www.westcourtchurch.org 1

A publication of West Court Street Church of God

West Court’s Vision: Engaging West Flint

Last fall, this space was devoted to looking more closely at our mission statement. For the next few months we will take time to explore the various parts of West Court’s Vision Statement which is:

Engaging West Flint Bringing Hope

Living Better Stories -Together-

The word engage means “to give attention to something or take part in something.” Jesus was an expert at engagement. Pick almost any narrative of Jesus and you will discover a man who mastered the practice of being present and attentive to the people and circumstances around Him.

No matter where a congregation finds themselves, they need to be practicing engagement. For us at West Court, we have chosen to remain in our current location, and therefore, we have a responsibility as a gathered people to engage the community in which we find ourselves.

For our purposes, West Flint is defined as the community that fills the 1-mile radius around our church building. Within this one-mile radius, you will find residential subdivisions, 2 Flint public elementary schools, a university, a hospital, a cemetery with rich history, 2 nursing homes, 4 city parks, around 11 church congregations, and varied businesses which include a fish market, barber shops, a used book store, and numerous restaurants.

Continued on page 2

The West Court Contact

2 Pastoral Search Team

2 Birthdays/Anniversaries

3 Consultation Update

4 Special Events

Supplement Page

Food Pantry Experience By Eliana Christiansen

January Calendar

Food Pantry Ministry 2015 Year End Statistics

This year our food pantry has been busier than ever. By and far the majority of families we serve come due to situational poverty. This means that there is a gap in their food benefits, a job loss, car repairs or illness/hospitalizations that require the food money to go elsewhere. Couple that with extremely high water bills in the city means that the need for food assistance keeps growing.

In 2015, we served a total of 839 persons of which almost half were children. Last year we served more than any other year since our pantry has opened by a margin of 200 persons.

Thank you for your financial support of this vital ministry to our community. You are Bringing Hope!

JANUARY 2016

A publication of West Court Street Church of God What’s INSIDE

www.westcourtchurch.org 2

can find the courage to tell the truth of those stories, we can change the broken spirit of humanity.

Matt is married to Heather and has two daughters, Chloe and Evalee.

Within this one-mile circle live 13,068 people that make up just over 5400 households. Demographics of these households include racial diversity (58% white and 33% black) and an above average amount of single, divorced, or widowed individuals. (The number of singles moms in this 1-mile radius is more than double the national average.)

These statistics, as well as others, can aid us in understanding the neighborhood in which we find ourselves and should serve to better

inform the ways we engage our community.

If we are to fulfill our vision to Engage West Flint we need to give our attention to and to take part in what unfolds in the geographic area of this 1-mile radius. We believe that God is asking us to be present in this neighborhood as Jesus would - aware and ready to engage the world around us. God is calling us to give our attention to this small in size, but big in need area we call West Flint.

May we dare to be a people that lives as Jesus did - ready to give our attention and take part in the life of this neighborhood. May we rise to the challenge to be a congregation engaging West Flint.

If you have started attending

West Court in the last year, you

are invited to join Pastors Paul

and Niki and other ministry

leaders for a special luncheon in

the Fellowship Hall.

Besides eating some good food

there will be an opportunity to get

to know people in our

congregation and be introduced

to some ways you might want to

be involved here at West Court.

…Engaging West Flint, continued from page 1

Matt Bays is an author and speaker from Indianapolis, whose first book, FINDING GOD IN THE RUINS: How God Redeems Pain will be released nationally in March of 2016.

Most of his ministry focuses on brokenness, recovery and healing. He firmly believes that our best stories live in our secrets. And if we

JANUARY 2016

Matt Bays, guest speaker

Sunday, January 24th at 10:45AM

The West Court Contact

1 Carolyn Anderson 6 Michelle Bavar (13) 8 Jake Smith Josh Smith 10 Brandon Skarl (6) 11 Adam Smith (16) 12 Melissa Smith (13) 13 Angelina Bavar (12) 14 Moriah Christiansen (7) 15 Carol & Bill Ward (56) 17 Sue Freeman 20 Richard & Marcia Whaley (14) Ron Smith Gail Bigler 26 Marsha Ramsey Dorothy Hopton 28 Chip Whitfield 31 Bradlee Clegg

PASTORAL SEARCH TEAM The Leadership Team is glad to introduce you to the newly formed Pastoral Search Team: Gail Bigler (LT Rep), Ben Dumas, Liz Taebel, Millie Whiteley, Ryan Walker (LT Rep).

