BAC Magazine - Renovation by bayarea.church

Nº1 - APRIL 2018

CHURCH

Magazine RENOVATION

MY STORY

4 Big God stories you don’t want to miss!

THE CALL

Elders in training explain what it means to them

HARVEY

Stories from people on the ground during the record-breaking hurricane

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Church Metrics From March 2017 to March 2018

Renovating Families Partnering Church and Home

Rite of Passage One Young Man’s Journey to Adulthood

Renovating Expectations Why Do They...?

Build Your Kingdom Here A Boston Mission Trip Story

God and Groceries A Boston Mission Trip Story

17 21 22 24

Hurricane Harvey ►Sunday ►A Privilege to Serve ►Our Shelter ►The Day Harvey Hit

Books of the Bible

Renovating the Mind Forgiveness and The Healing Process

Renovating Perceptions The Experience of Being Pastor

The Call Stories From Our Future Elders

Renovating the Heart How Worship Changes You

My Story of Life Change 4 Big God Stories

Renovating Friendships The Importance of LifeGroups

Our Journey A Lebanon Mission Story

Hold Your Camels Visiting Israel with Pastor Brian

Bay Area Church 4800 W. Main St. League City, TX 77573 281.332.2133 info@bayarea.church www.bayarea.church

STATE OF THE SCHOOL JASON NAVE - HEAD OF SCHOOL

As a ministry of Bay Area Church, Bay Area Christian School is in its 45th year of operation offering quality Christian education and impacting lives for now and eternity. Beginning with 49 students in 1973 when the school was First Baptist Christian School of League City, God has blessed the school abundantly. Located within the property and complex of Bay Area Church, the school is poised to experience more growth as the area surrounding League City is experiencing significant development. The school’s fundamental desire is to partner with families in the educational endeavor of raising the next generation of Christ-followers. In this effort, the school has experienced spiritual, operational, and academic growth that is only explained by the blessings and favor of the Lord. With an enrollment of 760 students K-12 and another 165 pre-k students in the Early Learning Academy at Bay Area Christian School, nearly 1,000 students are impacted daily with an educational experience designed with the focus of a biblical worldview. Just within the past five years, the school’s enrollment has increased by over 125 additional students. Understanding that the hearts of the next generation are at stake, the spiritual climate of the school rests in an evangelical partnership with parents and students. Since 2013, well over 100 baptisms in front of the student body have stemmed from the impact teachers, coaches, staff

members, pastors, speakers, and parents have had on our students. What an incredible sight to see parents and administrators baptizing students in front of their peer groups! God has given the school and church a synergy to uniquely influence the hearts of both students and families of our region.

We feel the distinct spiritual partnership coupled with the offering of a robust academic experience has helped retain 90% of our enrollees while attracting an average of 125 new students each year for the past five years! To accommodate the growth, the school has added over 70,000 square feet of facility space and increased the faculty and staff by 25%. The budget has grown by 40% in the past decade to help support the school in this endeavor. Since 2013, the school has enhanced the Fine Arts space, renovated classes, a 2,100 square foot modular band hall, an on-campus softball field, added

a 32,000 square foot Athletic Center, upgraded servers, upgraded internet and security devices, and started our educational technology initiative. Academically speaking, our student body as a whole scores in the top quartile of the nation on all standardized tests. Our elementary division of 460 students K-6 scores in the top quartile of the nation. Our secondary school of 300 students score near the top 15% of the nation on the Terra Nova standardized test. The class of 2017 averaged an 1170 SAT score and the average SAT score of the 2018 graduating class is 1230! These averages exceed the College Board’s SAT college readiness mark of 1010 by 160 and 220 points respectively. Students also experience a full complement of performing and fine arts offerings: orchestra, band, choir, color guard, and art. There is also a wide variety of athletic opportunities including: 17 high school sports and 10 junior high (7th and 8th grade) sports offered with several sixth grade sports, pending inaugural seasons in the coming fall and winter. God has blessed our school immensely, and we are thankful for His continued provision. We believe that our purpose is God-honoring and that we love people well. While the programs of our school are effective and proven, it is the people who make the difference, and it is God whom we seek to honor as we strive to impact lives for now and eternity! n

metrically speaking..

there are currently 597,530 people living in the 4b Area

486

NEW ATTENDERS

NEW MEMBERS

2,952 TOTAL ATTENDERS

1,539

OUR ATTENDERS

OUR MEMBERS

TOTAL MEMBERS

since March 2017...

403

2 11

OFF CAMPUS

20 49 SCHOOL

BACS STUDENTS

NEW LIFEGROUPS

BAPTISMS

SCHOOL MINISTRY

500

1,400

HURRICANE

HARVEY

60,000

8,000

250

ON CAMPUS

250 SHELTER VISITORS

CAME TO PARENT SUMMIT

WENT TO PURITY FOR LIFE

CURRENTLY SERVING

MILESTONE 2 ATTENDERS

175

VOLUNTEERS

PET VISITORS

VOLUNTEER HOURS

164 760

CHURCH

ELA STUDENTS

FAMILIES SERVED

MEALS SERVED

HOMES MUDDED-OUT

$351,429 DONATED TO HELP THOSE AFFECTED BY HURRICANE HARVEY $250,000 GIVEN TO 125 FAMILES FOR FINANCIAL OR REBUILD ASSISTANCE 250 VOLUNTEERS WORKING ON 600 HOMES DURING EIGHT DAYS OF HOPE

$2,839,440

TOTAL BUDGET NEED THROUGH MARCH

$2,887,188

TOTAL BUDGET GIVEN THROUGH MARCH

$1,418,705

TOTAL GIVEN TO FORWARD CAMPAIGN

$251,915

TOTAL GIVEN TO MISSIONS, INCLUDING COOPERATIVE PROGRAM

RENOVATING FAMILIES Partnering Church and Home

Eric Davis Pastor of Children and Families My desire is to be able to help familes find their rythm. I enjoy watching God use them to impact others.

wo combined influences make a greater impact than just two influences. They are both primary influences designed by God for a purpose, and when they work together, they are “Orange.” We believe in the “Orange” philosophy of ministry where the love of the home (red) and the light of the church (yellow) are combined to show a generation who God is more fully than either could do alone. Both the church and the family are systems comprised of imperfect people. That’s why God desires to use them as a platform to tell His story of restoration and redemption to the world. What would happen if… • churches started believing in the potential of the family to influence their own kids? • families started believing in the potential of the church to influence their sons and daughters? Better yet, what if both Bay Area Church and our families started believing in the potential of combining their influences to accomplish the same mission? Here are a few statements that clarify the primary issues most of us agree on, establishing a point of reference for why we at Bay Area Church believe it is important to think “Orange:” • Nothing is more important than someone’s relationship with God. • No one has more potential to influence a child’s relationship with God than a parent. • No one has more potential to influence the parent than the church.

BAY AREA CHURCH 4800 W. MAIN STREET LEAGUE CITY, TX 77573

The church’s potential to influence a child dramatically increases when it partners with a parent. The parent’s potential to influence a child dramatically increases when that parent partners with the church. There are four ways in which we put these statements into practice at Bay Area Church. First, we equip and empower parents to spiritually lead their families. “We wanna hold the nail while you swing the hammer.” This, in a nutshell, is how we view our partnership with parents. We believe that the primary place for spiritual development and discovery is not the church, but the home. Because of this we are passionate about walking beside parents as they raise kids with real, transformational, Christ-centered faith that lasts into adulthood. Second, we incite wonder and faith in the Bible and Gospel of Jesus Christ. Learning about the Bible and living a life for Christ is exciting and full of adventure! By utilizing interactive components, creative storytelling methods, and engaging large group environments we strive to make Jesus real and applicable to every child. Third, we develop influential leaders. Every child needs additional leaders and role models pouring into his or her life modeling the love of Christ. In response to our LifeGroup model at Bay Area Church, each child within our ministry gets placed in an age and/or grade appropriate LifeGroup led by caring adults who are looking to invest in each child. These groups meet weekly during our worship service times and are supported by our ‘large group storytelling’ environments. This allows children to weekly interact and learn from consistent individuals who are excited

about sharing God’s word and passionate about helping kids apply that truth to their daily lives. Fourth, we open our arms to the 4b Area and our world. As followers of Jesus we are called to serve the poor, oppressed, orphaned, and widowed. Few things have a greater impact on a child’s faith than the opportunity to serve and give to those in need. Because of this, we are committed to raising awareness about local and global needs as well as encouraging families to serve together, either corporately with our ministry or as an individual family. Our goal is to help families establish a lifestyle of serving that embraces the 4b Area and our world with the love of Christ. n

Hi, my name is Treva Gregory and I volunteer in the baby room at 9:30 every Sunday morning. I feel blessed to be able to love on babies but I feel like my number one calling is to love on the parents. Having adult time in worship or in a LifeGroup without the loving demands of their tiny human is very important. It is a privilege to be able to love on babies and their parents and in this small way allow the Body of Christ to grow and thrive. Do you love Bay Area Church but have to admit it doesn’t feel like home yet? Do you love the preaching, teaching, or worship but have not found your group? Consider this: I know which home is mine because I have a responsibility to help it thrive. I know where my work place is because I am required to complete tasks toward the success of the business. I know this is MY church because I am a part of this Body of Christ and have my chores to do. The ministry needs are great, the work is sometimes exhausting, but the benefits are out of this world! Find your ministry spot and feel at home! n WWW.BAYAREA.CHURCH

Rite of Passage

“The days are long but the years are short.” That’s how the saying goes for parents and it is all the more true when your child becomes a high schooler. Your son or daughter will very shortly step into a college, career, mission field, ministry, or family life. As parents we have tried, however feebly at times, to be intentional in parenting spiritually, culturally, and practically by following the command of Deuteronomy 6:7. Some of our best teaching times have been as we sit in the house, as we walk by the way, as we go to bed, and as we rise in the morning. Our oldest son was approaching high school, so we purposed to bind a sign on his hands and reminders on his forehead of the words and the way of the Gospel. We prayed and discussed, and prayed and researched, then prayed and discussed some more. John loves the outdoors, so in the summer of his junior year, he attended Summit Ministries in Colorado. While there he learned from experts in Christian worldview, made new friends, and hiked and climbed for two weeks. A couple of months after he returned, we planned a rite of passage event where he could learn from familiar, local experts – influencers who have poured into his life in various areas – church and missions, family, academics, and sports. After time in prayer and study, we were led to eight biblical attributes of a man we believed were important to emphasize to John. We contacted seven other men who have been influential in his life. We asked that each address and challenge John with one of the characteristics of a God-following man. After selecting a date and outdoor venue, we invited a few close friends, and positioned the mentors along a wooded path. John and his dad walked the path together, meeting each man along the way. Each shared with John, for about five to ten minutes, a biblical worldview of his particular attribute using stories, scripture, and examples. At the end of each meeting along the path, John was asked if he would accept the charge to be a man of whatever characteristic had been presented. A couple of men could not attend due to distance or previous plans, so along with the other men, they wrote their thoughts down and shared them with John in writing. Upon graduation from high school, John will receive a book of the thoughts each mentor shared, some photographs, and a letter from us. After walking the path, we gathered as a group. We presented a family crest to John that includes our surname and the names of the godly characteristics that were presented to him along with a Scripture reference for each. We ate, talked, laughed, and played basketball after his dad made some closing comments. It was a low-key event because our son is a low-key kind of guy. A rite of passage can take as many forms as there are families. For our family, this timing and type of event made sense. God in His abundant love and mercy can and will multiply to His glory whatever action we, as parents, take. Having a rite of passage event, be it big or small, private or public, is simply laying another stepping stone for our sons and daughters to step on during this journey of life. n

by Pam Marchitti

Milestone 1 • • • • • • • • • • •

A Parent Privilege Bringing Up Boys Bringing Up Girls Complete Marriage and Family Home Reference Guide God Knows My Name How God Makes Babies Seeds of Character - Seeds Family Worship CD Volume 6 The Big God Story The Five Love Languages of Children The Legacy Path The Story of Me

Milestone 2 • • • • • • • • • • • •

Adventure Bible Before I Was Born Big Truths for Young Hearts His Little Princess His Mighty Warrior How to Bring Your Children to Christ Meet Penny Nickels Teaching Kids About God The Five Love Languages of Children The Jesus Storybook Bible Where Do Babies Come From?: Boy’s Edition Where Do Babies Come From?: Girl’s Edition

Milestone 3 • • • • • • • •

All Pro Dad Big Truths for Young Hearts Instructing a Child’s Heart Plugged in Parenting Preparing for Adolescence (CD Pack) Shepherding A Child’s Heart Teaching Your Children Healthy Sexuality The Spiritual Growth of Children

Milestone 4 • • • • • • • •

30 Days: Turning the Hearts of Parents & Teens Toward Each Other Devotions for the God Girl Devotions for the God Guy Every Young Man’s Battle Every Young Woman’s Battle Lies Young Women Believe Plugged in Parenting Preparing Your Daughter for Every Woman’s Battle

Milestone 5 • • • • • • • • • •

Age of Opportunity Baptist Catechism Every Young Man, God’s Man Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild Marvelously Made Men and Women: Equal Yet Different Raising a Modern-Day Knight Raising a Modern-Day Princess Relentless Parenting The Five Love Languages

Milestone 6 • • • • • • • • •

Defending the Faith Discovering God’s Way of Handling Money - Leader Discovering God’s Way of Handling Money - Students Freshman: The College Student’s Guide to Developing Wisdom The Blessing The Case for the Creator The Meaning of Marriage The Reason for God When God Writes Your Love Story

Milestone 7 • • • •

Prayer A Praying Life Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God Praying: Finding Your Way Through Duty to Delight

Scripture •

Spiritual Disciplines for Christian Life

Authentic Faith • •

Don’t Waste Your Life Knowing God

Obedient Follower •

Follow Me: A Call to Die. A Call to Live.

Disciple Maker • • • • • •

Becoming a Contagious Christian Disciple: Getting Your Identity from Jesus Legacy Path Lessons on Assurance Lessons on Christian Living Multiply: Disciples Making Disciples

Generous Living • •

Money, Possessions, and Eternity The Treasure Principle

Community • • •

Life in Community: Joining Together to Display the Gospel Life Together: The Classic Exploration of Christian Community Sharing Possessions: What Faith Demands

Special Issues • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Boundaries with Kids Confident Parenting Don’t Miss It: Parent Every Week Like it Counts Grace Based Parenting Growing Up Social Just the Way I Am New City Catechism Orphanology Parent Chat: The Technology Talk for Every Family Parenting Beyond Your Capacity The Marriage You’ve Always Wanted The New Dare to Discipline Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Became Parents

Visit the Legacy Resource Center for these and other great resources.

• • •

Preparing Your Son for Every Man’s Battle Relentless Parenting The Secret Keeper The Five Love Languages of Teens

Milestone Resources

•

RENOVATING EXPECTATIONS Why Do They...

Kade Pierce Student Ministry Pastor I love being a Student Pastor at Bay Area Church because it gives me access to see God raising up another generation of fully devoted followers of Jesus.

ften parents of teenagers find themselves asking the question, “Why do they do that?” Why is it that teenagers seem to make irrational decisions? Why is it that teenagers sometimes become closed off to a relationship with their parents? Why is it that teenagers develop a sudden hunger for privacy and independence? While there is certainly not one simple answer to all of these questions, there are some consistent variables in the life of a teenager that can help parents know what to expect of them. BACK TO SCHOOL The first helpful point to this question will take you back to your high school science class. The brain develops from the back to the front, leaving the prefrontal cortex as the last area of the brain to fully develop, which does not reach full maturity until well into one’s twenties.1 This is helpful to a parent that finds themself asking, “Why do they…” because the prefrontal cortex is responsible for so many things. It is the part of the brain that helps manage emotions, handle risks, respond to relationships, think critically, make decisions, and more. Therefore, it’s not that your teenager wants to consistently make poor decisions, lose control emotionally, or not think things through; it’s that they are incapable without being taught how. Your teenager needs you to model for them what this kind of behavior looks like as their brain continues to develop. Each day they are

learning from somewhere and someone. This is why it is important that you, as parents, are the primary people and place from which your teenager is learning. Additionally, it should be noted that your teenager faces waves of hormones daily. As they enter into the age of puberty, teenagers are confronted with feelings they have never felt before, pain they have never had before, and beginning to notice things they did not previously, namely the opposite sex. As these hormones all begin to swell in a teenager, some more than others, they can express themselves in anger, sadness, retraction or disinterest in things that they were previously interested in, and more. Hormones are real. While the development of the brain and the reality of hormones is helpful, it should not be used as an excuse for your teenager’s sin, or as a reason for the parent to disconnect. Rather, it should be viewed as helpful information for parents to know how to best engage with their child at the stage they are in for the glory of God. If you want to answer the question, “why do they…,” understand how your teenager’s body works.

A BATTLE OF WORLDVIEWS Another helpful point is noting how frequently your teenagers are being presented with various types of worldviews. If it is not at school, it is on social media, the club team they play on or the television shows they watch. Nearly every informational avenue your teenager is exposed to is providing them with some type of worldview-shaping 1 A. Rae Simpson, Young Adult information. Development Project, http://hrweb.mit.edu/workliThis is helpful in regard to the question fe/youngadult/brain.html#cortex, Massachusetts at hand because every human on the planet Institute of Technology, 2008. 10

BAY AREA CHURCH 4800 W. MAIN STREET LEAGUE CITY, TX 77573

makes decisions in light of his or her worldview. Why would the replacement for prayer. If your teenager is in a spiritual it be any different for teenagers? The problem is the ma- battle, fight the battle spiritually. jority of teenagers are not certain of their worldview. It is a Second, you must teach your teenager to fight back moving target for them because often the primary devel- spiritually. Teenagers need to be reminded of the spirituopers of the worldview are their equally confused teenage al battle that they are in and taught how to engage in it friends and some type of media outlet. As a result, your properly. Paul gives us good instruction in regard to this teenager makes decisions about, says they are interest- question in Eph. 6:10-17. ed in, or becomes an advocate for, things that you never “10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his thought were even on their radar and are in opposition to might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be the way you thought you raised them. able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do Parents should see this as not wrestle against flesh and IT’S NOT THAT YOUR TEENAGER an opportunity to step into blood, but against the rultheir God-given role and WANTS TO CONSISTENTLY MAKE ers, against the authorities, be a part of shaping their against the cosmic powers teenager’s worldview into a POOR DECISIONS, LOSE CONTROL over this present darkness, biblical worldview. Deut. 4:6EMOTIONALLY, OR NOT THINK against the spiritual forces 7 says, “6 And these words evil in the heavenly placTHINGS THROUGH; IT’S THAT of that I command you today es. 13 Therefore take up the THEY ARE INCAPABLE WITHOUT whole armor of God, that shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to may be able to withstand BEING TAUGHT HOW you your children, and shall talk in the evil day, and having of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by done all, to stand firm. 14 Stand therefore, having fastened the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.” on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of That means that parents need to find themselves an- righteousness, 15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put swering questions about topics of discussion and cultural on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 16 In all happenings in light of what the Scriptures say, as they see circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you scenarios arise throughout the day. If you want to answer can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17 and the question, “why do they…,” help your teenager devel- take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, op a biblical worldview. which is the word of God…” Help your teenager pray on the armor of God as they battle in the spiritual realm. Help them understand the PREPARE FOR BATTLE In sports, the best defenses do not simply study how importance of knowing what is true, knowing who they are to be better defenders; they study how their opponent in Christ, how to apply the Gospel to all situations, how to works. Eph. 6:12 says, “For we do not wrestle against flesh operate in faith, how to know their position before God and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, as a saved person, and the importance of knowing the against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, word of God and how to apply it. If you want to answer the against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” question, “Why do they…,” go to battle with and for your For the Christ-following parent, it is helpful to know that teenager! if your student is a follower of Christ, their opponent is not just “hormones” or “the world.” They are in a spiritu- HEART CONNECTION IS THE PATHWAY TO al battle. This results in a couple of things for parents of UNDERSTANDING teenagers. The final point worth noting is the importance of a heart First, you must consistently and continuously fight connection. Heart connection is exactly what it sounds in prayer for your teenager. Eph. 6:18 “…praying at all like: the connection between the heart of the parent and times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that the heart of the teenager. This connection is the pathway end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication through which further understanding of your teenager for all the saints.” Parents often discredit the significance of happens. How does one establish or foster a heart confighting in prayer for their teenager in the name of finding nection with their teenager? a more “practical” or “immediate” solution. While those First, do things that they like to do. A quick way to estabkinds of solutions ought to be pursued, they should not be lish or foster the heart connection between you and your

WWW.BAYAREA.CHURCH

teenager is to engage in the things that they enjoy, even if you do not. Does your teenager like baseball? Grab a couple of gloves and a ball and go play catch. Does your teenager like board games? Let them pick out their favorite and have a game night. Certainly there are exceptions, but the more that you take interest in the things that they are interested in the more the heart connection strengthens. Remember, you don’t have to love the activity, but you love them, so as a result you participate in the activity with them. Second, speak identity into them. Teenagers are in the stage of life where they are frequently asking, “Who am I?” “Do I have value?” “Where do I belong?” As parents, you get the unique opportunity to daily speak into these questions. What’s more, as parents who follow Christ, you have access to the source of unshakable identity. Have scheduled moments, and not-so-scheduled moments, to remind your teenager who they are in Christ. Speak it to them over a planned dinner or on the way out the door as you give them a hug. Point them to Scriptures that they can hold on to that remind them of who they are. Whether your teenager will tell you that they are appreciative of it or not, they will be. Your words spoken to them matter more than you

may ever know. If you want to answer the question, “why do they…,” establish and foster the heart connection with your teenager. FINAL THOUGHT The teenage years are often presented as the years that parents need to simply “make it through.” However, this is altogether unhelpful to teenagers and parents. The teenage years are a different season for sure, but so is every stage in a child’s life. Make it a point to be the parent that reverses that trend by embracing these years as some of the best, even when asking the question, “Why do they…?” n

