Encounter's 3rd Annual Christmas Party

This Friday, December 3rd at 7:00pm is Encounter's Christmas party. Our mother church is the location: Grace Church in Powell. We use their awesome basement that is decorated for the season, has ping-pong, pool tables, foosball and more. There are couches and cafe tables & chairs and also a stage area where we will play a few crazy large group games. It's been a great time in the past to connect with a broader group of people who call Encounter their home church. But it's also very much for newcomers, work associates and neighbors to join in the food and fun. CLICK HERE to view pics. from last years party.

Kary Oberbrunner to preach at Encounter, Nov. 28

This Sunday my good buddy, Pastor Kary Oberbrunner, will be preaching at Encounter Church. He and I worked together for about seven years at Grace Church in Powell. That is Encounter's sending church or mother church.Kary has written his fourth book titled, "Your Secret Name", and he will be speaking about it along with various Bible passages. I think our people at Encounter will really find him to be an interesting speaker and I look forward to listening to the message online. CLICK HERE if you would like to listen to it.
Here is the video he'll be showing in the church service:

Encounter Church Gives to GBIM

For the second year in a row Encounter Church took 100% of a Sunday mornings offering and gifted to Grace Brethren International Missions (GBIM). It was in partnership with the Day of Generosity.
This years offering totalled $5,232.00.
Praise the Lord!

Encounter's, Day of Generosity, Sun, Nov. 21

I'm excited to see how God will work through the generous giving of His people at Encounter this Sunday, November 21st. We've been talking about the Day of Generosity for a few months now, preparing our body of believers to give above and beyond.
100% of the offering will be gifted to Grace Brethren International Missions, (GBIM,) a partnering ministry within our fellowship of churches.
Amazingly there are less than 300 of our churches in North America, but over 2900 across Africa, Asia, Europe and South & Central America. Huge amounts of missions work has been done to reach the lost for Christ.
As is often the case, we in America have great financial resources whereas our Christ following brothers and sisters across seas have little.
This Sunday is our opportunity to show the love of Christ in our financially giving.

Two Fun Videos

Tomorrow I'm preaching the second message of the three week series, "Chasing the Almighty". Below are videos I'd love to show during my message but don't have the time. Enjoy a good laugh:

This first one is a skit Saturday Night Live did back in 2006.

This next one is the comedian Tim Clue. He makes debt sound like it's a good thing. He's attitude towards debt is really funny...wrong...but really funny.

Chasing the Almighty

This past Sunday was week #1 of our three week series titled, "Chasing the Almighty". It ends with Encounter's Day of Generosity on November 21st, when we will give away our entire mornings offering to Grace Brethren International Missions (GBIM).

Preview of what's to come at LC #12

Here's a video I'll be showing at this Saturday's Leadership Community. I really like the illustration of how a race car is like the mission of the church. It will go perfectly with what I'm planning on saying.

Sunday, November 7th

This Sunday I'll be starting a new three week message series titled, "Chasing the Almighty". I love the double meaning in that title because it knocks me upside the head about what my focus is in life with my God and "my" finances. I put "my" in parenthesis b/c it forces me to ask the question, "Is the money I make and handle really mine?"

I invite you to listen to what God's Word says about giving and let the Holy Spirit do His work in your life and mine.

The series ends on November 21st when as a church we will gift our entire mornings offering to the Grace Brethren International Missions (GBIM). They are a partnering ministry within the fellowship of churches we are part of that employs missionaries in Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.

This Sunday is also Orphan Sunday. Our people have a heart to see the forgotten, lost and neglected be cared for. God's Word speaks clearly about His heart for the orphan and this Sunday we will remind our people about the commitments we've made to love our sponsor children in Cruz Blanca, Guatemala and those here in our own communities.

Hope is Fading – Orphan Sunday from Allan Rosenow on Vimeo.

Leadership Community #12

This Saturday morning from 9:00-11:00am is an important time for the people of Encounter Church. We will worship our great God in song, be reminded again of the vision for our local body of believers and hear from our elders about what came out of the leader/elder retreat back in October.

This Saturday's LC is for everyone who calls Encounter Church their home.

Rob Comfort finishes up Jonah series

This past Sunday I had the pleasure of sitting in the service and listening to my friend Rob Comfort preach from Jonah chapter 4. Truth be told, I wanted to speak from that chapter but as you can see from the blog entry before this one I was kinda busy:-)
Thanks Rob for letting me ease back into the routine. You did a great job. CLICK HERE if you'd like to listen to Rob's message.