Messages from our Pastor
NOV
F
FEBRUARY 2022 NEWSLETTER
What is IGNITE? The IGNITE Initiative is a two-year generosity initiative through which we
will fully resource FUMC Andalusia’s 2022 and 2023 ministry plans while simultaneously
cutting our current indebtedness in half. As we IGNITE spiritual growth in our generosity
inwardly, we seek to IGNITE spiritual impact in our community outwardly. We want every
person who calls FUMC Andalusia “their church home” to be part of this IGNITE Initiative.
Now is the time that we come together and heighten the unity of our church around advancing
this vision and mission.
IGNITE Initiative has three main goals:
1. 100% participation for everyone who calls FUMC Andalusia their church home. Every act of
generosity moves us closer to our total goals.
2. To increase our annual budget to $650,000 per year to fully resource our church’s 2022 & 2023
ministry vision.
3. To cut our total indebtedness in half from the building and renovations, we want to retire
$500,000 over a two-year period. Servicing this debt allows us the financial freedom to put
those dollars currently going toward the debt to be used in tangible ministry areas of our
church.
We can do this… but we can only do it together. How can you be a part of this generosity
initiative?
PRAY – that God will work in the hearts of His people at FUMC Andalusia and that we will
listen with the intent to obey.
GIVE – The primary goal of this initiative is 100% participation. That begins with your decision
to listen to God and make a sacrificial commitment to this IGNITE Initiative that will take your
faith to a whole new level in your generosity.
SUPPORT – We also need you to stand with us in support of this initiative and lend your
influence to others to do the same.
CELEBRATE – God is going to do some amazing things as we launch this initiative. Let’s be
poised and ready to celebrate all of these in a big way!
KEY DATES
will fully resource FUMC Andalusia’s 2022 and 2023 ministry plans while simultaneously
cutting our current indebtedness in half. As we IGNITE spiritual growth in our generosity
inwardly, we seek to IGNITE spiritual impact in our community outwardly. We want every
person who calls FUMC Andalusia “their church home” to be part of this IGNITE Initiative.
Now is the time that we come together and heighten the unity of our church around advancing
this vision and mission.
IGNITE Initiative has three main goals:
1. 100% participation for everyone who calls FUMC Andalusia their church home. Every act of
generosity moves us closer to our total goals.
2. To increase our annual budget to $650,000 per year to fully resource our church’s 2022 & 2023
ministry vision.
3. To cut our total indebtedness in half from the building and renovations, we want to retire
$500,000 over a two-year period. Servicing this debt allows us the financial freedom to put
those dollars currently going toward the debt to be used in tangible ministry areas of our
church.
We can do this… but we can only do it together. How can you be a part of this generosity
initiative?
PRAY – that God will work in the hearts of His people at FUMC Andalusia and that we will
listen with the intent to obey.
GIVE – The primary goal of this initiative is 100% participation. That begins with your decision
to listen to God and make a sacrificial commitment to this IGNITE Initiative that will take your
faith to a whole new level in your generosity.
SUPPORT – We also need you to stand with us in support of this initiative and lend your
influence to others to do the same.
CELEBRATE – God is going to do some amazing things as we launch this initiative. Let’s be
poised and ready to celebrate all of these in a big way!
KEY DATES
February 20 – Our Launch Date at 11 am
March 9 – Advance Commitment Service at 6:15 pm
April 10 – Celebration Sunday at 11 am
March 9 – Advance Commitment Service at 6:15 pm
April 10 – Celebration Sunday at 11 am
NOVEMBER 2021 NEWSLETTER
I sit in my home at night not worried about the threat of foreign armies taking our land by force.
As I work each day, I do not live in fear of military coups and tactics of an oppressive regime.
When I worship each Sunday, my mind does not race with anxiety of a government which
suppresses and forbids my freedom of worship. I do not live in fear because I know an
American Soldier is standing guard in a foreign land, or preparing a fighter jet to defend the
airspace, or a sailor is hundreds of feet below the ocean searching for threats to my country. We
are living in the most desired nation in the world thanks to our servicemen and servicewomen
who have answered the call to stand in defense and protection of our values. As we salute and
give thanks to these men and women, let us not forget their spouses who have stayed diligent in
the home raising children, paying bills, the cooking/cleaning and waiting for their loved one to
come back after long tours of duty often from dangerous locations.
Thank you, Veterans, for your sacrifice, and your commitment to God and country. We are a
nation of great people because of your great honor to duty and willingness to stand as the first
line of defense against tyranny and oppression. We honor you and give thanks.
As I work each day, I do not live in fear of military coups and tactics of an oppressive regime.
