Bishop Salter Update - A Prescription From Heaven

Hi Family,

I can’t express my gratitude enough to each of you who takes the time to read my newsletter every week. Through this, I connect with you and help you stay engaged in the happenings of OUR church. There is a special blessing in us being on one accord!

THE BIG GIVEAWAY HAS SERVED OVER 2,000 PEOPLE – THAT’S IMPACT

I don’t want you to think that we aren't having worship just because we aren’t gathering on Sundays. Quite the opposite is true! Over the last 6 months, we’ve been holding different types of church services. We’ve given away over $500,000 of household goods, personal care items, toys, and furniture valued to over 2,000 families! Just last Saturday alone, we got the privilege to serve 456 people! I’m most proud of the diversity of people served at this outreach. It looked like heaven will.

I did an impromptu teaching on this yesterday on Facebook Live; you can catch the replay here.

RESTORATION IS COMING – ADDRESSING THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

I know many of us are anxious to get back to gathering in person, so I want to address some obvious questions that may have run across your mind in the last few weeks. 

Why are we streaming sermon replays on Sunday?

We can’t stream live or create any new content if we want to because everything was damaged in the flood. I’m talking about cameras, speakers, computers…everything we would use is gone. We’re actively working with the State and our insurance companies to get everything replaced as soon as possible. Pastor Shawn is live hosting, and his team is working hard to get us up and running ASAP. Hang in there, saints!

Why are we restreaming the NOW series from September 2020?

This series is prophetic and speaks to where we are now in 2021. It’s important to not always be in a rush to hear something new but to instead hold close to the Word of the Lord that was already spoken and apply it to the current circumstance. He gave it then, for NOW!

When will we host local prayer services as indicated in the recent survey?

We are working to get prayer sites up and running so that we can gather on Sunday mornings in various locations. These services will be hybrid, meaning they will also be live-streamed, so our online campus is with us at the main site.

I’m feeling disconnected or am in a spiritually dry season; what should I do?

I know this journey has been long and you miss being around like-minded believers within an in-person context. 

Remember, our mission is to become disciples of Jesus. Disciples need to be with spiritual family both on and offline. Here’s a prescription from heaven:

1. Join a small group! We’re now literally worldwide, but small groups are how we maintain our closeness and disciple each other. You can get all the information you need about what kind of groups are being offered, when they occur, and how to register by clicking here.

2. Start serving on a team. I know you’re busy, but we all are! If you carve out a few hours a week, you will find strength in serving others. Serving is part of your discipleship journey. As you work on the needs of others, God works on yours! This is why King David says he never saw the righteous forsaken, nor their seed beg bread. Right now, we have roles to fill on every team. I want you to consider joining the outreach team and serve at The Big Giveaway. If you’re interested in volunteering, click here. You’ll meet volunteers who aren’t even Impact partners but see the value in serving the world with us. This is your chance to plugin!

3. Connect with a prayer partner in our online service chat. Yes, just invite someone in the chat during service to be your prayer partner. Prayer partners make the best friends. Remember, if you are praying together, you are staying together!

YOUR NEXT STEPS

That was a lot, so here’s a recap of the next steps that I want you to take this week:

1. Sign up to volunteer at The Big Giveaway

2. Register for a Small Group

3. Pray, pray, pray!

Thank you for choosing me to be your pastor. I don’t take that responsibility lightly and count it an honor to serve you. I’m praying for you, and I’m trusting God with you for whatever it is you need.

Blessings & Love,

Bishop Salter | Senior Pastor

Bishop Salter Update- Impact is A Verb, Let's Spring Into Action

Hi Family,

It’s been another week filled with answered prayers and signs that God is up to something! I know with the seasons changing, we find ourselves trying to find our footing in new routines as kids go back to school, work schedules shift, and so much more, but I’m here to tell you that you got this! There are a few action steps throughout this week’s update because I value your feedback, so take a few minutes to complete those.

First, I want you to take this 60-second prayer survey: https://bit.ly/ICWWPrayerSurvey

Now, let’s get into the rest.

SOUTH PLAINFIELD CAMPUS RESTORATION UPDATE

Now that the carpets and floors and the other debris are removed, we were able to bring an architect on-site to begin to see our options as we enter the next phase of our rebuild in the coming weeks. People worldwide have been sending in their prayers that God will restore us more than we can imagine, and I want you to get excited because we are expecting God to do even BETTER!

