“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.

 Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  Apart from me, you can do nothing.”

– The words of Jesus in the Book of John

 

September 21, 2006

 

 

Dear Friends of Hager Park,

 

            Greetings to you from the Hager Park Consistory.  Fall and a full schedule of activities are upon us.  Much has been going on to prepare for organizing and leading ministry activity as we transition to a Gift-Based Ministry Structure.  We’d like to pause and share with all of you: A Look Back, What’s Happening Now and What’s Coming.  Thanks to all of you that have completed and turned in your Spiritual Gifts Assessments.  To date we have received results back from over half of the members of HPC.  Your participation is crucial to living out this structure as you will see.  It’s not too late; it will never be too late to share with us how God has gifted you!  If you haven’t turned in the results of your assessment, please do so as soon as possible.

 

A Look Back

 

  • In the spring of this year earnest discussions about structure culminated in a Consistory decision to transition from a traditional, function-based structure for ministry to a Spiritual Gifts-based structure.  Much of this discussion sprang from a consideration of what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.  As Christians, we believe that Jesus resides in each of us through the presence of the Holy Spirit.  When we respond to and engage the power of that Spirit, we remain in Christ and serve Him most effectively.
  • With the oversight and assistance of the Classis in the person of Rev. Rick Veenstra, we developed a model for ministry structure that springs from discovering and using spiritual gifts.  As we prayed about and discussed the concept further, we clearly sensed and were affirmed that this is where God was leading us.
  • This new ministry structure is organized under two fundamental ministry directions that spring from our mission statement.  Those directions are:  Reaching Out and Life Changing.  Those directions breakdown into key ministry focus areas: Serving, Inviting and Engaging in the Reaching Out ministry direction and Congregational Care, Worship and Spiritual Growth in the Life Changing ministry direction.  The Consistory members have been organized to lead in these focus areas according to the gifts God has given them.

What’s Happening Now

 

·        Many of you have turned in your gifts assessments.  That is key to the transition!  Just as Consistory members have been assigned to leadership roles for ministry oversight, we want to invite and engage you in utilizing your gifts to make ministry happen.

·        Consistory members, in each one of the focus areas, are preparing to receive the names of members similarly gifted to invite them to plan ministry events and ministry efforts that put to full use the gifts each of us have.  This is a really new approach!  We need your help to make it happen!  Pray that God will reveal to you where He wants you to serve.

·        The Consistory is transitioning existing, ongoing ministries (like Sunday School, to name just one) to the new structure.  We have no intention of abandoning significant, important ministries as we transition our structure.

 

What’s Coming

 

·        Pastors Dave and Jim are reviewing the results of the gift assessments.  They will share with Consistory members the names of members with the same primary gifts as their own.  We want to complete this initial step by having each member receive a contact by a Consistory leader no later than the week of October 10. 

·        During the balance of October, you’ll be invited to attend a time of information and discovery (with other similarly gifted members!) to pray about and consider ways you can live out following Jesus by putting your gifts to work.  How existing ministries connect into the new structure will also be shared at this time.

·        Some of this transition activity will happen quickly. In some areas we will have to learn and adjust as we go.  Your patience, input and support during this time will be greatly appreciated.  Pray that God will guide our discussions and decisions as a Consistory.

 

          We are excited about this transition in structure.  We believe that it is a decision that is founded in scripture as consistent with the picture of the New Testament church and faithful to Jesus’ call on our lives to fulfill the Great Commission.  We believe that it will provide new and exciting ways to practically live out your passion as a follower of Jesus Christ.  None of it can happen without you!  We will continue to keep you updated on our progress.

 

The Consistory of HPC

 

Pastor Dave Lantz     Gary Engerson

Pastor Jim Lester       Pete Ritsema

Tom Diekevers          Marc Wibalda

Steve Haan                Wes Wiersema

Don Koetje               Gary Beyer

Kevin Van Oordt      John Byl

Paul Dieterle             Aaron Denbow

Mike Mooney                        Brian Davis

Beth Schippers          Todd Hanson

Bruce Harder             Dan Peterman

Joann Koning

Bruce Wiers