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Valley Free Newsletter - January 2013
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Transcript of Valley Free Newsletter - January 2013
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 3
By Pastor Mike Sindelar
J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 3
By Pastor Mike Sindelar
The Magnificent Journey and the Single Step
When you stand back and drink in what
is happening, you have to be amazed. The
calls for volunteers to help with the
building renovation have been heard. Even
over the holidays, the halls of the church have been filled
with people moving furniture, removing carpet and
painting walls. The resulting transformation of the facility is
remarkable. An air of enthusiasm and excitement smells a
lot like fresh paint these days. God is indeed doing a great
thing in our midst. The upgrade of the facility is surely
needed but the testimony of God moving among us is a
greater blessing still.
We look for God to do the amazing. We long to see
examples of His power in our lives exhibited in
extraordinary ways. It is certainly a reciprocal desire on
God’s part. He longs to show Himself strong and powerful
as His kids lean into Him through acts of faith.
Yet, I wonder if we don’t miss the larger movement of God
in our lives when we simply wait for the amazing. I wonder
if God isn’t more deeply ingrained in the details, decisions
and directions than we give Him credit for?
Let me give you an example. We have all wanted to give
the building a much needed facelift and we are all glad to
be part of it. But the real work of this began when a family
came forward and said, “What is it going to take to get this
done?” It was their prayers and their generosity that kicked
off this whole set of events that we are seeing today. For
the project, I see the hallways filled with people cutting in
the corners with paint and others rolling the paint on the
walls. What I don’t see are the hundreds of decisions and
phone calls that took to get to the place where the miracle
becomes visible.
On the generosity side, I praise God for the $195,000
raised for this project in such a short amount of time. A
true miracle and a true movement of God. What I don’t
see is the intentionality and the sacrificial financial
decisions made by families as they prayed for God to do
great things in their family so that they could be part of
the miracle.
Too often, I fear, we wait for God to do the great things
but we are unwilling or unaware that the miracle actually
starts with my determination to align my life in such a way
that God is pleased to do great things. In my waiting for
the big event, I fail to notice the river of smaller events
flowing past me every day.
Proverbs 16:3 says “Commit your work to the Lord, and
your plans will be established”. Verse 9 of the same
chapter says, “the mind of man plans his way, but the Lord
directs his steps.”
As Sandy and I looked over the panorama of the last year,
we realized that God had done some pretty significant
things in our life. As I look at those miracles, I realize that
much of what we saw God do was the result of
intentionally choosing to go in God’s direction. When we
commit our motives and our plans to Him, He will respond
in ways bigger than we could have imagined.
Let us apply the lesson of renovated building to the
commitments we make for the coming year. As you chart
the direction of your spiritual growth, make decisions on
your giving or seek ways to serve the Lord in the coming
year, be mindful that His great work is often seen in the
context of a thousand smaller decisions of faith and
commitment. Commit your way to Him and get ready to
be amazed!
By Lanell Plath
P A G E 2
chosen to be used as an instrument to proclaim God’s glory
It is a privilege to be able to be back with my Valley Free family, but now as the Youth Director! I’m honored
that I’ve been chosen to be used as an instrument to proclaim God’s glory to this community, especially the
youth. I’m a firm believer that God has unimaginable plans for restoring the world to Him through this
upcoming generation.
As you get to know me you’ll find I’m a very outdoorsy guy. Whether it’s a
canoe trip, hunting, playing disc golf, or just walking in the woods, I love the
freedom of the outdoors. I’m also a big music guy—I love exploring different
genres and going to concerts: whether that’s the Minnesota Symphony or a
Rock concert, I enjoy it all. But what I enjoy doing most is purposely
experiencing life with the people around me—especially those that are
younger than me.
This passion to minister to youth actually began back in Jr. and Sr. High when our family attended Maple Grove Evangelical Free
Church. I grew up heavily involved in the church and was blessed with leaders who saw my potential. They stretched me through
giving me opportunities to speak on stage, organize events on a team, and lead worship for the youth group. I found I was very
fulfilled and found purpose in leading, which God used to begin shaping my heart for full-time ministry.
