Annual Business Meeting – 2025

Annual Business Meeting – 2025

Subject – Election for Pastor Mark and Christie Anne

By Rick Welborne

--Every leader needs mentors and models—typically other leaders ahead of where we are in our growth and our journey. 

--And every leader also needs to be mentoring and modeling those just behind us. This is the only way for discipleship to take on a multi-generational nature. Paul: 

2 Timothy 2:2(NLT), “You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them on to others”.

--In order to both mentor and be mentored effectively, it’s important to see how the relationship between Paul and Timothy developed over time. It unfolded in three phases.

1. Parenthood in Ministry

1 Timothy 1:2 (NLT2)
²  I am writing to Timothy, my true son in the faith. May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy, and peace. 

--We first meet Timothy in Acts 16 when Paul is heading out on his second missionary journey. He stops in Lystra to pick up the young disciple who accompanies him, assists him, and serves him.

--He was a sort of apprentice under him. Timothy’s biological father was Greek, but no evidence is ever given that he was a Christian. So Paul filled the shoes of a spiritual father to Timothy.

--I remember the first time Pastor Mark ever referred to me as his spiritual father. That was very humbling to me then and still is to this day.

--Sadly, so many young pastors do not have mentors or spiritual dads to help them grow in the ministry. When Pastor Mark said that to me, it challenged me to take my role seriously.

--We need a sense of parenthood as we mentor because it’s vital as we help others dream big dreams.

2. Pace-setting in Ministry

--The second phase of our ministry mentoring is pace-setting—trying to be the example of what mature ministry looks like. In Paul’s second letter to Timothy: 

2 Timothy 3:10-11 (NLT2)
¹⁰  But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach, and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my endurance.
¹¹  You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. 

--Paul sets the pace with his life and challenges Timothy to learn by keeping up and emulating his lifestyle.

--You’ve probably heard people say that Christianity is always one generation from extinction. I think that might be oversimplifying it, but the next generation is always watching, so we need to set the pace.

3. Partnering in Ministry

--In the book of Romans, there is an interesting reference that Paul makes to Timothy. Very thought provoking and revealing.

Romans 16:21 (NLT2) ²¹ Timothy, my fellow worker, sends you his greetings…

--Timothy has gone from being a son to a student and now to being a colleague and a co-laborer. 

--We spend plenty of time wanting and praying for more laborers, but perhaps not enough time investing in those with the potential to become our partners in the mission. We must be intentional.

--We all serve today because of the repetition of this three-phase process for centuries. It didn’t stop with Timothy. It shouldn’t stop with us. 

--The baton is being passed to Pastor Mark, Christie Anne, and you who are hearing this, and it is our responsibility to be parents, pacesetters, and partners with the next generation until Jesus comes!

--Pastor Mark and Christie Anne have grown to become fellow workers because they have been willing to grow. They are more than co-workers; they are dear friends.

--Some may say, it appears they have been groomed for such a time as this and I say, “Thanks for noticing!”

--Churches struggle so much because of their lack of consideration about leadership change but your pastor and Board have been working toward this for several years. We have been intentional. 

--Moses had his Joshua, Paul had his Timothy, David had his Jonathan, and Pastor Rick has his Pastor Mark. This pattern is biblical and good. My charge to them:

2 Timothy 2:1-3 (NKJV) ¹ You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
²  And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
³  You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 

--They are well qualified because they have been faithful to God, the church, and to me! Faithfulness is the number one qualifier for leadership as far as I am concerned.

Note: Pastor Mark never approached me about wanting to be the lead pastor of Life Church, I did the pursuing.

--Any time I brought up the subject he always encouraged me to pastor as long as I wanted because he was happy and content to serve with me. What an amazing spirit…Holy Spirit.

--When things are done God’s way, they do not have to be forced.

--I will continue to be the Lead Pastor until February 2026 when Pastor Mark will assume his place as lead pastor. Of course, based on the vote tonight.

--Making the decision tonight will save the church a lot of drama at that time because the decision will have already been made.

--This decision has nothing to do with my health issues or with having more grand babies. It’s just time.

--Pastor Mark and I are discussing my role here at Life Church after the transition. I will not stay if it appears me being here hurts him, the church, or God’s Kingdom.

Final Thought – Pastor Mark will not be Pastor Rick and you should be glad for that. God does not call copies, He calls originals. Pastor Mark is a great man of God.

Prayer and Q and A.

