First Assembly of God Newsletter                                                                                            May/June 2011

Spring has finally arrived, and it would appear that summer and warm weather are just around the corner. The months of May and June are always a busy time, as
students are finishing up another year of school, and parents are busy planning for
summer activities with vacations, athletic events, camps etc. It is also a busy time here at First Assembly, and we want to make you aware of some upcoming events so you can plan your calendar accordingly.

May begins with guest Evangelist Gayle Brostowski ministering in both services on Sunday, May 1. Gayle is an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God, and has been an evangelist for over 16 years. She has ministered in most states east of the Mississippi River, and has
had the opportunity to hold meetings in Canada and Jamaica. She is an anointed speaker, and has an encouraging message for people of all ages. On May 8, we will be celebrating Mother's Day. We close out May with Evangelist Rick Rochkind ministering in the services on Sunday, May 22. Rick is a dynamic speaker, full of energy, and a gifted singer. He is no stranger to our congregation, and we look forward to having him.

Activities continue into the month of June with a church potluck dinner and music night scheduled for Sunday, June 5 at 6:00 p.m. We will be recognizing all graduates from high school and college on the morning of June 12. We will celebrate Father's Day on Sunday, June 19.

Mega Sports Camp will be held Monday, June 20 thru Friday, June 24. We are asking for sponsors to help with expenses. If you would like to help with a donation, please mark your tithing envelope 'Mega Sports Camp' and place it along with your donation in the offering. A suggested donation is $12.50, but any amount would be appreciated. The month of June closes out with 'Primal,' our district youth camp during the week of June 27 - July 1.

Our monthly meetings for the different departments of the church are as follows:

• Men's Breakfast on May 7th & June 4 at 7:30 a.m.
• Women's Fellowship is May 12 at 6:30 p.m. There will be NO June or July meetings. Watch the bulletin for more information.
• J.O.Y. Fellowship will be May 14. Please note that J.O.Y. Fellowship is now meeting every other month.

Be sure to check your weekly church bulletin for any updates or changes. We are making plans for Community Outreach events that will be scheduled in the upcoming months, and we will be in need of volunteers. Let's all work together in impacting our community with the gospel message.

—Pastor Jeff

One of the Christian authors I enjoy reading is Brian Kluth (www.kluth.org). His focus is on practical ways Christians can increase their generosity to God's work. This month I would like to share with you some of his thoughts on giving that I recently read.

All Christians should make it a priority to faithfully support the work of their local church first with 10% or more of their income. After that, offerings can and should be given to other Christian causes, projects, missions, etc., as God leads. If you are struggling in the area of tithing you are encouraged to test God as He invites us to do in Malachi 3:10. For 90 days give 10% of your income to the Lord's work and watch to see if He does not begin working in your life in ways you have never experienced before. If you experience God's blessings during those 90 days, then joyfully continue giving 10% or more to the Lord's work.

Following are a few simple suggestions to make giving to God a priority: 1) Whenever you get any money, set aside 10% or more to give to God's work. 2) Every time you make a deposit into your account, make the first check to God's work for 10% or more. 3) If you track your finances through a bookkeeping system, set up a category for church giving and one for other Christian causes. Then begin to faithfully set aside 10% or more of your income into these accounts.

What about the age old question of whether to tithe off of your gross or net income? Proverbs 3:9 tells us to honor God with the first fruits of all our increase. First fruits would seem to indicate tithing off of gross income before taxes and other deductions are taken into account. If you don't have a peace about this then you should begin by tithing 10% of your net income for a few months. If you experience God's divine care in your life then begin to give 10% or more of your gross income and see if you don't reap even more blessings. Read Proverbs 3:10 and Malachi 3:10 to see what God promises to do for those that honor Him with their tithes and offerings. Faithful tithers will tell you that there is truth in the saying that it is impossible to out give God.

If you have fallen behind in your giving to God's work, you will never regret the decision to "get right" in this area. Make it a matter of prayer and see how God would direct you in "making it up." We should all strive to be like the elderly lady in her 90's who sent a tithe check to her church along with a note that said, "I want to be prayed up, paid up, and ready to go."

—Steve Parsons