Vision 2025 - Pastor Josiah Elias

FC’s mission is to culture like Christ, and our vision is Jesus. Last week, Pastor Josiah

explained how denying the flesh could bring us closer to the Lord and that it was important that this time of fasting and praying was not just a three week exercise but a launching of a deeper walk with the Lord. At the end of the sermon he introduced his vision for 2025 , and this week he went into more detail of Vision 2025.

Coming to FC is more than walking into the church doors. It is joining a family. Larry and I

experienced this fact Sunday after he felt weak. His legs got rubbery, and as he lay on the lobby floor, several FC members came around him and prayed for and with him. They were not spectators but were brothers and sisters who really cared for Larry and me. We are grateful for the prayers and love from our church family because they were answered. After his ambulance ride and several tests which came out fine, he was released and went home to rest. The Lord is faithful and heard the prayers of the saints. We thank you, brothers and sisters, who came around us physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

First, Pastor Josiah shared the Brick by Brick campaign concerning the Activity Center which is a midsize area that could be transformed to be service ready. Our ever-expanding ministries are outgrowing their current sites. With updated technology, new flooring, and chairs, the Activity Center will be able to accommodate the ministries. Also, outside organizations are interested in our facility, and this site would be able to meet that need. Finally, with the athletic basketball out reach Justin Hawkins leads, kids are taught basketball skills and Kingdom values. February 2nd is the seed offering day. Pastor Josiah urged each of us to pray and ask the Lord what and how He wanted each of us to support this campaign since souls will be attached to this space.

The second proposal is the Faith Academy High School which Pastor Josiah stated would open this fall. Links for enrollment and employment are on the website. We are looking for Kingdom educators.

”Why a school?” Pastor Josiah questioned. Jewish people believed that we must pass things

on.

“And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart,

all your soul and all your strength. And you must commit

yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving

you today. Repeat them again and again to your children.

Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on

the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting

up.” Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (NLT)

If what we know about life and the Kingdom doesn’t get into our kids, then it dies with us.

Everything rides on us passing it on.

The New Testament also encouraged parents to “bring them up in the training and the

admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV) “Bring them up-Grk.ektrepho-To nourish up to maturity.” Yes, we need to nourish our children to be trained in things of the Lord. That is what our youth and children’s departments are doing-teaching Jesus.

In addition Pastor Josiah emphasized that his job included maturing us, the FC family. Even

though many of us are double his age, he loves challenging us to go deeper in our relationship with our heavenly Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) That sharpening happens in relationship such as small groups, discipling situations and friendships. We need to get off milk spiritually and get to the meat.

The Lord encouraged Abraham.

“I have singled him out so that he will direct his sons and

their families to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is

right and just. Then I will do for Abraham all that I have

promised.” Genesis 18:19 (NLT)

Thus He encourages us as well to teach our children Kingdom values. Proverbs 22:6 supported Genesis 18:19 “Train up a child in the way he should go. And when he is old he will not depart from it.” (NLT) The Greeks built the Parthenon; the Romans built the Coliseum. The Jews built schools.

We have the answer. ”God is all over this,” stated Pastor Josiah. To further prove the need for educational training through a high school, Pastor Josiah pointed out the Great Commission.

“Go therefore and make disciples of the nations, baptizing them

in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;

and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Matthew 28:19-20 (NKJV)

Pastor Josiah said that the teachers would teach “all the stuff” like forgiveness, praying for one’s enemies. When Jesus walked with the disciples, He was taking them to school.

For example, Roman soldiers could have had Jesus and His disciples carry their supplies. They were only required to walk one mile, but Jesus taught them to go the extra mile. Jesus

said,’And whoever shall force you to go one mile, go with him two.” Matthew 5:41

The last area Pastor Josiah explained was with missions. His dad George Elias has such a

heart for the lost here and around the world. George will be going to Kenya in February to lay the groundwork for an opportunity for others to join him in the fall. George said,”We go because they are blessed, but it does so much for us. We see their passion and love for worship.”

Something magnificent is going to happen in the lives of those we go to, but something

perhaps even more magnificent is going to happen to those who go.

However, it is not a good thing to go everywhere else and for our own house to be in disarray.

Our home is not in disarray. We are only able to go because we are a healthy home. In 2025 we will continue to deepen our walk with the Lord through several opportunities such as Just One with Miles McPherson from the Rock. The focus is to share your faith with someone. Another is Regeneration-“cleaning the gutters of the soul out.” This work will authentically look at our walk with the Lord and discover where the Light can regenerate the dead parts of our spiritual lives.

We need to make sure our depth matches our expansion. “Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life… Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes.” Ephesians 4:21-23 (NLT)

It’s an error to walk through doors He hasn’t opened. It’s equally an error to not walk

through door He is opening. We must let the Spirit lead us. “Never doubt God’s mighty

power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve more than your greatest

request…” Ephesians 3:20 TPT He will do more than we can ever consider so let us trust Him

with our individual and corporate lives. May we follow His lead and be salt and light in this

troubled world.

Calendar:

1/15-Midweek Encounter-6:30

1/17-LB and Young Adult potluck, worship and hymnfest 6:00 in the Activity Center

Submitted by

Larry and Annette Linthicum