The Induction of Mark Powell

It was a momentous and joyous occassion for Cornerstone yesterday (4th March 2007), with the induction of Mark Powell.

God, in His sovereign grace brought Mark from the country town of Wee Waa (where he had been ministering for the last 7 years)...to us!

We are so happy to have Mark, Angie and the children (Josh, Hannah, Luke, Benjamin & Thomas) on board!! Those kids are so gorgeous!! :D

As Ian Smith, preached so powerfully in his sermon from Philippians 1:1-11; we look forward so much to be in partnership with Mark, for the gospel of Christ.

Here are some points from the sermon:

• When we need our pipes to be fixed..we call the plumber; and when we need our house to be re- wired, we call the electrician. So, what is the role of the pastor? Is he the shop keeper of the church, to attend to our consumeristic mentality?
• Do we pay the pastor to be good? The trouble with that is that the rest of us are "good for nothing" :P
• Is the gospel a commodity?
• Are people in church like loyal customers of a shop?
• The main role of the pastor is the teaching of the word and prayer
• The pastor is not an employee. We are in fellowship with him, in the work of the gospel; and our support of him is evidence of that fellowship.
• He gave an example of consumerism: that if the church bulletin does not get out on time, the church will survive. But the church cannot survive without prayer and if the word is not properly taught.
• Ian also talked about fellowship or "koinonia". Fellowship is not about sharing a sanctified beverage over morning tea. It is more than that. It is a sacrifical commitment to a common end; which is the gospel and its growth.
• We are to pray for the pastor that his "love may abound more and more in depth of knowledge and insight, so that he may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ; filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God" (v 9-11)

We look forward so much to Mark ministering to us at Concord and working alongside CS!

Praise God for His wonderful provision! He is good; gracious and kind to us!