H. Henry Williams

Mid-Week Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

There are several things I want to share with you today.

#1 – Get a recap of the weekend services with highlights of our prayers, readings and songs here.

#2 – Here are your comments/questions from the Communication Cards:

• Great worship music today.[I loved it! Especially the new song with the hand motions. It was great having the elementary and middle school kids with us in the service.]
• Enjoyed the message, Henry!
• Great message. Great worship! Love the new song! 
• New coffee is good, and cause it is good.
• It would be refreshing to have the first third of the service, contain some variety – i.e. – drama, ministry highlight, (scripture reading from Bible). For those here each week it is so predictable/redundant with the same announcements. [I’m assuming you mean the explanation of the service order at the end of Preparation since that’s the only element that doesn’t change each week (i.e., the songs and Scripture readings are different each week). But I’m not sure. Anyway, the explanation doesn't vary much and is needed to put our own members at ease regarding guests (that’s the feedback we received a while back), as much as it is needed for the guests themselves (i.e., so they understand the response time). But maybe you meant something else. Unfortunately I sent you an email for clarification too late for this post. I look forward to hearing from you and thanks for your feedback.]
• Responsive reading (group reading) is more difficult without punctuation, (commas,) especially where there is a pause in the middle of a line; spelling is important too. This morning’s was difficult. It would help me speak out with a bit more confidence knowing I wouldn’t keep reading into a break and being the only one speaking. [Thanks for the feedback on this. I find that some weeks are harder to follow along than others.]

#3 – We received two comments back from the cards we send to first-time guests:

• 5/20 – I wish the congregation was more willing to raise their arms/hands while singing.  Too shy I guess, huh?
• 5/20 – We enjoyed the service.  All people were very welcoming.

#4 – The Spain short-term mission team has wrapped up its preparation meetings. Pray for the effectiveness of their mission as they serve at L'Arcada Camp.

#5 – The “Finding Faith” movie and its star Erik Estrada will be at Five Oaks on June 7^th. The movie is free. Check out the trailer. (If you receive this post by email, you will need to go to my website to see it.)

#6 – You’ll have an opportunity this weekend to get more information on who we support through our missions giving. You won’t be able to miss it.

#7 – Challenge for adults. That’s what I call the Global Leadership Summit. It’s for adults what the national Challenge conference is for our youth. It’s the best conference I go to every year. And because of the size group we send to the Summit, we get a very special price. Don’t forget to register soon before the price increases.

#8 - We completed another 8-week session of Story of God. Great group! 29% improvement overall on post-test from the pre-test on Bible knowledge. But that's not what Story of God is about. It's about being able to understand God's Word so that you can get more out of it when you read it or are taught it. And that's important so you can know God better and love him more deeply. The Word transforms our minds as we not only know God better but also understand our world and ourselves better. Is there someone you can bring to the Story of God fall session? Someone who is hungry for God but doesn't know him well or at all?

#9 – Here’s the message in 10 Tweets (“At Work and at Play” in the Mission of God series):

1. God not only custom-makes us for his mission, he custom-places us where he wants us for his mission.
2. You have been placed by God where you work and play for his mission.
3. Colossians 3:17 – Do everything as a representative of the Lord Jesus.
4. Our mission at work is diverse: produce something useful, do work well, reflect God’s character, help others.
5. Non-Christians can be motivated for different reasons to do all the above. But only Christians can be Christ’s reps at work & at play.
6. And only you can personally witness to what God has done in your life.
7. Your witness can impact someone’s eternity.
8. Imagine meeting someone in eternity that you helped to find God!
9. Do you believe there are people around you who are hungry for the gospel? (Mt 9:35-36).
10. You need a platform. “I’ll pray for you” or “I’m going to Bible study" can open doors to spiritual conversations.

See you on the weekend!

Blessings, Pastor Henry

Mid-Week Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

There are several things I want to share with you today.

#1 – Get a recap of the weekend service with highlights of our prayers, readings and songs here.

#2 – Here are your comments/questions from the Communication Cards:

• Great new guitar player. Invite him back! 
• Dan, folk’s really nice job today with the music. Awesome way to prepare our hearts for the message. Great message and video of a long term mission project. Great closing worship set.
• Great music – wow!! Still miss the dramas! 
• Nice music behind Dan’s wonderful prayer. Powerful video! Praise God for people caring.
• Thank you for such a spirit filled message and time of worship. 
• What an amazing message on my purpose in this life – troubles or not – and that I (and everyone) really do count for the kingdom – an excellent reminder for me.

