That We May Know Christ
3/3/2002 Jeremiah 29:10-14 Philippians 2:1-11
Rick
Saints it was 686 Sundays ago that we marched down the aisle at 11:00 am to begin the morning worship service as the newly elected pastors of the church. For 13 years we have continued coming down the aisles, first for Glenville Presbyterian Church, then Glenville New Life Community Church PCUSA, and now both Glenville New Life Community Church and New Life Fellowship.
Toby
We have come down singing God’s praises first at 11:00, then 9:30 and 11:00, then 9:15 and 11:15, then 9:15, 11:15, and 12:00, and now 9:15, 11:15, and 11:15. Today we really confused everyone by coming in at 10:15.
Rick
Why have we come down that aisle again and again and again. The answer is simple. We have come down that we might know Christ. We have wanted to know who Christ is, and what power does He have available for us to change the course and direction of our lives. We have come seeking to minister to others and to be ministered to by one another.
Toby
Our Songs have varied from ‘Have Thine Way Lord, Have Thine Way”, to “Somebody Needs To Catch On Fire, Catch On Fire”, to “We Walk By Faith And Not By Sight”, “I’ll Say Yes Lord Yes, To You Will And To Your Way”, and on “To Give Glory To God Saints, Give Glory To God.”
Rick
We have come down that aisle again and again expecting to receive some comfort and encouragement from the hand or the embrace of another saint during our passing of the peace. For whether we were singing “Why Don’t You Greet Somebody In Jesus Name”, or the” Jesus In Me Loves The Jesus In You”, or “Smile God Loves You, Come To Think Of It I Love You Too”, we have been learning to move beyond ourselves to try to make someone else feel welcomed.
TOBY
Slowly but surely, these songs were mere instruments in us getting to know Christ. You see when we touch somebody that’s in need of a touch, we’re really touching Jesus. For Jesus said, “truly what you have done for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.”
RICK
This church began in 1962 when God called several of you to rise and to start a new church. Those of you who were charter members please stand, because without you, this day of celebration would not be possible. Our lives have been forever altered by your faith and your obedience to the call of God upon your lives. It was you that God used in order that the rest of us today might know Christ.
TOBY
Our church had a healthy start during the sixties, but in the decade of the 70’s and 80’s we began to stumble as a church from the strong beginning we had. Our community was changing, and many of our members moved away and joined churches further out in the suburbs. This took a toll on the membership and finances of the church. But it could not rob the church of its faith in God.
RICK
There were many of you who stayed in the community, and others who did move out of the community but you kept your heart and commitment to Glenville. Together you formed the nucleus of a body that simply refused to die. Our Presbytery did its best in trying to move the church forward based on its knowledge. It poured dollars into the church and sent it ministers in various roles.
TOBY
Presbytery suggested perhaps the church’s future lay in a merger with St. Mark’s Presbyterian Church. The merger talks went nowhere. It was not a good match. Presbytery finally decided, it would have a better return on its dollars by investing in doing mission somewhere else. Over a five year period, it ended its financial support of Glenville’s operating budget. 1988 was the last year of the support. The late 80’s were not a positive looking time for the future of the church.
RICK
There was a time in the nation of Israel’s history, when its future looked very dim. Their army had been defeated by the Babylonian army. The people were carried off into exile and forced to live in the land of Babylon. Many knew that they would never ever see their homeland again. They had suffered tremendous personal losses in terms of the deaths of family members, through the battles and famines during the siege of the cities. Some thought it would be best to simply forget about their homeland, and give up all hope of possibility of return.
TOBY
It was in the period of darkness and defeat, that Jeremiah came through with a word from the Lord. In Jeremiah 29:11-13 it says, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” In one of our darker moments in the life of this church, there were still people who wanted to know Jesus Christ and to make Him known. Just as God had good plans for the nation of Israel, God had good plans for Glenville..
RICK
Those of you who were holding on to a dream in a desperate situation thirteen years ago, have made all the difference in so many lives. Those of us who have come along later owe you a debt that cannot be easily repaid. Those of you who have come in each successive year since then, have been a part of God’s plan for turning this church around so that we all might know Christ. In the devotional “Experiencing God” it says, “A mark of spiritual maturity is a willingness to sacrifice personal comfort in order to strengthen other believers.”
