H. Henry Williams

Monday Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

Happy Monday! Vikings won and the Packers didn’t lose, so we can all be happy. Yes, there are bigger and better reasons to be happy, but for us football fans, it’s a lot like people feel when you get a sunny day after a long run of cloudy ones.

I'm very excited about the launch of our campaign series. It really is, ultimately, about re-engaging or re-committing our hears to the mission of reconciliation.

If you missed the sermon this weekend, go here to listen to the message (get it on iTunes) or here to watch. You can print out the small group study here and complete it before attending your small group. You can also pick up the daily devotional at the church office between 9am and 3pm Monday through Thursday.

Here's the faith story from the weekend. Thank you, Dave and Alex!

[FOR] - Dave and Alex Geng from Five Oaks on Vimeo.

Here are most of your comments, observations and questions from the weekend Communication Cards.

• Great faith stories! Powerful message of a powerful Lord. [So thankful for how God has worked in their family. They were happy to be at the Men’s Retreat this weekend. It’s nerve-racking to watch yourself on video talking about your own life.]

• Pastor Henry, thanks for setting the stage in us for God’s mission.

• Amazing faith story!

• Love “deciders” vs. “Disciples”. [It's not original with me, but it's so true!]

• “Come to Me” – beautiful worship!

• Great message Henry! Great job Libby, Kara and Worship Team. [Yes, thank you worship team!]

• Bless you, Geng family! Reinforced how much I love my church! 

• Did you know Tim looks like that guy from SNL?! [Yep. Seth Meyers.] 

• Wow, what a fabulous message, very excited for this series. Thank you.

• Group Life (or church) also needs to have fellowship. Fun things to do as a family and with spouse. More than just study. [Here's a full answer for anyone who has the same question: We have loads of fun together as a church through our small groups. Still some people like yourself wish we did more all-church fun times for families or couples. There are a few reasons we don’t do more. For one, our small groups are so good at this that we don’t get big turnouts when we do. A big turnout isn’t everything, but it’s important when a staff member leads something like this (or oversees volunteers who lead it). They all have more responsibilities on their shoulders than they can actually do in any given week. So a social event needs to have a very strategic purpose. Second, all-church events need to have big appeal (that means they take a lot of time and energy) because most people are too busy to show up for simple potlucks these days, especially with a lot of people they don’t know (unlike small groups where they are doing life together). So, for example, we offer the winter Coffee House night because we think it’s a good thing in the middle of winter as an in-reach event. On the other hand, it has lost money over the last couple of years so we have to reevaluate it. All that said, just because a staff member can’t do it doesn’t mean one of our members can’t organize a social event and then get the word out. It will require several things: (1) Reserving space ahead of time; (2) getting the word out (you may be limited to personal invitations and social media since not all announcements make the cut to be put in the worship program); and (3) paying for an event coordinator if special equipment is needed or the event happens on an evening when the building is not already open (otherwise it’s free). We have a paid event coordinator for groups that want to use the building because staff members don’t have the time to come back in the evening, and we don’t want to burn out volunteers. Of course, an event doesn't have to be held at the church campus. Hope that helps. Email me if you have other questions about this. Thanks for asking.]

Thanks for all your comments and questions

Blessings,

Pastor Henry

The Vital Importance of Advance Commitments

Hi Five Oakers,

One crucial feature of the FOR [   ] campaign is the collection of Advance Commitments. These are not advance gifts but the earliest commitments letting us know what someone hopes to give toward the campaign over the next three years. 

There's a biblical precedent for this and you find it 1 Chronicles 29. David collected first from the leaders when he raised funds for the temple, then he announced their gifts to the rest of the people. The lead gifts encouraged the rest of the people.

Would you be willing to encourage others by making an advance commitment? (The total from the advance commitments will be shared on the day we hand out commitment cards to the entire congregation.)

Here's how you can make an advance commitment. Let me know you would like to, and someone will sit down with you, explain the details of the campaign and leave a commitment card with you. That's it. They will not collect the card or sell you anything. Information and some inspiration. That's it. You will send in the card. You can make a big difference by making an advance commitment.