. R U . O E Y R E . H D L . I M BU GDO N I K

One of the ways that I have seen God work during our yearly mission trip to Boston, Massachusetts, happened this past summer on July 28th, 2017, and I will always remember it. North Team had to get up and be in the van by 4:45 a.m. that morning because our plan was to partner with Milestone Church, serving coffee at a local train station. The lead pastor of Milestone Church, Jay Mudd, met us there and explained to us what our mission would be that morning and what their past experience of handing out coffee had been like. I’m not going to lie, when we first started it was kind of awkward because we didn’t want to bother these people who were in a hurry to catch their train, but after psyching myself up and finally putting myself out there, it became really fun. We ended up giving out a lot of cards that had the church’s information on them and some of us even had the chance to share the Gospel. After awhile, we were told by the authorities that we would have to shut down our little coffee stand because we did not have a permit to have it at the train station. Discouraged because it was still morning and the bulk of commuters were yet to come, we broke down our table and put the coffee stuff away. Once our stand was packed into

the car, Jay and another member of Milestone Church suggested that we come see their new church that was in the process of being built. When we got to the church they showed us around, telling us about their mission as a church and what they hoped it would become in that community. Jay asked us if we would write verses, words of encouragement, or even song lyrics on the unpainted walls while we walked around praying over the church. As I sat there with my pencil in my hand, I thought about what all God had done in Boston since the first time I came with the BAC youth group and realized that this building I was sitting in was a reminder of God‘s good work. His Kingdom was growing and expanding, and it was not just this church; it was churches all across Boston. Pastor Junior, of Framingham Baptist Church, the church West Team partners with, told us days before how excited he was about the renovations happening downstairs of what once was a cocaine dealing nightclub and how it could hold up to 100 kids for VBS the next summer. He told us how he hoped that this building, that was known for its negative past in the community, would become known as a place of hope that lived for the Kingdom of Heaven. After meeting up with East Team, we heard how they helped Brandon and Miryam Allison of TrueVine Church host a VBS at church and got to witness

many kids that week profess Christ as their Savior and Lord. My first year in Boston, we helped a church spread the word in their community about their new church plant. That church plant is now Beacon Community Church. I have worshiped with them for the past two years and can testify to how much it has grown since it first was started. Realizing I better write something before we left, I jotted down the lyrics to the Rend Collective’s song, “Build Your Kingdom Here.” “Build Your kingdom here Let the darkness fear Show Your mighty hand Heal our streets and land Set Your church on fire Win this nation back Change the atmosphere Build Your kingdom here We pray.” Sitting in that unfinished church was a beautiful reminder that although in Boston we don’t always see how the work we do affects the people we are around, we do get to see the growth of what others have done in Boston, and we get to encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ by serving as the hands and feet of Jesus in communities they passionately care about. Even though we got shut down from serving cold brew coffee, God still showed me how He was at work in Boston, and that was just an amazing experience. n »by » Charis Rampy

GOD AND GROCERIE We are all familiar with weekly grocery shopping. It’s one of those necessary things that, like laundry, must be done. Clothing and food are things we rely on each week and when you go on a mission trip, it is no different. While in Boston, on the High School mission trip last summer, our team had originally planned on going shopping for everything we needed at the beginning of the week. This way, we did not have to worry about it for the remainder of the time that we were there. However, things did not go as planned, and we had to make a few trips. Our second trip turned out to be a God ordained event that I will never forget. When we arrived at Stop & Shop, our team mom, Leigh Ann, had everything on a list that we needed. To make good use of time, we split up the list so we could make our shopping time quick. After we had gathered everything, we compiled into one cart and moved towards the checkout lines. We were about to enter lane 12 when a man with only a few items came up. Leigh Ann, a student, Laura, and I let him go first and we moved to lane 11. As we waited for the cashier to ring everything up, Leigh Ann and Laura were bagging and discussing where we would store everything, both at the church and the host home. I noticed our cashier seemed a little down and asked, “Are you having a good day?” She responded, “Oh, it’s been okay I guess. Just a long

BAY AREA CHURCH 4800 W. MAIN STREET LEAGUE CITY, TX 77573

week.” We continued to small talk and then the cashier asked, “I heard you say church? What church are you a part of?” This opened the door for us to share with her why we were there. I told her we were from Texas and how our group was partnering with TrueVine Church in Saugus for the week. She told us that she was from Texas. She was lonely, though, and had not found a community. As we listened to her talk, it was evident she needed hope. I told her the name of the church again and told her that she should try to go on Sunday. The pastor and wife were originally from Texas and she would fit right in. She looked me in the eyes and said a heartfelt thank you. We paid for our items and made our way to the car. As we walked to the car, I could not deny a pull to go back inside. I quickly wrote down the name of the church and all information I thought she would need, plus some encouragement, and then walked back into the store. She had told us that she was almost done with her shift, so when I got to her she was changing out her drawer. I handed her the folded paper and said, “I didn’t want you to forget the name of the church. I figured I would write it

BY ALY NICKERSON

down so that it was easy for you.” She smiled and said, “Thank you, really, you have no idea how much I needed this.” I proceeded to walk to the car, and again, had an undeniable feeling that God wasn’t done yet. I felt a nudge to go back. I told Leigh Ann and Laura that I would be right back and that I needed to go ask the cashier if I could pray with her. As I made my way to the doors to enter the grocery store, the woman was on her way out. We met outside the doors and she looked at me a little confused. I said, “I didn’t feel like I could leave without asking you, but I was wondering if I could pray for you.” Tears instantly began falling from her eyes. I asked her what her name was. “Kristy” she replied. I then said, “Kristy, is there anything that I can pray for specifically?” She responded through tears, “I just feel so alone. You have no idea. This week has been the hardest yet. Honestly, tonight, I was leaving work and trying to think of where the closest bridge was because life doesn’t seem worth living anymore.” I grabbed a hold of her hands and told her we were going to pray those lies away. I told her that her life has purpose and today was the day that

she was going to start believing that. Kristy and I stood together in front of the swinging grocery store doors and prayed. She cried. I cried. When I finished praying, she hugged me. She told me that she was so thankful and that it gave her hope. I told her not to give up and that she was loved. We hugged again and we parted ways. As I walked back to the car, I got to the driver side door, in awe of what had happened and through the windows I saw Leigh Ann and Laura praying. They were battling in prayer for God to move in Kristy’s life. My heart filled with gratitude to see the prayer chain in effect. It was beautiful. Since that night, I cannot look at grocery shopping the same way. I remind myself in the hurried quick trips that I need to keep my eyes up because God could have another Kristy waiting to be ministered to. I have a bracelet that I wear daily that says, “Keep your eyes up.” It is a quote that was used by several leaders throughout the Boston trip. When I put my keys in my purse before entering stores, I see the engraving and it reminds me that my purpose inside the store is not necessarily just my errand, but that God is at work all around me. It is a reminder to be open handed, eyes wide and hearts surrendered to the work that God has for me throughout every moment of each day. “Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31 n

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HURRICANE HARVEY

IT WAS A SUNDAY,

yet there would be no traditional church services. They had been canceled the day before due to rain and flooding. I received a message from Becky Davis that our church would be opening as a shelter and anyone who could get there safely should go help. I met Becky just months previously in Israel. I jumped into my husband’s Big Texas jacked up truck, leaving him and my four kids behind. Water was everywhere. A neighborhood across the street from mine had a boat launch at the gated entrance. There were high water rescue vehicles lined up to take people off the boats and transport them to wherever they could take them. I arrived at the church Student Center where there were four to five other church members working to set up a shelter. There were already five to seven guests there from nearby flooded neighborhoods. This was a make-it-up-and-figure-it-out-as-yougo situation. I went inside and quickly people started delivering towels, clothes, trash bags, a sea of crock pots, food, and all kinds of items. I realized we needed more help, so I called my daughter and asked if she wanted to come. I headed home, passed the boat evacuations, picked her up, and grabbed some supplies from our house. In the five minutes I was gone so many more supplies had been delivered to the shelter staff and there were people everywhere. So many people were bringing in whatever they had to help complete strangers. There were wet, cold, scared evacuees in complete shock of what they had just been through. Initially there were not enough volunteers to help. Guests were flooding in, needing towels, dry clothes, and food. We would sort out clothing and food and then suddenly, there would be ten times as much behind us to sort. We moved as fast as possible. Quickly everything was filling up the room and

we had to move things to other locations. I started arranging the food. People from all over the community, not just church members, showed up to serve others. There were several times I became overwhelmed with emotion and just wept. At one point I couldn’t find my young teen daughter in a place filled with strangers (my mind went to a bad place). When I did find her, she was in the restroom cleaning public toilets without gloves, setting out little make shift stations for women to clean up, and creating little packs of personal toiletries. I wept. Two and a half months earlier we had hiked in Israel together and experienced so much, and now I was able to see my daughter, and many others, serve so many. We had our first “meeting” and my name was listed for being in charge of food. If you know me, I am the last person that should be in charge of food. Um, something is wrong with this but I guess we’re to do whatever God calls us to do, right? We had some wonderful people in charge, thinking ahead, organizing and using their community contacts and influence to secure resources. Very quickly we had plenty of air mattresses, dog cages, and a full night crew of volunteers. They created a list of rules for the volunteers to keep everyone safe and comfortable. Every detail was addressed. We did not have a functional kitchen. There was no gas for the stove or oven. We had plenty of donated food but only crockpots and a microwave to warm things up. But that didn’t stop God. A church member, Melissa Vest, showed up with a crockpot of shredded chicken for tacos, tortillas, and toppings. Within four to five hours of opening our shelter we were serving our guests a HOT meal! A couple groups contacted us and wanted to bring food for us to serve. Every detail had God in it. I am not sure how these people did it because all the stores were closed. One of the

husbands of the group would call and toilet paper, etc., and were on a misoffer to provide breakfast, lunch, or sion to deliver supplies. dinner. He asked what we had as far as I was unable to get a hold of my supplies and how many guests we had, husband to tell him where I was gowent various other places and picked ing. One of the volunteers told me my up ingredients and took the ingredi- husband was spotted on FM 518 on a ents to the “cooks.” The four-wheeler along next day at the decided GOD IS INTO with another man time, poof…a delicious (our neighbor) goDETAILS, GUYS, hot meal was delivered ing to help with and all we had to do was MORE THAN WE high water rescues. serve it. Time and time I thought maybe he CAN EVEN again God made provihad put his phone FATHOM. somewhere to keep sions for those in need. Every detail was worked it safe from the waout seamlessly. Countless times I would ter, so I decided to go ahead with the not even mutter the words, only think delivery. to myself, “we need more shredded I drafted two men to go with me‑ cheese” and in walked someone with Noel Cordova and Jason (a guest of five or six pounds of shredded cheese. the shelter & local business owner). I The women in the kitchen worked left all my kids working at the shelter. hard. They stood for hours upon hours. My seven-year-old was the designated I had to MAKE them take a break. As dog walker and feeder. My two boys the days passed, we had more people tended to the trash and various other wanting to help than what was actually jobs. My eldest daughter was organizneeded. I had to start turning people ing donations. We took off on “operaway from helping. I had to force my- ation delivery.” We went down various self to leave at times and take care of roads, through some very high water, things at home. We initially planned on and were almost to the destination serving two hot meals a day (breakfast when we were stopped by some of the and dinner) and snacks in between; “boat guys.” They said where we were however, there was SO much food– headed was impassible even by boat. HOT FOOD, DELICIOUS FOOD–that The waters were too dangerous and we pretty much served all day long. were capsizing boats. After one-and-aTeams of people in the community half to two hours trying various routes wanted to help in any way they could. to get to the other shelter, we decided We had guys bringing hot BBQ, ribs, to head back to BAC. It was raining seafood, steak, sausage–you name it, harder than it had been and the water we served it. We even had gluten-free was rising higher and faster, flooding options for several days! Our guests new areas. I received notice that two and volunteers were not only fed, they male “floaters” were found. were fed like VIPs. Isn’t that what we all I was worried about the church shelare? God sees each and every one of ter flooding where I left all my kids. I us as important and special; we are His was still unable to reach my husband children. and felt some panic begin to fill me up. There were also scary and fearful Was he one of the drowning victims? I moments. At one point we were over- said a prayer while driving through very whelmed with pizza, donuts, blankets, high water for God to protect my famand other various donations. We ily, and whatever the outcome, I knew I received word that another church/ could trust Him. Peace came over me, shelter needed supplies and had to and I was able to focus on the current ration food. We loaded up our jacked dangerous situation. I realized while I up truck with pizza, donuts, bedding, was driving the truck that GOD was the 18