The past couple years, as well as being involved in Valley’s youth group from 2009-
2011, I’ve been working at a variety of positions in Camping Ministry. I experienced
the front lines as a Camp Counselor where I was in charge of a different group of 8-10
boys every week, and loved seeing God show them new truths daily. I spent one
summer as Shamineau’s Island Director, where I led a ministry literally on an island in
the middle of Lake Shamineau. My most recent position was as Director of
Shamineau’s Rock Ridge Camp which is up in Ely, Minnesota. We had an amazing summer full of blessings, I’d love to tell you
more about if you ask me.
It’s amazing to see where God has taken me and how he’s transformed my heart through
so many different settings. And the more I go through life following Jesus, the more I
have no doubt in my mind that I have a totally faithful savior in Him. I’ve emerged with a
passion to be used by God to raise up a new generation of leaders that will realize that
there’s an amazing life of adventure through serving Jesus Christ! It is my heart’s desire
that Crux becomes a community where students are equipped to stand strong in God’s
glorious truths, have their hearts transformed by Jesus’ grace, and become empowered by the Spirit to invite their friends and
peers on this journey as well.
I have no doubt that God has an abundance of miracles planned for our Valley Free community, and I’m excited to experience
them with you. As a very relational person, I’m looking forward to getting to know all of you. As I begin here I will try to initiate
contact with as many of you as possible, but if you’d like to beat me to it, call me or shoot me an email and I’d love to talk about
what Jesus is doing in our lives!
By Cory Jackson, Youth Director
By Jan Schmit Faith @ Home
Kids are rejected from every side. Sometimes the rejection or criticism comes from
a teacher that just doesn't "get" your kid. Sometimes it comes from an angry family
member. Sometimes it's rejection from peers, gossiping, getting picked last in gym
class. These daily rejections can erode our children's sense of being loved and
valuable. Being thoughtful about how to counter rejection will help your kids learn to
weather the storm.
The following is an activity you can do with your kids to help
them understand.
Take a crisp, clean $20 bill. Ask your child what it’s worth. Of
course, they'll say $20. As the kids watch, crumple the bill, step
on it, and even rub a little dirt into it. Call it a few bad names
like "Worthless bill!, Dirty money!, You couldn't buy a thing!"
Once the bill is pretty beat up, ask the kids, "What's it worth now?" They'll still say
$20. Then ask, "Why is it still valuable, considering how it looks and how it was
treated?" They may have some answers. Listen well and repeat what they say. Then
show them the spot where the seal of the United States treasury is stamped over the
word stating its value. "This bill's value is sealed by the government of the United
States, no matter what happens to it." Then say, "Just like that, our value is sealed by
God, no matter what happens to us." Share this Bible verse: You have been bought
and paid for by Christ, so you belong to him---be free now from all these earthly
prides and fears. 1 Corinthians 7:23 (TLB). Pronounce to the kids that they have high
value because of Christ! You may even want to put the bill in a picture frame with the
verse, as a tangible reminder of the high value that God places on us.
This simple illustration will help our kids remember where their true value comes
from, and it may even help us to remember that our kids are God's workmanship,
created to do great things in His kingdom! When we better remember this truth, we
more often treat our children accordingly.
Additional Bible verses you could reference:
Ps. 139:13,14 - God carefully made us.
1 John 3:1 - God loves us deeply.
Eph. 2:10 - God has a plan to use us to be a blessing.
Jesus' death on the cross is the ultimate proof that our value doesn't depend on how
we're doing (Romans 5:8).
_____________
The preceding is an adaptation of an article published by Jim and Lynne Jackson. Visit the Jackson’s website for additional articles giving parents hope and tools to building strength in families at www.Connectedfamilies.org or contact them at [email protected].