Their task is to find and present the candidate to fill the position as our next Senior Pastor. Please be in prayer for them as they begin their work in finding the person God is preparing and calling to serve as the next senior leader at West Court.

Sunday, January 31

12 noon

www.westcourtchurch.org 3

The West Court Contact JANUARY 2016

Consultation Update

As we wrap up 2015, the Leadership Team (LT) wishes to recognize the dedication of Alycia Dolan, Liz Taebel, and Kim Murdough as they conclude their service on the LT on December 31st.

The 2016 Leadership Team will begin January 1st operating under the newly approved governance structure. The purpose of this team, per the new bylaws, is to:

Provide spiritual leadership to the congregation.

Support the vision of the church.

Hold the senior pastor accountable for the ministries of the church

Continually seek the will of God for the overall purpose and direction of the congregation through bible study, prayer, and consultation.

2016 Leadership Team members: Gail Bigler, Chair

Trea Poe, Vice-Chair Bradlee Clegg, Secretary

Stephanie Bigler Chris Walker Ryan Walker

Pastors Paul & Niki Christiansen

January will close out the 2nd year of a 3-year

consultation process with the Church of God in Michigan. Each objective identified in the 2015 Consultation

Covenant has been completed. The Consultation Team will be drafting a 3rd (and final) year covenant for the LT

to review around February.

This year has brought many changes and many changes are still to come as we implement new bylaws and pursue vision. The Leadership Team reaffirms their desire to see

this congregation flourish as we pursue the plans God

has for us. As always, please share questions, thoughts

and ideas with leadership. We want to hear from you. Let

us know how we might help you!

Ways to Pray for the Consultation Process

God’s favor for West Court & the West Flint community

Leadership recruitment and development

First-time commitments to follow Jesus

Dear West Court Church,

It has been a real joy working with you this past year as your consultation coach. We have seen many positive things happen during this process. It all began with the church deciding that God has called this church to this community and not to move to a new location. That decision is one that started new outreaches and care ministries in the community. Mission and Vision statements have been clarified, ministries have been evaluated, new by-laws have been written and adopted, governance structure has been taught and is now starting implementation, and many community outreach events have helped the church get out in the community and the community get into your church. Connections are being made in the community that are building some great ministry opportunities. What a busy year!

Much thanks needs to go to Paul and Nicole for being willing to serve as your interim pastors. They have done a marvelous job at being your leader, helping the church get outward focused, and leading in ministering to the community. God is at work and the church has a new leadership team, a Pastoral Search Team, and some new life heading into this new year. I believe that God will do some amazing things in this church and through this church in the year to come.

Your coach,

Pastor John

www.westcourtchurch.org 4

Kids Leadership Club

Kids Leadership Club is for kids ages 10 and up who want to explore their faith and cultivate their leadership skills. We will be tackling tough questions about Christianity through the use of the Bible, personal interviews, and technology. The group will meet every other Sunday evening from 5:00PM to 6:00PM starting January 17th at the home of Todd & Stephanie Bigler. For more information, contact Melissa Gallagher at 810.449.6547.

Living the Dream Concert Come celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Calvary United Methodist Church on Monday, January 18th at 5:00PM for a free concert featuring Rev. Melvin Hamilton, the Eastern Michigan University Gospel Choir, the Anointed Angels Gospel Group of Saginaw, and our very own West Court Worship Choir along with many other choirs and performers from around the State.

Calvary United Methodist Church is located at 2111 Flushing Road in Flint. For more information or for free transportation, contact Pastor Duane Thomas, Sr. at 517.883.3819 or dwthomas@glcc.edu.

The West Court Contact

JANUARY 2016

A God-Seeking Community Sharing the Life and Love of Jesus

2920 West Court Street Flint, MI 48503

Website: .westcourtchurch.org Facebook Page: facebook.com/westcourtchurch

E-mail: contact@westcourtchurch.org Phone: 810.238.2631

If you would like to support the church’s efforts in engaging West Flint, bringing hope and living better

stories together, donations are accepted on our website or just scan our QR code: