Answering the Call

January 24, 2014

Dear Shiloh Church Family, 

I can remember the night I came to meet the SPPRC (Staff Pastor Parish Relations Committee).  I was both nervous and filled with anticipation.  By the time I reached Queen City Avenue my eyes began to well up with tears because I knew soon I would be calling this community, this city, this Delhi home.  Delhi has been home: our kids go to school here, my husband coaches here, David was born and baptized here.  Delhi feels like home.  We’ve developed such incredible relationships here and Shiloh has been a dream church, an incredible appointment, and truly a gift from God.  I realize that I’ve been afforded privileges,  one of which has been doing ministry along with you, that many pastors never experience in their life times let alone within their first few years of pastoral ministry.  You are incredible!  You are family!   I love this church!  

That’s why it’s been so difficult for me to wrestle with a call that God has placed on my life.  I’ve tried to ignore it, I’ve ran away from it, and now I believe God is calling me to embrace it.  In the same way that Jacob wrestled with God in the middle of the night, I have spent time wrestling with God through prayer, fasting, and silence.  I wrestled, giving God reasons, excuses, and fear-filled thoughts that kept me from trusting God’s voice in my life.  But there comes a time in our lives that we have to step out in faith and walk into the call that God has placed on us.  When an opportunity opened at Ginghamsburg Church I expressed my call to District Superintendent, Rev. Brian Brown and Bishop Gregory Palmer.  On Thursday night I stepped out in faith and was introduced by The Miami Valley District Superintendent, Dr. Rev. Christopher Heckaman to the Leadership Board of Ginghamsburg Church as their Executive Pastor of Discipleship, effective July 1, 2014.  Although I know this is God’s call on my life, it is both heartbreaking and absolutely exciting at the same time.  Why?  Because I have to leave the place that I love.  This wasn’t a choice between good and bad, this was a choice between great and call.  I believe that Shiloh United Methodist Church is still the most single resourced church of it’s size.  You, the people are our greatest resource!  I know that God has incredible plans for the people of this church and although I do not know who will be the Senior Pastor, I do know that God will send us a spirit-filled leader that will continue to help Shiloh claim our communities and the city of Cincinnati for Jesus Christ!    

Shiloh you will always feel like home.  You share a part of my family’s history that will never change, and leaving this place will be one of the hardest things I ever do.  I will always pray for the Kingdom work that God will do in and through you.  It has been an honor and privilege to be your pastor.  

Love in Christ, 

Rev. Rachel L. Billups

More Than A Game

Saturday mornings at Shiloh are filled with kids, parents, coaches, and the sound of dribbling basketballs.  These students are learning the fundamentals of how to pass, proper shooting techniques, help-side defense, and the ready position.  Parents are eager to witness their kids learn new skills and coaches are eager to teach.  It is Upward Season!  But Upward Basketball is more than teaching kids the fundamentals of basketball and cheerleading, Upward is all about sharing Jesus!  We’ve been talking a lot around Shiloh about sharing our story.  Throughout the next several weeks we are in a sermon series called I Am Second. The series is all about sharing how our story collides with the story of Jesus.  Upward is an opportunity for us to share Jesus’ story with hundreds of kids, parents, families, and friends.   This year 171 kids are participating in the Upward Basketball Program as players and cheerleaders.  We have 70 coaches, referees, hosts, and half-time facilitators!   Many people participating in Upward sports are from our community and Shiloh they are entrusting us with their kids!  We have an incredible opportunity to share Jesus with the kids and families participating in Upward ministry.  So I want to challenge you to embrace the opportunity.  I’m asking everyone to pray for Upward-pray that the Holy Spirit would open hearts, pray that the kids would be filled with words of encouragement, pray that people would come to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  I am asking you to pray!   Maybe you feel lead to go a step further.  There are still opprotunities for people to serve as referees, host for hospitality on Saturday mornings, or even help with this year’s End of Season celebration.  If you are interesting in helping with Upward please contact Kathy Shea at kathy@shilohumc.com or 513-451-3600 #102.

We have a story to share!  The story of how the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ brings life to our lives!  For more information about Upward go to www.upward.org and if you are interested in the I Am Second series check out www.iamsecond.com

On Mission With You, 

Pastor Rachel 

Shiloh in 2013....

Although the New Year is well underway, it’s important to know what we have accomplished toward claiming our communities and the city of Cincinnati for Jesus Christ.  Here are some year-end accomplishments you’ll want to know about:    

Church Wide

• Shiloh launched our second campus: Shiloh @ Price Hill that worships both on Wednesday Nights and Sunday Mornings
• Shiloh completed the Parking Lot Project and increased the parking capacity by 47 spots
• Over $400,000 was contributed to our General Fund by YOU giving to the mission and vision of claiming this community and the city of Cincinnati for Jesus Christ! 
• We finished reading 66 books, over 1200 chapters, and 31,000 verses of the Bible! 

Christmas

• 15 families were served through the Christmas Shop and on December 7, 25 servant leaders spent the day ministering to those families.  
• The Angel Tree Ministry brought Christmas gifts to over 30 children whose parents were incarcerated and would not have been able to give them gifts.
• Nearly $5000 was collected for the Imagine No Malaria Campaign saving lives and saving the future of our world.  
• Shiloh’s Children’s Play partnered with the Stations of the Crib and Live Nativity to welcome over 500 people into our church building for our Christmas Activities. 
• Over 500 people attended one of our four Christmas Eve worship services  

Bible In A Year

On Tuesday, January 14, we will have completed reading the 66 books, 1189 chapters, and over 31,000 verses that make up the Bible!  Way to go, Shiloh!  It is something to celebrate.  For some this is the first time you’ve read through the entire Bible; for others, it’s one of many, and still for others maybe you didn’t quite make it all the way through.   If you read any of the Bible in a Year, I’m sure you found that reading the Bible is a spiritually transformative experience!  It’s been amazing as your pastor to listen to how reading the Bible has really shaped your faith!  Many of you have shared with me your surprise of what’s actually in the Bible- stories like that of Jael (the woman who drove the tent peg through the head of Sisera).  Other have wrestled out loud saying, “reading through the Old Testament was really tough” or “I didn’t know Jesus said that, does Jesus really expect me to do that?”  God really does speak to us through His Word.  The Bible is our story; it’s God’s story; The Bible is the story that shapes our identity as followers of Jesus Christ.  

Just because you’ve read through the Bible doesn’t mean you should put it back on the shelf, place it on your night stand or delete your Bible reading App.  Don’t stop reading!  Reading and reflecting on God’s Word is the single most fruitful spiritual activity we can engage in as followers of Jesus Christ!  If you don’t know what to read, there are Bible Reading Plans available in the Gathering Space or in the Church office.  If you prefer technology over a written plan, go to www.biblegateway.com  or even download www.youversion.com  to your smartphone or tablet.  These sites give you the flexibility to choose plans that help you dive deep into areas of the Bible you want to explore.  Keep reading!  Allow God’s Word to transform your life. 

So what about Mid-week Bible Study?  What will happen after Bible in A Year?    Thursday, January 16th will be the final Mid-week Bible Study of Bible in A Year.  We will conclude with a little celebration.  At 7pm we will be having snacks followed by a question and answer session.  Anything you want to know about the Bible and we will do our best to answer it or at least point you to the resources you need to wrestle with the answer!  Then we will take a break from Mid-Week Bible Study and return on Thursday, March 13, at 7pm with Adam Hamilton’s The Way: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus.     

Church, let’s continue to let the Bible transform our lives.

On Mission with you, 

Pastor Rachel