Champion Life Magazine Fall 2014

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PROXIMITY VISIT CHAMPIONSCENTRE.COM FOR MORE INFORMATION ON WEEKLY SERVICE TIMES AND OUR EVENT CALENDAR.

BELLEVUE 425.289.1878 TACOMA 253.475.6454 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @KEVINGERALD @SHEILAGERALD @CHAMPIONSCENTRE #ThereIsMore #Proximity

YOU ARE AS CLOSE TO GOD AS YOU CHOOSE TO BE.”

FEATURES

6 DO MORE OF WHAT MAKES YOU HOLY

BY RYAN CAMERON

1 6 THE FORGOTTEN ART OF HONOR

BY PHIL DOOLEY

HAPPY.

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2 2 VERBAL PRISONS

BY KEVIN GERALD

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IN THE KNOW 10

Love Week Recap

2 0 Volunteer Spotlight

IN EVERY ISSUE 3 LET’S TALK 4 YOU TO US 14 CHAMPION FINDS

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ABOUT US Champion Life Magazine purposes to equip people to live successful Christian lives.

26 REAL LIFE CHAMPIONS 28 K. WISE FALL / 14

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E XE CU T IVE PU B LIS H E RS Kevin Gerald & Sheila Gerald

E DITO R-IN-CH IE F Jodi Cameron

S E NIOR P ROJE C T MANAGE R ART DIRE C TOR

Carissa Dwyer

Dallas Drotz, Drotz Design

CONT RIB U T ING E DITORS ,

Carissa Dwyer, Kim Ludwick,

Paula Mcfadden, Jen Mueller, Yolanda Perry, Judi Shackett CONT RIB U T ING P H OTOGRAP H Y

BJ & Kathy Garcia, Ardorlit Photography, Scotty Augkhopinee, Andy Mueller CONT RIB U T ING GRAP H IC DE S IGN CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kevin

Venessa Koehn, Mickey Elliott

Gerald, Ryan Cameron, Phil Dooley,

Steven Furtick, Jodi Cameron, Carissa Dwyer, David Henning, Paula McFadden, Andy McDonald DIST RIB U T ION P RODU C E R

Kim Ludwick

Champion Life Magazine is produced by Kevin Gerald

Communications (KGC). KGC is a department of Champions Centre in Tacoma | Bellevue, WA, a non-profit organization.

TO S U B S CRIB E championscentre.com/magazine Phone: (toll-free) 888-935-6914

TO S P ONS OR

If you are a business who would like to partner with

our magazine through distribution or sponsorship, please contact us at: 253.475.6454 x361.

QU E ST IONS / COMME NTS / IDE AS

Let us know. We welcome your

feedback. Please write us at: championlife@championscentre.com

MAIL Champion Life Editorial 1819 E. 72nd St. Tacoma, WA 98404

Produced by Champions Centre Publishing Š 2014. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without expressed written permission is prohibited and a violation of applicable laws.

2014 copyright. Printed by Cascade Print Media

let's talk

CONSIDER for a moment what your dream home would be like. Does it have hardwood flooring, a deck overlooking the ocean, or a three car garage? When it comes to buying a new home for most of us, it’s all about location. You can want the nicest home in the world, but if it’s sitting in the highest crime ridden area or at the bottom of an active volcano, the thought of purchasing that home goes out the window.

In the real estate world, there are many factors that contribute to the value of a home: size, location, curb appeal, and the strength of its foundation.

Now consider how our bodies are the temple of the Lord: what’s the value of your house? With God, we get to choose His real estate, and His location is far greater than anything we could imagine.

It’s about location—proximity to the things we love—so where are you at in proximity to God? It has been said that you are as close to God as you choose to be, and James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” That tells me that we have an opportunity to remodel our houses.

Our value can go up! In the same way

that putting effort and upgrades into our home can cause its value to rise, we can upgrade ourselves by being in God’s word, praying, serving, and spending time in His presence.

In this issue of Champion Life Magazine, we want to focus on our proximity to God. We’ll read about how we can Do More of What Make Us Holy, just like scripture encourages us to do, when God said, “Be holy, for I am holy.” See the Love Week recap, and be inspired to get involved in your community by loving God and loving people. Then, recognize the power of our words when it comes to living out God’s best for our lives as we read about Verbal Prisons.

Our prayer for you is that as we close out the year, don’t settle where you’re at, don’t grow complacent, don’t stop pursuing and moving closer, because there are new levels of intimacy waiting to be reached in your relationship with God. So let’s start the upgrades to our house with deeper devotion, let’s remodel our prayer life, let’s add the wing of ever-increasing faith this year, and let’s raise the roof in praise . . . because There is More!