driver in my life, NOT me. Those two hours were probably the scariest I have ever had in my life. I did not know if my family was safe and I wasn’t able to reach any of them. It gave me even more compassion for those who were guests of the shelter. It taught me to trust that God was in control and His plan was better than mine. We had hundreds of guests. Some came and stayed for several days, some for a couple hours, and some who only needed supplies, food, etc. We had a group of hungry young adults to whom I was able to talk. Where they were staying flooded, but they chose to stay there and were able to get rides in and out of the house via boat. They came dirty, wet, and cold, but were so grateful we were able to help them with supplies. We bagged up several days worth of food for them, dry clothes, trash bags, etc. It was so beautiful to see. I met a family who had just moved from Washington. They were overwhelmed by the generosity and love. I wept with them and we helped in anyway we could. We had a mom with a five-week-old newborn and five other children. She had nowhere to lay the baby. Someone brought in a new portable infant swing, and we quickly found the correct batteries and gave her a swing for her newborn. One of our guests was an English Bulldog breeder. He needed to have his dialysis. The coordination of getting him to dialysis was quite a feat. While he was there two of his dogs started exhibiting signs of distress or possibly labor. I’m not sure how I was selected, but a vet arrived to evaluate the dogs and gave me a crash course on dog pelvic exams, labor, and other tips. We had a guest who was over 100 years of age. He was pretty sharp and very positive. We had a magician show up who went around the shelter performing magic tricks for the kids. As the days progressed, more and

more people arrived to help out. We were able to set up a TV and a couple of computers to aid guests in planning and start working on what they needed for processing flood claims and making necessary personal arrangements. I recall the day we were told FEMA was shutting down our shelter. Panic swept through our guests and volunteers. Where would they go? Why close us down? They wanted to stay close to their own homes and not be mixed in with thousands of people. All the stories of what happened in Louisiana a few years ago went through everyone’s mind. Calls were made, and many people prayed for us to stay open. Days later we all celebrated when we received the news that FEMA would not close

our doors. When it came time for us to switch gears from on-site support to off-site, we had to clean the Student Center. I think this was the first time I was able to walk through the shelter and actually see how many donations had come in. I caught Kjell Lindgren vacuuming with a backpack vacuum. He was mentally in another place, and to me he looked as if he thought he had an astronaut jet pack on. I passed off food coordination to another woman who would be able to continue after I returned to my full-time work responsibilities. At some point I was asked how many meals we served. I truly don’t know, but including all the meals we packaged it was probably at

least 1600. God is into details, guys, more than we can even fathom. I cannot think of one thing we needed that was not provided. The days were long, physically & emotionally exhausting, but very rewarding. We worked from 6am to 8pm. I broke things into shifts but people didn’t want to leave. They wanted to stay, help, serve and witness God’s provisions and blessings. n »Written » by Emily Winter

A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE Fear. Confusion. Loss. Despair. in on this opportunity to serve. I tex- quickly become a team dedicated to These are the emotions that patients carry with them into the emergency department. The color and chaos of the outside world gives way to quiet panic in the brightly lit, sterile exam rooms as patients wait to be seen. Even as a medical student, I could see that on its best days, the emergency department was transformative. The staff, their dedication and professionalism, the teamwork, the mission…together it brought order to the chaos. Fear quelled by understanding. Confusion defused by quiet confidence and a plan. Loss and despair soothed with comfort. Real transformative power, though, is contingent on care, kindness, and a desire to serve. Apart from love and kindness, medical care can become a droning ritual of process and impersonal protocol. As I transitioned from medical student to intern, from resident to faculty, I never lost the deep appreciation for what a privilege it is to be a part of that caring transformative team, what a privilege it is, to serve a brother or sister in their darkest hour. Unfortunately, on Saturday, August 26th, darkness came in the form of Hurricane Harvey. On Sunday, August 27th, I received a text from Pastor Brian: “Don’t know if you could make it to the church safely... we are opening the student center as a shelter. We could use a volunteer doc. If you can’t no worries. I can’t get out of my neighborhood.” Game on. I hadn’t ventured out of my neighborhood yet. Electric hybrid vehicles are good for a lot of things, but fording deep puddles (much less fast moving water) is not one of them. I would have walked to the church if needed, but I had a hunch that three of my colleagues would want to get

ted Drew. He got a hold of Frank and Jonny. They were “all in” and coming to get me in a big ol’ pickup. The four of us had weathered the storm with little to no damage at our homes. Drew, Jonny and I have emergency medicine backgrounds. Frank is trained in family medicine. Drew and Frank are active duty Army officers. Jonny is active duty Navy. I am former Air Force. We were all eager to serve. The roads were inundated and impassable. We had heard that some communities were essentially islands, inaccessible, surrounded by deep water. Fortunately, we made it to the church with little difficulty. The doors to the student center had not been open for long, but already there was a buzz of purposeful activity. The staff were busy registering new guests, hauling blankets, organizing food. Displaced, and dislocated, our new guests were easy to spot.

Fear. Confusion. Loss. Despair. They had the same slumped posture, the same glazed countenance as patients I cared for in the emergency department. They sat in haphazard groups with their scant belongings, trying to process the altered future. We checked in with the staff and found a suitable location for a makeshift clinic. There were no immediate medical needs, so we split up, joined other volunteers and helped where we could. What do we do with pets? When will the guests eat? Where will they sleep? What kind of donations do we need? How do we communicate our needs to the community? How do we organize the tidal wave of donations? How long will we be open? Where will our guests go? It was remarkable to watch a disparate group of motivated volunteers

serving hurting members of our community. As a team, we were flexible, innovative, supportive, patient, and responsive. We had strong, responsive leadership. Volunteers washed clothes, picked up after pets, prepared meals, entertained children, organized transportation, and invited guests into their homes. It was a privilege to behold, to be a part of a group serving as the hands and feet of Christ. A friend of mine lamented his lack of medical training and perceived inability to contribute. And sure, there were a few medical issues that needed management. We identified a few cases of serious illness and asked EMS to transport a few of our guests to the hospital for definitive care. And Frank resuscitated a French bulldog in respiratory arrest (perhaps my favorite story in this whole difficult experience). But for the most part, all a volunteer needed was a patient ear, a nose for what needs to be done, a servant’s heart, and a desire to demonstrate Christ’s love. The shelter operated for 6 days. We took care of over 250 guests and we received an overwhelming amount of help, supplies, and food from the community and our church body. We are transformed in Christ. And through Christ we were able to provide transformative care to our community. Love quieted fear. Confidence defused confusion. Kindness comforted loss. Hope replaced despair. All through Christ. n »Written » by Kjell Lindgren

“OUR SHELTER AT BAY AREA PROVIDED A WARM, DRY PLACE FOR OVER 250 PEOPLE”

The bands of torrential rain kept coming throughout the night as Harvey blew through League City. Early that next morning as the water receded in front of my house, my first thought; after knowing my family was safe, was to check on the church. Upon first assessment, other than a few roof leaks, the buildings were sound. I called Pastor Brian to update him, and he said those pivotal words that still ring in my ears, “Greg, you have to open a shelter on campus.” To say I felt overwhelmed was an understatement. Every excuse imaginable came to my mind on how I could run from this daunting task as I took a deep breath, and hesitantly agreed. With two cases of water, one container of goldfish and a few key volunteers, we made a leap of faith and trusted in God’s plan and provision. Thirty short minutes later our first guests began to arrive. They were each cold, wet, exhausted, and downtrodden. Many had nothing but the clothes on their backs, their beloved pet, or a small bag containing the remnants of their life before Harvey. Our eager few volunteers quickly got to work providing what care we had available, and the call went out over social media. We Needed Help! 22

The church responded to each need as it arose. We asked for food, and it was plentiful. We asked for pet supplies and every animal from dog to rabbit to turtle had their own kennel. We asked for clothing, and all over League City, closets were emptied. We asked for mattresses, and everyone had a comfortable place to lay their head. We asked for volunteers, and the hands and feet showed up. We had a medical team to care for the sick and injured,

kitchen staff to prepare hot meals for the hungry, a security team including League City Officers to make sure everyone was safe, and countless smiling faces to begin to restore hope to those in need. Small signs of God’s presence continually appeared throughout the shelter experience. I counted it a privilege to share meals each day with Grandma - Jean, Mom - Jamie, and son - Reid. They had just moved to League City and lost everything. This little family was some of our first guests to arrive, and last guests to leave. I cried with them in happiness as they left with a new “adopted” family they met in the shelter. I was amazed and humbled by one guest who was 88 years young, and her two children, both in their sixties, that came to our shelter at 3am on the second night of flooding. Her quiet spoken gratefulness, and loving attitude continues to touch my memory, and drives me to follow her example. As our last guest, LaShonda, miraculously found a ride to get to her family

in Pasadena, I reflected on what God had done right in front of me. Our shelter at Bay Area provided a warm, dry place for over 250 people in need beginning with nothing but inexperienced, well-intentioned volunteers. Throughout this event my hope was strengthened, and my faith in our Good Father was renewed. He proved to me over and over that he can and will provide. I just need to put aside my doubts, and not trust in my own plans, but in His. I need to live in community with my fellow believers, where I live out loving God and loving others before myself. And lastly, I need to just show up and say yes when called. n »Written » by Greg Plummer

The day Harvey hit

the coast of Texas, and then turned and came at our area, I never would have guessed the amount of rainfall we were about to get could ever happen. Standing on our front porch watching the water come up towards the house in the early morning hours was hard. The feeling that I should be doing something was lost with the realization that there was nothing I could do to stop it if the rain continued at that pace for very long. Fortunately for us it slacked up for awhile and we could see the water go down pretty quickly. I found out a little while later while watching the news that for many it never stopped coming up. After finding out we were opening a shelter at the church, I joined the group of people gathering to help. Seeing the people coming in and bringing what was possibly all they had left made me feel even more blessed to have been spared a flooded house. In the days following we saw many people with various needs come and go. Watching our church and our people reach out and help in many ways was a blessing to me. To see the appreciation in the eyes of those that had just come into our shelter even though they knew they lost so much was amazing. After closing our shelter a week later, we turned our attention to helping with the muck out of many of the homes affected. After a few days of that we started to see small mountains of peoples’ belongings lining the streets of the hardest hit areas. Some were in a state of shock at what they saw happening to their belongings and their lives being taken and piled in a trash heap. It could get real depressing really quick. Then I looked around outside and saw groups all up and down the road helping with the clean-out and cleaning-up. The people and their gratitude were both gratifying and humbling, even though they were going through so much. We saw so many people from all walks reach out and help their neighbors. As the days and weeks went by, and the mountains of belongings grew, you could see some of the people beginning to tire. It was depressing in ways to see so much hurt and devastation. As things started to get back to normal for those that could go to work, the help slowed down as people were required to get back to their jobs and families.

