NO. 13
A Note From Pastor Eric "We Have an Evangelism Crisis" Earlier this month I was sitting in my church office around 8pm and I had just started packing up to head home for the evening. Just as I was getting ready to click on the shutdown option on my computer, I heard the sound... "ding." We all have heard that familiar sound before. A new email had just arrived, and I thought to myself, do I look at it or do I just shut down and head home, it will be there in the morning. If you know me well enough, there was no way that I was not going to at least peak at the subject line.
Here is what I saw, "We Have an Evangelism Crisis"
Wow! Now my curiosity has peaked, and I must open this. The email had way too many data points to cover in this monthly post, but there were two specific points that really stood out to me. "Only 1% of pastors say their churches are very effective at evangelism. Only 1%! That means 99% of pastors say their churches are not!" 1. "72% of Americans describe themselves as spiritually open, with younger generations more open to God since the pandemic." 2. The biggest takeaway for me was that I should have hit the shutdown button so I could have slept that night! Kidding....Kidding.... My biggest takeaway was that we are living in a time where 72% of people say they are open spiritually, but only 1% of pastors say their church is highly effective at evangelism. Wow, what do I do with that information? What do we do with that information? I initially started thinking about Violet Baptist Church and how we are doing with this as a church. I have not fully vetted this out, but here is where the processing has led me so far. We are passionate about the importance of discipleship and evangelism in our church. These two aspects are inseparable, they are interwoven, which creates a solid foundation for our church to reach out to our neighbors and those in our communities around us. We must all be hungry for true discipleship and the process of growing deeper in our relationship with God, learning more about His word, and following in the footsteps of Jesus. It is through discipleship that we are equipped to share the love of Christ with others and make a positive impact in our homes, neighborhoods and communities. When we invest in discipleship, we are not only strengthening our own faith but also preparing ourselves to be effective ambassadors of the Gospel. (continued on the next page)
When it comes to Evangelism, we are all called to share the good news of Jesus Christ with others! Are we all inviting those around us to experience His love and grace for themselves? By engaging in evangelism, we have the opportunity to reach out to our neighbors and those in our community who may be searching for spiritual truth and meaning. God will use us when we step out of comfort and into the unknown. As Christians, we have the Holy Spirit living in us and the power to bring hope and transformation to the lives of those around us. By continuing to weave together discipleship and evangelism, we can all create a culture of healthy growth and outreach that impacts not only our members but everyone in our community. As we grow closer to God through discipleship, we are empowered to go out and share His love with others through evangelism. "Jesus continued going around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, the harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into his harvest.” - Matthew 9:35-38 CSB Would you join me in praying for all the Pastors and churches that are struggling with this and that we would all continue to prioritize discipleship and evangelism in our lives, reaching out to our neighbors and community with the message of hope and salvation found in Jesus Christ alone?
Pastor Eric ericf@violetchurch.com
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I love being part of a church that understands the importance of being the hands and feet of Jesus in our community. The thank you note below was written by my neighbor, who is wheelchair- bound. Some men from Violet came alongside David and his family and made his bathroom and shower more accessible to him. Thank you to everyone who helped with this! A Note From Pastor Brian
My Friends in Christ At Violet Baptist Church
I cannot convey the gratitude I feel for your help. I am truly blessed to receive, during my time of need, your prayers and generosity. Heavenly Father, Thank You for the blessings you have bestowed on my life. You have provided me with more than I could ever imagine. You have surrounded me with people who always look out for me. You have given me family and friends who bless me every day with kind words and actions. Please bless them as they have blessed me. In Christ’s name, we pray.
Thank you, The Jacksons - David, Dawn and Jacob
Men’s Mission Trip
Men, it’s that time of year again where we prepare for the mission trip to South Dakota (May 3-9, 2025). We will be having our initial meeting for this trip on February 9th at 8 a.m. This year we are planning on helping finish two houses as well as building a bathhouse onto the large building on the ranch. This is a great time of fellowship and spiritual growth as we serve the Lord in practical ways on the reservation.