Finding Our Identity – 4

Finding Our Identity – 4

Subject: Taking Responsibility for your Identity

By Rick Welborne

Joshua 24:15&22-24 (NCV)
¹⁵  But if you don’t want to serve the LORD, you must choose for yourselves today whom you will serve. You may serve the gods that your ancestors worshiped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates River, or you may serve the gods of the Amorites who lived in this land. As for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.“
²²  Then Joshua said, “You are your own witnesses that you have chosen to serve the LORD.“ The people said, “Yes, we are.“
²³  Then Joshua said, “Now throw away the gods that you have. Love the LORD, the God of Israel, with all your heart.“
²⁴  Then the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the LORD our God, and we will obey him.“ 

--As we continue to look at this subject of “Finding Our Identity” I am concerned about how our world will look going forward and what our children and grandchildren will face in the days ahead. 

--Everyday there is at least one story where this issue of gender identity is brought up…a guy who competes as a girl in weight lifting and wins the National Championship in that division.

--Issues in multiple states where men claiming their identity is female going into the women’s restrooms and videoing the ladies in there…of course you do not here this on the national news.

--Don’t misunderstand me, I truly believe these people need our help and our prayers. Most of them have been abused in one form or another and have definitely lost their way.

--It is our responsibility to show them the way not just in words but in how we live. We will more than likely have to do spiritual warfare to see them set free. We must agonize in prayer!

--Just remember, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus has the power to set all of them free just like He did for us. We should never look down our noses at others because we were lost too.

1 Corinthians 6:11 (NKJV) ¹¹ And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.

--In our text today Joshua is getting ready to pass from the scene and he is giving some very important great instructions. The more I meditated on these verses the more I saw them in the context of our identity.

Joshua 24:15 (NCV) ¹⁵  But if you don’t want to serve the LORD, you must choose for yourselves today whom you will serve. You may serve the gods that your ancestors worshiped when they lived on the other side of the Euphrates River, or you may serve the gods of the Amorites who lived in this land. As for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.“

--That last sentence was so magnified by Holy Spirit that I could not get away from it…we must make a choice when it comes to ourselves, our families, and our determination to serve God.

1. I Choose to Find My Identity in Christ.

--It almost sounded like Joshua was trying to talk the people out of serving God…I know how your ancestors lived and how they served the gods of the Amorites. Who were these Amorites?

Amorites – People of the hill country - Bitter; rebels; babblers.

--Joshua was asking…who are you going to identify with…the Lord or your ancestors who were a bitter bunch of rebels who were mostly talk and trouble! Where are the strong?

--Where are the men who will stand up for what is right and not be afraid to be real men…God never intended men to be effeminate and emasculated. 

--I am not saying that all men have to go out and slay a dear for dinner or love sports or be able to bench press 300 pounds but I think it is time for some Joshua’s to come forth!

--Joshua said…as for me…maybe I can’t speak for anyone else but as for me…I will serve God, I will fight for what is right, and I will be a leader, I will attempt to lead my family!

--Before it was politically incorrect, little boys played army and they played cowboys and Indians. We dreamed of being the hero of every fight we were in…we imagined doing great feats! 

--We blew something up, we got rid of the bad guys, and we rescued the damsel in distress. We wanted to be the strongest, the fastest, the best. We wanted to come in on a white horse and rescue everyone.

--Kind of like Jesus when he comes back for the final battle…He is coming on a white horse and we are coming with Him to do battle with the enemies of God and we will win…shout Hallelujah! 

Revelation 19:11-14&16 (NKJV)
¹¹  Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war.
¹²  His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself.
¹³  He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
¹⁴  And the armies in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed Him on white horses.                      ¹⁶  And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.

--Joshua said…as for me…there is a time to be a suffering servant and a time to be a conquering King. There is a time that a man has to rise up and say I am heading to war!

--Jesus does not sound wimpy to me! He sounds strong, powerful, protective! Listen men, trust me, your wives and ladies, in general, are still looking for their prince coming on a white horse.

--You can be that man. Feel that gap! Take your place and let your family know that as for me…I am going to serve the Lord…no more excuses…no more being weak!

--I wish some men would get on their feet and say…as for me, I will be that man!

2. You Will Help Your Family Find Their Identity in Christ.

--I am well aware of the dynamics or make up of our church when it comes to family and what that looks like for our congregation.

