When you have pastored the same church for over 10 years it is great when former attender’s stop by when visiting over the holidays.
Ben Longberg, and his new wife Kelly, showed up this past Sunday. Typical Ben, he showed up late for the 11:30 service, and we weren’t even having one that day!
Ben and Kelly Longberg, with Pastor Mark and Sarah Lehman
Ben Longberg, circa 2002
As we look back on 2010, we realize that without the grace and salvation from our Savior Jesus Christ, we would have nothing. Without great friends and family, we would have even less.
We look forward to connecting with you (in person, Facebook, etc.) somehow someway in 2011.
Lehman’s Top Events of 2010
We blog weekly, many of the items above have been communicated in greater detail, with pictures and video at: www.markandsarahlehman.blogspot.com.
It is our hope and prayer that each of you grow in the knowledge and depth of love of our Savior Jesus Christ, whose birth gave us freedom from sin, purpose for living and hope of a future.
Richest blessings!
Mark, Sarah, and Conner
1511 South College – Pittsburg, KS – 66762
mark@pastor.com 620-249-3035 sarah@lehman.net 620-704-4755
Had some great food, fun, and even some photographic moments.
Pics below.
FLAG is proud of Kyle Johnson and all of his on and off the mat accomplishments.
This video is am amazing communication of the Coming of the Lord.
The LifeGroup led by Bob and Sandy Boys and Don and Shari Kimrey reached out to Bob’s neighbor, Melva Malcom, with a ministry of yard work.
Way to be salt and light!
Tyler, Anthony, Sarah, and myself are at an amazing leadership conference in Atlanta, GA from Tue-Sat called Catalyst.
I attended 4 sessions of Labs today, (workshop sessions) and am looking forward to the main sessions tomorrow.
I will share all my notes soon, but thought I would share a quick note from the first one I attended today.
Michael Hyatt – CEO Thomas Nelson – Top Blogger
If you want to influence, you need a platform.
Platform, not a pedestal to elevate yourself, but a platform to extend your influence
without vision, technology is useless, with vision, priceless
Today we launched phase 2 of a Bible reading emphasis we started in the Fall of 2009.
Last Fall we focused on the essential 50 passages of the Old Testament. This Fall we are doing the New Testament.
We are adapting a program called the E100 from Scripture Union.
In preparing this message introducing this I was looking for good Bible sources for people. Audio bibles, online bibles, etc.
Many are familiar with www.youversion.com, on the web or on your phone.
Some know about www.faithcomesbyhearing.com for audio Bibles that you can download.
But have you heard about www.bible.is? I love this! It can be on your Iphone or Android smartphone, or on Facebook.
Yes, Bible.is let’s you read the Bible text, but, and here is the game changer, Bible.is allows you to listen to an audio bible while following along with the written text.
You gotta check this out. They even have a Facebook app! Drop Farmville and give Bible.is a shot!
It is so fun to give money away!
Yesterday FLAG gave a tithe, 10%, on the first $25,000 that came in from our Building Tomorrow Together Capital Giving Campaign.
This check for $2,500 was given to Wheat State Campgrounds.
Darin Stroud, Kansas Assemblies of God Youth Director Wheat State Camp received the check and spoke concerning of all the great things that happen each year at camp.
Our first tithe, off of our First Fruits offering, was to Vie Medical Clinic, a local crisis pregnancy clinic, back in April. It was for $3,500.
Let’s do more!
1680 bottles of water at Little Balkans Days
+ 728 hot dogs at PSU Chi Alpha Tailgate outreach
+ 40 hearing message at PSU Football team pre game chapel
= 2500 direct touches with the love and message of Christ plus many indirect touches.
Also - $$$ raised for missions by youth working PSU concessions stands.
STATS:
336 (bwph)
182 (hdph)
We have just started encouraging people to post in their Facebook status that they are at FLAG church and to encourage their friends to tune in online.
Look what I found when I was navigating to the FLAG Church Facebook page.
Thanks for all of the Facebook love!
Family Life believes in the practice of the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit as taught in 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14, and most specifically in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 and 14:26-32.
The most frequent uses of these gifts are the verbal gifts of “a word of prophecy” and an “utterance in tongues with interpretation.”
We were able to capture and transcribe a recent demonstration in one of our services. 1 Corinthians 14:29 tells us to “weigh carefully what was said” in the use of these gifts.