P.S. Tell us your story at championlife@championscentre.com.

“COME NEAR TO GOD AND HE WILL COME NEAR TO YOU...”

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you to us Did you miss #TeamChurch?

Hear what people had to say: Whoever said the Church is dying . . . Is DEAD WRONG. Thankful for this week . . . Changed my life. #teamchurch @BrandonMStewart

I love being in environments like #teamchurch conference. It was an electric, encouraging, vision-filled, faith-inspiring environment. What if we brought that same energy, excitement, and intentionality into our everyday life with our families? Everyday swim lessons could become the stage where character is developed, faith is stirred, and courage is put into practice. #thereismore @PaceHartfield

"Give God what he has already given you and watch Him use you."—@Jentezen #TeamChurch

One of the reasons #teamchurch has meant so much to my family is because of the impact this conference has had on us.

Over the years, our family has experienced huge growth, but the real fruit of the conference that I see is what it's done for our kids. My kids are planted.

Church is in their blood and their love for God runs deep within their hearts. @CatalinaMahon

Two days after #TeamChurch, and I am just in complete awe still. This year was my first year volunteering at TC, and it was exactly where I was supposed to be. This last year has been such a milestone, and things are only going to get better! My heart is refocused after being challenged in so many ways at TC. I love the House and the opportunities that happen when you position yourself where He is calling you to be. The moments that took place the entire conference are forever etched in my heart. Breakthrough! @MelissaSegura

You have a story, and we want to hear it!

What is God doing in your life through the ministry of Champions Centre?

PLEASE WRITE US AT: championlife@championscentre.com MAIL: Champion Life Editorial 1819 E. 72nd St. Tacoma, WA 98404

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DO MORE OF WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY. HOLY

BY RYAN CAMERON

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The culture that we have in the United States today is consumed with doing whatever makes us happy. When happiness is our goal in life, why is it that so many people are miserable in their pursuit?

We focus so much on the material aspect of our lives— our consumption—that somewhere along the way we lose what truly matters, which has caused our depression rates to increase exponentially.

Many of us can recite the first lines of the Declaration of Independence, “We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

Often times, this type of pursuit comes at the expense of ourselves and others. The reality is that when we do more of what makes us holy . . . happiness, fulfillment, and joy are natural by-products.

What many of us do not realize is those truths that the United States was founded on come straight from the Bible, where Jesus says in John 10:10, “I came so that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

God wants us to have a happy and abundant life so much so that He sent His one and only Son to set us free.

In Leviticus 11:44, God challenges us to live a holy life when He says, “For I am the Lord your God, consecrate yourselves, and be holy, for I am holy.”

When we’re doing more of what makes us holy, we are acknowledging the wonderful gift that we have been given and also building the kind of life that brings true happiness in alignment with God’s purposes.

Here at Champions Centre, we have declared a theme over the year 2014 that There is more. We started off the year with fresh devotion and believing that There Is More to our relationships and our circumstances.

God does not want us to miss out on all that He has intended for us to accomplish in our lifetime. Yet we sell ourselves short when we fail to pursue holiness.

If we look to 2 Corinthians 5:21, Paul reminds all of us that righteousness is a gift from God through His Son, Jesus when he writes, “For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him,” but Paul does not just stop there. He goes further and writes in 2 Corinthians 7:1, “let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without.

Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God” (MSG).

Holiness is our responsibility back to God. I hope that this article helps redefine what it means to be holy. It’s not about being boring, staunch, unattainable, rude, stuck up, arrogant, weird, or holier than thou.

Holiness is so much more than the negative image that surrounds it. Holiness is about devotion; being set apart; aligning ourselves with God’s character and purpose; choosing to be morally and spiritually excellent; being pure in heart; and maintaining integrity in our thoughts, words, and actions.

In defining what holiness is, let’s look at what the opposite is: sin, which is simply missing the mark.

Holiness is when we hit the mark according to God’s plan, and the wonderful thing is that no matter how much we may have missed the mark, there is always another chance in Christ, which Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 5:17 where he writes, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away . . . the new has come”.

GOD HAS MADE A WAY OUT OF SIN FOR US THROUGH JESUS.

WE DON’T HAVE TO BE HOLY. WE GET TO BE HOLY. Our image of God is not going light on sin. It’s about going big on God, which is all the more reason to offer a life of holiness back to Him, a life set apart.

If we look at anyone who has ever accomplished anything great in life, we can see that they had to set themselves apart first. Rosa Parks quite literally had to physically set herself apart when she refused to go to the back of the bus. David set himself apart when he defeated the giant with a rock and a slingshot, and became part of the bloodline of Jesus Christ.

