Refuge News
Just wanted to keep you in the loop of what’s going on in the Life of Refuge:
SMALL GROUP KICK-OFF – Small groups start September 11 at 6:30 at Matt and Ann Pitts home. This will be the first of several small groups that will start. Our next phase of small groups, which will include different topics, times, and locations, will roll out during the fall. Stay tuned for more information.
Additional Service Kick Off is September 11 – We’re making room for more people to hear the Gospel!!!! We are running out of room in our 11:00 service…so we are taking a HUGE step by adding an additional service to accommodate the growth that God is sending to Refuge. The additional service will be from 9am-10am…*Please note that rKids and rTots is not provided for the early service.*
Peace & Love
Matthew S. Thrower
.org
I openly admit that I am the worlds best blogger *cough*cough*sarcasm*
Actually, I just wanted to highlight Refuge Point Church. Check our our website here.
Also…here’s a clip of what you might experience on any given Sunday.
Peace and Love to You
Matthew
There’s Always Time
Time sure does fly when you’re having fun. Things around here have been CRAZY! Starting a church, preparing for our second child…moving…and on and on… Seems I have not prioritized enough time to blog…but here goes my attempt at it again.
The past two weeks at Refuge Point Church have been amazing. We launched one week prior to Easter and God has really moved in both services. If you haven’t checked us out, you need to…you’re missing out!
This is a very busy time for me and I find myself always searching for more time…more time with my Bible…more time in prayer…more time with the family…etc. So this week I’ve been pondering the thought of time. You think you know what time is? Okay, try defining it without using any terms that rely on time. Time is… well, it’s time. It’s what keeps every event from happening simultaneously, and it’s what distinguishes something that happened in the past from something that will happen in the future. Is it a dimension, like space? Is it a quality of matter? Is it merely an illusion, possibly created to boost sales of digital watches? The smartest guys in the world get headaches from this one.
I may not be able to define time…but I know that God is outside of time. He must be. The bible says that there is none greater than Him. If God were limited by time, then there would be something greater than Him; in this case, time would be God. But I’m glad that there are no limits with God…time doesn’t hold Him…He holds time! What an amazing God!
That’s a God who I can find time for. Don’t get so busy that we forget about the one who is outside of time…
Peace and Love
Matthew
Launch News
This past week I heard someone question a group of church planters: “Would the city plead with you to stay if you announced you were closing your doors?” That’s something to think about. We hope the answer to that question is going to be YES! Refuge Point Church exists to build people, not buildings…a church in action.
VIA REFUGE POINT CHURCH:
Over the past few weeks our hearts have been stirred with the question of, “What’s Next for Refuge Point Church”. God has started opening doors that seem to be only from Him. We genuinely feel that the time has come for us to take a step of faith and BE the church Christ has called us to be.
We believe that there are hurting people who need to experience the same life-changing gospel that has compelled us to give our lives to Christ. We are pleased to announce that Refuge Point Church is launching weekly services on March 28th in Downtown West Point, 817 3rd Avenue. We are excited about this opportunity to serve our city, reach out to every person, and advance His kingdom.
We challenge each of you figure out your part of this journey. Visit us at www.refugepointchurch.org and check out our Plan BE page.
Peace and Love-
Matthew
The Church – The role of a Pastor/Church Leader
Over some time I want to attempt to post about how I feel a healthy church should look like. Hopefully you will find these posts helpful and give you an idea of how Refuge Point Church will look. Before we get into the role of the church I think it’s fitting to get an idea of what the Bible says the role of a pastor and/or church leader should be.
Let’s look at 1 Timothy 3: if anyone wants to provide leadership in the church, good! But there are preconditions: A leader (pastor, elder…) must be well thought of, committed to his wife, cool and collected, (I LOVE that part) accessible, and hospitable. He must know what he’s talking about, not be over fond of wine, not pushy but gentle, not thin-skinned, not money-hungry. He must handle his own affairs well, attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God’s church? He must not be a new believer, lest the position go to his head and the Devil trip him up. Outsiders must think well of him, or else the Devil will figure out a way to lure him into his trap…No exceptions are to be made for women—same qualifications: serious, dependable, not sharp-tongued…
Here’s the deal: Churches don’t need kings…(Absolute power always goes bad.) I’ve seen this ‘pastor King model’ and it’s not biblical or healthy. You know…the men who wear the super hero capes, have the guards surrounding them, bla bla…? We just read that a church leader/pastor is accessible and hospitable. Pastor, stop hiding in your office with your door shut all of the time. You are not a god.
What churches need are pastors who will lead by example and who are servants. By the way…isn’t that what Jesus came to do…serve? In fact it seems like he came with a towel in his hand to wash peoples feet, not sit behind a title.
The Pastor’s wife: Same applies bro… and I love what the writer also included on the list: NOT SHARP-TONGUED! Dear Beloved Pastor-if you can’t handle the affairs of your family and can’t keep your wife from gossiping and being slanderous…then you are not fit to lead a church. Apply for something in the corporate world.
Here’s what you should expect from any church leader:
1. That they are continuously growing in their walk with Christ.
2. That they pastor their family – bathe them in the word and bathe them with their love and support.
3. To Pastors – Instead of being a CEO Pastor, try being a spiritual director. Care for the spiritual life of your staff. Support your staff at any cost, because it will cost you.
4. Serve.
5. Lead.
It’s not about advancing a “pastor’s” kingdom…it’s about advancing HIS Kingdom. “let Your kingdom come, Lord.”
Love You, mean it-
Matthew
Upcoming Events
I wanted to share with you some upcoming events we have coming up at Refuge Point Church.
Our monthly gathering service (Love Fest) is coming up Sunday, February 28th at 6pm. We are meeting at the West Point Gym. I hope you to see you there.
We are also hosting a fundraiser dinner March 11th at 7pm at Springwood School. We are raising money to help us launch Refuge Point Church soon. If you are interested in coming, please let me know. We need all the help we can get.
Much Love-
Matthew
Reflections
I wanted to take a moment and say God is Awesome… We had an amazing time this weekend at the Downtown Christmas. The kids had a bla-a-a-a-a-st, the atmosphere was amazing, worship was incredible, and the pastor looks like Robert Pattinson. (okay, I just made that last part up.) A huge thanks goes out to all who made this past weekend possible…you’re the best! For those who came:…I can’t thank you enough…you were not just apart of another church service, but rather the beginning of a movement.
I wanted to share a few videos with you…
The first is my son…he’s so creative to be 3…he came up with this all by his little ol self…heh. He wanted to invite everyone to his church…Refuge Point. Cutest Kid EVA!
The second video is an amazing promo for Refuge Point Church set to launch mid-2010:
My prayer is that you have an Amazing Christmas!
Great things are ahead for 2010.
Peace on Earth
