I had a conversation with Jim today. Jim’s not a member of Pittsburgh Baptist, in fact, I don’t think he claims any church affiliation. He wanted to know about baptism. It seemed important to Jim. I started by asking about his faith background to get a little perspective before diving into my response. Boy, what a background. Although he was raised Catholic, Jim’s search for spiritual truth has taken him over a broad landscape of religious experiences. He has been influenced by the practices of Unitarianism, mainline Protestantism and Buddhism, to name a few. Jim said his search is bringing him full circle, back to Jesus.

This kind of conversations gets my pastoral juices flowing. Little else competes on the excitement meter with talking to a bonafide seeker. And although Jim didn’t receive Jesus as his Savior during our encounter, I hope he came away knowing what that means.

Dear member, this is why we are hosting the prophecy conference this month. 48 Hours Anticipating His Return, is a choice occasion for us to invite our unchurched and lost friends to hear the Gospel. Dr. Ron Herrod weaves the message of salvation throughout his end-times sermons. I want seasoned believers to gain fresh insight about  what Scripture teaches on the return of Christ during the conference, but Jim and those like him is our target audience. We want seekers to come away from the conference either having made a decision for Christ or knowing what that decision means. I urge you to prayerfully ask your family, friends and neighbors (especially the Jims) to attend at least one of the five seasons. God will do the rest.

In 1 Corinthians 3:6, Paul illustrates the disciples role in evangelism. “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.” (HCSB) The Apostle uses the agriculture motif to teach us use what God gave us (salvation) to influence others toward this same end. Only God produces salvation, but He wants us working the fields. Pittsburgh is a field that’s “white unto harvest.” I pray that some will plant while others water and all of use celebrate what God grows.

Every Blessing,
Pastor

This is not an exercise in New Age projection therapy. Nor am I hocking the benefits of a positive mental attitude championed by Napoleon Hill and Rev. Robert Schuller. This said, your assessment of the next 365 days may include some new highlights; especially in your faith. Adopting a few spiritual disciplines early on offers the potential for your best year yet. Here are some ideas:

Include time each day meditating on the writings from Oswald Chambers’ book, My Utmost for His Highest. This classic devotional will introduce you to tenants and truths of faith few believers contemplate on their own. Another practice I have found enriching is to pray through the Psalms. The Holy Spirit powerfully animates this exercise to inform and enlarge the tired soul. It doesn’t take much. A small portion of His  Word driven home this way can make a real difference. These are just a couple ways you may want to kick start the New Year.

Another option is to attend 48 Hours Anticipating His Return prophecy conference.  Pittsburgh Baptist is hosting this event February 18-20. Our speaker is Dr. Ron Herrod. In 1995, Dr. Herrod began R.H.E.M.A. (Ron Herrod Evangelism Ministries Association) following 36 years as senior pastor of some of America’s largest and fastest growing churches. His ministry has included national television, crusades and mission projects in more than 30 countries throughout the world, an international tape ministry, and writing seven books. Dr. Herrod has served our denomination on the International Mission Board, Louisiana College Board, Southern Seminary Board, Vice-President of the SBC’s Pastor’s Conference, President of Tennessee Pastor’s Conference and in many other capacities. He is a graduate of William Carey College (BA), New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (ThM), and Luther Rice Seminary (ThD). Dr. Herrod also serves as the President of the Southern Baptist Evangelists Association. The focus of R.H.E.M.A. is evangelistic crusades in the U.S. and overseas, mission projects involving pastors and lay teams, consultants in missions to local churches, Bible Conferences, Marriage and Family Conferences, and Prophecy Conferences. A major missions focus of R.H.E.M.A. is the R.H.E.M.A. Institute which trains national pastors and church leaders in developing countries for effective church planting and leadership.

You may remember from our 50th anniversary celebration in 2009, music evangelist, Rev. Bob Smith. Bob will lead worship during the five conference sessions. I encourage you to start 2012 Anticipating His Return.

