conflict. I would add that I also love to teach and shepherd, mostly I believe because I wasn’t brought up in the Church. God has given me the passion of teaching His youth and I am grateful for that. I also love calling people to action – being a rallying point and an encourager. What strengths and personal qualities do you bring to the Board? I rarely consider this a strength, but I am quite empathetic, sometimes to a fault. I have a hard time separating myself from someone’s conflict or suffering. However, I feel that this is what helps drive me to action in serving God’s Kingdom in our community and beyond. I also enjoy learning and synthesizing. My goal is not to get on the Board and immediately impose my will and opinions on others. I make a commitment to knowing, loving, and serving those that I’m working with. I will try to get along with anybody 😉. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ. FCC has adopted the vision – To Become “A Passionate Community of Disciple Makers”: How will you support and personally work toward fulfilling this Vision? This Vision will be the driving force behind any opinion or decision I make on the Elder Board. My favorite verse is John 3:30 – “He must become greater. I must become less.” If I am to live this verse out, then my wants, desires, and actions need to shift. My heart needs to be allowed to be transformed by the Holy Spirit. Taking no pride or honor in my stance in the community or Church is critical to the embodiment of FCC’s new Vision. Consistently being vigilant to recognize God’s will for my actions will help me help the Church grow. FCC is basing much of our Vision on the concept of functioning Ministry Teams. How do you envision the encouragement of having every member/attendee involved and serving in a Ministry Team? Wow. What would Jesus say? Would He tell some people “You’re good, don’t worry about serving My Father’s Kingdom. We can get by without you.”? No. God has used so many improbable, incapable, unyielding, “ordinary” people in His Plan. We all have gifts! If God’s Kingdom is going to be renewed here on Earth and the size of the party is yet to be determined, then each and every one of us believers has a gift (or multiple!) that can be used to increase that number! We all carry burdens. We all have uncomfortable areas of our lives that we don’t want to open up. Our gifts and God’s power can overcome those burdens and uncomfortableness and He can use us in incredible ways. Allow yourself to be an instrument for God! There is no rest in the race for the souls of mankind. Ryan Sosamon (one year term) Ryan Sosamon 3211 Hilltop Drive Clinton, IL 61727 217-898-8082 leann.sosamon@gmail.com Biographical Information My name is Ryan Sosamon. I am married to Leann, and we have three children: Russell (6), Winnie (4), and Duncan (2). I work for a family business for 15 years, Weldon Fertilizer. We have attended FCC, my wife’s home church growing up, for over ten years now. Areas of Current Service at FCC? I am currently a small group leader and a part of the transportation committee along with planning men’s mission trips to Casas por Cristo with Gage Lyons. In the past I have taught various age groups on Sunday mornings at FCC during different seasons in my life from the nursery, First Kids, Jr. High, High School, and an adult Sunday School class. While Serving on the Eldership what would you like to see Accomplished and Why is this Important? Financially responsible decisions that are prayerfully in alignment with God’s will for our church…. Biblically sound teaching… Continuing ……. Rooted development, Missions focus, Local missions/NCC In your Opinion what are the Strengths and Weaknesses of our Major Ministry Areas: --Worship, Youth & Children’s ministry, Ministries for Adults, Neighborhood Care Center, Missions, Financial Stewardship. I have enjoyed seeing a growth in Men’s ministry opportunities through the Reload morning bible study, men’s mission trips, and the explosion of Rooted and its impact on the small group ministry. I am very passionate about FCC someday having a marriage ministry specifically geared towards helping relationships in crisis. I enjoy general interaction and the welcome team ministry as well. I like making people feel like they should be at FCC and getting them connected to others in our church. What Spiritual Disciplines are part of your walk with Jesus? Prayer, tithing, weekly worship in community, studying God’s word What Strengths and Personal Qualities do you bring to the Board? Passionate about our church Disciplined person Positive outlook FCC has adopted the vision – To Become “A Passionate Community of Disciple Makers”: How will You Support and Personally Work toward Fulfilling this Vision? I would first try to help others and equip them to oversee the vision of the church. I