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Monday Morning Update

September 13, 2010 in Small Groups, Thoughts with 0 Comments

Dear Friends,

“WOW! AWESOME! GREAT! I’M PUMPED UP!” Are the catch words I’m hearing back from small group leaders and small group members with yesterday’s launch of Life’s Healing Choices Spiritual Growth Campaign.

In my 20 years as pastor at Eastside, I have never seen so many people at Eastside juiced about what God is doing. Here are some examples of the excitement….

From a church member via text message: “It feels like my life is about to explode with all the things God is doing in my life, my family, my relationships. I know it’s God…..I have to share with someone before I explode with all this abundant joy….Christ is unbelievable.”

From a church attender: “There is no other way to live then to live for God. Why do we leave Him behind and seek to do life without Him? I am foolish to seek to live my life apart from God. Please pray for me.”

From a small group leader: “Our small group experience was AWESOME! God’s presence was felt.”

From another small group leader: “God is unbelievable. We had 18 adults to show up and we still have more coming…..wow!”

Friends, it is not to late to get into a small group. If you would like to get involved in a small group then please contact Greg Gillum, Eastside’s Small Group Pastor, at ggillum@eastside-baptist.com or at 979-4723.

God has great things in store for us. Stay faithful. Be obedient. Love God and love others.

I love you guys,

Pastor VG

PS Helen Wells passed away yesterday at UK Hospital in Lexington. Ms. Helen was a faithful 20 year member of Eastside. More details forthcoming.

God is AWESOME!

September 7, 2010 in Small Groups, Thoughts with 0 Comments

Dear Friends,

God is really AWESOME! Anticipation is really at an all time high here at Eastside with Sunday’s launch of Life’s Healing Choices Spiritual Campaign. All the prayers, planning, fasting, and hard work is really paying off in the sense that God is moving in a mighty way.

Here are some of what God is doing…

  • Over 100 new small group members have signed up for this spiritual campaign. WOW! A lot of these individuals are either not a Christian or not active in any church.
  • 13 new small groups are starting.
  • Christians at Eastside are taking BIG risks and inviting their neighbors and friends to this life changing small group study.
  • Christians are opening up their homes like never before to reach their neighbors and friends for Christ. Way to go Eastsiders!

Couple of NEED to KNOW ITEMS:

1. It’s not to late to join a small group. Click here to see the list of small groups to chose from.

2. You need to purchase your small group materials quickly…we only have a limit amount of small group materials left. Small Group Workbook (to take notes) are $5.00 each and Life’s Healing Choices Book are $7.00 each.

3. If you need help in choosing a small group then please contact Greg Gillum at ggillum@eastside-baptist.com or at 979-4723.

DON”T MISS the KICK-OFF to LIFE’S HEALING CHOICES this Sunday, September 12, 2010 at 10:50 am.

Love and Prayers,

Pastor V

WOW! HOLY COW!

August 26, 2010 in Small Groups, Thoughts with 0 Comments

Dear Friends,

HOLY COW! WOW! PUMPED! JUICED! CRAZY! Are some of the words that comes to my mind as I am praying for our upcoming launch of Life’s Healing Choices! Here are some reasons why I am pumped, juiced….

  • Eastside’s new Small Group Pastor, Greg Gillum and his family. Everyone at Eastside has really been very complimentary and affirming of these additions to our church family.
  • 45 new small group members have already signed up to join a Life’s Healing Choices Small Group.
  • 11 new small groups are making preparations to launch the week of September 12th. Looking for a small group? Small Groups List to learn more about the various groups.
  • Church-wide prayer time for our upcoming launch on Wednesday, September 1st. Please join us.

Welcome to our fellowship Mary Carol & Chad Tate. They are joining our church family.

Blessings,

Pastor VG

Priority #2

February 23, 2010 in Featured, Small Groups with 0 Comments

For the last several months the elders at Eastside has requested your prayers as we seek the Lord’s face as to what the church’s priorities should be for the upcoming days. After much prayer and thought we are ready to go public with the priorities. Thank you for all your prayers. Your prayers are still needed. Please keep on praying for us.

Yesterday I shared the first of three initiatives as set out by the Elders of Eastside. If you missed yesterday’s post then click here to read the article.

Priority #2: Small Group Ministry:

  • To have more people in small groups then we have in worship. Spiritual transformation happens best in a small group Bible Study setting.
  • To start 15 new small groups by the end of the 2010.  We would like to see more families start new small groups in their neighborhood/subdivision. We are encouraging families to be Jesus to those in their neighborhood/subdivision. 
  • Conduct a Fall Campaign (Life’s Healing Choices:  an 8-week spiritual growth campaign based on The Beatitudes. Help people find freedom from hurts, hang-ups, and habits) as a connecting point to help us with our goal of 15 new small groups.
  • In 2011 have two campaigns as connecting points (February and September).
  • Change the 2010 Summer Small Group Schedule for more opportunities for serving and fellowshipping (more information coming soon!).
  • Mobilize small group coaches for greater impact with small group leaders and small group H.O.S.T.s.

Later this week, I will share the last initiative or priority #3.

Blessings!

Pastor VG

Small Group Ministry News

October 15, 2009 in Small Groups with 0 Comments

Eastside’s New Small Group Ministry Logo

Eastside’s New Small Group Ministry Logo

As Eastside continues to strive to be a church of small groups rather than a church with small groups, we are continuing to look for ways to make this ministry even more effective.

Are you involved in a small group? If not, I would encourage you to join one today.

Here is Eastside’s Small Group Ministry New Logo (see below). Belong, Become, Bless are the three words that describes what small groups are all about at Eastside. Small groups are a place for people tobelong, to develop spiritual friendships, to have a safe place to share, to know and to be known. Become is all about becoming more like Jesus in every arena of our lives. Bless is the mindset of blessing everyone we come into contact with. Bless is about living missional each day.

Check out Eastside’s New Small Group Leader’s Resource Center byclicking here.