The next phase was to start the rebuilding. So many people did not have insurance and could not start the process. Some were able to hire contractors and get the work done, but the sheer numbers needing help far outnumbered the contractors available. We helped several with the rebuild and had quite a few people come out on weekends and other days as they could, but we saw a real decline in those who were able to help. Our church leadership began the process of planning a long-term way to help those that needed help far beyond what was going on at the time. Pastor Brian and John Eckeberger joined a group of churches that also wanted to work together to help those in need and, through many hours of planning and meetings, the 4B Disaster Response Network (4B DRN) came about. Long-

term planning for helping those in need was taking place and as a result of all of that work, they teamed up with Eight Days of Hope to rebuild as many homes as possible in a two-week period. Part of that rebuild effort was to go into the affected homes of people that reached out for help. Teams of assessors from the 4B DRN coalition of churches were asked to go into these homes, get information about them and their needs, and then report that to Eight Days of Hope. We assessed homes throughout the area and found so many people that felt like there was no one that was going to help. They had no insurance and FEMA either wouldn’t or couldn’t help near enough for them to do the repairs to their home. Many of the assessors routinely had homeowners literally crying about the help we were offering because of all

of the dead ends they came to on their own. They knew we were from the church and it was a time to show them the love of Christ. We prayed with so many people before we left that we would never have had access to before. I want to tell about one of my contacts. Two of us were going out to do assessments in the Santa Fe area and went to a house to meet the owner to assess the house because Eight Days of Hope was planning to work on it. As she met us outside the door, she told us to watch our step because the floor was pretty bad. When we walked in her house the mold and dampness was so thick in the air that it made it difficult to breathe. She had no lights on, but it was light enough to see that the floor had holes big enough to fall through, with mud and puddles of water from the rain the day before.

and thought that this would be the same. I could see the disbelief in her eyes as we walked through the house and told her of the things that we would try to help her with. I think she finally realized that we were actually going to help when she was handed a sheet of paper with a rough drawing of the cabinets she needed and told where to go to order them, and they would be charged to the account of Eight Days of Hope. After going through the whole house and documenting the needs, we prayed with her, and as we left, I noticed she actually had a smile on her face. She thanked us over and over again and we left. This young lady had been treated terribly by a church that was supposed to be the hands and feet of Jesus! I couldn’t believe what I saw and heard that day. If we are to

We both immediately thought that this lady should not be in this house at all until it was repaired and livable again. We could not imagine that a few minutes later we found out that she was still living in that house. We were shocked to find out that a “church group” came out to help her, but after tearing the floor out decided that it was too dangerous to work in there any more and left. No one had been there to help since, other than a few friends that helped with small things. She told us that her roof was so bad that when it rained outside, it rained inside! Most of the Sheetrock was still in the house and was turning black from the mold. Walls and ceiling alike had not been taken out. Every time we told her about the things we could do to help her she turned her back, and you could tell she was crying. I wondered if she was crying because she was getting help, or if it was because of the other “church” and the way they left her

help only those that are easy to help, how is that lady and the world going to look at the church? If we can’t pull up our sleeves and go to work and help them, how will we be able to say we are the hands and feet of Jesus? It’s going to take a lot of people doing a lot of hard work, but also a lot of TIME spent with them. What a blessing at the end of this rebuild effort of Eight Days of Hope and the continuing of the 4B Disaster Response Network. But without the volunteer effort from a lot of people from our church and all of the churches in our network, it wouldn’t have happened. n »Written » by David Westbrook

RENOVATING THE MIND Forgiveness & The Healing Process

Stacy Hale Director of Biblical Counseling As the director of Biblical counseling at Bay Area Church I am blessed beyond belief. Each week I have box seats to the greatest show on earth, watching God work in people’s life.

orgiveness is knowing what Jesus Christ did for me on the cross, treasuring how God has forgiven me, so I am able to forgive others in the midst of being sinned against. The pain of our feelings and emotions are real and these should not just be pushed aside but given to God. Forgiveness is conditional. We are not truly able to forgive others if we first have not received forgiveness from God. Matt. 6:11-15 says, “Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Forgiveness is choosing not to judge the character of those that sin against you. Forgiveness looks like: Luke 23:34, “And Jesus said, “‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do’.” First, one has to understand the purpose of forgiveness, which is to glorify God. “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31). Forgiveness is one of those things we do in order to glorify God, not man. Possible outcomes of forgiveness are reconciliation, bearing with one another, and better spiritual and physical health. Proverbs 14:29-31 says, “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly. A tranquil heart gives life to the flesh, but envy makes the bones rot. Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy

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honors him.” Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, when we pursue forgiveness it is to glorify God by aligning our will to the will of the Father. Second, what does scripture tell us about forgiveness? The more we know about God, the more intimate our relationship with Him. Let the Holy Spirit illuminate God’s word so you are able to have faith in what is written in the scriptures. Several points to consider are: • There is no limit to the number of times that we should forgive someone because God does not put a limit on how many times we are forgiven. Matt. 18:2223 says, “Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times.’” • If we do not forgive others, God views us as a wicked servant. Matt. 18:32-35 says, “Then his master summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.” • Any time we remember that we have something against someone else we should forgive immediately. Mark 11:2425 says, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so

that your Father who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.” Therefore God commands us to forgive. Forgiveness is not the same as respect, because respect is earned by either character or position. • Never leave a brother or sister hanging. If they come to you and repent, be prepared to forgive them on the spot. Luke 17:1-4 says, “And he said to his disciples, ‘Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin. Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you must forgive him.’” • Jesus takes away the sin. John 1:29 says, “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” Acts 10:43 says, “To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” • We have all sinned, we all fall short. If we think we are better than others we deceive ourselves. 1 John 1:8-10 says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” Forgiveness is trusting that Jesus Christ’s death on the cross was sufficient to cover your sins, and the sins committed against you. We want to know what God says about forgiveness so we can have a more intimate relationship with Him. This is only a handful of scriptures that talk about forgiveness, but it does cover the major points that one should know. From these points one learns how important and significant forgiveness is to God.

own forgiveness: • Our God is merciful. He does not hold our sins against us, nor does He give us what we deserve. Psalm 103:1012 says, “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.” • God does not talk to others about our sin, nor does He dwell on them because He has committed to remember them no more. Hebrews 8:12 says, “For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.” Hebrews 10:16-17 says, “‘This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days,’ declares the Lord: ‘I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds,’ then he adds, ‘I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.’” Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin.” • Because we have been forgiven we are blessed; so now we can be alive together with God. Romans 4:7-8 says, “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin.” Colossians 2:13-14 says, “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.” Look how blessed we are because we are forgiven! The greatest of these is our new ability to now live with Jesus Christ. What an amazing gift. Forgiveness is resting in the assurance of your salvation and desiring that the one who is sinning against you will also get to that place of rest. This rest is not a mask we put on for Sundays; it flows out of one’s heart, when one knows that they are a child of God, and chooses as it’s source of security and comfort Jesus Christ, the bread of life and living water. My brothers and sisters, please take time to treasure who God is and what He has done in your life. By treasuring how God has forgiven us, we are able Third, what is written in scripture about forgiveness that to become what He has called us to be and throw off the we should seek to treasure in our heart? As one treasures labels of the past. who God is and what He has done for us, we are kept from being prodigal children, only wanting God for our inheri- Fourth, now that we trust and treasure what God tells us tance. Let the Holy Spirit convict you of the value of your about forgiveness, one needs strength to do God’s will. The

There is no limit to the number of times we should forgive someone because God does not put a limit on how many times we are forgiven.

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exciting fact is that God provides the resources to His children to do what He requires. God calls us to “put up with” or “tolerate” our fellow brother and sisters. Colossians 3:12-13 says, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” In this passage “bearing with” means to put up with or tolerate one another. In bearing with one another we are compassionate, kind, patient, and humble. Therefore, there will be those that need us to just bear with them for a season, and we do not need to rebuke or correct–we are told to forgive. However, when one bears with one another it does not always mean lowering boundaries. This passage is modeled for us in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and the stoning of Steven. Luke 23:34 says, “And Jesus said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.’ And they cast lots to divide his garments.” Acts 7:60 says, “And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lord, do not hold this sin against them.’ And when he had said this, he fell asleep.” There are two parts to choosing to be obedient to God’s will in forgiveness: • Choosing to forgive, which is an act of the will, and can be extremely difficult. • Drink the cup, or acknowledge the pain that someone’s sin has caused you. Drinking the cup is dying to self and trusting in God. In many situations we have made vows of protection. These vows keep us from experiencing the fruit of the spirit because we are walking in the flesh and not the spirit. This step is a step of vulnerability to get rid of the protection that we have put in place and instead depend on God as a sole refuge. Try using this prayer: God, please show me who I need to forgive. What was the event? Be quiet and listen for God to answer.

God, I choose with an act of my will to forgive _____________ for ________________. Lord, when they did this to me it made me feel __________________. God, I give you this feeling of _____________. Father, I ask you to replace that feeling of ____________ with one that honors you. God, I receive this new feeling in place of the old. Take time to admire God for what He has given you and how you are going to accept this new feeling. If there was another feeling give it to God, so He might replace it.

God, I release this person into your love and care. Lord, I sinned against you and against this person when I judged their character. Forgive me for making myself judge over this person. 30

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Fifth, continue with the healing. By drinking the cup we start the healing of our heart. To make sure that this event, for this person, is completely covered, we need to ask God to search our heart and see if we responded in a fallen manner to this person who sinned against us. Two ways that we sin against those that sin against us is either by making a judgment against the character of this person, God, or ourselves, or by making a vow of protection for ourselves. It’s great if you are able to recognize any judgments or vows you have made. If not, please go to God and ask Him to reveal any judgments or vows. Ask God, give Him time to respond, and expect an answer. For any and all judgment you have made, pray to God, confess your judgment, repent for making that judgment by renouncing it, and receive forgiveness from the Father. Did you accept the Father extending forgiveness? For any and all vows you made, pray to God, confess the vow that you made, repent for making the vow by renouncing it, ask God for the truth, agree with the truth by confessing it, and thank God for the truth. Jesus never promised us a life without pain and suffering, but He did teach us how to have life, and have it abundantly. God’s ways are not the ways of man. Sometimes it does not seem fair that we should have to drink the cup, or that we should be held responsible for our response in the midst of being sinned against. But we are God’s children, and we have a Holy God. We are only whole when we respond as holy children. When we respond for the correct purpose and do the righteous thing in response, we can have an abundant, spiritually fruitful life in the midst of pain and suffering. James tells us, “But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing” (James 1:25). We are blessed when we forgive, when the purpose of forgiveness is to glorify God. As we forgive others we start to understand the love that God has for us because He forgave us when we were unforgivable, and He did it out of His love for us. May God bless you with minds to know, hearts to treasure, and strength to be doers of God’s revelation. n

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RENOVATING PERCEPTIONS The Experience of Being Pastor

Brian Haynes Lead Pastor I am just Brian following Jesus. Like everyone else, I’m broken and thirsty. I need a Savior who can help my brokenness and a Master who offers my parched soul living water. I follow Jesus and see myself as one of his many disciples.

don’t know how many times I’ve heard the joke, “You only work on Sunday, right?” You might be surprised to know that, for me, Sunday is the easy part, my favorite part. When the church gathers to worship Jesus and to take in and align with the Word of God, I am always encouraged; even excited! It is the other six days of the week, when ministry, servant-hood, and leadership demands feel both exhilarating and taxing, that I find the most challenging part of the pastoring experience. THE BLESSING OF IT To be sure, serving Jesus as the Lead Pastor here at Bay Area Church is full of blessings. It is a blessing to see lives changed, marriages saved, children discipled, and dead things come to life. This may sound funny, but it is a blessing to listen to you sing in worship. Your cry to God in worship always blesses me. It is a blessing to serve with an amazing team of pastors and ministry leaders who genuinely want to see the Kingdom come here in the 4B Area. It is a blessing to be involved in your lives, to preach the Word of God to you, to pray with you and for you. You bless us. You have supported my family with your giving, come alongside our children and partnered with them in mission endeavors, even provided for their education at Bay Area Christian School. It is a blessing to love you. Angela and I truly love you and we are thankful to God for the opportunity to serve Him with you and among you.