P A G E 3
Dealing with Rejection
Sunday
Adult Studies
Begin 1.13.2013| 9am
Proverbs
Part of growing and maturing in our walk
with the Lord is increasing in wisdom. (Doesn’t
Romans 12:2 speak of being “transformed by
the renewing of your mind”?) But what is
wisdom? How does it differ from other spiritual
qualities God wants us to have? One good way
to help understand this is to write
contemporary proverbs out of our own
experience as part of our study. In this and
other ways this spring we will work to
understand the wisdom of the Book of
Proverbs. We will learn what proverbs are, how
God teaches us through them and what
particular areas of wisdom He wants us to gain.
Please join us for a Sunday Morning Study of
this absorbing book of the Old Testament. Bret
Wightman will be teaching this class which will
meet in the fellowship hall.
LifeKeys Life Keys is a spiritually-based
comprehensive program for discovering:
• Life Gifts
• Spiritual Gifts
• Personality Type
• Values
Passions
Engaging stories, inventories, self-tests, and
other easy-to-use exercises help guide those
considering volunteer opportunities,
contemplating career changes, or desiring to
become more useful to God.
Ann Malone will be leading the class which will
meet each Sunday morning, in room 109/110
(last room on your right in the education wing).
I took a stab at estimating the number of volunteer hours
that have been given in just the last three weeks. We are close
to 450 hours and that does not include time given by our
volunteer team leaders. Interesting to think of how much has
been saved to our costs because of this.
I continue to ponder the part of Romans 12 that says, "For as
in the body we have many members, and the members do not
have the same function, so we, though many are one body in
Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts
that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:
if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our
serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who
exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in
generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does
acts of mercy, with cheerfulness." Romans 12:4-8
We have had people choose colors and materials, give
financially, tear up carpet, scrape glued padding from the
stage, scrape the ceiling, repair walls, spray ceiling texture,
build the stage and sound booth, tape, paint by brush and
roller, clean vents, vacuum, take down lights, take down and
put back up bulletin boards and wall plates around electrical
outlets and switches, move furniture, prepare food, set up for
meals, clean up after meals, take out garbage...and I am sure
there is more! To God be the glory a great thing He is doing as
relationships in our church are being more tightly knit
together as we serve to make this house of worship refreshed.
Joyfully in Awe!
Shop Vacs & Strong Backs The Valley Volunteer Army Working as the Body of Christ
By Candace Wisely
“We requested an estimate from a pro-fessional painting business that quoted a cost of $20,000 to paint the inside of our church. I expect our finished costs
are going to come in around $3,500 by using volunteer labor. I have numerous
examples where the members of our church have saved significant costs to
those estimated. Thank you!” Jayme Wisely
P A G E 4
P A G E 5
Does Valley Really Need Them?
By Jim Bentson, Greeting Ministry Coordinator
Valley has recently enjoyed an amazing study of Romans 12
through the r12 program. I hope you can find the time to read all
of Romans for context. If you make it to chapter 16, you will find
almost the entire chapter devoted to greeting. To begin with,
Paul, the author of Romans, makes a request to the church in
Rome to receive a sister in the Lord from another church “in a
manner worthy of the saints.”
How do we apply the idea
to receive people “in a manner worthy of the saints”
to our church and situation?
All people have an innate need to be recognized, appreciated, and
valued. Greeting is the necessary beginning of hospitality –
making another feel welcome and special in our presence. People
may enter our doors after having a stressful week; they may have
high expectations of meeting the Lord at Valley through worship,
the preaching of God’s Word, and through the hospitality of the
Lord’s people. Greeting is the first mood-setter for their entire
worship experience. A welcoming greeting can initiate a joyful
worship experience.
I have read that some church growth studies show that the first
two minutes a newcomer is at the church is one of the more
deciding factors as to whether they will ever return. I have
personally heard many testimonies of people saying that they either
did, or did not return to a particular church based on how welcoming
the church was.
