Last Chance to take Perspectives course this semester

          I am personally taking the Perspectives course this semester.  I have been wanting to do so for a number of years.  I have read much of the Perspectives material and have even used some of it for teaching, preaching, leading conferences and working with leaders.  However, I had never formally taken the course.  I am glad to finally be doing so.  

          Taking the course consists of attending a three-hour class per week.  Each week a different guest presenter teaches the class.  These folks are mission practitioners or mobilizers from around the country who bring expertise and experience to the class content.  Additionally, there are reading material and assignments to be completed each week.  The course maybe taken at one of three levels: Key reading (lightest load); certificate level; or college/graduate credit (heaviest load).  Thus far I have attended two classes and I have enjoyed the presentations and the reading material.

          Contrary to some misconceptions, the course is not intended to enlist participants to be international missionaries.  It is not a course about "missions" in the common use of the term.  It is a class that presents God's redemptive purpose in the past and present.  As the participant's global vision is enlarged, he or she has the opportunity to discover or affirm his/her role in God's purpose.  For a small minority of participants this may mean answering God's call to international missions.  For an overwhelming majority of participants it means living more strategically where we are now.

          The cost for the course at the key reading or certificate level is $250.  This is the cost incurred by the Perspectives entity.  Calvary is not making money from this.  In fact, Calvary is not technically offering the course.  Calvary is simply partnering with Perspectives by hosting the class on our campus (the class has been held in Mission and at RGBI previously).  We feel hosting the class is a win-win situation.  It makes it convenient for our Calvary people to take the class on our campus.  We serve folks from other churches who are taking the class by providing an adequate and comfortable setting to hold the class.

          As the Calvary pastoral staff we strongly feel like this class will help us be on the same page as we lead in our particular areas of ministry in the church.  That is why we have decided to take the class as a pastoral staff team.  Additionally, we feel like all of our Calvary leaders would benefit from taking this class as we continue to cast and develop vision.  That is why we are offering partial scholarships to those Calvary leaders who wish to take the course.  In addition to this partial scholarship provided by Calvary, there may be other scholarship funds available.  If you or someone you know desires to take the course but cannot afford it at this time, please contact Pastor Chad Mason.  We do not want anyone who desires to take the course to keep from doing so because of finances.

          Lesson 3, this next week, will be the last opportunity to attend the class without registering or paying.  It will also be the last opportunity to sign-up for the course.  I want to encourage you as one of our Calvary leaders to come and listen, consider taking the class.  Of course, signing up on week 3 will mean that you will have some catching up to do with the reading and assignments.  I think it's worth your consideration.  I strongly recommend the class to all of our Calvary leaders.

          You may either choose a Monday night or Tuesday morning session for the class.  Monday nights the class meets from 6:30 to 9:30 and Tuesdays from 9 AM to 12 PM.  For more information visit Perspectives.org.

Benjamin Aguirre and Family in Concert

            Benjamin Aguirre and his family will be offering a concert on September 29 in our worship center.  We have been blessed to have Benjamin on our staff for approximately four years now.  Bro. Benjamin serves as the Spanish Language Ministry associate in our church.  Through this part-time role he leads the Spanish worship service utilizing the great musical talent and spiritual gift God has given him.  Additionally Benjamin exercises his pastoral call through teaching on Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights, and through pastoral care, assisting Rolando Aguirre in various ways.

            Previous to coming to Calvary and RGBI (Rio Grande Bible Institute) from Mexico City, Benjamin had been ministering as a Christian musician and production engineer along with other Christian music artists touring in Mexico and in other international venues.  He felt God call him to pastoral ministry.  So he came to RGBI to study for pastoral ministry. When we invited Benjamin to join our staff, he was a student at RGBI and held a student visa.

  
        Once Benjamin graduated we asked him to remain on our staff and we entered into an agreement with RGBI to request the processing of his religious worker visa and subsequently his residency.  We have been involved in this immigration process for sometime now and are close to finalizing it.

          On September 29 at 6:30 Benjamin will offer a classical guitar solo concert in our worship center.  His family will also feature for a portion of the concert.  A love offering will be received toward helping with the immigration process expense.  We strongly feel that God has brought Benjamin to minister at Calvary and are committed to doing all we can for him to stay with us long term.  Come to be blessed by the Aguirre family's musical talent and to be a blessing to their ministry.  Invite friends for an evening of inspiration.

Dissertation Progress and other Updates

           It has been four weeks since I last posted on this blog!  These four weeks have been busy, blessed and exciting!  Allow me to share with you about my recent dissertation progress and about a couple of other updates.

          Last week I submitted my first draft of chapter 5!  This is the last chapter of my dissertation.  I have already received feedback from the chairman of my dissertation committee and he has asked that I make a few revisions.  Once I do that, the entire dissertation will go to the rest of the committee for either further revisions or final approval.  Once final approval is given, a dissertation defense date will be scheduled.  When I defend the dissertation successfully (by God's grace), I will be completely finished!  I don't care if anyone will call me "Doctor" after that.  I just want to be "done"! :)

          Please know that I am extremely grateful to God for this milestone and to you as a Calvary leader for your prayerful support and encouragement.  I know I couldn't have done it without God.  I am also aware that I couldn't have done it without the support of the Calvary staff, personnel committee, deacons, leaders and congregation.  Please continue to pray for me in these final stage of revisions and defense.  I will keep you posted.

          During these last couple of weeks, we have kicked off our fall semester here at Calvary.  That's always an exciting time in the life of our church.  Our EQUIP, Remedy, ICC, Grove, WIT and choir programs are up and running with adults, students and children involved at all levels.  Additionally, we are hosting the Perspectives course on our campus.  This course enriches what we are doing in our discipleship and leadership development strategy here at Calvary (although it is not a Calvary program and it is not limited to Calvary people).  I will write some separate posts regarding the EQUIP course that I'm leading and the Perspectives class (which I am also taking this semester) this week.  Additionally, I will share a post with you regarding a concert to be presented by Benjamin Aguirre and his family.

          Allow me to also share with you that the Music & Worship Study committee, chaired by Judy Prater has finalized their report and recommendation.  They have presented this recommendation to the personnel committee and the personnel committee is working to prepare the profile and job description that will allow a search committee to do its work.  We will keep you posted on this.

          As a final note, I report to you that we had extraordinary budget giving this summer.  At the same time we continued to monitor our expenses closely.  In spite of the fact that the summer is usually a low-giving high-expense period of the year, we functioned in the black (spent less than what came in) each month of the summer (June, July and August).  We may not meet our current budget by the end of this year but I feel very optimistic about finishing the year in the black.  In fact, we may be there by mid-fall.  We will live within our means.  We will learn to work with less but we will do what God has called us to do.  I am so grateful for a congregation that is giving generously and for a staff that is serving unselfishly.  We give God the glory for all that.  Below is a chart that shows a giving comparison by month between 2009 and 2013.  You will see that we defied the usual summer slump this past summer.  (We also defied the usual summer slump in terms of worship attendance.  Notice the chart that shows attendance 2007--2013 at the very bottom).