from the heart

     This is “I Am Not Ashamed” Sunday! Our services will focus on baptism – and we’ll be baptizing throughout the message. I want us to celebrate what baptism really is – a public recognition of the transformation that Jesus Christ brings!  Since baptism in the Bible is always by immersion after a person has professed faith in Christ, if you’re a follower of Christ that has not been baptized – this day is for you!  Today, you too can make a decision to be unashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ!
    Next week, I’ll be beginning a new message series – “Arms Around the City.”  God is doing something special among us and a big part of that is learning to love our city.  Whatever city you call your own, we’re praying for the Lord to give us the same love, same burden and passion for the city that HE had for the cities of His day.  Love for your city translates into ministry TO the city – the church placing her “arms around the city” that God has placed us in.  Imagine how transforming that would be for the church to have her “…arms around the city!”

I am Not Ashamed

Next week, our “I Am Not Ashamed” Sunday will be unique. Our services will focus on baptism – and we’ll be baptizing during the message. Don’t miss it! I want us to celebrate what baptism really is – a public recognition of the transformation that Jesus Christ brings! Since baptism is in the Bible is always by immersion after a person has professed faith in Christ, if you’re a follower of Christ that has not been baptized – this day is for you!

From the Heart

Welcome to worship this weekend! If you are a guest, I’d love to meet you today. Whether you are here visiting family and friends or are looking for a church home, let me invite you to visit with me in our Guest Reception Center after either the 9:15 or 10:45 am service. After the service, exit our central worship center doors and cross the lobby to the Guest Reception Center. We will be glad to answer any questions you have about our church and we’ll give you a special gift to take home.
    In recent weeks, an increasing number of people have met at the altar for prayer asking God to move in our lives and nation.  I want to encourage this time of prayer at any point of our service and especially at the end during the invitation.  We’ll be encouraging you more and more to seek God, to ask Him to do great things, to ask Him to send revival and to prompt us to surrender everything to Him!  Beginning next week, we’ll also have additional prayer partners available, along with our staff, to pray for any needs and decisions you may have.  Feel free to come and pray.
    The First Euless Personnel Committee, working in conjunction with our Sr. Pastor and staff, has invited Jeremy Lucarelli to come in view of call as our full-time Minister of University and Young Single Adults. Jeremy and his wife Becky have spoken to both our University students and Young Singles and met with the leadership of both areas.   On Saturday, August 8 Jeremy will meet with our deacons and then be present for a “Meet and Greet” time for the entire church family from 9:00-10:00 am in the Small Chapel.   On Sunday, August 9 our church will have a special called business meeting for the exclusive purpose of calling Jeremy Lucarelli as our Minister of University and Young Single Adults.

10,000 Blessings,

John Meador

Make a difference!

Next week, July 19, we’ll be encouraging our entire church to give generously – above and beyond your normal tithes and offerings – to both Budget and Miracle offerings.   Summer is often a challenging time financially for a church, and ours experiences that as well.  However, First Euless has had a remarkable summer in ministry.  We’re seeing God do outstanding things – especially here in our own backyard. Because we have been given effectiveness, we want to make sure we’re operating fully in ministry – holding nothing back.  Your giving counts toward this end – it really does - and I challenge you to come ready to give generously and sacrificially for the glory of God!

This coming week our Student Ministry and all our students in Jr. High and High School head off to camp.  Over 1500 kids will be in the camp when you count those from other churches.  We’re taking a great group and this church has made it possible for us to invite many unchurched kids from the area to go with us.  With your financial support leading the way, let's let our “desperation praying” surround the camp this week and ask God to bring dozens – even hundreds of kids to faith in Christ.  This is what it is all about!

    Jon Moore will be preaching in our services this Sunday in my absence. The first thing that comes to my mind when describing Jon is to say, “I wish I’d known he and his wife sooner.” Jon has been a tremendous encouragement to me and is a great preacher who challenges us to walk by faith – trusting God. You can be sure he’ll have a word from the Lord today. Jon traveled for several years with Manley Beasley and God has used Jon because of a number of reasons. I’m thrilled you get to hear him this Sunday. I’ll be preaching in Phoenix, Arizona (at my father’s church) and then be back next Sunday.
    Again, you’ve amazed me as a church. The “Helping Our Troops” people who were with us last Sunday were amazed at how generous and how willing you were to support the troops by sending Bibles, cards and agreeing to pray for them. You’ll never know what it means to the troops to get something in the mail from you – but you’ve done a great thing in the name of Christ. Keep praying for our troops and keep praying for America!
    As the summer continues to unfold, I’m excited about how First Euless is wrapping her arms around our city. Through ministry, reaching out, Euless Revitalization and the New Hope Center – along with Apartment Life and Beach Clubs, we are working together to touch the whole community for Christ. That’s really what we need to be doing – and what few churches do to make a difference in their city. I’m so grateful God is giving us a chance to do just that.

Desperation

“Desperation” is the name of our final series in the book of James. In light of all the trials, temptations and troubling behavior that James says is taking place in the church of that day, what is the best response? Prayer! “Desperation” is a series that calls us to pray with tenacity, intensity and certainty.  While those may not be words that characterize your prayer life, they should be! This passage will point the way in praying with desperation while promising the results that come from that kind of praying. Get desperate about God!
    Next week is Father’s Day! I’ve got a special challenge to all families for next Sunday. Why don’t you (in addition to all the other things you do for Dad on that day) bring trunk loads of groceries so that we can feed the many hurting families in our area? You’d be amazed at how many families are in need because of the economy and some of them are fatherless families. On March 8, we filled Campus West storehouse with food. We need to do it again. Hundreds of families are now finding that our church’s 6Stones Mission Network is able to provide food and clothing – and God is blessing. Over the last ten days prior to this writing, we saw more than 15 people accept Christ through this ministry. It is time to re-stock and Dad would love nothing better than to see those groceries go to families in need.
    Vacation Bible School begins this Monday!  This is a vital time of reaching families, friends, and acquaintances for Christ. Let’s not miss the opportunities before us in the days ahead!

