Being the Church

Here is the latest update on the promise!

I read the following article this morning. God can use us in so many wonderful ways!

Loving Through Laundry: Freedom Church

By Joy Thompson • April 7, 2015

“If I had clean clothes people might treat me as a human being”—a simple statement from a homeless gentleman living in Ventura, Calif., was the spark that started Laundry Love, a nationwide movement of groups—some church-based—that commit to washing loads of clothes for neighbors at a local Laundromat. This “modern-day foot washing,” as it has been called, is a ministry any church can do to create lasting relationships with people in the community.

Justice Coleman, lead pastor of Freedom Church in Chatsworth, Calif., reversed the process—instead of starting the ministry within the church, he planted a church out of his Laundry Love ministry. Once a month, the group of non-Christian friends he was leading in a Bible study hung out at a local Laundromat, paying for loads and making friends. After eight months, the Laundry Love patrons were asking Coleman and his wife when they would start a church. When they launched Freedom Church on Easter Sunday, they already had enough friends from the community to fill the service.
The most important thing to remember, Coleman says to churches starting their own Laundry Love ministry, is to “go into it with a no-strings-attached attitude.” He says, “You have to decide to do this whether or not people come to church, because if you come in with an agenda, it’s a huge turnoff.”
Want to start your own Laundry Love in your church’s community? Here are a few more tips from Coleman and the Laundry Love Guide:
Look for a laundry location near an apartment complex, shelter or motel. Coleman suggests passing out flyers (without the church logo, but with all other necessary info) advertising free laundry to residents.
When you pitch your idea to a Laundromat owner, explain to them the benefits of Laundry Love. Your monthly session should be during a slow time, thus bringing in extra income; also, it will elevate their business’s reputation in the community. “I wish I would have known [when I started] how important the relationship with the Laundromat owner was … it’s vital,” says Coleman.
Recruit volunteers. A group of four to 10 volunteers is recommended for a Laundry Love location.
Be prepared. Your group will need pens and paper to keep a log of how many loads done, guests served and money spent; detergent and dryer sheets; lots of quarters!
A session at the Laundromat typically lasts two to three hours. Be sure to start and end on time out of respect for the Laundromat owner and staff.
Respect privacy. Let participants load their own laundry into machines, but have your team administer quarters as necessary.
Consistency is key. Go at the same time every month in order to build relationships with patrons. “Just showing up and putting quarters in machines,” says Coleman, “is just a handout.”
Make it a party. Offer coffee, cookies, water, coloring books for the kids and play upbeat music.
Be creative in raising funds for Laundry Love. Some churches purchase gumball machines and get permission to place them in local businesses; the upfront investment pays off with consistent funding.
For more ideas, tips and answers to frequently asked questions, download the Laundry Love Guide at LaundryLove.org or watch Freedom Church’s training video here.
FREEDOM CHURCH
Chatsworth, Calif.
Senior Pastor: Justice Coleman
Twitter: @JusticeColeman
Website: Freedom.Church
Founded: 2011
Affiliation: The Foursquare Church
Attendance: 500

See you Sunday!  Love, pastor kent

This Coming Sunday!

As promised, I will be starting a new sermon series. I am going to look into a term that I have had trouble with for a long time, "Religion!"

The sermon series is going to be on, "How can I be part of God's Plan?" Many of you have heard me say, "I'm not a fan of religion!" and that is still true. I guess what I am not a fan of is empty religion. Church for church sake. There is something wrong when one feels obligated to go to church! Do you feel obligated to be nice to your wife or husband? Think about that. If I'm being nice to you because I feel obligated to do so, something is amiss in the relationship. Love is something that flows out of desire, not obligation. Love is an action that lifts, promotes, and provides the environment that allows the object of our affection to blossom! Love always seeks to bless the object of its affection!

