Hindsight

Freedom is one of the tremendous blessings for which I’m thankful to God!  I didn’t mention it in my sermon Sunday because I had to keep my message to 9 tremendous blessings!  But I am so thankful for a country that allows me to live out my freedom of religion in whatever way I see fit. 

Freedom is why we have the opportunity tonight at 4:30 to hand out fliers inviting Visalia Christmas Parade attenders to GateWay during the holiday season. 

146 people responded to the gospel of Jesus Christ in 2011and made a commitment.  Did you know that we're on the same pace or even ahead of that number this year?  Do you think God is using GateWay to reach, touch, heal, encourage, and save people in the Visalia region for Christ? 

Almost 38 years ago Cindy invited me to go to church with her.  I heard the message and responded by accepting Christ.  There are people who are valuable to God waiting to connect in a relationship with Him if we’ll just be bold and invite them to GateWay. 

We’re meeting at Starbucks on Main St. at 4:30.  Be a part of what God is doing at GateWay. 

Let’s utilize our freedom of religious expression and reach out to those who don’t have a church home this Christmas season.  

Hindsight

$41,218.00 worth of cash and commitments were made to Network Missions at GateWay on Sunday!  Thank you for your generosity and trust in what GateWay is doing to reach people for Christ.  Because of your gifts we were able to give Pastor Bill’s Metro Ministries a check for $10,000.00  That gift will keep buses rolling and Sunday School happening all over New York.  If you weren't able to give and would like to just drop a check in the offering marked "Network Missions."

I hope you had a great day hearing Pastor Bill Wilson’s story.  Someone said the job of a Pastor is,  “To comfort the afflicted and to afflict the comfortable!”  I think Pastor Bill epitomizes that sentiment.  He went to Brooklyn to be a missionary to the urban world and his desire was to not only make a difference not in their physical living conditions but in their knowledge of God and commitment to Jesus Christ.  The staff of Metro Ministries has literally led tens of thousands of children to Christ.

I hope your were inspired and motivated not just to give financially but to think of yourself as the Bill Wilson missionary to your world!

GateWay to Christmas is coming and it’s the perfect opportunity to be on mission to invite friends, relatives and neighbors to a Christian Christmas experience.  Take a step of faith and buy some extra tickets and reach your friends for Christ!

Hindsight

Romans 16 is a roll call of important people in the life of the Apostle Paul.  I hope you’re taking time this week to make your list of people who are important in your life!

Bill Wilson is one of those important people for me.

I met Bill in 1987 at People’s Church in Fresno.  I was astounded by his story of moving into the Bushwick community of Brooklynn to begin a ministry to retrieve and minister to hurting and abandoned children. Bill began with the name of Yogi Bear Sunday School but soon adopted the new name of Metro Ministries.

Bushwick is an area filled with drugs, violence and urban dysfunction.  Bill has been beaten, stabbed and shot in the face, yet he stays in this to touch the lives of children.

Due to the success of Metro’s programs, President George Bush, Sr. appointed Pastor Bill to serve on the National Commission on America’s Urban Families in 1991. Metro’s influence was also identified as a factor in the noticeable reduction of crime in the Bushwick community and the organization was featured on ABC’s Nightline.

Bill will be speaking at GateWay this Sunday at 8:45, 10:30 and 6pm (There will be a Thursday night service but Bill will not be able to be a part of it.)

If you’d like to read Bill’s biographical book please call the church office and come by and pick up a copy as they’re available.

Come meet someone who was added to my list!  Bring some friends, they will be amazed by Bill’s story.

God bless,

Pastor Ed