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1st Quarter Newsletter - 2023

18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 (NLT)

501(c)(3) Exemption Application Filed

Since our founding, we have operated under a 508 (c)(1)(a) classification through the Internal Revenue Service Code. Thanks to a generous donation, we were able to conclude our fiscal year by filing for a 501(c)(3) nonprofit classification and exemption. The purpose of this new classification is to receive a formal exemption letter from the IRS. Many donors require this letter to validate the legitimacy of an organization. We have several potential donors willing to help us launch some of our programs that require this document. We have been told it could take up to a year for this classification to be approved. As a 508 (c)(1)(a) nonprofit, we are not required to have this exemption letter to be tax exempt. Having this exemption letter though allows us to make stronger partnerships in our communities.

What’s Happening!

As spring draws closer we will be working on getting more activities and gatherings underway.

Help Wanted

Our ministry needs volunteers, but especially ones with specific skills. We need skilled volunteers for:

• Worship/Music Leader - Capable of playing acoustic guitar preferred (able to perform in varied environments)

  
  

• Treasurer - The treasurer oversees the financial management of all ministry related functions. Must be willing to train project treasurers and help develop a unified accounting process.

  
  

• Secretary - Keeps meeting minutes, coordinates record keeping, and compliance in coordination with the Treasurer.

Interested volunteers should email shofmeister@dimom.org or call Pastor Steve at 443-203-8238 Ext. 1002

Pastor’s Update

New Year, New Approach

I am very excited for us to start this new year off. I have a very good feeling that this is going to be an amazing year for Christ’s kingdom and this ministry. We have come through so much adversity from disease, political turmoil, and social unrest. Just as things always change so must our approach to ministry. We have learned many lessons that what may have worked in the past does not necessarily reach heart and mind today. I have invested a lot of time into learning lately especially when it comes ministry management and organizing a church plant.

We make no secret that planting a church as part of our ministry is very high on our priority list. But, we want to be sure to do it right and not rush into something that will not be sustainable. Many new churches fail within the first three years because they move too fast or don’t plan ahead. I have taken part in such an event in my late teenage years and it was heartbreaking. Building a church is secondary to the most important of missions to any ministry, and that is building disciples.

Without the building of disciples, and growing disciples into leaders you can’t have a thriving church plant or ministry for that matter. That’s why this year our focus is building disciples of Christ Jesus. The two most important aspects for Christian life is making disciples and loving everyone, even those who don’t agree with our views and beliefs. We as a ministry and believers may not concede on several things that are seen common in society today. We may refuse to conform to what is popular. But we will never hate our fellow [man]. To love someone does not mean we always have to agree or concede to their views. Just as we know not everyone will agree with our views.

We must get out into the community, into the public life and live as believers among the people. To grow love, you must show love, to build disciples you must be a disciple. Be an example of discipleship by action, not just words.

On a personal note,

I have to let everyone know that the immense generosity I have received in donations to my recent health matters has been overwhelming.

Those of you who have lifted me in prayer and have given so selflessly have touched me deeply and I could not thank you enough. Because of all of you my treatment will reach goals we have not been able to achieve in the past. For those who are not aware of this topic in which I speak the best way to understand is to visit the “gofundme” page, though I intend this link as informational instead of solicitation in this case.

God Bless each one of you, and thanks again!

Pastor Steve Hofmeister

Senior Pastor & President

A Single Creator - An Article From:

Photo by bradford zak on Unsplash

I have had a lot of time this last few months to sit and do some deep pondering on things I would not typically consider. Last night as I lay to sleep, I found my mind wandering into an exploration of creation. It was not an exploration of the act of creation or how creation commenced but the ownership of it. My pondering led me to consider that there is only one creator of everything. It might seem like a no-brainer conclusion because we know from the first four words of the bible located in Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created…” but what I’m talking about goes down a bit deeper in the concept that none of us (humanity) are capable of creating anything. I know you are likely scratching your head again. A wood carver may create beautiful sculptures, or an artist can create a fantastic painting. Well, neither of these two examples creates anything. Instead, they make art and sculpture from creation.

The wood carver did not create the wood he carved; God did. The wood carver just manipulated what was created and made a sculpture. I’m sure you get the concept, so I will spare you the breakdown for the artist’s supplies and object reference. It is a testament to the grand design that everything around us returns to God. Things can be [man] made, but nothing can be [man] created. I challenge your mind to consider everything you can imagine in our known universe to find something that [man] has created that can not be connected back to God’s creation. It’s impossible because God created the very building blocks of life and matter.

Photo by Tetiana SHYSHKINA on Unsplash

18 “What good is an idol carved by man,
or a cast image that deceives you?
How foolish to trust in your own creation—
a god that can’t even talk!
19 What sorrow awaits you who say to wooden idols,
‘Wake up and save us!’
To speechless stone images you say,
‘Rise up and teach us!’
Can an idol tell you what to do?
They may be overlaid with gold and silver,
but they are lifeless inside.
20 But the LORD is in his holy Temple.
Let all the earth be silent before him.”
Habakkuk 2:18-20 (NLT)

Of course, we can always get into the whole big bang theory concept, but even an explosion needs to have a lit fuse. I love science, and I always have. But science is not a means to discount God from our world; in fact, the deeper you go into the sciences, I believe it just brings light to the magnificent complexity of God and creation.

1 The LORD is king! He is robed in majesty.
Indeed, the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength.
The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.
2 Your throne, O LORD, has stood from time immemorial.
You yourself are from the everlasting past.
3 The floods have risen up, O LORD.
The floods have roared like thunder;
the floods have lifted their pounding waves.
4 But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,
mightier than the breakers on the shore—
the LORD above is mightier than these!
5 Your royal laws cannot be changed.
Your reign, O LORD, is holy forever and ever.
Psalms 93 (NLT)

Rev. Steven D. HofmeisterFounder, Senior Pastor, & President

Diakonos Independent Ministries of Maryland

The Original Article can be found on our website at: https://dimom.org/2023/01/19/a-single-creator/

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