believe this fellowship has numerous individuals throughout the congregation that are ready for this challenge. We need to continue to encourage those people and give them the best chance at success to make disciples. I personally feel like I am one of these individuals that can work towards this vision. I am excited to see how this plays out and what the future holds for FCC. FCC is basing much of our Vision on the concept of functioning Ministry Teams, How Do You Envision the Encouragement of having Every Member/Attendee Involved and Serving in a Ministry Team? There are so many opportunities for people to serve in our church! We need to continue to present these things to the people of FCC and allow for organic volunteering in these different scenarios. These ideas take time and what we will be fighting is the perception of change. This is not change. It is Biblical-Matt 28:19. Jim (Jim Bob) Taylor (Three Year Term) Jim Taylor 817 Kleemann Dr Clinton, IL 61727 217-871-2985 taylor1098@frontier.com Biographical Information Jim Taylor (Jim Bob), Wife: Cindy, Kids: Emily and Kyle. Probation Officer, Attended FCC since 1978. Areas of Current Service at FCC? Jr. High Reveal leader, Sunday school teacher substitute, Welcome Team, 2nd service Usher, Outside Communion Server, FCC Security Team While Serving on the Eldership what would you like to see Accomplished and Why is this Important? I would like to see the Vision continue to grow and for the next phase of Next Steps to begin, both are keys for the future success of FCC. In your Opinion what are the Strengths and Weaknesses of our Major Ministry Areas: Worship, Youth & Children’s ministry, Ministries for Adults, Neighborhood Care Center, Missions, Financial Stewardship. I feel that all of these areas are or have become strengths that I see continuing growth for FCC. The weaknesses that I see are in the area of Young Adult/College age persons (difficult age for those who do not go off to school), and increase in volunteerism (which I see being started with Rooted). What Spiritual Disciplines are part of your walk with Jesus? Daily Bible reading, prayer, and fellowship. What Strengths and Personal Qualities do you bring to the Board? The ability to listen to all sides of an issue and interject a differing opinion if necessary, not take differences personally while cherishing each board and staff and congregation member, the knowledge that it is service for God, not man. FCC has adopted the vision – To Become “A Passionate Community of Disciple Makers”: How will You Support and Personally Work toward Fulfilling this Vision? Continue to grow, reach out to others and encourage them to do the same. FCC is basing much of our Vision on the concept of functioning Ministry Teams, How Do You Envision the Encouragement of having Every Member/Attendee Involved and Serving in a Ministry Team? Encourage others to find areas to get involved, make those who do get involved to feel welcomed and valued, and listen to new ideas members have for new ministry areas of service. James Weikel (Three Year Term) James Weikel 698 W. Woodlawn St Clinton, IL 61727 217-935-2377 jcweikel@msn.com Biographical Information James Weikel, Shirley Weikel, Two Children, Retired, 85 years at FCC Accepted Jesus as my Savior April 13,1952 Areas of Current Service at FCC? Calling at the nursing home on a monthly basis. Started May of 2017. While Serving on the Eldership what would you like to see Accomplished and Why is this Important? A phone call by the elders to all former members that are no longer coming to church. Asking if they are in need of prayers and invite them to return. In your Opinion what are the Strengths and Weaknesses of our Major Ministry Areas: --Worship, Youth & Children’s ministry, Ministries for Adults, Neighborhood Care Center, Missions, Financial Stewardship. Worship. Youth & Children’s ministry, Neighborhood Care Center and Missions. What Spiritual Disciplines are part of your walk with Jesus? Being in the bible Reload meetings for men. What Strengths and Personal Qualities do you bring to the Board? I have been an elder for many years. At one point I was chairman of the elders 3 years in a row. FCC has adopted the vision – To Become “A Passionate Community of Disciple Makers”: How will You Support and Personally Work toward Fulfilling this Vision? Whatever direction we go I will fully support. FCC is basing much of our Vision on the concept of functioning Ministry Teams, How Do You Envision the Encouragement of having Every Member/Attendee Involved and Serving in a Ministry Team? It would be good but not sure every member will get involved without a good plan. Have a great week! See you Sunday! GT Comments are closed.
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Elder's CornerWeekly update on what's happening at FCC! Glad you're here! |