Some of you have been invited to attend home visit training. I hope this helps you understand why it's important. Will you please RSVP and attend the training on Sunday? If you choose to do some home visits, you will simply sit with someone you know, share information and leave a commitment card. That's it.

Some of you wll be contacted for a home visit by someone you know to share information about the campaign and leave a card. That's it. When asked, please say yes. We're asking to meet with you because you are already invested in this ministry.

The FOR [    ] campaign starts this weekend! I really can't wait. See you on the weekend.

Blessings,

Pastor Henry

 

Wednesday Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

If you missed the campaign video, here it is. The campaign starts this weekend. We’re launching it because an estimated 20,000 people are moving in within a five-minute drive of our church campus. The campaign is about being ready for them. But, more importantly, it’s about engaging our hearts in our mission. It’s called the FOR [  ] campaign and this video is what it’s all about.

Here's the sermon Tim preached last weekend in 10 tweets: "Teaching the Heart," Titus 2:11-14.

1. How do we help our kids not just do the right things, but want the right things?  How do we help them have a heart for God?
2. In Titus 2:11, the grace of God 1) brings salvation, and 2) trains us.
3. A heart for God must be trained by the grace of God.
4. Our kids need to experience God's grace through us as we teach them.  Not just in John 3:16, but in the 10 Commandments and David/Goliath as well.
5. We're born legalists, from NHL players to kids lining up at school. Our hearts don't respond to the law, but to grace.
6. Our kids need to experience God's grace from us in how we relate to them.
7. Scolding, embarrassing, scaring, or bribing work for a while, but they're the opposite of what Paul is saying trains the heart.
8. Our kids need to experience God's grace at work in us.
9. I don't always know how to practice what I'm preaching. But I don't have to be the expert. God's power is made perfect in my weakness.
10. You can't lead a kid to a place you haven't been. The first step in showing grace to our kids is accepting God's grace in our own lives.

Looking forward to seeing you on the weekend!

Blessings, Pastor Henry

Tuesday Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

I’ve got TEN things I want to share with you today.

#1 – The Journeymen Ministry (our Men’s Ministry) Hearts & Hammers event last weekend wowed everyone involved. Over 40 guys (young and old) painted the house and did the landscaping of someone in need last Saturday and they were done in by 2pm! Amazing. That’s a great testament not only to the men who worked hard and the amount of men who showed up; it’s a testament to the leaders, Scott Halverson and Adam Igl. It’s really hard to coordinate 40 people working all at once like that. Way to go! Check out more pictures the Journeymen website here. Great to see so many dads bring their sons.

#2 – One of our members and small group leaders has been focusing on bringing Christ to his workplace through simple spiritual conversations (applying some of the stuff from the Mission of God series) and now that has morphed into a Bible study at work with about five of his colleagues!  

#3 – The VBS kids raised enough money during VBS to sponsor 4 kids at the orphanage in Haiti and we just received the names and pictures: Judson, Jasmine, Stanley, and Dada (pictured below, in order). For new folks, our church funded and sent teams to build the orphanage in partnership with GVCM, led by Yves Prophet. We still help support the workers wages there each year out of our Impact funds.

#4 – Your small group leaders were in training on Sunday (or the Sunday before). Thank them for taking the time to grow their leadership skills and heart. They are there at small group every week and they are prepared. You bless them when you make small group a priority and come prepared

#5 – I’m experiencing something tonight. Kari Ennulat (First Impressions Director) is holding an Ushers teleconference at 8pm tonight for some training and inspiration. I get to play a small part.

#6 – Fusion (Wednesday evening high school ministry) had their Lumberjack Extravaganza last Wednesday. Here are pictures of some of the leaders gearing up for the party.

#7- We were doing some filming for a campaign video and the videographer used a drone with a super high definition video camera on it. Here are a couple of stills from the shoot. Can’t wait to see the finished product.

#8- The Story of God team is assembled and preparing for the group that starts next Tuesday. If you haven’t yet registered, go here. If you want more information, email me.

#9- The Village Schools of the Bible class had 23 people in it last week! Story of God on steroids.

#10- Campaign devotional books written by Group Life team members arrived today. Distribution this weekend. First day devotional starts on Monday. Don't miss it.

