The Filling Station

If your vision is for a year, plant wheat.
If your vision is for ten years, plant trees.
If your vision is for a lifetime, plant people.
~Chinese Proverb

Do me a favor today. Before you read this remind yourself of Central's mission statement.

Did you ever wonder how this statement is going to get done? When you stop to look at it and ponder it maybe it reminds you, as it does me, what a tall order this is. People are hard to move. The world is a big place to reach.

But it has always been God's plan to work through men and women who want what He wants and to use them to accomplish His eternal purposes. Leaders in the Kingdom are absolutely essential! Leaders at Central-therefore-are absolutely essential!

That's why this past October 28th we hosted our first "Filling Station." Which is, and will be, an ongoing leadership equipping event to build up, encourage and equip leaders at Central. About 80 leaders attended!

But it's not about any particular event, but the leaders that are actively ministering to others, that I want you to know about.

The team that is behind the concept of The Filling Station and is working behind the scene at Central with passion and much prayer is the Equipping Team led by Denise Simms and Vernon Strawhand. Over the last year or so they have surveyed many churches and models of how to build up people in Christ and send them out to serve. (Just as our mission statement says!) You'll be hearing more of the equipping model that they have adopted and adapted for Central in the future. But for now their focus is on the leaders. They need to be built up, encouraged and equipped so that they can turn around and do the same in the ministries they lead.

In addition, the Equipping Team is trying to make Central a more welcoming place. With the help of leaders like Bob Shank, who is getting the "Open Door" guest reception off and running, and Ron and Darlene Kone, along with Linda Haynes, who work faithfully at the Welcome Center, guests are being met, welcomed, and moved into the life of Central that we all enjoy.

In the not so distant future we see as many people initially getting to know Central in someone's living room during a small group as when they come on Sunday morning. Already there are about 45 or so small groups meeting every night of the week all over Baltimore County and City. Giving leadership to this critical ministry that is building community at Central and faith in our people's hearts are Paul Hogsten and Kevin Hula.

Through their tireless leadership efforts literally hundreds of people here at Central are growing in Christ and reaching out to family, friends and neighbors.

During the next ministry semester they plan to launch an exciting outreach program called "Alpha." This tested and wonderful program engages questioning non-Christians in small group settings. Look for information coming soon if you have a friend that you would like to invite to Alpha.

Don't you hate it when space doesn't allow recognition of all the leaders who make Central the exciting, Kingdom-building place we've come to love? Please, this week, go out of your way to say, "Thank you" to a leader of a ministry and ask specifically how you can pray for them. God working through their available and faithful hearts and efforts is what makes this place go forward!

Under the Mercy,
Mike Batley
Interim Director of Equipping and Discipleship

Webmaster's note: If you missed the October 28th Filling Station, you can still read and listen to it online here.