July 1, 2008 by admin.

We are blessed to have Pastor Rafael Oliveira on staff as our Pastor of Worship Arts since May. Pastor Rafael has extensive experience in ministry and music and also has a vision to make God known in the Leominster area through music and drama.

Pastor Rafael has been involved in music since he was five years old. His main instrument is the flute, and he plays six other instruments professionally (clarinet, saxophone, piano, guitar, bass guitar, and drums). He has led choirs, orchestras, music schools, and bands in churches and secular fields. He also composes, arranges, and writes music.

Pastor Rafael’s qualifications come from years of experience and study including Canada Christian College, Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music, and Berean School of Ministry. He has had ten years of experience in sound, two years of experience directing video and editing, and five years of experience in church drama.

“I am originally from Brazil. I was raised in a Christian family in Fort Lauderdale, FL. I have also lived in New York, Boston, Toronto, Canada, and Cape Coral, FL. I have a heart for worship. I am limited, but my God isn’t. He has given me great dreams [for Leominster Assembly of God]: various types of bands and orchestras, several choirs (worship, church, women’s, men’s, youth), multiple worship teams, sound teams, video teams, a drama team, and, possibly, recording CDs from the church worship team.”

Pastor Rafael and Flavia celebrated their first wedding anniversary on July 7. Be sure to congratulate them and encourage them in their new marriage and new ministry!

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July 1, 2008 by admin.

Bouquet of Love
by Judy Trainque

My sisters in Christ, like so many roses,
add beauty and peace to my life.

Truly their open hearts and arms
ease my troubled strife.

A gentle smile, an understanding hug
fill my heart with love.

On eagle’s wings I soar in flight
ever thankful to God above.

I gather a bouquet of these living blooms
and clasp them to my heart,

Knowing their kindness carries me on
that welcomed me from the start.

I know I’ll see my sisters in the Garden of Life
turning their faces to the Son

Once again we’ll embrace with our hearts in joy
The heavenly goal is won.

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July 1, 2008 by admin.

CAN WE C.H.A.T.*?

by Sally Dyer

Welcome to the new Leominster Assembly C.H.A.T.* Corner. Over the last few months, we’ve learned about the Eight Qualities of a Healthy Church and that we need to improve in developing more “Loving Relationships.” Perhaps you’ve wondered what the term loving relationships means and what we can do to see our church make better progress. How much time do you spend with one another outside of official church-sponsored events? How often do you invite one another over for a meal or a cup of coffee? How much laughter is there in our church? All these points, and more, have a strong correlation with the healthy growth of a church. They are a reflection of the practical love of a church body for its individual family members.

Joining a small group is a great first step toward establishing loving relationships. It provides a means of making connections with others, developing the bonds of friendship, and reflecting the love of Jesus to each other while growing in our faith.

Congratulations to those of you who have already stepped out and joined a small group, perhaps through The Truth Project being held at a number of homes this summer.

If you haven’t yet joined a group or if you feel that you are sometimes invisible—attending church without ever really speaking to or getting to know anyone, we encourage you to check out the warm and inviting fellowship that a small home group offers you!

Your C.H.A.T. Team members are: Pastor Mark Boucher, Mark Collett (chairman), Mike Bragg, Allan Drouin, Sally Dyer, Peter Kovacs, Tatiana McIntosh, and Bobbie-Jo Riehle.

*Church Health Advisory Team

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July 1, 2008 by PastorDarryl.

God’s Vision for Our Youth

By Pastor Darryl Riehle

My family and I would like to thank you first for your continuous warm reception of us as ministry leaders, as well as your encouragement and commitment to pray for us! As God has called us to this specific work at this specific time, we are excited to see what He will do through us as we stay open to Him knowing that “His thoughts are not our thoughts nor His ways our ways.” We have been a part of this church family for over seven years. We feel honored to serve God and you and look forward to our exciting future together!

