Parkside Church Lake County

Greetings to you all, 

The events of Monday have been shocking and saddening to all of us as we grieve the loss of 3 students at Chardon High School. Words can't begin to express the pain of the families who have lost a child, the family of the young man who committed this act, and the many affected in the community. We pray as the Psalmist did, "I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth."

There is a helpless feeling that sometimes comes in the wake of such a tragic event. How could a thing of this magnitude happen so close to us, what can I do, who can we help, are a few of the many questions. As a pastor I think and feel those same things. One of the things that encourages me at such a time as this are the pastors, churches, believers, and other Christian workers that are spread out among that community.

One such man is Dean Carlo, with Youth for Christ. While I don't know him well, I know from many others of his work in the community of Chardon. He has had a strong influence among the area churches that have joined together to reach out to the youth. Dean is really at ground zero for this incident in Chardon. He has the credibility of relationships, sustained fruitful ministry, and respect of many in the Christian community. If there is anyone you could be praying for, then pray for him and the other pastors who are ministering to the community in these first few very raw days.

I have been in touch with Dean and Brian Walls at Youth for Christ and have offered assistance to them from us as a church plant in any way needed. While our church doesn’t yet have the depth of relationship with the community, we do have an encouraging link with Youth for Christ as Brian and I have worked together in ministry for the last couple years.

Guys like Dean are first responders at the point of impact. If there is a way that God would open a door to help him, without creating additional work for him, we are trusting God to make that more clear.

These events should give us rise to pray more fervently and strategically about all our local public schools, and how we as a church plant might be a redemptive presence in them.


Warmly,
Pastor Scott

What does it take to be a leader?  Scott addressed the essential of Leadership Selection at this week's meeting.  See his outline on Acts 1:15-26 here.

This week we looked at the essential element of Prayer in Acts 1:12-14.  See the notes here.

Miss the first meeting?  Scott began by covering the three essentials that are observed in the early church and will be the foundations for the church plant - The Centrality of Jesus Christ in Everything, the Sufficiency of the Bible, and the Power of the Holy Spirit.  See his notes here.

Are you interested in the Lake County Church Plant?  Have you heard about the Core Team Gatherings but are unsure of what they are?  Click the Involvement tab above to find an explanation of these meetings that begin Sunday February 12th.