We are looking to "adopt 50 families yet this year! IMPOSSIBLE you say! Of course it's impossible BUT with God all things are possible. Last week I saw a half a dozen new faces. What did you do to welcome them and make them feel at home. Were any of the new faces sitting alone? I can answer that because of where I stand. Become very aware of new faces. These are the very people God is sending to us! It is up to each and everyone of you to love them! Welcome them! Make them feel comfortable!

We are moving into a mode of adoption which means we are looking to love people as they need to be loved. The people I'm praying for God to send to us are people with a need, just like you and me. We ALL have a need!  But the needs will vary greatly. Get their names. Talk with them. Ask them where they are from and how they found out about us. Ask them if they have any questions or concerns or immediate needs. Do they need to talk with the pastor?

How can you become part of Gods plan? Come and find out starting this coming Sunday. 12:00 noon. 800 North main Street Edwardsville, IL. Praise Community Fellowship the adopting church.
Do you need a friend?
Do you need love?
Do you need to find out if God is Real?
Are you at your wits end and don't know where to turn?
Do you need someone to just listen to you?
Come join our family. We are far from perfect, but we are willing and open to making you a part of our family.

God we thank you for trusting us to be able to love and adopt the 50 families you are sending to us! Amen!

I'm looking forward to this new series. I have a lot to learn!
See you soon! Love, pastor kent

The Big Three

I have had several people tell me they like what I call the Big Three.
1.) Love God.
2.) Love your Neighbor.
3.) Treat others like you want to be treated.

I have heard comments that this simplifies the bible for them. Wonderful. But let me talk about the Big Three in another way.

Order is Very Important
The Big Three is how Jesus lived. He put God first, others next, Himself last. That is what we are called to do. But when we look at our lives we can usually discover real fast that we put our selves first,  the people who are the closest to us next and God last!

We have reversed the order! What happens when you do things in the wrong order?

Put the box of cake mix in the oven at 350 for 35 minutes.
Take it out and pour it in a bowl.
Add the other other ingredients, an egg, oil.
Mix.
Put on a plate and smear icing on it.
Enjoy.

The Big Three, very important but the order is also very important!

See you soon! Love, pastor kent

New Sermon Series starts this Sunday

1 Corinthians 1:27

27 But God chose the "foolish" things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

When I read this this morning, I think it explains why I am your pastor!

I want to thank many of you for inviting your friends and family to our Easter service yesterday. We are in the process of adopting 50 families into our family. Yesterday I saw several new faces I hope you all got a chance to welcome these new people. 

I hope you will all continue to pray with me about expanding God's love into the unreached people of this area. I have been talking with several of you about some very interesting ideas of how we can be more focused on getting "out" of the church and into the community. 

Jesus went to the people! Let's not forget that. The religious institutionalist want to keep people "in" the church. To me, the need seems to be greatest "outside" the church! 

PCF is a unique bulb that is waiting to bloom. Into what?  That is the question. I know we have been dug up a few times and been replanted  and I am very aware as a landscaper that that is not the best way to be efficient. However, just like when I am landscaping, I have a general vision and then modify it as I work. Look at the video I took of the waterfall and pond I built in my back yard. That beautiful feature evolved over a whole summer as I built, took it part and rebuilt it several times until it looked right to me. It took a whole bunch more effort and work to get it right, but now I have a place of beauty and peace!

I am doing the same thing with this church. It isn't what it's suppose to be yet. I, along with the board are stepping back and are going to be making adjustments, some of them probably major. 

Why? To become a powerful example of Jesus' love to our neighbors!

Why? Because I believe we need to do the very best we can at the big three:

1.) Love God with all our heart.   2.) Love our neighbor as much as we love ourself.  3.) Treat others as we want to be treated!

If you are willing to step out into the unknown, into a grand experiment of love, then I think Praise Community Fellowship may be a good choice for you.  

See you soon! Love, pastor kent

Tomorrow, "Experiencing the Resurrection"

Easter will be celebrated at 12:00 noon 800 North Main Edwardsville, Immanuel Methodist Church.

