80 volunteer with Fuller Center for national “Faith in Action” Sunday

October 26, 2009 by Kelli Yoder

Faith in Action encourages churches to close their doors for a day and instead find a way to serve their communities. The Fuller Center is a Faith in Action partnering ministry. (Find out more about Faith in Action here.)

On Sunday, a Fuller Center Covenant Partner, Americus-Sumter County Fuller Center, hosted a project for a church participating in Faith in Action Sunday.

Sunday morning, while many people dressed up to attend their regular morning worship services, nearly 80 members of Cornerstone Church in Americus, Ga. put on their painting gear and headed out into the cool, overcast day.

About 30 of them stood on Anita Lyles’ lawn—some shivering, but all ready to begin siding her home.

Lyles had tears in her eyes throughout the morning, touched to have so many people willing to help her. She remembered acting similarly when she made the last payment on her house in 2005.

“I cried for joy for days,” she said.

About a block down the road, on South Hampton Street, another 45 or so volunteers were painting the home of Julia Tyner. Tyner, three of her sons, her sister, Shawnetta, and two nephews came out to help as well.

Tyner couldn’t afford to fix up her home after her husband left a few years ago. The paint applied Sunday is a visible step toward making her home more livable. Next the Americus-Sumter Fuller Center will replace windows, insulate, and fix roofing on her home. And that’s good news for her sons.

“It’s a lot of stress off of me, which means a lot of stress off of them,” Tyner said, smiling. And it’s good news for their friends and other neighborhood children, who often migrate to the Tyner household.

“Any time I can give kids somewhere to go besides the streets, that’s a good thing,” Tyner said.

The nearly 80 volunteers came as a part of Faith in Action Sunday, a national campaign encouraging churches to shut their doors on a Sunday morning in order to serve the community. “Don’t go to church, be the church,” is Faith in Action’s slogan.

Derek Vreeland, pastor of Cornerstone Church in Americus, heard about the campaign online and found the Fuller Center in the list of partnering organizations. He called up Kirk Lyman-Barner, who heads up the Americus FCH’s board, and they agreed to work together.

Some members of Cornerstone, like Lisa Higley of Americus, weren’t so sure about canceling church at first. But Vreeland’s series of sermons leading up to Sunday’s “living sermon” helped convince them.

Sunday was the right time, Higley concluded. “You’ve got people there already. You’ve got more hands.” People are suffering, she said. And if it takes doing it on a Sunday to help them, it’s worth it.

“We could do it on a Saturday,” Vreeland said. But this, he said, “communicates to our church the importance of serving, by canceling all normal activities to forget about ourselves and see what others need.”

“It makes a lot more sense to be seen in action, than to be seen in a building,” Martha Shields, a Cornerstone volunteer, said.

“We tend to equate church with the building,” Vreeland said. He hopes the day of service together helped recast the church as “something that we are.”


After the two projects were finished Sunday, the volunteers gathered with the homeowners and their families for a short worship service.

The next Faith in Action Sunday falls on a Sunday that’s easy to remember: Oct. 10, 2010, or 10-10-10.

Lyman-Barner hopes churches around the nation will choose to take part with their local Fuller Center Covenant Partner.

“We’ll help them find a project, they don’t even have to wait until next October,” Lyman-Barner said.

Get your congregation or local covenant partner involved! Visit the Fuller Center’s Faith Builders Page to learn more. You can find the Fuller Center’s listing on the Faith in Action Web site here.  Or, contact kirk@fullercenter.org for more information.

"This is the greatest illustrated sermon I have ever preached"

--Cornerstone Pastor Derek Vreeland

Why We are Not Going to Church Tomorrow

by: Derek Vreeland, Cornerstone Church Americus, Georgia -10.24.09

For the first time in our church’s history we are canceling all of our normal Sunday morning activities. We are turning off the lights. We are locking the doors. Cornerstone Church at Upper River Rd. and Southland Dr. will be a ghost town from 10:30 to 12:30 tomorrow morning. We are not going to church tomorrow; we are going to practice being the church. We are going to forget about ourselves for a while and go out and see what others need.

