What Our Leaders Say...                                                                                   HOME

Children's Ministry Leader - Nancy Green     I am certain God wants us to build our addition.   He is adding new children every week.   If every child attended every week, we could not hold them all in our church.   I think the last count of total names was near 50.   We are touching lives, I truly believe that!     When I look at the faces of some of the kids that have attended, I see God working in them.   There are two in particular that I think are very close to making the decision to ask Christ into their hearts and lives.   For me that is the goal and the reward.   To have a little girl ask me to "read more from that book"(the Bible), makes me want to cry with happiness. Building Committee Leader - Joyce Strand     I believe we should build on to our church because God wants us to build.   We've had several obstacles to overcome, but God has always shown us the way.     Some issues were about money to get started, it came.   One was getting everyone in our congregation to come together with one voice to say yes, that was definitely God.   Another was God sending us a Pastor that was as excited as we were to grow for God, we know that was God's doing.   If we don't build on, we can't reach more people and that means we can't grow in God's work.   AND isn't that what we are all here for.   I have always, from the very beginning believed this is God's project not ours.     In Faith We Build (for God) Church Secretary - Kathy Green     YES! I have been in leadership at First Church of God from the time a special committee was formed to study the question of "Should we build?"   I have seen God's hand move in small, but very definite ways at each critical juncture of the program - from that first year of study to date.   He put people and resources we needed into our path at just the right time.   There has never been any question in my mind about two things:       * First, yes, we have a very definite need to improve our facility to better minister to those in our current church family and those in the community we wish to minister to and eventually draw into the family.       * Secondly, I have never doubted that God is telling us to build - again falling back to the continuing list of ways He has moved to make things happen for us at just the right time. (One item on this list is the calling of Pastor Don Hendrick to our church.   God gave me a very strong conviction that Pastor Don was His choice before a formal interview had even taken place with the Pulpit committee or I had even talked to Pastor Don personally.)     I've felt all along that God will bless our efforts in accordance to the measure of obedience we show to His direction and the faith we demonstrate.     God very recently reinforced this message during a personal study time.   In Judges 6, God picks the least likely person from the weakest tribe to deliver the people of Israel from the Midianites.   Verse 14 - "The LORD turned to him [Gideon] and said, 'Go in the strength you have... Am I not sending you?'"   God gave me a very clear message as I read that verse that this is His command for our Building Program - "Go now just as you are even though logic may say the money isn’t there."   The Building Program isn't about numbers on paper.     It is about faith and obedience!     It's about being Jesus' hands and feet in our community!     In Faith We MUST Build Minister of Pastoral Care - Pastor Tonda Forsman     I remain confident that God wants us to build in order to fulfil the ministry He has called us to.   We are doing good things for Him.   And He will supply all we need to do according to His plan.     The challenges ahead are not to be taken lightly, but I believe we will see His glory if we are faithful.   This means that we must stay in the Word so we may refute the attack that is coming from society around us, and continue to listen and care, pray and bring the Word of our Lord Jesus Christ to those who are hurting and lost.   May God be with us as we make this decision. Publisher of New Day News - Phyllis Armentrout     Yes.   I most certainly believe that we should build.   Proverbs 16:3 says "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your PLANS (my emphasis) will succeed."   What more assurance than that do we need?   Our plans are committed to the Lord.     We not only have prayed, thought and planned, we have put into action those things God is requiring of us--God's Allegan Kitchen, Personal Needs Pantry, Baby Dressers, Children and Youth activities, Missions Trips, help to individuals within the community.   Many of our activities have resulted in an influx of funds that we have donated to Habitat for Humanity, Sylvia's Place, Lakeshore Pregnancy Center, LOVE INC, Crisis Response Center, etc.   We have accomplished these things because God has been with us in the doing , not because we are doing it for any kind of personal glory.     God wants this renovation to happen, and if we continue to be faithful to Him, He will allow us and the community to see His glory shining through the First Church of God. Jim Green     Yes, GOD is telling us to build!     I have been a part of this building program since the start, and every time we hit a road block GOD would bring us through that obstacle.   The biggest obstacle that we had at first was to become a unified church.   So every time we had to ask the members to vote on a new obstacle the vote was a unified vote.     So yes, I believe that our church family also believes that GOD is telling us to build.   So now we must show our Faith in GOD and do HIS will and start this new Building.     NOW IS THE TIME! Chairman, Board of Trustees - Ken Strand     YES!   I have been involved from the start, first with the Building Study Committee and then the Building Committee itself.   Sometimes when it seemed like we were not going to be able to proceed, GOD stepped in and showed us the way.     He provided us with a Christian Architect, who met with us several times at no cost.   When it came time for surveys, and the decision to hire Mr.. Parker's firm the congregation was unified, and the money was provided.   When my father made his contribution you have to Know that God was involved.     Should we build?   I believe God has spoken and now we need to pray and listen, so that we do it God's way! Click here to report an error on this page.