SET YOUR FAITH AND PRAYERFULLY DETERMINE YOUR PLEDGE FOR REBUILDING

I want you to start to prayerfully consider what money you can set aside over the next 12 months to help rebuild THE LORD’S HOUSE. Insurance won’t cover everything we need to do. I know many were blessed under the prophecy I released in 2019 that “the next downturn would be our upturn!” You experienced God’s best. I especially lean on you to honor the Lord with a faithful seed. Leaders of this house, including me, will sow “willingly,” as was the case when David was building the Temple in 1 Chronicles 29:6.

The question is, can God trust you to give willingly once He blesses you? I know He can, so be on the lookout for a request for you to make a pledge to our building fund.

When it’s all said and done, further down in the passage in 1 Chronicles 29:9, it says, “The people rejoiced ... for they had given freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. David, the king, also rejoiced greatly.” I can’t wait for us to rejoice together, in person, in the place that we call home.

STORMS CAN’T STOP OUR IMPACT

This Saturday, we are dedicating The Big Giveaway to help families in our community who were directly affected by Hurricane Ida. To do this, we partnered with the City of South Plainfield and received the mayor's support along with major news publications in the area. The outpouring of gratitude we have received from people is overwhelming. Here’s what local resident Jason had to say:

“Thank you for this opportunity to provide the things lost from flood damages. My family and I are grateful for your courtesy, plus the blessings your church is providing. We’re a family of 8 and are experiencing some very difficult times, and we continue to hold our heads up when we pray for God to guide us out as we hold onto our beliefs and good health. Thank you all!”

This is Impact! In just a few days, 180 families from all over NJ (literally!) will get to enter our warehouse and get items that may seem simple to us but will be a big step in their restoration from the flood. I feel like this is our most important Big Giveaway to date because we are getting the privilege to show God’s love in a tangible way to people from all walks of life who just experienced such tragedy and loss. We get the chance to let our light shine, and I know in this God is pleased.

We need new leaders and volunteers in this incredible outreach ministry. If you feel a call to serve and get off the sidelines, submit your interest here.

PLEASE, PLEASE JOIN A GROUP

If you haven’t registered for a group yet, what are you waiting for?

Do you want to get more disciplined in your finances and shift your negative relationship with money? There’s a group for that. Are you single and having trouble navigating the dating world? There’s a group for that. Maybe your self-esteem is in the dumps, and you’re having an identity crisis. There’s a group for that too!

Click here to get full details on all the groups being offered and to register today. I’m telling you, they will change your life. I want to see every ICWW partner connect to a small group because it’s time for you to invest more into your spiritual well-being. All groups are hybrid, so there’s really no excuse :-)

THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU

I know my updates have been a little lengthy lately, but this is my personal time with you every week, so I like to make sure I fill you in on everything. I’ve always had a very transparent style of leadership and although we aren’t physically gathering yet, I want to make sure that does not change. Thank you for your prayers, thank you for trusting me, and thank you for hanging in there with us as we move into our next.

So to recap, here are your next steps:

1. Take the 60-second prayer survey

2. Pray on your building fund pledge

3. Serve on the Outreach Team to work at The Big Giveaway.

4. Join a small group

You are the best church!

Blessings & Love,

Bishop De’Andre Salter | Senior Pastor

Bishop Salter Update- Storms Don't Stop Purpose, God is Moving!

Hey Family,

What a week it has been, but God is moving! There's so much good news to share with you this week, so take a few minutes to take it all in.

ICWW New Partner Spotlight: Keyon Goodwin

I want to introduce you to one of the newest partners here at Impact: Keyon Goodwin! Keyon attended our Digital Discovery Session and officially joined our family! Here's his story:

I was introduced to Christ and Impact by my sister Tiana Emmanuel who is already an Impact Partner. Tiana believed in me even when my life wasn't in a good place. From the first time I had a chance to visit, I felt welcomed, and at that time, I was just checking it out. Since being at Impact, my life has changed for the better in ways that everyone around me can tell the difference! Overall, I'm a much more positive person who can treat both my friends and family better. I'm even attending college now, and I owe all of this to God!

Want to become a partner of this house? Register for the upcoming Digital Discovery Session on Tuesday, September 28th at 7PM(EST). Anyone can register by clicking here.

