IGNITE Newsletter: October 2026

CALLED TO SERVE

This past year has been a season of renewed vision for Eastern Star Church. One year ago, one church in three locations welcomed a new pastor: a visionary leader, a poet, and a dynamic preacher and teacher. Last October marked the beginning of a new course for our congregation, a shift and realignment of the church’s ministries, priorities, and focus. Through prayerful leadership, Pastor Jay has been the shepherd guiding us forward while remaining firmly rooted in ESC’s enduring creed: “Where Jesus is Exalted, and the Word is Explained.” As our methods evolve, our mission remains the same: proclaiming Christ, making disciples, and teaching His Word with clarity and conviction.

As our families grow together in faith, God invites each generation to share His love, live His truth, and reflect Christ wherever we go. The Great Commission, found in Matthew 28:19 (“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…”), is a call not only for parents and adults, but also for our children and teenagers.

Pastor Jay has a unique ability to inspire and influence individuals across all generations. He emphasizes the importance of discipleship within the family, where parents lead by example, and young people discover that following Jesus is both a privilege and a calling.

In 1 Corinthians 11:1, Paul reminds us, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.” Likewise, we as parents, along with our children, are called to be examples of faith. As Proverbs 22:6 teaches, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

So, as we celebrate one year of Pastor and People, let’s embrace God’s call together and build a legacy of faith that honors our past, strengthens our present, and advances Christ’s mission for generations to come. Amen.

What we learned last month

Children’s Church

During September in Children’s Church, we learned that:

God is merciful: Judges 2-3
God prepares the way: Joshua 2
God can make a way through anything: Joshua 3-4
God leads us: Joshua 5-6
Our memory verse was “God keeps His promises forever!” 1 Chronicles 16:15

Over the past two weeks, our teens explored the message “You Don’t Need a Sermon. You Need a Testimony.” They learned that a testimony doesn’t have to be dramatic; it is simply evidence of how we have encountered Jesus and discovered who He is through our experiences.

Through Revelation 1, Revelation 12:11, and 2 Corinthians 3, they discovered that Jesus is the center of our testimony, that our stories help combat the enemy’s lies, and that our lives should serve as living letters that show others the transforming power of Christ. We encouraged each teen to remember what God has done, share it with others, and live in a way that makes Jesus visible and believable.

Service Opportunity

Please consider helping to shape the young minds of tomorrow! We are looking for individuals to serve in the following roles at our Fishers, Cooper Road, and Main campuses:

Student Sign-in
Snack Distribution
Classroom Monitor
Parent Greeters

Volunteer Application

Parents, we need your help! Jr. Ushers and Jr. Greeters are needed at each Eastern Star Church campus. This is a wonderful opportunity for your child to serve, grow in their faith, and be actively involved in worship.

For more information or to sign up, please contact:

Brother Maurice Scruggs mscruggs@easternstarchurch.org 317-591-5050 ext. 111

Brother Evan Cox ecox@easternstarchurch.org 317-913-3700 ext. 514

Upcoming Events

Bring the whole family out for Fall for Jesus on Saturday, October 31, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at RCCYC! Enjoy a day of fall fun with games, bounce houses, a pumpkin patch, crafts, face painting, fall-themed photo ops, music, food, and so much more.

Kids are welcome to wear friendly costumes such as superheroes, biblical characters, or animals. Please no ghosts, monsters, witches, vampires, or similar costumes.

Want to bless the event? Individuals may drop off candy donations at any ESC location through October 25.

We can't wait to celebrate with you and your family!