April 30, 2009

Dear Friends,

I hope that your week has been filled with joy from heaven and of course we know that God is in control.  If you were with us last week, we began our series from Crown Financial Ministries entitled, “God is in Control”.  This series is designed to help you gain perspective through these dark financial days.  It is our understanding that many have found themselves wondering what to do and how to gain financial freedom from economic burdens.  This past week, we learned that the economic burdens have not taken God by surprise!  He is fully aware of the coming days ahead and wants us to be prepared to endure the hard times ahead.  One of the major principles that we must conclude is that everything we have belongs to Him.  Once we have settled this in our hearts, then we can move on to a deeper understanding of God’s blessings.  Please join us over the next 3 weeks as we continue our series through financial freedom.  This Sunday, Pastor John will be teaching on “Debt” which I think everyone needs to hear.  In addition, the Ascend Discipleship will continue at 9:45 every Sunday.  The financial module will continue through the next 3 weeks as well.

This Sunday, we are pleased to have Gabe and Kari Turner leading worship with us along with some musicians from Liberty University.  As many of you know, Gabe and Kari will be moving to Charlottesville, VA in May to plant a new church there.  Gabe and Kari will be bringing a team with them from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA.  New Life Church is excited to be a part of this great event and Gabe will be sharing briefly this weekend about this great movement.  We hope that you will begin to pray now for God to prepare the hearts of those in Charlottesville.  If you are interested in being a part of this church plant, please contact Gabe at gabrielturner@yahoo.com and he will be able to answer any questions that you may have.  Perhaps God is leading you to help this plant by contributing financially or by becoming a part of the plant team that will begin this new work.  Financial contributions can be sent to New Life Community Church, c/o Charlottesville Church Plant, P.O. Box 502, Louisa, VA  23093.

Ok this Saturday is our Walk for Life benefiting The Pregnancy Centers of Central VA.  The Walk will take place beginning at 8:30 am at Trinity United Methodist Church in Orange, VA.  A light breakfast will be served and then we will begin walking around 9 am.  Please come out and support this great cause.  In addition, I still have some funds to raise to reach my goal of $1000.00.  If you could help with this cause, please send me your name, address, and the amount you would like to pledge.  You don’t have to send money right away but the Center will send you an invoice later.  Thanks to all of you who have already helped out.

Also, the ladies will be celebrating a special Fancy Fun Tea beginning at 1:00 at the church.  All ladies will not want to miss this event.  Come on out.

Beginning on Tuesday night, May 26 – Saturday, May 30, we will be hosting a series of meetings at New Life entitled, “Arresting the Darkness”.  The meetings will be revival style with different pastors preaching each night.  These meetings will be held nightly at 7 pm in our facility at 509 East Main Street in Louisa, VA.  Below is a lineup of who will be here each night and all the events that will be happening.  It is our belief that God wants to speak to us through His Word.  Please make plans to come and invite a friend each night.  Ask God to begin preparing your heart for this week of renewal.  Notice my friend Billy Collins who will be here on Friday night.  Billy was faithful to God in telling me about the gospel to which I eventually responded.  I am forever grateful for this brother who took a risk and shared the message.  You will want to come and hear his story.

On June 7, we will have a church-wide picnic at Blue Ridge Shores (Lake Louisa) where we will have baptisms, horseshoes, beach volleyball, tennis, swimming, and maybe some boat rides around the lake.  This will be a grand time of fellowship as we have the pavilion reserved and ready to go.  As we get closer to the date, I will send out a gate code for your entry into BRS.  I can’t wait!

Ok are you ready for this?  Vacation Bible School will be from June 15th – June 19th and the team has already begun to organize.  This year promises to be even more exciting than ever before.  The theme this year will be “Boomerang Express” an adventure in the Australian Outback.  If you can help out, please email Stacey Turner at jshturner@aol.com.

To look out even further into summer, on July 26th, our church was invited to Standing on the Promise of God church for an afternoon of preaching, singing, and praising!  We will eat lunch with these great saints and glorify Jesus on this day.

As always, please check our website for more info around New Life.  I want to leave you with some pictures of recent activities at our church.  God bless you and we hope to see you on Sunday.

Pictures from our recent Youth Hiking Trip the day after Good Friday. 

Crossroads Ascend Discipleship class led by Trey Singleton
this past Sunday on a  "Field Trip." 

Check out these ladies as they prepare for this Saturday's  "Ladies Tea" Reception
beginning at 1:00 at New Life Church.  All ladies are welcome to come on out.

Baptisms anybody?  Why yes, God continues to pour out His Spirit!