Every blessing,

Pastor

Now imagine it’s your birthday but no one calls you by name or worse, your family gathers to exchange gifts and leaves you out of the party. The Christmas season is in full swing. Yet, the name of the One whose birth we celebrate is being increasingly  replaced with culturally sensitive seasonal expressions including the ultimate in acceptability, “Happy Holidays.” “Happy Holidays” is the go-to idiom for most merchants, municipalities and schools.  Nativity scenes are considered more offensive than porn shops in many communities and the weeks leading up to December 25th are primetime for lotto sales with Pennsylvania’s second-most famous groundhog singing the praises of exchanging lottery tickets in honor of our Savior’s birth. Make no mistake, marginalizing the name and person of Jesus in the public square is a priority for some in positions of power and influence. “Merry Christmas” is verboten throughout the land.

The erosion of our identity as a Christian nation, though new to us, is just the redeployment of an ancient tactic.  The Evil one used it to great success on Israel.  Second Chronicles 34, records King Josiah leading a country that lost its distinct commitment to the Lord. The people had become so distracted with the stuff of life that a hundred years passed before anyone, including the priests, noticed the only copy of  God’s Word was missing. When they brought out the money that had been deposited in the Lord’s temple, Hilkiah the priest found the book of the law of the Lord [written] by the hand of Moses. (2 Chronicles 34:14 HCSB) Had the young Sovereign not ordered the Temple restored, the Law may never have been recovered.

It may seem quite a leap from the diminishing presence of “merry Christmas” to a singular copy of the Word buried under piles of money in the Temple, but consider this; is Jesus Christ getting covered so deep in commercialism, materialism and political correctness that the mention of His name is becoming the exception during the time of year traditionally set aside to celebrate His incarnation? Are we just a few generations away from no one missing Christ during the “holidays”? “It could never happen,” you think. Yet, it did. God’s people became so biblically ignorant (though very spiritual) that they no longer knew how to follow Him. ” . . . For great is the Lord’s wrath that is poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord in order to do everything written in this book.” (2 Chronicles 34:21 HCSB)

There has always been tension between Jesus and the marketing that inevitably invades authentic faith (John 2:13-15). I pray that during Christmas 2011, the church will  prize the name of Jesus above all else.

Merry Christmas,

Pastor Kim

It is important we do not forget the Lord’s favor. It is what energizes the service of countless believers serving in the hard places of the world. So many with so little do so much because they feel so blessed. So should not we who have more than most ever will do abundantly more?

Another reminder of abundant ministry cultivated in humble supply is the Bhutanese gathering which meets at Pittsburgh Baptist each Sunday. This growing group of thirty believers springs from the dedication of one of our member families, Deo and Rajani Lagoon and their three children, Juliya, Victor and Alvin. I recently read a brief account of this family’s struggle to live its faith in Bhutan and inspiring perseverance to evangelize expatriates from their homeland in Pittsburgh. It is a testament of sacrifice, providence and prayer.

The Lord has blessed us with unprecedented opportunities to engage in cross-cultural ministry. Every month there are four different language congregations meeting at Pittsburgh Baptist Church. The Tamil Church celebrated its sixteenth anniversary of worship here on Saturday, October 22. The group’s love for Jesus was punctuated by  song, testimony, praise and preaching. On October 30, our Ukrainian partners decorated the sanctuary in their traditional Thanksgiving adornment recognizing God’s favor.

This is a weird time in our country and city. A huddle of malcontents “occupy” a small privately owned park in downtown Pittsburgh railing against the system which provides them the right to rail. Their bizarre attitude sits in stark contrast to those who sacrifice for the privilege to come to the United States of America, in large measure, to be able to worship the Lord and live their faith because of a system that offers the opportunity to do so.

As Thanksgiving nears I encourage you to take the occasion to reflect on the Lord’s goodness. I know of some people from Bhutan, India and the Ukraine that will do just that.

