In High School I ran relay races in track, and I remember one specific race being behind a few meters.  As we came to the baton hand off for the final leg of the race, something was about to happen. The team directly in front of me dropped the baton.  As I grabbed the baton from my teammate I streaked past and ran to a victory!  As 217church we are responsible to and for each other.  Countless times in scripture we see Jesus treats his disciples as family.  Paul refers to us as the family as we are “baptized into the body of Christ” Whatever we do, we must do with the mentality that we are a family.  Everything these men did was to equip those who came after them to carry on strong in the faith.  A family makes sure no matter what, the children are well fed, taken care of, built up strong, and empowered to run their race with effectiveness.  We MUST help them carry on what we started.  If the vision dies with us we fail.

The only way for us to finish strong is to hand the baton off to the Next Generation…

“…that you may tell the NEXT GENERATION that this is God!”  Psalm 48:13-14

Last year through the next generation offering we fully funded our youth and kids ministries. I am thrilled to report they are 150+ students STRONG!  In addition, we gave away over $50,000 to fund our local and global mission partnerships!  Now it’s time to step up and GIVE SACRIFICIALLY to make sure the next season of our church is healthy and strong.

4 Reasons To Give To The Next Generation 2015 Offering…

#1 Youth & Kids Ministry – $55,000 Goal – The stories are piling up and the lives are being transformed.  Over the last two months we had our largest youth and kids gatherings ever!  Now we want to take it to the next level.  This amount will fully fund every initiative including our partnership with Urban Promise which helps keep kids off the streets and in an after school program in Trenton.

#2 New Open Hope Orphan Care Ministry – $15,000 Goal – This year we are launching a new initiative that will bring hope and care through advocacy for adoptive and foster families.  We are doing our part for orphans in our world! You can sign up this weekend to sponsor a child through Lifesong at the Open Home table.

#3 217rebuild Initiative – $15,000 Goal – From the beginning 217church has been all about helping families make ends meet through meeting practical needs.  We have always been a church known for helping single moms, their children and those in our community who are in critical circumstances.

#4 217global Partnership – $15,000 Goal – Our partnership with the Dominican Republic church is healthy and thriving. We have taken two trips and now are helping plant a church in 2015 through the ministry of Rick & Tammie Romano.  Their ministry is thriving as they facilitated over 700 people on short term trips.  We want to ensure a strong church as we have over 40 sister churches in the Dominican.

Everyone can give something and together we can make a difference.  No gift is too small and every gift matters!  I look forward to seeing you this Sunday as we have a special gift for you.

You can GIVE NOW to help reach the $100,000 goal

Josh

November 9 – Sacrifice (Special Guests – Rick & Tammie Romano from the Dominican Republic)

November 16- Vision

We are the church that meets at two theaters!  Join us at 217church, a multi-site, contemporary church in Mercer County NJ.  217church is a family with small groups in New Jersey and Pennsylvania that meets Sundays in the Hamilton AMC24 Theater 9:30 & 11am and Starplex Cinemas in East Windsor, NJ at 10:15.  Our new East Windsor Campus meets every Sunday.  If you are looking for a church in East Windsor NJ, Lawrenceville NJ, Ewing NJ, Robbinsville NJ, Hightstown NJ, Hamilton NJ, Mercer County, Middlesex County or Bucks County, PA, don’t miss our weekend services. Visit www.217church.com for more information.