Vineyard Church of Knox County
The Power
We're at the half-way point of our fall Giving Campaign, "Poured Out: Responding to God's Extravagant Grace," which means we're already looking back on some important things yet still looking forward to others. We've already been to the new building for open houses where we shared the vision of how the building will enhance the ministry of VCKC, and we shared the answers to FAQs of the Giving Campaign itself, questions like, "How much do we need to raise?" and "How much will the total project cost?" and "How do I decide how much to give?" All that information will soon be available online at our website, http://www.knoxvineyard.org.
We look forward now to two major opportunities for the whole church, one of which is our weekend of prayer, Friday and Saturday, October 7th and 8th. I remember reading an interview with a pastor of a church in the Midwest that was experiencing a wonderful transformation by the power of God. He was asked why he believed God was moving in such a powerful way. His answer was three words, “Let us pray.” We have high goals for this church, as expressed in our mission statement...we want to “transform the world one person at a time.” And we have said all along this fall that our ultimate goal for the Giving Campaign is not to raise money only but to raise disciples of Jesus who live poured out lives. Neither of these goals can be realized without the power of the Spirit of God. That’s why we pray. We pray to invite God to pour out His empowering Spirit on us, in us, and ultimately through us to a thirsty world.
The prayer service will be held on Friday, October 7th, at the building beginning at 7:00 p.m. We’ll spend some time in worship, then pray for God’s blessing on the building and on us as we move forward. The atmosphere will be a bit less structured and the “program” will be more participatory than Sunday Celebration Services. By that I mean not all the “action” will be up front, but rather among the people who come to pray. We’ll pray in small groups and we’ll walk the inside and outside of the building in prayer. It will be a great and powerful time to usher in God’s kingdom. (Remember to bring a lawn chair.)
After the service, we’ll begin our 24-hour prayer vigil at the church office (311C West Gambier Ave.). All are invited to come for a half-hour slot of time (at least) between 9:00 p.m. on Friday night and 9:00 p.m. on Saturday night. There will be a leader present for the whole time and you’ll be given direction on what to pray for. Mostly, we’ll be praying for people in our church community. We each filled out a prayer request card last Sunday (you’ll have the opportunity to do the same this Sunday, Oct. 2, if you missed last Sunday) that will be used to guide our prayers during those 24 hours. I’m excited to see God respond to our commitment to praying for one another. What a privilege it is to stand with one another and lift up our VCKC family before God in such a meaningful way. I hope you participalte in the service and the vigil, even if you’re not a professional prayer...because no one is!
It’s time to be thinking (already!) about C-DAY!!! We’ll close our Giving Campaign on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23RD, what we’re calling C-DAY, that is, COMMITMENT DAY. On that Sunday morning (when? October 23rd) every person will have the opportunity to make a financial commitment toward the purchase and ministry of the new facility. With $50,000 already in the bank and a down payment of $100,000 needed by October 28th, we need to raise at least $50,000 on the 23rd. Our goal is to raise an extra $15,000 to cover unexpected expenses, so (yes, you are reading this correctly!) OUR GOAL IS TO COLLECT $65,000 on C-DAY, October 23rd. Let’s all say it together, Wow! That’s a lot of money! Yes, it is. The most exciting thing about that need is that we are being forced to really pour out our resources to God, and I believe God is going to (as we say in the Vineyard) “show up” in powerful ways. When we pour out, God pours in. (And remember, all of this is possible only as we invite God to pour out His power through prayer.)
Also, on Commitment Day morning we’ll welcome a new group of members as they stand and publicly commit to the church family (if you’re interested in membership, come to the Getting Connected classes on Tuesdays, October 11 and 18 at the Inn @ HillenVale). Then, after the service, we’ll gather at the YMCA to share a celebration meal (cost TBD) after which we’ll baptize those who want to make a public proclamation of their commitment to Christ. If you are a follower of Jesus and have never been baptized (as a believer), then we encourage (and urge) you to consider getting baptized. If you have questions about why and how, you can visit our website, http://www.knoxvineyard.org/index.php/common/category/FAQs/ for what we believe about baptism. If you decide to get baptized, please call the church office at 392-VINE.
So, don’t miss these opportunities to be a part of what God is doing in this body—prayer service (Friday, October 7), prayer vigil (Fri-Sat, October 7-8), and C-Day (Sunday, October 23). God has us on a journey that He has chosen, and we are excited to see how He meets us and leads us along the way. We’ll pray and we’ll pour out and then wait with expectation as He generously responds.
Blessings,
Chris