Blessings, Pastor Henry

Monday Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

It was great to have Tim preaching this weekend, especially with this subject. He's in the middle of it all right now, and he has the added perspective of an experienced youth pastor.

Here are most of your comments, observations and questions from the weekend Communication Cards.

• Great teaching – will be watching it MANY times again! Thanks Tim. [I loved it, too!]

• Loved the music – especially “I Need You” – beautiful. [Couldn’t agree more! Many thanks to the worship team.]

• I really think this is the best message I’ve seen Tim give – great delivery Tim!

• Thank you! Great sermon, needed it! 

• Thanks for your honesty regarding your parenting Tim. It’s an encouragement to know that even men of God as you and Pastor Henry have dealt or deal with the struggles of parenting as some of us do.

• Great sermon, Tim! Passion-filled music! Does Dunkin Donuts make gluten-free donuts? Thank you Jesus.

• Love hymns!

• Thank you Henry and Tim for a great series on parenting – things I know we needed to learn and be reminded of. 

• Great message, Tim! For how we treat our kids and all others!

• Great worship set, very surrendering. Tim and Henry, part of great parenting is allowing kids to see our mortality. It doesn’t make them feel as failures when they are parents. Thank God for hourly grace. 

• Tim, loved your real life examples and how your inserted humor throughout the message. It’s reassuring that we don’t have to be experts and you are experiencing the same things we are. [That was Kara’s line about not needing to be experts. And Tim had the wisdom to repeat it.]

• Loved “Lord I Need You” and “How Marvelous” ending! 

• Loved worship today! Many thanks to Legend for helping leading, so inspiring! 

• The string art staging looks awesome. I’m finally sitting in a spot where I can see it all. It’s so cool! Kudos! 

• Wonderful sermon Tim. It’s not about behavior, the real aim is the hart. That happens when we experience God’s grace ourselves, then share it with our kids. Transparency can be frightening, but that’s where transformation by the Holy Spirit occurs. God is so good in spite of our failings.

• Really, really beautiful worship sets. Tim, love how you set-up the message with a quick review of the previous two weeks. Tremendous message Tim, tremendous series. Nice solo. 

• Thank you to all the volunteers who take time out of their busy schedules to serve in the church. Often the volunteers fly under the radar, but are so essential in making thins run smoothly every weekend. [Amen!]

• Thanks for putting the titles of the songs in the worship program.

• Great series! I wish it was longer. [It will be since we’ll come back to it throughout this ministry year. We also have our parenting conference coming up this winter/spring. You’ll hear more about that later.]

• I noticed that the prayer web is gone, too bad. [It will be back. It’s one of the stations we change out.]

• We are moving from Woodbury to Champaign, IL on 10/22/13 and regret having to leave the membership of the church. Blessings. [God bless you as you move in and settle into a new home and community.]

Thanks for all your comments and questions.

Blessings,

Pastor Henry

Wednesday Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

Every Wednesday the Elders meet at 6:30am to pray through all the prayer requests from the weekend. Our Prayer Team and the Staff Leadership also pray through all but the designated Elder requests during the week. I think we received more prayer requests this last weekend than I've ever seen, and I don't know why. But I want you all to know that we are praying for you. And I continue praying through all of them in my own daily quiet time.

Here's the sermon from last weekend in 10 tweets: "The Heart of a Parent," Deuteronomy 6:5-9, Galatians 5:22, Hosea 11.

1. God has no grandchildren. Children have to choose to become Christians. But parents can be the greatest factor in helping them choose God.
2. You lead best when your heart burns brightest for God.
3. “Teach them diligently.” Love God with all your heart. Let his word be on your heart. Then you will teach from your heart.
4. When you lead your kids with a heart that burns brightest for God, you will be a Steward Leader. Your kids ultimately belong to God.
5. It’s not about what you want out of your kids; it’s about seeking what God wants for them.
6. When your heart burns brightest for God, you will be a Joyful Leader. Condoleezza Rice: “No one wants to follow a sour puss.”
7. Joy is a crucial fruit for spiritual leadership. Your faith will be more compelling when your home is marked by fun and laughter.
8. You will a Reflecting Leader. They get a taste of what it means to live under God’s parental leadership.
9. God is not a permissive parent. Every threat of wrath against his wayward children came down on himself on the cross.
10. God’s loving parental leadership took him all the way to the cross. We reflect that love to our kids the more we reflect on his love for us.

