Quite Simply, "Yes"

Marc Chewning, Robert Moroney, Elijah Schiarelli, Joseph Freeman, Andrew Basic

Last summer a team of students and adult sponsors went to Cherokee, North Carolina for a week of work projects and mission work. Like most trips of this nature, those who went came back with much more than sore muscles and finished projects. God dealt with people and, in one particular case, infected a group of five young men in an unbelieveable way.

Marc Chewning returned from Cherokee knowing that he wanted to do more to help others know and understand the love of God. Shortly after arriving back home in Powhatan, he was mowing the grass. A bird skeleton was lying in the yard; he noticed it and thought to himself, "That's gross." He passed the skeleton again and was suddenly impacted by a powerful thought.

"How many times do we do that same thing with people? Notice, think "that's gross", and turn and walk away..."

Marc couldn't shake the thought of hurt and broken people who were ignored and left in need, often by those who claim to follow Jesus and his command to "love your neighbor as yourself."

After a flurry of communication with some of his partners from the Cherokee mission trip, Marc felt certain that God was speaking, and clearly calling them to go. They weren't sure where they were to go, but the compulsion to act was undeniable.

With the strength of their conviction and the boldness that comes from an encounter with God, these five guys starting moving. In spite of the fact that they weren't sure exactly what was ahead, they unashamedly began to declare that God had called them, and they starting looking for the next step.

Their journey led them to the front steps of the International Mission Board in Richmond (in spite of several wrong turns and a brief period of being lost), where they simply walked through the door and made themselves available. They were warmly received and graciously encouraged, and it was there that they received clarification as to the path before them.

Marc Chewning, Elijah Schiarelli, Joseph Freeman and Andrew Basic are going to spend their Christmas break in China. They will work within the specific guidelines of a Mission Board project, but what they will do is not as important as the fact that God spoke, and they said, quite simply, "Yes."

In response to the need for an adult chaperone, David Samuel also said "Yes", and he will join them. Robert Moroney will be unable to travel to China, but he said, "Yes" to the call to support those on the journey from home.

This trip is not inexpensive. Part of saying, "Yes" includes a committment to raise funds for travel. There are other basic expenses for the journey.

This is where we can help. Quite simply, say "Yes" to the opportunity to support this team financially and with prayer. There are a few specific upcoming opportunities:

• China Mission Carwash at Brusters on Saturday, November 1st, 9:00 - 1:00. This is a great time to actually meet these young men - and let them wash your cars!
• China Mission Day at Allen's Chinese Restaurant. Tell the cashier that you are dining out to support the China Mission Trip, and they will donate part of your check total to help support the trip.
• China Mission Ice Cream. Bring your church program or bulletin (PCC or any other church!) to Brusters on Sunday, November 2 and Sunday, November 9. Buy ice cream and give the cashier your church program. In return, Brusters will donate $1 to the China Mission Fund!

These minor opportunities add up and can make a tremendous impact on the efforts of these young men to make this journey. If you are unable to participate in this way, feel free to simply write a check and mail it to China Mission Trip, Powhatan Community Church, P.O. Box 834, Powhatan, VA 23139. Every contribution makes a difference.

We are excited about the privilege of partnering with these young men who heard a huge challenge from God and said, quite simply, "Yes."

Will you?

Fair Trade

Today, we talked about James 5:1-6.  I was especially affected by verse 4: "Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty." (NIV)  Originally, this was intended to reiterate the Jewish law requiring that poor workers be paid every day for their work.  This idea was taken from the Law of Moses 'Do not hold back the wages of a hired man overnight.' (Leviticus 19:3b, NIV) and 'Pay him his wages each day before sunset, because he is poor and is counting on it. Otherwise he may cry to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin.'  (Deut. 24:15, NIV)

This teaching isn't literally applicable to most of us.  Even if we do have employees, our culture pays people weekly, biweekly, or even monthly.  But I believe that this scripture still applies to us.  I have been convicted through this text about what we purchase that is produced by exploited people who are not paid a living wage.  While our country protects workers with minimum wage and other labor laws, citizens of other countries are not so fortunate.  How can we know that what we purchase at a grocery or discount store was made by an employee who was paid fairly and treated humanely?

This is easier said than done, but there are a few resources.  Click on the links below for more information.

The Fair Trade Federation.

The International Fair Trade Association.

