Heath Church of Christ

August Reflections
from the August, 2008 newsletter

It is hard to believe that we are two weeks into August now.  Where has the summer gone?  School orientations, homework, vibrant autumn colors, and chilly fall evenings are just around the corner.  August provides us with an opportunity to celebrate the blessings of the summer, while looking forward to the welcome routines, exciting plans, and special events of the fall.  
As I reflect on the summer here at the church, the many youth events, the Vacation Bible School and Summer in the Son programs, and the camp season come to mind.  It is so exciting to see God working through these ministries to touch and change the hearts of our children and students.  Thanks so much to Josh and Lucy, as well as to the many sponsors who gave up summer vacation, time, and energy, for loving and serving our kids and teenagers and providing them with such outstanding spiritual transformation and growth opportunities. 
During the summer we have also witnessed a positive growth trend in our Sunday morning attendance.  While morning attendance is not the only gauge of a church’s vitality, it can be indicative of God’s favor and spiritual health within the congregation.  Typically, attendance and participation in the church tends to drop during the summer months. Yet, encouragingly, our church attendance this summer has remained strong and consistent.   Moreover, over the past months we have celebrated many decisions for Christ and witnessed a steady stream of weekly visitors.  Let’s celebrate this positive growth trend and give God
the Glory.
Church growth and health is a great blessing from God; however, with progress and increased participation comes responsibility.  Each person who calls the Heath Church of Christ their spiritual home shares the role of welcoming newcomers to our congregation.  Make a point each Sunday to welcome and befriend our guests and visitors.
Beyond this, everyone who regularly attends should get involved in a ministry of the church.  Whether you are serving in the nursery, ushering, helping with sound and audio during Sunday morning, quietly encouraging a person who is grieving, or  reaching out into the community with Christ’s love and compassion, every Christian in the Heath Church family is called by God to be a servant of Christ.  The work and ministry of a growing church is not performed by two or three key people; rather, ministry is the responsibility of every member and participant.  The growth and health of our church is contingent upon every Christian’s involvement.  1 Peter 4:11 challenges us: “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.  If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ.”
From the great response to our first Last Call community meal to the lively and meaty discussions we have enjoyed during Wednesday night Bible study to the many outstanding special events such as the Patriotic musical, the Solid Rock concert, and the women’s spa day, it has been a summer filled with many blessings.  Now as the days of August steadily get marked off, we can look forward to God’s provisions and plans for this fall. 
Fall Wednesday night youth and adult programming with begin on September 10th.  From the adult ministry perspective, a full roster of classes and groups are being planning that will address topics such as Christian parenting, facing trials in our lives, and why we can believe in the truthfulness of Christianity.  On Sunday evening September 14th, we will be hosting another Inquirer’s Night.  This special two hour class is designed to introduce and inform newcomers about the programs and values of our church. This is also an outstanding opportunity to get acquainted with staff and to get answers to any questions you may have. 
Three sermon series are scheduled for the fall on Sunday mornings.  In September, we will focus on the core spiritual values and foundation of our church.  In October, we are going to study God’s plan for our finances.  As we seek to grow in the “grace of giving,” we will consider the standard and motive for our giving, along with how we can overcome debt so that we can begin to give strategically and sacrificially.  Each family will be encouraged to take a “next step” in their giving to the Lord.  Finally, in November leading up to Christmas time, we will wrestle with several of the most difficult questions directed at the Christian faith.  Honest questions dealing with the reality of hell, the presence of pain and suffering in our lives, and the truthfulness of the Bible, among others, will be addressed.

Our First Year
from the July, 2008 newsletter

August 3rd will mark the completion of our first year of ministry at the Heath Church of Christ. Over the year we have experienced many “firsts”: our first Beta camp, our first community day, our first Christmas program, our first bean dinner (complete with the full “Bean Boy” experience), our first children’s musical, our first VBS, our first encounter with Phil Stanley, and the first of many times worshipping, studying, praying, celebrating and grieving together.  What a year it has been!  In some ways, the year has flown by.  When we arrived late last summer, we jumped in head first into the ministry and have not slowed down since.  Yet, in other ways, it feels like we have been a part of the Heath church for many years.  You have made our family feel at home so quickly.  We are grateful for your warm reception and unconditional acceptance of our family.  We look forward to many more years of serving Christ together.

