2002 Congregation President's Report
In my four years as your president I have never had such a hard time getting started on the President's report. It must be because I feel a need to pen a good-bye to Pastor Matt and Kari. I will not dwell on the progress on the post-fire renovation because of all the updates printed throughout the year.
The following is dedicated to Matt and Kari.
All the Friedens family will have a void in their lives when Matt and Kari leave on January 12. We all know this is God's plan for your lives so we have no right to question the move. (Psalm 16:9 "I have set the Lord always before me. Because He is my right hand, I will not be shaken"). In the past three years, I, for one, have grown to think of Matt as a good and caring friend. There have been many times he helped me through a weak moment, and they come often. My thoughts and prayers along with all the prayers of Friedens family, go with you both on your new walk with God. Think of us often and return for a visit soon. My special prayer for Matt is to become a teacher of the Word and spread God's Word to tens-of-thousands of people, and to Kari, I pray that you will always support, protect, and love Him and that all of your personal prayers and expectations will be fulfilled. May God richly bless both of you in your new endeavors.
In this letter I would like to include some paragraphs and quotes that deserve your prayerful consideration. From J.C. Maxwell's book Qualities of a Leader:
"If we obey God with dedication and creativity in our evangelism attempts, then we are successful in His sight, no matter the results. If however We experience no positive results over an extended period of time we must reevaluate our methods and motives."
"We are constantly on a stretch to devise new plans, new methods, new organizations to advance the church and secure enlargement and efficiency of the gospel. This trend of the day has the tendency to lose sight of the man or to sink the man in the plan or organization. God's plan is to make much of the man, far more of him than anything else. Men are God's methods, the church is looking for better methods, God is looking for better men."
Quotes from Martin Luther – His Words and Works:
"If we obey God with dedication and creativity in our evangelism attempts, then we are successful in His sight, no matter the results. If however we experience no positive results over an extended period of time we must reevaluate our methods and motives."
We need more dedicated people to say yes to the light of Jesus Christ and put their faith into action. Philippians 2:4-5 "Each of you should not look to your own interests, but the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ."
I would offer the prayer for the church from the apostle Paul in Ephesians 1:17-19. "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the Glorious Father, may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great powers like the working of His mighty strength."
Congregation President
— Ray Schwinn
Who We Are | Ministries | Location | Services | Resources
Prayer | Archives | Contact Us | Site Map | Home
Copyright © 1999-2003 – Friedens Evangelical Church
454 N. Milwaukee Street, Port Washington, WI 53074
(262) 284-2471