--We have traditional families with mom and dad and the kids. We have husbands and wives and no kids. We have singles and we have single moms. We have widows and widowers.

--Everyone is an integral part of the body of Christ that makes up Life Church A/G. All of you are important to God and to us. Someone in that family has to take the lead…we will serve the Lord. 

--As I have already stated, there are men in our church who should take the lead and lead their wife and children in the ways of God and His Word.

--Some of you single moms have a great challenge before you, in that you are trying to lead your family. You can be the one saying…as for me and my house we will serve the Lord

Isaiah 54:4-5 (NIV)
⁴  "Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.
⁵  For your Maker is your husband-- the LORD Almighty is his name-- the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. 

--Get past the fear, the disgrace, the humiliation, the shame, your loneliness and realize that God is your husband now…He is your redeemer so let Him redeem you…As for me and my family!

--Your family is looking to you for leadership…by God’s grace make some declarations and lead. We parent or parents are the greatest hope of our kids salvation and calling. Yes, it is a tough job!

--You may say…My kids are choosing the wrong path…listen, as long as they are in your house you lead them to God, to church, to the Word…you show them the way…As for me and my house!

3. You Will Find Your Identity in Serving the Lord.

Joshua 24:15 (NCV) ¹⁵ But if you don’t want to serve the LORD, you must choose for yourselves today whom you will serve…As for me and my family, we will serve the LORD.

--The Scriptures are clear, in that, we only have two choices in whom we will serve…it is either God or Mammon, money, the Cosmos, the world, the flesh, ourselves, Satan.

Matthew 6:24&31-33 (NLT)
²⁴  “No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
³¹  “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’
³²  These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs.
³³  Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. 

Dave Arnold – Faith is the link that connects our weakness to God’s strength. When we depend on ourselves, people can see what we can do. When we serve and depend on God, people can see what He can do.

--As for you and your family, serve God…be faithful and watch what He will do!

2 Peter 2:9 (NCV) ⁹ So the Lord knows how to save those who serve him when troubles come. He will hold evil people and punish them, while waiting for the Judgment Day.

Listen to what Jesus said when Satan tried to tempt Him to bow down:

Luke 4:5-8 (NIV)
⁵  The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.
⁶  And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to.
⁷  So if you worship me, it will all be yours."
⁸  Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'" 

Finding Our Identity - 3

Finding Our Identity - 3

Subject – Know Your Identity by Knowing Your God

By Rick Welborne

Daniel 3:13-18 (NLT)
¹³  Then Nebuchadnezzar flew into a rage and ordered that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego be brought before him. When they were brought in,
¹⁴  Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you refuse to serve my gods or to worship the gold statue I have set up?
¹⁵  I will give you one more chance to bow down and worship the statue I have made when you hear the sound of the musical instruments. But if you refuse, you will be thrown immediately into the blazing furnace. And then what god will be able to rescue you from my power?”
¹⁶  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.
¹⁷  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.
¹⁸  But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” 

--Two weeks ago we looked at Identity Theft and how it has infiltrated so many areas of our everyday lives …today we will look at how we must fight against this enemy who is trying to rob from us.

John 10:10 (NKJV) ¹⁰ The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

--Most everyone in this room would do everything in your power to keep thieves out of your house and away from your possessions but we freely let in the thief into our hearts and minds. Media.

--Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego are beautiful examples of how we do not have to let that happen and how we can take a stand against the onslaught of the enemy. How did they do it?

1. They Knew Who Their God Was.

--At this time King Nebuchadnezzar has made a decision that universal idolatry would be carried out by a decree of the king and whoever would not honor it would be judged.

--This sounds so much like what is going on in America…lawmakers can make laws about gender identity and expect everyone to just accept it as law. Bathroom choice. Where’s the compassion?

--We may have a few thousand who are struggling with this…men who want to use the women’s restrooms and we want to change the laws in every state to make them feel comfortable.

--What about the millions of women and young girls who would be terribly uncomfortable with this crazy decision…what about their emotions and what about their rights.

--I can tell you, if I saw a man going in the restroom after my wife and daughter just went in…I would definitely feel that manly protection need kick into gear. Nope!

--What am I saying…I am saying this, we should not and hopefully will not accept everything that this world tells us we have to comply to…Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego didn’t feel that way.

--The apostles did not feel that way when they were told to stop speaking and preaching in the Name above every name and that is the Name of Jesus.