TOBY
14 years ago, we were pastors in the city of Boston at Roxbury Presbyterian Church. We were having a wonderful time there in the midst of a growing and exciting congregation. It too was a church the Presbytery there thought should have closed, but God prospered the church and it became an example of what the Lord can do in a group of committed believers. We began to sense that maybe our time at Roxbury was coming to a close. We had no idea of where we would be going or what we would be facing.
RICK
We filled out the form ministers fill out when they are open to a new call. We saw an African American Church listed in Cleveland, Oh by the name of Glenville Presbyterian Church. We knew only some very basic statistics about the size of the church, average attendance, budget, and salary offered. Compared to where we were, none of these things were looking real good, but we decided to make contact with the moderator of the Pastoral Search Committee. Gail H. Banes. You see some of the greatest blessings of God come to us in the forms of hard work, sacrifices and challenges.
TOBY
Little did we know just how bad of a straights Glenville was going through in its search. It did not have many candidates to choose from. At the time, it actually had one candidate, and that candidate chose to go to another church in the city. The committee was not too happy with Gail for not moving quickly enough to secure the lone candidate. To this day Gail insists it was not procrastination on her part, but divine appointment to wait and give us time to contact her.
RICK
Our first contact with Gail came over the phone. She gave the impression of being very cool and well put together. She requested that we send her a tape of our sermons. Arrangements were made for us to come and spend a weekend here in Cleveland.
TOBY
Now we don’t want to say the church was cheap when we came, but instead of putting us in the Hilton or the Sheraton, they placed us at the Hayes Hotel. The Hayes Hotel was the home of Gail’s parents. That was probably the greatest thing that happened, because the food and the hospitality of the Hayes made us very favorable to the church before we ever saw it.
RICK
We got to thinking, maybe we can eat like this on a regular basis if we came to Cleveland. We simply had a special love for John and Jonnie from day one. Even before the congregation met us , as we left the Hayes’s home, John said, “Just want you folks to know, it would be fine with me if you immediately became the pastors.”
TOBY
The Pastoral Search Committee took us out to Mountain Jack’s for an elaborate dinner. The people who were on the committee, would you please stand. Little did we know they were putting all their money forward on this dinner, because there was not going to be any money left over for the search committee if we did not come to Glenville. The Search Committee was trying its hardest to put the church in the best light, but at the same time Mae Harris, kept trying to make sure they were presenting an accurate picture of the church.
RICK
When we went back to Boston, the only thing we knew we could not accept about the church was the salary it was offering. In 1989 the salary for one full time position was about $16,000. We were going to each be only getting half of that. We were going to have to take a tremendous pay cut to come to Glenville.
TOBY
We told the committee, we have to have at least $5000 more to come. We also told them our giving to the church was about $5000 a year anyways, so it would not be a great leap of faith as to where the money might come from.
RICK
We don’t know whether the Session was taking a leap of faith or planning on blaming us if we didn’t get paid, but anyways they agreed to the increase. Our first year at the church was the most difficult one for us financially, but our parents were in between churches and they sent us their tithes and offerings to help us until they found a home church. God has resources available to us that we can not always know about until we step out in faith.
TOBY
We came back to Cleveland, to preach at the church. A congregational meeting was held afterwards and the vote was taken. Everybody except for three people were willing to have us come on board. Two people voted no and one person abstained. It was on that day that we as pastors and congregation made a commitment that we would journey together that we might know Christ and His will for our lives.. Many of the saints who made that promise have gone on to be with the Lord. If you were here that Sunday for that vote would you stand and say, “we’re still committed to know Christ and walking forward together.”
TOBY
One of the most remarkable things about the success of Glenville has been the relationship between the pastors and the elders on session. We have been blessed year after year with people on Session who truly desire to know Christ. Everyone who has been on Session since we came please stand. There was a time in the church when people were elected as elders and deacons to get them more involved in the life of the church.
RICK
That has all changed. Now, you must demonstrate your commitment to the cause of Christ before being asked to serve as leaders. Our session’s attitude has been, “if it’s going to help us grow in the Lord, then let’s at least give it a shot. But we recognized that if God was to do something in the life of the church, it had to begin in the life of its leaders.
TOBY
That’s why we said, “if you’re going to be nominated to be an elder, you have to agree to be a tither.” For what right does a person have to be a steward over God’s money in the church, if he or she is not being a faithful steward over his or her own money. When we first preaching tithing 13 years ago, there were those who complained, they’re always talking about money. In 13 years, we have never heard a person who tithe say, “they spend too much time talking about money.” Those words only come from those who constantly spend God’s money on themselves. What difference did preaching on tithing make.
