September 9th, 2021
To Our Partners at Zion’s River,
Let me begin with this Word: SEASONS MATTER to God.
You can’t avoid these times. They cannot be shifted or changed. Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall are wired into the system; life on this planet requires them! So also in the Spirit, seasonal changes matter. If you know your season, you can stand strong in your strategies for life. Just like your daily lifestyle choices of Winter completely contrast with your Summer strategies, so too your choices seasonally shift in your spiritual journey.
We are praying for you and desire to help you make sense of your season. We’re doing everything we can to teach and equip God’s church for their shift.
As a ministry at Zion’s River, right now, I believe we’re walking through a gestational season. With all the building upgrades happening, leadership development, and many future building and ministry upgrades, we’re pouring all our resources into strategies that ensure a healthy future will be birthed.
So, here are two things to consider as you continue to partner with us in our next season.
- Connect—make your walk relational.
One of the greatest gifts the Lord has given us is each other. Transformation happens because we’re in close proximity to others. Alone, our unhealthy biases tend to increase. Here at Zion’s River, we will always encourage you to gather with others to support, pray, learn, and grow together. From Sunday Encounters, to discipleship courses, to more personal Encounters in our Connection Groups, they are all gifts of God to keep your walk with Christ vibrant and alive.
Without connection, we lose momentum in our walk in the Kingdom.
So, if you need some guidance in either starting your own group or if we can steer you in the direction of one that is already meeting, please let us know. It is our joy to support you in any way necessary.
- Join the mission!
One the greatest ways you can help us fulfill the mission is by faith-filled purposed generosity.
From week to week, God continues to add to our numbers…both in the house and online! We are so thankful for how the Lord continues to bless our efforts as we bring His gospel to our city and the world. So, please be in prayerful consideration how you might continue sowing financial seed into this ministry and our expansion projects.
Our next big giving opportunity will be on SUNDAY, OCTOBER 17TH. I’m calling this our OPENING THE GATES offering!
Consider this scripture: “Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.”” (Genesis 28:16–17, ESV, emphasis added) God’s house is the place of promise and the place where heaven breaks-in.
Will you help us OPEN THE GATES of possibilities through Zion’s River?
This will be the first of three OPEN THE GATES Sundays, scattered throughout this next year. We believe God will use these special times to help us get to our $200K goal. These funds will help us complete the upgrades in the sanctuary as well as in our technical and online departments.
Again, our greatest hope is giving people a place where they can experience God and be trained to walk in the fullness of life Jesus promised.
Please be in concerted prayer with us. Jesus said, “Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.” (Matthew 18:19, ESV) As we pray and live generously, I believe God will open new gates! Come boldly before the throne of grace with us, and let’s believe God for the commission He gave us to increase His river in the earth!
With much love,
Jim Sheen
Lead Pastor
Zion’s River