The Rhinelander Bible Church Family, Greetings! This is your pastor writing. If you have not received any church newsletters the last several months there is one primary reason for it: There haven’t been any! It’s nothing personal! The reason there haven’t been any is because I haven’t written any. There are two main issues causing me to write this letter: Issue Number One: About six months ago I announced to the church that we had come to the unfortunate decision to not have Awana. My primary concern was, and is, the health of our church. Based on the discussion I had with the board we determined to not have Awana. This decision was not an easy one and has served as reason for some to decrease their involvement with RBC. I am sorry to see that. At the same time, it has also given many a well-needed rest and an opportunity to examine what we are doing as a church and how to move forward. I said in August that I was going to wait and listen and that is what I have done. I refrained from writing newsletters or mentioning these things in church to get an idea of what is on your minds, rather than mine. Here is what I have observed: RBC would like to have an Awana program. In particular there were several requests that we have something for older kids. Our main problem before was that we outgrew our ability to lead the club effectively. Therefore, since the request I’ve heard is primarily for older kids and we need a decreased club size anyway, I think we should aim for having Awana next year for 3rd-12th grade, T&T-Varsity. This will eliminate Cubbies and Sparks, keeping the club smaller so we can maintain sound leadership and also provide an expressed need. There are no 7-12th grade Awana programs in Rhinelander, that I know of. We would then hope to grow the club as the church grows. Your feedback on this issue is more than welcome. Issue Number Two: everyone’s favorite subject: money! Oh yeah. RBC was fortunate to have a fairly good sized bank account many years ago. Over the past several years or so we have been tapping into that reserve until now when the reserve has been eliminated. However, giving in 2009 was actually higher than in 2008, the problem is that we’ ve still had to tap into the reserve. Now, with the reserve gone, we are week-to-week. We have not paid our missionaries nor have we accrued our yearly rent for several months. I also took another pay cut last year. If we desire to have Awana next year we will need some funds to ramp it back up again. It is unfortunate that we are not able to support our missionaries, many of whom are losing support from other churches as well. Missions is a prime reason the church exists. Not only would I like to see us support our current three missionaries, I would like to see that number increase. Our benevolence fund has also been stagnant. There are many needs around us that we could be meeting. When churches ask for money it needs to be done carefully. Scripture makes it clear that pastors and churches that ask for money all the time should be avoided. If money is the Prime Motivator, you will get false teaching. I have tried to be very careful of this and have mainly refrained from saying much of anything about money so as not to give the idea that I am “in it for the money.” I assure you I am not. At the same time, there is a need and how will you know unless you are told? In reality, the need is not all that great, certainly not insurmountable. In fact, if every address this letter went to gave $2,000 a year we would be on the positive side of the ledger and able to take on more responsibility. Maybe $2,000 a year is impossible for your situation, no problem. Maybe $2,000 is less than you are currently doing, keep it up! I merely use it as a guidepost. You will not get to heaven because you gave money to church. You are not on your way to hell if you do not. Giving money is a way to demonstrate the Gospel in our lives. Our Savior became poor so we may be made rich, He gave Himself for us. When we give to others we reflect what Christ has done for us. I also want you to know that what I am asking is not above what my wife and I have done for many years for RBC. We are all in this together. We are a part of the Body of Christ. We exist for each other. I trust that RBC can be a place of help, love and edification for all of us. The Lord will do His work and He will provide. I do not say any of this with a strong arm or desire to keep track of who is doing what. I assure you I know nothing of the details of where our church’s finances come from. The board has been very careful to keep me aloof of such details. There is no condemnation from us over your giving. Talk it over with the Lord and set your heart on your decision. In Conclusion: It has been a great encouragement to see new folks coming to our church lately. It is neat to see our circle of friends increase. I pray that RBC continues to edify the saints and equip us all for ministry. Let us be ready always to glorify our Father in heaven in word and deed. We live in a sick world. A world of steroidal baseball players and balloons kidnapping kids. It’s a world that needs truth, integrity, honesty, love, mercy, grace, holiness, and godliness. O that we would be that! Thank you for your time in reading this. If you have any comments or questions, please let me know. You can contact me at 362-9601 or email at pastor@rhinelanderbible.org. Or you can talk to any of the guys on the board about these things as well: Kasey O‘Brien, Kevin Roberts or Brian Stelzel. February marks the tenth year that I have been pastor at RBC! Amazing how the time has gone. As I look back I see many mistakes and failures I’d love to take back. I also see growth and glimpses of maturity. I have not yet arrived! I thank you for forbearing with me, a small man serving a great God. I look forward to what is next for RBC. “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” --Philippians 3:13,14