Shepherd's Heart 10/04/24
Dear Ones,
As we stand on the brink of something extraordinary, I cannot help but feel a deep sense of excitement and anticipation for what God is about to do in our midst. This Sunday marks the beginning of our FORWARD Generosity Initiative—a movement that will shape the future of our church, our community, and our world. I believe this moment is not just another step but a bold, God-sized leap forward in faith.
The words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:13-14 have been stirring in my heart as we prepare for this initiative:
"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Paul understood the urgency of moving forward, of not allowing the past—whether its triumphs or its trials—to hold him back from the greater work God was calling him to. And, my friends, we are in a similar moment. God is calling us to move forward as a church, and the time to respond is now.
Over the past several months, we have shared the vision of this initiative in three Community Gatherings. Each gathering was filled with energy, excitement, and a shared sense of mission as we talked about what it means to be a church that moves forward in faith. Our FORWARD initiative is built on three pillars—For the World, For Our Neighbors, and For 1310—all of which are rooted in the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.
For the World
God has placed a global mission on our hearts. One of our key partnerships is with Cherish Watoto in Kenya, where we are helping to provide education, housing, and care for orphaned children. Through this initiative, we have supported the purchase of new land for Cherish Watoto, expanding their ability to serve more children. This is not just an investment in a piece of land—it’s an investment in the lives of children who will grow up to be leaders in their communities, empowered by the love of Jesus. Beyond Kenya, our global partnerships in places like Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico will continue to flourish, and we are committed to deepening our global impact as part of the FORWARD initiative.
For Our Neighbors
Closer to home, we know that God is calling us to be more than a church that gathers on Sundays. He is calling us to be a church that actively serves our neighbors—those struggling with housing insecurity, hunger, and other pressing needs. Through partnerships with organizations like Loaves & Fishes and Hesed House, we have been able to make a difference in the lives of many families in our community. But there is more to be done. The housing crisis in DuPage County is growing, and many families are on the edge, struggling to make ends meet. What if we, as a church, could sponsor families each year with rental assistance? What if we partnered with local housing complexes to help these families transition to stable homes? This is what it means to love our neighbors as ourselves. We want to be known as a church that is for our neighbors—one that doesn’t just talk about love but lives it out in tangible, impactful ways
.
For 1310
Lastly, we turn our attention to 1310 Shepherd Drive—our home, our sacred space. This building is more than just bricks and mortar; it’s the place where we come together to encounter God, build relationships, and grow as disciples of Jesus. Over the years, we have seen how physical spaces can inspire worship and create environments where people feel safe, connected, and loved. As part of the FORWARD initiative, we are committing to making intentional updates to our worship environments—spaces that will not only be functional but beautiful, inviting, and reflective of the creativity and goodness of God. Millennials and Gen Z care deeply about the environments they enter, and they seek spaces that are authentic and inspiring. We want to ensure that our spaces reflect God’s heart for beauty, creativity, and hospitality.
But this initiative is about more than just physical changes—it’s about creating sacred spaces that draw people into the presence of God. When we invest in these spaces, we are creating environments where people—especially the next generation—can encounter Jesus in fresh and meaningful ways. We want 1310 Shepherd Drive to be a place where every person who walks through our doors experiences the love of God in a tangible, transformative way.
Why Now?
The world is rapidly changing. Church attendance is declining across the U.S., and fewer people identify as Christians. Yet, at the same time, we are seeing growth here at Good Shepherd. Over the past few years, we’ve experienced a 35% increase in attendance—a sign that people are hungry for something real, something that makes a difference in their lives. But if we want to continue reaching more people for Jesus—if we want to introduce the next generation to a relationship with Him—we cannot stay where we are. We must keep moving forward.
This is a pivotal moment in our church’s history. The FORWARD initiative is about creating space—physically, relationally, and spiritually—for more people to encounter Jesus. It’s about being a church that responds to the changing landscape of our world with courage, creativity, and a deep commitment to making disciples. We cannot afford to be complacent. As Paul said, we must press on toward the goal, straining toward what is ahead, trusting that God has great things in store for us.
A Call to Action
Over the next two years, we are trusting God to raise $9 million to fund this vision. This is an Only God goal—one that will require all of us to step out in faith and generosity. We know that we cannot do this on our own, but we believe that God is faithful, and He will provide as we come together as a church family to give generously, pray boldly, and serve faithfully.
I want to invite you to prayerfully consider what your role will be in this initiative. What will it look like for you to move forward in faith? For some, this might mean stepping into a new level of financial generosity. For others, it might mean stepping into deeper relationships within the church or finding new ways to serve our community. Whatever it looks like for you, I believe God is calling each of us to take a bold step forward.
This Sunday, we will dive deeper into this call as I preach from Philippians 3. We’ll explore what it means to forget what is behind, to be set free from the things that weigh us down, and to press on toward the future God is calling us to. I believe this message is not just for our church as a whole but for each one of us individually. God is calling us to freedom—freedom from the past, freedom from fear, and freedom to step into a future filled with hope and purpose.
As we move forward together, I want to remind you that we are standing on the shoulders of giants. Every space we walk through at Good Shepherd is a testament to the faithfulness and generosity of those who came before us—people who sacrificed and gave so that we could be here today. Now it’s our turn. Now God is calling us to invest in a future that will leave a lasting legacy for the next generation.
I am so expectant and hopeful for what God is going to do through this initiative. I believe we are on the edge of something extraordinary, and I am grateful to be on this journey with each of you. Let’s step forward together in faith, trusting that God will do more than we could ever ask or imagine.