This weekend we talk about teaching the heart. Invite a friend who needs to hear about God’s grace.

Blessings, Pastor Henry

Tuesday Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

I’ve got four things I want to share with you today. 

#1 – This weekend is our last week (for now) of the “To Raise a Family” series. The subject is “Teaching the Heart.” We’ll be talking about making God’s grace our curriculum.

#2 – This weekend is not the final week of the series. I plan to return to it at least two or three times throughout the year. Most likely on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, but maybe one or two other times.

#3 – We launch our “For” campaign series the following weekend (September 28/29). On that weekend we will be distributing a daily devotional book written by several members of our Group Life team and me. We need you there for the launch of this series, and we’d love for you to start on the devotional on the very next day.

#4 – The “For” campaign is based on John 3:16—“For God so loved.” Campaigns at Five Oaks are about spiritual growth, but the “capital” portion of the campaign includes raising funds for three areas of ministry.

FOR Land [Expanding our local ministry capacity]

We are raising funds to pay for 9.5 acres adjacent to the south side of our property. We want to be good stewards of the future. As an estimated 20K people move within a 5-minute drive of the campus, we want to be ready. This purchase accounts for the majority of the money we need to raise, and we want to pay for the land without incurring any long-term debt.

FOR Impact [Extending our global ministry reach]

Part of the money raised will be dedicated to global Impact so we can extend our reach over and above the annual Impact budget. We are still weighing our options, so more information is forthcoming, but our criteria include working with existing ministry partners and a hands-on opportunity for serving within this project.

FOR Ministry [Empowering our church’s ministry potential]

If you’ve seen the upgrades to the Children’s wing, you can imagine what our designer is planning for weekend Children’s ministry in the CLC. He is also working on information kiosks and wall displays that tell our story of local and global impact. Our offices are over capacity and need an upgrade. The furniture is about 30 years old (it was used when it was donated to us in 1999). And we need to strategically staff for future growth.

We'll have a lot more details when the campaign starts in two weeks, but for now, please commit to join us for this five-week journey. Pray for God's continued direction, empowering and guidance.

Blessings,

Pastor Henry

Monday Memo

Hi Five Oakers,

Every week I print almost every comment on the Communication Cards. The ones we don’t print (one or two per month) are still seen and noted by our leaders in an email they receive with all the comments listed. Some comments are simply better to respond to personally.

Why post comments? There are some potential down sides. But here are some of the up sides:

• People who are checking out our church often check out my blog and they see your comments. I hardly buy anything these days without first checking what other people say about it. I look specifically at what they say because sometimes their complaint is exactly what I would like about a product or service (e.g., “the food was too spicy” would attract me to a restaurant!). And I never trust the comments if they’re all positive.

• You get to see how hard it is to please everyone. Devious, I know, but when you see someone say the music was too loud and another person say it was just right or not loud enough, I get to welcome you to my world.

• So many of the comments are encouraging. Volunteers do most of the work on the weekend and it feeds their hearts.

• Many of the comments are instructive or insightful for ministry.

• When we print negative comments, it communicates our genuineness and willingness to be vulnerable. But if criticism is directed toward something a volunteer was doing, I usually don’t print it.

• It provides a great opportunity for me to respond when I think it would be helpful—to explain something, encourage volunteers and staff, celebrate, etc. Sometimes I’m dying to respond to a criticism, and I don’t because I can’t find a way to say what I want to say without sounding defensive and shutting down future criticism. Sometimes it’s good just to listen.

Here are most of your comments, observations and questions from the weekend Communication Cards:

• Thanks for staying true to the word of God – such a great witness! 

• Am recommitting to influencing my young adult children for God. 

• Great message today. Thank you! 

• Great message today, well done Henry. 