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THE BURDEN OF IT The blessing, though, is not without burden. The work of ministry is never complete and it is always expanding. It is both proactive and reactive. For instance, it is proactive as we think about and implement strategies like multiplying LifeGroups, planting churches, or starting new ministries like the Champions Club or an additional worship service. It is also very reactive because someone in our congregation is daily experiencing difficulty, disease, depression, and death. We are always bearing the burdens of others in prayer and presence, and it never stops. It is a spiritual work which adds a layer of spiritual warfare not experienced in every vocation. Only a few will understand this. Also, we (my family and I) are all in, meaning each of us share the burden to some degree. It’s inescapable and unavoidable even for children who had no special call to ministry but were born into it. Pastoring a church is painful at times. There are moments when people leave for the church down the road without saying goodbye or giving explanation. This may be the most painful thing I face as a pastor; to invest in a person or a family and then to see them leave for a preference or a perception without seeking clarity or communicating. I could tell you stories about things that people have said through the years to me or my wife or one of our children or posted on social media with the intention of severing a limb. While not the norm and not characteristic of our church as a whole, it happens. There is a burden that comes with being a pastor.

LAYING DOWN THE CAPE EVERY MEMBER MINISTERS I have been accused of trying to save the world on more It is true that each of us has a part in ministry. The idea than one occasion. It’s probably true but it’s well intended in that the service of ministry is left to the pastors and elders that I only want to be like my Rabbi. He is the Savior though, is not biblical. Every member of our church should be innot me. I am a very “big picture” individual. I can clearly see volved in the ministry of the gospel as disciples living the what we can be twenty years from mission of Jesus. There are many ways PERHAPS THIS you can serve the body of Christ that now and the crucial steps we need to take to get there. ARTICLE PULLS is Bay Area Church, though it is not my Angela says I am a “dreamer.” intention to detail those opportunities BACK THE CURTAIN A here. I do believe some of you are more This is also true. Through the years, though, I have realized something BIT ON BEING A LEAD in the eyes of God than you really bevery important. I cannot pretend to lieve or expect. PASTOR, AND MAY For instance, each Sunday there are be a super hero and I cannot allow people to expect me to perform EVEN ON church planters and pastors sitting in like a super hero. If I am going to our congregation who have not yet BEING BRIAN. make it for the long-haul and if the thought of planting a church or shepchurch is to experience all that God has in store, more peo- herding a congregation. There are teachers, future elders, ple need to lead and serve. new deacons, connections ministers, living water counI have chosen to lay down the cape and pick up the tools selors, leaders of children and students, worship leaders, of a disciple. More prayer. More Scripture. More Sabbath. and business leaders that need to use their savvy for the More Shalom. In my weakness, He is strong. I’m learning to Kingdom, all sitting in the congregation. say no. I’m choosing to not always show up but instead send I have a mentor that says, “Everything you need to see others to minister in hospitals, homes, and in the midst of the vision accomplished is already in the house.” Every tragedy. I am disciplining myself to make way for others to one of us has a part to play in the ministry of the gospel preach. I am empowering others to lead. After all, this is the on our campus and in the 4B Area. We must take this to model of the New Testament church. heart. My greatest joy would be to see all of us serving Jesus in just the way He designed us, for the edification of the church and the expansion of the gospel in the 4B PLURALITY OF ELDERS Several years ago I was in a leadership cohort for Senior Area and around the world. This is not yet realized. Perhaps this article pulls back the curtain a bit on being Pastors. During one of the sessions, they asked us to account for the number of leaders we had at each level of a Lead Pastor, and may even on being Brian. My sincere leadership in the church including senior leaders. I pulled request is three-fold. First, pray for my family. My wife is the stats for LifeGroup leaders in every area, staff, deacons, Angela. Our daughters are Hailey, Madelyn, and Eden. and other ministry leaders, but when it came to senior lead- Second, remember that we are normal people with real ers, there was only one: me. It struck me that this was not brokenness, real hurt, and real needs who God has called to serve. We are grateful that His grace is sufficient. God’s intended design based on the Scriptures. Finally, do your part in the body. Give, serve, and go to It was in that moment I became committed to helping our church move toward a polity that is elder led, staff man- make a difference for the glory of Christ and the transforaged, and congregational approved. Last year we ordained mation of people. We love you and we love serving Jesus the first lay elders at Bay Area Church. This summer, Lord among the people of Bay Area Church in the 4B Area. n willing, we will ordain three more elders giving us a total of seven. That means the weight of senior ministry leadership is shared among a plurality of elders. Now eight of us embrace the mantle of leadership together. When you add our staff leadership team, each member of the team being elder qualified according to biblical requirements, then the load is shared by twelve of us. Though I have a unique role among these leaders, I am not alone and I am accountable to brothers who have both authority in my life and authentically love me and our church.

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Alan Hutchins When I was asked to pray and consider if I would be an Elder-in-Training, the thought was both humbling and daunting at the same time. I had studied the biblical passages concerning elders and knew that it was a high calling. I’m not sure any man can really say to himself he meets all the requirements in every way. I was very hesitant at first and discussed it at length with my wife, Jan. After a few weeks of prayer, more discussion with Jan, and a lengthy lunch discussion with one of the current Elders, God led me to serve in this humble way. There were several key verses that God used to speak to me. I Timothy 3:1 says, “Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task.” The calling and the job of being an elder is a decent and good thing in God’s eyes. I certainly desired to do what is right and good and decent in God’s eyes. This was the humbling part. But then, verse 2 says “The overseer is to be above reproach.” That word “reproach” means to be above blame or shame or disgrace. This was the daunting part. WHO can say to themselves, I am above reproach? Whatever it means to be above reproach, it is not just for elders and pastors, but for all believers. Colossians 1:22 says that when God reconciles us to himself through Jesus Christ we are presented to him as holy and without blame as long as we hold to the faith, established and firm in the Gospel. Of course being above reproach does not mean one is perfect, but it means that we are self-controlled, sober-minded and not able to be accused. It also means when we sin, we turn from it, seeking Christ‘s forgiveness and continue to strive for holiness. Being an Elder-in-Training has been a very sweet experience. Pastors and Elders are shepherds, and shepherds 34

are servants. I am thrilled and blessed to work with Shepherds. These are Godly men who have both encouraged, and challenged me in their walk of faith. They are an example of iron sharpening iron. I am again honored and humbled that God would call me to this position and I seek to continue to be the same person I have always been as I serve Him and His church. I want to remain a willing servant and grow in the elder qualities outlined in I Timothy and Titus with God’s help. n

Brent Cockerham I am grateful for the opportunity to have gone through the Elder-inTraining process because it has both blessed and challenged me in many ways. We study what it means to be an Elder and the most impactful aspect of that, for me, is the correlation of an Elder to a shepherd. A shepherd is not a distant boss but one who knows the flock well because he cares for them. He gets to know them personally, and he stays close to them. He smells like one of them! The opportunity to be mentored by a handful of men who have walked the path before me, and faced the same challenges I face, is one that I cherish. God tells us in Titus 2 to have these relationships of mentor and protégé in the church for a special reason. I have grown rapidly in the last year as I watch these men visit people they care for in their darkest hour; pray for them, cry with them, and stand beside them. They are not perfect men, but they volunteer to bear the burdens of those around them and be held accountable to God for them as we learn in Hebrews 13. They taught me that the position of Elder is not one of privilege but rather of service and personal sacrifice for the kingdom, and to seek to imitate them as they imitate Jesus. For me, physically serving and even rescuing others comes naturally, while

comforting people without a clear tangible solution to their problem does not. This challenges me internally to console those for whom I have grown to love while they sort through their destroyed worldly possessions, reassure those facing medical uncertainty, provide solace as they grieve the loss of a loved one, and bolster those whose faith has been shaken by “bad things happening to good people”. This experience has taught me to study God’s Word to prepare, but then pray for Him to provide the words as I walk into a conversation for which I know I’m not prepared and don’t have specific solutions. Volunteering to bear other’s burdens, restoring others from failure, and compelling others to do right as we are instructed in Galatians 6 can be emotionally and spiritually exhausting. That makes the importance of small LifeGroups even more evident, even for church leaders. No experience brings a group closer than shared adversity. As I have served alongside and observed this group of brothers, I have often been awed by the way the Lord uses them to uplift others, even as they bear their own load in the same circumstances as the flock. I am amazed at the way God fulfills His promise to be graceful and merciful and not allow more to be placed on any of us than we can bear with His help. Just as in physical exercise, where we only get better through constant challenge, I have developed a familiarity with the unique struggles of 2017 that have driven my faith to places I would not have otherwise gone. Watching others persevere and finish well has been an encouragement to me. I am grateful for the experience, the opportunity to serve and grow, and for the brotherhood I’ve found. n

THE C

Darrel Whittenberg The first words or thoughts that came to my mind when I was asked to take part in the Elder-in-Training program were a combination of fear and no small amount of inadequacy. The office of an Elder as described in Titus paints a picture I am quite sure I do not have a perfect track record of emulating. Titus describes the Elder as: “anyone above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.” Many of these qualifications I have been blessed with, and I have a family that helps me meet them. I have been married to my best friend for 26 years, who is a woman of faith and has sought to teach our children to walk out the calling of God in their lives. My children have active and strong walks with God and I see Him using them in their respective circles of influence to share the Gospel and actively participate in ministry. These are tremendous blessings and I am very blessed to have the honor to be the father and husband to a wonderful (not a perfect) family. It is that first phrase, “if anyone is above reproach,…” that bothers me. I know me. I know the all-too-often frustration of not living up to the call on my life and the gift of my salvation. I know the shame that comes from missing the mark. It is this phrase that caused me to feel inadequate and illequipped when asked to participate in the Elder-in-Training program. The men Bay Area Church is blessed to currently have in the position of Elder added to this feeling of inadequacy. These men walk with a humility and love for both the Word and the church that is an inspiration. We are truly

CALL

blessed to have men like these that we, as a church, can confidently follow as they follow Christ. I have seen firsthand how they fulfill this call described in Titus. This year has been one of the most fruitful in my life in regard to spiritual growth. When asked to go through this program I expected to sit and discuss “church business” - budgets, proposals, finance, personnel, and other items. While these things have been a part of the process, they have not been the main focus. From the onset, Brian was emphatic that to be an Elder is to fulfill the role of a pastor, pointing us to the Word and showing us the role is clearly one of pastoral care and responsibility. This meant as an Elder, I would need to be a person that would put the needs of the church ahead of my own. I would need to be willing to share the load in sharing the Gospel and discipling those God has placed in my circle of influence. In other words, I would have to come to terms with the fact it was not Brian’s job to save those I may invite to church. It was my job to share Christ with them. God has called each of us to be disciples that make disciples. This was never more evident than when Brian called the staff, the Elders, and the Elders-in-Training to the task of reaching out to the visitors and respondents to the service on Easter Sunday of last year. There were numerous response cards that were asking for information on how to accept Christ and Brian wanted us to contact them and pray with them. This had nothing to do with budgets, proposals, or personnel; this was way outside of my “comfort zone.” The first card I received was a young lady that wanted to know what she needed to do to accept Christ. To say I was nervous is a huge understatement. I literally forgot her name in the middle of the call and I bumbled my explanation of who I was and why I was calling (I am in sales and I speak to people every day). God was really

at work with her and He allowed me to pray with her and she accepted Christ. After the call, I simply sat and cried. To have had the immense privilege to pray with her and walk with her through accepting Christ was one of the most amazing and humbling moments I have ever had. I had spoken with people I knew about Christ and had tried to be an effective (again not a perfect) witness, but I had never had a pastor ask me to take on this role. It was a pivotal moment for me in my walk with Christ. Since then, I have had a clearer and more pressing desire to share Christ–verbally. What I have found is the opportunity is literally everywhere and He is faithful to open doors and hearts. All He needs from me is availability. For this I am indebted to Pastor Brian and the Elders for allowing me to have the opportunity to serve with them in this way. Recently we were asked to write this letter describing what being an Elder means to us. In short, this honor and opportunity has stretched me in wonderful and challenging ways. I have learned more about who God is and who I am in Him. The opportunity to be discipled by these incredible men has been a tremendous blessing. Pastor Brian walks out a model of servant leadership and a reckless desire to see God’s will come to pass in the ministry of Bay Area Church. The men on the Elder Committee have a singular focus and desire to see God glorified and the transformation of families and lives in the 4B Area. These are men that have the ability to lead and shepherd our church into the exciting opportunities God will bring our way and it is a great honor to serve with them as we seek to serve Christ. In closing, I can honestly say it was never a goal of mine to be an Elder. It was and is my goal to live a life that fulfills the qualifications laid out in scripture for an Elder. I am phenomenally grateful for the opportunity to serve Bay Area Church. n

