For SCC & LMBC - The Union

In the late Summer and early Fall of 2007 Sunrise Community Church and Lee Memorial Baptist Church began discussing the possibility of a ministry partnership between the two churches that involved various facets of ministry. The ministry partnership officially began on Tuesday evening, December 24, 2007 with a Combined Candlelight Christmas Eve Service held at Lee Memorial in the Family Life Center. The ministry partnership is moving along so well that on Sunday, November 2, 2008 both churches agreed to move forward and begin discussing the possibility of the two churches becoming one. The leaders from each church have since met once a month to discuss the union. The meetings are very positive and progress is being made toward a union. Five special Ministry Transition Teams (MTT) have been formed to discuss specific areas of ministry and develop a plan to help the churches transition from two to one church. Please continue to pray for a focus on reaching out, and for unity and cooperation. Please feel free to contact any leader with questions, ideas or suggestion you may have.

The following people are serving together on the Joint Leadership Team (JLT) and work close with one another, the Ministry Transition Teams (MTT) and people who are involved in each church: Tommy Bower, Mike Bailey, Jerry Onhaizer, Jeff Gardner, Jim McNeil, Scott Salsman, Ruth Nethery, Steve Gabriele, Jon Trude, Jenny Michonski and Steve Nethery. The JLT currently meets every third Saturday of each month from 9:00-11:00 AM to discuss the union of the two churches, hear reports from the MTT, pray, plan and prepare ministry. We serve Christ, you and those who do not yet know Christ. We are working together to stay focused on leading people to become totally committed followers of Jesus Christ. The meetings are upbeat, positive, full of energy and dialogue, and lead to positive results and work to be done by leaders and others, like you, who are involved in making a difference. As we move through the year and seek to become one church we all will need to keep praying, be involved and keep having fun as we touch lives in this area, nationally and internationally. We will need to adopt the motto, “All (us) for One (Jesus Christ) and One for all”, and live it out as we encourage one another and help others discover God’s love.

The five MTT’s that have been formed are evaluating, studying, discussing and making recommendations for various aspects of ministry that will help us better be the church, bring glory to God and develop followers of Jesus Christ. The teams are: Worship Team, Evangelism Team, Financial Team, Children’s/Student Ministry Team, and a Constitution/Guiding Document Team. These teams are represented by people from both Sunrise Community Church and Lee Memorial Baptist Church. They are meeting monthly and you may hear from them for your input and ideas.

Your prayers for a focus on reaching out, a spirit of unity and an attitude of cooperation are greatly needed. God is answering yes and will continue to answer yes to these prayers if we ask in humility and seek to live in line with our prayers. Your ideas, suggestions, and questions are welcome. We as leaders are serving alongside you as we follow Jesus Christ. All of the JLT members are excited about the union. We are glad to see God moving in our midst and touching lives. We are gazing forward to the future and a new beginning as two churches become one so we can better serve Jesus Christ, others, and one another. As we move forward all of the JLT members agree a new name needs to be determined, so we will seek to develop a new name for the new church. We want and need you to be involved in this process. Beginning, Sunday, April 5 through Sunday, May 17, 2009 we all will have the opportunity for six weeks to suggest names for the new church family. There will be cards all over the building that you can pick up and write your name suggestion on, and then place it in designated and colorful boxes located at the entrance to the 10:00 and 11:15 AM worship services. Please be praying about this opportunity and let’s have fun being creative as we build unity through the process of choosing a new name. All the names suggested will be looked at by the JLT and eventually a name will be recommended after much prayer, discussion and agreement.

We are under construction. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 NLT. It is energizing to be part of what God started. “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” Philippians 1:6 NLT. May we continue to serve together as we share the good news of Jesus Christ with our family, friends, neighbors, communities and many others. Please know that the JLT members need your prayers. Please know that people you serve with in this alliance need your prayers. Your family members need your prayers. Please take time on a daily basis to offer yourself to God and lift others up in prayer. We as leaders pray for you. We thank God for you and pray that you will live in His love and strength.

As we venture forward feel free to contact any JLT member. Remember, we are in this journey together. As we move forward we will learn, grow and have fun on this voyage of developing one church that is touching lives, growing, sharing, and serving so others can join us on this adventure called “following Jesus Christ”. Thanks for your time. God bless you.