Even think very practically for a moment. For all of us who drive a car and have a driver’s license, we’ve had to set ourselves apart by taking a class, a written test, and a driving test.

It’s no different with God. He has outlined a life for us to live, and He’s asking us to live set apart for our benefit.

We have a real adversary to deal with. The first part of John 10:10 says, “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy.” If we are not actively setting ourselves apart and pursuing holiness, we leave ourselves vulnerable to an enemy that’s trying to bring us down and getting us to believe his lies.

Don’t allow saying no to certain things keep you from saying yes to others. Don’t be fooled into thinking that doing whatever you want whenever you want leads to happiness.

True freedom and happiness comes with restraint and discipline, which is shown in Galatians 5:13 where it says, “It is absolutely clear that God has called you to a free life. Just make sure that you don’t use this freedom as an excuse to do whatever you want to do and destroy your freedom. Rather, use your freedom

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to serve one another in love; that’s how freedom grows” (MSG).

The pursuit of holiness should flow out of love for God rather than the rigidity of rule following.

It all comes back to love. God loved us enough to not only create us, but He also set us free from sin. All He asks of us is to choose love by pursuing holiness.

TRUE HOLINESS IS NOT OUTWARD BUT INWARD.

Now, here are three principles to living a holy life.

We don’t have to be holy. We get to be holy.

Ultimately, we are the sons and daughters of God, heirs to the throne with Christ.

There’s an inheritance we’re not tapping into and are missing out on when we don’t know who we are and walk in that reality.

Once we actually view ourselves through the lens of Jesus, we have new meaning to why living a holy life is necessary.

Holiness is a gift, an opportunity worth taking.

WE CAN’T FORCE ANYONE TO BE HOLY. Choosing holiness in our lives comes from our hearts—from understanding the love of God not our duty to Him. Holiness is not something we can legislate or mandate. It’s a choice we get to make.

HOLINESS IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY BACK TO GOD.

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Holiness is not measured by what we eat and how we dress but instead by our thoughts, words, and actions.

Jesus called the Pharisees, who were the religious leaders of the day, whitewashed tombs, which shows how He felt about them. He describes them as empty and full of death and darkness. That in and of itself should encourages you to choose to add more holiness in your life.

Some ways that you can do this are to: Pray. Seek God to grow in your wisdom and knowledge of what holiness truly means. Study the Bible and meditate on His Word. Spend time with God alone and fast.

Confess any sins that are holding you back, and always praise and worship His name. Start by increasing your church life. Your church family will help to encourage you as you continue to walk in holiness, and I promise happiness will follow.

However, whenever we think we’re holy or that we have arrived at holiness, we’ve already missed the mark.

Holiness is a daily positioning of the heart with God and asking for His Grace. We have to make daily decisions to increase but never reach our Holiness, so do more of what makes you holy.

RYAN CAMERON Ryan lives to enhance, support, and finance the local church. With his combined business experience and passion for the church, Ryan brings a unique set of strengths to the team.

He functions as the Executive Director of Expansion and Campus Pastor, alongside his wife, Jodi, at the Champions Centre Bellevue Campus.

ONLY ONE EVENT LEFT

O X Y G E N L A D I E S, N I G H T O U T

Bellevue and Tacoma Calling all Ladies, whether you're a daughter, mother, sister, aunt, or friend, this night is for you!

COME JOIN US FOR OUR LAST DATE OF THE YEAR.

NOVEMBER 21 CHAMPIONSCENTRE.COM/OXYGEN

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RE CAP

TOTAL VOLUNTEER HOURS=

10,17 EXCEEDED OUR GOAL OF 10K

ORGANIZATIONS WE PARTNERED WITH •

Fish Food Bank

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Safe Streets

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Pike Market Senior Center

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Puyallup Food Bank

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Youth Care

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World Vision

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Tacoma Rescue Mission

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Tree House @ Mary Bridge Hospital

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Humane Society

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Northwest Harvest

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REST

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Charlie’s Dinosaurs

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Habitat for Humanity

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Joint Base Lewis McCord

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Samaritan’s Purse

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Friends of Children

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Tacoma-Pierce County Chaplaincy

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Jubilee Reach

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Friends of Youth

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Arbor Village

IN ADDITION TO THE THOUSANDS OF HOURS SERVED, CHAMPIONS FOUNDATION ALSO GAVE 10

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$130K

NORTHWEST HARVEST

12K

Helped feed families by serving in the warehouse bagging food that goes out to food banks/shelters.