God is blessing our church.  Over the past several months, we have experienced a positive growth trend in our attendance on Sunday morning.  Recently, we have also witnessed several people making commitments to Christ and to the church.  This should be a cause of excitement and celebration.  I have also been greatly encouraged by a growing passion within our congregation to lovingly go outside the walls of the church building to serve those who are hurting or hungry.  The “Life on Loan” group projects, the enthusiastic response to the upcoming meal program with the Last Call ministry, and the servant-minded group that recently returned from painting at KCU all are indicative of this growing zeal to model Christ by serving and meeting needs in the community.

In light of these exciting and hopeful developments, we need to pray and ask God for his blessing and direction for the next year.  Pray that God would protect and guide the elders and deacons who lead and care for our body of believers.  Pray that God would give the leadership wisdom as it seeks to orient, assimilate and disciple visitors and new Christians.  Pray that God would grant us vision and clarity on how best to build on the recent short-term group experience.  As we grow, I am convinced that we will have to increasingly offer more group opportunities for people to build deeper friendships, receive prayerful support, and learn new ways to apply God’s Word. 

Pray for our fall financial challenge.  This special teaching emphasis will have the twin goals of helping our families become wiser and more faithful money managers at home and at church.  Growing as care-takers of God’s resources will enable us to better prepare for upcoming ministry opportunities, pay down our church building debt, hire additional staff in the future, and invest more in our local and global missions. 

Pray that God would unveil new opportunities for our congregation to visibly meet needs and serve in the community.  Our loving and genuine compassion and ministry to those in need is perhaps the most effective witness in our increasingly skeptical world.  Finally, pray that as a spiritual community that we would continue to practice sincere love and compassion for one another.  Our church has experienced several difficult losses recently.  Yet, in the midst of so many tears, our congregation has shined.  Your authentic love and concern for those grieving within our congregation has been a tremendous blessing to me personally.  Let’s make it our goal to extend this same sympathy and love to everyone who walks through the doors on Sunday morning.

My family all agrees that our first year at the Heath Church of Christ has been our favorite ministry year to date.  Thanks for your love, commitment, support and faith.  However, I am convinced that our best years are yet to come.  May God lead us as we seek to be a colony of love, truth and light in Heath, Ohio.

Baptism: Our Common Meeting Place 
from the June, 2008 newsletter

I would like to take a break from the previous series of articles addressing Biblical giving, and use this month’s newsletter forum to review a portion of the recent message on Christian baptism.  The sermon theme from June 8^th focused on baptism as our “common meeting place” as Christians, based on the account of the conversion of the Philippian jailor recorded in Acts 16.  The following is an excerpt from this earlier message.

According to Acts 16, the “way of salvation” finds its culmination in the act of baptism.  Acts 16:33 shares that following his statement of faith and visible act of repentance the jailor and his household immediately submitted to Christian baptism.  The Bible does not give us a systematic definition of the meaning of baptism, but it does use various images to convey baptism’s central importance.

The New Testament presents baptism as death and resurrection.  Consider Romans 6:3-4 – “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death.  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”

In baptism we die with Christ (to an old life) and we are raised with Christ (to a new life in God’s kingdom).  There are several reasons why we as a church practice the baptismal form of immersion.  The original Greek word baptizo literally means “to dip, or immerse.”  Furthermore, it was the early church’s normative practice (for the first several hundred years after Christ) to practice baptism by immersion. 

However, the principle reason we immerse (rather than sprinkle or pour) is because immersion best represents our death and resurrection with Jesus.  More specifically, the mode of immersion most adequately symbolizes the meaning of baptism—our complete and total surrender (mind, heart and body) to Christ.  Baptism by immersion paints a picture of “the total surrender of a total person to the total will of God.”

Baptism also represents our new identity and status in Christ.  The apostle Paul in Galatians 3:27-28 explains – “For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.  There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” 

The world says a person’s name and identity are based on the clothes they wear, the place where they live, their school, their color, their family background, their circle of friends, their income or even the college football team they support.  But Paul explains in baptism all these worldly markers are drenched and erased.  In this watery grave we all rise with a new set of clothes and a new name.  This new name is “Christian.”

Baptism means death and resurrection.  Baptism means a new set of clothes.  Baptism also means entry into Christ and his church.  The New Testament teaches in Romans 6 and Colossians 2:12 that in baptism we are united to Christ’s death and resurrection.  Because of this truth, baptism must be viewed as more than a symbol; it is a mystery.

In the act of baptism, in some mystical sense, we are connected to the power of the central events of the gospel—the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus.  In baptism, our story is joined to Christ’s story.  Through being joined with Christ the Bible promises that our sins are washed away.  Moreover, our story is connected to the story of the church.  The Bible says that “we are all baptized by one Spirit into one body.”   

