As I write this article I am remembering the sermon from Rev. Bernard Evans last Sunday. He spoke about the church being a testimony to the enemy and to the world. He spoke about living with “intent.” We are to live our lives with purpose for the Kingdom of God. As we go through the day to day of life, it is easy to get bogged down with all we carry in our workplace and family. It is important to remember that we live with a purpose and intent to see the Kingdom of God go forth even as we carry our day to day responsibilities. For me personally, I have to make sure that I do not miss out on the bigger picture. I can get so caught up with my personal concerns that I miss out on the bigger picture.

One of the things that I appreciate about all of you is that you “get it.” You understand the elements of workplace and family but also the kingdom. Last week we had an ordination service for Matt Slisher, and many of you helped. Today we are having computer trouble in the office and Gary Ahlquist and Dan Pedersen are working to fix the problem. The other night Henk DeSmidt was planting bushes and trees around the property while Fran Kreider was teaching “Kids Club.” Last Saturday our elders met for four hours to discuss and pray about the church. Jacek is meeting with me today to discuss our new missions committee. Bobby Luu is staying in touch with me about people who are physically in need within the church while Mike Slocum is meeting with me Saturday to discuss some more outreaches to the city and Henrietta. Our youth pastor, Ben Clark, this morning drove around to several of our youths’ schools to join them at the schools’ flag pole to pray. These are but a few of the people that are involved at the church during any part of the week.

It goes far beyond all of the things in the church. It’s the way you relate as people. This week I was an hour away from Rochester with Harry Vellekoop spending some time together and listening to a speaker talk to us about change. While I was away, our mini-van’s battery died. There was my wife stuck in a parking lot. She began to call some people and got a hold of Eric Pfeif who came over and got our van going and got her home. Sheryl had called a few of you before getting in touch with Eric but you were not home at the time she called. All of you called and said to her, “If we would have gotten the call we would have helped.”

In all we are doing as a church I want to encourage you that we are being the “church.” We are living with intent to see the kingdom go forth. We are loving one another and helping one another. Sometimes we only see the trees, but I want to encourage you that there is a beautiful forest here at our church. We are establishing the Kingdom of God in the world, here and in every life. The love and kindness of God is in our church family. We may have moments one with another but they are few and far between because there is a greater “intent” that goes beyond ourselves.

Thank you for being the church.

Pastor Phil

As I write this I am three days into my vacation and looking forward to the fall. We are hanging around the house for vacation. The girls have all sorts of plans for me including camping in the back yard. Rebekah daily requests the setting up of the tent that someone in the congregation has leant us with her in mind. Lauren just celebrated her 8th birthday yesterday and made her own birthday cake. She spent two hours making the cake. Much time was spent mixing various colors and flavors of icing of which Lauren had to veraciously taste test each one. I said to her, “Lauren, once this cake is made there will be no sugar left in America.” Elizabeth is working on AP history and Kathryn is adjusting to her first month of braces.

As we look to the fall I am excited about some things that are stirring in my heart to preach. I am encouraged by what I see happening in the church. Our mission’s weekend was tremendous. It is exciting to see what the Lord has done through the various missionaries and the part that we play in helping them. Our various small groups will be starting up in the fall and we have more now then ever. The youth group is doing well and is supported by other young leaders in the church. I feel like the Lord is building some momentum as we head into the fall and I am excited to see what the Lord does.

As we head into fall let me encourage you to enjoy your family time in the remains of the summer. However, in the fall get involved in a midweek commitment here at Word of Life. It will help you to grow and build relationships.

God Bless,
Pastor Phil

As I write this letter it is the middle of June. It is the middle of the day and I am at my desk in the office. I am preparing an agenda for an elders meeting that will be held for a few hours this Saturday. We will come together, pray, and talk about plans for the fall. I am personally enjoying being done school and am beginning to catch up on personal, family, and church things.

This morning I just met with some Henrietta pastors and we prayed for our area. What a great time of encouragement for all of us. God is moving in Henrietta.

