The Portal

NEW Podcast! : Ephesians 4e http://neoxenos.org/podcasts/618/

NEW Podcast! : Ephesians 4d http://neoxenos.org/podcasts/610/

NEW Podcast! : Ephesians 4c http://neoxenos.org/podcasts/609/

NEW Podcast! : Ephesians 4b http://neoxenos.org/podcasts/608/

NEW Podcast! : Ephesians 4a http://neoxenos.org/podcasts/607/

On Valentine’s Day 2010, the Hughes and Michalek Home Groups gathered at the Morscher’s home to have our first-ever round table discussion. This was our first attempt at reporting the progress or our home groups using our technological capabilities.  It was a resounding success, both logistically and spiritually.

The home group members met in the week prior to the round table to pray and brainstorm about the past year’s happenings and to ask for the Holy Spirit’s guidance in the next year’s work. There was some trepidation at making so public both their successes and failures, but as you will see when you listen to the podcast, God was faithful in providing grace, comfort, joy, and unity.

There was a consensus among us that God has given to us a great and precious gift. We feel sadness at the fact that so many Christians have not had the opportunity to experience 1st century body life or seen the Spirit leading and working in such a powerful manner as we have. We understand, also, that it has nothing to do with our own abilities or work, but that the Holy Spirit has decided to work, let us in on His agenda, and graciously allowed us to participate. We feel blessed to be a part of that. As a result of our experiences, we would love to share it with other believers who long for true Body Life and the experience of seeing the Holy Spirit do His work through them.

The Hughes and Michalek Home Groups were at one time a combined group. In 2006, the group had grown to over 40 people and decided to split it into 2 to accommodate the growth they were seeing and to promote more intimacy. In the last 4 years, both groups have experienced their share of both success and failure. Both also agree that they have learned more from their failures than successes. As Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness ‘ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

You will enjoy listening to the honesty, transparency, hope, and joy these fellow believers share. Stay tuned for more round table discussions with all of our home groups – junior high, high school, college, and adult. I, for one, came away from the experience refreshed and ready to keep on with the Lord and His work.

• Podcasts available online: Michalek Home Church Leadership Roundtable Discussion, Meet the Hughes Home Church Leadership Roundtable Discussion

Don’t forget to bring along some snacks and a dessert for the FST retreat!!!! Also, it’s 10.00 per adult & 5.00 per student!

A few weeks ago, it was a cold, yet slightly sunny afternoon when Greg, Mark and Joel took a step of faith and walked onto the icy platform that sat atop Lake Erie. Armed with rakes, shovels and cameras, the three men boldly made the trek about 200 feet out from the shore. Looking out across the frozen tundra, it looked like a foreign planet of sorts – unfamiliar territory stretching out as far as the eye could see.

What an amazing representation this was of the discussions that were happening in the house that sat on the frozen shores of the lake in which the elders gathered to discuss what direction the Lord was leading NEO Xenos in 2010. Many items discussed had a theme of “stepping out”. It is from this Elder’s retreat that the agenda for our 2010 Fiscal Support Team (FST) retreat was developed.

2009 was a year of much uprooting, persecution and change. Yet we reaped such rewards! NEO Xenos saw salvations and growth, both in meetings and in people’s spiritual lives, and all of it created a foundation for which to launch off of in 2010. With the stage set, it is time for our fellowship to “step out,” or move forward, in the areas God is calling us. Just a few tidbits on what you will hear at this year’s FST:

Stepping Out Physically

In the last few months the elders have seen a number of signs indicating that we should move beyond Stow and plant additional bible studies. This past year we’ve been functioning as a “church without walls”, having no building to call our own. The Lord has given us the privilege to be mobile like the 1st Century church where all the members in the body are playing an important role in reaching people for Christ. Pray for the elders as they take a trip out to Berkley, California in March to collaborate with the Elaine Steadman colleagues about how to spread the revolution of God’s freedom across the country!

Stepping Out Verbally

As believers in Christ we have an awesome message of God’s love and freedom to proclaim to the world. God has given us the privilege of being able to take part in his plan to steal captives from Satan’s Kingdom and set them free! We’re on the offense proclaiming Christ to the lost and striking out on new ground! At the FST this year, we will be hearing more about what it means to have a theology of “kerygma”.

Stepping Out Intellectually

Many students recently graduated from the latest semester of the Basic Doctrine class in order to be better equipped servants of Christ. The LTC class will begin soon and it will be an exciting semester! The class will be a combination of those leaders who are finishing up LTC III as well as those who are beginning LTC I. The elders want to equip our leaders on how to effectively lead the church to proclaim the good news to a postmodern culture, so these and some additional ideas are in the works for how to do this.

Stepping Out This Saturday

This year’s FST retreat will be held on Saturday, February 6th at Lion’s Lodge in Cuyahoga Falls (641 Silver Lake Avenue). You will definitely want to hear more about what is happening in our fellowship, as the Lord is leading us in some exciting directions! We hope to see you “step out” and come to this fabulous retreat to hear more! Don’t forget to pledge before you come so the elders can better plan for this year’s financial needs. Get your form here: http://neoxenos.net/forums/index.php?topic=3051.0

We plan on meeting all day, starting off at 10:00am with Keith teaching on “”The History, How We Got Here, and the Bible’s Take On It.”. We will touch on our “stepping out” topics throughout the day and finish up in the late evening (we have the Lodge until midnight, so there may even be a spontaneous dance party!) As in previous years, we plan on having this be a time of fantastic fellowship as well as being informative. Lunch and Dinner will be provided. The cost is $10.00 per adult and $5.00 per student. Bring lawn chairs to sit around the fireplace and bring some snacks and extra drinks to share!