Hamilton County Christians .com

Prayer Breakfast... Friday, April 27th

2007-04-11T17:07:00.000-05:00

"Hill Fest"... Sept.17

2006-07-07T07:52:00.000-05:00

Carmel, Ind. — You’re invited to the fifth annual “Hill Fest” community event, Sunday, Sept. 17, beginning with a 5K run/walk (time TBD), followed by the main event from noon to 6 p.m. at Northview Christian Life Church in Carmel. This year will feature an international theme and will include food, games and entertainment reminiscent of a trip around the world — absolutely free!

Event highlights include... [.pdf press release]

Stay in touch at NVCL.org for upcoming details.

Homeschool Book Fair

2006-05-30T07:50:00.000-05:00

"Calling all homeschool families to participate in an upcoming book fair. The book fair is for the sale of home education curriculum and resources, as well as videos, software, toys, games, arts/crafts supplies or other items that reasonably fit in your table space. "

Where?

[continued at Homeschool Nation - Indinaa]

XFORCE @ Northview... June 11-14

2006-05-02T10:27:00.000-05:00

Northview Christian Life Center, June 11th - 14th

[continued...]

Northview Christian Life Center...

2006-04-09T15:45:00.000-05:00

[Here's a great set of promo-articles that appeared in the Indianapolis Star. Btw, Northview is one of the key churches here in Hamilton County who will be participating collaboratively in the metro-wide "Faith Hope & Love" week of servant evangelism. Is YOUR church yet involved? Contact Paul Backer, at Central Christian Church in Carmel. Or Pastor Merlin Gonzales for other sections of the metro area.]

Northview Christian Life Center -- a unique worship experience.

Letter of Lunch Invitation... for April 3rd

2006-03-19T12:45:00.000-05:00

[Received from Paul Backer, Outreach Minister at Central Christian Church of Carmel]

"Below is the text that I have sent in letter fashion to the churches of Westfield and Carmel regarding Faith Hope and Love week in July. "

"Greetings from Central Christian Church of Carmel, IN!

All around the country, there are many groups of churches joining together to make a difference in their own communities. We dream that the communities of Carmel and Westfield will soon become part of this movement, and for this purpose, the people of Central will be offering their time and effort this summer.

We have made the commitment to partner with Faith, Hope and Love (FHL), a nonprofit organization that facilitates active participation of all sectors of local communities in improving neighborhoods and helping those in need. Please visit www.fhlcommunity.org to find out more about this organization. The goal of this ministry is not only to strengthen the diverse communities of believers in our cities, but through our collective partnership, to win unbelievers to Jesus Christ.

Together, we are attempting to coordinate the churches of Carmel and Westfield in a week-long effort of community outreach (from July 23-29).It will be a tremendous opportunity for our congregations to do something in our communities about what we believe, and at the same time provide a strong witness to our neighbors of the love, compassion and unity we share in Jesus Christ.

I would like to invite you to join me for a lunch meeting at Lutz's Steakhouse on SR 32 (east of N. Gray Road and west of Hazel Dell Rd) on Monday April 3, from 12noon to 2pm. We will have a private meeting room reserved. I believe so much in developing partnerships with other churches (regardless of denomination) that I promise to buy your lunch, if you plan to attend. All I need for you to do is call me, or email me so I have your name, or the name of your representative, so that I can make lunch arrangements for you. At our meeting, I promise that there will NOT be any solicitation for funding. I am simply asking you to come and dream with us of how your congregation might also become a partner in this effort.

Please call or email me with your reservation or with any questions or concerns. I will continue to pray that I have the opportunity to meet with many of you on Monday, April 3.

Asking God's richest blessings for you and your congregation, so that we in turn may all be a blessing to the communities of Westfield and Carmel.

Paul Backer "
paul.backer (at) CCCcarmel (dot) org

'Faith, Hope & Love' Info Meetings Coming Up...

