ONE GOSPEL | ONE CHURCH | ONE MISSION on MISSION October, 2017
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ONE GOSPEL | ONE CHURCH | ONE MISSION ON MISSION October, 2017 1 table of CONTENTS 3 Letter from the Editor 56 Church of WNY: Penetecost Together 4 Stewardship & Generosity A behind-the-scenes look at what went into making this event possible, with 5 Kingdom Come Al Warner & Craig Pridgen 6 One Gospel 60 Church of WNY: Stories proclaiming the gospel in tangible ways Church Planting Initiative 32 Sierra Leone Alliance A roundtable interview with Chad Rieselman, A Travel Journal by John Camardo plus more Dan Trippie, Christopher Baldwin, and Ryan from our Sierra Leone Alliance partners Kozey regarding church planting efforts in the 48 Local Volunteer Opportunities WNY region 80 One Mission 54 One Church Stories which focus on the Bride of Stories which focus on partnership opportunities Christ with her many parts working that lead to the same goal of gospel saturation as a unified body 110 Tactical Prayer Map 112 Ministry Partner Directory Editor: Amy Tartick 500 CrossPoint Parkway Graphic Designer: Becky Patterson Getzville, NY 14068 Published: October 2017 716.631.2636 © 2017 The Chapel thechapel.com Letter fromb the Editor his truly is one of my most favorite times of the year. There • In ONE CHURCH, we hope you experience the beauty of the Tare wonderful stacks of ministry partner stories surrounding Church as we focus on the Bride of Christ with her many me as I type this letter! The ones marked “Finalized” and “Sent to parts working as a unified body. You will see incredible Proofing” are growing which indicates we’re more than halfway splendor in her growth, development, and community. through editing and the first round of proofreading. From here, • In ONE MISSION, we focus on partnership opportunities the partner stories and photos are sent to our graphic designer, and that lead to the same goal of gospel saturation. This not only then back for a final proofing and correcting before going to print. includes those serving in leadership but also the equipping, On Mission magazine is definitely a labor of love that involves the training, and engaging of everyday people in fulfilling Christ’s investments of time, giftings, and talents from many people. To our Great Commission to “make disciples.” writers, proofreaders, story team members, graphic designer, and so As you journey through these pages with us, we hope you will see many others who made this year’s edition possible—a tremendous that we are all part of this One Church, on One Mission, to reach Thank You! every man, woman, and child with repeated opportunities to hear, On Mission has a unique look this year in keeping with our theme see, and respond to the One Gospel of Jesus Christ. One Gospel, One Church, One Mission (see Ephesians 4:2-6). Prayer is a crucial foundational support for our partners. In With the support of one of The Chapel’s story teams, the layout was addition to the Prayer Map, we wanted to enhance the magazine developed to help readers see what this actually looks like lived out with more prayer tools. So, each of these main segments concludes by our Kingdom Come ministry partners. Stories that exemplify with a prayer that readers can pray or use as a guide. these elements are grouped together regardless of the partner’s geographic location. The volunteer opportunity section has grown! Many ministry partners rely on volunteers to get things done. Please prayerfully ONE GOSPEL • In , we focus on stories proclaiming the gospel consider offering your time and talents to help share the gospel in in tangible ways. This could be while serving alongside others tangible ways. or opportunities created by pursuing the mission. It is the Church in action offering the good news of salvation! On mission for the sake of the gospel, Amy Tartick Stewardship and Generosity Why We Give to Kingdom Come Jessica Pappas “Bear with one another in love.” That is how Paul begins his exhortation on unity. Often times we may think of love as a feeling or a heart position or a godly characteristic – and all of these it is. Love is also the driving motivator behind how we intentionally use the resources God has entrusted to us. In the famously quoted John 3:16, we learn that “God so loved the world that He gave…” Throughout Scripture we read account after account, story after story, command after command, instruction after instruction, along the same lines: Love God and others, and give accordingly. Be generous. Do justice. Share with those in need. Provide for the work of the Lord. And do it all in love. Giving to Kingdom Come is one way the family of believers at The Chapel responds to this call and takes opportunity to participate in church planting, caring for orphans, providing for the poor, helping immigrants, and supporting other ministries locally, regionally, and around the world. Why? Because we love God, who first generously loved us. Because we want to be an active part of what God is doing in lovingly calling the world to Himself through the life-giving gospel of Jesus. Because we are a necessary part of the greater Body, the Church. And because, through Kingdom Come, we are able to be united as God’s people who use God’s resources to accomplish God’s Mission to reach every man, woman, and child with the gospel of Jesus Christ. “ Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all… that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). 4 One Gospel, One Church, One Mission John Camardo Ephesians 4:2-6 (ESV), “with all humility and gentleness, with partnerships formed and maintained through alliances patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain and key strategic partnerships within a country. the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body I hope that this has given some greater clarity to why we feel and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that Kingdom Come is not only a great way for our congregation belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God to demonstrate generosity but is a strategic outlet for kingdom and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. work that is directly aligned to God’s mission for His Church! As you can tell, the word “one” is used multiple times in this Lastly, for those of you who have been around The Chapel passage with the goal of communicating God’s desire and intent for a while, you recognize that the look of Kingdom Come for unity within the Church. To be clear, we do not pursue unity has changed. As part of a clear articulation of vision for the simply for the sake of unity (good will, relationship building, next five years (of which Kingdom Come is a significant being friendly or a feel good exercise). We pursue unity for the part), we felt it made sense to refresh the look and provide sake of mission – God’s mission for His Church. We believe that greater clarity to how our partnerships and outreach efforts mission is for every man, woman, and child to have repeated fit into our overall strategy to reach every man, woman, opportunities to hear, see, and respond to the gospel of Christ. and child. You will notice that this new design helps to Kingdom Come represents The Chapel’s efforts to work toward communicate partnering (through the interlocking aspects greater Body partnership and interdependence in leadership of of the logo) and progress (with the appearance of forward the Church on a local, regional, national, and global level. We motion). We have also aligned the new design’s colors to desire to see the Church reach its full potential and recognize we that of The Chapel’s logo to help visually connect Kingdom cannot do it alone. We need the full Body – the full expression Come to the overall vision and mission of The Chapel. of the Church – to be working in concert with each other to see We hope you are equally excited about the efforts of Kingdom gospel saturation. Whether in a neighborhood, community, city, Come both now and into the future – where we desire to see or country, we need all Christ-followers working together to even greater resources being poured into kingdom work, as reach those around us with the saving knowledge of the gospel. we remain faithful to the mission that God has given us! Locally, this happens through the development of partnerships If you are already involved with KC, my sincere thanks! in our region – whether it is other churches or those serving If you are intrigued to learn more, connect with the community in the name of Christ. Our partners in WNY us, or one of our many partners highlighted in this represent the greater Body of Christ doing kingdom work in our magazine, to find out how you can get involved. community, and we encourage you to join them in their work! God bless, and I look forward to seeing what God does Nationally, this is happening through our relationships formed as we remain faithful to what He has called us to do! through the Christ Together network. There is an article in this magazine that helps to explain these efforts more fully. Globally, this is happening through partnerships formed John Camardo through what we refer to as “telescoping” efforts.