When I worship each Sunday, my mind does not race with anxiety of a government which
suppresses and forbids my freedom of worship. I do not live in fear because I know an
American Soldier is standing guard in a foreign land, or preparing a fighter jet to defend the
airspace, or a sailor is hundreds of feet below the ocean searching for threats to my country. We
are living in the most desired nation in the world thanks to our servicemen and servicewomen
who have answered the call to stand in defense and protection of our values. As we salute and
give thanks to these men and women, let us not forget their spouses who have stayed diligent in
the home raising children, paying bills, the cooking/cleaning and waiting for their loved one to
come back after long tours of duty often from dangerous locations.
Thank you, Veterans, for your sacrifice, and your commitment to God and country. We are a
nation of great people because of your great honor to duty and willingness to stand as the first
line of defense against tyranny and oppression. We honor you and give thanks.
OCTOBER 2021 NEWSLETTER
One of my favorite movies is Dead Poets Society (1989) featuring Robin Williams as the English
professor, Mr. John Keating. There are several memorable lines in the movie, but perhaps the
most memorable one is “Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”
Those words, Carpe diem, or seize the day, speaks to our basic desire to squeeze every precious
event in order to quench our insatiable thirst for life at its fullest. I think we all want to swing for
the fences, slide our chips to the center and say “All in”, or do something that we know is really
beyond our normal capacity. But fear of failure often freezes us into complacency and
mediocrity. How do we live above and beyond the normal?
First, we have to believe there is something worth risking it all for in the hope we might win the
prize, gain the reward, share in the glory, or experience the euphoria of success. If we do not
believe there is some great cause, then we probably will never reach for a grand cause. And to
be honest, a life lived without the expectation of something great is a life bidding our time living
in mediocrity. Also, we have to believe that something within us is able to expand our world to
accomplish far more than we would normally do. This phenomenon explains how world-class
athletes are able to push the boundaries of world records. Through training and discipline, these
athletes strive for greater heights, longer distances and faster times. But a lot of athletes do the
same and they never set world records… so where’s the difference? It’s found in their inner
drive – something that motivates them to excel far beyond their normal limits. The Apostle Paul
wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Here is a
person who was shipwrecked, imprisoned, beaten, had a price on his head and was mistrusted by
many. It would have been easy to throw in the towel and give up. But the love of Christ
compelled him to push forward and in doing so, his name became synonymous with the start of
the church. Do you have challenges before you that seem to be insurmountable? Does life
seemed to be stacked against you? When you choose to live your life with Jesus as the center of
all your decisions, you will experience a life that is extraordinary. This is not just a word for
those who have hopes of changing the world through ministry and mission to thousands of
people… it is a word of encouragement to the mom who is balancing work, home-life, getting
kids bathed, and homework completed. It is to the father who is trying to work hours to get his
family ahead financially, keeping up chores at home, being the daily present father and focusing
on his spiritual life. Life is a vampire, and if we are not careful the tyranny of the urgent will
keep us from devoting our time on that which is really important. Do you want to grow deeper
in your relationship with Christ? Attend church, talk with a person of faith, spend time praying
for a new heart and a new mind. Carpe diem… seize the day… don’t live an ordinary life –
make it extraordinary! – Bro. Ken, October Newsletter
professor, Mr. John Keating. There are several memorable lines in the movie, but perhaps the
most memorable one is “Carpe diem. Seize the day, boys. Make your lives extraordinary.”
Those words, Carpe diem, or seize the day, speaks to our basic desire to squeeze every precious
event in order to quench our insatiable thirst for life at its fullest. I think we all want to swing for
the fences, slide our chips to the center and say “All in”, or do something that we know is really
beyond our normal capacity. But fear of failure often freezes us into complacency and
mediocrity. How do we live above and beyond the normal?
