March 2020 Update

Hello Lift Church Family,

Some of you reading this have been with us from the beginning and others have just started the journey.  We want to thank you for being so faithful to our God and to Lift Church.  We are so thankful to our God as we have seen people put their faith in Jesus Christ, become part of the community of Lift Church, and help us impact the city of Rochester. 

 Last weekend we gathered some of our Lift Group coaches and leaders together and we were so encouraged to hear stories of how God has worked in our church. Lives have been changed, marriages have been strengthened, people found freedom from the bondage of sin and legalism, and we even heard how God used our church to start a relationship that resulted in marriage!  We look back over the almost 9 years of ministry and praise God for what He has done!

 We also recognize that trials and difficulties have come our way.  The last three years especially have been hard.  We have had conflict on our staff, we have lost sight of being on mission as a church, and there has been disagreement on the elder team of how to move forward.

 This past weekend, we received and accepted the resignation letters of two of our elders, Adam Sawatsky and Kendall Koens. We acknowledge there was disagreement among the elders around church governance and repentance or lack thereof. Unity was pursued but we could not obtain it. We, as elders, acknowledge we have made mistakes.  We acknowledge that we need to continue to learn.  We acknowledge that we are committed to growing more and more intimately with Jesus every day.

 We also acknowledge that God is not done with Lift Church!  Thankfully our God promises to be with us and to never leave nor forsake us (Mt. 28:20, Heb. 13:5).  Our God promises to finish the work that He has started in us (Phil.1:6). 

We believe that God is going to refine us in this time and make us stronger for the Gospel.  We believe there is a strong and fruitful future for Lift Church.  We need you.  We need you with us.

 We understand you may have questions. We want this to be clear: we love and support our lead pastor. We have encouraged him and his family to take their already planned vacation for the next two weeks. We as an elder team are available to answer your questions. Due to the spread of the coronavirus, that will need to be through email and phone calls at this point.

However, we look forward to the day when we can get in a room together to have a conversation and answer questions about why we grieve the loss of the past few years and how we can move forward in unity and love for one another.

As we continue to walk in faith and on mission, here are a couple of updates:

1. We have added Ronn Smith and Brent Thomas to our elder team.

   • Ronn Smith is the director of the Highpoint Send Network, the church planting arm of one of our sending churches, Highpoint Church in Naperville, Illinois. He has been a church planter and a lead pastor for 19 years and has already brought Godly wisdom and passion to the leadership of our church.

   • Brent Thomas is transitioning to a new ministry opportunity in May, but has agreed to finish his season of ministry with us as an advisor to the elder team through April. Brent has been in our church since its beginning and we are grateful for his leadership and insight.

2. This Sunday, March 22, we are going to start a 21-day journey of prayer and fasting to Easter Sunday.

   • Our leadership team has committed to it and we are humbly asking our church to join as well. We are praying and fasting together because we believe that our God is faithful.  We believe our God is dependable.  We believe our God hears us when we cry out to Him.  We believe that God loves it when we seek His face with our heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Let’s do this together! You can find more info and resources at www.liftchurch.co/fast.

The next 21 days are crucial for us, Lift Church.  Here are ways that you can help:

• Commit to the 21-day journey of fasting and prayer
  www.liftchurch.co/fast

• Journal the journey
  As the Lord leads, write out prayers for our church

• Join us Sundays at 10:00am as we worship together online
  www.liftchurch.co/live

• Pray for our Elder Team
  Ed Gaul, Steve Deedrick, Ronn Smith & Brent Thomas

• Live on mission
  During this pandemic, let’s be looking for where God is moving

• Communicate with your elders.  We are here for you and are praying for you
  Email elders@liftchurch.co
  

In our current reality, all of us are facing fear.  In 2 Chronicles 20, there is a powerful story of how King Jehoshaphat responded in a time of fear.

“Then Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.” - 2 Chronicles 20:3

 Let’s do the same.  Let’s seek the Lord together and see what He will do.

You are loved!
- The Elder Team of Lift Church