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SAMARITAN’S PURSE

Put together over

200

YOUTH CARE

Made and served meals to homeless youth in the Seattle area.

boxes filled with toys, books, and games that will go to kids internationally.

SEX TRAFFICKING AWARENESS NIGHT

Partnered with REST to bring awareness to the Bellevue area on Sex trafficking.

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Seattle Children's Hospital

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Safe Streets

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Rest

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Mary Bridge Hospital

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Life Church in Philippines

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Jubilee Reach

Emily Agnew Medical Fund

Wounded Warriors

Forever Home

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International Ministries in Bulgaria

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Samaritans Purse

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Rivers Foundations

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MILITARY BBQ

Served over

400

wounded soldiers and their families.

TACOMA RESCUE MISSION–SPARKS

Threw a HUGE birthday party for

6 2K lbs

children and their families.

FISH FOOD BANK

Donated

of food.

By volunteering at location(s), helped over 8,000 families in Pierce County area.

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CHARLIE’S DINOSAURS

Donated full suitcases (clothes, toys, toiletries, books) for foster care kids (value over $3,500).

CHAMPIONS FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.

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Our mission is to inspire faith, hope, compassion and education through collaborative partnerships in our community and worldwide.

Web: championsfoundation.com Email: info@championsfoundation.com Phone: 253.475.6454 Ext. 108

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CHAMPION

FINDS

CRASH THE CHATTERBOX Excerpt from Crash the Chatterbox by Steven Furtick: I have a friend who works for a leader who is known for being remarkably driven and unusually intense. I asked my friend one time, “Isn’t it hard to work for someone so demanding? How do you deal with it?”

I’ve never forgotten his answer.

He said, “Well, I used to have a tough time with it for sure and still do sometimes. But we had one conversation that changed everything for me. See, most of our communication happens by e-mail. And one time after he had sent me a few emails in a row telling me things I needed to fix and things I needed to work on, I just couldn’t take it anymore.

I went to him and said, ‘I don’t feel like I can do anything right, man. I don’t feel like you like me. I feel like a failure.’

“And that’s when he explained to me, ‘The problem is, you’re not reading my emails right. You’re misrepresenting my tone in your mind.

Of course I believe in you. Of course I like you. If I didn’t, you wouldn’t have a job. Emails are tricky. You can’t see my face when you’re reading an email. So here’s what I want you to do. From now on I want you to read any email I send you like I was smiling when I sent it. ’Cause that’s the way I feel about you.’”

I wonder how much our lives would change if we started reading God’s Word like He was smiling when He wrote it?

Of course the One who created us believes in us. Of course He likes us. Why else would we be here? Yes, there are things He is working on in us. Yes, our sin is serious and needs to be addressed head-on.

No, God is not satisfied to leave us like we are, and sometimes this involves direct confrontation. There are some tough, almost unbearably stark statements in Scripture, calling us to repent, to return, and to

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walk in the ways of God. There are warnings and consequences, explained in no uncertain terms. The Bible isn’t a book of butterfly kisses and sweet nothings.

But even God’s correction is meant to convince us of His love.

Contrary to the condemnation and accusations of the chatterbox, even when God calls us out on something we’re doing wrong, His purpose is to raise us up. Never to beat us down.

Everything changes the day you realize that not only does God love you, but He actually likes you too. Not just because He has to. But because He wants to.

The God who made you is constantly smiling over you, and that ought to make you smile like a first grader opening his change purse on grilled cheese day. Furthermore, it ought to empower your perspective in every battle you face. How can you lose when a God who feels this way about you is fighting for you?

This is an excerpt from Crash the Chatterbox: Hearing God’s Voice Above All Others by Steven Furtick of Elevation Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. Learn more about the book at crashthechatterbox.com Elevation Church meets at nine locations in the Charlotte area, as well as one location in Toronto, Canada. The church has been named one of the Fastest Growing Churches in America by Outreach Magazine for each of the past six years.

Pastor Steven holds the Master of Divinity degree from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Holly, live in the Charlotte area with their two sons, Elijah and Graham, and daughter, Abbey.

CHAMPION

FINDS

CRASH THE CHATTERBOX Sometimes we struggle with fear, condemnation, and insecurities. Pastor Steven Furtick shows how God's promises are so much greater than the lies we tell ourselves. Crash the Chatterbox and learn to hear His voice above all others.

Be a part of our Fall small groups campaign launching October 18th with groups meeting all over the Tacoma and Bellevue areas. Visit the “Connect” tab at www.championscentre.com to host or join.

RESOURCE YOURSELF AT CRASHTHECHATTERBOX.COM

Books available in the Champions Centre Bookstore, or go online to find a location near you. Also available on Amazon.com.

