Dear Northside
I have been back in the office for a week. It is good to be back. There is a lot going on and a lot that needs to be done. Please can I again encourage and challenge every person who calls themselves a Northsider to put their hand to the plow and help us build God’s church here at Northside (I know I have mixed my metaphors). As a church we are called to build. Jesus is building His church, and we get to partner with Him in this amazingly eternal project. And we are called to be farmers – preparing the soil, sowing the seed, watering, feeding, removing weeds, insects, diseases so the true seed can grow and produce a harvest. The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, therefore call on the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest field. May this not be true here at Northside, because everyone is playing their part, using their Spiritual Gifts, Heart passions, Abilities, Personality and Experiences (SHAPE). Did you notice another metaphor there – a body or a sports team? Please do not be a spectator, become an active part of the team! What SHAPE has God given you? What is God calling you to do for Him? Are you doing it?
We have brought our account with Zimra up to date. But we still owe NSSA for a few months. Please continue to give generously to the Lord and help us become debt free. Being in debt is not Godly and a bad witness.
School started this week. I hear parents celebrating. I also hear some students celebrating. Please pray for our school – Livingstones. We do need to increase our enrolment, so if you know of anyone looking for ECD or Junior school places for their children – refer them to us. Please pray for Livingstones ECD and Learning Centre. For us to be salt and light to our community but also develop living stones. Pry for all our children and all our schools in Zimbabwe as this is our future as a nation. Pray for ACSI that we support, that more schools would be helped to be more Christian and Biblical in all they do.
This also means that our children, youth and students/YAs ministries are starting. Help us to walk alongside our children, youth and YAs as they walk in the Spirit. We are always looking for people come and help us disciple our children and youth. Are you the person god placed here to help us in this area of Ministry?
I am looking forward to the next Newcomers Tea. If you are new to Northside over the past few years and never attended a Newcomers Tea – you are warmly invited to come. You will meet our pastors, some of our leaders and ministry teams and hear a bit about Northside – how we started and what makes us unique. If you want to come, please register with the Welcome Table or the church office so we cater for you. Whole families are welcome, especially children. We have a special program for them.
God bless, Pastor Gary