Utterance and Interpretation
8/31/2010 – 10:00 service
You are my sheep
You are my sheep now
I love my sheep
And I want you to be safe
And be free
When Family Life started in October 1993 they had no resources.
The core of 20 people had been removed from their previous church through incorrect use of church discipline.
The Assemblies of God district leadership asked this core to start a new church, indicating their disapproval of the previous church’s disciplinary measures.
Most of this 20 person core had invested for decades their heart and finances into the previous church they had been removed from. They now found themselves scrounging by on the meager resources they had on hand.
In 2009 the former church they had been removed from closed. As the assets were being liquidated district leadership found it proper to direct much of the remaining assets to Family Life to help fund our new building efforts.
Announced today, Family Life received earlier this summer two checks equaling $90,000 of assets remaining from the previous church.
These funds, separate from the $300,000 the current congregation pledged to give over the next 3 years in the Building Tomorrow Together Campaign, have been deposited and will be used for Phase 2 building needs.
We thank God for the graciousness of the Kansas Assemblies of God District Leadership and God’s hand in the timing of this financial event.
Notably, these resources and the decisions accompanying them did not occur until Family Life made efforts to step out in faith to raise $300,000.
If God can get it through you, He can get it to you.
Here is the video that I showed in service today.
The amazing Washington Post article is here.
Remember: You must take advantage of the opportunity of a lifetime during the lifetime of the opportunity.
Choose Christ!
Sorry that this video didn’t work well this Sunday.
Below is what you should have seen.
We start this Wed, August 4th, at John Pimentel’s house.
![4831663344_0b37ae07c0_b[1]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVLJO4EipOZgPpJXW3W0X3UD292fm5Euw-Oih-1v35QAztLqNYVX0TM9gdfNFcesaL3AqYtVbLX54aFlDzvNkf0zpFIfuj9janB8FhqOqnL7pLgvvEb7KHDCNjf6ywlEg-hI017tfCjaCc/s1600-h/4831663344_0b37ae07c0_b%5B1%5D%5B3%5D.jpg "4831663344_0b37ae07c0_b[1]")
Yesterday was a full day at the church with an outdoor water baptism service at the park, a picnic, and a golf tournament.
Weather was amazing, attendance was great, and I actually won the golf tournament!
Highlight is the Water Baptism Service. Quick thoughts:
So cool to . . .
As part of Men’s Month we held our Men’s Wednesday LifeGroup at LifeTrack church to help them on their new building.
We cleaned out their brush by the highway, loaded a dump truck with construction waste, and blessed their pastor Brian Thomason (right in red shirt) with a “shot in the arm.”
Well, the fish are pretty safe.
The numbers:
When you hand out (with a bunch of great volunteers) 2,500 bottles of water in a span of about 30 hours you meet a lot of people.
Some were in town for a day, some have lived here for their entire life. Many I know casually after living in town for 10 years.
Other’s that I hopefully expect will be people that will someday make a decision to visit our church.
Here are some of the people I met, and had the chance to sow seed into their lives:
The video’s from this past Sunday’s Father’s Day Message – Step Up To The Plate are below, in order.
We showed a video, then taught on it for 5 minutes.
You can watch the message here.
We gave away the baseball pat pen below to each man to remind them to “Step Into It.”
Below are the pictures from the Father/Daughter Date Night.
Enjoy!
With water balloons and appropriate launcher Goliath was taken down and Father’s Day appreciation efforts were under way this past Sunday. Pics below!
Found this in my office on May 19, 2010, my 25 year anniversary of my salvation! Thank you M’Pact girls!
![4607312458_ebe5e3f4e2_o[1]](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWq3BKOIW2-7ntCo5VNiCUeYA4ZYQnGIumtSdwn4ohvJgwoA7nGXljSX5uJbYfv32LffFH_VbPyr6rFSyTEov86xElYDk0FY8i_7sdskXUD2ynzwRH_6M-X7bDti2u56GKndgRHfQv8wY/s1600-h/4607312458_ebe5e3f4e2_o%5B1%5D%5B3%5D.jpg "4607312458_ebe5e3f4e2_o[1]")
I asked the men to grade me, on the content, not the delivery.
Grades: A = 37 B = 10 C = 3 D = 1
Next time Tyler doesn’t get a vote!