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THE FORGOTTEN ART OF HONOR IS A WORD WE TALK ABOUT FREQUENTLY IN SOCIETY, BUT IS IT SOMETHING WE UNDERSTAND? SOME DEMAND HONOR. SOME WANT TO KNOW HOW TO HONOR. REALITY IS THAT MOST REALLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO HONOR ANYMORE.

BY PHIL DOOLEY

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AS A LEADER GROWS IN STATURE, EVERYONE ON THAT TEAM CAN GROW

THE QUESTION TODAY IS: HOW DO WE HONOR OUR LEADERS APPROPRIATELY? Because the truth is, if we honor others well, we will benefit greatly.

Honor has huge implications for a team and the ultimate outcome that a team desires to achieve. . .

In the following passage, we see an incredible example of honor that brings out the best in a leader.

1 Samuel 14:6-7 (MSG) is where Jonathan says to his armor bearer, "Come on now, let's go across to these uncircumcised pagans. Maybe God will work for us. There's no rule that says God can only deliver by using a big army. No one can stop God from saving when he sets his mind to it." His armor bearer said, "Go ahead. Do what you think best.I'm with you all the way."

Let’s focus on our "Honor Hero" today—Jonathan's armor bearer. We don't even know his name. Yet his example of how to honor is very powerful.

In verse 7, he says 3 things that show his honoring mentality.

1. GO AHEAD...

These are solid words from a secure team member.

True honor allows a leader to LEAD...to literally go ahead. A team will always struggle if they hold their leader back. I believe this is one reason why organizations and

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churches stop growing. They won't release the leader to go further. Even armor bearers must be big thinkers in order to release their leader to go further.

As a leader grows in stature, everyone on that team can grow.

Sadly, insecure team members who feel like they need the leader present at all times, can use subtle undermining statements like, "we use to see you more, but now you’re too busy," which destroys the leader’s ability to go ahead.

I believe one of the reasons for the growth of Hillsong Church comes from the fact that Pastor Brian Houston is free to lead. . . to essentially go ahead.

As he has gone further, our entire team and church has also moved forward.

HONOR AT ANY LEVEL WILL HELP ANY TEAM ACHIEVE THEIR DESIRED GOALS TOGETHER MORE EFFECTIVELY

2. DO WHAT YOU THINK IS BEST There's nothing like a team who trusts their leader and lets him/her know it. Your words of honor have so much weight attached to them…especially when they are spoken from the heart.

If you don't believe in and trust your leader's ability to lead, then you won't honor well. Team members can say the right things, but if their heart is not trusting their leader, they won't last.

Honor has an uncompromising respect for the plans and vision of the leader.

Honor gives a leader room to express vision and strategy. It is not creating its own vision or plans on the side...otherwise ultimately there becomes a disconnect and relationships will break down.

3. I'M WITH YOU ALL THE WAY These words must have added so much courage to Jonathan. Knowing someone has your back is such a powerful feeling.

Real honor is being committed to the leader’s objectives. There is a 100 percent buy-in to the leader’s vision. This is body on the line stuff—it's having an all in mentality!

The armor bearer in this story is totally committed. He has no plan B. He is not half in. He will fight with his leader to achieve the desired result. He will experience the wounds of defeat, but he will also enjoy the exhilaration of victory.

As we wrap this thought up, let’s consider the spiritual state that Jonathan was in.

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Maybe Jonathan was just talking out loud. Maybe he wasn't serious about really taking on an army that completely outnumbered him. But, when the armor bearer speaks words of honor and courage, something comes alive in Jonathan's spirit. He fires up and goes for it. That's the power that words of honor creates at the right time and in the right situation. It produces a belief that WE CAN DO THIS! There are some negative voices that might call this idea of honor 'blind loyalty' and see it as an opening for abuse of power by the leader. Nonetheless, in this instance, there was obviously a strong relationship of trust built between the armor bearer and Jonathan. He is as responsible for the success of this relationship as the armor bearer is! Jonathan's example and honor of others, including the armor bearer, has created this type of honor back to him.

Honor at any level will help any team achieve their desired goals together more effectively. Jonathan achieves an extraordinary victory because of the words of encouragement and honor from his armour bearer. Building a team with this spirit always creates an atmosphere of faith, expectation, and belief that anything is possible.

Let’s choose to be people of honor by honoring those above us, those we lead, and those who serve alongside us. Together, I believe we will see God’s blessing and favor actively flowing into all our endeavors. Honor creates a team that can ultimately become an unstoppable force.