South Plainfield Campus Restoration Update

The disaster recovery firm we hired has removed all the flooring in the building and began demolition on the sheetrock throughout the building, where toxic mold had already started to grow. Can you do me a favor? Send a "thank you" note to tfolkes@impactww.church. Deacon Trina, our Head of Operations, has been doing an excellent job communicating with the government, our insurance carriers, and other vendors to make sure we are making progress daily so we can get back into our home as soon as possible. Make sure you check out my weekly updates about our campus on Facebook. Click here to watch my update from earlier this week.

Storms Don't Stop Purpose: The Next Big Giveaway Is All About Local Recovery

We've been hosting The Big Giveaway for a few months now and have served hundreds of families. Despite our losses, we will keep giving by opening our warehouse doors to South Plainfield residents since Hurricane Ida had most of the town underwater. This will let them replace some items they may have lost, and more importantly, show we're here for everyone! Don't miss the message in this powerful act of generosity. Even though our main building is in shambles, and we are still waiting for God to bring restoration to us, we are not letting that stop us from being a blessing! Our setback is still serving as a setup for somebody else's blessing...WOW! If that doesn't show you that the hand of God is on our ministry, then I don't know what will. I love blessing people in the name of Jesus!

Everyone Should Be In A Small Group

While our time in the digital world has been extended due to Hurricane Ida's effects on our local campus, I want us to use this time to get closer than we have ever been before! To do this, I want to challenge every ICWW partner to get connected to a small group. In the past year, we've gained new partners, and connecting to a group will not only give you a chance to meet some new faces, but it will also give you a chance to be discipled and grow in the Word. This season will take more than tuning into worship service on Sundays to accelerate your spiritual growth. Getting connected to a group you're interested in will help you take leaps and bounds in your faith, trust me on this!

Small group registration opens this Sunday on September 19th! So that you can start thinking about which group topic interests you most, here are the ones being offered: Starting Point, I Know Who I Am, The Culture of Money, and Empowered Dating.

Meet Judy John-Styles | Executive Assistant to the Bishop

Most of you know Judy John-Styles as the Small Groups Director here at ICWW. While she will be continuing her role in that capacity, I'm excited to share that she will also be serving as Lady Terri & I's Executive Assistant in her full-time staff position! Judy is not only a blessing to Lady Terri and I as a spiritual daughter but a blessing to Impact. How God has developed her as a leader and spiritual daughter is a sign that God is up to something, and He's not done. I asked Judy why she said "yes" to her new role, and here's what she had to say:

"I believe God laid on my heart to support and serve Bishop De'Andre Salter and Lady Terri full time. I resigned from my career as an Educator to commit everything I do to the Lord (Psalm 37:5). While this may be a strategic moment in my life, I came at a very interesting season believing that God will continue to use me and others who desire to serve the house. Please keep my family and I in prayer as we walk by faith, trusting God in this new journey."

As we grow as a church family, we always want to make sure ICWW is here for you in any capacity that you need, which is why we started with ordaining six new Pastors last year. In her role as Executive Assistant, Judy is who you will want to get in touch with if you ever want to make a connection point with Lady Terri or myself.

You can contact Judy via email at jstyles@impactww.church or phone at (908) 222-9990 ext. 37.

Remember, God Loves You, and So Do I

So much is happening all around us, and I'm grateful to God that I get to serve as your leader. Keep praying for our pastors and for one another, and trust that I am praying for you. I can't put into words how much your support of the vision God has given us at Impact means to me. This isn't my church, it's God's; I'm just doing His will. I need your help to make His will happen on earth every day.

Blessings and Love,

Bishop De'Andre Salter | Senior Pastor

Bishop Salter Update- Seeking Where God Is, Not Where He Was

Hi Family,

This update may be a little lengthy, but I ask that you bear with me because I have to share a lot of pertinent information with you. Needless to say, there is a lot going on.

First, I want to say thank you for allowing my family and I to take what was a much-needed sabbatical in August. Leading us through these unprecedented times has not always been easy, so that month of rest and refueling was much needed. Thank you, thank you, thank you for supporting this house, our leaders, and the work of the Lord!

