From: Pastor Gurgel
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| | SPREAD the WORD Holy Word Ministry Expansion Project | |
There is nothing more exciting and rewarding than Spreading the Word of Christ's love and grace! It is with this thought that this first of many communications is being sent to you regarding Holy Word's ministry expansion project: SPREAD the WORD! The origin of the SPREAD the WORD project is rooted in several past Holy Word initiatives and much prayer and meditation seeking Christ's guidance for the future of our church family. Given the tremendous effort and history associated with this project, the focus of this letter is to provide background information that led to initiating the project and to provide the project vision and mission statements that have helped to guide the project thus far. Future communications will dive into more current details about the project and strive to answer questions Holy Word members may have about this exciting ministry expansion project. So what is the foundation for SPREAD the WORD?
First and foremost SPREAD the WORD is based on Christ's Great Commission as stated in Mark 16:15. He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." Through God's grace Holy Word has been priviledged (sic!)to start several mission churches over the past 15 years. Blessed fruits from these outreach projects include the following Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS) churches: Cross and Crown in Georgetown (97 souls), Risen Saviour (sic!) in South Austin (123 souls), Living Waters in Marble Falls (20 souls), Trinity in Temple (81 souls), Abiding Saviour in Killeen (102 souls) and Christ the Rock in Round Rock (110 souls).
During these years, God provided Holy Word with unique opportunities to minister to our Apache brothers and sisters in White River, Arizona, and our spanish (sic!) speaking neighbors.
In 2003 Holy Word engaged with Forward with Lutheran Schools (FWLS), a consulting ministry that existed to help WELS congregations advance the gospel of Jesus by starting and strengthening early childhood ministries. FWLS, in coordination with Holy Word's staff and Church Council, held several member focus group meetings to gather feedback and gain insight into future directions for Holy Word's school ministry. Project leaders also conducted research to learn more about the surrounding area demographics and growth patterns. The resulting report recommended that Holy Word look to relocate the school to the Pflugerville/Round Rock area.
In 2009, Holy Word's Church Council and staff developed a long term strategic plan for the church and school. During this planning process, serious consideration was given to the past fruit-filled outreach projects that God gave Holy Word the opportunity to lead. The FWLS report for strengthening our early childhood ministries was also a significant input to this process. At the conclusion of this planning project, the Church Council presented to the congregation Holy Word's 10 Year Plan that included a vision statement declaring that.... HOLY WORD, IN THIS DECADE, desires to SPREAD the WORD to others by establishing a SECOND SITE for EDUCATION AND WORSHIP.
The following three mission statements were developed to help guide future progress on this project. God willing, and with the approval of the Voters of Holy Word, we will... -
SPREAD THE WORD by September 2010, HOLY WORD will hold worship services at a temporary SITE -
SPREAD THE WORD by September 2011, HOLY WORD will purchase a second SITE -
SPREAD THE WORD by September 2012/2013, HOLY WORD will operate a second SITE for worship & education
Finally, in April of 2009 Holy Word extended a call for me to come and continue the planning process, lead additional outreach efforts and develop tactical plans to move the SPREAD the WORD project forward I accepted the call and began working on this project in September of 2009. Praise God for the leadership and vision of Holy Word's Church Council, staff and congregation! God willing, and with the approval of the Voters of Holy Word, we will begin holding worship services at a temporary site in the Pflugerville area by September 2010! At this time we would ask each of you to personally pray, asking for God's guidance and gracious support as we strive to Spread the Word. Subsequent project letters will begin to address potential questions that members may have about this project and will provide invitations and opportunties (sic!) for members to put their talents and gifts to work supporting SPREAD the WORD! | |
| Christ's Great Commission He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation." ~ Mark 16:15 | If you have questions you would like addressed in future SPREAD the WORD communications, please email them to spreadtheword@holyword.net or place your questions in church mailbox S12. | | |
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GJ - The ex-SP shows that he used the same spelling textbook as the other pastors in his synod. The only one who laughs about this is the Church Lady.
If Gurgle does for Holy Word what he did for WELS and his district, the banks should call in all their loans.
Bragging about Round Rock? That black hole for subsidies is nothing more than a channel for copied Schwaermer sermons and programs.
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bruce-church (
https://bruce-church.myopenid.com/) has left a new comment on your post "
Holy Word Should Read the Appointed Gospel for Tom...":
Gurgel's spelling leaves me speachless. :)
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GJ - I got it, Bruce. I spotted one right away, and it was such a howler that I looked for more, as any good editor would. I wondered about the British spelling of Savior, permissible - but in Texas? That was another error. It took me a few seconds to verify it was Savior rather than Saviour.
Anyone can produce a typo, but this went out to a whole list and no one caught the errors. Perhaps no one tried.
Team Patterson - where spelling don't count.