On a personal note, Diane and I express our deep appreciation for the opportunity to serve Him through Pittsburgh Baptist Church. As our fourth anniversary of ministry here approaches we count it a great blessing to be part of what God is doing in this corner of the Kingdom. If you have a favorite pair of jeans that fit just right every time you put them on you know how it feels whenever I come to the church. I just feels right. There’s nothing better than being where the Lord wants you.

Happy Thanksgiving,

Pastor

This was true as Diane and I formed our family and it’s true with our church family too. Most families, I suspect, relate best where work is done and conversation abounds. This is typically in the kitchen. Kitchens are usually informal and conducive to intimacy.

People usually relate to the work and words of the church through small groups. They may be in a Bible study, team meeting, gather for a meal, a discipleship class or impromptu conversation in the parking lot, but these are typical conduits for community. More relationship-building takes place outside the worship setting than in it. There, I said it and for a guy who spends a big part of each week preparing for worship to admit that it is not central to strengthening relationships is like a librarian admitting most learning doesn’t take place among the stacks of books. As important as the sanctuary is to adoration and libraries to education neither is built primarily for human connection. “Worship in its broadest sense is a meeting between God and His people.” (Webber, Robert E. Worship Old & New, Zondervan 1982, p 16) Worship also flows out of the strength or weakness of human relationships. Have you ever known a divided church to experience spiritual renewal? Worship is a reflection of our love for the Lord and one another. We cannot honestly reverence Jesus in the sanctuary while rebuffing other believers in the halls of the church. We don’t truly love Him if we ignore opportunities to serve Him. (1 John 1:6, 7)

So what’s your point pastor? Simply, it is time some get out of the living and dining room to come into the kitchen. It is time all of us heed the wisdom of Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” If Sunday morning is your only time of interaction with God’s people then I invite you to get in a small group, ministry or on a team. Your worship will be revolutionized!

Every blessing,
Pastor

The purpose of the fall semester discipleship options is to help you strengthen in the arena of context and content. Each class is chosen to involve participants in practice and principle. This is what making disciples looks like. As your church, we are tasked with the responsibility to offer you opportunities to grow as a Jesus follower, but you are called to engage in the one(s) that most meet you on your personal journey with the Lord. The eight selections listed in the newsletter and online are designed for doers of the word and not merely hearers. James teaches, “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.” (James 2:17) I encourage you to take advantage of at least one of the discipleship options.

Evangelism is certainly central to discipleship and Pittsburgh Baptist Church has been active in witnessing this summer. Twenty-six people indicated a decision for Christ as personal Savior through the ministries of your church since June 2011. Ministry-related decisions include: VBS 13; Youth 4; Bhutanese gathering 4; Renovation project 2; Backyard Bible Club 1; Pastoral counseling 2. Praise the Lord! We will celebrate these with a baptism service during the second worship service on Sunday, September 11.

I close with an urgent plea. Our growth has increased needs in a number of areas with the bed-baby/preschool ministry at the top of the list. WE NEED VOLUNTEERS for Sunday mornings during Bible study and worship! Please see Dayna Granzeier in that department during either of these times or call her at 412-315-8911. We thank God for sending families with children. We must provide a safe, clean and competent place for the youngest among us.

Last but not least, remember the Sunday morning schedule change beginning September 11: Worship 8:15-9:15; Bible Study 9:30-10:30; Worship 11:00-noon followed by fellowship.

Every blessing,

Pastor Kim

Church unity is intentional, purposeful and functional. With this in mind, I want to propose a new way for our church to work more cooperatively. The beginning of this approach is to move away from the old “committee” model of operating and to develop Functional Teams. Each August, the Nominating Committee struggles to “fill committee positions” which relatively few members want to serve and even fewer are committed to. The current system requires our members accept 71 positions to be fully implemented. A tall order given we typically have around 100 people in worship. The attendance includes visitors, youth and children. In essence, the Nominating Committee struggles because their task is impossible! Too few people, taking on too many tasks with too little results. A recipe for frustration that can lead to division!