#3 – Here’s the message in 10 Tweets (“Going and Sending” in the Mission of God series):

1. If you are saved, you are sent. Jesus: "As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world."
2. Glory means substantive, weighty, something that matters.
3. To glorify means to make a big deal. We are called to make a big deal about Jesus.
4. Jesus: “I am gloried if my followers.”
5. The motivation for our missionary venture begins a the intersection of truth and love.
6. Truth without love looks like Puddy on Seinfeld. Elaine: “If you love me you should be trying to save me!”
7. If you’ve ever recommended something to help someone, you were doing missionary work. We only disagree on the solution.
8. We do missionary work for Christ by sending, supporting and going.
9. Wherever we go, we go for Christ.
10. Hector and Gary video.

Blessings, Pastor Henry

Mid-Week Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

There are several things I want to share with you today.

#1 – Get a recap of the Easter service with highlights of our prayers, readings and songs here.

#2 – Our worship leader search is completed! See the previous posting on this blog.

#3 – We tried something new last weekend. Jake Eyler, our Care Ministry Director, preached the message at the Saturday service and Tim preached on Sunday. Both messages were on the same passage and in our Mission of God series. Jake is student at Bethel Seminary and previously served in a church about the size of Five Oaks in Manhattan Kansas, so he has a little more preaching experience than your average seminarian. The plan is to have Jake preach his next message a few months from now in one of the Sunday services. This gives all of us a stake in his development as a pastor and preacher.

#4 – Tim’s sermon on Sunday was powerful. If you missed it, you can listen to it or watch it here.

#5 – Hey Saturday nighters, we'll be offering free snacks and coffee before and after the Saturday service during the summer. Food, Fun and Fellowship! If you would like some information on how you can help with this ministry during the summer, email me. And don't forget: service time changes to 6:00pm starting June 1.

#6 – Here’s comment from the cards we send to first-time guests:

4/9  Great experience thus far.  One suggestion would be to have Pastor Henry greet folks as they’re leaving the sanctuary each Sunday.

#7 – Here’s a ministry opportunity for an individual, family or small group. This is from Pastor Larry Willman of Payne Avenue Free Church, an urban church in St. Paul. Please prayerfully consider this request. If you can help or you want more information, let me know.

I have an opportunity for some mature believers to use their gifts in a city neighborhood setting this summer.

For a number of reasons, we’re looking for some temporary help in worship leading, adult Sunday School teaching, & summer Wed night Bible Study leading (for a Men’s Group & a Women’s Group). 

Would you pray about it & see if God has anyone come to your mind that is mature & has some good things to teach/share in those above areas and who would be open to a “cross-cultural” experience where they could serve this summer.

We are open to creative options as well.

#8 – Here are your comments/questions from the Communication Cards:

Saturday Comments:

• Thanks for the worship. Terrific message, testifying to what’s real. Great closing set folks. Thanks.  [I agree. Jake did a great job.]
• Nice to see/hear Daniel back on stage. Great job Jake! Loved the “closet” illustration. Illustrations, such as dramas, help cement the sermon in the mind. BRING BACK DRAMA’S.
• I love child dedications. Dan the Piano-man! We want more piano! [He chose to do all piano on Sunday. Maybe he read your comment.]

Sunday Comments:

• Thanks Tim for sharing your vulnerable heart. Your story will bring hope to many. [Absolutely. You could have heard a pin drop.]
• Thanks for your courage to share your story, Tim! 
• Thank you for the testimony. Wow!
• Thank you for sharing, Tim. This was a powerful message. God is speaking to me. 
• It seems like we’re in a time of double standards with tolerance. We are expected to tolerate the lifestyles of others, but it’s not tolerated to share our belief. It’s frightening to know what to do. 
• Tim, thank you for making yourself vulnerable to model for all of us about taking the real personal stuff we deal with and allowing God to work in spite of us. I appreciate it. God works thru humbleness. Thanks. 
• Tim, thanks for being REAL! 
• Thank you Tim. 
• Thank you, Tim, for trusting God as you witnessed and shared with the church God’s powerful grace in your life.
• Thank you for sharing Tim. God is sooo good! He has prepared you to reach so many lives for Him! 
• Tim, thank you for sharing and opening yourself to us. God is using you to impact lives and draw people to him. God bless you and your family. Great job worship team! Sounded great. 
• Tim, thank you so much for sharing such a personal struggle. May God use it in mighty ways. You are a wonderful witness!
• Thanks for sharing your personal experiences Tim! It can be hard, but can also help others. 

