Dear members and friends of VPC,
I want to share a few things I am praying about and invite all of you to pray with me as we move from the summer months into the Fall.
I am very grateful for how God has sustained us since COVID overshadowed us. We have adapted to live-streaming and Zoom meetings for Bible study and fellowship. Our courtyard has provided many opportunities for fellowship outdoors. Victor Paz has provided wonderful leadership to our youth. We are a blessed church because of all we have been able to do.
Yet we have work to do into the future and we need to pray for some important things that will help strengthen Valley Park. Our priorities into the future were established by Jesus 2,000 years ago. Jesus prioritized teaching people about God (John 18:37-38). Jesus cared about people so much that He was willing to die for them in order to provide forgiveness of sins (John 12:27). Jesus created the Family of God composed of children of God and prayed for their unity (John 17:22-23).
The Priorities of Jesus Inform the Priorities of VP
- We share our faith with others so they might believe in Jesus (evangelism).
- We teach people the Bible so that they will know and serve Jesus (discipleship)
- We love and contribute to building a healthy church (The New Commandment of Jesus)
We accomplish these priorities by working together as a church family. As I have been teaching on Sundays, Paul describes the work we do together as informed by Ephesians 4:11-13. We are equipped through “Equipping Leaders” to do the work of the church together. I am proud of Valley Park for the degree to which we are working together, serving each other, making Jesus known, teaching people about Jesus and helping each other when in need. But I believe we can expand our ministries to reach more people than we are reaching with more “Equipping Leaders.” Read what Paul says
“And He gave some as apostles, some as prophets, some as evangelists, some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”
Ephesians 4:11-13
Paul lists five different types of “Equipping Leaders”:
Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors/Shepherds, Teachers
I believe VPC needs more “Equipping Leaders” who can equip more members for ministries to more age groups into the future. I can imagine a stronger ministry to families including marriage enrichment, parenting classes and expanded children’s ministry. I can imagine more community outreach through sports, after school ministries, and camps. I can imagine helping people with training in areas that help them get better jobs and improved money management. I can imagine outreaches to singles and unmarried young adults. The sorts of things we could do are all dependent upon Equipping Leaders who have a heart and giftedness for ministry and commitment to making a difference in the church. It could involve leaders who are volunteers or on staff, trained or simply gifted, or even someone already among us. Simply stated, VPC needs “Equipping Leadership.”
So, I am asking our entire church family to unite in prayer that God will provide leadership we need to grow our ministries and effectiveness in reaching our community for Christ. I have known this is a primary need for several years. I have interviewed multiple candidates and considered multiple possibilities in what might help. I have sought the recommendations of our denominational leadership. I have posted job descriptions at Seminaries. I have now come to the point of believing we are 100% dependent on God’s help. So please unite with me in praying for “equipping leaders” to help us build our ministries into the future. Please pray weekly. Please pray knowing God can provide.
I do believe if we are united and pray, God will provide for the future of Valley Park. Thank you for bearing my burden for VPC into the future.