A warm, heartfelt, and genuine greeting conveys the love, grace, and
compassion of our Lord Jesus for all people. Hospitality goes beyond
the assigned greeters at the door. All of us at Valley can mingle
among the people, to convey the love of Jesus.
The front door greeters are an assurance that no one slips in
unnoticed and unwelcomed. However, we have two main entrances
into our building and our greeters have only been stationed at the
East entrance. Some others had been greeting at the West entrance,
but that is no longer possible now that we have two services. As a
result, we fear that some visitors entering through the west doors
may not be getting the full benefit of an intentional welcome to
Valley. I and Valley leadership believe that we must supply greeters
at both entrances to insure that everyone gets a warm welcome!
Our greeters serve with joy and purpose on Sunday mornings. We
would love to share the joy of this important ministry with you.
Would you, knowing the importance of welcoming everyone at both
entrances and both services, consider joining our greeting/
hospitality team? Your consideration of this is greatly appreciated,
and needed. Please contact Jim Bentson at 952-448-4697, or the
church office for more information on joining our team. We welcome
you to join us in welcoming others!
A welcoming greeting can initiate a joyful worship experience.
This fall I had the opportunity to attend several ReachGlobal
conferences that were both challenging and stimulating. During one
of those conferences I felt the Lord prompting me to explore
working with the ReachGlobal team in Berlin. Although that
seemed like a crazy idea initially, it led me to spend some time
praying, reflecting and thinking about the last year in Madrid and
where God was calling me to focus in the years to come. After
spending time with God and talking with others, I couldn't deny
that their was an openness to learn more about what God was
doing in Berlin. As I shared this with my team, ReachGlobal
leadership and a few others, I continued to be affirmed in my desire
to consider living and working in Berlin, Germany.
In November I visited Berlin as part of already scheduled meetings,
which provided an incredible opportunity to see firsthand the
spiritual needs and ministries in Berlin. God has continued to affirm
my sense of His leading through the vision of the team, their
approach to ministry, my experience/background, the timing, the
spiritual void...and my openness to working in a place I said I would
never consider! I enjoy Spain and it is hard to believe that I am
thinking of moving after a year of settling and adjustment, but at
the same time I am increasingly convinced that working in Berlin is
P A G E 6
a natural fit for me. But more than being a natural fit, I really sense
that it is something only God could bring about.
Right now, I am in the process of talking with ReachGlobal
leadership about the specific role I would have on the team. The
Berlin City Team focuses on innovative approaches to church
planting, leadership development, strategic parnterships and
business-as-mission and there are several ways I could collaborate
to further the impact of the gospel in Berlin. In a city where over
63% of the people claim no religious affiliation, the team is
developing new approaches to ministry and some incredible
partnerships with German ministries. I hope to work somewhat
broadly in the city to train leaders and help innovate new
approaches to ministry, but initially my focus would be on learning
German (something I am surprisingly excited about!). Young adults
and professionals continue to be a ministry interest of mine, but
may not be my exclusive focus.
Would you pray for me as I transition to the ReachGlobal team in
Berlin? The change continues to be met with affirmation from my
partnering churches, my current team in Madrid, and ReachGlobal
leadership, but I would love for you to join me in prayer at this time.
By Katie Dudgeon VEFC Missionary
A Love that Never Lets Go... by Lisa Harper Saturdays 9:00 - 11:00 a.m.– Beginning January 26
You might not be very familiar with the small and obscure book of Malachi located at the very end
of the Old Testament. We will discover that this minor prophet had a lot to share with the people
after their city of Jerusalem had been trashed. The Israelites had experienced some very difficult
years under the captivity of Babylon. Some of the things they suffered from were complacency,
depression, lack of faith, no prayer life, and a lack of spiritual fruit in their lives. Consequently, they
had turned into a crew of whiners. But God shows up again in the words of this messenger, Malachi,
to tell us something special about the One we worship and serve.
Please let us know you are coming via the sign up sheet in the church hallway or by contacting Sandy Sindelar at [email protected] .