I have in front of me the pledges for the building program. We have not totaled them yet but I am glad to see that many of you are participating. Ben Clark just texted me asking me if the project will be underway in August, and I said, “Probably.” Henk de Smidt and I are making plans for early next week to go down and look at a renovation project another church did on their building to get ideas about our own renovation project.

The Trezise family returns today from Brazil and may be with us even this Sunday. I just asked the church secretary to call the [ed. removed for web] who are home on furlough to tell them their children need to attend the water baptism class before the actual baptism service on Sunday August 9th. I just sent out an email to Jacek Megiel as we plan the new missions committee and make plans for the mission weekend on August 9th. How exciting to have all our missionaries here that weekend in August.

Last Sunday about 11 people were in the New Members Class. The Sunday School appreciation picnic was well done by Steve and Sue Hunter and what a great time we had. James Blake has emailed me about good things happening on the road with his ministry team out among the churches. I am making plans to attend Alex Seidlers’ wedding next month in Pennsylvania. Bob Hunt was meeting with ADT to get some work done around the building and I just emailed Gary Ahlquist concerning some electrical problems with the AC. Eric Peoples just called me and thanked me for having him here at the church a week ago and I expressed to him that he had been a blessing to us and our youth. Harry Vellekoop shared last Sunday on Connie and his trip to Paraguay and the ministry that took place. In front of me is a booklet Harry has written called “No More Free Samples-Please.” Personally, this booklet shows hunger for God’s ways and His presence which I believe is a principle our church desires.

All of this has happened just in a couple of hours on a Wednesday morning and I am looking forward to the service tonight. I believe that Michael Miller will be sharing the Word and I am looking forward to the worship by our youth and Pastor Ben Clark leading the service. I will be glad to just sit and enjoy the service and the presence of God.

As I write this I am grateful for the blessing of the Lord on our congregation. I am grateful for all that we are involved in and the fruit of the ministry here. However, I am also grateful for all of you. Take time to enjoy the Lord and enjoy the summer.

Pastor Phil

It is a beautiful day in May as I write this article. Last weekend I graduated from Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan College with a Masters of Divinity. I want to thank my wife, Sheryl, and Kathy Christner for all of their hard work and all those who brought food for the celebration on the Saturday evening. Many of you gave me such thoughtful cards and gifts. I was overwhelmed with all of your kindness and glad to be connected to the body here at Word of Life.

Many of you commented how much you enjoyed fellowship together at the Saturday dinner of my graduation because you were enjoying one another around some pasta. I want to use the opportunity to encourage you to make time for various events at church to continue to build relationships. (This is just a reminder. I do not sense any problem with this in the church.) There are many opportunities to build relationships at Word of Life and it encourages all of us when we show up. Years ago someone said to me, “I don’t show up for a particular event that the church offers because I don’t get a lot out of it.” My response to them was, “But you encourage all of us with your presence when you show up.” Sometimes as pastor I can tell you that when you walk in the door for a service or an event you encourage me greatly just by your presence.

Sometimes we can feel that as mature believers we will not lose our salvation by not being related and involved in the church. This may be true but you miss out on something the Lord has intended for you, and that is to be connected to a body. This may be difficult at times because some have been hurt by the body, but that does not mean that God wants you to be an orphan. He wants you to belong, and that, at times, means pushing beyond past hurts and committing to press through the hurt. I cannot promise you that Word of Life is perfect or that you will never be hurt again, but I can promise you that God does not want you to be isolated like an orphan. I want you to have a sense of belonging and of sitting at the table with the rest of the family. Your personal growth in God depends on having Christian leaders and other believers in your life. Scripture is clear on this.

Word of Life has been this family to me and I am grateful for all of you and your kindness to me and my family. Watching you all fellowship at my graduation party was as much of a blessing to me as finishing the degree.

