Newsletter for October 29, 2025

Last year, our church family distributed over 500 goodie bags during the Ashburn Halloween Open House—and this year, we’re planning to reach even more families!

Each bag will include candy, information about our church, and the plan of salvation, making this an incredible opportunity to share the love of Christ with our community.

Together, let’s shine the light of Jesus on a night when so many families are out and about in our community!

We will have supper at 6:00 in the Fellowship Hall, followed by candy packing.

Beef Stroganoff, Tossed Salad,
 Rolls, Bread Pudding 

Wed, Oct 29th: Pack Candy Outreach Bags
Wed, Nov 5th: OCC Emphasis, Guest Speaker Kaycee Aultman
Wed, Nov 12th: OCC Packing in the Family Building

If you want to bring stuff and pack your box that night, you are more than welcome, or you can help us pack as a group. 

Suggested Toys: Small dolls, stuffed animals, jump ropes, balls, cars, puzzles, card games, musical toys (like harmonicas or recorders).

Suggested School Supplies:
Crayons, markers, colored pencils, small notebooks, rulers, erasers,
or pencil sharpeners

 Please Do Not Include:
Toy guns or weapons of any kind
War-related toys

 Drop-off boxes are located outside the church office.

Let’s join together to bless children around the world with the love of Christ through a simple shoebox gift!

We’d love your input! Please take a few minutes to fill out our church survey so we can better plan activities that serve and bless our church family.

Don’t miss Brother David’s Mid-Week Devotions in Psalms!
New messages are posted every Wednesday on our media page—take a midweek moment to be encouraged and refreshed in God’s Word.

Budget for 2025 . . . . . . . .  $329,624.00
Tithes Needed to Date . . . . $272,821.67
Received to Date . . . . . . . . $229,569.50      
Needed for weekly budget . . . $6,344.69
Tithes Received this week . .  . $4,562.00

One year during Students on Fire, the boys stayed at my house. Since I had responsibilities at the Civic Center early the next morning, I let the college kids take over, and I went to bed. I told them they were welcome to the snacks and drinks in the kitchen, but they had to be ready when the bus came and stay awake during the service.

But the next morning, when I walked into the kitchen, I found the trash piled so high it was leaning over the counter. Right beside it sat an empty trash can, unused. I asked, “Why didn’t you just take out the trash or use the empty bag right next to it?” Of course, I heard a variety of excuses: “That’s where everyone else was putting it,” or “I thought someone else was going to do it.”

That pile of trash is a funny reminder of what often happens in church. When we talk about outreach or High Attendance Sunday, it’s easy to assume that “someone else” will take care of inviting. But if everybody thinks someone else will do it, then nobody does it.
Romans 10:14 says, “How are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” Paul didn’t write that only pastors or teachers are responsible. Paul believed it is every believer’s calling. Each of us is meant to share, invite, and bring others to the gospel.

Research shows that more than 80% of people attend church when a friend invites them, compared to less than 10% when the pastor alone invites. That means your invitation may carry more weight than a sermon or a visit from a church leader.  A simple word from you could be the one thing that gets someone in the door to hear the Gospel.

High Attendance Sunday isn’t about filling seats; it is about reaching hearts. Just like that overflowing trash can, things pile up when everyone assumes it’s someone else’s responsibility. Let’s not leave the work of inviting to “someone else.” Let’s all do our part to reach out and bring others in.

This Sunday, don’t just sit back and hope others invite, take the step yourself. Invite a neighbor, a coworker, or a friend. And if you happen to be reading this on Sunday morning instead of earlier in the week, don’t worry—you can still bring someone next Sunday to make up for it. Let’s make this a Sunday of high attendance and impact for Christ.