We have been enjoying our Bible studies in the book of Genesis. Our theme is In the Beginning. The first 11 chapters of Genesis contain so much material that is foundational to our relationship with the Lord. From chapters 12 and following the foundation of God’s hand upon His people is found. What a joy it’s going to be to dig through these incredible passages of scripture.
We enjoyed a fantastic Life Group Family Fellowship this past Sunday. As a matter of fact, our entire summer has been over the top wonderful! Our attendance has been strong and our Wednesday night activities built around fellowship have been the best we’ve ever had! I’m so thankful to all of our team for the way that the fellowship went this past Sunday.
We treated our fellowship like a celebration, and we rejoiced over so many things that have happened in the life of our church in recent days. Here are some highlights. Our preschool ministry dedicated 13 babies and parents to the Lord in the last year. Our children made over 200 ministry bags for the homeless population at Christmastime. Our children also raised over $1100 to build a church in Malawi under the leadership of John and Mollie Wells. We’ve had college students all over the world serving Him through our North Central College Ministry. We have tremendous Adult Life Groups. Our Men’s Ministry had a great year and are about to get cranked back up the last Saturday in August with another Men’s Breakfast. Our Women’s Ministry is reaching out to new ladies. In recent days, we have supported church planters in San Diego, CA and Yuba City, CA as well as we have commissioned John and Mollie Wells to Malawi and Brason and Jolene English to Japan. God has blessed us in our giving to the Cooperative Program of the Florida Baptist Convention as well in local missions. We are supportive of SIRA, Foster Florida, One More Child, Samaritan’s Purse, Created Gainesville, Child Evangelism Fellowship, Global Connections, and through our weekly Conversational English ministry on Wednesday night. Our Youth Ministry is booming! We’re so thankful for God sending us Brandon and Emily Glisson. We just experienced one of our best camps ever and look forward to a special Youth Camp baptism on the 27th of August. We also have an Entryway Expansion that is about to begin. All of these are blessings! To God be the glory!
Wednesday nights will begin back on August 16 with our Bounce Back to Awana night. Please make sure that all our children are here on this special night as we register our students for Awana. This is the beginning of a special year training our children in the Word of God.
Please be praying about our Cuba Mission Trip. We have five of our members who will go to Havana, Cuba and do a Vacation Bible School, evangelistic preaching, and visiting as we try to reach and encourage the Punta Brava Church in Cuba.
It is a joy to be your Pastor. God’s hand is upon you, the precious fellowship of believers at North Central.
Love in Jesus,
Pastor Calvin