The Village Church

John Stumbo Visits The Village Church

C&MA President Shares Message of Courage

BY DON PULLEN, THE VILLAGE CHURCH ASSOCIATE PASTOR

John Stumbo, President of The Christian and Missionary Alliance, visited Shell Point in April with his wife, Joanna. On Palm Sunday, he spoke to The Village Church congregation about courage—the courage of calling, the courage of conviction, and the courage of compassion.

During a welcoming reception in the Social Center on Monday morning, John updated church members on the relocation of The Alliance’s National Office to Reynoldsburg, Ohio and the plans for a headquarters campus that encourages missional engagement, staff diversity, family accessibility and fiscal responsibility.

Andy Hawkins, John and Joanna Stumbo, and Don Pullen

Shell Point President Martin Schappell and John Stumbo

National Day of Prayer

THURSDAY, MAY 5

Exalt the Lord who has established us.

—Colossians 2:6-7

Residents and staff are invited to gather at various locations throughout Shell Point’s campus as we pray together for our community, nation and world.

Morning Prayer Gatherings

Island Flagpole.............................................................................. 8 a.m. Coastal Commons Banyan Banquet Room ..........9 a.m. Woodland Commons Resident Lounge ................10 a.m.

Larsen Health Center .............................................................. 11 a.m.

Afternoon Prayer Gatherings

The Springs Community Room........................................1 p.m. The Arbor Community Room...........................................2 p.m. King's Crown Community Room ...................................3 p.m. Friendship Point on the Island ........................................4 p.m.

... be ready in season and out of season...

(2 Timothy 4.2)

Seasons

BY REV. ANDREW HAWKINS, PH.D., SENIOR PASTOR, THE VILLAGE CHURCH

I do miss the seasons. Most of us who are northern transplants miss the seasons.

Having spent 30+ years in West Virginia, I especially miss the fall. Not the summer—hazy, hot, humid. And especially not the winter—cold and gray, not to mention snow. But the fall—that’s the season when West Virginia is spectacular! The glories of the leaf colors are stunning!

It might be said that we don’t have seasons in Southwest Florida. That, of course, would not be altogether true. There is a dry season and a rainy season. And of course, there’s hurricane season.

We have a Royal Poinciana tree behind our home. When it blooms, it tells us what the season is. It starts to bloom in May. It’s in full bloom in the middle of summer. And usually there are still some blooms through October. May to October—hurricane season! When the Royal Poinciana tree blooms, we know it’s hurricane season.

Christianity has its seasons, too. Some seasons are quite fruitful. The Church expands throughout an entire continent or region. A springtime of growing spirituality is an exciting season for believers. The Church may also experience a summertime of faith—a fruitful time of spiritual prosperity ensues in which maturity flourishes, resulting in an equilibrium of stability and often cultural influence. Then there is autumn, when the leaves fall, influence wanes, and spiritual vitality diminishes. And winter. Hearts have grown cold, and fruitful Christ-followers are few and far between.

It happens at different times in different places. There are places on the planet that are enjoying the springtime of Christianity: Latin America and subSaharan Africa are exploding with new believers and churches. Then there are places where you would have to knock on 100 doors and be fortunate to find one Christian. Some of those places used to be bedrocks of faith. But the leaves have fallen, a spiritual winter has come.

What is the season for the Church in America? Well, it appears to be changing. We’ve enjoyed an incredible season of summer—churches dotting the landscapes of practically every locality—urban, suburban, rural—and plenty of cultural influence to go along with it.

But those days may be disappearing. The numbers of Americans who identify with a church, or even who identify as Christians, has dropped precipitously. As cultural institutions, churches aren’t what they used to be. And even more troubling is the trend toward antagonism and persecution in the academy, government, and even commerce. It may be hurricane season for the Church in America.

But the good news is that we’ve seen this movie before. The Church has existed and prevailed through every kind of season imaginable. Jesus promised, “... I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16.18)

That’s why, whatever the cultural circumstances, Paul tells Timothy, “... preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.” (2 Timothy 4.2)

So Church, be ready, stand firm, stay faithful—even if it is hurricane season!

Jesus promised, “... I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”

(Matthew 16.18)