First, we have to believe there is something worth risking it all for in the hope we might win the
prize, gain the reward, share in the glory, or experience the euphoria of success. If we do not
believe there is some great cause, then we probably will never reach for a grand cause. And to
be honest, a life lived without the expectation of something great is a life bidding our time living
in mediocrity. Also, we have to believe that something within us is able to expand our world to
accomplish far more than we would normally do. This phenomenon explains how world-class
athletes are able to push the boundaries of world records. Through training and discipline, these
athletes strive for greater heights, longer distances and faster times. But a lot of athletes do the
same and they never set world records… so where’s the difference? It’s found in their inner
drive – something that motivates them to excel far beyond their normal limits. The Apostle Paul
wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Here is a
person who was shipwrecked, imprisoned, beaten, had a price on his head and was mistrusted by
many. It would have been easy to throw in the towel and give up. But the love of Christ
compelled him to push forward and in doing so, his name became synonymous with the start of
the church. Do you have challenges before you that seem to be insurmountable? Does life
seemed to be stacked against you? When you choose to live your life with Jesus as the center of
all your decisions, you will experience a life that is extraordinary. This is not just a word for
those who have hopes of changing the world through ministry and mission to thousands of
people… it is a word of encouragement to the mom who is balancing work, home-life, getting
kids bathed, and homework completed. It is to the father who is trying to work hours to get his
family ahead financially, keeping up chores at home, being the daily present father and focusing
on his spiritual life. Life is a vampire, and if we are not careful the tyranny of the urgent will
keep us from devoting our time on that which is really important. Do you want to grow deeper
in your relationship with Christ? Attend church, talk with a person of faith, spend time praying
for a new heart and a new mind. Carpe diem… seize the day… don’t live an ordinary life –
make it extraordinary! – Bro. Ken, October Newsletter
SEPTEMBER 2021 NEWSLETTER
As I reflect on my life, there have been many milestones in my personal and ministerial
experiences. My acceptance of Jesus Christ as my savior, my marriage, the birth of my children,
my ordination as a minister of the gospel, and many other events have all been precious moments
to me. Psalm 78:4 reads, “We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next
generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.” This
verse became tangible and special to me when on August 29th, I baptized my grandson, Riley
Clyde Ballard. There are no words to express the joy I feel in my heart toward my grandson and
to be an active part of his spiritual formation. Passing on the legacy of my faith is the single
most important aspect of my being. As I consider his future, I want him to do well in school, to
learn to hunt and fish, to play ball and have a full life of enjoying everything before him. Most
of all, I want Riley to know that God loves him, that he is uniquely created by God and he has a
purpose in life. Riley and I will have many opportunities to talk and share about this wonderful
relationship God wishes to have with him. The transference of our faith to the next generation
should be the target of all we do as a church.
As I look at this beautiful building and the vision members of FUMCA had in building such a
tremendous children’s wing, I first want to say, “Thank You” for providing the place for Riley
and all the other children of this community to grow in wisdom and their relationship with Jesus.
I also want us as a family of faith to lean into the vision for all children, those who are here and
those who are not yet here as we plan for the following generations to grow in love and grace
through our children’s ministry. We have the vision, we have the facility, now we need to move
toward making this a reality with our time and our gifts. Let me encourage you to sign up to
teach a children’s Sunday School class, to volunteer with Children’s Church and to give lavishly
in order to provide ministry for these precious children. The Church is in a battle for the heart
and mind of our children and youth. Unless we equip them to our greatest ability in their faith,
then we are guilty of sending them into a ruthless world armed with a rudimentary faith. 2022 is
upon us and my prayer for the Children’s Ministry here is to train, nurture and equip children in
their faith journey so they will impact the world for Christ. Each Sunday as the children come
down for Moments with the Pastor, I hope you will look at them as kingdom builders who need
us to create the place and space for them to claim their faith. Let us fall in love through our
commitment to these precious children. Be looking and listening for ways to engage your faith
in our children’s ministry. – Bro. Ken, September Newsletter
experiences. My acceptance of Jesus Christ as my savior, my marriage, the birth of my children,
my ordination as a minister of the gospel, and many other events have all been precious moments
to me. Psalm 78:4 reads, “We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next
generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.” This
verse became tangible and special to me when on August 29th, I baptized my grandson, Riley
Clyde Ballard. There are no words to express the joy I feel in my heart toward my grandson and
to be an active part of his spiritual formation. Passing on the legacy of my faith is the single
most important aspect of my being. As I consider his future, I want him to do well in school, to
learn to hunt and fish, to play ball and have a full life of enjoying everything before him. Most
of all, I want Riley to know that God loves him, that he is uniquely created by God and he has a
purpose in life. Riley and I will have many opportunities to talk and share about this wonderful
relationship God wishes to have with him. The transference of our faith to the next generation
should be the target of all we do as a church.
As I look at this beautiful building and the vision members of FUMCA had in building such a
tremendous children’s wing, I first want to say, “Thank You” for providing the place for Riley
and all the other children of this community to grow in wisdom and their relationship with Jesus.
I also want us as a family of faith to lean into the vision for all children, those who are here and
those who are not yet here as we plan for the following generations to grow in love and grace
through our children’s ministry. We have the vision, we have the facility, now we need to move
toward making this a reality with our time and our gifts. Let me encourage you to sign up to
teach a children’s Sunday School class, to volunteer with Children’s Church and to give lavishly
in order to provide ministry for these precious children. The Church is in a battle for the heart
and mind of our children and youth. Unless we equip them to our greatest ability in their faith,
then we are guilty of sending them into a ruthless world armed with a rudimentary faith. 2022 is
upon us and my prayer for the Children’s Ministry here is to train, nurture and equip children in
their faith journey so they will impact the world for Christ. Each Sunday as the children come
down for Moments with the Pastor, I hope you will look at them as kingdom builders who need
us to create the place and space for them to claim their faith. Let us fall in love through our
commitment to these precious children. Be looking and listening for ways to engage your faith
in our children’s ministry. – Bro. Ken, September Newsletter