• Love this sermon series! Awesome guidance, awesome music. [I agree on the music, but you have no idea what we’ve had to overcome the last two weekends. Week one of the series, one of our speakers blew out before the service. Only one comment was made about loudness, but it was louder than usual because of that fact. This week we had major challenges because our settings on the sound board were effected when the speaker was fixed. Each service got better, but it was very challenging. On top of all that, our keyboard player got sick and couldn’t make it for Sunday! I don’t even remember that happening before. So kudos to the sound folks for all they did to overcome over the last two weeks.]

• I’m renewing my commitment to Christ to show the joy that’s mine through the H.S. to all God’s children. 

• Loving this series! Thank you!

• Nice job, in opening worship set and for the beautiful set up to the Lord’s prayer. Loved the message on parenting, again, and the challenge at the end. Loved closing set. [Two people made a first-time decision to follow Christ on the weekend! Thanks for all your Colossians 4:4 prayers.]

• Wonderful worship tonight. 

• Henry, thank you! This series helps me a lot. 

• Thank you, Lord, for Five Oaks Church. 

• Was blessed by today’s message, especially in OT where you mentioned your wife’s observation that God seemed to be a permissive parent, but in actuality He fulfilled all His threats/judgments by taking it upon Himself in Jesus! Oh how great His love!

• Dan – “White as Snow” always chokes me up, but today was phenomenal. 

• Great job on the Children’s wing! What a difference! [Everybody needs to get down there and take a look. And just wait until the new carpeting goes into the Children’s wing! One of the Campaign goals is to upgrade the weekend look of the CLC for Children weekend ministry. Big challenge because it has to be portable, but we have the same designer working on a plan for that space.]

• Love the new set! 

• Thanks for the storybook Bible. We’ve been reading a story every night at dinner. It’s been amazing. [I love how every story specifically points to Christ.]

• Can you emphasize that the dad should be the spiritual leader in the family? [Thanks for the comment. I love what Stephen Kendrick said when he was here for the big men’s event. One guy asked him about this. The guy said something about how his wife is such a strong spiritual leader in their home that he doesn’t know how to take over the leadership. Stephen said, “Don’t ask your wife to stand down. You need to start stepping up.” Some guys need that kick in the pants, I know. Personally, I don’t think the issue is who is in charge. The bigger issue for me is that too many men are disengaged from spiritual leadership in their homes and need to get off the sidelines. Calling them to move from disengagement to becoming THE leader seems to be counterproductive, especially if they've ignored this area of their lives and have no idea what godly leadership looks like (here's a clue: it never means getting your own way and always means sacrifice). Our Men’s Ministry is doing a GREAT job at challenging and equipping guys to step up and engage in spiritual leadership. And I hope I’m doing the same thing in my sermons.]

Thanks to you all for your comments and questions.

Blessings,

Pastor Henry

Have you checked out our new Five Oaks website?

If not, go and do a little exploring here. While you're there, "like" us on Facebook if you haven't already. 

Wednesday Memo

 

Hi Five Oakers,

Here's the sermon from last weekend in 10 tweets: "The Heart of a Child," Genesis 1:26-27.

1. Jim Gaffigan: Sometimes I feel unqualified to be a parent and I call those times ‘awake.’
2. Don’t you worry you’re doing damage to your kids? I worried…and I did do damage. I was unqualified. Too much anger with one; too easy on the other.
3. All-important, crucial basic: Kids are made in the image of God. What are the implications?
4. You’re not just launching them into the world; you’re launching them into eternity. Do you feel qualified for that? Do you dare do it alone?
5. Lois and I needed and got your help launching Distracticon into eternity.
6. There is no other institution out there dedicated to helping you launch your kids into eternity.
7. Everyone seeks glory. Kids are created for God’s glory—not yours as a parent and theirs. Glory: Live for people to say, “Wow, God!”
8. Sally Lloyd-Jones: When God says, “Glorify me!”, he’s really saying, “Be filled with Joy!” Inviting us into his Forever Happiness.
9. You love your kids best when you love God most. But not by loving them less, but by growing deeper love for God.
10. Don’t train them to seek glory in themselves or their own kids by living giving them the attention, worship and adoration that only God deserves.

Another big weekend to invite as we look more closely at the role of parents and adults in raising kids who seek God’s glory.

Blessings, Pastor Henry