Jim and his wife Lois have been members of Central Christian Church since 1987. Both have been active in teaching and leadership roles in children and high school ministries. Jim has taught in adult fellowship classes, and participated in the sermon question research team. The family has been involved in mission trips over the years, and Jim found service through his photography in a special way when he documented the Central mission trip to India in 2006.

 

Jim's son Chris, and grandson Colton (6) lives on the south side of Indianapolis. Jim and Lois have 3 Eagle Scouts: Joshua, 22, a recent graduate of DePauw University, and currently working on a 3 year Master of Divinity program at Trinity International University in Chicago; Jacob, 20, a junior at Purdue working on a degree in computer technology; and John, 18, a senior at Carmel High School.

 

Jim and Lois have owned/operated Wyant Photography since 1982. They both have earned the Master of Photography and Craftsman degrees through the Professional Photographers of America (PPA). Jim is also the holder of the prestigious "Diamond Excellence" degree through the PPA. Jim has been president of the Indianapolis Photographers Guild, the Daguerre Club of Indiana, and the Professional Photographers of IN (PPI). He currently serves on the PPI executive board, and is the chairman of the Mid-America Regional Conference board of Governors.   

January, 2008

 

As we begin the new year...

 

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith deveops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

 

The Holy Spirit is working through us - in our openness to his heart and our obedience to serve him. By growing closer to Christ, we experience his joy and his fruit will be seen and shared with others.

As we begin a new year, I am excited by the direction that God is leading us. He is taking us on a faith journey. It is called, “Life” and he wants us to enjoy it abundantly! God equips us as we worship and serve him. He will never leave or forsake us. Here are the key areas that the elders envision for our congregation:

   +  Seeking spiritual growth, pursuing God’s will in our lives.
   +  Connecting through Life Group ministry within our communities, as we study, worship, pray and

       serve with those who are closest to us.
   +  Developing a family ministry to build up and equip people of all ages. We believe we can do more

       to strengthen marriages and bring children, students and their parents into the center of the life of

       our church. We anticipate intense study into this issue and concerted effort into this area of church

       life.

We welcome Shelley and Phil Harris, who as a pair are taking on the interim assignment as our praise and worship leader, while a team of our members, staff and elders seeks to fill the position on a permanent basis. Invite your friends, neighbors and co-workers to join us for worship, teaching, communion and fellowship Sunday mornings.

Although I have always thought that my gift of encouragement would be a blessing and a real part of what I have to offer at Central, it is I who am being encouraged by so many of you. Thank you so much for your prayers and support! I am encouraged that together we will continue to grow deeper spiritually.

To those who are physically, emotionally or spiritually hurting, I pray for God’s blessing and healing.

To those we have disappointed, I ask for forgiveness if we have not been responsive to your needs and trust that God will lead you closer to him.

Thank you to our members and regular attenders for your faithfulness and to our leaders and volunteers who serve sacrificially and unselfishly.

To the elders, staff and their families, thank you for your commitment to serve this congregation and openness to God’s leading and vision for our body of believers. I appreciate your steadfastness to God’s Word, dedication to service and all the little un-proclaimed things that you do to help others through valleys.

 

 

The elders have been studying Ephesians 3 and 4 for the past couple of months. There is so much good content for us to absorb from these scriptures. One particular passage is from Ephesians 4:11-16, "It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ."

Each of us has gifts and passions. We have been called to serve in different areas of ministry. However, we are at different levels of maturity and vary in our knowledge of the Scriptures. We never stop learning or never achieve a level in our spiritual growth where we can say that we have arrived. Life Groups is one place where you can become better equipped and where spiritual growth can occur based upon where you are. They are more than just a Bible study. It is where we as a body can care for all of our members without letting someone slip through cracks. There are a number of new LifeGroups launching which is truly exciting! At last count we have or will be launching 6 new LifeGroups in addition to those already functioning.

 

If you are not a member of a LifeGroup yet and would like to be connected, please fill out The Card on Sunday morning, contact one of the Elders or contact Paul Backer (846.1230 or email) for more information. Our goal is to have everyone connected to a LifeGroup in order to meet the needs of all of our members.

Blessings, The Elders