Experiencing the Resurrection!

Notice: We are seeking people who have lost their faith, question their faith, or don't have any faith. If you fit any of these descriptions you can apply at our facility tomorrow at 12:00 noon. It will be a friendly, informal gathering, no suit required but you can dress up if you choose.  We are looking to adopt the first 50 families that apply.

Requirements to be adopted:
1.) Must be willing to be loved!
2.) Some form of brokenness will help. It could be loneliness, sadness, anger, frustration, or other.
3.) A willingness to become part of an unconventional group of people who are seeking to be Jesus to others.
4.) A willingness to live life differently.

If you feel you may fit any of these requirements we hope to see you tomorrow at 800 North Main Street. We call ourselves Praise Community Fellowship.
We have a code to get in. It's kind of like a secret handshake. It's a smile!

Hope to see you tomorrow! We are expecting you and so is Jesus! Love, pastor kent

Good Friday

Mark 15:33-39

The Death of Jesus

33 At noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 34 And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

35 When some of those standing near heard this, they said, “Listen, he’s calling Elijah.”

36 Someone ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down,” he said.

37 With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

38 The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 39 And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, saw how he died, he said, “Surely this man was the Son of God!”

"It is finished!"

And the Truth shall set you Free!

There once was a man named George Thomas, pastor in a small New England town. One Easter Sunday morning he came to the Church carrying a rusty, bent, old bird cage, and set it by the pulpit. Eyebrows were raised and, as if in response, Pastor Thomas began to speak…

"I was walking through town yesterday when I saw a young boy coming toward me swinging this bird cage. On the bottom of the cage were three little wild birds, shivering with cold and fright. I stopped the lad and asked, "What you got there, son?" "Just some old birds," came the reply. 

"What are you gonna do with them?" I asked. 

"Take 'em home and have fun with 'em," he answered "I'm gonna tease 'em and pull out their feathers to make 'em fight. I'm gonna have a real good time" "But you'll get tired of those birds sooner or later. What will you do?" 

"Oh, I got some cats," said the little boy. "They like birds. I'll take 'em to them." 

The pastor was silent for a moment. "How much do you want for those birds, son?

"Huh?? !!! Why, you don't want them birds, mister. They're just plain old field birds. They don't sing. They ain't  even pretty!" 

"How much?" the pastor asked again. 

The boy sized up the pastor as if he were crazy and said, "$10?" 

The pastor reached in his pocket and took out a ten dollar bill. He placed it in the boy's hand. In a flash, the boy was gone. 

The pastor picked up the cage and gently carried it to the end of the alley where there was a tree and a grassy spot Setting the cage down, he opened the door, and by softly tapping the bars persuaded the birds out, setting them free. Well, that explained the empty bird cage on the pulpit, and then the pastor began to tell this story. 

One day Satan and Jesus were having a conversation. Satan had just come from the Garden of Eden, and he was gloating and boasting. "Yes, sir, I just caught the world full of people down there. Set me a trap, used bait I knew they couldn't resist. Got 'em all!" 

"What are you going to do with them?" Jesus asked. 

Satan replied, "Oh, I'm gonna have fun! I'm gonna teachthem how to marry and divorce each other, how to hate and abuse each other, how to drink and smoke and curse. I'm gonna teach them how to invent guns and bombs and kill each other. I'm really gonna have fun!" 

"And what will you do when you get done with them?" Jesus asked. "Oh, I'll kill 'em," Satan glared proudly. "How much do you want for them?" Jesus asked 

"Oh, you don't want those people. They ain't no good. Why, you'll take them and they'll just hate you. They'll spit on you, curse you and kill you. You don't want those people!!" 

"How much?" He asked again. 

Satan looked at Jesus and sneered, "All your blood, tears and your life." 

Jesus said, "DONE!" Then He paid the price. 

The pastor picked up the cage he opened the door and walked out of church!

See you Sunday! Love, pastor kent