John Sheward is mourning the passing of his wonderful wife, Sherry Sheward, who went to be with the Lord in her sleep Monday night.
Sherry, age 58 was a passionate worshipper of Jesus and always had something positive to say.
As expected, John is heartsick. They had been married 34 years.
We ask the congregation of Family Life to pray for be prepared to bless and support this family.
There will be a funeral service held at Brenner mortuary on Friday, May 14, at 10:00 am.
The full obituary is currently listed here.
NOTE: Their address is 206 West Euclid, Pittsburg, KS 66762, if you desire to send a card.
Just had this sent to me. With all the teachers in the church, perhaps you or someone you know could use this information.
I saw this today and thought I would pass it on to you. I didn't know if there might be someone in the church that would be interested in this.
College Heights Christian School
Job Summary
Company College Heights Christian School
Location 64801
Industries Education
Job Type Full Time Employee
Career Level Entry Level
Job Reference Code 83112371
Christian Teachers – College Heights Christian School is accepting applications for Christian teachers in the subject areas of Computer Application half-time or full-time and Physical Education K-12th grade with coaching assignments. Requirements include teacher certification in the state of Missouri in appropriate subject area, strong spiritual life and the love of teaching and students! Please send a letter of application and resume to: Superintendent, College Heights Christian School, 4311 East Newman Road, Joplin, MO 64801.
Tyler and Juli had the privilege of baptizing Liz Kester and Briana Baker last Sunday at a Chi Alpha gathering.
We applaud both Liz and Briana for following Jesus Christ!
Liz’s picture is first.
Are you missing any of these items?
Click the slideshow button and view the 6 slides.
Claim them before they are given to a good home.
Family Life believes in the practice of the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit as taught in 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14, and most specifically in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 and 14:26-32.
The most frequent uses of these gifts are the verbal gifts of “a word of prophecy” and an “utterance in tongues with interpretation.”
We were able to capture and transcribe a recent demonstration in one of our services. 1 Corinthians 14:29 tells us to “weigh carefully what was said” in the use of these gifts.
Utterance and Interpretation
4/11/2010 – 11:30 service
I call out
I call out
I call out to you
My people
I call out and need you to answer me says the Lord
Answer me and I will fill you
I will full you as full as you open up for me says the Lord
I will give you whatever it is that you desire
Open your hearts to me and answer
Answer my cry out to you
Says the Lord
For my first fruits I gave all the money I had at that time it was $4.00 I was saving that money for tabs for my bible but Dad told me the story about the women that only had two cents and gave all of that money she had but the rich people just gave a little bit of their money and kept more to themselves and God saw that that little old lady gave all she had and the rich people just gave a little bit and was selfish and that lady was the most blessed because she gave all she had.
And Mom told me if you are faithful to God , God will be faithful to you. and two days later I was just playing in the ditch at my Grandma and Grandpas/Mimi and papas and I found $20.00 in the ditch and then i found that faithfulness from God. God did supply for me and my family.
I know this has nothing to do about this but my grandma has a sign that says'' Faith isn't believing that God can. It's knowing that God will.''
Love Trinity Marie Compton
Misty Navaratnam, our Nursery Coordinator, lined up some great activities for our children this past Sunday.
Under the direction of Amy Campbell, here is what they did!
I am amazed at the commitment of God’s people, specifically the people that I get to pastor.
Stacking bricks signifying $20,000 a piece we stacked 15 bricks indicating a total of $302,000 already given and/or Faith Promised over the next 3 years!
If someone had told me this would be the result I would have thought that they were dreaming, or smoking something.
$36,500 of the $302,000 was the First Fruits offering that was given last Sunday. We were able to give a tithe of that, $3,650, to Vie Medical Clinic, a local Crisis Pregnancy Center this morning.
Feeling pretty tired, and thankful.
This morning at church we culminated a 6 week emphasis by receiving 3 year Faith Promises toward a future building as well as receiving a one time First Fruits offering.
It is a blessing to pastor people willing to give. Phooey. It is just a blessing to hang around people who are generous!
Most who know me would expect that this Type A detail freak would know the amounts Faith Promised before I left church that day. But I will find out when everyone else does, at the end of the 8:30 service on Easter Sunday.
Want to join us?
You can give your tax deductible donation securely with a credit card through Paypal at www.flagchurch.com by clicking “Give.”