Acts 4:17-19 (NLT)
¹⁷  But to keep them from spreading their propaganda any further, we must warn them not to speak to anyone in Jesus’ name again.”
¹⁸  So they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.
¹⁹  But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him?

--The three Hebrew young men and the apostles knew who their God was and they were not about to compromise what they knew in their hearts and in the Law.

--We, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego must know Who our God is and we must know our identity is found in Him, not what people try to make Him into.

--Our God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, our God is the Great I am, our God is consisting of the Trinity…Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit. Listen to these Names of God:

Almighty, Alpha, Amen, Angel of the Lord, Anointed One, Author and Perfecter of our Faith, Beginning Branch, Bread of Life, Bridegroom, Carpenter, Chief Shepherd, The Christ Comforter, Consolation of Israel, Cornerstone, Dayspring, Day Star, Deliverer, Desire of Nations, Emmanuel, End, Everlasting Father, Faithful and True Witness, Foundation, Fountain, Friend of Sinners, Gate for the Sheep, Gift of God, Glory of God, Good Shepherd, Great Shepherd, Guide, Head of the Church, High Priest, Holy One of Israel, Horn of Salvation, I Am, Jehovah, Jesus, King of Israel, King of Kings, Lamb of God, Last Adam, Life, Light of the World, Lion of the Tribe of Judah, Lord of Lords, Master, Mediator, Messiah, Mighty God, Morning Star, Nazarene, Omega, Passover Lamb, Physician, Potentate, Priest, Prince of Peace, Prophet, Propitiation, Purifier, Rabbi, Ransom, Redeemer, Refiner, Refuge, Resurrection, Righteousness, Rock, Root of David, Rose of Sharon, Ruler of God's Creation, Sacrifice, Savior, Second Adam, Seed of Abraham, Seed of David, Seed of the Woman, Servant, Shepherd, Son of David, Son of God, Son of Man, Son of Mary, Son of the Most High, Stone, Sun of Righteousness, Teacher, Truth, Way Wonderful Counselor, Word, Vine

--He is the One we better stay connected to. Do you know Who your God is?

Psalm 9:7-10 (NKJV)
⁷  But the LORD shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for judgment.
⁸  He shall judge the world in righteousness, And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.
⁹  The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble.
¹⁰  And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. 

2. They Knew Who Was not Their God.

--Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew that King Nebuchadnezzar was not their god and he was not the one in whom they found their identity. 

--Though they were slaves in a foreign land they knew God’s promises. Nebuchadnezzar was the King of Babylon…though they were in captivity…listen to this promise:

Jeremiah 29:11-14 (NIV)
¹¹  For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
¹²  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
¹³  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
¹⁴  I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile."

--What was this saying to them and what is it saying to us? God will show up in the middle of what this cosmos is trying to force down our throats and we do not have to conform to their demands.

--Keeping your identity may mean a turning up of the heat, it may mean you are singled out to be the one targeted. That’s ok if you understand “If God be for you, who can be against you?”

--These guys knew that serving God may cost them something, in their case it may cost them everything! They knew that whether by life or by death, they were not going to forget who they were in God.

--They knew that ultimately the One to Whom they would bow their knee would not be King Nebuchadnezzar but to the Lord God Almighty…at the name of Jesus every knee should bow.

 --The earthly king could only affect their earthly life but many of us are looking for something better…we are looking for a city whose Builder and Maker is God. Jesus said it this way:

Matthew 10:28 (NIV) ²⁸  Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

--Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew their identity was in God and not Nebuchadnezzar. 

3. They Knew They Could Trust God Even in the Fire.

--When you know Who your God is and you know who your god is not…you are in a better place to trust God in the fire. I pray that our faith increases more and more.

--After serving God for such a long time and studying the Word for all those years I have concluded that God does not always answer the way we want Him to or as quickly as we want Him to.

--People tell me that all we have to do is believe and receive. Many today would say these Hebrew young men did not have faith by their response to the king:

Daniel 3:16-18 (NLT) ¹⁶  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you.
¹⁷  If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty.
¹⁸  But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” 

--When they said “but even if He doesn’t” they were not speaking faith or were they? These boys just might die…die trusting God.

--Listen to Job and Jesus…they knew their identity in God and knew they could trust Him no matter what.

Job 13:15-16 (NIV) ¹⁵ Though he slay me, yet will I hope in him; I will surely defend my ways to his face.
¹⁶  Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, for no godless man would dare come before him!