#9 – We have a great video faith story for this weekend’s message. You won’t want to miss it.  

Blessings, Pastor Henry

Worship Leader Search Completed!

Here's an email message we sent to our church family earlier today.

Dear Five Oaks Family,

I’m very happy to inform you that we have completed the search for a worship leader! The result is different than we expected when we first set out, but we are confident God is leading us in this direction. It will be a good fit for Five Oaks, and I am excited to see it unfold.

First, we have decided to move forward with a Worship Leader team approach. Joining our team is Jeremy Sanoski. As you may remember, Jeremy led worship three weekends ago and in February. Or you may remember him from this year’s Coffee House. He will begin his new role at Five Oaks starting in September and will lead worship approximately half of the weekends throughout the year. Jeremy loves what we are doing at Five Oaks and is eager to help us accomplish our mission through our worship services. In addition to his service at Five Oaks, Jeremy already has an active music ministry in the Twin Cities and on a national stage with Go Fish.

Second, Dan Lukas will move to the front lines of our worship ministry, leading our worship band members and vocalists and leading worship approximately half of the weekends. Dan will continue to serve on our staff executive team and as the overall director of the Worship Arts staff and ministry, as he has since the fall of 2011.

Third, we are on a search for a Fusion worship leader who will not only lead the high school band but will also disciple and develop the students who serve on that team. This will be a paid, part-time position and we appreciate any leads you can send us.

Lastly, I want to offer special thanks to the folks who served on our search team for their time, the intensity of their prayers, their love for the church and the feedback they gave us as we pondered this decision. Thanks also to all of you who joined us in prayer during this search.

There’s a lot more I could say, but I’ll give you a chance to ask your questions and address the more frequent ones on my blog. So email me your comments or questions.

Blessings,

Pastor Henry

Mid-Week Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

There are several things I want to share with you today.

#1 – Our staff leadership team just came back from three days of planning for our next ministry year beginning in September. My favorite things from our retreat:

• An extended time of prayer thanking God for what he has done over the last three years as we’ve been working on what we call the Transformation Agenda.
• Just being together. I think we all enjoy each other’s company a lot.
• Playing Catan every evening and making fun of the non-Cataners as they played cards without keeping score. Playing cards is great, but not keeping score?
• Getting Jerry to play his first game of Catan and watching him win big and get hooked.Beginners luck, Jerry.
• Having some vigorous, passionate discussions and knowing we’re still friends.

#2 – I’m so thankful for MN Adult and Teen Challenge.Transformed lives!

#3 – Seemed like about half of the folks at Teen Challenge need mentors, judging by the hands I saw go up on Saturday evening. Here’s information about mentoring.

#4 – Here’s the powerful story of Five Oakers Dan and Heather Hanson from Fox 9. Don't miss this! And pass it on to others. (If you get this via email, you may need to go to my blog site to see the video. Click on the title above.)

KMSP-TV

#5 – Here are your comments/questions from the Communication Cards:

• Thank you for today’s service. Our son is a graduate of Teen Challenge and is doing great. It’s a wonderful faith based program, the only one that worked.
• Wow. Can’t tell you how much it means to me to be here, witnessing Teen Challenge. God saved me from my addictions. This hit so close to home. Thank you.
• Thank you for having MN Adult and Teen Challenge here today. So powerful. I never grow tired of hearing God’s story of redemption in the lives of others.
• God Bless MN Adult & Teen Challenge. 
• Thank you for this impactful day! May God bless MNTC!  
• Does Teen Challenge use drama as therapy or for performances? Curious. [I don’t know. Check it out online.]
• Thank you, MN Adult & Teen Challenge. 
• Inspiring stories – God has custom made their missions to impact others. 
• Awesome – real moving! 
• Thank you to the men of Teen Challenge for being so free to share the love of the Lord to us today. (We are free at last) because of Christ.  [This is from a Saturday night attendee. I think it was all men or, at least, all men who shared.]
• Thank you to all the people who came today – it takes great courage to stand up in front of a group of people and showcase your sins and shortcomings! This is such a great example of how powerful God’s love and strength is. When we come before him and accept his grace, we can withstand anything this world places in our path!
• Great event! Thanks for reminding us how challenging life can be – and that all things are possible with Christ! 
• Very moving hearing the testimonies from the people from Adult and Teen Challenge. Jesus can and will help us to overcome! Amen! 
• Thank you for bringing MNTC! Awesome. 
• Wow! Thank you Henry for this – it was amazing! 
• Darn you guys, no Kleenex…thanks for the special heartwarming service.