We just want to give you a brief update and answer a few questions that we know are being asked: First, the seeds of vision for our youth: Luke 3:51-52 infers that the “teenage” life of Christ was a time when He increased in both “wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” and was in subjection to the authority of His parents. So, as we move forward designing a program that meets the needs of our teenage brothers and sister in Christ, we will continuously ask ourselves: Is our program helping them grow in wisdom (God’s Word) and in maturity (actions/behavior)? Are we seeking to know God’s heart? Are we fostering an environment of subjection to authority and honoring parents? We believe that if we plant these seeds, the fruit will be great!

Why have we integrated the youth group into the adult Wednesday service for the summer? A vital part of the vision for the youth in this church is to foster a culture of honoring the God-placed authority of parents as well as recognizing and utilizing the power of multi-generational discipleship among the body of believers. We feel the Honor’s Reward series lines up with this vision. What better way to begin to study honor than alongside the very people God intends for us to honor (our parents and elders)?

Are their any events or fun activities for youth taking place this summer? Our focus this summer is to understand and implement God’s vision for the youth in this church. We ask that you endure with us as we take this time to organize goals and vision, train leadership, and do some logistical planning. We feel fun events will be the fruit of a healthy youth ministry, and we seek to build a solid godly foundation in which this fruit can and will grow.

On another note, my wife and I also feel strongly led to begin a new ministry in our church that will meet the needs of young adults age 18 to mid-twenties. In 1 Thessalonians 2:11, Paul gives us a glimpse of what his ministry in Thessalonica looked like: “We were exhorting and encouraging and imploring.” It is our desire to begin a discipleship group in which we will exhort participants to cultivate a deeper study of the Word, encourage them with tools to assist them in life purpose planning, and implore them weekly through rich testimonies to pursue a life fully dedicated to the Lord.

We ask that you prayerfully and patiently bear with us as we continue to wait upon God for direction and as we take steps of obedience as He unveils His vision for the youth in our church.

We encourage you to communicate with us about any questions, concerns, or suggestions you may have.

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May 1, 2008 by admin.

On April 14, 2008 the house at 856 Main Street was taken down to make room for expansion of our facilities. The acquisition of the two properties north of us on Main St. has added 55% more land to our present property. We look forward to all God has in store for our growing family at Leominster Assembly of God.

TAKE THE LAND OFFERINGS TO DATE

• Beginning Loan Amount: $600,000
• Regular Principal Payments (10): 9,981
• Extra Principal Applied: 102,689
• Total Principal Applied: 112,670
• Current Loan Balance: $487,330
• At an average $8500/month extra applied to the principal each month, the loan should be paid off by November 2011 (4½ years of payments).

Your current Facilities Team: Jim Amirault, Steve Bibeau, Mark Butler, John “Jay” McCaffrey, Tom Richard, Harry Marshall.

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May 1, 2008 by admin.

We are thrilled to have Pastor Darryl and Bobbie-Jo Riehle leading our youth. Pastor Darryl is currently attending the Assemblies of God School of Ministry and expects to receive his first level of ministry certification this June.

While living in California, Darryl was a leader for three years in Cleansing Stream Ministries, a healing and deliverance ministry through the Church of the Way in Van Nuys.

Since coming to Leominster Assembly of God in 2002, he and his wife, Bobbie-Jo, have served together in ESL and in two young adult small groups, and they have assisted with the Gospel Explosion USA and Alpha Ministries. Darryl also served on the deacon board from 2006-2008.

The Riehles have two children: a six-year-old son, Noah, and a seven-month-old daughter, Micah.

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May 1, 2008 by PastorMark.

WHAT’S AHEAD?

By Pastor Mark Boucher

The Psalmist declared, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1). Following the Annual Business Meeting on Sunday, April 27, I rejoiced in our God who binds our hearts together in Him. The following summarizes my thoughts which I felt God put upon my heart to share at this meeting with the family of Leominster Assembly of God. My message, Vision Quest—2008, explored the exciting possibilities ahead for us as we seek God’s guidance and direction. To put it simply, God’s vision is a “picture” He gives us of a future (where we are to go) which is different than the present (where we are now).