2006-03-18T08:18:00.000-05:00

Per email from Pastor Merlin Gonzales, Coordinator,
Faith, Hope & Love (collaborative ministries)...

"Hope you are all doing well.

Here are the meeting places and dates for the FHL church informational meetings/orientations:

March 21st... 'Transform Indiana' networking meeting at Grace Missionary in Mooresville. Pastor Jim Taylor to share 12 principles of transformation (He traveled to several transformation cities around the world) Transform Indiana will be handed off to Faith Hope and Love in the area of Indianapolis, Transform Indiana will focus on other areas of the State.
March 30th... Noblesville Area Churches at Bethel Lutheran at 11:30am (place TBD)
April 3rd... Carmel/Westfield Area Churches meeting at Lutz'sSteakhouse on SR 32, 12p-2p
April 6th... Zionsville/Northwest Indy Churches at Zionsville Presbyterian Church, noon to 2pm.
April 13th... Nora/Castelton Churches meeting at First Baptist Church on 86th, 10:00am

All to His glory!
Merlin
372-7222"

March 10th... Hamilton County Prayer Breakfast

2006-02-24T07:36:00.000-05:00

March 10th, 7:30am, Ritz Carlton, Carmel

[You'll want to visit the new home of the Hamilton County Prayer Breakfast.]

This annual event is designed to bring the community together to pray for our county officials, the business community and the citizens of Hamilton County Indiana. We provide an opportunity to get to know your neighbors a little better while enjoying a time of fellowship, food, music and inspirational speaking every year.

This years special guest is Ken Johnson, the chaplain for the Indianapolis Colts. Ken’s story of facing life’s challenges and standing tall will be one that you do not want to miss.

[continued at HamiltonCountyPrayer.org]

GO reach your neighbors for Christ...

2006-01-15T17:04:00.000-05:00

By Melissa Kandel

We would like to invite you to attend an informational meeting for GO ministries on Thursday, January 19th at 7p in the Community Room at East 91st Street Christian Church (www.east91st.org)

God began stirring in my heart last fall that the body of Christ was not making a significant impact on our world. There was a pull on my heart saying “We have to do something more. I have to do something more, but what and how?” He put on my heart a vision for a ministry of prayer/fasting, service, and brokenness for the lost. Last year when I heard Dr. Bruce Wilkinson speak of True Fasting from this passage in Isaiah the call became clear.

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” Isaiah 58:6-7

Our Mission
To bridge the gap between our neighborhoods and the Church body by creating and implementing a systematic approach to relational and service evangelism.

Why
People are lost. They don’t know they’re lost. There is a breakdown in the moral structures of family and community in our neighborhoods across America. There is a disconnect between the community and the church bodies that surround them. Jesus has called us to go to seek and save the lost. Imagine what your neighborhood would be like if everyone in it was loving and serving Christ. It all starts with you!

We hope that you will prayerfully consider attending this meeting to discover more of what God has in store for us as the Body of Christ coming together from several local congregations* to reach out to the lost and hurting in our neighborhoods.

Yours in Christ,

Melissa Kandel
North Indy regional coordinator

Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I help?" (The Message) Romans 15:2

*Current affiliated church bodies include: East 91st Street Christian Church, Grace Community Church, Church at the Crossing, Indy Vineyard, and Cross and Crown Lutheran Church. Come and find out how to get your church body involved!

Go Team !

2005-12-28T13:52:00.000-05:00

It's exciting to see all the collaborative initiatives that are coming together for 2006!

The "Faith, Hope & Love" effort will be greatly expanding throughout the city. And a related effort starting in the Hamilton County area, is "Go Ministries".

It'll be hard, waiting til their formation meeting in January. (Jan. 19th, 7pm at East 91st Street Christian).

These and all the other collaborative, Bible-believing initiatives around Indy are shown on the centralized citywide calendar at IndyChristian.com.

Greetings From Rohrer DesignWorks

2005-12-16T08:49:00.000-05:00

Hello There!