Sunday Services Will Continue Online

Earlier in the week, I went live on Facebook, showing you the damages to our South Plainfield campus because of Hurricane Ida. If you missed that, click here to watch. As a result, our Pastors and I are entering a season of "discerning" the Lord. In other words, what are we going to do? We are going to seek where God is, not where He was! So as we seek wisdom and direction during the next few weeks, I ask that you keep us in prayer.

I hope that you will recommit to worshipping through our online campus on Sundays at 8:30am and 10:30am.

It's vital that you stay connected with us to have the latest updates in the coming weeks, so if you are not already, click here to get on our partner's email list. This will ensure that you get the latest correspondence from us (be sure we aren't in your spam folder).

Hurricane Ida Disaster Relief Fund

Even though our South Plainfield campus suffered damages, you should know by now that our bigger focus always includes serving the community around us. We have several families who see us as a beacon of generosity and who have reached out to us directly-they have lost everything, and we want to guide them through this time as best we can. With that said, we will be making our Hurricane Ida Disaster Relief Fund public within the coming days to get the funds needed to help people rebuild their lives.

JOIN BISHOP SALTER AT THE 20201 Economic Empowerment Conference

On another note, even as we navigate through these times of crisis, it's essential that we still be faithful over the money that God has given us so that we can not only survive in our now but begin to build wealth for generations to come. I'll be one of the keynote speakers at the 2021 Economic Empowerment Virtual Conference, where topics include 'The Importance of Savings,' 'Wealth Building by Smart Financial Planning,' and the list goes on. Click here to register and gain access to information that can change the trajectory of your future.

ICWW Partner Spotlight: A. Donahue Baker

I want to take this time to celebrate Impact Partner A. Donahue Baker, who was recently featured in Black Enterprise magazine for his efforts to help people create generational wealth through real estate acquisitions and entrepreneurial investment opportunities. Let's show how proud we are of him by clicking here to read the article and by sharing the link on your social media platforms.

Mother Elaine Carroll

It's with a heavy heart that I must inform you of the passing of one of our dear mothers of the church, Elaine Carroll. Mother Carroll leaves behind 6 children, 3 siblings, 17 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren along with a host of other family members and friends. If you would like to attend her services on Friday, September 10th, the details are as follows:

Bethlehem Judah Church

81-83 Galloping Hill Rd.

Elizabeth, NJ

Viewing: 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Service: 11:00 a.m.

In Conclusion

Thanks for bearing with me as I shared all this information! Remember the Scripture we are keeping near to our hearts as a family is Philippians 1:3, NLT:

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God!

Despite your current circumstances, despite whatever disappointments or setbacks, continue lifting your brothers and sisters in Christ in prayer and give thanks not only for what God has done but for what He is about to do! Know that I am continuously uplifting you and your families in prayer.

Blessings,

Bishop De'Andre Salter | Senior Pastor

Bishop Salter Update- We're Coming Out on Top!

Hey Family,

Today I celebrate 26 years of being happily married to my best friend, the apple of my eye, and the love of my life, Lady Terri. I want to emphasize the word happily because although these past 26 years have not been absent of tests and trials, we have come out triumphant every time and to this day grow more and more in love with one another than the day before. This is my social proof and a living example that what I’m about to teach you in the coming weeks works because God and Scripture have been the foundation of our marriage.

This Sunday I’m starting a new 2-part teaching called “Love Again”. If you are married or dating, I especially want you and your significant other to both tune in online at either 8:30am or 10:30am to hear why romantic love is more about good love than anything physical. You’ll learn how to embrace a new look at love and romance as it’s revealed in Scripture so you can begin to simply love again.

As part of our reopening plan, we’ll be having another in-person prayer service on Wednesday, June 21st at 6PM. I’ll be at this service with you and can’t wait to share what God has laid on my heart as we enter this next season together.

Lastly, but certainly not least, on Sunday, August 1st we will be starting our annual At the Movies series! While I will be on sabbatical during the month of August, I still want to encourage you to come get the message in the movie as we reopen the doors to our South Plainfield campus. You’ll have two options beginning in August: to watch online at 8:30am or to attend in-person at 10:30am. The service flow will be a little different, so I also want you to make sure you’re in your seats at 10:30am sharp if you plan on attending in person so you don’t miss anything. This is going to be a WOW experience for both you and your families with a little something special after each movie. I know that on August 1st, we’ll have The Urban Cone ice cream truck outside and ready to serve you. The best part, we’ve already bought your ice cream cone, so all you have to do is show up to get it!