RENOVATING THE HEART How Worship Changes You

Roger Cullins Worship Pastor My goal is to lead people to experience the life-changing presence and power of God through how I live, and through the music I share.

he heart is pretty important. O u r p hy s ic al h ea r t ke e p s us alive by pumping blood through our body. Our spiritual heart is even more important! Check out what the Bible says about our spiritual heart. Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. (Proverbs 4:23) I want to give you a few thoughts on how God’s plan absolutely renovates our heart as we worship Him. First, let’s solidify what we are talking about when we say “worship.” Louie Giglio gives a very broad definition of worship as this: “Worship is our response to what we value most.” With that definition in mind, it’s obvious that people worship all kinds of things other than God or another formal idol. It could be money, it could be themselves, it could be another person they crave attention from, it could be a hobby. There are endless options. Louie gives another definition of worship as it applies to Christian worship of our great God: “Worship is our response, both personal and corporate, to God for who He is, and what He has done; expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live.” Okay – so that’s the kind of worship that we’re talking about when addressing how our worship can renovate our heart. Here are two of those ways: 1. It gives your heart true joy. “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16:11) Responding to God definitely takes some energy sometimes, but however costly an act of worship may be, there’s nothing better

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than His presence and the “fullness of joy” that comes with it. We don’t seek the emotion. We seek His presence first – He’s the Living God and He’s with us. Enjoy Him and joy comes as a side bonus. How many things have you pursued at great cost, only to be met with disappointment? God will not leave you disappointed. 2. It transforms your heart. “And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” (2 Corinthians 3:18) When we worship God, we fix our eyes on Him and respond to his revelation. But a miraculous thing happens when we simply fix our eyes on our great God: He transforms us by His power – not our own effort. This “unveiled face” imagery is very important for us to understand. When Moses would go before the Lord, the presence of God caused his face to be so radiant that he wore a veil over it when he was with the people of Israel. However, he would remove the veil when he met with God so that He could have a clear view of God. Check this out in Exodus: “But whenever he entered the Lord’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out. And when he came out and told the Israelites what he had been commanded, they saw that his face was radiant. Then Moses would put the veil back over his face until he went in to speak with the Lord.” Exodus 34:34-35 Have you ever been frustrated about “not being the person God wants you to be?” Certainly we want to be more like Jesus as

Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you have not known. Jeremiah 33:3

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

people who represent Him, and none of us enjoy the disappointment of “doing that same sin again.” Did you ever think that maybe its less about your effort to change yourself and more about your effort and determination to get in God’s presence regularly, daily, so that God’s power can transform us miraculously as we are simply beholding His beauty and glory? These may seem overly simplistic – but I’m a simple person and these two pictures give me a lot of hope. I’ve tried to change myself and failed miserably. When I finally gave up and realized I had no other options but to draw near to God, I experienced these two truths 100%: • Being in God’s presence gives me a joy that is unmatched. • God’s presence transforms me by His power. Salvation starts with simple faith in a God who has revealed Himself as our Savior. It’s His power that saves us. Why would He ever change the recipe for heart renovation? His power transforms us even as we simply worship Him. If this resonates with you, maybe this simple prayer will help you take the next step in heart renovation: “God, you are so good, so Holy and so worthy. There is no name higher than the name of Jesus. Because of how Jesus rescued me and the new life He has given me, I now give my every moment in response to that. Please transform me to be like you as I give my best to you.” Bonus: God commands us to worship Him. He knows it’s our greatest benefit And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ’You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’” Luke 4:8 Blessings to you my brothers and sisters! n

Philippians 4:6

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. Acts 2:42

iPray is made up of volunteers who are active prayer warriors. We personally pray over others who would like someone to pray with and for them by sending in their requests. Send your request via our app, by email at ipray@bayarea.church, or through the form located at www.bayarea.church/ipray

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aving brain surgery four years ago propelled me to release fear and pursue my purpose. Prior to the seven hour surgery, I was sort of a mess. I could talk the talk of faith to anybody, but when I was faced with any little set back, I would nearly crumble with fear - hence showing a lack of faith. A meningioma brain tumor actually saved my life. I was either going to trust God or lose my mind with all of the “what if’s.” I chose to trust Him and I’m so glad I did! I truly believe that all struggles, no matter the level, come with two things in particular: lessons and blessings. Brain surgery taught me to release fear and procrastination and to start living a life centered around faith and walking in my true purpose. I am now a published author and a motivational speaker as a result of releasing fear and procrastination. What an awesome feeling! n »Written » by Carla Jackson

MY STORY of life change 38

he past 9 months have been full of loss and tragedy, full of adjustment and frustration. We moved back to Texas in July to be close to family. A month later, my Dad passed away unexpectedly. Three weeks after that, my mom lost her home in Harvey. We were at my mom’s house that night because it was her birthday and we didn’t want her to be alone and get trapped. Getting my three-year-old daughter out of that flooded house

Jessica & family

was the most terrifying thing I have ever experienced. Harvey took most of our family mementos and nearly all my Dad’s things. In November, my mother-in-law had a heart attack out of the blue, scaring all of us. My cousin passed away on Thanksgiving Day, leaving behind his three-year-old daughter. Before Christmas, my Mom said goodbye to her furry companion of 10 years and our first holiday season without my Dad was surreal. I am pregnant, and we have been told our growing baby may have significant health issues when he is born. This has been an emotional year for my family, but I also look back and see abundant blessings. We made the decision to move back to Houston almost on impulse, but the timing was God. I got an amazing job. I saw my Dad more in the last month of his life than in the whole year before that. More importantly, our daughter got that time with him, and I will forever treasure that. God placed us in a home that didn’t flood and continues to give my mother a home with us. It was terrifying escaping that flooded home, but if we had not been there, I don’t know what my Mom would’ve done and we wouldn’t have saved the few things we did. The two deaths in my family allowed me to reconnect with other family members I hadn’t seen in a long time. My marriage is stronger than ever. I say with absolute certainty I have never been stronger or grown more in my faith and closer to God than as I am now. Those moments of not understanding, of questions, of reflection, and in listening to the messages at church have given me clarity and acceptance. I look to the future with hope and excitement for what lies ahead. I refuse to believe my son will be anything but healthy. I have faith God will take care of him and we have the prayers of so many. I can feel God moving within me and changing me. My husband sees it, too. Truly, God has provided in countless ways and I am so thankful. I am thankful for Jesus and the hope He provides. I have felt led for some time to put into words the experience of this year and the ways in which God provided. Maybe it will give someone else hope. If nothing else, may it be a testament to the Glory of God. n »Written » by Jessica Moore

n 2005, my young, healthy husband was diagnosed with cancer. Surgery to rid him of a kidney was successful; he was cancer free for six years. In November, 2011, a devastating diagnosis of metastatic disease to the pancreas was delivered, along with a two-year life expectancy. We had recently adopted our granddaughter, so I was facing not only widowhood, but also being a single mom to a four-year-old. So, we decided to make memories and went to Disney World! Several life-altering surgeries and chemo/radiation treatments later, Jim’s cancer was still active, but under control. We were learning to live with cancer. In March, 2017, Jim was rushed by ambulance to the ER for a bowel obstruction. Doctors removed four feet of dead bowel. He was in the hospital for 22 days; in ICU, intubated and sedated for most of them. My God is in the details – the only ICU room with a sunflower (my favorite) picture on the wall was Jim’s. Each time we’ve faced medical trials, our God has sustained us. He is ever-present in the storms of our lives. MercyMe’s song “Even If” was new when Jim was hospitalized. It ministered to me daily singing, “I know You’re

able and I know You can, save through the fire with Your mighty hand. But even if You don’t, My hope is You alone. I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt would all go away if You’d just say the word. But even if You don’t, My hope is You alone.” My church family stood with me in our darkest hours. My God is my refuge and my strength, my ever-present help in times of troubles. Now, March 2018, we have learned that Jim’s heart is pumping at only 35%. Our next round of trials is to begin soon. I don’t know what that means for us, but I know Who does. As Casting Crowns sings, “I was sure by now God, You would have reached down and wiped our tears away, stepped in and saved the day. But once again I say ‘Amen!’ and it’s still raining. I praise the God who gives and takes away. And I’ll praise You in this storm. And I will lift my hands for You are Who You are, no matter where I am.” I am confident that my God is with me wherever I am in this journey. He has promised that He will never leave me or forsake me. I cling to that. I have hope. n »Written » by Lisa Ezell

the Ezell family

n July 16, 1996, my husband of 12 years told me he wanted a divorce. I was a stay at home mom with three kids ages seven, eight, and five months old. To say I was devastated would be a gross understatement. I literally had to remind myself to breathe. The pain I felt was excruciating…the pain I felt for my kids was a 1000 times worse. I could not conceive how I was going to get through it all…yet each morning God brought me a new day. I had an incredible support group of friends and family. My girls attended BACS and there aren’t sufficient words to express the love and support we received during that time from the staff as well as other families. I knew when I dropped them off each day that they would be looked after and cared for. There is so much to our story. The blessings were countless. God’s hand prints were EVERYWHERE! There were so many things God taught me along the way that I feel helped not only in my healing, but the healing of my kids. One was the importance of the relationship between the kids and their dad. They NEEDED that relationship and I made it a point to never talk badly about him. I also learned the importance of forgiveness. I knew if I allowed bitterness to creep into my life it would not only have poisoned me, but my kids as well. I am so very thankful that their dad and I have a good relationship. My kids know that I will always care for him and they are comfortable sharing any worries or concerns they may have for him or his wife now, knowing I will pray for them.

