Wednesday Memo

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Hi Five Oakers,

If you missed the campaign video, here it is. The campaign starts this weekend. We’re launching it because an estimated 20,000 people are moving in within a five-minute drive of our church campus. The campaign is about being ready for them. But, more importantly, it’s about engaging our hearts in our mission. It’s called the FOR [  ] campaign and this video is what it’s all about.

Here's the sermon Tim preached last weekend in 10 tweets: "Teaching the Heart," Titus 2:11-14.

  1. How do we help our kids not just do the right things, but want the right things?  How do we help them have a heart for God?
  2. In Titus 2:11, the grace of God 1) brings salvation, and 2) trains us.
  3. A heart for God must be trained by the grace of God.
  4. Our kids need to experience God's grace through us as we teach them.  Not just in John 3:16, but in the 10 Commandments and David/Goliath as well.
  5. We're born legalists, from NHL players to kids lining up at school. Our hearts don't respond to the law, but to grace.
  6. Our kids need to experience God's grace from us in how we relate to them.
  7. Scolding, embarrassing, scaring, or bribing work for a while, but they're the opposite of what Paul is saying trains the heart.
  8. Our kids need to experience God's grace at work in us.
  9. I don't always know how to practice what I'm preaching. But I don't have to be the expert. God's power is made perfect in my weakness.
  10. You can't lead a kid to a place you haven't been. The first step in showing grace to our kids is accepting God's grace in our own lives.

Looking forward to seeing you on the weekend!

Blessings, Pastor Henry

Tuesday Memo

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Hi Five Oakers,

I’ve got TEN things I want to share with you today.

#1 – The Journeymen Ministry (our Men’s Ministry) Hearts & Hammers event last weekend wowed everyone involved. Over 40 guys (young and old) painted the house and did the landscaping of someone in need last Saturday and they were done in by 2pm! Amazing. That’s a great testament not only to the men who worked hard and the amount of men who showed up; it’s a testament to the leaders, Scott Halverson and Adam Igl. It’s really hard to coordinate 40 people working all at once like that. Way to go! Check out more pictures the Journeymen website here. Great to see so many dads bring their sons.

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#2 – One of our members and small group leaders has been focusing on bringing Christ to his workplace through simple spiritual conversations (applying some of the stuff from the Mission of God series) and now that has morphed into a Bible study at work with about five of his colleagues!  

#3 – The VBS kids raised enough money during VBS to sponsor 4 kids at the orphanage in Haiti and we just received the names and pictures: Judson, Jasmine, Stanley, and Dada (pictured below, in order). For new folks, our church funded and sent teams to build the orphanage in partnership with GVCM, led by Yves Prophet. We still help support the workers wages there each year out of our Impact funds.

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#4 – Your small group leaders were in training on Sunday (or the Sunday before). Thank them for taking the time to grow their leadership skills and heart. They are there at small group every week and they are prepared. You bless them when you make small group a priority and come prepared

#5 – I’m experiencing something tonight. Kari Ennulat (First Impressions Director) is holding an Ushers teleconference at 8pm tonight for some training and inspiration. I get to play a small part.

#6 – Fusion (Wednesday evening high school ministry) had their Lumberjack Extravaganza last Wednesday. Here are pictures of some of the leaders gearing up for the party.

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#7- We were doing some filming for a campaign video and the videographer used a drone with a super high definition video camera on it. Here are a couple of stills from the shoot. Can’t wait to see the finished product.

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#8- The Story of God team is assembled and preparing for the group that starts next Tuesday. If you haven’t yet registered, go here. If you want more information, email me.

#9- The Village Schools of the Bible class had 23 people in it last week! Story of God on steroids.

#10- Campaign devotional books written by Group Life team members arrived today. Distribution this weekend. First day devotional starts on Monday. Don't miss it.

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Blessings, Pastor Henry