As always, thank you for trusting my leadership. We’re coming out on top!

- Bishop

p.s., Registration for The Big Giveaway is opening SOON! If you haven’t already, make sure you get on the mailing list by clicking here so you can be the first to know when tickets get released….they get reserved fast!

Bishop Salter Update- We're Coming Out of the Storm!

Hello Family,

God still sits on the throne, and we are coming out of this…whatever "this" is for you! It seems we’re all being presented with new challenges but so is the life of the believer. We are always either leaving a storm, in a storm or recently out of a storm. The keys to a faithful life are learning how to enjoy life between the storms and building a predictable response to enduring the storm.

SAVE THE DATE

In-Person Worship Resumes on Sunday, July 11th

Speaking of storms, there's one that is not over, but we can see the breaking of day. Of course, I'm talking about COVID-19. Thanks to all of you who have taken the proactive and faithful step to be vaccinated. Avoiding vaccination in the name of Jesus is no more an act of faith than accepting God might be working through the vaccines. In other words, you will need to believe God that you won't get Covid and die if you choose to go unvaccinated or believe God that no harm will come to you later because you were vaccinated. I’m trusting God that these vaccines might be my “snake on a pole”, “wood in water,” or “ram in the bush.” So, with vaccination rates increasing and restrictions lifting, I'm excited to say that we will have our first in-person worship service in over a year on July 11, 2021. I will provide more details soon, but I can share with you that we will only offer one in-person worship service, and it will be at a new time. I’m excited to preach to those in the room in addition to those behind the camera!

Thank you, thank you, and thank you for trusting me through this process. We are pleased that we did all we could to keep our church family safe. We will do the same as we re-establish in-person gatherings.

SPEAKING OF HEALTH

Impact Church Worldwide is a Faith Partner for Black Health Matters presenting The Close The Gap Virtual Health Summit: Health & Wellness in the Time of Covid-19 (BHMNYC), powered by Boston Scientific & Siemens Healthineers.  

Registration is free at www.BHMNYC.vfairs.com. You don't want to miss this immersive experience designed to support our community on their collective or individual health journeys. Sessions will start at 10am this Saturday, May 22nd, and can be viewed on a mobile device, laptop, or desktop. 

This special event will include interactive sessions about closing the health inequity gap while promoting the importance of a wellness lifestyle and educating you on the latest news about Covid-19. Everything we do is to empower the African American community to live a healthier life.

SPEAKING OF BLESSING! THE BIG GIVEAWAY IS HERE

Saturday is The Big Giveaway. We will be a blessing to 95 Impact partners, giving them whatever they need or want if it's available in our warehouse. If you did not register, please do not attend since we are not accepting walkups. If you did register, please make sure you show up on time with face masks. Our volunteers are excited to serve you in excellence, and we want to keep everything flowing smoothly. Pastor Shamar and I put together this little informational video to help you visualize how this experience will differ from the drawing we did last month. Lady Terri and I will see those of you who registered on Saturday!

-Bishop

Bishop Salter Update- Easter 2021

Hello Family,

Not only are the seasons outside changing as we experience warmer temperatures, see the sun shining brightly, and smell the flowers as they bloom, but I hope you can also sense the change is the spiritual season we are entering. God is up to something; I can feel it! As we enter Holy Week, I want us to intentionally shift our focus from whatever giants we are facing in our lives to the gift of greater life that we have because of Jesus’ suffering, crucifixion, death, and resurrection. I want you to take special notice to the ending of the story, that at the end of it all…He got up!

Here is a rundown of all the happenings during the upcoming Easter weekend:

Friday, April 2nd

Good Friday Fast: 3pm-6am

On Good Friday, Christians around the world come together as we focus on Jesus Christ's death. The night before he died, Jesus and his disciples took part in the Last Supper and then went to the Garden of Gethsemane. There, Jesus spent his last hours praying to the Father. Just as He prayed, we will come together as a family to fast and pray in preparation of the greatest miracle to ever happen.

To download the prayer guide for this fast, click here.

Saturday, April 3rd

Corporate Prayer @ 5:45am

We will end our Good Friday fast by joining together on Facebook Live for prayer at 5:45am.