Tomorrow we are partnering with the Fuller Center for Housing by working on two Fuller Center projects here in Americus from 9-12. We are putting our faith in action to serve two families who have home repair needs. One home belongs to a single mom with three kids and we will be painting the outside of the house. The second home is owned by an older couple. They are both on disability. We will be hanging vinyl siding.

So why cancel the normal worship service to work on somebody’s house?

As a church, we are recovering from hypocrisy. We have admitted that we have been much better at hearing the word of Jesus than being doers of the word his words. Jesus made it clear that loving our neighbors means helping those in need. Both of these families have needs that we can meet in a real tangible way. We can do more than pat them on the back and say “God bless you, good luck!” We are happy that the Fuller Center is helping us get connecting with people in our town who have real needs. Serving them is a way of bringing forth fruits of repentance.

Yeah, but why not work on a Saturday and go to church on Sunday?

We could and I hope that this Sunday morning work day will turn into future Saturdays where we can serve our neighbors. Working on Sunday is a way of communicating the message: loving our neighbor is important. It will serve as a living sermon that we preach together with hammers and paintbrushes.

Isn’t Sunday a day of rest? Aren’t you breaking God’s law by working on the Sabbath day?

The Sabbath was made for man; man was not made for the Sabbath, at least that is what Jesus said. Once Jesus was healing a man on the Jewish Sabbath day (Saturday) and some of the religious establishment called him out, called Jesus a sinner, because he didn’t follow the religious rules of the day. Jesus made is simple: is it right to do good on the Sabbath or not? They got the message. The greatest command is to love God and love people; to serve God and serve people, even if it goes against cultural standards. I have reminded our church to take some Sabbath rest on Saturday and to take some time with their families.

What about the Scripture? Is there no proclamation of God’s word if you are canceling your activities?

We are working from 9-12 and then gather in the backyard of one of the homes for a time of celebration. We will celebrate with song, giving (receiving an offering), and Scripture reading. Our work complements our trust (and belief) in and proclamation of the Scripture. These go together. The Protestant Church has made a error in bifurcating doctrinal soundness from social justice. We have labeled one “conservative” and one “liberal” and too often theological “conservatives” have neglected social justice and theological “liberals” have neglected historic, orthodox doctrine. We need to drop the labels. If we insist on using them, then we should be conservative in doctrine and liberal in love.

Have you lost your mind? Are you the only church doing this?

We have joined the National Faith in Action guys and hundreds (thousands?) of other churches who are doing similar things. National Faith in Action Sunday was October 11. We are about two weeks late, but we have received a lot of guidance from the FIA guys.

So tomorrow we are not going to church; we are going to practice being the church, planting seeds of the kingdom of God on Hampton Street in Americus.

You may say that I am a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the CHURCH will be as one
__________________________________



About Derek


Dr. Derek Vreeland is the pastor of Cornerstone Church in Americus, Georgia. A passion for biblical truth and the local church drives his thoughtful, humorous, and authentic teaching style. He and his wife Jenni live in Americus with their three boys Wesley, Taylor, & Dylan.


He is a graduate of Missouri Western State University (B.A. English/Writing), Oral Roberts University (M.Div.), and Asbury Theological Seminary (D.Min). His first book, Shape Shifters, combines his love for the doctrine of the Trinity and spiritual transformation.


Derek was born in Mobile, Alabama and grew up in St. Joseph, Missouri. On March 31, 1990 Jesus came crashing into his life. From this point forward, everything changed. Sensing a call to ministry, he threw himself into the life of the church and Bible study. His passion for biblical truth and the local church continued through high school and into college. After a year of marriage, he began seminary at Oral Roberts University, graduating in 1999.


In September 1999, Derek moved his family to Americus, Georgia where he served as the Youth Pastor at Cornerstone Church until 2004, when he became the Pastor. He completed a doctor of ministry degree from Asbury Theological Seminary in 2007.


