Spiritual Insights from the Staff

Richie Lord is our Director of Junior High and College Ministries. He moved to Titusville in December of 1989. He was familiar with the area because his parents grew up here, still had family here, and he had visited many times.  He was born in North Palm Beach while his father, our current senior pastor, was shepherding a church at Dunklin Memorial Drug and Alcohol Rehab Camp.  The Lord family moved to Colorado when Richie was one year old and stayed for seven years.  He hopes to one day go back and visit because he really loved living there and misses it. Richie attended Park Avenue Baptist School for middle school and graduated from THS in 2000. He spent a few years getting his life together and eventually was able to cram his two year A.A. Degree from BCC into four years.  Richie continued his education at UCF earning a degree in Business Management.  Richie’s friends give him a hard time when he tells them, “Lots of people to go school for seven years.”  They tell him the people who do that are called doctors!  He married his college sweetheart, Amber Clough, in January of 2005.  After five years of marriage, Richie realizes what God said about man is definitely true that he “should not be alone.”   The Lords recently had their first child, Joshua, who is five months old.  He is a beautiful bundle of joy with whom they love hanging out and having fun.  

Richie joined the staff here at Park Avenue in 2005.  For the first two years, he led the College/Young Adult Ministry, and then Dennis Taylor encouraged him to also move in the direction of Jr. High.  After saying no to Dennis many times, Richie felt like God wanted him to also serve in the Jr. High Ministry.  So he has been leading both ministry areas for the last three years.  Recently he also became part of the Worship Service Planning Team in order to help give ideas and direction to the 2nd service on Sunday mornings.  

Spiritual insight from Richie:  
The Rich Young Ruler - Luke 18:18-25 - Jesus tells a rich young man that he must sell everything and give it to the poor if he wants to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven. Whenever I hear this story being taught, it always ends with the teacher or pastor concluding that the young man went away sad because he was not willing to give up his possessions to follow God.  But the Bible doesn’t actually say if he decided to sell them or not; it only says he went away sad.  I am not convinced that the only ending to that story is the young man not selling his stuff.  It leaves it open to end either way.  I know in my life sometimes I have had to make some hard choices to follow God and do the things he wanted me to do, and I was sad by losing something I had to give up.  Ultimately it ends up being good because I followed God, but in the moment, I am sad, because I might be losing something that seems valuable to me.   So I challenge you with these two things:  1. Sometimes when following God, you will have to make some hard choices that make you sad at the time, but are still the right decision, and 2. Read carefully when searching God’s Word for His truth, and make sure to read for yourself what others teach you so you can get it first-hand from God.

Next week we will be highlighting Brad Russell, Director of Senior High Ministry.

Weekend Service

If you missed the sermon or would like to see it again you will find it here

Looking Ahead

This weekend we conclude the Old School series with Pastor Richard Lord sharing a deeper look at the story of Abraham and Isaac.

Upcoming Events

Flock Market –Once again, during Spring Break, March 29-April 2, we will have our annual Flock Market. Please consider not only contributing your gently used items but also volunteering to help out before, during or after the event.  What a wonderful opportunity to meet and pray with members of our community whom you might not come across otherwise.  For more information or to volunteer, please call Mary Radcliff at 360-8248.

Easter Sunrise Service, April 4, 2010 – We will celebrate Resurrection Morning together on the Prayer Chapel Hill at 6:30 am. There will be limited seating, so please consider bringing your own chairs if you can. Invite your friends and neighbors to join us as we share a time of praise and worship to our Risen Lord!

Community Hour – This is a time for Bible Study classes, Fellowship in the Fruit Tree and opportunities for you to set up Mentoring experiences.  The Welcome Centers in the Education Building Lobby and the Gym Lobby will have information about classes and room numbers should you need guidance. Be on the look out in the next couple of weeks for the new line up of short term classes.

Reminder: On-line giving option is available.  This means we now have three options for giving: by accessing the church website, by way of your bank automatic check system, or through the regular offering envelopes taken during the church services.  On-line giving may be used for a one-time, non-recurring gift or for a monthly recurring option.  For more details and to get started, visit www.parkavenue.org. 

Please see the bulletin for many more opportunities.

Corporate Prayer/Praise opportunities for the week

Worship and War - Thank God for the Worship and War prayer experience. The presence of God was strong, and He had His way as we followed His lead in praying, praising and worshipping. There was a great representation of many different generations. Pray that the fruit of this time will continue to blossom and grow!

Helping Hands in the Lord’s Garden -   Last Saturday was the last of the grant work days, although volunteers are always needed and welcome!  Beth Ann Tucker was pleased with all that was accomplished.  Mulching remains to be done, most likely by a student team during Project Titusville.  Pray that there will be enough free mulch available at the Mockingbird facility. For more information you may call Beth Ann Tucker, committee chair, at 480-1692 or email: enviro1@att.net