Go Fish!

“Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” Matthew 4:19 (NIV)

                Good news!  Jenna Jones agreed to serve as our Evangelism Team Leader starting in June!  Jenna had the idea of having our Evangelism Team lead our church in hosting a free fishing event on June 8 at Pine Lake.  This is the weekend that the Iowa Department of Natural Resources allows Iowans to fish without a license.  The event is to encourage an opportunity not only to get people to try fishing who have not but to encourage every one of you to try fishing for people by sparking up some spiritual conversations while fishing.

                We will provide lunch at the Upper Shelter House of Pine Lake State Park at Noon and then will encourage people to fish until 4 P.M.  We will supply bait as well as a limited number of extra poles.  Bring a pole if you have one and one to share if you can, but most importantly bring a friend or a neighbor, a prayerful heart, a listening ear, and an openness to try fishing for people.  Hear their story, share with them your story, and explore together how God’s story impacts you both. 

                The sermons on May 19, May 26, and June 2 will be focused on encouraging you to be more confident and more active in fishing for people with Jesus’ good news.  Even if you cannot make the June 8 event, you have Jesus’ license, his commission, his calling to be active in trying to bring your family, friends, neighbors, and coworkers into the boat of his grace, mercy, and mission so he can send them out to fish for people too.

                On a different people fishing venture, please continue to pray and post the “Church Planter Wanted” posters in small towns in Iowa.  If you were not able to attend the congregational meeting, we now have a Church Planter Search Team focused on catching the planter God has for us to partner with!  This team consists of Caitlin Bakker, Greg Heikens, Dave Holm, Jane Kramer, Vince Lindaman, Wayne Mueller, DJ Steen, and me.  I have already had an encouraging nibble as a result of our “asking, seeking, and knocking” and may have a planter on the line.  Pray we will have more potential planters biting and that we will land God’s person to partner with in teaching rural Iowans how to fish for people!