Ten Thousand Villages, a non-profit resource where you can buy merchandise and crafts from people in developing countries and know that they are paid a living wage.

The International Justice Mission, whose mission is stated as follows:  "International Justice Mission is a human rights agency that secures justice for victims of slavery, sexual exploitation and other forms of violent oppression."  There are ways that you can get involved and you can learn more through their website.

There is much more research that can be done.  Please share what you find so that we can all benefit from your research.

Guest Blogger Ray Crews

Guest blogger Ray Crews is a member of the PCC Steering Team as well as a volunteer on the Production Team.  Ray is also a blogger; you can check out his blog here.

Here's some great insight into the workings of PCC's Small Group Leadership Team, of which Ray is also a part (he's a busy guy!).

The A Team

In 1972, a crack commando unit was sent to prison by a military court for a crime they didn't commit. These men and women promptly escaped from a maximum security stockade to the Powhatan underground. Today, still wanted by the government, they survive as soldiers of fortune. If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire... The A-Team.

Do you belong to a successful team? I do.

I belong to a group called the Small Group Leadership Team, which works to assist my friend Sammy with the Small Groups program at Powhatan Community Church where Daleen and I attend. As a rule, I am a sucker for a good cause and unless I stop myself, I will pretty much always say yes when asked to volunteer for something. So, when Sammy asked me to help him, I don't think I even paused for a second before saying, "Well of course, I'd love to be on your team!"

For those of you who don't know, Small Groups is, in my opinion, where our church resides during the week in-between Sundays. Ours is such a large church, there is no way the church staff can work with everyone on an individual basis, and there is no way people can really form meaningful relationships on just Sunday mornings. Also, in my opinion, there is just not enough time for an in-depth discussion on some pretty deep topics in a one hour service, one morning a week. So, Small Groups were formed to bridge that gap. They are small groups of folks who usually get together during the week to just talk, eat, keep tabs on one another, and help each other out when needed. Of course, these small communities also do studies on the bible as well as other topics such as financial management, relationships, etc. Basically they do what I believe can't be done in an hour on Sunday mornings... build relationships/community, and have more in-depth discussions in a safe, comfortable environment.

So, the Small Groups Leadership Team is responsible for helping my friend Sammy with planning activities for the small groups community, providing training for small group leaders, finding new people to lead and host new groups, and get people who are interested plugged into a group that will suit them.

As a team, I would say like all teams, we have had our high points and low points. There have been times where I think we have been on our game, and times where I've felt like we're spinning our wheels and not going anywhere. We are friends, but there have been times of conflict. But the whole time, I have felt good about the people on the team. Everyone is committed to moving this thing forward and making it grow. I have no doubt about that.

Last Monday evening, Sammy and I met up and talked for a couple of hours. We're both some pretty busy guys and it had been a while since we just sat down and talked. We were both very honest in our discussions about our team and and we talked about what we had done well and what could be done to strengthen our team. And then, like many discussions we had before, our talk shifted into a more upbeat tone as we began to talk about what we could do to make the Small Groups program at our church grow and improve. This is the part when I think our team is at its best, when we start brainstorming ideas about possibilities. Everyone on our team is kind of a dreamer and I think everyone begins to smile a little more when the ideas begin to flow (I know I do). The best part is, nobody on out team is all that negative when it comes to the pouring out of ideas. We are a bunch that instead of asking "Why?" always asks "Why not?".

On Monday night, we exchanged several ideas which I think were great. I know others on the team have also met with Sammy and I'll bet they have also contributed some good stuff. The bottom line is that after thinking for a couple of days since our meeting, I am now a lot more energized and positive about our team and what we are doing than I think I have ever been, and it feels great. In fact, now I feel like I'm the one not doing enough and I need to catch up. It really feels awesome.

I am excited about this team I am on and I think we are going to make some pretty amazing things happen in the next year. In fact I know we will and I'll definitely be telling you about it here. I'm just thankful to be on a team with people who are willing to work together as a small community, a small group if you will, to build up something that involves people and relationships in such a positive way. I think when it comes to what we do, we are definitely the A-Team. However, I am still working up the courage to get a mohawk, a bunch of gold chains, and start saying "I pity the fool...."