When the Philippian jailer came to faith and repented of sin, the final step in his total belief response to God was immersion into Christ.  Baptism is the completion of this inaugural faith process.  Baptism is the culmination or climax of our conversion.  Baptism is the clearest, Biblical indicator marking our transition from seeker of to disciple of Christ.  In short, baptism is the place we meet Jesus.

A Balanced Life
from the May, 2008 Newsletter
Last month I began a series of articles focusing on money and resources that God has entrusted to us during our life on loan.  I would like to use this month’s column as a forum to discuss the difficult question regarding money: “How much is enough?” 
Proverbs 30:8b provides us with a wise answer: “Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.”  Isn’t that a beautiful, sensible verse?  God wants us to live a balanced life.  God does not want anyone to be impoverished.  God’s will is that everyone is able to enjoy the simple gifts and basic necessities of life.  For many of us, however, it is not poverty that we struggle with, but riches.  How much is enough?  Does God put a limit on the amount of wealth we are allowed to accumulate?
God’s Word maintains a neutral perspective toward wealth.  Wealth is neither good, nor bad.  The Bible presents wealth as a gift from God.  Nevertheless, like all good gifts from God, we can abuse money and use it for selfish ends.  Frankly speaking, to acquire great wealth and greedily spend and hoard it for ourselves is sinful (Luke 12:21).  The word that most adequately describes scripture’s counsel about money is caution.  We are cautioned because riches have the power to enslave.  Money has the stealth ability to seduce and corrupt our hearts and motives, causing us to desire more and more.  When gaining money for ourselves becomes an end unto itself (and not a means for some greater good), it becomes a false god, an idol.  Scripture warns us that idols do not satisfy the longings of our hearts.  Millionaire John D. Rockefeller was once asked, “How much money does it take to satisfy a man?”  He answered, “Just a little more.”
Riches have the power to enslave.  But the Bible also cautions us that wealth is fleeting and temporary.  Psalm 49:10 clarifies, “For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others.”  We cannot take our wealth with us; however, we can be rich toward God and generous toward others.  Living generously with eternity in mind is the only way to keep wealth in the servant’s role and God on his throne.
As Proverbs 30:8 reminds us, God’s design is that we live a balanced life.  God does not want us to dwell in extreme poverty, nor selfishly pursue and exist in great luxury.  Rather, the Lord desires that we learn to be content with our daily bread.  Can we learn to be satisfied with the simple gifts and blessings of God such as food, clothes, shelter, a devoted family and a loving church?
Jesus gave us a model to follow in the Lord’s Prayer.  In his timeless petition, Jesus prayed, “Our father in heaven, hallowed be your name.  Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us today our daily bread.”  When we offer this prayer we are acknowledging that we trust God to provide for our essential needs.  A balanced life is a trusting life.  We don’t worry about hoarding for tomorrow.  We are not anxious about not having enough.  Instead, living a balanced life means we trust in the Giver of bread to secure our fundamental needs.  Living this balanced life liberates and enables us to invest generously in the Kingdom of God.  
The apostle Paul learned the balanced life.  He had experienced both poverty and riches.  Through his extreme experiences Paul learned to trust in God to meet his daily needs.  Paul shares this coveted lesson in Philippians 4:11-13: “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
 “Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.”  May this reflect our attitude as we invest with eternity in mind.

~Greg Robbins 

Investing With Eternity In Mind
from the April, 2008 Newsletter

Our lives are on loan from God.  If our life is a gift from God, how should we use the time he has entrusted to us?  If our time here on earth is brief, how should we invest our money and resources?  The Bible tells us that we should invest our resources into things that will last for eternity.  The Apostle Paul conveyed this truth in 1 Timothy 6:17-19: “Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.  Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.  In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age.”
I have heard it said concerning wealth, “We can’t take wealth with us when we die, but we can send it on ahead.”  How do we send our wealth on ahead of us?  How do we lay up treasures for the coming age?  We send our resources ahead and lay up treasure in heaven by investing in things that are eternal—our relationship with God, our love for fellow Christians, local and global missions, ministry to the hurting, sharing God’s mercy with a friend, the kindness we show our spouse, and the values that we pass on to our children.  These are investments that can last for eternity. 
Isn’t it interesting that all of the above-mentioned “eternal investments” are connected to people and their relationship with God?  God and people are the best investment of the time and resources on loan to us.  Someone has said, “The best way to invest your treasure in Heaven is by investing it in people who are going there.”  The church of Jesus Christ is the one entity on earth devoted to reuniting God and his people through the life-changing message of the gospel.  To invest in the church is to make a long-term investment that will pay eternal dividends.
I would to challenge everyone to begin thinking about their investment in the eternal mission of the church.  We invest in this timeless vocation when we make God and people a priority on our calendars and on our day-planners.  We also invest in the church’s divine mission when we give faithfully, sacrificially and generously from our financial resources.  In the weeks to come, through sermons and articles, I would like for us to honestly evaluate our “investment portfolio.”  Are we investing in God and people?  Are we investing with eternity in mind?  Our faithful and generous investment in the ministry of this church answers these important questions. 
— Greg Robbins