You can also mail in a donation to:
FLAG Church
1234 North Rouse
Pittsburg, KS 66762
From Matt and Shawna Compton
We decided as a family for our first fruits offering we would start small and see what God would have us do.
We decided to put Shawna's tip money from haircuts towards this gift; and in a couple days she had $14.
We thank God greatly for his provisions because three days later there was a $140 dollar bonus on my paycheck.
We started small and God is helping us along. We are having to do a little catch-up from last year my hours being cut to 32 hours. Even when we were down about our finances, God provided. He has done so much for us and we are glad to help further his kingdom.
We challenge everyone to see what you can do no matter how small and see what God will do with your life and through your finances.
Be strong and do not put him in a box, step out on faith believing that our God is greater and will see all of us through this according to his will.
True faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains, not figuratively, mountains will move (Matthew 17:20). Believe with this faith.
I have been blessed to have had the same pastor in my life for the past 25 years.
Pastor John Bunney was the pastor of Christian Heritage Assembly of God when I committed my life to Christ on May 19, 1985.
He planted the church about 7 years earlier and stayed there until his “retirement” for a total of 25 years.
I have sought his counsel at every major juncture in my life. Going to Bible College, a job situation at Bible College, marriage, ministry positions, and we can point to a time and place when he prayed for us concerning our infertility. Conner was born 9 months later.
Recently Conner and I visited Cleveland and had the chance to have lunch with him and his wife, Sue. He is now 81 years old and still teaching in churches on weekends.
I thank God for my pastor.
Is this what you have been praying for?
Contact Anthony Navaratnam at 704-3903.
Here is installment 2 of our Mini-Movie series concerning the Legacy of Family Life Assembly of God.
In the early afternoon of Wednesday March 3rd, God told Don Stewart, "You are closer to my house than yours, come on up."
At age 74, Don was found next to his tractor, with his toothpick still in his mouth, passed away from an apparent sudden heart attack.
His wife Shirley, as expected, is heart-stricken, but fully trusting God.
We ask the congregation of Family Life to pray for be prepared to bless and support this family.
There will be a Celebration of Life service held at Family Life on Sunday, at 4:30 pm.
NOTE: Their address is 231 West 630th Ave, Girard, KS 66743, if you desire to send a card.
I have sensed so much more attack from the Enemy as we have pursued this endeavor. Must be on the right track.
We have made a series of videos on the history of our church to encourage people to stretch out their faith and pioneer again.
First installment, shown below, was premiered to the congregation this morning.
It is better than any in house video of a church under 1,000 I have ever seen. I have seen a lot.
Give it 4 minutes and tell me what you think.
This is the video showing the original 22 signatures of the “Let’s Start FLAG” document.
Family Life believes in the practice of the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit as taught in 1 Corinthians chapters 12-14, and most specifically in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11 and 14:26-32.
The most frequent uses of these gifts are the verbal gifts of “a word of prophecy” and an “utterance in tongues with interpretation.”
We were able to capture and transcribe a recent demonstration in one of our services. 1 Corinthians 14:29 tells us to “weigh carefully what was said” in the use of these gifts.
Utterance and Interpretation
2/21/2010 – 10:00 service
For I would have you know that I am gathering My sheep
There is a time and a place for everything
This is the time to stretch out
To give yourself before Me
You will be blessed, you will receive
Sow your seed and you will see a great and mighty harvest
Sow your seed and you will see many souls won for the kingdom of heaven
(The rest of the recording is lower quality and the transcription is partial)
You are living in forever, let this moment, you are in forever
You have the time that you need these things, says the Lord
You walk in forever
Remember this as you walk in the day
That you walk in ________, and have time
Take the time to listen
Let my Holy Spirit speak to you says the Lord
Take the time, listen
Do not move or do anything too quickly
Here are the responses our church shared concerning the above question:
Seth and Sarah Baker were part of Family Life from 2000 until 2007. They adopted Malachi in 2008 and yesterday gave birth to twins Ava Reese and Quinn Reid.
We rejoice with God’s blessing in their lives.
Read the details and view their whole story with better pics at their blog located here.
Over $1,000 was given today toward Haiti relief efforts at FLAG. More funds are sure to come in.
The organization we are using, Convoy Of Hope, through the Assemblies of God, was already in a strategic place before this tragedy happened.
Mart Green, part of the ownership of Hobby Lobby, shares his experience concerning fasting.
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