Innovative Church Network

Innovative Church Network

You may not know that PCC is one of the churches that helped form the Innovative Church Network. It started as a way for me and other staff and leaders to connect with other churches like ours. I became friends with Jeff Boggess from Atlee Community Church in Mechanicsville, Mark Jenkins from Mountain View Community Church in Culpepper, and Hank Brooks from Coastal Community Church in Virginia Beach. Each of these guys is the Senior Pastor at their church. We hit it off and felt that we could really understand each other and the highs and lows, challenges and triumphs of leading a new and different kind of church. We talk regularly about staffing, our families, balance, teaching, structure, leadership, church growth, finances, buildings, multi-site, education, and everything else under the sun. We’ve usually spend three days in the summer together with our wives talking, having fun, learning from each other, and planning the ICN.

The Innovative Church Network came out of our desire to help other pastors and church leaders to find what we have – a common bond with others in churches that are different from those around them. Specifically, the ICN caters to churches that either reach unchurched people, or churches that want to. We favor peer-to-peer learning, through guided discussions that give us all a chance to gain insights through each others’ experiences. While we hope to employ technology to help us in the future, we currently physically meet once per month, from September through May, at Atlee Community Church. We do not meet in December or during the month of Easter. We meet from 10-2 and lunch is served, but has to be purchased.

In October, PCC’s staff led the discussion, which was about building teams. Breakouts included ideas about building trust, mining for conflict and building a team from scratch. We also invited Tim Kinnell from Powhatan Mennonite Church to come and share from his experience leading his church from a committee structure to team based ministry.

This really is a unique opportunity for churches like ours and it is well worth the effort. I’ve heard more than one pastor now say that they would not still be in ministry if it wasn’t for the support and friendships they’ve found at this network. If you’d like more information about the ICN, you can contact our office or Desiree Henderson at DHenderson at coastalcommunitychurch dot com. If you are able, I hope you will come and be a part of this sometime soon!

Brian Hughes

Resist the Devil

Last week, we discussed James 4:1-10.  v. 7 says "...Resist the Devil and he will flee from you." At the end of my message, I told a story about a man who stared down a mountain lion.  I said that resisting the Devil was active and intentional.  We had to stare down the enemy when we are being tempted.  

But I didn't tie this together well.  I meant to quote Peters words, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8, NIV).  This would have helped you to see why I told the story of the mountain lion and my feeling that resisting the Devil is active.

Sometimes I just don't wrap it up well.  This is one of those times.  Hope this helps add some clarity.

Brian

p.s.  The photo above is not a picture of me, though sometimes that guy does stand on my shoulder!

Churchwide Letter from Brian Hughes

October 1, 2008

Dear PCC Friends,

A couple of weeks ago, the topic of our weekend service was called “Making Ends Meet”, and we focused on Jesus’ words about money:

“So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:31, 33-34, NIV)

Jesus charged his followers – then and now – to focus our lives on what God wants and trust Him to care for our needs. Worry about money and material things is a distraction from the best life that God wants for us.

But Jesus is not telling us to bury our heads in the sand and ignore reality. Being a good steward means recognizing our financial reality and living within our financial capacity. That’s why I’m writing to you today…because it is important that we all recognize PCC’s financial reality. First, the good news…

From our inception in September, 2002 through 2007, PCC’s income increased 479%![1] That’s an average increase of over 100% each year for 4 years. In 2003, it took two months to receive what is now given in a single Sunday! During that same period, average attendance at our weekend services tripled and today we typically see almost 1,100 people each week! We have baptized almost 300 people; given tens of thousands of dollars to people in need; sent scores of volunteer missionaries to 3rd world countries, to Mississippi, and to help people in our own backyard. We’ve hired an incredible staff, bought land, started building, and planted a new church.[2] It has been an incredible journey and God has blessed us in ways we couldn’t imagine six years ago.

Now for the harder reality. It is no secret that our country is facing an economic crisis. The housing market is in the worst condition in at least a generation. Food and fuel prices are at or near record highs, while the supply of money and credit is at or near record lows. Banks, financial institutions, and other large companies are failing. These and other factors are starting to trickle down to the average person…and that affects our church. People are seeing their jobs eliminated, their incomes reduced, their retirements evaporate. It is hard not to worry, isn’t it? I find myself fighting the urge to be anxious about it all and to worry…especially about our church. I have to remind myself that Jesus told us not to worry.