Living a Life on Loan                                                                  
From the March, 2008 Newsletter

Jesus told this Kingdom story recorded in Matthew 25: “Again, it [the Kingdom of God] will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his property to them.  To one he gave five talents of money, to another two talents, and to another one talent, each according to his ability.  Then he went on his journey.  The man who had received the five talents went at once and put his money to work and gained five more…After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.  The man who had received the five talents brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five talents.  See, I have gained five more.’  His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!  You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things.  Come and share your master’s happiness!’”

A loan is given with the expectation of a return.  Just as the owner in the parable entrusted his wealth to his servants, God has entrusted our lives to us.  What kind of return will God get on his investment?

During the months of April and May, through the Sunday morning messages and through small groups and classes that will be meeting on Wednesday nights (and possibly other times), we are going to be challenged to think of our life as on loan rather than as a life we own.  Starting next month, each morning message will apply this “on loan” perspective to essential aspects of our lives such as our time, opportunities, jobs, families, money and marriages.  Beginning April 2nd, we are asking everyone to commit to a two-month Wednesday night small group experience.  In these groups, we will be discussing and applying the principles found in the challenging book Life on Loan: Finding Grace at the Intersections.   Sign-ups for these “Life on Loan” groups will begin March 16th.  I will be sharing more details in the weeks to come.

The Bible teaches that “The Earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 24:1).  Everything belongs to God, including our lives.  Our life is on loan from the owner.  Are we being good managers of his property?  When we stand before God in eternity will He say, “Well done, good and faithful servant?”

Progress Report
From the February, 2008 Newsletter

Recently my daughters were given progress reports at school.  These reports provide updates on their academic progress and achievement.  In a similar way, the New Testament book of Hebrews functions like a spiritual progress report.  Hebrews challenges us to evaluate our spiritual growth and maturity and to recommit our lives to following Jesus, our great high priest. 

Hebrews is a long, meandering sermon-letter, rich with Old Testament images and involved arguments.  In light of the apparent complex and veiled nature of the book, many Christians have simply avoided studying and applying the letter all together.  However, as we will discover on Sunday mornings and evenings over the next couple of months, Hebrews is actually  very practical and relevant for the contemporary church.  Bible commentator Thomas Long accurately captures the surprisingly contemporary-sounding context surrounding this New Testament letter:

“The Preacher is not preaching into a historical vacuum; he is addressing a real and urgent pastoral problem, one that seems astonishingly contemporary.  His congregation is exhausted.  They are tired—tired of serving the world, tired of worship, tired of Christian education, tired of being peculiar and whispered about in society, tired of the spiritual struggle, tired of trying to keep their prayer life going, tired even of Jesus.  Their hands droop and their knees are weak (12:12), attendance is down at church (10:25), and they are losing confidence.  The threat to this congregation is not that they are charging off in the wrong direction; they do not have enough energy to charge off anywhere.  The threat here is that, worn down and worn out, they will drop their end of the rope and drift away.  Tired of walking the walk, many of them are considering taking a walk, leaving the community and falling away from the faith.”

The spiritual struggles facing the first audience of Hebrews are startlingly relevant to our context today.  We struggle to stand for Christ in the face of social pressure.  We get discouraged when hardships and temptations steal our joy in following after Christ.  We are tempted to sleep in or go to the ball field on Sunday morning, rather than be consistently faithful in church attendance.  Sometimes we get bored with the weekly routines of the Christian faith.  Have you ever considered throwing in the towel and giving up on Christ altogether?  If so, then you better take very seriously the challenging message of Hebrews.

My hope is that our study of the letter to the Hebrews will reinvigorate our faith and provide us with renewed “strength for the journey” of discipleship.  Are you ready for your progress report?

