Immerse Update

Immerse is going strong. I am really excited about what God is doing in Immerse and I can't wait to see what he does in the future. We have been steadily growing as a ministry and we are looking to expand even more. This past week we had 140 people in attendance, we built an interactive Jewish home to signify where Jesus was born and the sacrifice that it represented, the Holy Spirit really showed up in Worship, and we had some awesome videos. God really moved in a powerful way. Praise Him!

Last night we had another Community Outreach event and we reached out to some folks that aren't in our target group but are definitely on our hearts, the elderly. We Caroled in an elderly community and touched many different people thru carols. It was awesome.

We have over 60 people in 8 community groups that consider themselves Immerse. We are anticipating multiplying at least two of those groups over the next year. God is definitely moving.

Socially we are playing some football tomorrow morning in North Brunswick if you would like to join us. We are planning a dinner in February and something fun in January. People are getting connected and it is neat to see.


God is moving in people. The ministry is all about reaching and connecting people to Christ. Pray for us. Encourage us. Support us in any way you can.


Merry Christmas!

Gifts

I just wanted to let you know that this Christmas our Community group is Conspiring against our culture. We want to build a well in Africa for those that need fresh water. I personally am doing this by taking my Christmas gift budget, cutting it in half, and giving that half to this organization that builds wells. I was inspired by this video called Advent conspiracy.

Or click on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVqqj1v-ZBU

The goal is to raise 5,000 dollars which will provide a well for a whole village. We figured this was an attainable goal if our friends and family joined us in the effort. We also thought it was cool that when we meet our goal and the well is built, we would be given the exact GPS coordinates and an actual photograph of the well. Rob Larsen our Immerse Community Group Coach is running point on this. He set up a page on charity water's website: http://www.charitywater.org/pages/roblarsen/


This is the season for giving so why don't we all conspire to give a gift that we all take for granted to a group of people who's lives will be changed forever.


Please join us in this effort!

Goals

Today Josh asked each of the strategy team members to report the goals we accomplished over the last year and what we hope to accomplish in the coming year. It is tough to find a good measurement of success in ministry. Ultimately growing numbers of people coming to your ministry and coming to Christ show success but it may take years before you see any fruit of your labor. I feel like at Princeton Alliance we have developed some good barometers to measure if you are doing your job. It isn't perfect but a good test.

Here is what I reported for the Immerse Ministry. Praise God for all that he accomplished this year in our ministry. I have to ask myself am I setting goals that stretch me and that are beyond my limits. To me if I am reaching my goals, coming close, or going beyond my goals then maybe my goals aren't big enough. I want 2009 to be a year of goals that only can be reached if God is involved. Stretch us!

In 2008 we started the ministry known as Immerse. This Sunday will be our 12th month and God has brought us so far!

Here is what I wrote in my report:

1. Monthly worship service 

                GOAL: Average 100 

               Reality: Averaging 118 this fall

2. Community Groups 

                   GOAL: 8 Viable Groups 

                   Reality: 7 and 1/2 Viable groups (we sent 4-5 people to a non-Immerse group)

3. Community Service/Outreach 

                   GOAL: Monthly Outreach Project 

                   Reality: 1-2 Outreach projects per month

4. Campus Partnerships 

                   GOAL: 5 partnerships at 2 of the 4 major campus' 

                  Reality: 8 Partnerships at 3 of the 4 major campus'

5. Internships 

                   GOAL: 5 Interns 

                  Reality: 9 Interns

Praise God!

Missions

Should ours lives as Christians be dedicated to Missions? If we are committed to Completing Christ's Mission he left us in Matthew 28 then we should be. God is teaching me that completing the mission is holistic. Acts 1:8 says, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Notice it doesn't say: some of you will go to Jerusalem some of you to Judea and some of you to Samaria. I do think as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 12 some of us are called to different things specifically. This can be translated in our context as specific calls to different areas but we are all called to Acts 1:8.

Do we make excuses for not going to the ends of the earth because our specific call is to Jerusalem?


God disturb us, break us, shatter us, destroy us, mess up our current thinking to complete your mission.

Tis' the Season

This Holiday season is filled with lots of activities. There are many things to keep us busy like decorating, Christmas films, baking, football, basketball, concerts, church, serving, etc. This past week has been filled with all of the above. I had fun: seeing Rutgers dominate Louisville and Dominating Manhattan Madness. I did some good: Our Immerse ministry went to The Rescue Mission in Trenton and sorted clothes, blankets, and coats to be handed out to the homeless. I heard Trace Bundy place some amazing music and bought some of his CDs for a Christmas gifts. All in all a great week. But you know what, my wife and I missed on quality time. A lot of us this time of year commit to DOing. We have long lists of to dos and miss out on just being. Just be with your family and most of all this holiday season be with God.

In all of your to do lists this holiday season ask yourself Is what I am about to do taking away from being with immediate Family and God? If so, then don't do it.

Have a great christmas season!

Where do we go?

In our culture we do many things that are good and right. For example many business' are cutting back on production among other things in anticipation of a season of low spending etc. To me that is very smart so that companies don't go bankrupt. It is a good plan to do less as a business. It is counter cultural to think that you should actually do more. In the Kingdom of God it is my belief that we should do more.

As churches we should expand rather than cut. There is no greater time than now to reap the harvest of those who are lost. People's hearts are going to be at their most vulnerable to except the love of Jesus and we would do well to find ways to produce more rather than less in the kingdom of God.

DO NOT let these trying financial times hinder what you are dreaming to do for God. In 2 Corinthians 8 we find the Macedonians in a lot worse off situation than we currently are and they did more and more for the kingdom. In verses 3 and 4 it talks about how the Macedonians pleaded for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord's people despite extreme poverty. I also don't read in scripture about Jesus having tons of money or Paul having tons of money yet of anyone in scripture they expanded the Kingdom more than anyone.

Does it take money to plant a church? Open a Community Center? Expand Advertising of relief aid the church has? Yes. It costs money to do ministry but who oversees it all? That is right GOD DOES!

Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."