Derek fulfills his call to teach and lead within a healthy and vibrant church in rural South Georgia. In addition to writing and local church ministry, he also travels to India, teaching in pastors’ seminars supporting the church planting efforts of the Indian Evangelical Team (IET) founded by P.G. Vargis.


Follow Derek's blog at www.derekvreeland.wordpress.com

TELL JESUS (To Come To My House) Livingston Taylor

TELL JESUS (To Come To My House)
(click on the title and watch his YouTube presentation and let me know what you think of his song)  Could you imagine a Greater Blessings video or slide show asking the audience,  "Can you bring Jesus by?"

Livingston Taylor
©2003, L. Taylor/Morgan Creek Music (ASCAP)



http://www.livtaylor.com/

I can't move.
I can't get out of this chair.
There are people gathering down the road but I can not join them
My spirit is so heavy.
My heart is so low.
Although I wish to be among them I can't find a way to go.


So if you are with them
could I ask you a favor please?
A simple request on my behalf
when you are down upon your knees


Tell Jesus to come to my house
Tell Jesus to knock on my door
There has been so much suffering
That we need him like never before
Chilly Jordan a-rock my soul
Oh Gabriel stand at my side
I burnt my youth looking for some truth
Now I need them along for the ride

He can come in the daylight
For the whole wide world to see
He can come in the middle of the night
When there's nothing but the darkness and me
Come from the west in the morning
With the full sun on his face
Come to my house in the afternoon
Fill my life with his grace

Chorus:

He can come in the spring time
When the world gets fresh and new
Shoulder to the wheel in the blazing sun
When there's so much left to do
Come in the fall when the cold winds call
And life dries up and blows away
Came to us on that dark winter night
With the promise of a brand new day

Chorus:

We are seen in all our need
We will be heard, we can believe
One by one we are a chain
That brings us back to love again
Love is grace that lets us be
Forgiven and completely free
Good prevails and hope is true
Gods favorite miracle is you 

Koinonia Groundbreaking Ceremony -- MFLB Week -- 9.4.09

By: Kirk Lyman-Barner

Background notes: Shortly after Millard Fuller passed away on February 3, 2009 a house owned by Koinonia Farm burned to the ground. Without hesitation, the boards of the local Americus-Sumter Fuller Center and our local New Horizons Habitat for Humanity affiliate each voted unanimously to help Koinonia rebuild the house in honor and celebration of Millard Fuller’s life. The following is a copy of what I shared at the groundbreaking event.

Several years ago, when I was living in West Virginia and working for Almost Heaven Habitat, I came to visit Koinonia.  As I was leaving, I asked David Castle to put me on the mailing list and I went to give him my Habitat business card and there were two stuck together.  I said, “You can have them both. “ David handed one back to me and said, “That would be wasteful.”  I was shocked that something as inexpensive as a business card could be thought of as something not to waste.


So I wrote down what I wanted to say today because I have the tendency to use two words when one might do.  And that would be wasteful.


Friends, I bring to you greetings from Linda Fuller, David Snell, Faith Fuller and all of the Fuller Center volunteers who are building, repairing and dedicating some 100 houses around the world.  It is fitting that we close out this special week with a new beginning.  I want to read a scripture verse:

“Set your mind on God’s kingdom and his justice before everything else, and all the rest will come to you as well.  So do not be anxious about tomorrow.”-Matthew 6:33

Koinonia’s website tells the story:

Established in 1942, Koinonia Farm is a Christian community located in Americus, Ga. We strive to live a simple, peaceful, shared life and believe in the brother and sisterhood of all humankind. In its early existence, Koinonia’s very presence challenged racism, militarism, and materialism.Our commitment to racial equality brought bullets, bombs, and a boycott in the 1950s.

We survived and have since given birth to outstanding organizations such as Habitat for Humanity International, Fuller Center for Housing, Jubilee Partners, Georgia Peace and Justice Coalition, and many more.  Many more peacemakers and Kingdom Builders have been inspired by the people that have walked this soil.