HONOR HAS AN UNCOMPROMISING RESPECT FOR THE PLANS AND VISION OF THE LEADER

Phil Dooley is passionate about seeing the church be all it can be. He is a gifted communicator, mixing a blend of humour with Biblical wisdom that will encourage you to unlock your God-given potential and live your life to its fullest. His desire is to love God, love people and love life.

HEAR MORE FROM PHIL DOOLEY AT

ONE DAY THIS EVENT IS DESIGNED TO EQUIP AND RESOURCE THE LOCAL CHURCH. OCTOBER 9TH 10AM-3PM

TC One Day is for pastors and church leaders to bring staff and key volunteers for a day of inspirational and practical training. You'll engage in general sessions and breakout sessions all designed to equip you and advance your church.

CHAMPIONS CENTRE BELLEVUE CAMPUS

Hear from special guest Phil Dooley, and host Kevin Gerald plus others from the Champions Centre leadership team.

Register online at championscentre.com

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

BY DAVID HENNING

WHY VOLUNTEER? I can remember 16 years ago when I first came to Champions Centre in Tacoma. The size of the church and the number of people felt overwhelming at first, because it was very different than the church I was used to when growing up in a small town.

Honestly, I wasn't sure, at the time, if this was the Church for me. But, I gave it a chance.

After what seemed to be years, I began to volunteer on a very low level but always kind of behind the scenes. I’ve never really been one to be out in front. As time went on though, I was asked to do a little more, and with some hesitation, I accepted. Champions Centre

has always given me the opportunity to grow.

What I realized is that I was not only growing as a leader at Church, but I was also growing outside of Church. I truly believe that I am developing into the person God intended for me to be.

I am currently an usher team lead/coordinator and part of the volunteer staff for the North Tacoma Campus expansion. I’ve hosted a Champion Life Group. I am also the Personal Assistant for our Connections Director (thank you Robin McCoy for offering me this opportunity.)

A few months ago, I was next to our connection tent following one of the services. Standing at one

VOLUNTEERING HAS ALLOWED ME TO STEP OUT OF MY SHELL, GET OUT OF THE BOX I WAS IN, AND BECOME A BETTER PERSON IN MANY AREAS OF MY LIFE

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I’VE GAINED COUNTLESS FRIENDS AND HAVE MET A LOT OF GREAT PEOPLE THAT COME THROUGH THE DOORS OF CHAMPIONS CENTRE of the tables was a woman and two teenage boys.

I walked over to them and asked if I could help with anything. The boys had looked up at me and handed me a card. The woman mentioned that they had just accepted Jesus into their lives. As I proceeded to congratulate them on making such a great decision and learning a little more about them, I looked up at the woman and saw tears in her eyes. It was at that moment that I really realized the impact that volunteers have to offer.

I understand and know that God creates One Day Story opportunities all of the time, and this one He created for me to be a part of. This one I will never forget.

I am so grateful for Champions Centre and the opportunity to volunteer. It has allowed me to step out of my shell, get out of the box I was in, and become a better person in many areas of my life. This in turn has given me the courage to be there for others that come to the House—to be someone they can count on and be there for.

I’ve gained countless friends and have met a lot of great people that come through the doors of Champions Centre. I encourage anyone who is not yet a volunteer or has maybe thought about being one, to step out and give it a shot. Come to the next Starting Point class and learn how you can be connected to the life of the Church!

WE LOVE hearing from

YOU

share your story at championscentre.com

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Verbal Prisons As you begin reading this sentence, it is easy to see that it is

BY KEVIN GERALD

made up of words. As a matter of fact, this whole article is made up of words. But the words that are being used were not randomly drawn out of the dictionary. No, these words were planned and purposely put together. Words, and the power behind them, are more important than people give them credit for.

Words have the power to encourage or discourage. They can be used for good or for evil. They can build up, or they can tear down.

As Proverbs 21:18 says, the tongue has the power to give life or death.

So words, and the inherent power of them, lay all in how we use them.

So in the same way that this article was not randomly thrown together, neither should the words that we use in our day to day lives.

The power of words is biblical.

In the beginning, God spoke the world into existence. So it should go without saying, that words are powerful. We are made in God's image, so the words we use have power as well. Words are even more powerful when they have intentional purpose.

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God is calling us to higher thinking. He is calling us to

rise up

When we look at Genesis, each of the first seven days of creation begin with: “and God said.” Talk about intentional and powerful, which is why we shouldn't take this power for granted. Words are vitally important, and we should not take our use of them lightly.

Think about this for a moment: we can literally speak things into existence in our own lives and in the lives of others.

