Weekly Update | October 12, 2023
Noticing New Church Members
Dmitriy Zherebnenkov
Dear GFC,
Last week we were able to rejoice together and thank God for His faithfulness in caring for our local church. And we also can’t forget to mention the very important bringing in of new members to the church. Find an opportunity to notice the new members and show them some special attention and love. Below you will find a few practical steps that you can take.
1) Invite them to your home. This is a wonderful way to get to know them, pray together, and perhaps answer any of their questions (1 Pet. 4:9).
2) Ask them about their needs so that you could potentially help where you can or at a minimum begin praying regularly for them. At the bottom of this letter you will find their photos and names.
3) Invite them to your home group. Help them become acquainted with many people.
4) Invite them to your ministry. God has blessed our church with many ministries, and if you invite them and they have a desire and ability to serve, this will become a blessing for all.
5) Whenever you go out for the weekend, invite someone to go along with you. Vacation together is a good time spent together. This is a relationship.
6) If you yourself need help, humbly ask for help from the new members. We’re all called to serve. Oftentimes it can be more difficult to ask for help, rather than help someone else! Humble yourselves!
7) Begin to greet absolutely everyone in the church. This is specifically meant for those who consider themselves to be an introvert. Begin with a little. You won’t even notice how with time, even simple greetings will lead to substantial discussions.
Remember, these things are not simply good manners or good Christian ethics, they’re a biblical understanding of how to behave in a church:
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” (Heb. 10:24-25)
Meet the New Members of GFC
Greetings and encouragement from the Sheremet family
Dear brothers and sisters! A huge congratulations to Grace Family Church on your 20 years! Praise the Lord for His faithfulness and abundant blessings in the life and ministry of the brothers and sisters in the church! Over the years, Jesus Christ has clearly shown His glorious grace through various ministries, happenings, and circumstances in the life of the church. It’s a great honor and privilege to be on the mission field having been sent by Grace Family Church. Huge thanks to all the brothers and sisters for the comprehensive support in our ministry of the gospel in Poland! Our prayer and genuine hope is that God would continue to abundantly bless the church with all things necessary for the ministry of the gospel and spreading of His kingdom. “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thess. 5:23-24)
With love, Joseph and Oksana Sheremet and the family.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Hermeneutics Class
This course is being offered for anyone who would like to strengthen and develop their Scripture study skills. We understand that the Word of God is the source of truth. And it is not only instrumental in salvation but also in the sanctification of the believer. This means that it is vitally important not only to know the Scriptures, but also to be able to rightly interpret and apply them. This is exactly what Hermeneutics does. This course is required for those who teach or communicate the truth in their ministry and it is open for everyone else. The class is free and meetings will be every third Sunday of the month. It is being offered in both Russian and English with the first meeting on October 15th.
Registration link: https://mygracefamilychurch.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/1971312
Continue supporting the churches working among the people who have suffered from the war in Ukraine: gfchurch.com/ukraine/
The Scripture memory text
23 Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,
24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah 9:23-24
Below are the services and meetings for this weekend:
- Thursday (6:30 PM) – Kid’s Bible School (open to all but required for parents), followed by Bible Study (Proverbs) for the whole church at 7:30 PM.
- Sunday services:
- Worship Service in Russian at 9:00 AM
- Worship Service in English at 11:15 AM