Pastor Phil

It’s hard to believe that three and a half years ago I started the Master of Divinity program at Northeastern Seminary a part of Robert’s Wesleyan College. It was not that my plate was not full enough being married with four young girls who loved my attention. We had just embarked on building the gym and in the middle of it I took over as general contractor seeing the project to completion. I remember one day I had two subcontractors working on site, three
volunteers, the fire marshal coming through for an inspection and by 2 pm I had a fifteen page paper due for class. (The research for the paper was already done I just needed to pull it together for the paper.) All day long people
were in and out of my office with questions, but by the grace of God, as I left at 1:30 pm that day, the paper was done, and I was laughing at the faithfulness of God to help you when you are way over your head. Seminary has been a tremendous blessing to me personally and to the church. Several of the classes I have taken have enabled me to
implement various programs into the church. Also, I cannot help but notice my understanding of various theological issues have deepened and this transfers into sermon material.

I personally want to thank the elders and all of you for releasing me to do this time of study. All of you have a part in the ministry fruit that will come from the time of study that I have had.

My wife is deeply grateful that it is done, as she will have her husband back. Come join us for an informal celebration Saturday May 16th at 6 pm at the church. More details will come on this and I would love to see you there as we celebrate. Again thank you all sooo much.

Pastor Phil

P.S. Stay tuned: will I go back to school in a little while so there will be a Dr. Phil?

Every time we turn on the news there is something more about the economy. One news network has had so many complaints about the negativity of the news that they devote a segment to something good going on. Personally I have been anxious at times hearing it all but then I come to this scripture in Phil 4:6-8, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable– if anything is excellent or praiseworthy– think about such things.” I love those words “think on these things.”

An old song that has come to mean a lot to me this month is the song, “Learning to lean, I’m learning to lean, learning to lean on Jesus. Finding more power than I ever dreamed I’m learning to lean on Jesus.” In the midst of challenges we can lean on him and find strength for the day. I am learning to “think on these things” not on the negative.

Pastor Phil

As I write this we are in the midst of a typical Rochester winter Freeze. My only hope is I always say that winter is over once the Super Bowl happens. I am the eternal optimist but after the Super Bowl comes March and then April. Hallelujah!!

I want to encourage you to set aside some time for our Spiritual Emphasis Weekend with Robbie Evans. Robbie will be with us Sunday morning February 15th and then again Sunday evening at 6pm. There will be Kids’ Club for the children. Robbie is a veteran missionary, teacher, and pastor in Mexico. He moves in personal prophecy and I have found him to be a blessing. I have ministered with him a couple of times and have seen him be a tremendous encouragement to people. All of us at times need a personal word from the Lord as we read in 1 Cor. 14:3, “But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.” Set aside that one Sunday and come and be blessed.

Before long it will be summer and we will then complain about the heat.

God Bless, Pastor Phil

As I write this article we are a few days from Christmas and moving quickly to a New Year. I have a sense of excitement in my own spirit as we head into the New Year. Some of you may have very legitimate things weighing on you. Some things are inevitably going to cause us to be burdened and in this article I am not addressing these. However, there are some burdens that we can release and two of these are regrets and offenses which can lead to unforgiveness. Prolonged regrets lead to unforgiveness because you cannot forgive yourself, and offenses lead to unforgiveness because you cannot forgive the other person.

Life has enough legitimate challenges without us taking on regrets and offenses. As we head into the New Year think of these words from Paul found in Phil 3:13-15, “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15 All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.” Let me encourage you as we head into this New Year release and regrets and offenses.

One church I know every year in December rents a dumpster and puts it outside the church. Then they go through each room in the church and throw out any unnecessary items so as to start the New Year with as little clutter as possible. Life has enough challenges without us holding on to things that we need to release to the Lord. Lets all get rid of our “clutter.” Scripture tells us “everything that does not come from faith is sin.” Offenses and prolonged regrets are not of faith. As we read in Heb 12:1-3, “let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Have a great New Year free of prolonged regret and offenses.
Pastor Phil