Disaster Relief
Our Disaster Relief Team at Violet continues to grow. There is a state training event at Jersey Church on Saturday, February 15. Even if you currently cannot commit to deploy for a week-long time, there are opportunities for day trips in-state. I encourage you to sign up for the training. (Click the image for more information and to register.)
2025 Winter Youth Retreat
We are so excited to be able to have our youth retreat from February 21-23 at the Heartland Retreat Center in Marengo, Ohio! The retreat provides an opportunity for students to get away from their daily routine and focus on their relationships with God and others. Over the years, many students point back to a youth retreat as a turning point in their relationship with God. In addition to deepening their connection with God, the retreats provide an opportunity to deepen connections with others within the group. I often tell parents that if their students could only attend one event each year, this would be the one to attend! It is the best event that we offer as a youth group. We will meet at church on Friday, February 21st at 5 PM and return to the church on Sunday, February 23rd at Noon. Each student will need a completed Heartland Consent Form. The cost for the retreat is $145. Payments can be made through the Church Center App, or made under “Events” at VioletBaptistChurch.org. Registration and payments are due by February 9th. Each student will receive a postcard with information about how to pack. Here are the details about our retreat speakers: Brandon Sherr will be our Jr. High speaker. Brandon grew up in Tennessee (among other places!) and graduated from Cedarville University with a major in Youth Ministry and a minor in Political Science. Brandon serves as the Youth Pastor at Shoreline Church in Willoughby, Ohio (near Cleveland). He and his wife Anna (formerly Anna Hurt) have been married for 1.5 years. Brandon loves Mexican food and would choose ice cream as his favorite dessert. He listens to the band Camino and most “good” music! He enjoys watching sports and supporting the Baylor Bears, the Giants, Yankees, and Knicks. Sam Romine will be our High School speaker. Sam grew up in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia, about an hour from Washington DC. He has a Bachelors in Social Studies Education from Mt. Vernon Nazarene University. He and his wife Taiylor have a 3 year old son named Ryder, and a 1 year old daughter named Piper. Sam is the Lead Pastor at Redemption Church in Johnstown. He loves Chipotle, Popeye’s, and a good steakhouse! He listens to classic rock, alternative, and City Alight. Sam is a huge fan of the West Virginia Mountaineers, the Carolina Panthers, the Baltimore Orioles, and the Washington Wizards.
Please be in prayer for all aspects of this retreat. Feel free to call anytime with questions.
-Pastor Keith (614)460-9271
A Note from Pastor Keith
Overflow Jr. High Begins a Month-Long Study of Moses
The Overflow Jr. High group is doing an in-depth study of the life of Moses. We are using the Price of Egypt movie to frame weekly Bible studies on the life, calling, and leadership of Moses in bringing God’s people out of captivity in Egypt. The students are very engaged in both the video segments and the Bible studies that follow. We are excited for the Jr. High students to engage in this study as Pastor Rick leads our church through the Experiencing God material, which also focuses on the life of Moses. We are hoping that this yields some valuable discussions between our students and their parents in the weeks to come!
Overflow High School Students Choose Top Ten Teaching Topics
In December, our Overflow High School students completed a survey to determine which topics they were interested in studying in youth group during 2025. They were given a list of 85 teaching topics and they also had the opportunity to add topics that were not listed. In addition to voting on the topics, students submitted 3 questions based on the topics that they chose. The results of this survey will help shape our teaching in the Overflow High School group in the months to come.
Here are the Top Ten Teaching Topics as Chosen by our High School Students
1. Spiritual Dry Spells 2. Stress/Anxiety 3. Sharing Christ with Others 4. Hell 5. Spiritual Growth 6. Depression 7. Decision Making
8. Death 9. Prayer 10. Following Christ
Please pray for wisdom for our leaders and guest speakers as we seek to apply Biblical truth to these important topics. Also, pray that our students would receive and apply these truths to their lives.
