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The following is a transcript of the updates, blessings and presentations made by Robert Carpenter and Charles Edgerson on April 29th, 2007 during a special church service.
Communication and Involvement of the Flock in Life of Carrollton
Over the past several months a number of ministries and works have been revived or improved. These include the expansion of our Children’s ministry with the re-start of Kid City in January of this year, our annual Christmas and Easter Celebration for our kids. Charles and Angelia Marsalis’ start of Saturday Bible School and continuation of our Sunday Morning classes. These initiatives will continue to improve as involvement of the flock in them expands. Angela accepted the position as “Minister of Communication” and overall organizer of the church office. Her assuming this position has and will continue to improve the communication among the flock.
The move of Operation Nehemiah’s staff and Operations to their new facilities in New Orleans East made Education building available for expanded use. This has resulted in the moving of Wednesday Night activities to the large room in the back allowing for a more intimate meeting space. Tim Martin’s last lessons with us took place in a better setting. We are deeply appreciative of Tim sharing insights on the need to “come to the cross Daily”. Wednesday night meetings are being revised with our time together concentrating on individual spiritual development through study, small prayer groups, and development of our young people by leading the devotional on a scheduled basis.
We will also spend the third Wednesday night of each month as a “Family Meeting” to discuss specific topics and communicate our vision for each of these. The 1st of these will take place On May 16th when we will discuss the church’s finances with the following months concentrating on, the building, small groups/visitor outreach, Kid city and others. We believe setting aside this time for the congregation and leadership to concentrate on specific areas of ministry will improve communications, and provide the foundation for continued expansion of those ministries. We encourage you to take advantage of this time and participate in this time of fellowship, learning and work.
We also plan on improving communication among the flock and the leadership by having quarterly discussions and updates of a more general nature in addition to the specific Wednesday night sessions.
A number of our ministries have been functioning well and are working under the guidance of individuals or committees. As we move forward, this organization will become more defined and provide more opportunities for each of us to serve. In additional to the Youth Committee, Children’s ministry, the Worship, Finance, Adult Education, and Building Committees will be filled out and become more functional. A short time ago Kirk Musselman agreed to head the building committee. He has started working on various aspects of continuing the redevelopment of the facility. Some of you will be asked to assist in planning for the use of the facility and other aspects of this ministry. Again we encourage your participation.
OPERATION NEHEMIAH INDEPENDENCE:
FREEDOM TO EXPAND AND GROW IN MINISTRY
TO GOD AND COMMUNITY
Much of the work that has brought Carrollton Avenue to this point is the direct result of the Operation Nehemiah ministry. When we first retuned from the storm, we were facing tremendous uncertainty. This uncertainty in many ways was overcome through the Ministry of Operation Nehemiah. In addition to, gutting the church facility, putting the auditorium, a number of class rooms and the house into working condition for the congregation, many members and non members were assisted by the efforts of ON and the hundreds to thousands of volunteers that came to New Orleans through the ministries efforts. In deed, this church and community has been greatly blessed by God through this ministry. We are thankful to Operation Nehemiah and to God for providing Fred the vision and determination for this ministry.
As discussed several months ago, Operation Nehemiah’s Ministry and Vision has expanded to the point that it should become independent of Carrollton Avenue's oversight in order focus on and carry out the mission that God had placed upon it and the hearts of its Board of Directors and Fred.
As we worked on the means for accomplishing that independence, our major goal was to provide a foundation for both the Church and Operation Nehemiah to continue in God service and be successful ministries. We believe we have laid that foundation financially and have preserved the means for future cooperation among the ministries. The agreement documenting the independence of Operation Nehemiah was signed on April 12, 2007. A summary of that agreement is available at the back of the auditorium. At this time we as an Eldership and church want to celebrate all that has been accomplished through Operation Nehemiah’s ministry and to ask God to provide a special blessing for the continuation of the good work of sharing God’s love through this ministry. Fred, the leadership and staff are committed to the vision of service to God and the New Orleans community. We appreciate the great work that has been accomplished through the tremendous sacrifice made by Fred and his family as he has directed this ministry and the many individuals that have been involved. As a small token of that appreciation and commemoration of Operation Nehemiah’s independence, we presented a plaque to Operation Nehemiah expressing this appreciation and commemorating its independence which reads.
Presented to
Operation Nehemiah
A ministry of God
In Appreciation for your ministry of service to the
New Orleans Community
and
Carrollton Avenue Church of Christ
May God continue to bless your work in his vineyard.
In commemoration of Operation Nehemiah becoming an independent ministry of our Lord
April 29, 2007
Fred Franke, Shepherd, leaves Eldership
Serving as one of God’s shepherds over His church is a great honor that comes with great responsibility.
Although your salvation is a personal relationship that you must work out with God, the Lord has given, Charles, Fred and I the responsibility to oversee that relationship and see that it occurs, is natured, grows and matures. This primary responsibility is included with the leadership of the church as a whole, the Spiritual and physical well being of our families, and ourselves as well as the expansion of God’s kingdom to those around us. In Addition to these responsibilities, God has given Fred the specific vision of Operation Nehemiah as a means to serve his God and his people, to expand His kingdom, and share the Lord’s love to those who do not know it.
Fred has not and does not take any of these responsibilities lightly. He has and continues to serve his God and God’s people well. Charles and I appreciate his passion for God and what he puts on his heart, his knowledge of God’s word and his ability to apply it to specific situations. We as an eldership have faced many challenges over the years and having Fred as part of the eldership has helped us overcome those challenges. Fred’s love for God and God’s people is unquestioned and has provided Fred with the ability to serve in many ways. We thank God for Fred’s service to Carrollton as a community of God’s people. Charles and I specifically thank God for calling Fred to Shepherd with us these past years and ask God’s continued and never ending blessings upon Fred, his family, as he continues his ministry to God and God’s people, as the director of Operation Nehemiah and as a member of God’s church here at Carrollton.
Fred, Thank you brother, all of us at Carrollton love you.
A plaque as a small token of our appreciation for his service as Elder at Carrollton was presented to Fred. It reads:
Presented to
Fred Franke
In appreciation of your service as one of our Shepherds during
“such a time as this”
From God’s flock at
Carrollton Avenue Church of Christ
April 29, 2007
Fred, thank you and thank God for your service and dedication to Him and his people.
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