I wanted to drop a note of Introduction here. My name is Bryan Rohrer and I own Rohrer DesignWorks. I have known of IndyChristians.com but found myself moving to Hamilton County...Outside of Indy. Neil Cox got in touch with me and invited me to coffee. I must admit, I never turn down a hot cup of coffee, or an invitation to talk about websites! The rest as they say is cyberhistory.

If you need a website, please visit my site at http://www.rohrerdesignworks.com/ and get ahold of me!

Thanks,

Bryan Rohrer

An old/new friend in Hamilton County networking...

2005-12-03T08:48:00.000-05:00

I'd known of Bryan Rohrer, a Christian site developer here in the Indy area, right after starting IndyChristian.com in 1999. I recently realized he's right here in our own area of Hamilton County... and this morning finally met him in person, having coffee together at Clay Terrace. Praise God.

Bryan's developing sites for churches and ministries at a very reasonable rate. Likewise, he's hosting sites as well. And will soon be helping here at HamiltonCountyChristians.com as well.

Regional Networking...

2005-11-11T07:26:00.000-05:00

Mark your calendars for Thursday, Nov.17, 4:00pm...

...and plan to come be with many of the Bible-believing Christian pastors, leaders and other 'driven Christians' from the Indy/Indiana area.

The CCDA conference has specially designated this hour to 'Regional Networking', so the conference attendees, the local City Host Team, and many more from the Transform Indiana ministry network will be coming together to facilitate interaction, consider many collaborative initiatives for 2006, and develop a great number of ties in the great 'net' that is forming, to better harmonize prayer, care and share... city by city throughout Indiana.

Stay in touch with all the latest CCDA-related news throughout the conference week, at... IndyChristian.com.

"Light Up The Night"

2005-10-09T10:11:00.000-05:00

Halloween brings all kinds of challenges for Christians today.

...And opportunities!

[Continued at 'Neighborhood By Neighborhood']

Love INC... An everyday partner to churches meeting needs

2005-09-02T18:26:00.000-05:00

Amid the Katrina efforts, let's not forget ministries here which are helping people every day. One such ministry is Love INC -- "Love In the Name of Christ". We hope our many Hamilton County churches are actively supporting this ministry which works with churches to help screen local families with needs, and then find solutions via other Christian providers. [continued at Love INC]

Christian Emergency Networking...

2005-09-01T09:50:00.000-05:00

Stay tuned at IndyChristian.com -- currently connecting Christian networks in the Indy/Indiana area, and to national Christian networks involved in emergency relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

"Faith, Hope & Love" coordinating pastor, Merlin Gonzales, can be reached at 372-7222. More information can be seen at Indiana Christian News.com.
The Indiana Office of Faith-based Initiatives is working with 'Hope Crisis Response Network'.
Nationally, Christian coalitions are networking via ChristianEmergencyNetwork.org, which is also closely affiliated with the Salvation Army.
And all the latest Christian news stories can be seen immediately via ChristianHeadlines.com.

Hamilton Co. pastors at metro roundtable?

2005-08-24T14:34:00.000-05:00

Just a quick note -- If you're a Hamilton County pastor or leader, and are interested in getting together with other Bible-believing pastors/leaders here in our area... then please plan on being in attendance at the Transform Indiana ministry-networking meeting on the campus of Crossroads Bible College (map) on Sept. 13th at lunchtime.

All 9 metro-area counties will be represented as the initiative continues to grow... to work together toward the Great Commission and Great Commandment... community by community, neighborhood by neighborhood.

Stay tuned for details at IndyChristian.com.

Hamilton food panties feel pinch

2005-08-14T07:09:00.000-05:00

[excerpted from Carmel Topics newspaper]

Two of Carmel's five food pantries and two of Fishers three agencies are desperate for donations, especially canned goods, as limited supplies continue to dwindle.

"We are really having a tough time keeping these people going, and the need's getting greater, too," said Nancy Chance, president of Good Samaritan of Hamilton County, which oversees 29 food pantries throughout Hamilton County.