Upcoming Sunday Morning Messages
February 24 – “Traveling Together” (Hebrews 2:5-3:6)
March 2 – “Rest for the Weary” (Hebrews 3:7-4:13)
March 9 – “Can a Christian lose their salvation?” (Hebrews 5:11-6:12)
March 16 – “Preparing for Good Friday” (Hebrews 9:1-28) 

--Greg Robbins

“Focusing on the Fundamentals”
From the January, 2008 Newsletter

How do we grow as a church in 2008?  Some reason that the church must be gimmicky or novel in its ministries in order to stimulate growth.  While I am all for meaningful innovation, I think it is important to remember that ultimately it is God who grows the church (1 Corinthians 3:6).  Rather than searching for the latest gimmick to encourage substantial growth, I think it is the church’s role to focus on the fundamentals of what it means to be God’s new community.  Just as a basketball team must master the basics in order to be successful (sound defense, crisp offense plays, consistent foul shooting, unselfish passing, etc.), so the church must focus on the ancient fundamentals presented in Acts 2:42.  Acts 2:42 provides us with a summary of and glimpse into the life of the first church.  In one sweeping verse, we are introduced to God’s ideal vision for his new community.  Focusing on the fundamentals of the “apostle’s teaching,” the “fellowship,” the “breaking of bread” and of “prayer” provides the necessary ingredients and context for God to begin to grow his church. 

How do we grow as a church this year? 

First, the church must be built upon the foundation of the “apostle’s teaching.”  My hope is that from the pulpit and in every classroom the Bible, and its central message of the Lordship of Christ, is preached and taught faithfully, seriously and relevantly.  Looking ahead, this year in our AM and PM Sunday services some of the books that we will be studying include Job, Hebrews, Genesis, 1 and 2 Thessalonians and Ecclesiastes. 

Second, the mood and atmosphere of our church must be characterized by loving “fellowship.”  Fellowship is more than eating donuts and drinking coffee; more accurately, true Biblical fellowship describes our common, shared life together as Christians.  God has designed the Christian life to be a shared life.  My hope for this year is that everyone within our larger congregation will get connected to a smaller, more personal fellowship within the church where they can give and receive encouragement, prayer, accountability and love. 

Third, our identity as a church should be shaped by the “breaking of bread.”  The early church made the corporate assembly a priority.  Each week they met together to worship God, remember their unique identity in Christ and to receive encouragement to continue living the Christian life throughout the week.  If you are currently in the mode of establishing New Year’s resolutions, I challenge you to commit this year to never missing a Sunday worship service.  Each service provides us with essential opportunities to express gratitude to God, to remember who we are in Jesus Christ and to be inspired to live out our faith each day of the week. 

Finally, to grow as a church in 2008, we must be a people of prayer.  The fact that prayer is listed among the Acts 2:42 fundamentals reminds us that spiritual health and growth in the church is supernatural in nature.  What should we be praying about this year?  Pray that people will make new decisions to follow after Christ.  Pray that God will open doors for our congregation to go beyond the walls of the church building to be salt and light in the community.  Are there several community needs that our church can tangibly and visibly meet in 2008?  I will also mention that we need to begin praying about this year’s financial campaign to reduce our building debt.  We will be talking more about this in the months to come; however, for now, pray that God would provide the church leadership vision and clarity concerning the details and goals of the campaign.  Pray that God will deepen and grow our church through this endeavor.  Also begin to pray that God will provide your individual family with direction concerning your commitment to the campaign.

Do we want to grow in 2008?  Lets focus on the fundamentals!

--Greg Robbins

“Are You Ready for Christmas?”
From the December, 2007 Newsletter

It is hard to believe that the Christmas season is upon us.   Are you ready for Christmas?  In our culture, this question usually means, “Have you checked everyone’s name off of your shopping list?”  More precisely, are you spiritually ready to ponder the mystery and wonder of the first Christmas story?  We cram so much into our lives during the month between Thanksgiving and Christmas day.  There are presents to buy and wrap, cards to send, decorations to put up, parties to attend, loved ones to visit, meals to prepare, programs to participate in, phone calls to make and plans to finalize.  On top of these responsibilities, during the holidays we usually have increased job pressures to cope with, school functions to support, ball games to attend and studies to complete for finals.  All of these activities, events and responsibilities contribute to the holiday rush.