RICK
For one thing it turned around the financial situation of our church. 14 years ago, our giving was $58,000 in tithes and offering. Today our giving is about $225,000 in tithes and offering. We went from a church that was about to close its doors because of finances, to a church that had the second highest per member giving in the presbytery and the second highest per member giving of all African American Presbyterian Congregations in the nation back in 2000.
TOBY
It happened because many of you said, “I need to do my part financially in the kingdom of God. God has blessed me so that I could be a blessing to others.” Do you realize what we would have missed out on without your desire to please Jesus Christ in your finances.
RICK
We never would have had Pat & Britney Gillam, because there would not have been a radio broadcast for them to hear and come to Glenville. We never would have had Barbara Whaley, Kemit, Akil, and Nile, because there would not have been a New Life Messenger Newspaper for them to read. We would not have an e-mail from Scandinavia saying a sermon on our web site, was just what was needed for their Easter Message. Last week a pastor from western Canada in the province of Saskatchewan sent us an e-mail saying how he visited our website and used the story of our church from a sermon on the 12th anniversary in order to be a great encouragement to his congregation. His sermon literally involved what God had done at a church in Cleveland called Glenville.
TOBY
As a congregation we are affecting people all over the world through our web site and our giving. Children in Nigeria who have little of nothing, have something because you give to the African Orphange Fund. Your Two cents a meal offering made Christmas a special time for a number of children in Haiti and other parts of the world. Our TV broadcast touches more lives than you can imagine. One friend of Sharon told her, her mother records the broadcasts to make sure she does not miss it when she has to go to work. Many people tell us what a blessing it has been to them. These things did not exist 13 years ago, but they do today. It’s all a part of our desire that we might know Christ. Knowing Christ is something you do by simply reading the Bible. Christ truly becomes known by us, as we do the things God commanded us to do.
RICK
For thirteen years, we have sacrificed together as pastors and church. It was session that made the commitment that as we grew as a church, the church would move us from part time to full time positions. It took us seven years to get to two full time salaries. We got there not only because of the willingness of many of you to tithe, but also to go above and beyond by contributing to the pastor’s full time salary fund.
TOBY
You have said either weekly or monthly time and time again, we want Pastor Toby and Pastor Rick to be our pastors. You see you vote for us, by the way you give to support us and the work and the ministry. One of our national leaders was asking us last week, how in the world does an inner city church with no endowment, with only 200 members support to full time pastors?
RICK
Those are not just 200 members. Those are the names of people who decided they want to know Christ and to make Him known. They are the names of people who are actively involved in the life of the church. When you invest yourself into something, the more harder you’re willing to work to make it succeed. You know you beginning to know Christ, when you’re willing to give up personal comforts for the cause of Christ. Some of you have paid again and again to make things happen in the kingdom.
TOBY
Our deacons have demonstrated that love always involves doing something for people in their time of need. Our church has built solid foundations in the lives of people through the ministry of the deacons. Glenville is at its best in ministering to the needs of those who have lossed loved ones through the all out service and giving of the deacons. All of you who have served as deacons in the past 13 years stand up for a moment because much of your work is done in the background and few see the intense labor that you do.
RICK
Thirteen years ago, our building vision was to simply get some paint on the building inside and out. It’s hard for us to remember what a challenge it was to put in a new ceiling, to put in new carpet, to put in the access ramp, to redo the pews, and to sandblast the building. Trying to raise $20,000 to redo the kitchen, and the sanctuary seemed like a whole lot of money just a few years ago.
TOBY
Today we have accepted a challenge to build an entirely new building with our New Life Center which will be dedicated to helping others know Christ, through conferences, through sports, through banquets, and educational training. We’ve gone from needing $20,000 dollars to $750,000.
RICK
Thirteen years ago, our vision was getting a Bible Study going so that might know Christ. From that vision has sprung, Bible Study, Life-Sharing, Pioneers, Lay Pastors, Sisters In The Lord, Men Who Excel, Singles, Youth Worship and Marriage Sensation. All dedicated to teaching us how to life for Jesus Christ in our particular circumstances. Will all of our teachers of from each of these areas stand. We learned from Bible study, if you have more classes at different times, more people will be involved. That led to the introduction of the earlier worship service. When we look at the people God has brought into our church through the 9:15 service, we have to shout amen as pastors.
