You’re Preparing Good Shepherd’s Property for Many More Years of Mission.
If you’ve ever owned a home then you know how challenging it can be to maintain everything and keep all the plumbing, electrical, gutters, and grass in good working order. Maintaining a church is no different – just bigger! From the first day Good Shepherd was built until now members have been faithful in not only maintaining the property but making improvements to it over the years in order to facilitate outreach and mission. Even though many of those members have moved or passed away you’ve inherited their same privilege and responsibility.
Over the past couple of years, due to the growing partnership between Good Shepherd and Hayward Collegiate, there have been some remarkable changes made to the property. Just take a look at the photo above and see the transformation of the social hall with a stunning flooring change. The school covered the cost of the materials while the installation came from a generous donation of time and expertise from a carpenter connected to a couple members of the congregation. In addition to new flooring, the social hall and every single classroom are now outfitted with energy efficient heat pumps providing heat during winter and air conditioning when it’s hot. The main sanctuary even has a new heater to ensure worshipers in the sanctuary are able to worship in a comfortable environment. Electrical and plumbing upgrades around campus have been completed or are in process too!
Not only are you doing a great job building relationships with faculty, students, and families but your partnership with the school is resulting in campus improvements that will facilitate mission and outreach to all the students and families that come to Good Shepherd every single day. Thank you!
As you continue to support the ministry of Good Shepherd Hayward, we want you to remember the impact that your contribution is making in the lives of our congregation, the Hayward community, and beyond. By God's grace last year, Good Shepherd was able to deepen its relationships with the community. We have seen tangible evidence of positive change and transformation in individuals' lives and long-term friendships with people from surrounding communities have been developed. This critical progress in our church's English ministry now allows both our Tigrinya and English ministries to grow side by side because the Tigrinya ministry arm of Good Shepherd Hayward already has a strong relationship with the Tigrinya speaking community in the Bay Area. Now that both of our language ministries have a clear, targeted audience to share the gospel with, connect lives with, and serve alongside, we can use this year to learn and understand what it truly means to share the gospel and our lives with those whom we aim to reach.
So, how can we simply share our lives and the message of Jesus with those in our community?
Connect with people by inviting them for coffee to listen to their stories and build relationships.
Open up your home to host meals or gatherings where people can connect and feel welcomed.
Lift up prayers for those you spend time with, praying for their well-being, families, and salvation in Jesus.
When you feel it's time to invite people to join the community of God, remember that Sunday morning isn't the only opportunity. You can also use other avenues to extend invitations.
Monthly ladies-only breakfast (English)
Monthly prayer afternoon on Saturdays (Tigrinya)
Weekly adult Bible study on Sundays at 9:00 am (English)
Virtual weekly Bible study on Wednesdays at 8:00 pm ( Tigrinya)
Youth group for grades 5-12 every Thursday starting at 6:30 pm (English)
Sunday school program available every week during worship service for young families.
All other events, conferences, basics of Faith teaching class, lent and advent nights are wonderful opportunities to invite people to come and experience the community of Good Shepherd and learn about the teachings of Jesus.
Good Shepherd family, You are LOVED beyond your wildest dreams and You are SENT with a great purpose.
“We cared so much for you that we were pleased to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.” - 1 Thessalonians 2:8.