From my heart,
Pastor Tara Beth Leach
As we stand on the brink of something extraordinary, I cannot help but feel a deep sense of excitement and anticipation for what God is about to do in our midst. This Sunday marks the beginning of our FORWARD Generosity Initiative—a movement that will shape the future of our church, our community, and our world. I believe this moment is not just another step but a bold, God-sized leap forward in faith.
The words of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:13-14 have been stirring in my heart as we prepare for this initiative:
"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
Paul understood the urgency of moving forward, of not allowing the past—whether its triumphs or its trials—to hold him back from the greater work God was calling him to. And, my friends, we are in a similar moment. God is calling us to move forward as a church, and the time to respond is now.
Over the past several months, we have shared the vision of this initiative in three Community Gatherings. Each gathering was filled with energy, excitement, and a shared sense of mission as we talked about what it means to be a church that moves forward in faith. Our FORWARD initiative is built on three pillars—For the World, For Our Neighbors, and For 1310—all of which are rooted in the Great Commission and the Great Commandment.
For the World
God has placed a global mission on our hearts. One of our key partnerships is with Cherish Watoto in Kenya, where we are helping to provide education, housing, and care for orphaned children. Through this initiative, we have supported the purchase of new land for Cherish Watoto, expanding their ability to serve more children. This is not just an investment in a piece of land—it’s an investment in the lives of children who will grow up to be leaders in their communities, empowered by the love of Jesus. Beyond Kenya, our global partnerships in places like Honduras, Guatemala, and Mexico will continue to flourish, and we are committed to deepening our global impact as part of the FORWARD initiative.
For Our Neighbors
Closer to home, we know that God is calling us to be more than a church that gathers on Sundays. He is calling us to be a church that actively serves our neighbors—those struggling with housing insecurity, hunger, and other pressing needs. Through partnerships with organizations like Loaves & Fishes and Hesed House, we have been able to make a difference in the lives of many families in our community. But there is more to be done. The housing crisis in DuPage County is growing, and many families are on the edge, struggling to make ends meet. What if we, as a church, could sponsor families each year with rental assistance? What if we partnered with local housing complexes to help these families transition to stable homes? This is what it means to love our neighbors as ourselves. We want to be known as a church that is for our neighbors—one that doesn’t just talk about love but lives it out in tangible, impactful ways
.
For 1310
Lastly, we turn our attention to 1310 Shepherd Drive—our home, our sacred space. This building is more than just bricks and mortar; it’s the place where we come together to encounter God, build relationships, and grow as disciples of Jesus. Over the years, we have seen how physical spaces can inspire worship and create environments where people feel safe, connected, and loved. As part of the FORWARD initiative, we are committing to making intentional updates to our worship environments—spaces that will not only be functional but beautiful, inviting, and reflective of the creativity and goodness of God. Millennials and Gen Z care deeply about the environments they enter, and they seek spaces that are authentic and inspiring. We want to ensure that our spaces reflect God’s heart for beauty, creativity, and hospitality.
But this initiative is about more than just physical changes—it’s about creating sacred spaces that draw people into the presence of God. When we invest in these spaces, we are creating environments where people—especially the next generation—can encounter Jesus in fresh and meaningful ways. We want 1310 Shepherd Drive to be a place where every person who walks through our doors experiences the love of God in a tangible, transformative way.
Why Now?
The world is rapidly changing. Church attendance is declining across the U.S., and fewer people identify as Christians. Yet, at the same time, we are seeing growth here at Good Shepherd. Over the past few years, we’ve experienced a 35% increase in attendance—a sign that people are hungry for something real, something that makes a difference in their lives. But if we want to continue reaching more people for Jesus—if we want to introduce the next generation to a relationship with Him—we cannot stay where we are. We must keep moving forward.
This is a pivotal moment in our church’s history. The FORWARD initiative is about creating space—physically, relationally, and spiritually—for more people to encounter Jesus. It’s about being a church that responds to the changing landscape of our world with courage, creativity, and a deep commitment to making disciples. We cannot afford to be complacent. As Paul said, we must press on toward the goal, straining toward what is ahead, trusting that God has great things in store for us.
A Call to Action
Over the next two years, we are trusting God to raise $9 million to fund this vision. This is an Only God goal—one that will require all of us to step out in faith and generosity. We know that we cannot do this on our own, but we believe that God is faithful, and He will provide as we come together as a church family to give generously, pray boldly, and serve faithfully.
I want to invite you to prayerfully consider what your role will be in this initiative. What will it look like for you to move forward in faith? For some, this might mean stepping into a new level of financial generosity. For others, it might mean stepping into deeper relationships within the church or finding new ways to serve our community. Whatever it looks like for you, I believe God is calling each of us to take a bold step forward.
This Sunday, we will dive deeper into this call as I preach from Philippians 3. We’ll explore what it means to forget what is behind, to be set free from the things that weigh us down, and to press on toward the future God is calling us to. I believe this message is not just for our church as a whole but for each one of us individually. God is calling us to freedom—freedom from the past, freedom from fear, and freedom to step into a future filled with hope and purpose.
As we move forward together, I want to remind you that we are standing on the shoulders of giants. Every space we walk through at Good Shepherd is a testament to the faithfulness and generosity of those who came before us—people who sacrificed and gave so that we could be here today. Now it’s our turn. Now God is calling us to invest in a future that will leave a lasting legacy for the next generation.
I am so expectant and hopeful for what God is going to do through this initiative. I believe we are on the edge of something extraordinary, and I am grateful to be on this journey with each of you. Let’s step forward together in faith, trusting that God will do more than we could ever ask or imagine.
From my heart,
Pastor Tara Beth Leach