Thanks, Pastor Keith
During the month of January, VioletKids learned that they are secure because God always takes care of us! Our January scripture memory verse says, “I always let the Lord guide me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (Psalm 16:8). Many of our VioletKids volunteers gathered together for training, which is something we do quarterly as a team. This month we took an intentional pause to celebrate together all the amazing things that God has been doing in VioletKids! We also discussed ways that we can create safe places in our classrooms on Sunday mornings. We love our children’s ministry team!
Events & Volunteers New Year, New Goals, New Serving Opportunities! If you’re like me, you like to start the year with goals and if one of your goals is to start serving in your local church, I would love to meet with you! I would love to show you all the different ways you can serve at Violet, Let’s connect! Reach out to me and we can look at the different opportunities to plug you in to serve at Violet. Whether it’s on a weekly serve team or it’s event-based serving, there are so many opportunities. January was a cold but busy month at Violet as we got back into the routine of things. For the past several years, Violet has been honored to host Pickerington Local School District's MLK Celebration & Awards Ceremony. Thank you to the volunteers who helped us greet and welcome so many who came to celebrate. A couple times a year, Violet is a host site for Red Cross Blood Drives. On Monday, February 10th, from 10:00AM-5:00PM, we will host our first one of the year. There are 3 different shifts available for you to help set up the blood drive or to help greet and welcome the community.
Looking forward to Serving with you this year! Jamie McCleese
Event & Volunteer Director jamiem@violetchurch.com
Meet a Worship Team Member:
Hi, I’m Preston Rhoades. I’m 20 years old and I have been going to Violet for 16 years. In my free time, I like to write drum parts and master my drum craft, I also love to learn new instruments such as the bass and saxophone. Outside of music, I love spending time with friends in either bowling or just getting food!
Note from Pastor Michael:
Preston has been serving on the worship team since 2019 in various roles. His first role was serving as a camera operator when he was 16 years old. His most frequent and current role with the worship ministry is playing drums for our worship band and serving as our Youth Ministry band leader.
The YouVersion Bible App serves as a valuable tool for individuals seeking to deepen their faith and enhance their understanding of the Holy Scriptures through various resources, including Bible reading plans and studies. For members of Violet Baptist Church, adding the church to their profile on the app opens up a world of opportunities for engaging and enriching Bible study experiences. Through the YouVersion Bible App, members of Violet Baptist Church have access to a plethora of Bible reading plans tailored to different interests, needs, and time commitments. These plans cover a wide range of topics, including but not limited to devotionals, thematic studies, character studies, and in-depth exploration of specific books of the Bible. With options for daily readings, topical studies, and guided reflections, members can easily find a plan that resonates with their spiritual journey and helps them grow in their faith. By affiliating with Violet Baptist Church on the app, members can participate in church-specific reading plans and studies curated by their church leaders. These plans can align with the teachings, values, and visions of the church, providing a cohesive and focused approach to Bible study for the congregation. By engaging in these church-specific plans, members can foster a sense of community, shared learning, and spiritual connection with their fellow church members, even in virtual spaces. Additionally, the YouVersion Bible App offers various tools to enhance the study experience, such as highlighting and note-taking features, audio versions of the Bible, and social sharing options. This allows members of Violet Baptist Church to engage with the Word of God in a personalized and interactive manner, making the study process more dynamic and impactful. In conclusion, adding Violet Baptist Church on the YouVersion Bible App can be a transformative step towards a more intentional and enriching Bible study journey. By exploring the diverse range of reading plans, studies, and interactive tools available on the app, members can deepen their understanding of Scripture, grow in their faith, and connect with their church community in new and meaningful ways. Marketing & Communications Joining Violet Baptist Church on the YouVersion Bible App
We’d love to hear from you. Has your VioletGroup recently come together to serve the Lord? Tell us about it. What’s happening in the ministry where you serve? We’d love to hear about it. You can email rachels@violetchurch.com with your stories and photos.
Click here for the Bible app
If you have any questions about setting Violet Baptist Church as ‘your church’ on the YouVersion Bible app, please reach out to me. Thank you!
Rachel Stone Marketing & Communications Director rachels@violetchurch.com
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