Chance said the solution is simple.

"If everyone would take a bag of food to their local pantry, we might be able to turn this around..."

[continued at Topics.com]

'Faith, Hope & Love' Week starts TODAY...

2005-07-24T09:12:00.000-05:00

'Faith, Hope & Love'... is a week long period starting today, July 24... helping neighbors in our community, followed by a festival to celebrate this annual event. [continue -- see how you can get involved]

Colts (backup) QB comes to Carmel...

2005-07-08T13:06:00.000-05:00

"Faith, Hope & Love" Day/Week.... Carmel

2005-07-07T13:22:00.000-05:00

[Carmel, Indiana]

Mayor Jim Brainard declared July 30th to be "Faith, Hope & Love Day" in Carmel. Click image to read the proclamation in entirety.

Friends & neighbors... join together to enhance our community life together... and especially to help those who may be struggling the most. Look around you. Who could use your help this summer?

If you have ideas for helping your neighborhood in some special ways during the special "Faith, Hope & Love Week" (preceding the final day's festival... July 30th), please leave a comment below. We'd also be very anxious to post some stories about this effort, both before and after July 30th... email me anytime.

Pastors & neighborhood Christians interested in specially participating... visit FHLcommunity.org.

For further information regarding other counties/cities declaring "Faith, Hope & Love" Day/Week... visit IndyChristian.com.

'Answer' coming to your neighborhood in Sept/Oct

2005-06-27T06:50:00.000-05:00

Don't you wish this really were coming to our neighborhoods closeby, in July/August?

The front & back cover would bear the name of the sponsoring ministry... plus the full 2-page center of the little magazine is customizable for the sponsoring ministry.

For $0.35 per home, these little 5x8" magazines could be mailed automatically to the neighborhoods near us. Let's see... 6 times per year... that's $2.10 per home in our/your neighborhood. How many of our members might be willing to fund that cost for their immediate neighborhood? I'd have to be believe that we would. 25 homes x $2.10 = $50/year. [Are you kidding? Surely the answer is 'yes'. But perhaps even go on a matching basis... $25 for the participating church, $25 individual member.]

One thousand (1,000) homes is the minimum (and they have to be together in an extended-zip area). That's $350 x 6 times per year = $2,100/yr. And if some of your members footed, say, HALF the cost of their immediate neighborhood... that could subsidize the church's cost down to only $1,050/yr.

Let me suggest only spending the money for only those neighborhoods closeby in which you're actively 'Being the Church to the Neighborhood'.

This is just one of the many best-in-class neighborhood resources seen at Nhood.org.

Welcome to Hamilton County Christians

2005-06-15T06:59:00.000-05:00

Welcome. Christ-followers all over Indiana have started using this great new tool God has given us, called the Internet, to connect as a 'net' to fish our cities together, rather than separately.

[Only sport fishermen use poles.]

Typically, it's easiest to connect and work collaboratively with other Bible-believing pastors & leaders city by city, neighborhood-by-neighborhood even. So city clusters of networks are now beginning to form if they haven't already. Here in the 9-county area we call Greater Indianapolis, IndyChristian.com is the centralized site you'll want to stay in touch with daily.

Across the state, Transform Indiana ministry network is the connector of (Christian) city-networks for increased communications in the Kingdom.

This Hamilton County Christians site will be to help intensify connections & teamwork within the county, let 'city-reaching' types of leaders emerge and identify themselves with other city-reachers around the state, and provide for some city-reaching conversation within the county.

So tell your 'driven Christian friends' about the concept, and let us know where the best links in the county are... Bible-believing churches, ministries, pastors, and leaders of all sorts... all the way down to neighborhood-reaching prayer warriors & small-group leaders.

For the moment, drop by Transform Indiana's site and drop us an email -- tell us you found us via Hamilton County Christians blog. Let us know how interested YOU are, in advocating for Christians working together in YOUR communities, and what you might be willing to do, to bring other city-reachers together.

Blessings All.