This article is a kind of pep talk to encourage all of us to have the proper focus and attitude for the Christmas season.  To maintain the proper focus requires that we take a breath and slow down (that is right, I said slow down!).  Slowing down at this time of year goes against conventional wisdom and complicates our hectic schedules, expectations and calendars.  Busy schedules and calendars are not inherently bad; however, we must guard against allowing them to distract us from the true meaning of Christmas.  Could God be telling us to slow down this holiday season so that we can truly hear and appreciate the message of the manger?  Christmas is a time for God to speak through the miracle of the Christ child.  Christmas provides a unique occasion for our faith to be renewed in awe, wonder and mystery.  Christmas affords us the opportunity to hunger and seek to know Jesus all over again, or for the first time. 

There is a “Peanuts” cartoon where Lucy and Marcie are walking along to school and Lucy says, “I’m going to ask the teacher if I can be Mary in the Christmas play this year.”  Marcie answers, “She has already asked me, Sir.”  Lucy continues, “I think I’ll be great in the part.”  Marcie says once more, “She asked me yesterday.”  Ignoring her, Lucy declares, “I like the part where the angel Gabriel talks to me.”  With exasperation, Marcie says, “Why would Gabriel talk to you? You never listen!”  It is possible to miss hearing God’s voice and experiencing his blessings if we do not have any quit moments to listen to the words of Mary and Joseph, to the song of the Angels, to the joy of the shepherds and the worship of the wise men.

The Christmas season is filled with many tasks and details: keeping track of shopping lists and checkbook balances, organizing and sending cards, planning menus and attending various holiday programs.  All of these details compete for our attention and make it difficult to slow down and focus on the baby in the manger; yet, we need to slow down because God’s plan for our busy lives is proclaimed from the nativity. Through the story of the birth of the savior, God reveals a calming message of hope, joy, peace, love and salvation.

During the Christmas season, God speaks the loudest.  Tragically, sometimes it is hard to discern God’s voice above the sound of cash registers and the tearing of wrapping paper.  If God’s voice is not heard at Christmas, when will it be heard?  This holiday season, focus on the spiritual over the material, your blessings over your wish lists, giving instead of getting, and the people you love rather than price tags and credit card balances. Most importantly, focus on the “Christ” of Christmas over the “rush” of Christmas.  “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him ‘Immanuel’ – which means, God with us” (Matthew 1:23).  This December, slow down and allow the hopeful message of this verse to rekindle your imagination and warm your hearts.  Are you ready for Christmas?  Are you ready for the coming of Immanuel?

- Greg Robbins

One Purpose (A Message from Greg and Dave)
from the October, 2007 HCC Newsletter

“What, after all, is Apollos?  And what is Paul?  Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task.  I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow…The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose…” (1 Corinthians 3:5-8).

Dave and I thought we would use this month’s newsletter as a forum to explain how we are transitioning to our new roles here at the Heath Church of Christ.  It is a great privilege and blessing working with Dave.  From the very beginning of my time here, Dave has served as my biggest cheerleader and encourager.  His support has made my adjustment to my role as preaching minister very smooth and natural.  I believe our temperaments, skills and passions compliment one another very well.  Currently, my ministry efforts consist of preaching, teaching, pastoring, administrating and working closely with our elders and deacons.  While Dave and I will certainly continue to share some of the above responsibilities, Dave’s role is beginning to center more on worship and technology, membership involvement and new visitor follow-up.  Dave and I hope that our ministry teamwork (along with Josh and Lucy) will contribute to the growth and spiritual maturity of our congregation.  While Dave, Josh, Lucy and I all have different ministry tasks, we all share and are committed to the one purpose of planting seeds and building God’s kingdom.  --Greg

As each week goes by I grow more and more confident that transitioning from the senior minister role to associate was the right decision for me and my family. I am thoroughly enjoying serving the Heath Church of Christ in this new capacity. Several have asked if I have more free time now. The truth is, since the transition I am not necessarily less busy, but I am less burdened. It is refreshing to spend more quality time on a few things rather than a rushed effort on many things at once. Thanks to the elders and to the Heath congregation for allowing me serve where I am best suited.
Good things come to those who wait. Now that the two-year-long minister search is finally complete, God is once again demonstrating his pattern of sending the right people for the right job at the right time. It is truly a blessing to work day to day with Greg Robbins. From day one Greg has jumped headfirst into meaningful ministry.  I especially appreciate his dedication to Bible truth, team building and unity within the body. We’ve found that our talents and personality traits compliment one other. I am looking forward to many years of faithful service together.   --Dave