By: Didi Bacon
Recently I had the privilege of teaching our Spiritual Links class. Spiritual Links is a class of mostly retired folk that meets on Thursdays in the church foyer at 10 am. The class is currently studying the book of Acts. I love the book of Acts! Acts is the story of the first days of the church. If you want to know what Jesus wants his church to look like, read the book of Acts. We need to be like the church in the book of Acts!
Acts chapter 4:32-35 gives us this description of the church.
32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. Acts 4:32-35 (NIV)
What do you notice about the church?
First, they were unified. They were “one in heart and mind.” Heart refers to passion. Mind refers to strategy. The church was united in mission and purpose. They all pulled in the same direction. They were in harmony with the Holy Spirit and subsequently they were in harmony with each other.
Second, their unity was demonstrated in radical generosity. The work of God’s Spirit in them translated to generous action. They took care of each other. They would liquidate assets in order to resource ministry as the Lord directed them. This reveals an important characteristic of the church of Jesus. The church is to use money for ministry. God’s plan to resource ministry is through the faithful generosity of His people.
We are in budget season here at Mount Carmel. A church budget is ministry vision in financial terms. Our budget is the result of the prayerful planning of our ministry leaders. The end of our budget process is elder confirmation and approval.
On Sunday, December 15, 2024 after each Sunday morning service we are going to ask those who have committed themselves to be members of our Mount Carmel Christian Church to pledge their support for our 2025 ministry budget. The details of the budget will be provided. I can tell you that the 2025 budget is a 3.9% increase from our 2024 budget that includes big increases in our Discipleship Ministry, our Missions Ministry and our Family Ministry. Like everyone else, we also have increases that are the result of inflation. Our elders have approved a budget that stretches us by faith, but does not strangle us in presumption. I ask that you pledge to support this budget through your faithful generosity. We cannot do ministry without you.
At the same gathering on December 15, we will be confirming three men in their calling to serve as elders. The Bible tells us that elders are to be married men implying that their wives are to be partners in that ministry. That is why I am going to share the names of their wives with you. Three elders up for confirmation from you to serve a three-year term are Shaun (Robin) Anderson, Mark (Peggy) Tucker and Larry (Carolynn) Elliott. Shaun has been serving as shepherd watching over our Operations Ministry. Mark has been serving as shepherd watching over our Student Ministry. Larry had been serving as shepherd watching over our Discipleship Ministry. These are godly men who serve well. They are worthy of the calling. In the pattern of scripture I ask that you consider fasting and praying on Saturday December 14 in order to commit them to the Lord.
23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. Acts 14:23 (NIV)
Please feel free to reach out to me by email at dbacon@mountcarmel.cc if you have any questions regarding our Annual Church meeting on December 15, 2024.
God bless,
Didi Bacon