But He did not tell us to ignore reality. So, I need you to be aware of the reality of PCC’s financial condition. First and foremost, we are financially sound. We always have been and we always will be. I and the other leaders of PCC have been committed to this from our very first day. We have practiced solid financial management policies. We have relatively low debt[3], and all of that debt is related to our building. We also have excellent audit controls in place.[4]

One of the primary reasons we are in good shape is that we are careful not to spend more than we bring in. As I mentioned earlier, our income increased dramatically from 2003 to 2007. But in 2008, the rate of increase slowed dramatically. Since our attendance is still high and all of the other measurements are strong, we can safely conclude that the troubled economy is affecting our people. For example, while September had the 3rd highest attendance in our history, it also saw the lowest per capita giving since May, 2006. This means that people, on average, are giving less. Again, I think it is safe to say that the economy is affecting giving at our church.[5]

How will this affect us? Well, again, we are committed to living within our means. Since actual income continues to be far below our budgeted income, we are soon to face some really tough choices. We are in the middle of our building project and that will move forward as planned. That leaves us with few alternatives. We have to eliminate every expense that is not absolutely necessary. We’ve been doing this for months. We also have to consider cutting back on our staff expense – either by laying off folks or reducing already below-market salaries…or both. Every staff member is aware of what is happening. This is not where we want to be, but it is where we are.

The church, like any family, goes through trials from time to time. That is what this is. You can help. If PCC is valuable to you and you have not been giving sacrificially, I ask you to consider doing that now. If you have not made a commitment to the REACH Campaign to help pay for our building, I ask you to consider that, too. From now to the end of the year (for three months), Susan and I are going to be exceptionally frugal and we will use our cost savings to make an additional contribution – beyond our normal giving and beyond our REACH commitment – each month. Perhaps you can make an extra contribution for the next few weeks, too.

We need to face reality, but we need not worry about it. We need to do what we can to persevere, but we need to trust God for the results. I’m choosing to be joyful in this trial, and I hope you will, too. There are many great days ahead for us!

Thanks for your partnership,

Dr. Brian C. Hughes
Senior Pastor

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this," says the Lord Almighty, "and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.” (Mal 3:10, NIV)

“Consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” (James 1:2-4, NIV)

[1] 2007’s undesignated income of $655,199 compared to 2003’s undesignated income of $113,154.
[2] Amelia Community Church. PCC is the primary church sponsor in this church plant.
[3] When our building is complete, we will owe approximately $3.5million, which will be roughly 3 times 2009’s income. We are aggressively paying off that debt.
[4] Go to http://www.powhatancommunitychurch.blogspot.com/ for more information about our financial processes.
[5] It is important to note that most churches are reporting a decline in income. Our income is actually up, just not as much as we thought it would be.

ImpACT!

It's time!  We are so excited about this week's upcoming ImpACT project!

We'll be going out in two waves this Sunday (October 19) - one after the 9:30 service ends, and then again after the 11:00 service.  There will be directions, liability release forms and more information in the hallway after each service.  You must have a signed release form on file to work; if you signed one on October 12, you're good to go.

All of our projects are in the Bell Road/Powhatan Lakes area.  There will be Porta Potties and dumpsters set in place; although we encourage you to bring a lunch to eat before you start, the Grubworm Team will be set up at five different locations to provide hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and drinks.

We have some specific needs for equipment this time, especially for pressure washers.  It would also be helpful if you could bring these items:

• extension ladders
• hammers
• lawn rakes
• garden rakes
• shovels
• lawnmowers 
• weed eaters
• safety glasses
• gloves

Everyone needs to wear appropriate work clothes and closed toe shoes.

This is a wonderful opportunity to step outside of ourselves, to put our faith into action and to make a tremendous and tangible difference in the lives of people in our community.  We encourage you to show up for worship and then go out to serve.

Any questions?  Feel free to call the PCC office at 598.1174.

See you Sunday!

BY THE WAY:  PowerJam kids will have a chance to make a difference today as well! They are packing shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child. These boxes bring joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world and each contains a booklet explaining the good news of God’s love. During the morning services the kids will make cards, wrap boxes, then fill them with all kinds of treats. Please remember to being the supplies that morning. Also each box must have the $7 shipping costs included. If this is a financial burden, friends and siblings are encouraged to pack a box together or help make cards. We will have shipping envelopes and wrapping supplies there for everyone.