I look at all the peacemakers and Kingdom Builders standing here today -  interns, stewards, apprentices..community members, friends, as well as people from all over the world who couldn’t be here but have had their souls touched by the vision and the works of this community.


So it is an honor and privilege and humbling to be invited to help you rebuild.  We don’t have all the money we need to finish the job.  But as Millard would say, “God does.“  “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.” That about covers it.  God’s money is just in the pockets of other people and our job is to graciously extract it.  And we will.  So we are not anxious about tomorrow.


At many Habitat events and Fuller Center builds, it is common to hear homeowners dreaming about the day when they will be moved in.  They say “We can’t wait until we are cookin’ dinner and washin’ dishes.”  So today we dream about Koinonia interns and staff not only cookin’ dinner and washin’ dishes...surely they will do that. But we also dream about them pondering and praying and studying how best to set their minds on God’s Kingdom, and God’s justice. They, like us, will be collaborating on how to turn their faith into action and truly the world will be a little better place to live because of this building.


The last time I was here with a shovel in my hand it was for a very different purpose. It was Tuesday afternoon, February 3rd.  We were fielding calls literally from all over the world as people were getting word that Millard had just taken up a new service area.  My friend and pastor Allan Purtill came into the office with Tom Mac Farland, Millard’s former law partner, close behind.  He said, “Kirk and Ryan, you have nothing more important to do right now.  I just talked with Norris and he said that we could come and shovel a little bit up on Picnic Hill with the men who were digging Millard’s grave.”

That was a sacred experience for us. One we will never forget.   It caught me by surprise how that moment had impacted me.  I haven’t shared this with too many people, but when I got home, my work boots were still covered with red clay.  I bagged up those boots, clay and all, and as we would say in West Virginia… I put them up.  Now, normally, I wouldn’t decommission a perfectly good pair of shoes.  My wife and kids will tell you that I normally will not decommission a worn out pair of shoes.  But those boots have become sacred for me.  Bren, with your permission, I’m going to bag up a little of the dirt we turn today, label it and put it up next to those boots.  And I want to tell you why.


I got to see a video of the last sermon that Millard had preached at Silver Springs Presbyterian Church in Pennsylvania which was celebrating its 275th anniversary and planning to build another Habitat house.  The last story he told in the sermon was about the first house, built for Bo and Emma Johnson here at Koinonia.  Millard died with the beginning in his heart because he knew the potential that first story still had to change hearts and because he truly believed in the biblical mandate which Clarence Jordan called “incarnational evangelism.”  He was filled with hope for humanity. So with your permission, I would like to bag up a little of this sacred ground and some hope for humanity.

Today we shovel more sacred ground, during the Millard Fuller Legacy Build Week, symbolically demonstrating that the legacy is not all that Millard and the people he motivated have accomplished, but also what we are doing now that he is gone.  He would be very, very pleased. The Koinonia Community truly represents hope for humanity.  It is a joyous, joyous day!


Read A New Day At Koinonia from The Americus Times Recorder

Rev. Louis Overholt and Elizabeth Dede leading “If I Had A Hammer.”

New Horizons Habitat board member Norris Harris. Koinonia Groundbreaking MFLB 9.4.09

What is right with the Church?

I’ve cancelled my television service.  I’m tired of being asked to buy the latest pharmaceutical product  while being interrupted from the seemingly unending news feed of fear and scarcity.  I suspect I’m not the only one worn out and hungry for some Good News.

Spending less time in front of the television has  given me the chance to read up on some exciting stories about people who are going the extra mile to help their neighbors in need during these tough economic times.  I'm learning about folks from all over the world, who without fanfare or celebrity recognition, are dwelling on and acting on God's abundance by finding ways to demonstrate God's Kingdom right here on earth.  They are taking serious Jesus's teachings found in Matthew 25:34-40!


