August 27, 2008, Volume 18, Number 31

by Brian Christensen
Elder Chairman/Church Chairman

 

As hard as it may seem, it is now time to look ahead to the future of Highland Park without the faithful leadership of Pastor Mike.  I must say that the future looks bright.  Fortunately Pastor Mike had the vision and forethought to put in place a leadership development structure that has done just that, develop leaders.  I am confident that the Lord has provided plenty of strong leaders to help guide us through this change in His church.

 

Your leadership team has reviewed and endorsed a senior pastor selection process that is comprehensive and inclusive.  It is comprehensive from the standpoint that it encourages vision and inclusive from the standpoint that it involves not just the leadership team, but the entire congregation.  By coupling the strategic vision aspect with the input of the congregation, I am confident we can select a new senior pastor that is the right match for Highland Park.  It goes without saying that the Lord is already preparing the heart of our new senior pastor and we must seek Him in prayer to determine who He would have us select.  By engaging as many people in the process as we can, we benefit from the collective wisdom that God has woven among us.

 

In the coming days, weeks and months you will see the process unfolding.  Your leadership team is committed to moving forward in a way that allows us to “grieve” the departure of our beloved Pastor Mike, but at the same time allows for solid progress in bringing in the person God wants as our new senior pastor.  The process begins with following the by-laws in getting congregational approval of the search team.  Once that is done, the Elders and other church leaders will come together in a vision planning session that will affirm our vision and solidify our ministries.  We will then progress by asking the congregation to complete a survey that will provide feedback on their expectations for a senior pastor.  From the vision session and survey information, the search team will then develop a candidate profile that will provide insight into the best possible match for our church.  Once all of this has been completed, the search team will begin the actual process of gathering resumes and examining prospects.

 

In the coming weeks we will be examining each aspect of the search process in more detail.  As we break out each component, we hope that you will see a balanced approach to the entire process.  The Elder team is committed to maintaining balance as we listen to what each of you has to say.  A balanced approach means that a lot of listening will occur.  I would encourage you seek out an Elder and let them know your thoughts and I ask that you pray that God would grant us wisdom and understanding so that we would discern His will for His church.         

 

 

The deadline to submit articles for the next Highlight is Monday, September 8th at noon.

Fellowship Team F (Louise Kasik's team) is on for the month of September.

Sunday School Teacher Need:
Highland Park is looking for another teacher to assist Chris Lozos with our 5th grade Sunday School Class.  This could include taking attendance, helping students discover answers to their questions and periodic teaching assignments.  If you are interested, please contact Pastor Brant.

If you’re interested in knowing  how  Mike Awtry is doing in Jerusalem, you can stay informed by visiting his blog at http://agentileinjerusalem.blogspot.com

Highland Park is excited to announce “Promotion Sunday” for students in 1st grade through 12th grade, Sunday, August 31st.  This event coincides with the children and youth’s move into their new classes this fall.   We acknowledge the importance of providing opportunity for spiritual growth and thank you as parents for encouraging your children and youth to attend the appropriate class.  All students will go to their current class at 10:00 a.m.  They will then move to the worship center for a short devotional after which they will meet their new teacher who will lead them to their new classroom.  All students who are being promoted will attend their new class on Sunday, September 7.  Thank you to our teachers for their faithful service and your investment into the next generation.  Note: Teachers – please bring your class to the worship center by 10:15 a.m.

· Our wedding is coming up and we are looking for a house or apartment to rent.  Please call Beth at 270-2739.

 

Urban Impact Ministries – New Orleans/Mike & Rocio Babst
During the month of September, the MISSIONS PRAYER CLOSET will focus on the needs of the Urban Impact Ministries’ “Bigger Porch” project.

 

Urban Impact Ministries was founded in 1989 by Highland Park’s own Glen Schrieber. In its early days, UIM focused mainly on youth ministry with the students in the neighborhood housing projects of Central City New Orleans (see the map on the Mission bulletin board in Wing A of Highland Park’s church building). As the ministry began to grow, youth Bible studies were added, along with sports ministries and an after-school program.

 

In 1996, Castle Rock Community Church was founded, and adult Bible studies were added. In 2005, land was purchased for a new community center just before Hurricane Katrina hit. Following the storm, UIM partnered with EFCA TouchGlobal to help begin the rebuilding process. Since then, more than 12,000 volunteers from across the U.S. have come to the Central City of New Orleans to aid UIM in this vital ministry. Highland Park has been a part of the Central City Hurricane Recovery by sending out two adult teams and two youth teams in the past three years since Hurricane Katrina.

 

On August 29, 2008, three years to the day since Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, we will finally move forward with the building of the new community center! Your prayers are necessary for this long-time goal of building a “bigger porch” to come into reality.

 

During the first week of September, please pray for work teams to come and labor with UIM on this new community center. This next step in the ministry to the Central City of New Orleans needs willing laborers to come and help with the non-contracted work of putting this building together. UIM will begin hosting teams to help build the community center the last week of January. Already, here at Highland Park, we have people signing up to be part of the two adult teams (to travel sometime between January 24, 2009, and the end of July 2009) and one teen team (to travel sometime in June or July 2009). If you are interested, please contact Luann Menke, UIM Ambassador, at 564-1713 or lmenke@neb.rr.com before the end of September.

 

If you come . . . then He will build it!

 

Join us Sunday morning in the Fellowship Hall 10:00 a.m. for Sunday Bible School.  The new quarter begins September 14, 2008.  It’s teaching the Bible for life.