#6 – This week’s message takes an interesting approach on what it means to share your faith with others, as we continue our Mission of God series. All I can say is it has something to do with a wardrobe.

Blessings, Pastor Henry

Mid-Week Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

There are several things I want to share with you today.

#1 – Get a recap of the Easter service with highlights of our prayers, readings and songs here.

#2 – From everything I’m hearing, the Sunday morning parenting workshop was a big success. 274 parents and children attended.

Here are some of the “aha moments” listed on the evaluation forms:

• I'm an intense mom raising an intense child!!!!
• Control is not developing Godly behavior
• Seeing how my children saw themselves in God's eyes
• There are ways to discipline without controlling
• Conflict=my sin running into someone else's sin
• How do you calm yourself down.  James 1:19,20
• Not focus on compliance but development
• The “You Are Commandments”
• Making me aware of the message I send my kids, my own selfish or maybe time/agenda gets in the way
• Distinguishing behaviors and beliefs so that we can put the thumbprint of God in their lives

#3 – This coming weekend is all about personal stories of lives changed by God as MN Adult & Teen Challenge comes to Five for all three services. Who can you invite to this event? Remember, think of families who are struggling with drugs, alcohol or other addictions.

#4 – Here are your comments/questions from the Communication Cards:

• Love Jeremy! Very spirit filled worship today. [I agree. Thank you Jeremy for guest leading again this past weekend. You’re a joy up front and behind the scenes. And great job to the band and vocalists. You led us well.]
• Enjoyed praise and worship – thanks. A sermon that spoke directly to us – Kansas misses you, Henry! [Great having our friends from Kansas visiting. Threw me off part way into the message when I saw them.]
• Love the series, Henry! Thanks! 
• What a great worship set. Really felt lead in song and word – thanks. Loved the message and worship.
• Henry, thank you so much for your message and for helping me to see God’s will for my life so clearly. 
• Loved the worship.
• Great worship.
• Henry – great presentation of the character of God! Touching message.
• For what it’s worth, the worship leader this weekend was awesome. We hope to see him again!
• Really like the young man doing the music.
• Jeremy! Can we hire him? He is awesome….
• Awesome job today bandleader! 
• Pastor Henry – while in NYC last week, I was able to make it to the WTC Memorial and am happy to report that the “Survivor Tree” is alive and well. [Very cool!!!]
• Fantastic worship music today! 
• Hire this guy.
• The guest worship leader is great.
• I am continually impressed – when someone brings it like Jeremy brought it, how do people stand still? 
• Loved the worship set. 
• Another awesome message and sermon. I get so much of what I need spiritually, from our church every week. For direction, and guidance, to face my life of sobriety and overcoming my addictions. God’s grace is so wonderful, and it all starts here – for me – every week.
• Can we please have him as our worship leader? 
• Really enjoyed music this week!
• I like the worship leader! 
• Awesome praise leader today – Jeremy! 

#5 – Our Staff Leadership Team is off to our annual planning retreat Sunday afternoon through Wednesday. Pray for wisdom and discernment for us.

#6 - Here’s the sermon in 10 Tweets, “Fashion Statement,” Jeremiah 13:1-11, Week 4 of Mission of God series:

1. God wants to make a fashion statement and you are big part of that statement.
2. According to Jeremiah 13, "God wants to wear his people" (Chris Wright)
3. God's people will help turn the world to him when they admire what God has done for them and in them.
4. God wants to wear his people & for the nations to notice and say, "You look great!"
5. Are you making God look good?
6. You make God look good when you live like he calls you & designed you to live.
7. You won't be perfect but do people look at you & think, "There's someone whose faith makes a difference in how he lives."
8. You make God look good by doing good. “…let ur light shine before others so see ur good works and give glory…” (Jesus)
9. Christians response to 2^nd & 3^rd century plagues major catalyst for growth of Christianity. Made God look good by doing good.
10. Tripp: "This weekend u took a step into darkness… I'm pleading with u, live in the light." Son: "I want to. It's so hard. Will u help me?

I’m thankful for all of you and pray for you. Hope to see you on the weekend.

Blessings, Pastor Henry