Jena & fam God is so merciful in so many ways! Countless! I KNOW without a doubt that there are blessings that we received that we wouldn’t have, had that never happened! Had I not known the pain, I would not have known the JOY, and there was plenty of joy along the way! Our family’s motto has always been…”We are different than we would have been had Daddy never left, but different doesn’t have to be a bad thing.” To this day I am still humbled by the mercy of God! A dear friend told me early on that “God is a God of Restoration.” There are no truer words! The kids all have a good relationship with their dad. We have all been together for countless occasions, including graduations, birthdays, and engagement parties. Not only was their dad and I there with our children, but our spouses as well! What an amazing God! My kids each have incredible testimonies as well. The girls accepted Christ and were baptized two months before their dad left. God’s timing is always perfect! I am so grateful that I learned there is always hope, that God truly does not give us more than we can handle, even when it feels like it, and that above all God will walk with us, never ever leave us, and He can bring beauty from ashes. Praising God for so many undeserved blessings! n »Written » by Jena Westfall

submit your story at

www.bayarea.church/mystory 41

RENOVATING FRIENDSHIPS The Importance of LifeGroups

Zac Ashley Pastor of Spiritual Formation Zac is passionate about seeing people come alive in Jesus, finding a place to belong, and understanding how God’s truth applies to everyday life.

ommunity, pursuing and living life in meaningful relationships with others, is not just a luxury; it’s a necessity. We all need others in our life! We all need people we can turn to when life gets hard. We all need others to encourage us, challenge us, and miss us when we are not around. And while it’s sometimes easier to live isolated, it’s not how life is meant to be. It’s not the life God has planned for us! God has created you and called you to do life with others! At Bay Area Church, we desire to help every person find that place to connect and experience relationships on a deeper level. LifeGroups are the primary way we do this. The Bible teaches us that we are made for relationships. First, for a relationship with God through faith in Jesus, and second, for a relationship with others around us. Churches will often say the phrase: “We are better together!” Maybe you’ve even heard this at Bay Area. While this may just seem like a fancy slogan, the reality is, it’s a life-changing truth! Look at what Solomon, the wisest man of his day, had to say about the importance of community: “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” – Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 Why am I so passionate about groups? It’s because I’ve seen and experienced the power

BAY AREA CHURCH 4800 W. MAIN STREET LEAGUE CITY, TX 77573

of community. I’ve seen my own life and family changed because of the community we’ve experienced in a LifeGroup. Groups have helped me better understand the Bible. Groups have taught me the power of prayer. Groups have helped me handle the pressures and struggles in life. Groups have given me a place to know others and be known by others. In groups, we’ve walked through some of the most challenging and rewarding times in our lives. And we’ve done it with others. Pursuing life together with others is not always easy. It’s not always convenient. But it’s the best way we could live. n

Need help finding a group? Stop by the Welcome Center on Sunday mornings or hop on over to the website where we keep an up-to-date list of all our on and off -campus LifeGroups. Visit www.bayarea. church/lifegroups for more information.

e tried a few LifeGroups here at Bay Area when we first started attending. All were great, but just not the right fit for my husband and me. We longed for community and knew there was great value in it, so we kept searching. One Sunday evening a friend invited us to her LifeGroup, so my teen boys and I went. I loved it…. THEY LOVED IT. We ate, we laughed, we learned, we felt welcomed. We left wanting more. We left wanting to spend more time with our new friends. We left feeling spiritual warmth and goodness. For the next few weeks, our boys would speak of their excitement to go to LifeGroup and I felt the same. My husband was off and was able to attend with us and really enjoyed it as well. We knew we had found our LifeGroup. Now, several months later, they are like family. Our LifeGroup is our tribe. We do life together, we pray together, we have fun together, we cry together when “life happens,” we are growing closer to Jesus…. TOGETHER! We are so grateful for the invite that one evening from a sweet friend. LifeGroup has added a sweetness to our lives and to our spiritual walk. We now know authentic community and we don’t want to do life without it! n »Written » by Candi Cordova

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our JOURNEY

ur family mission story began in November, 2013, when my father-in-law gave my husband, Chris, a blank check for his birthday in order to go on a mission trip. Ed, my father-in-law, remembered Chris mentioning in past conversations that our church sent teams to Nicaragua for mission work. When he gave Chris the check we had no idea what this looked like for our family or where God would open doors. That night and many nights after, we thanked God for this wonderful gift and prayed about where He would allow Chris to go. We prayed until it was very clear what God had in store. We thought Nicaragua; however, God had a different plan for Chris, and we later found out, our whole family. In March 2014, Chris, and a small team from our church boarded a plane to Lebanon. My husband came home a different man; he had a love in his heart that I have never seen and quite frankly, didn’t understand, and he was different. I thought to myself, “Ok, I am so glad he is home safe, he can now mark this mission trip thing off his list.” Again, the Lord had different plans. In June 2015, my oldest son, Andrew, and Chris left with a team from Bay Area for Lebanon. Bay Area Church partners with a center in the north for women and children refugees. That particular year Andrew turned fifteen. He celebrated his birthday in Lebanon. When Chris and Andrew returned home, our family dynamic was different. Half of our family experienced what God was doing in the Middle East and the other half didn’t get it. I struggled with what the Lord was doing in my family. I was scared and a little angry. When Chris and Andrew returned home from the 2015 trip, they said it was time for us all to go. I fought the Lord on where he was leading our family. I was trying to follow my husband, but I didn’t like where he was leading us. I prayed selfishly for the Lord to close the door, but I also prayed for Him to grow my faith and for a peace that only He could give. I prayed this way for a year and God worked on my heart and the heart of my family. As the year passed, God put a desire in all of our hearts to open our hands, listen and go. In June 2016, our entire family boarded a plane for Lebanon. We submitted to what the Lord was calling 44

us all to do and have been changed forever. We have learned and continue to learn so much from our partners and friends in the east. The God stories and experiences that are right in front of you are not clouded by everyday tasks and busyness. Men, women, and children are coming to Christ every day in a region and culture in which they risk their life to profess such salvation. The journeys and stories that people in the east share will wreck your entire western idea of who the Lord is. He is a God of miracles, steadfastness, love, and mercy. He comes to these men, women, and children in dreams and visions and they are coming to Him. We have heard stories of rape, torture, poverty, and murder, and have looked into the eyes of those who have survived such atrocities. The center that Bay Area partners with is a place where refugee women and children can come for humanitarian aid and education. When these that have suffered and lost everything come through the door they are respected, loved, and more importantly, they are told of the love of Jesus and how He came to save them. The Gospel is presented to them in a way that is clear and precise. Some come to Christ and for others, the seeds are planted. We have seen Muslim ladies and other non-believers learn who Jesus is and desire every day to serve Him. Some of these Muslim ladies that have come to Christ are now teaching others about the love of Jesus. We have even seen some men come to the same saving knowledge. By God’s grace we have been privileged to go into Muslim homes and witness believers sharing the Gospel. We have cried and prayed with these people that have no hope and so desperately need the Lord. We have seen our Lebanese brothers and sisters submit to God’s will in their lives and receive these refugee men, women and children into their country and, regardless of how difficult or uncomfortable, be the hands and feet of Jesus. I have to share this story….during our 2016 trip, our team would frequently enjoy eating dinner at the “chicken restaurant,” delicious! Unknown to us there was an Alawite Muslim man there in the restaurant with his family who, for some reason, noticed our group. We enjoyed our meal as we debriefed on what the Lord did that day and went back to the village where we were staying. In 2017, at the same

restaurant, the same man and his family were there, at the same time that our team happened to be there a year later having dinner. What is so amazing about this is that this man and his family do not live in this village and have only been to this particular restaurant two times. Both times, we were there. The man and his family stared at our team hard, so much that it made us a little uncomfortable. Our partner at the center asked the man, “Do you know them? Why are you staring?” The man immediately said, “Yes, I know them. I remember them from when we were here last year at this same time.” The door was opened for dialog and we were given an invitation for tea in this man’s home, who is an Alawite Muslim, who lives in a village where Alawite Muslims live... the Unreached People Group that our church is praying for across the world! Coincidence? I don’t think so. We serve a God that sets divine appointments; we will see how God works in June 2018. Everyone from Bay Area that has had the opportunity to go to Lebanon has their own stories of how they have seen God work there and in their own lives. As long as the Lord allows us the privilege, we will continue to serve in the Middle East. I praise God for His faithfulness and His pursuance of our hearts.

I praise Him for making us uncomfortable. I praise God for a husband that believes in the power of prayer and his desire to listen to what the Lord was telling him to do all those years ago. I am thankful he had the willingness to listen, follow, and then lead his family when the Lord laid Lebanon on his heart. Our family is blessed beyond measure to experience what God is doing in the hearts of Muslim people in the Middle East and all over the world. One day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. The heart of the Jaris family is forever changed. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning’ great is your faithfulness. The Lord is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.” The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. - Lamentations 3:22-25 Praising God and thanking Him for all His mercies. God is my inheritance. n »Written » by Sherri Jaris

HOLD YOUR CAMELS. Prior to leaving for Israel, our group had several meetings to prepare us for the terrain and overall lay of the land that we were about to explore. One thing that was left off our agenda was a list of exactly where we would go. We knew the area – we would be in Israel – but we didn’t have the specifics. We knew we would be pushed to our physical limits, but weren’t sure when or how. We knew we would have a limited supply of food and water while out on our day hikes and we had to trust that the people in charge would provide. We also knew we would be consuming between 4-6 liters a day. Our backpacks had a special compartment for 2 liters of water I waited patiently for called a camel-back. They call it the lord; He turned to me that because camels store water in and heard my cry. their humps, and just like a camel He lifted me out of we carried our water on our backs. We began to get the feel for how the slimy pit, out of the the days would go on that very first mud and mire; He set my morning. We flew in to Tel-Aviv on feet on a rock and gave me Tuesday night after 16 hours of trava firm place to stand. eling, made it to our hotel rooms, He put a new song in my and passed out. Seven hours later we got our first wake-up call to be mouth, a hymn of praise to downstairs and ready for breakfast our God. Many will see and in 30 min. After another 30 minutes fear the Lord and put their we were on the bus and headed to trust in him. Blessed is the our first site. Upon sitting down in one who trusts in the Lord, our seats we were all handed 2 liter who does not look to the bottles of water and told to fill our packs. There was a buzz around proud, to those who turn the bus about where we were goaside to false gods. ing first. All of us were excited and Many, Lord my God, are not sure if we were tired or not... just ready to experience what God the wonders you have done, the things you planned for had graciously let us be a part of. The first lesson I learned while in us. None can compare with Israel: Hold your camels. you; were I to speak and tell It sounds silly… but there is of your deeds, they would a deep meaning behind those be too many to declare. words. I’m not sure that Ronen (our Israeli tour guide) meant it that way Psalm 40 or not, but each time he rolled his eyes and gave a huff I felt like God was telling me to chill out. There were several on the bus that wanted to know each detail. They would ask questions the whole way to the next site trying to figure out where we were going and how to prepare for it so they would be fully aware of what was going on. In my mind, as I watched the interaction between the ones who knew where we were going (Ronen, Mair our driver, and Brian our pastor), and the sheep who were just supposed to follow (the rest of us), I saw a larger picture of life. When we are born we are placed in a family of God’s choosing (this is like the bus). We don’t get to pick the personalities we will go through life

by Kristy Mapp

with, or decide who will be our bus driver or tour guide. We are on the bus, and going somewhere with the rest of our people. We are given certain things for our journey to help us make it through, like water and some of the other people on the journey – though sometimes we don’t realize how important those things are until later. We have to just keep moving. We really have no other choice, even if we don’t know where we are going… we are still going. There is no turning back, no stopping, no waiting to find out what the future holds before we are already stepping onto that ground. We just have to wait and see. We have to hold our camels. As the days progressed, the tensions between those who desperately wanted to know where we were going and those who were leading us grew stronger. There was impatience. There was much rolling of eyes and huffing and puffing. Inside I laughed, thinking about how God feels with us each day when we pray to Him asking for things to go a certain way. I looked at Ronen while he was sarcastically telling one of us to ‘hold our camels’ and I thought of my relationship with God. Why do I feel like I have the right to know where I am going? He created me for a purpose – even though I sometimes have no idea what it is. He has placed me here in this time for a reason and eventually I will get there… but I may not even realize it until after it’s happened. I just have to trust Him. I have to be able to enjoy the hike while I’m on it and stop asking so many questions or trying to get my way through it all. I have to wait and see what He has in store because suddenly I’ll stop and realize that I’m standing on a mountain that I just hiked up and wondering how in the heck did that happen… what a view. It’s in those moments of seeing what He is showing me that I am struck with awe and so thankful that my God loves me and leads me. n

ISRAEL

The next trip leaves June 1,st 2019. More details can be found at www.legacymilestones.com

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