(In 2015 - Jim is senior pastor. Michael pastors Vineyard ReCovery Church. Tommy Puckett and Todd Bagley are assistant pastors. The elders are Todd Bagley, Clay Rowe, Tommy Puckett, Robby Elrod, and Walt Muller. The Board of Directors are: Jim, Todd, Clay, Robby, Walt, Tommy, and Debbie.)
Thursday, May 21, 2015
Time Capsule - June 2005 - Who We Are by Michael Bynum
Debbie Handy found a His Handiwork newsletter she had written in June 2005. It's fun looking back to see what we were doing or thinking about. It's kind of a Time Capsule. Here's an article from that newsletter by Michael Bynum:
WHO WE ARE…
By Michael
Bynum
Just who
are we as a fellowship? What does it mean to be part of “Vineyard”? Our
fellowship is not the only Vineyard. We belong to an association of churches
that adhere to a common set of values and beliefs. Now, all vineyards don’t
look alike. Neither do they function alike, but they all have the same core
values and beliefs.
We believe
that the community we call the Gadsden Vineyard Church belongs to God. It is
not ours, so He alone should be the source of direction for us. Jesus said in
Matthew 16:18, “I will build my church”. We seek to not usurp God’s power and
plans through our own plans and agendas but do seek His will for our community
of believers.
God’s
directions are carried out through the church government and leadership whose
main responsibility is to serve the people who are committed to the fellowship.
We also believe that leaders should have a servant’s heart. The people aren’t
there to serve the leadership; the leadership is there to serve them.
The
leadership’s authority does not exist so that it can be heavy-handed and rule
over the fellowship. Authority’s main goal is to create a safe place where
people can meet with God.
(In 2005) Jim Bentley
is our senior pastor. Michael Bynum and Kris Catoe are our associate pastors.
Our elders are Todd Bagley, Wayne Wimpee, Brook Finlayson, and Clay Rowe. They
meet on the first Monday of the month to pray and to hear the needs and
concerns of the fellowship.
(In 2005) The board
oversees the facilities and the operations thereof. Jim Bentley is the
president of the board. Debbie Handy serves as the secretary and treasurer. The
other board members are Michael Bynum, Kris Catoe, Todd Bagley, Brook
Finlayson, Clay Rowe, Robby Elrod, and Walt Muller. Board meetings occur
approximately four times a year. (The dates are posted on the calendar in the
kitchen.)
(In 2015 - Jim is senior pastor. Michael pastors Vineyard ReCovery Church. Tommy Puckett and Todd Bagley are assistant pastors. The elders are Todd Bagley, Clay Rowe, Tommy Puckett, Robby Elrod, and Walt Muller. The Board of Directors are: Jim, Todd, Clay, Robby, Walt, Tommy, and Debbie.)
(In 2015 - Jim is senior pastor. Michael pastors Vineyard ReCovery Church. Tommy Puckett and Todd Bagley are assistant pastors. The elders are Todd Bagley, Clay Rowe, Tommy Puckett, Robby Elrod, and Walt Muller. The Board of Directors are: Jim, Todd, Clay, Robby, Walt, Tommy, and Debbie.)
Through
commitment to God’s call and the purposes ordained for our church, we encourage
our fellowship to be good stewards with their lives, talents, and finances,
freely giving away what has been freely given to us. We’ve had some incredible
things happen over the last few months, which have driven home the fact that we
cannot out give God. So, we are constantly striving to become an outwardly
focused. We’re not there yet, but we are working on it and getting better at
it.
Matthew
5:13 states that we are the salt of the earth, not the salt of the church.
We’re not here to flavor the church but to flavor the world taking out into a
broken, hurting world the good news that has a difference in our lives. We seek
to do this through a life of loving people.
The gospel
message is more than just a formula; the message is us and the changes God has
made in our lives through Jesus. It’s not just about memorizing scripture and
going to church. When we minister to that broken, hurting world, we need to let
God speak to us about the people to whom we are ministering, let Him give us a
word for them. We should never assume that everyone is in the same place. So,
our fellowship is learning how to hear God more and better than ever before. We
are learning how to be equipped so that we can serve others. Thus, the motto of
our fellowship is, “Equipping to Serve”.
Our highest
priority as a fellowship is the pursuit of God through a lifestyle of worship
unto Him, both individually and corporately. Sunday should not be the only time
we worship God and read our Bible; we should be worshipping and studying His
word throughout the week. We are called to be students of the Word and not have
just a head full of knowledge and factoids. We value studying the Word not
knowledge’s sake but as a practical guide for our daily lives. The Bible tells
us how to live life, and the Holy Spirit shows us when and where we’re supposed
to do it.
These are a
few of our priorities. No, we are not a well-oiled machine yet, and sometimes
we feel like we are flying by the seat of our pants, which is very scary. But,
we are seeking God and asking Him what to do next. Over the past 21 years He
has never forsaken or forgotten us, and we believe that He will faithfully
continue to remember us. He is always faithful to come and meet with hungry
hearts who are desperate for Him. - June 2005
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