GOBIN WELCOMES THE HARVEST HOUSE COMMUNITY!
The faces of Joel and Tosh Everson are definitely not new to the Gobin community. We have been blessed with their beautiful music as well as Joel’s divine words of faith leading us in prayer and worship these past several months via online services. Pastor Joel and Pastor Bryan have been collaborating for several years as the two share similar visions regarding mission, community and projects in ministry. Opportunities turned into conversations and dreaming, and now Joel and Tosh, along with their church family of Harvest House, have decided to join our Gobin family.
“We have chosen to merge our community of Harvest House into Gobin, and I couldn’t be more excited to bring these gifts and communities together and grow together,” Joel said.
Joel began pastoring at the age of 18 and for the past 12 years, he and his wife, Tosh, have been leading a small community here in Greencastle called Harvest House Church. This ministry actually began in the Everson’s living room, later expanding to a storefront space on the courthouse square and eventually to a small building for worship and gathering outside of town.
“At the unction of the Holy Spirit, we have felt led to become part of the Gobin community fully and to merge into this space in a both a communal way, but to also discern how that works in a ministry format,” Joel said. Just recently Pastor Everson began the United Methodist Church ordination process and is excited on what the future will bring. “It has become so clear to me that this is where God has been leading us all along,” he added. We at Gobin welcome the Harvest House community and are excited as to where the future leads us together!
Twelve New Members Joined in November!
Our Sunday November 8, 2020 morning service was especially meaningful, as we experienced the joy of welcoming 12 new professing members into our church community. What a blessing to witness all these individuals and their families affirming their faithfulness to Christ and Gobin Church. Congratulations!
- Jamie Douglas
- Scott Douglas
- Joel Everson
- Tosh Everson
- Charity Harvey
- Russell Harvey
- Bobbie Lancaster
- Jeff Lancaster
- Imani Luellen
- Garret Nichols
- Kelly Nichols
- Chris Weeks
Virtual Benefit for Beyond Homeless Exceeds Expectations
Throughout the month of December a virtual benefit, known as Carols4aCause, raised money and lifted the spirits of many during the holiday season. The idea emerged from Gobin’s very own Bobbie Lancaster after she had a conversation with two good friends. They decided to set a goal of raising $5,000 for Beyond Homeless, Greencastle’s Shelter for Women and Children. When Lancaster reached out to Lea Durbin, Executive Director of Beyond Homeless, Durbin shared that she needed exactly that amount for a new computer lab. Individuals, families and even co-workers posted videos of themselves on Facebook singing Christmas carols. The videos were shared and viewers were encouraged to make a small donation in a virtual “tip jar” a.k.a. a PayPal link. While the benefit hoped to raise $5,000 by Christmas Day, on the morning of December 25th, only $1890 had been raised. Later that evening, at almost the exact same time, two anonymous donors contributed $3200 each, bringing the total to over $8,000! “How’s that for a God that can give us more than we can ask or imagine?!” shared Lancaster.
Durbin posted on the Beyond Homeless Facebook page, “Thank you for providing beautiful music throughout the month, and thank you to everyone who tuned in, listened, and gave generously to help us. I am forever grateful.”
Sunny Side Concert Series Brings Joy to Mill Pond
Bobbie Lancaster and friends are bringing hope, encouragement and love to those in isolated care through the power of song. In an effort to reach and connect with loved ones at Mill Pond, a local long-term care facility, Lancaster organized the Sunny Side Concert Series. These filmed performances, featuring talented community musicians, were created and streamed into the rooms of Mill Pond residents. “It was a big push to record and produce four concerts featuring talented friends in our community. I was in total amazement at how quickly doors opened, the team materialized and support grew,” Lancaster said. And did support grow! In December, Lancaster received a generous grant from the Putnam County Community Foundation to continue this meaningful work.
Now the Sunny Side Concert Series presses on and your help is needed! Performers, storytellers, jokesters and children are all welcome. The on-line series hopes to expand this spring into other care facilities in Putnam County. Want to help or just want more information? Contact Bobbie Lancaster at mandomama@gmail.com
COVID Can’t Stop CIRCLES
Lives are still being transformed at Circles in spite of Covid. We had four Circle Leaders complete their training at the end of December and they are still coming, enjoying the positive support of the Circles Community. Covid has certainly changed things but it can’t stop us! One of the new Circle Leaders applied for a Pay it Forward loan to buy a used car and has turned her life around drastically. She went from being homeless to having stable housing and a full-time job that she enjoys. She knows she has been shaped by her past but not defined by it and she is moving into a brighter future.
We are looking for 5-10 new participants for the next Circle Leader training that begins with an Open House on Thursday, February 18 at 6:00 pm. If you know someone who is tired of surviving and ready to thrive, tell them about Circles or email Lori Miller at circlesputco@gmail.com.
With a new training group, we will also need several new Allies in the next two months. If you are a good encourager and have an hour a week to volunteer, reach out to Lori at circlesputco@gmail.com and she can explain what’s involved.
