Dear Church,

Since I came to Salinas in 2002, the month of February has always seemed to be an eventful month for our assembly. I anticipate that the same will hold true in 2008 as we embark upon the first of a series of changes to meet the evolving needs of all who come in contact with Life Christian Center.

After meeting with the staff and ministry leaders, the decision has been made to suspend the 10:00 a.m. Lifeclass format in favor of kicking off our main worship service at that time. This does not mean that addressing practical life issues normally covered in the Lifeclasses will be done away with, but instead we will address those subjects in different “ministry vehicles” (e.g., Lifegroups, elective classes at church, or even in the Sunday and Tuesday services). While the staff and ministry leaders continue to collaborate in good faith concerning the best courses of action for our church in both the short and the long term, I encourage everyone to be welcoming of forthcoming changes as we implement them as this is and has been a matter of much prayer.

It was also agreed upon that the spiritual climate of Sunday services are greatly impacted by the positive spiritual mindset of us as worshippers. So the staff and ministry leaders of Life Christian Center strongly desire for you to join them for prayer on Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. The logic behind the idea is that Sunday services are better for everyone, including our guests, when the saints of God have been “awakened” both physically and spiritually prior to the beginning of our corporate worship.

I realize that we have individuals who drive from Soledad, Monterey, Gilroy, and even the Bay Area to come to church on Sundays. For some, coming early is no big deal, while for others – getting themselves and their kids ready for church would make 9:30 an ambitious goal. We who are “locals” should then strive to cover for these brethren and faithfully seek God early and earnestly in prayer prior to Sunday morning worship.

These I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer…
…For my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
Isaiah 56:7 NIV

The split-by-gender teenLife classes that have been so enthusiastically attended will simply be shifted to Tuesday evenings – breaking out into groups after the song service. I am encouraged by the good that has occurred and continues to manifest itself in the hearts and lives of the junior high and high school students in our church.

We will still allot sufficient time and resources to minister to our children on Sunday mornings beginning at 10:00 a.m., while brainstorming for greater ideas both to build up and equip this vital demographic and to properly minister to those who work in kidLife.

Just by way of reminder, we are doing some “sprucing up” of the sanctuary beginning after church on Sunday, February 10, and concluding by Saturday, February 16. Therefore, we will go mobile with our midweek service – convening in the annex on Tuesday, February 12, at 7:00 p.m.

On Sunday, February 2 4, at 10:00 a.m., please be ready to participate enthusiastically in what I have titled, “Dr. Pepper Day.” We will kick off as usual with our song service and then see how things unfold from there. Because it is a uniquely-themed service, and because I believe it is important for the children to see their parents and instructors participating in this event, there will be no kidLife scheduled on this particular Sunday.

I want to remind everyone that Easter comes early in 2008, and I would like us to make a large push to invite as many friends, family, classmates, and coworkers as possible to come celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord Jesus at Life Christian Center on Sunday, March 23, at 10:00 a.m. I believe that this Easter needs to be an important evangelistic springboard for our assembly and a genuine blessing for our community. We will also commemorate the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ by celebrating the Lord’s Supper at our Good Friday Service on Friday, March 21, at 7:00 p.m.

Blessings to you,

Pastor Max Manley

Will you not revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation.
I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints — but let them not return to folly.
Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.
Psalm 85:6-11 NIV