I believe the vision for every person at Leominster Assembly of God involves transformation and change. Jesus, the greatest leader of all time, chose men and women in order to transform them. This process is called discipleship and involves two basic components—coming and going. The transformation process begins by responding to the call of Jesus, “Come, follow Me” (Matthew 4:19). We must repent (or turn from our sins and “self-lordship”) and follow Jesus, learning to know Him and following His ways. Following Jesus concerns not only our personal change process, but it also involves others.

In the Great Commission, Jesus gave us His mission statement. He said, “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). A person that truly follows Jesus also seeks to influence others to follow Him. The question I ask myself is, “Am I allowing Jesus to work through me to influence others to know Christ and follow Him?” It is not enough to know I am secure in Christ and on my way to heaven. I desperately want others to know the joy of Jesus and the future glories of Heaven.

Our vision motto is: “Letting Christ change us and our world from the inside out.” For Christ to change us means to see life and people the way Jesus does. Will we change by becoming strong disciples who seek to witness to others and encourage them to become strong disciples?

The vision of Leominster Assembly of God is not just about a bigger organization or building projects. These become necessary ingredients in the mix only because of inner health and growth. Yes, we are introducing plans for the expansion of our present facility; however, the propelling vision resides in the power of dynamic discipleship.

Would you explore some questions concerning your call to follow Jesus and to make disciples? The vision of Jesus for your life and this church requires us to honestly assess where we are right now and reach for a different future. As a disciple of Christ, are you in love with Him? Is He your “pearl of great price”—your greatest treasure on earth? Are you prioritizing your life to enhance your relationship with Jesus? Does Christ get quality from you or just “leftovers”? Do you have other believers with whom you explore the Word of God and share the joys and struggles of life? If you come regularly to this church, that’s great, but are you involved in a small group of believers where friendship and fellowship can grow? Jesus and His disciples showed us the way.

What about your relationships with non-believers? Are you influencing them by being a good worker, having a positive attitude, and respecting every person? Also, do you share your faith with younger Christians? If they are missing from church or a group meeting, do you call or connect with them?

As a church we have made progress, but Jesus is calling us to follow Him into a future of greater love and discipleship. We can change. We must change. What’s ahead depends on which direction we’re going.

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March 1, 2008 by PastorDave.

FOLLOW ME

~By Pastor David McIntosh

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus had just come out of the desert where He had fasted for forty days and defeated the devil by using the Word of God. Jesus had passed the test! He now would begin the most powerful ministry this world would ever see. In Matthew 4:17 Jesus proclaimed the heart of His message, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Right after this, Jesus shared the second step of the Christian life in verse 19: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” This statement comes in the form of a command from Jesus. Jesus is commanding those that choose to repent to follow Him! If you ask people today what it means to follow Jesus, you get a variety of answers. But I have discovered that Scripture has only one interpretation; however that interpretation can have many applications. So, what does it really mean to follow Jesus? Here is the message behind the command.

To follow Jesus Christ is a decision. One must decide to follow Jesus. To follow Jesus is to set aside our own goals and to embrace the purposes that God has for our lives. Each person must pursue his own specific purpose; however, the specific purpose for God creating and calling a person is found “inside” the general purpose that God has laid out for all of us in His Word. Everyone is called to know God through Jesus Christ in a personal way and to make disciples of others by teaching them all of His commandments. Jesus made this clear in Matthew 28:18-20. No matter who you are or what your gifts, talents, desires, or experiences are, God has called you to pursue a daily living relationship with Him and to teach others His commands. This can look very different in each of our lives. You may be a mom at home fulfilling this purpose by training your children or you may be a business person modeling this in the market place. Remember, there is one interpretation but many applications to following Jesus.

Someone has put it this way: “All who follow Jesus must exchange their affections, goals, and priorities for His.” Remember, when Jesus called Peter, James, and John, their goal in life was to be successful fishermen, and there is no “sin” in being a fisherman. However, they had to lay aside their goals and follow Jesus. Not everyone will have to actually leave his vocation, but all will have to exchange their personal desires in life for God’s desires.

I remember when I made the decision to follow Jesus. I was a public school teacher and content to be so. As my personal relationship with Jesus grew, it was clear that He had other plans for my life. Through the prompting of the Spirit, the Word of God, my wife, my parents, and my spiritual authorities, God made it clear that I was to lay aside my teaching “nets” and become a pastor. It was a scary time for me to leave the comforts of what I knew and to move into the unknown, but I learned that my daily relationship and call to obey His commands had never really changed at all. They were my anchor.

