ELDERS TO CONGREGATION
May 19, 2013
It has been awhile since the elders have made any kind of report to the congregation so we ask for a few moments of your time this morning. We would like to bring you up to date on several items of interest and one that some of you have been asking about.
- When we hired Ryan, one of our goals was to build a Youth Building and start a youth worship during the morning worship. The elders have also been talking about the crowded conditions we are having in the adult and youth areas, as well as the parking. After discussion and prayer, and with the cost of the youth building (in excess of $30k), the elders have decided to formulate a different plan. Beginning this Fall, we will be going to two worship services (9:00 and 10:45). We will be giving you more information in the very near future. Ryan will be starting a youth worship for Jr/Sr High on Sunday night which will also incorporate ROOTS. There is even talk of a study for the parents during that same time.
- What about the youth building? The Building Team has been working alongside the elders and agree that spending $30k plus on a youth building is not good stewardship. So we have decided to build a picnic shelter to the south and east side of the parking lot extending into the field. This shelter will be 30×50, and after taking bids, it was decided to ask Dave Beach to construct it. He is to begin after June 1. This shelter will be paid for in cash with money set aside by our Finance Team at the beginning of 2013. We will be calling on some of our people to help with some finishing touches like electricity, chicken wire for the rafters, and a fire pit. This shelter will be available to all of for your use.
- Someone is graciously donating a lawnmower to us. Peter Bales is going to make modifications to our shed which will allow storage. Until those two projects are completed, we still need volunteers who will be willing to cut the grass. Afterwards, we will have a list for volunteers to sign up, and a training session on the use of the mower, for those who want to cut grass.
- As many of you know, the church was planning a missions trip to Haiti for later this year. The trip ended up being cancelled due to a lack of volunteers. Before it was cancelled Karen Eckart had collected $1400 to help finance the trip. Many in our congregation contributed to that cause so the church leadership thought it was prudent to inform you that the church is going to redirect that $1400 to a mission that OVCF supports, Revive Liberia Missions. Revive Liberia is an organization that was founded by our own Phil Eckart and receives regular support from OVCF. One of their goals it to enable Christians in Liberia to become self-reliant. A wood shop was constructed in Liberia by the organization in order to help meet this objective. Recently the Woodmizer Corporation has offered to sell Revive Liberia a used wood mill priced well below its market value ($2500). Church leadership thought that the Haiti trip money would be well spent helping to purchase the mill for the mission in Liberia.
- We also want to thank Ryan, and one of our youth, Brandon Bedolla, for installing the blinds.
- If you have any questions, please feel free to ask one of the elders, Ryan, or me.
