Mysterious signs have begun appearing throughout South County
asking the question:
”
Got purpose?
”
Members of South Valley Community Church have been putting this
message on billboards, lawn signs and bumper stickers to call
attention to an exciting campaign being announced next week.
Mysterious signs have begun appearing throughout South County asking the question: “Got purpose?” Members of South Valley Community Church have been putting this message on billboards, lawn signs and bumper stickers to call attention to an exciting campaign being announced next week.
The international program “40 Days of Purpose” is sponsored by some 1,100 churches in this country and abroad and spearheaded by the Rev. Rick Warren, founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif. One of America’s largest Protestant churches, Saddleback saw amazing increases in numerical and spiritual growth when they presented this program last fall.
According to Pastor Warren, “Whenever God wanted to change someone’s perspective and prepare them for his purposes, He often took 40 days: Noah’s 40 days of rain, Moses’ 40 days on Mt. Sinai, Ninevah’s 40 days of warning by Jonah, Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness.
During the 40 Days of Purpose, members of SVCC and other interested local residents will concentrate on answering the question, “What on earth am I here for?” They will discover the answer to the question as they immerse themselves in the five purposes God has for human life:
• To live for God’s pleasure
• To be a member of God’s family
• To become like Christ
• To serve God
• To share faith
The program will kick off with a national simulcast which everyone is invited to attend at SVCC, 8085 Kelton Drive in Gilroy.The program will be shown April 12 at 9:45 a.m., 3:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.
Everyone is invited to participate in these other aspects of the campaign:
• Hear all seven messages in the series which will be presented during Sunday worship services at 8:00, 9:15 and 11 a.m.
• Read the 40 daily devotions in the book the campaign is based upon, Warren’s “The Purpose Driven Life.” Copies of the book will be provided free to those who attend the simulcast.
• Join a small group or Sunday morning class which meets weekly for six weeks. According to SVCC Pastor Eric Smith, “Every age, every group, every ministry, every worship service” will be devoted to pursuing this program. More than 100 SVCC members have offered to host weekly small group meetings featuring videos and discussion in their homes.
• Memorize a short Bible verse each week focusing on one of the five purposes.
Another feature of the campaign is a 40 Hours of Prayer event scheduled for April 17 and 18. An “intimate prayer refuge” will be set up in the fellowship hall and sanctuary. Participants are invited to drop by during this time period to devote an hour of prayer in preparation for the campaign’s official start on April 20.
The 40 Days of Purpose will conclude on Celebration Sunday, June first. Participants will have an opportunity to give and hear personal testimonies about this life-changing experience. For more information call Barb Miller at 848-2363.