The Pickup @ 1PM (South Plainfield Campus)

From 1pm-3pm, you will be able to visit our South Plainfield campus where you can restock on your communion kits, get your copy of The Culture of Money signed by me, and kids will receive an Easter box filled with goodies. You’ll be able to do all of this right in our main lobby. Please note the following:

• Masks will be required to enter the building

• Social distancing will be enforced

• Hand sanitizing stations will be readily available

Impact Teen Alpha Session @ 5PM

The Pastor that disciples Impact Teens, Tyanna LeGrand, will walk them through the significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection, giving them real-life application on what this all means for them. All teens ages 13-18 are welcome to attend.

Sunday, April 4th

Breakthrough Worship Experience @ 9:30AM

There will be only one worship service live-streamed at 9:30am. Immediately following service, you’re encouraged to continue the breakthrough experience our team has planned for you by attending an impactful 15-minute prayer session where I will lead us through Communion and together we will rejoice!

Click here to join the worship service.

Click here to join the prayer room.

iKids Theatrical Experience @ 12PM

iKids (children ages 3-12) will gather via Zoom where they will see a live theatrical presentation about the resurrection of Jesus. They’ll also take part in an online activity that is sure to keep their attention.

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Now I know this is a lot, but I am so excited about the ways our family will be connected spiritually this weekend and am looking forward to seeing your smiling faces at The Pickup on Saturday! Even though our Easter Sunday worship experience is online this year, I still encourage you to invite at least 2 people in your network who you know otherwise wouldn’t attend a church service. The message that God has given me for you on that day is one that will forever shift your perspective on the life God has given you.

That’s all for now! As always, thank you for your trust, patience, flexibility, and understanding as I lead us through these unprecedented times.

-Bishop Salter

p.s., On Easter Sunday I have an announcement that will literally blow your mind and show you how God is working things out for your good even when you can’t see Him. Trust me, you’ll want to know!

Bishop Salter Update- Extreme Makeover: Impact Edition

Hi Family,

This week’s update is a little lengthy, but that’s because there’s so much happening at Impact that I want to give you updates on. I can actually show you better than I can tell you, so you can watch the video update here:

For those of you who prefer to just read the highlights, I completely get that too, so here goes—

Are We Going Back to In-Person Worship Anytime Soon?

Click here to watch this segment of the video: https://youtu.be/8yg-ENGHs9E?t=6

I need you to continue hanging in there. I know you might be hitting what I call a COVID wall, and you may be anxious to get back to in-person worship with your family and friends. Trust me, I would like that too. In many states, restrictions are being lifted, but I want to encourage you to continue being one church in many houses. We are a people, and we're going to take our time and meet when it's safe. But, when we do return, you can look forward to a very exciting, immersive environment that connects our online campus to our live, in-person environment. Regardless of executive orders or lifting of restrictions, we're not ready to gather anyway because we’re undergoing massive renovations. Trust me on this, keep your faith and your hope alive.

What’s Happening In The Sanctuary While We’re Online?

Click here to watch this segment of the video:https://youtu.be/8yg-ENGHs9E?t=185

Now is the part when I want you to get excited about some of the things happening on campus. We’ll have new cameras, a new set design, video screens around the walls and so much more. When you step foot inside 1253 New Market Avenue, it's just going to be a totally different environment and upgraded experience. We’re widening the hallways, raising the ceilings, building a bigger stage with a digital screen wall, adding new lighting, and getting new flooring! With the ceilings being raised, new industrial piping will be exposed with the top painted black. It's going to be simply amazing.

Has God Blessed You With Overflow? Here’s Where We Need Your Help

Click here to watch this segment of the video:https://youtu.be/8yg-ENGHs9E?t=295

We've had a tumultuous winter in New Jersey with record-breaking snow. Although we haven't been meeting in-person, we've still had to keep the buildings on our campus open. In the back part of our campus, we have tenants, many of who have been adversely affected by COVID-19. As a result, we lost some tenants which means we also lost a lot of rent leaving us with major financial deficits to cover. The expense that hits us the most is snow removal. Our snow removal budget just wasn’t enough for the weather we’ve had. We've spent over $25,000 on snow removal and salting the premises.