Words can put us in prison, or they can set us free. Verbal prisons are words that hold us back from the bigger, the better, the progress, and the increase in our lives. In Matthew 12:37, Jesus gives us insight into the power that lies within our words, comparing it to the judicial process when he tells us that "By your words you will be acquitted, by your words you will be condemned." What Jesus is saying here is, that in the same way a jury can convict you or set you free, so too can your words.

People and words have three primary interactions: words we speak to others, words that are spoken to us, and words that we speak to ourselves.

about us. Just as in the Garden of Eden, when God spoke to Adam; His question to him was, "Who told you that?"

Consider who you are listening to, because words that take life come from the enemy and words that give life come from God. A good way to test the words that we receive from others is to evaluate them using Philippians 4:8-9: "Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is praiseworthy— think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen from me, put into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” This is Paul giving us a roadmap for how to discern and regulate the words that come into our lives. If they don't

...whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is praiseworthy— –Philippians 4:8-9 think about such things In the words that we speak to others, it is our job to help encourage and free people. Proverbs 16:24 tells us that "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bone."

These healing words are not words that are written down in a journal and hid away. These words are meant to be spoken to others a life-giving encouragement to help others along in life. Just as the Bible encourages us, I am encouraging you to evaluate the words that you are speaking to others.

In the words that are spoken to us and the words that we speak to ourselves, it is our job to remain in line with what God says

match up with this standard, then they aren't worth thinking about or speaking.

Let’s choose to change our vocabulary. Many of the words that we speak create prisons and barriers that prevent us from living the life that God has intended for us. Think about the child who says at a young age, "I'm not good at math.

I can't do it." That same child then goes onto not taking certain math classes in high school, because those words of not measuring up FALL / 14

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remained. This mentality makes that same student not want to go to college or pursue certain degrees that require math classes. Then as a 35-year-old working in construction, when their boss asks them a calculation, their response comes and is all too familiar. . ."I'm not good at math." This mentality can also then be passed on to their children when they ask for help with math at school. And the parents don't want to help them, because "I'm not good at math." From the beginning this all could have been prevented if that person had addressed the thought in the same way God approached Adam, "Who told you that?"

The truth is that everyone who is reading this, has spoken limitations over their life; saying things like: "I don't like working with women/men," "I'm not good with people," "I've tried to lose weight, but I can’t," "I hate to exercise," "I'm not into the church thing," "I just can't get up on Sundays," "I don't like big churches," and so on. These phrases are self-imposed prisons of negativity and defeat. Changing these cannot be a maybe, they are a must.

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Start talking about being strong, about victory over your situation, and about God's blessings and His favor over your life.

These are the life-giving words that will help you break out of the self-imposed prisons you place on your lives.

There are two ways that words hold us back: words that we hear and the words that we speak.

All of us have had both good and bad spoken into our lives.

For every word of negativity, degradation, defeat, or limitation that has been spoken over your life; God has spoken words that are good, positive, victorious, freeing, and life giving.

What matters most is what words you choose to believe.

You must change your vocabulary, it is the only way to free yourself. There are many examples from the Bible you can

Are you going to believe the degrading things that a friend, family member, or colleague says about you? Or are you going to believe God's word that was spoken over you? Are you going

look to. Joel 3:10 is a great verse to give you the right mindset: "Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, "I am strong!"

to stay bound in prisons of low worth or low expectation? Or are you going to rise up in a spirit of faith and break out? In 2 Corinthians 4:13, Paul writes, "I believed, and so I spoke."

Using the right words will empower you as you step out and take on the challenges of your life. Let’s break down the verse.

It strongly says to beat your plowshares and pruning hooks, and turn them into weapons. Then let the weakling say (freeing you from your prison), I am strong!

In the same way, we must also monitor the words we speak to others. The Bible tells us that a wise man holds his tongue. It doesn't say, "go ahead and say whatever crosses your mind."

Have you ever run across a person who says, "well I just say whatever comes to my mind,” or "I am not afraid to speak my mind." Many people will say this as a source of pride, but not only is this not intelligent and often times harmful, these words that some people speak are clearly not biblical.

Talking about your problems won't make them go away. Talking about sickness won't make you well. Talking about defeat 24

won't bring you victory. Talking poor won't make you prosper.

If you need solutions, stop talking about your problems and start talking about action steps.

CHAMPION LIFE MAGAZINE

There are many thoughts that we cannot control that come into our mind, but the words that come out of our mouth are well within our abilities to control. Those are words that we will be held accountable for before God, so just as we must free ourselves from our own prisons, we must make sure to not speak words that create prisons for others.

Are there areas in your life that you've believed were hopeless and impossible? Places where you have self-imposed prophecies and negativity that are contrary to what God has said? Have you built borders, boundaries and walls in your life?

