image: Nathan @ Flickr
Last week, I shared the first three of six things anyone can do to help make guest experiences great (you can read that post here). These were originally shared with our staff team to help equip and prepare their own teams for demonstrating love and value to the people connecting at SLW.
Though written to staff leaders, here are three more things anyone can do to help make great guest ministry happen: Continue Reading…
image: Nathan @ Flickr
Easter Weekend is a tremendous opportunity to interact with more guests than usual in a church—each with a story and a need we have opportunity to connect with. Knowing this, we passed along six reminders to our staff team–things anyone can do to help communicate our love and value for our guests, so our various teams could be better equipped to make connecting with SLW a great experience for anyone.
Though written to staff leaders, here are the first three things anyone can do to help make great guest ministry happen: Continue Reading…
Yesterday was a fantastic day at SLW!
Here’s a quick recap:
:: Dads – We took a few moments to celebrate dads. In honor of our dads, we’re sponsoring a backpack as part of the Lakeview District Backpack Program which facilitates nutritious meals for underserved children right in our own community. SLW has the opportunity to help provide backpacks for over 30 children in the new school year.
:: Oasis – Nate shared about last week’s first gathering in Meadville as Oasis which included two baptisms! Go God! If you haven’t already signed up to be a prayer partner and to learn more about what God is up to in Meadville through Oasis, connect with him here.
If you’re a part of SLW, you can support both Oasis and the Backpack Program by giving through our Glocal Outreach missions focus–both are missional partnerships we’re excited to be part of.
SUMMER SPORTS XTREME begins tonight. It’s not too late to register the kiddos (potty trained 3yo – 6th grade) for this free sports camp facilitated by qualified coaches and includes some interaction with professional athletes. Check out slwchurch.org for more info!
original image: Vyacheslav Argenberg on Flickr
We stepped into chapters 3-5 of Joshua before pausing in The Book of Joshua for our summer series, here are some highlights from that message:
:: What does it look like to live–in the midst of our impossible, impassible, unnavigable situations–as those ready for God to do the miraculous? (Joshua 3:5)
:: God is the God who goes 3,000 feet ahead of His people, showing the way, overcoming the most powerful obstacles, and subjugating things to Himself. (cf. Joshua 5:1)
:: Following Jesus means we can stop thinking like slaves and rebellious wanderers…and start living as people of the promise. (cf. Joshua 5:9-12)
What would you do in the overwhelming situations you face if you were certain God is going before you, that He is more powerful than the most significant obstacles you face, and that He is FOR you?
The podcast will be available soon, you can check it out by heading to SLW’s podcast site at slwchurch.podomatic.com.
original image: Vyacheslav Argenberg on Flickr
Only be strong and courageous! (Joshua 1:18b)
What happens when we finally receive what we’ve been waiting for…when what for so long seemed impossible is now made real? How should we live when it seems we have made it to the place our journey has been preparing us for all along?
The story of the book of Joshua is one where the children of Israel are at long last taking ownership of land in fulfillment of a generations-old promise of God. Their season of living out the Promise is one of challenge: a different way of living than they had ever experienced (and maybe one they never even anticipated) is now required.A new level of strength, courage, and submission to the leadership of God and his agents will be vital.
What can we learn from their experiences? What might we uncover about our own relationship with God and his desire to lead us into deeper faith and active obedience?
Join us throughout the new church year as we step in and out of the story of the Book of Joshua and discover strength, courage, leadership, and faith for today.
image: “Binoculars” by Peter Miller on Flickr
Today was “Vison Sunday” at SLW—not that “vision” is contained just to this one day each year, but it’s the Sunday when we take some time to celebrate God’s faithfulness over the past year and get a glimpse of what’s to come. As part of that, we hosted our Local Church Conference. What follows are the personal reflections given as part of my report this year:
