Christmas Giving 2011

God loves a cheerful giver and in the Greek cheerful is translated “hilarious” so, as we enter this season of giving before getting all those gifts on your loved one’s wish lists let’s 1st give to God showing Him that we love what He loves, people! This Christmas as we sow our finances into God’s economy let’s believe for a “hilarious” harvest of souls as we launch into the New Year.

Also in this podcast I cast the vision for BPC Foreign Missions Giving and Going opportunities in 2012.

Just click the title of the blog post & you’ll be directed to our podcast webpage.

Next Sunday I’m beginning a new message series for Christmas entitled; “Once Upon a Time; God’s Timeless Story of Christmas Blessing.” Please join us for this special series that’ll take us through Christmas Eve and conclude on Christmas Day with Special Guest Speaker Rev. Greg Krowitz Jr.!

SHAPE: Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts

Yesterday during our morning service as a church family we went through our “SHAPE; Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts” class. Here’s what the Bible says about Spiritual Gifts;

Now about spiritual gifts I do not want you to be ignorant." 1 Cor. 12:1
A SPIRITUAL GIFT: Is a special ability, given by the Holy Spirit to every believer at their conversion, to be used to minister to others and therefore build up the Body of Christ

Below is the definition for the SHAPE Acronym and questions we should be asking ourselves through our Spiritual Gifts discovery process:

Spiritual Gifts "... Each man has his own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that." 1 Cor. 7:7b WHAT AM I GIFTED TO DO?
Heart "For it is God who works in you, inspiring both the will and the deed, for his own chosen purpose!" Phil. 2:13 (NEB) WHAT DO I LOVE TO DO?
Abilities "There are different abilities to perform service..." 1 Cor. 12:6
WHAT NATURAL TALENTS AND SKILLS DO I HAVE?
Personality "No one can really know what anyone else is thinking or what he is really like, except that person himself." 1 Cor. 2:11 (LB)
WHERE DOES MY PERSONALITY BEST SUIT ME TO SERVE?
Experiences "And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Rom. 8:2,8
HOW WILL MY EXPERIENCES DETERMINE MY DIRECTION IN MINISTRY?

Workbooks along with a CD of this teaching are available near the Welcome/Information table in the lobby of the church.

Just click the title of this blog post & you’ll be directed to our podcast web page.

Enjoy & be blessed!

BPC Sovereignty Celebration & lastest Podcast

This past Sunday was yet another milestone in the history of BridgePoint Church because we became a Sovereign Assemblies of God church! (Sovereign meaning - we are now a fully functioning local church) We were so privileged and honored to have presiding over the Celebration Jeff Leake, Lead Pastor of Allison Park Church and founder of the MCM Pittsburgh Network of churches. Since 1996 APC has planted 10 churches with BPC being the 7th plant in 2007 beginning as a small group of only 6 people. It was through God’s provision, Pastor Jeff’s leadership & coaching plus the faithful support of APC’s congregation that BPC grew holding its Grand Opening Service on Palm Sunday 2008. Since that time we’ve become Incorporated, acquired our own building which we purchased for the amazing sum of $1.00 (ONE Dollar) and have taken on membership. So needless to say yesterday was a very BIG deal at BPC!
During the prayer time I announced that our Kids Guy, Steve Michalowski, received his License to Preach ministry credential then Jeff lead us in a prayer of blessing over Steve as our Missionary, Pat Summers, and BPC Board of Stewardship all gathered around him.

Jeff then delivered a powerful message entitled; “Stepping Into the Favor of the Lord”. I hesitate to give you the details cuz I’d like for you to listen to the podcast. You will be blessed cuz Jeff is THE BEST preacher in Western PA! (just click on the title of this blog post & you’ll be directed to our podcast web page)
Following the message Jeff asked me, Jim, Chester & Charlie, AKA BPC’s Board of Stewardship, to stand facing the congregation so that he could pray a prayer of blessing over us & the congregation of BPC! I just can’t put into words the feelings that came over me during that moment…it was so powerful!! Following the service we moved the party to the Lower Level of the church where we continued the celebration with Cake & Ice Cream!

We praise God for all the amazing things He’s done in the life of BPC in these few short years and we really can’t wait to see what He’s going to do in the years to come!

Final podcast in our Holy Spirit WHO?? Series

BPC’s AWESOME Outreach Pastor, Maribeth Heshler, delivered the final message in our Holy Spirit WHO?? series with a talk on the Holy Spirit’s Healing Power and boy…did she deliver the goods!

Francie & I are so excited and honored to have Maribeth as a part of BPC’s staff! As an elementary student Maribeth attended our Jr Church services while we were Children’s Pastoring at APC back in the day. It’s during those years Maribeth felt the call of God for Foreign Missions. After High School Maribeth attended & graduated from Valley Forge Christian College with a Bachelors Degree in Missions. She also holds a License to Preach Credential with the Penn-Del District of the Assemblies of God. Maribeth has served the Lord in Costa Rica & Nicaraugua.

I know you’ll be blessed by Pastor Maribeth’s ministry as you listen to this podcast and…you know the drill. Just click on the title of this blog post & you’ll be directed to our podcast webpage.

God Bless!