That’s why I’m so excited about our new Faith Builders program and the innovations we are making to encourage and support congregations by commissioning them to go out into their own neighborhoods to repair and renovate homes.


Sitting at the Café Campesino coffee shop, Rev. Allan Purtill asked David, Ryan and me an interesting question, “Does a church have to work through a Fuller Center Covenant Partner organization to do Greater Blessing repairs?”  We said if there is a local Covenant Partner, we want churches to partner with them, but if there is no Fuller Center organization, we couldn’t think of any good reason they couldn’t be out there helping their neighbors, shut-ins and elderly homeowners.  Allan’s simple question was the catalyst for a mission program adjustment.  Through our Faith Builders program we will now encourage and commission church teams, providing them basic technical support to take on small repair projects, building wheel chair ramps, fixing leaky roofs and rescuing homes for homeowners who are unable to afford to make the repairs.  


It is our hope and prayer that these projects will rapidly expand the footprint and awareness of The Fuller Center and that the efforts started in one church will inspire other churches to get involved and thus become the catalyst for launching an ecumenical Fuller Center Covenant Partner.


Sharon Waltner, moderator of Mennonite Church USA spoke about the Church in uncertain and challenging times.  “As a church—we have unparalleled opportunities for God’s healing and hope to flow through us into the world.”


Indeed, we have many things to celebrate, even in hard economic times.  No matter how bad the recession gets, we know that God cannot go bankrupt. According to Rev. Waltner, celebrating God’s abundance and what is right about the Church “can empower us and unleash our energy and creativity.”


We celebrate the ecumenical and economic diversity we see when a congregation embraces what Millard Fuller called “The Theology of the Hammer.”  Churches may disagree on all kinds of issues like baptism, ordinations and communion, but they are willing and eager to partner with each other to build and repair homes for neighbors in need.


It is with urgency and exuberance that we are putting out the call for your church to join with us and do service projects locally and through our domestic and international Global Builders program.  We have seen how such mission efforts can create vibrancy for church members who can tell the story about what good they are doing.  


For almost a dozen years, I had the pleasure of hosting a work team from the Middleburg Heights United Church of Christ near Cleveland, Ohio.  Under the leadership of George and Sandy Uhl, their intergenerational church family “vacationed” together doing service projects in Appalachia.  The skilled members took pride in teaching the unskilled and many young students were inspired to take career paths that would lead to community service and ministry.

We were also privileged to see our local Cornerstone Church here in Americus sign up for Faith In Action-Be the Church.  Rev. Derek Vreeland is giving a series of sermons on service and then on Sunday, October 25th their church doors will be locked as the entire congregation will be working on Fuller Center projects.  One of the recipients of their efforts is Julia Tyner and her three sons.

Several years ago, Julia Tyner and her husband purchased a fixer-upper in Americus, Ga., with dreams of the house becoming a nice place for them and their three sons. Unfortunately, Julia’s husband left before any work was done on the house. Suddenly a single mother with minimal income, Julia found it impossible to acquire a loan for home improvements. During the winter, Julia and her sons, ages 15, 12 and 10, slept together in one bedroom to stay warm because their drafty house was too expensive to heat.


Julia takes classes at a local college and is working toward a degree in business administration, which she hopes to put to use helping other families pull themselves out of poverty and into homeownership. Julia is also training to adopt a local foster-care child who she says gets along with her sons and is in desperate need of a positive environment. As Julia extends a mother’s love to a child currently without it, the local Fuller Center covenant partner is doing about $10,000 - $15,000 worth of renovations to fix the roof, ceiling and windows and to install insulation as part of the Greater Blessing program. Julia will repay the no-interest loan with a monthly donation to The Fuller Center. The amount will be worked out based on her available income and will go toward helping another family have safe housing.

How many families like Julia’s live in your community?  


Is there anything holding you back from sharing with those in need what is right with the Church?


Give me a call at 229-924-2900 or send us an email at faithbuilders@fullercenter.org


We want to help you get started!


Blessings,


Kirk