TH 10 7:00 PM WORSHIP TEAM REHEARSAL
SA 12 7:30 AM MEN’S MONTHLY BREAKFAST (Perkins)
SU 13
9:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 6:00 PM
SUNDAY SCHOOL/ADULT STUDIES WORSHIP SERVICE WORSHIP SERVICE CRUX
M 14 12:30 PM 7:00 PM
WHITE CROSS MEN’S BIBLE STUDY
TH 17 7:00 PM WORSHIP TEAM REHEARSAL
SU 20
9:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 6:00 PM
SUNDAY SCHOOL/ADULT STUDIES WORSHIP SERVICE WORSHIP SERVICE CRUX
M 21 7:00 PM MEN’S BIBLE STUDY
TH 24 7:00 PM WORSHIP TEAM REHEARSAL
SU 25
9:00 AM 9:00 AM 10:00 AM 6:00 PM
SUNDAY SCHOOL/ADULT STUDIES WORSHIP SERVICE WORSHIP SERVICE CRUX
M 26 12:30 PM 7:00 PM
WHITE CROSS MEN’S BIBLE STUDY
TH 27 7:00 PM WORSHIP TEAM REHEARSAL
See bulletins for weekly updates/changes to this calendar
P A G E 7
Describe your family:
Wife: Pam Daughters: Molly-19, Parry-17 &
Judy 13
Where do you live? Benton Township
How long have you attended Valley?
26 years
What Valley ministries are you involved in?
Winter missions trips (10 years), Care Group/Small Group (26
years), Bunk bed ministry (1year), Sunday School (25 years), Carver
County Jail ministry (8 years)
How were you called into these ministries?
I ask myself these questions: "Is there a need ?", "Can I meet this
need?", "Is there any reason that I should not participate?"
and "Is God working in this ministry?" If all the answers are
positive, I'm called.
What blessings have you received from your ministries?
In Sunday School, I have seen past students go to the mission field
or work in Christian ministries and grow up to be fine Christian
adults. In the Bunk bed Ministry, being able to see the excitement
in a child's face as he climbs into his new bed and being able to
pray with the adults before we leave.
Share something unique about yourself:
I once performed with the New York Metropolitan Opera!
"I wasn't God's first choice for what I've done for China… I don't know who it was… It must have been a man… a well-educated man. I don't know what happened. Perhaps he died. Perhaps he wasn't willing… and God looked down… and saw Gladys Aylward… And God said - "Well, she's willing."
Gladys Aylward
Are You Willing? The story of Gladys Aylward is a picture of what God can do with ordinary people. Her impact on China was extraordinary as she worked with the orphans of the country. There is a world all around us that is waiting to hear the gospel message, to see a life transformed by Christ, to have their hearts opened by an act of service done in the name of Christ.
Did you know that Valley Free sends out ministry teams to partner with our missionaries? Did you know that there are possibilities for
teams this year that include work in Mexico, Romania and Bangladesh? There are other possibilities for ministry, many just waiting for a
champion to heed the call of the Lord. Want to know more about missions at Valley Free or about ministry team possibilities this year?
Contact the church office, a Missions Outreach Team member, or ask for more information on the information card in the Sunday bulletin.
God will use you for His blessing to the world!
952-448-6144
Fax: 952-448-5119
150 Engler Blvd
Chaska, MN 55318
80 Cans Peas or Corn
JANUARY’S COMMITMENT
Want to go Somewhere Warm this Winter? Valley is considering a short-term mission trip this winter (probably one week in February) to an orphanage in Mexico. Contact Mel Swanson with questions or to let him know you are interested at 952-448-2679 or [email protected].
Proverbs Sunday Mornings—Bret Wightman—Fellowship Hall LifeKeys Sunday Mornings—Ann Malone—Room 109/110 Malachi (Women’s Bible Study) Saturday Mornings—9-11am—Sandy Sindelar —Fellowship Hall