This week is a special week, due to the emphasis in our services with Dr. Bailey Smith. One of the greatest events of our church history, some would say, was a crusade meeting with Dr. Smith over 20 years ago where more than 200 people came to faith and were baptized. God used Dr. Smith greatly through his preaching and heart for the lost. My prayer is that we can experience a fresh touch in many ways. It is important to be reminded how precious and valuable our salvation is – and that it is a true gift of grace, not of our goodness. It is a powerful thing to be reminded of the lost and the hopelessness of those without Christ, and the great and ever-pressing need to reach people for the sake of the gospel and the glory of God. If we aren’t concerned about the mission of winning our city for Christ, we cannot truly have a vision for reaching the world!
    Our meeting continues in the daytime on Monday and Tuesday, ending Wednesday evening. Dr. Bill Anderson and Dr. Jimmy Draper will be preaching during those times. Can you find any men more faithful than these? I love each of them and have the greatest respect for them and their preaching ministries. I’m getting refreshed just thinking about their ministry! You just don’t want to miss next week.
     Vacation Bible School and Student Ministry Camps are quickly approaching.  These are vital times of reaching families, friends, and acquaintances for Christ. Let’s not miss the opportunities before us in the days ahead!    I believe, more than ever, that we are in the last days and the groundwork is being laid daily for “the end.” How can we not see those signs? It may not be tomorrow, but it won’t be long – and I want to make sure we’re doing all we can to reach people for Christ. Be sure you ask God for “miracle moments” and share Christ with all who will listen. 
     Next week I begin a new message series from James 5. The last part of James deals with prayer – but not just any prayer. James demonstrates passionate, fervent, God-believing prayer that radically affects people and even nature! I’m calling this series, “Desperation: A Call to Prayer.” May we be desperate people, a church desperate for God to work in our lives.

We continue our message series in James this Sunday after taking a break on Mother’s Day. If you take the Bible seriously, this book will challenge you to the core to examine your own life and relationships. We’ve looked at the untamed tongue, selfish ambition, selfish desire, and this Sunday we address the issue of submitting to God and resisting the devil. The purpose of the book of James is that we might be changed from who we used to be to who God wants us to be. He wants us to learn submission to His ways, and to learn to resist the devil’s ways. It is the absence of that which causes so much strife and conflict in the church of Jesus Christ. God wants so much more for us than that!

    Think of life, family, church and work that has been deprived of selfish motives and has been acquainted with God’s ways!  It is quite a picture for a lost world to comprehend. It would be supernatural! It would be God – and that’s exactly why James writes. Let your life be lived out in God’s power!

Mother's Day

Mother’s Day – and so much to say for moms! We can start with “thank you!” Wow, when a woman becomes a mother, she buys into a life-long commitment that like no other! I don’t know that my mother could envision all the challenges of having the two boys that she had, but whenever those challenges arose – she was there! I’d imagine I stretched my mom’s faith in God because without that she would have lost her sanity. Many were the times when I thoughtlessly took advantage of her gentle spirit and servant heart. I can think of conversation after conversation where I failed to say “thanks for all you do.” And yet, she kept on giving. My mom gave of herself to her sons and her husband until the day she went to be with the Lord. She is one of the greatest examples I know of a mother and wife.
    I’m blessed to be married to another great example! More than any person I know, my wife is a consistent example of one who spends time with God and in the Word. Her influence on our family is powerful – and it is a great influence because she is influenced by the Lord! To honor those who answer by the name “mother” is a great thing to do today. There is, without doubt, no greater personal influence. “…a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.”  Proverbs 31:30  
    God continues to bless the Six Stones Mission Network. Scott Sheppard reports that the offices are complete and the website is updated – there are many breaking stories and projects that we could never be able share on the stage – and that you need to read about on the website.  Let me tell you, through missions and through the compassion ministry that has begun here, your Miracle money is at work impacting people’s lives. See the website and watch for the upcoming events that allow you to be even more personally involved in ministry to the community in Jesus’ Name!

Be Encouraged!

The Encourager Conference is upon us! We’ve moved the date away from summer in order to better fit your schedules, we’ve shortened the conference, and we’ve added a children’s element we think you’ll be blessed by! Kicking off with a great concert on Friday night, May 1 with Natalie Grant, our conference will take place on Sunday morning and evening, May 3, then again on Monday evening, May 4. There will be various seminars through Monday and Tuesday mornings, and the noon sessions on Monday and Tuesday as well. We’re focusing this year on “Overcoming Conflict” in your life, relationships, work and family. God speaks so powerfully about conflict and how He wants us to respond in that conflict – you’ll be blessed to grow over this extended weekend conference.
    Remember, the Encourager Conference is for YOU to be encouraged in life! You’ll come away with a fresh perspective on how best to handle the “stuff” in your life. Don’t miss it – and don’t forget to get your reservations in for the tickets, child-care and meals. Be encouraged!
    The office of the compassion ministry we’ve begun here, called 6 Stones Mission Network, is now open. Scott Sheppard has done a great job getting those offices together and laying the groundwork for this amazing and high-impact ministry. The website, 6stones.org, is available for you to get more information and the networks between our city and the churches in the area are increasing almost daily. One of the most exciting elements of this venture is how closely we can work with other entities, both kingdom and governmental, to meet needs. Keep praying – keep giving to the miracle, and keep volunteering to make a difference!

10,000 Blessings,
John Meador