From the Pastor….

Mountains of Transformation

By the time you receive this, our Esther, Emily, David and I should be enjoying the cool climate, fresh air and the breath-taking beauty of the Western North Carolina mountains. There’s something about mountains that have always drawn people in need of spiritual renewal and mental refreshing to them. On Mt. Sinai Moses received the law from God, and on Mt. Horeb (which was just another name for Mt. Sinai) Elijah heard God’s “still, small voice” (Ex. 20; 1 Kg. 19).  Jesus went up into the mountains with his disciples on more than one occasion to pray and find strength for his mission. On one such occasion we are told he was “transfigured before them.” That is, he was temporarily transformed in their sight, from the man Jesus that they knew into the glorious figure of the Son of God, more shining and radiant than the sun (cf. Mt.17:1-8; Mk. 9:2-8, Lk. 9:28-36).

Now, I’m not expecting anything like that on our mountain vacation, nor do I anticipate returning with new revelation etched on tablets of stone. However, it is not too much to hope for a fresh sense of God’s calling and vision for ministry here among you, and renewed awareness of God’s daily presence in my life. Just as Jesus needed to get away, up to a mountain, for this to happen, we all need to do something similar to reconnect with God and ourselves.

Speaking of transformation, in the week after I return there will be two important transformation events for leaders of our church with the Rev. Don Nations of DNA Coaching. First there’s going to be a Transformation Training Event. The topic will be “Creating a Positive Leadership Environment.” We will learn how to enable our church to work more effectively and efficiently. It will be held on Saturday, August 14, from 9:00am-11:30am at the Ft. Ogden United Methodist Church in Ft. Ogden. The second event will be a Transformation Coaching Session on the following Tuesday, August 17, from 9:00am-11:30am at the Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church in Arcadia. For the Coaching Session the topic will be “our agenda.” We are asked to come prepared to answer the following two questions: 1) What positive things have happened in transformation since we last met? and 2) What topics, issues, challenges and/or opportunities would you like to discuss today?

I urge all of our leaders and officers to please attend these two sessions if at all possible.  They are being provided for us by our District at no cost in order to help us transform into the church God wants us to be. A healthy, growing and fruitful church here in Lehigh Acres.  For this to happen as many as possible need to be a part of the transformation training and coaching sessions, so that we will all be on the same page.  The church van and/or bus will be available for transportation to these events.  Please call the church office and let Charlene know that you will be going.  I thank you in advance!

Yours for His sake,

Pastor Carlos