The purpose of the Functional Teams is three-fold: 1) Practice a biblical model of church administration; 2) Improve communication; 3) Strengthen effectiveness. In this model, four Functional Teams take the place of our current ten committees. The four teams include; Worship, Discipleship, Stewardship and Missions. The number of volunteers needed to operate the Functional Teams is thirteen (as apposed to 71). Others would be called on, but oversight of regular church activities can be done with these volunteers and four staff members. Please refer to the chart below. Note that this configuration calls for establishing two new key volunteer positions. These are Discipleship Director and Children Ministry Leader. The Discipleship Director would function much like our current Sunday School Director with focus on identifying leaders for our discipleship classes. The Children Ministry Leader would provide oversight of children’s discipleship classes. The four Functional Teams member’s would meet monthly in place of the Church Council.

The committee approach for maintaining ministries is no longer sustainable. Continuing to try to operate under the old model frustrates our Kingdom work and creates potentially divisive conditions. I discussed the Functional Teams with our deacons and they affirmed it. I would like to implement it with the new church year beginning in September, but I also want to hear your questions and thoughts. Therefore, there will be a “listening session” to discuss the Functional Teams on Sunday, August 28, at 6:00 pm. If the church chooses to move in this direction it can do so during a called business meeting in September.

Thank you for your prayerful consideration,
Pastor Grueser

This is an opportunity to acknowledge the central role of our volunteers in the ministries of this church. You are a critical link between the vision and reality. Every worship service, small group or large event depends a great deal on the ability and availability of the members. We have VBS – Volunteer Based Strength. The success of this year’s other VBS is, in no small way, due to our VBS. In five days PBC ministered to 95 students; collected $325.00 for the neighborhood food bank; and witnessed thirteen decisions for Christ!

While I’m on the subject of volunteerism, the staff is in the process of planning some changes for the fall that greatly depend on the availability of our members to succeed. I begin by acknowledging we have two big challenges. One is remaining faithful to the Great Commission, Matt 28:19-20. The second is parking. These two seemingly unrelated issues are the catalysts for change. Follow as I explain.

Two years ago I led the church to change the Wednesday format to be more adult discipleship focused. The response was very positive. We went from about a dozen in attendance to an average of 38 last year. Others joined the Beth Moore studies which add another eight to ten participants each week. We want to expand the discipleship options this fall. Right now there are plans for both men’s and women’s weekday morning classes, a Sunday evening adult option, youth group, and men’s and women’s weekday evening classes. In addition, we hope to reintroduce a fully graded children’s program. Finally, Pastor Allen will facilitate a one-year discipleship intensive for those willing to make a long-term commitment. The details of each will be rolled out in August.

As to the parking issue, were are over 100% capacity of our on campus parking nearly every Sunday morning. We desire to make parking more accessible to our visitors, those with little children and senior adults. Therefore, starting Sunday, September 11, the new worship schedule offers two morning services with time to empty and refill the parking lot. Here’s the format: worship 8:15-9:15 am; Bible study 9:30-10:30 am; worship 11:00-12:00 pm; fellowship 12:05-12:40 pm; Ukrainian worship 1:00-3:00 pm. Note that there is 30 minutes between Bible study and the second service to allow the lot to empty and refill. Also be aware that there will not be a Sunday evening worship, but we will continue to offer a Sunday night discipleship study.

I know this is a lot of information. Here’s one thought I want to leave with you as you begin to process these changes. PBC has VBS. Our ability for a smooth transition to this new format centers in our Volunteer Based Strength. Adding an early Sunday service does not require a lot of additional help, but it does call for commitment. Please pray about making yourself available to serve as we move forward.

Every blessing
Pastor Grueser

As far as I can tell Jesus does not have a Facebook page, but he is all over this electronic phenomena. According to a recent Fox News report the Facebook site, Jesus Daily receives the most traffic of all its options. Yes, Jesus Daily even out paces Justin Bieber! Jesus beats the Bieber, now that’s a headline.

