September 28, 2009
Dear GoStark Partner,
God is bringing revival to Stark County. Do you sense that too? I know many who have been around this area a lot longer than me, have said a great revival for Stark County that will spread to Northeast Ohio has been prophesied for some time. Perhaps we are now seeing the beginning signs of this refreshing, unusual and unexplainable activity of the Spirit being poured out in our area.
I believe our partnership in GoStark can further fuel that revival flame. When churches come together across denominational lines to lift up the simple message of God’s Kingdom breaking in among us; when we don’t care who gets the credit as long as God gets the glory; when we understand that it’s not about “a church” but rather about “The Church,” then I believe God will show us things we have never seen before.
For those of you not familiar with GoStark, let me urge you to go to the GoStark website: www.gostark.org, for more information. And for those of you who have recently participated in a GoStark event, let me encourage you to go there as well and stay up-to-date on the latest GoStark news.
Briefly, let me share with you a few important things related to this year’s “Community Night of Thanks Celebration” and other upcoming initiatives sponsored by GoStark:
- There will be two services held at First Christian Church at 5PM and 7:30PM. Brother Dave Lombardi will be the featured speaker and music will be led by the RiverTree Christian Church worship band. Many other area pastors will be participating in the services as well. The date for the Community Night of Thanks services is Wednesday, November 25, 2009.
- Pastor Greg Nettle and the teaching team from RiverTree has put together sermon starter ideas for a message series called “The Grateful Dead.” The idea is to use these messages during the month of November that will lead us up to the Community Night of Thanks services. Go to the GoStark website for more details and an overview on this powerful teaching tool.
- Jason Lantz, a missionary to Canton, is helping organize a life-investing initiative called “One life, One Year.” The idea is to connect people who want to invest in the lives of others with trustworthy organizations who specialize in mentoring/life coaching relationships. True transformation takes place when people are engaged in life-on-life relationships and Jason has agreed to help facilitate those connections. Go to the GoStark website for more details.
I am meeting tomorrow to help give some more definition to the Community Night of Thanks services. As these services continue to take shape, I will continue to keep you informed. I wanted to get this out to you now, so you can plan accordingly. I would love for you and your church to join us on any level: the November preaching series; the “one life” investment initiative; and especially for the Community Night of Thanks worship gatherings.
God is doing something bigger than any one of us can understand or carry out alone. We need each other. My prayer is that our united efforts in GoStark will be a tool that God can use to lead us “further up and further in” to the fullness of God’s Kingdom.
Keeping in step with the Spirit,
John A. Hampton
P.S. The resources provided on the GoStark website are free for you to use in any way that can enhance your participation and the goals of GoStark. We only ask that you register your church as a partner church before you download any materials.
