by Bob Hall | Oct 17, 2012 | Uncategorized
People have been asking, “What’s going on? We thought the case was over and done with when the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear our appeal in December of 2011…” We thought so too–but by a stroke of God’s sovereign hand, our case was reopened in Federal District Court thanks, in part, to a new Supreme Court ruling in January of this year.
Judge Preska also ruled in our favor denying a motion by the city to stay the injunction pending appeal. Had this stay been granted, this would have meant that, even though there was a favorable ruling, all of the churches would have had to vacate the schools until the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, ruled on the appeal. This would have been a very awkward and difficult situation for all of us, not to mention it being mean spirited.
Yes, the city is appealing the decision to the Second Circuit. Oral arguments will be presented on November 19th, and then we will wait for a ruling. Please continue to pray for this very important matter, the implications of which stretch beyond what is happening in our general culture with its increasingly visible hostility to the historic Christian faith.
by Bob Hall | Oct 10, 2012 | Uncategorized
When we signed the contract in May to finish the construction on our building, the contractor told us that they expected to be finished by December. We thought to ourselves, “Sure! It’ll never happen.” Now, they’re talking about Thanksgiving and from what we can see, it just might happen.
As far as building construction goes, we are small potatoes compared to typically non-residential construction, and contractors like jobs like ours to “fill in” those gaps in their larger projects. Granted, this would tend to slow things down for us but it would help our cash flow. Guess what? There are no big jobs, or, at least, they are few and far between thanks to our current economy. We are it. They want to finish our building so that they can get their money.
There’s only one problem: we don’t have the money to complete the project. Well, the obvious question is, why did you proceed? We had to. We didn’t want to lose the generous foundation grant. We didn’t want the financial exposure of expired permits and reapplication which would require us, literally, to go back to the drawing board. We have already absorbed the cost of unexpected new building code regulations. We were concerned about deterioration of the existing structure. We didn’t want to lose our tax exemption. The city needs revenue and it does not allow unimproved properties to be tax exempt even though they are owned by a church. Once that tax exemption is revoked, it is a long process to get it back. There are other reasons.
Did I mention that we need this building to multiply our existing ministries and to launch new ones? In order for our church, any church for that matter, to grow, to be alive, we have to be continually reaching out.
A donor is putting forth this challenge. Someone has come forward with a new gift of $50,000 for the building. He is asking you for gifts of any amount that will match (and yes, exceed) that amount. This is not a matching grant. It is a gift that is already in place for which we thank the Lord. But he feels so strongly about the ministry potential behind this building that he is asking you to join him towards seeing it come to fruition. Yes, it will be our house of worship but it is also designed as a multi-purpose ministry center. That is who we are.
We are mindful and grateful of the many and generous gifts that have come in both large and small. We are learning by experience that we serve a mighty God and with Him, all things are possible.
For Jack Roberts and me, we count it a privilege to labor in this corner of God’s vineyard and we thank you for bringing this matter before the Lord.
Together in Christ we are blessed and kept,
Bob Hall, co-pastor
by Jack Roberts | Oct 10, 2012 | Uncategorized
“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood…” Therefore, the carefully constructed strategies of man cannot gain the victory, but only effect cosmetic changes. The Word of God, however, “is quick and powerful…penetrating…” The Holy Spirit brings that Word into the dank, dark dungeons of the soul and breathes life and light. What a never-routine privilege to “hold forth the Word of life!
by Jack Roberts | Oct 10, 2012 | Uncategorized
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1
‘Shame’ is viewed by many in our postmodern, post-moral society as an archaic remnant of a puritanical past, thankfully left behind by educated, enlightened and psychologically sophisticated people. At worst, it is seen as an abusive, though effective, tool crafted by religious leaders to manipulate and dominate the weak. God’s revelation to us about the things really are, however, speaks repeatedly and unapologetically about true, and clearly deserved, shame. Our first parents hid in shame from God and each other. This pattern has continued in every culture since. It is a telltale indictment of our day that there is such a concerted effort to remove it from the human experience: if there actually is no good or evil, no right or wrong, then there is no legitimate basis for shame. But Jesus Christ, God himself, bore the shame of our true moral guilt so that those who are His should not be ashamed on the final day! We can know now the cleansing of our consciences to serve the Holy God with joy and confidence.
by jvanwynen | Oct 7, 2012 | Uncategorized
NYCCAL spring softball has begun!
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