In this call from Jesus to follow Him, I have discovered that if I am not intentional I will just try to be a fisher of men, thinking that if I try to convince people to “accept” Jesus, that is what it means to follow Him. But I have discovered that it is my responsibility to follow Him and His responsibility to transform me into a fisher of men. Let me end with a quote that has helped me in my pursuit of following Jesus: “Following Jesus means

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January 9, 2008 by admin.

L. A. B. I. - Leominster Assembly Bible Institute

Wednesdays 6:30 PM Beginning January 9:

New Beginnings in Healthy Relationships

Using the Book of Genesis, we will focus on the different kinds of relationships that we are all challenged with and learn how to have success in them. Pastors Mark and Dave will tackle such topics as:

• Where all the problems started from
• What to do when authorities mess up
• Pride—the enemy of healthy relationships
• Handling anger
• Holding a grudge
• Playing favorites
• True reconciliation

Join us on Wednesday evenings for this life-changing study!

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January 1, 2008 by PastorMark.

I Resolve, By Pastor Mark Boucher, January/February 2008 *

Change is coming. Time doesn’t hibernate for the winter. As individuals, we are changing for better or for worse. In this world, change for the worse occurs quite easily because bad habits grow almost effortlessly. Change for the good, however, is another story!

The greatest change in my life happened September 16, 1973. Jesus answered the cry of my heart, forgave me, and came to dwell within me. What a wonderful change took place! I was so different that I didn’t think I could change any more for the better. Little did I know…! Jesus “recreates” our heart so that our lives will be Christlike—a reflection of Him. This life requires continual change into the image of Christ through the transformation of our mind, will and emotions.

During this time of year many people seriously reflect on change and “resolutions.” I read the other day that 40 percent of us make some kind of New Year’s resolution to change something about ourselves. Most of these “self promises” concern weight loss, exercise, or an undesirable habit (to quit smoking, for example). While the desired change may be noble, the vast majority of these resolutions fall away after just a short time. Why do resolutions seem to fail so quickly and easily? Is there a way to really change or are we just “stuck” for the rest of our lives?

When I read the Bible, I discover “good change” requires so much more than mere human willpower. The Apostle Paul spoke of how God had changed him from an angry persecutor to a faithful apostle. He wrote, “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). In his life of change and growth, Paul understood the preeminence of the grace of God. He leaned on God’s grace, not only for salvation but also for the hard work of everyday living.

True, lasting, godly change begins as we embrace the dynamic relationship between the grace of God and our daily choices. Grace enables me to see myself as belonging to God. I live as an oxymoron if I believe in “God’s way” yet choose “my way.” Good change happens as I rejoice in God’s ownership and sovereignty and yield myself to my Heavenly Father. He knows I can’t become more like Jesus in my own strength and will. My first resolve, therefore, must be “to belong to God alone.”

From this dependency on God’s grace, we find daily power to choose right over wrong, good over evil. Is it always easy? Absolutely not! However, the same Jesus who saved us is the same One who promised to empower us. And because Jesus is not just in us but also in His Body (other believers), we find great benefit in friendships and fellowship with others. The company of “overcomers” spurs us on to perseverance in holy living. The stories and testimonies of others encourage us. We are reminded that we are not alone in the battle. Victory and change are not only possible but attainable through the grace and power of God.

Why should we even desire to change for the good? If our reason is to glorify God, that would be right. But, there’s more. Changing for better makes the window more clear for others to see the light of the gospel of Christ. Godly change is not to increase our pride or feelings of self-righteousness; it for the message of Christ to reach others. If we carry good food in a filthy container, chances are that people will reject it. Good food on a clean plate is most desirable.

Whether or not you make a New Year’s resolution is immaterial. The goal is to experience a life that changes to be like Christ. Good changes, both small and great, are the evidence of a true disciple who walks with Jesus. “By their fruits you shall know them” (Matthew 7:16). Don’t be afraid to change.

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