Whenever newcomers check out a church, virtually all are asking some form of the same question: “Is there a place for me?” And for years our short answer at Ingleside has been, “Yes!” Our answer reflects the spirit of Romans 15:7, which says: “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God” (ESV). Of course, the specific questions newcomers may ask are often more detailed, nuanced, and personalized. Consider these possibilities: . ...
On Wednesday night, September 15, we are encouraging everyone—all ages and life stages—to gather for worship at 6:30 p.m. in the Worship Center followed by an Ice Cream Social in the Gathering Area. Who? Every age and life stage! (Birth through age 4 in preschool ministry during worship; then with their parents for the social) When? Wednesday, September 15, at 6:30 p.m. Where? Worship Center & Livestream What? Worship, Lord’s Supper, Baptism, and Ice...
The conversation occurred recently in an aisle of a local hardware store when a lady asked my wife, Beverly: “Has Pastor Tim been vaccinated?” Then last night at church an Ingleside regular told me of a co-worker who had asked them: “Has Pastor Tim been vaccinated?” The answer is: yes, both Beverly and I had the shot on the first day we were eligible – March 15, 2021. Our side effects were minimal – just a sore arm; about the same as when we get the flu shot each year....
In today’s blog, I want to: (1) encourage you to pray for believers in Afghanistan, (2) make sure you know about a change to our WMAZ-TV program; and (3) report the results of our Semi-Annual Church Conference. Are You Praying for Afghanistan? As the collapse of Afghanistan has unfolded, our hearts have been shocked and grieved by the scenes at the Kabul airport as thousands are seeking to flee the danger that is to come. I hope you have been praying for our President and those who...
Not many of us get pumped up about processes, policies, and procedures. Yet, most of us do care deeply about outcomes and results. The truth is that the two are usually connected—even in the life of a church! Listen to the wisdom of the writer of the biblical book of Ecclesiastes: “The wise heart will know the proper time and procedure. For there is a proper time and procedure for every matter” (Ecclesiastes 8:5b-6a, NIV). Another version translates: “Yes, there’s a...
Now that summer rhythms are giving way to school schedules, make sure that Sunday worship is in your weekly routine. Scripture is clear: God is honored, and we benefit when we gather with other believers to worship (cf. Hebrews 10:24-25). I’m looking forward to being back in worship with our church family this Sunday, August 15, and I hope to see you too! From Attender to Member If you’ve been attending Ingleside for a while, I encourage you to take the next step and commit to...
For nesting stage families, school has begun or is on the horizon. You’ve seen class schedules, purchased all of the necessary supplies, and participated in orientations. August has quite a buzz for some of us! As you consider your schedule and priorities for the coming year, I hope you will put discipleship (yours and your family’s) at the top of the list. We have kickoffs on both Sunday, August 8, and Wednesday, August 11. See below for details about each. Sunday, August 8 ...
Grow in self-control. Understand the Bible more clearly. Be a better parent. Be a better spouse. Discern God’s will for my life. More effectively lead. Handle conflict more graciously. Pray confidently. Share the gospel clearly. Don’t we all have a spiritual “wish I could” list? Perhaps it’s not written down. But at the very least, our mind conjures up ways we deem ourselves deficient every day. If we are honest, that list can get awfully long. Some of us let it get us down....
Would you believe that guests have been visiting Ingleside since the first Sunday we re-opened for in-person worship last June? Certainly, people were hungry for corporate worship after shelter-in-place orders. Aren’t you glad they came? In a larger church like Ingleside, it can be easy for a newcomer to be lost in the shuffle. One of our goals as a church is for guests to feel warmly welcomed from the moment they pull into the parking lot until the moment they drive away. Perhaps a...
On Sunday, June 27, Pastor Tim capped off a seven-part series on serving with a challenge to everyone in our body. That challenge was to increase our church’s serving quotient by asking Inglesiders to volunteer in a primary and secondary place of ministry. Or, to put it another way, to use your Spiritual gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences in one area of passion and one area of need. This culminated in a brief Ingleside Serving Survey where many of you provided us...
