“Ordinary people, empowered by an extraordinary God, building a community of Christ in West Orange County.”
Posted by Tom Welch on March 2, 2010 under News | 
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Go Find Your Desolate Place
“Life comes at you fast”, says a recent string of commercials. That tagline resonates because we all feel it. It’s called stress.
Stress isn’t just when bad things happen. Even “good stress” can have adverse effects. Stress knocks us off our groove. Stress can even knock us off our mission.
Posted by Tom Welch on February 11, 2010 under News | Be the First to Comment
The Mission on the Move
If you want a quick guilt trip, compare your last 24 hours with Jesus first 24 hours in Luke 4:31-44. Let’s see: preach the good news - check! Deliver from demons - check! Heal the sick - check! Jesus was definitely a man on a mission!
Posted by Tom Welch on February 5, 2010 under News | Be the First to Comment
Okay guys, it’s time to get serious and become a real “Band of Brothers”. We’re starting up a men’s group next Wednesday night (February 10th) at Tom McCoy’s home at 7:00 PM. We’ll meet each week for eight weeks for conversation and encouragement.
We’ll be looking at Chip Ingram’s series on spiritual warfare called “The Invisible War: What Every Believer Needs to Know about Satan, Demons, and Spiritual Warfare.” We need to remember that we are in a battle and need to guard one another’s back.
Nothing fancy - bring yourself and a friend. And don’t come just because you need it. Come because we need you!
Here’s the details again:
Where: Tom McCoy’s home
When: Wednesday’s at 7:00 PM
What: Topic - Conversation - Encouragement
“Matthew’s Hope” homeless ministry has a new need: Bike lights for the homeless friends who don’t have them. This is for both safety reasons and financial reasons.
Many homeless people rely on their bike for their transportation to and from job sites, grocery stores, etc… But they are often stopped by the police and ticketed for “improper equipment” because they don’t have lights.
Well, the Winter Garden police have offered to carry bike light kits in their squad cars to give to the homeless people they stop! They will also give them info on Matthew’s Hope where they can get a “hand-up”.
For $15 you can sponsor a bike light! We’ll be receiving an offering this Sunday. Make a separate check out to ‘Next Community Church*” or cash will do!
Thanks for making a difference!
*”Matthew’s Hope” is awaiting their non-profit status.
Posted by Tom Welch on January 21, 2010 under News | Be the First to Comment
The Father’s Heart
What we all crave, deep within our souls is the blessing of our father. The Bible makes much of the importance of a father’s blessing and the heartbreak when that blessing is withheld. Many adults pursue their father’s blessing years after their dads have passed away. That sense of approval, respect, and love is what our heart’s long for,
What does the father’s blessing sound like? Well, Jesus heard it. It sounds like this:
Posted by Tom Welch on January 19, 2010 under News | Be the First to Comment
This weekend, our district leadership team, met with our Haitian pastors in the Southeast Florida region. There is a deep burden among our Haitian people who are receiving mixed reports from their homeland. What we are seeing on the news each day, their families and their church’s families are experiencing. On Sunday, we visited, as many Haitian churches as possible letting them know their Alliance family is standing with them through prayer and support.
One of our Haitian pastors attempted to go to Haiti on Saturday, but was unable to get his flight to Port Au Prince. He was to go and do preparation for an advance team that would go in this week. We know of four US pastors already there, and we hear of others who are planning to go this week, as well. As we gather reports, we will know better how we (the Southeastern District) should respond.
Phil Skellie and Robin Dirks, of CAMA Services, are coming to Orlando today to meet with us and to seek to get into Haiti to discern the need and establish a base from which we can operate.
The response we are encouraging is…
There are over 150 churches, schools, and orphanages in Haiti that use the name of the Alliance, but there has been no organization or training of them. Many of them have been planted and supported by pastors who also pastor US churches. We are seeking to identify each one, as well as “mother” churches (not necessarily C&MA) where our workers have come from, and extended family from there. We don’t know what this will look like, but we are hearing there is a great need for those in the Port au Prince region.
This past Saturday, the Superintendent and I met with the many of the pastors of the Haitian South Association of the C&MA. We heard from those who have spoken to family and friends in Haiti. The reports are grim, and there is a level of frustration at the inability for help to get to those who are injured or hungry. Plans were made on how to proceed.
On Sunday, we visited eleven churches in South Florida, sharing how the churches of the C&MA are supporting them in prayer and relief efforts. It was greatly appreciated.
A memorial service for the Haitian community is being planned in Fort Lauderdale by several of our pastors.
If you have helpful input on the District’s response, the best way to communicate is by email to harris@sedcma.org. Thank you for your prayers
Posted by Tom Welch on December 30, 2009 under News | Be the First to Comment
Why care?
Christmas (yes, we are still in the Christmas season) is a time of giving. We drop coins into bell ringers buckets and participate in special offerings for those in need. We should do this all year round. But we especially show compassion at Christmastime. But why care? We care because God does. Consider a verse from the psalm we looked at last Sunday:
Posted by Tom Welch on December 17, 2009 under News, Pictures | Be the First to Comment
Undies Sunday… from tom welch on Vimeo.
Posted by Tom Welch on December 9, 2009 under News | Be the First to Comment
Prophet, Priest, and King
The grand miracle of all time is celebrated at Christmas - the miracle of the incarnation: Very God and very man coming together in the person of Jesus. The intersection of all the hopes and fears of mankind are met in Christ….
Posted by Tom Welch on December 3, 2009 under News | Be the First to Comment
Trusting God
An insightful observation was given at our “pot-luck” service last week. Why is it easier to trust and depend on God during hard times than in times of abundance? As I reflect on this observation I am struck at the need we have to put ourselves in places where we must trust in God. In times of hardship, we must trust in God - we have no other option! In times of plenty we must step outside of our comfort zone and trust God for things only he can do.
I am reminded of a great man of faith - George Mueller. In his lifetime Mueller established 5 orphanages and cared for over 10,000 orphans. And this he did to glorify God for His faithfulness. In Mueller’s words:
Posted by Tom Welch on November 20, 2009 under News | Read the First Comment
God’s Faithfulness and Dependability
In John Bunyan’s classic book, “Pilgrim’s Progress”, our hero’s depart from the path and become prisoners, locked in the dungeon of Doubting Castle which was ruled by the merciless Giant Despair. Pilgrim and his companion are beaten daily and deprived of all sustenance. When they are at their wits end, suddenly Pilgrim remembers that in his pocket he has a key called “promise” that will open any lock! Sure enough, the key opens the cell door, the dungeon door, and the castle door. Pilgrim and his companion run to freedom!
Nice story- what’s the point?