Kidding aside, the world wide tsunami of Christians communicating through Facebook and other social media has never before happened in the expanse of human history. What’s the attraction? I think the answer is foundational to being a believer. We are saved to be in community with one another. Though the Christian community takes on many forms, i.e. Facebook, the local church is at the center. This being said, wherever I go the church looks different. This spring I’ve been in a mega church in South Carolina and a country church in Georgia. While in Florida, I saw a “church on the beach.” I attended a dysfunctional church, two revivals and probably saw hundreds of church buildings while traveling about 5,000 miles in May. Driving the back roads of Georgia on a Sunday morning when most churches hold service (yes, I skipped Sunday morning worship once while on vacation) I was struck by the number of tiny family chapel-type gatherings that dot the rural landscape. What does this assortment of congregating Christians have in common; a desire for community.

Christ is key to authentic Christian community. I know this sounds a bit redundant, but being part of a Christ-centered church can be illusive. So many distractions and divisions challenge today’s churches. To be part of one when the people are on the same sheet of music and the song is, Jesus is a wonderful thing.

As Pittsburgh Baptist Church prepares to launch another summer of mission activities, may I remind everyone to keep Jesus at the center of all our endeavors. We will have opportunities to reach hundreds from our part of the city. Whether you volunteer to serve in Vacation Bible School, the Backyard Bible Club at Mooncrest Baptist Church or our outreach ministries with Shandon Baptist, may you do everything as to the Lord.

On a recent fourteen hour drive back to Pittsburgh, Diane and I spent considerable time listening to a book-on-cd titled, Just a Walk Across the Room by Bill Hybels (thanks Amy). The focus of Pastor Hybels’ teaching on personal evangelism is that we need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s leading when it comes to witnessing. When He prompts, we are to follow His initiative and discover the Divine encounters prepared for us. Jesus doesn’t have a Facebook page, but will follow Him through the network of faith at PBC this summer as we impact our community and beyond?

Every blessing,
Pastor Kim

The “more winter” season has been a busy time to plan our missions ministries during “road repair” (summer) months. This year we have four great mission opportunities in which you can engage.

Vacation Bible School is June 20-25. Traditionally, VBS is one of our largest community events attracting people of every age to our campus. Churches from the Middle Georgia Association are our ministry partners again this year. To volunteer, please contact Amy Baumgardner, 412-651-6953. To attend, mark your calendar for 7-9 pm nightly. A light meal is served from 6:30 to 6:55 each night, too. You can pre-register at the VBS information page, or you’ll find forms in our Ministry Information Center.

The week after VBS, Lakeshore Baptist Church, Lake Dallas, TX will be here to help us connect with the children and youth of our community. The focus is sports and music.

July 11-15, we will work with volunteers from Whitewater Baptist Church, Oglethorpe, GA and from Mooncrest Baptist, Coraopolis with Backyard Bible Clubs. Mooncrest has been in existence for a number of years, but is new to our denomination. This is a an opportunity for them to make a fresh start in their community and for us to bless another sister congregation.

The last big event for summer missions is August 1-5 when our friends from Shandon Baptist Church join us in a variety of outreach activities. In addition to the Community Family Fun Night at Brookline Park, prayer-walking and basketball camp we’ve added a small renovation project. I identified the home of a widow in Dormont that needs the front porch replaced. The Shandon team will provide a lot of support for each of these, but your help is vital.

With all this in place we cannot forget about the official launch of our church plant, Living Faith Community Church.

I’m not certain when it will happen, but pray as Pastor Ken Cordray and others work to bring it about this summer or early fall.

I hope this brief overview helps you appreciate what God is doing through PBC. He does not gift many churches with so many opportunities to be part of His Kingdom work. PBC is favored and we can show our gratitude by continuing to give our time and resources so that every person in the greater Pittsburgh area hears the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ from a member of our church or one of our church plants.

Every blessing,
Pastor Grueser