TOBY
Another challenge we have taken on to date is the formation of a new daughter church. Because of our love for Christ and what God has done us , the presbytery asked us to maintain a Christian witness in the former Miles Park Presbyterian Church. Today New Life Fellowship has been born. It could not have happened without your willingness to help. Some of you gave your all in the beginning of the life of the new church during your 4 week period. Some of you signed up for several 4 week periods. Will all of you who responded to the four week challenge stand.
RICK
Some of our members like the Thorntons, The Britts, The Masons, made the ultimate in sacrifice and said they would go over and stay as a part of New Life Fellowship. They responded to a need for workers and they deserve our commendation and praise. For the work there is much harder than the work over here. Their hearts still long to be with us each Sunday, yet they know God is calling them to make an impact at New Life Fellowship. They are making an impact because souls are being saved there.
TOBY
New Life Fellowship did lead to changes and transitions at Glenville. Not many churches voluntarily give up their pastors’s presence every other week to be at another church, or send out members to start another church. But since we are a NUTS church we do. Our goal is that we might know Christ and to bring others into a relationship with God. Sometimes that means we have to change and stretch ourselves as to what we think is rightfully ours.
RICK
God was preparing us for New Life Fellowship before we knew that’s what was happening. We simply knew as pastors that God was telling us to add more lay pastors.. We see now why the Lord gave us the number of lay pastors that we have. New Life Fellowship would not have been possible without them. All of our lay pastors stand. Even now three of our lay pastors are leading in worship. Felicia is preaching. Tony Britt was being offered a job in another denomination . But God in His infinite timing opened New Life Fellowship at just the right time to provide Tony with a job. Tony’s done a tremendous job reaching out into the lives of those who come and visit the church as well as going out knocking on doors.
TOBY
Another lay pastor Sylvia has made a tremendous difference for us in reaching and visiting not only our new members, but those who are in the church who have been missing. Just as she retired from her job, the Lord provided us with enough funds to hire her on staff.
RICK
For 13 years, we have been trying to equip you for the ministry of Jesus Christ. It gives us great joy when we see you willing to make sacrifices to be a feeder of others rather than simply coming to church expecting to be fed. As pastors, we know that we could never have moved as far as we have as churches without the love and commitment that many of you have shown in putting the needs of others ahead of your own.
TOBY
For the first 35 years of our church’s existence, we did not produce any future ministers. In the last 5 years we’ve had 3 of our members become full time seminarian students. Kellie will hopefully be ordained this fall, Tony and LaVerne will be entering their second year, Claude is taking part time courses, and Sherrell is considering seminary.
RICK
Look how many of you have responded to the call of God on your lives here at the church and the places where you work and go to school. Our New Life Campaign Team led our church to a level of pledging that we had not thought possible. God is using a bunch ordinary people to have an extraordinary impact in the lives of others. There are so many good things, that so many of you have done for the cause of Christ. We are so proud of you for being who you are in the life of the church.
TOBY
So many things have changed in the past 13 years, as a result of us saying, “Yes Lord, I do want to know your Son Jesus.” As pastors, we did not change the church. Our church changed because of a willingness to truly listen to the leading of the spirit and to the dying of ourselves for the good of the kingdom of God. You have been far more a blessing to us in the past 13 years, than we have been to you. This is a great church with a great future because of the great Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is Living among His people.
RICK
Yes, we have come a long ways and we take the time to thank God for it. Yet our eyes are focused ahead as we press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of us. God led us to the challenge of building the New Life Center and He led us to the greater challenge of building New Life Fellowship. We are going to continue to do them both so that we might know Christ and all that He wants us to learn through the building of each. Our lives shall become richer through our obedience.
TOBY
After 686 Sundays, we know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that in our darkest moments as a church some 14 years ago, God had plans to prosper us and to do us good. But these first 13 years have just been the beginning of what God is about to do. The Apostle Paul put it this way, Philip. 3:10-14 but let’s change the word I to Glenville so that it says. Glenville want sto know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
12Not that Glenville has already obtained all this, or has already been made perfect, but Glenville is pressing on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of it. 13Brothers and sisters, I Glenville does not consider itself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing Glenville does: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 Glenville is pressing on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called it heavenward in Christ Jesus.
RICK
The greatest thing about Glenville New Life Community Church, is that it is a church that teaches and preaches that Jesus can save anybody and make a change in anyone’s life regardless of what circumstances or background he or she may come out of. For it is only in coming into a relationship with Jesus Christ, that one finds life both in this world and in the world to come.