 

SBS 100  Welcome To Highland Park
Teachers:  Kevin & Joan Bennett; Erik & Cathy Weinmeister
Meets in Room A10
Our name “Welcome” summarizes our class purpose: To welcome those new to our church by providing an informal environment to meet others who may be at the same stage in their journey as well as those who’ve “been here a while.”  The class will include testimonies and Q/A with church leaders, discussion of our church’s core beliefs and values, as well as opportunities for additional fellowship activities.  If you are newer to our church, or you just want to meet some of the people who are, this is the group for you!  Guests may start at any point during the quarter.

 

SBS 101a - Basic Christianity
Teacher:  Ken Taylor
Meets in Room B27
This entry level discipleship class is for new believers and those interested in studying the basics of our faith.  We will use the Word of God to discover how to become a Christian and know that you can have assurance of salvation.  We will study the basics of living the Christian life.

 

SBS 103 – Growing in Christ
Teacher: Mike Dornish
Meets in Room B25
This Sunday school class is intended for individuals who are young in the faith or someone who has been a Christian for a while but has never really learned how to study the Bible, memorize verses, or developed a consistent daily devotion. We will be using a 13 week Bible study series published by NAVPRESS. Everyone taking this class will be expected to complete the lesson in advance, memorize the key verse, commit to daily devotions and come on Sunday ready to participate.

 

SBS 157 – Teologia 1:  Los Atributos de Dios
Maestro: Miguel Godoy
Meets in Room B23
La TEOLOGIA de la palabra viene de dos palabras griegas: Teo que significa a "Dios" y logos que significa "discurso" o "discusión". Literalmente entonces, la teología es la discusión o el estudio de Dios. Y el lugar para empezar cualquier discusión o el estudio acerca de Dios deben estar con Que El es, y lo que El es. Unanos cada el domingo por la mañana como nosotros miramos lo que la Biblia nos dice acerca del carácter y atributos del Dios que servimos.

 

SBS 204 – Who Am I?  The Identity of the Believer in Christ
Teacher: Phil Awtry
Meets in Room B21
Who am I?  Everyone has had to ask themselves that question at some point.  Many people today are struggling with an "identity crisis," as they seek to answer the question through many different means.  But for the Christian, the answer is very clearly contained in the Word - you are who God has made you.  And knowing our true identity as believers is key to understanding how God desires us to live.  Come join us as we explore some of the aspects of who God has made us through faith in His Son Jesus Christ.  One thing is sure - if you are in Christ, you are not who you were!

 

SBS 206 – Theology 2: The Triune God
Teachers: Darin Christensen & Matt Stoeckle
Meets in Room B19

 

 

 

SBS 307 – Judges/Ruth
Teacher: Don Konrad
Meets in Room B24
Remember the "Dark Ages" from high school history class, that period in Western Europe following the Roman Departure that left the native population "in the dark?" The Book of Judges may well be the "Dark Ages" of the Old Testament!  But, although it deals with human failure and sin, God shines His Sovereign glory mightily through a very few common people who serve Him faithfully.  The Book of Judges addresses Israel's downward spiral into idolatry and sin and records a faithful God rescuing them time and time again, yet never compromising His Laws and His Statutes regarding holiness and obedience. And through this two trimester journey, we, the church, have many lessons to learn along the way, as well! See you in the Fall Trimester!

SBS 357 - II Peter - Peter's Guide for
Survival in a non-Christian World
Teacher: Bill Menke
Meets in Room B22
In 2 Peter 1:13 and again in 3:1 Peter says that he writes his letter to stir up his readers. They, like us, were living in a non Christian, often hostile world, where so called truth came in many assorted varieties. The way Peter chose to stir up these Christians was to remind them of certain facts; facts that all true believers need to know. The facts we Christians need to know fall under four general headings; we are to: (1.) Know our Salvation, (2.) Know our Scriptures, (3.) Know our Adversaries, and (4.) Know our Future. Equipped with such knowledge we will be able to live godly lives in the midst of a non-Christian world. A pretty impressive claim for an old fisherman! Come join us and see if Peter's second letter can deliver.

 

 

Our desire in the Highland Park nursery is to transform its atmosphere into an environment of prayer for young children, a place where children learn simple truth statements as they form their language skills, and a place where they hear foundational Bible stories and hear truths about our great God through song.

 

How can this transformation take place?  It begins with great leaders who have a vision for what the ministry can become.  Our nursery leadership team, consisting of Mary Howland, Kristi Hackett, and Kim Webster, will be working hard to help nursery workers view themselves not only as childcare workers but also as prayer warriors and ministers to children.  If every child is prayed for every time he or she is in the nursery, what might God be pleased to do in response to those prayers?  As nursery workers see their chief functions as not only changing diapers, but sowing truth in the lives of these little ones, what might God be pleased to accomplish?  We believe the nursery is a place where Kingdom business takes place!

 

Because the nursery is so vital, we must also take care to make efficient use of the space God has provided.  Therefore, our plans include the renovation of our current nursery layout to better accommodate our workers and to help insure the safety and protection of young children.  By our fall ministry kick-off in September, we plan to open up the current room visually by creating a half wall between the main room and what is called the “crib room”.  This main area will be reserved for “walkers”, little guys and girls who can move on two legs.  We will then convert the “crib room” into the “crawlers” room--a place where kids who are not yet walking can crawl around, lay in an infant seat or be held and rocked.  For parents we plan to install a one-way mirror from which you can view the crawler room.  This will allow you to check on your child and our staff without alerting your child to your presence.  We also plan to create some cubby holes for you to store your car seat while your child is in nursery.

 

We would like to thank each of you who contributed to the ‘Southere banquet last fall.  The funds you gave are allowing us to move forward with these changes resulting in a better ministry to the next generation as well as serving parents who attend Highland Park.