For those of you who are in a blessed financial position, I’m asking that you make an extra special gift in an offering to the church to help us defray some of this cost. Listen, we've been blessed through this. Many of you have given tremendously, and I thank you. It's allowed us to keep our staff and grow our online ministries and digital ministries. So, thank you, thank you, thank you. I would not ask you if it wasn't important. I'm not asking you to do anything that I’m not willing to, so I’m making an extra special gift too. For those of you who are in the blessed position to do so, I ask that within the next 30 days that you also include a special gift in your offering, it would really help us cover the deficits created by what has been a terrible winter.

Thank You

 As always, thank you so much for your incredible generosity. Thank you for your trust in our leadership and your patience. I look forward to us gathering together online this Sunday!

God Bless,

Bishop

Bishop Salter Update- A Season To Embrace

Hello Family,

As we are on the brink of a new month and begin to prepare our hearts for Easter, I want to encourage you to posture your hearts in gratitude. With all that the world has endured in the past year and all the challenges that you and your family have endured, don’t take it for granted that God saw fit for you to still be in the land of the living- this means that His purpose for your life is still unfolding. For this alone, you should be grateful and have an expectant heart as you embrace your identity in Him.

At Impact, our purpose is to build communities of people to become Spirit-empowered disciples of Jesus, who lead at home and serve the world. To do this, we are making shifts to focus all of our attention on disciple-making and leadership training, such as: 

· Retooling Growth Track for our new hybrid model of ministry (in-person/virtual) and shifting from moving people through steps to coaching people into spiritual maturity.

·   Making Small Groups the backbone of our ministry. We want people meeting year-round for Bible study, fellowship, and prayer.

·   Relaunching our leadership training program to provide clear steps for those who desire to become a leader of volunteers, deacon, minister or pastor; and,

·   Enhancing our online campus experience to build genuine community and engagement – virtual baptisms, prayer meetings, weekday live services, global service opportunities, and more.

All of these things will equip us all to make an impact in our homes, our community, and ultimately in the world.

On another note, to ensure our church community's wellness and safety, we will have our Easter services online this year. Although the service will be online, our team has been busy planning to make this a WOW experience for both you and your guests. More details on that are soon to come, but I want you to start thinking about who you want to invite to join us so their life can change for the better.

That’s all for now. I will continue to pray for you daily and love you dearly.

-Bishop Salter

p.s., I’m looking forward to the virtual Locker Room for men this Saturday. Click here to register and get the private link.

Bishop Salter Update- Advocating For Our Youth

Family,

Rather than say hello, let me ask, "How are you doing today?" We are all battling the winter blues and sheer exhaustion from fighting daily to win in a pandemic. Just in case you haven't heard it from anybody this week, I am incredibly proud of each of you. Impact Church, one church, in many houses, shows God that He can count on us. Romans 5:5 states, "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." This is my favorite verse in the Bible! It shares that God loves us and that Holy Spirit is here to assist. So, keep hope alive in God because He will get you through this season.

Click to watch Pastor Tyanna as she shares her heart for our teens.

In this new leadership season, we are blessed to have Pastor Tyanna LeGrand as our Youth Pastor. Pastor Tyanna is serious about helping Christian parents by creating teenage disciples as her second vocation. In her first vocation, she's one of the leading recruiters in New Jersey who works with teenagers to discover their purpose and encourages them to attend college. Her passion and calling are to disciple teens to submit to their divine purpose, are comfortable with a Christian lifestyle, and are not afraid to share their faith. The Bible (Proverbs 22:6) and studies support the fact that teens with regular religious practices get into less trouble. Suppose you want to see a dramatic shift in your teenagers' outlook on life, attitude, focus, respect, and stewardship. In that case, I'd like you to watch this video explaining how our new Alpha sessions for teens will cause them to lead and not follow those who go astray.

If we partner together and do this well, your heart can rest, knowing that your teen can discern right from wrong and has better judgment.  I'm especially urging those parents who have not actively sought their teenagers' participation in our youth group to encourage them to attend Alpha on Saturday. We have over 75 teenagers in our ministry, and only about 15 regularly attend youth group on Friday. This needs to change. Let's not be the type of parents who cry out to God about our teens going astray when we were complicit with the enemies' plan to allow the streets to devour them (1 Peter 5:8-9).

Thank you so much for your continued generosity and support for our leadership. I love you.

Bishop

P.S. Next week, I have a special announcement about how and when we will gather in 2021. Stay tuned