God is calling us to higher thinking. He is calling us to rise up.

If you want to change your life, change the words you speak

Stop saying the negative. Shut it off and shut it up. Oppose the negative with the positive words of God. Instead of talking about defeat, speak words of victory. Instead of talking about sickness, speak words of good health. God wants you to overcome, and He has given you the power to overcome. Get your confession right. Only then will you be able to pop open the prison door that is holding you captive.

I want you right now to follow along and change your vocabulary.

Say out loud right where you are. Better yet, get up, look in the mirror, and say these words of affirmation out loud to God and to yourself, "I am a champion of God. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. I am happy. I am healthy. I am a Christian.

God loves me. God chose me, and God does not make mistakes.

I am the head and not the tail. I am above and not beneath. God knew me before I was born. He gave talents that are specific to me.

God loves me, and He gives me the power to love myself and love others. I am forgiven. I am whole."

God has so many good things to say about you. It is time that you start saying them to yourself. Start with these words, and soon you will find others. They will start flowing out of you and freeing you.

Outside this verbal prison door is the life that you are looking for—a life of better health, improved and new relationships, answers to prayer, financial opportunities, and a new relationship with God. These words have self-prophetic power over your life. Negative words set your prison bar by bar and brick by brick, slowly and gradually building your own cell. All that God has in store for us is not in that prison.

If you want to change your life, change the words you speak.

God gives us the power to overcome. Jesus came for us, so that we could live life and live it more abundantly. You have the power to do something special. God has a plan and a purpose for you. A large part of this plan begins in the mind and begins with the words that we speak. We must change how we speak, not only to others and to ourselves, but also to God. As the Bible says, ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find. Break out of your prison, and through your words, live the life of freedom that God has for you.

KEVIN GERALD Known for a ministry that imparts practical Biblical principles that equip people to live successful Christian lives, Kevin and Sheila Gerald are the Founders and Lead Pastors of Champions Centre (Tacoma and Bellevue, Washington), one of the largest congregations in the Pacific Northwest.

Kevin is also a nationally recognized author of several books including; Developing Confidence, Pardon Me, I'm Prospering, The Proving Ground, Raising Champion Children, Forces That Form Your Future, Mind Monsters, and By Design or Default. In leadership and life, Pastor Kevin purposes to locate and communicate wisdom and those who know him value him for his relevant, practical approach to ministry.

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REAL LIFE able to look at the challenges of my past as an overcomer. My mother has been my encourager and has shown me what it means to help others. My grandmother is the backbone of my family, and she keeps the spirit moving.

One of the most inspiring things about her is that she prays for so many people in her alone time by herself with just her and God. I know personally that so many of her prayers were meant for me, and they are what have blessed me along this journey of life.

hampions Centre has been home to me for the past three years, and I can honestly say that they have been the best years of my life. I grew up in Tacoma with my mom, and my father has been incarcerated since I was five-years-old.

In retrospect, I have had a pretty good life, but it has had its shortcomings—those up and down moments.

What kept me going when I did not have a father physically present in my life was my mom and grandmother pushing me, supporting me, and praying for me all of my life.

From a very early age, I have seen how much our actions really do matter. I have been able to witness the negative consequences that can happen when someone makes a bad decision, and from my father’s experience, he has received a calling on his life to help others not make the same mistakes that he did. Through everything, both of my parents continually work toward improving themselves, which inspires me to do the same.

I am so thankful that God gave me my mother and grandmother who were able to pick up the extra parental role so that I could grow into the young man that I am today. Because of them, I am 26

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However, throughout my life, I have had those thoughts of why me and why my family? Why have I been dealt this card? I always felt like I was the only person with this struggle. I tried to hold my feelings in about not having a dad as if it didn’t bother me, but it did.

In holding back my feelings, all I did was start on a path of resentment towards God. This ultimately got me to the point where I no longer trusted God and took control over my life. I did everything I could to make it what I wanted. I rejected the idea that God is in control, because when I believed that, I lost my dad.

This mindset followed me for most of my life all the way up to my senior year at Franklin Pierce High School. I continued to protect my false sense of control that I felt over my life.

I felt a strong sense of responsibility and refused to be anything like my dad. I wanted to be better and do greater things than both my parents. I made it a goal to do more than what anyone in my family has ever done.

Then in my senior year of high school, a friend of mine, Emily Mahon, invited me to this thing called 252 for a step competition. I went, and from the very moment I stepped into the doors of Champions Centre, my life changed.

E J U O N H AY N E S

CHAMPIONS

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I CHOOSE TO LAY DOWN MY CONTROL, ANGER, AND RESENTMENT TO GOD.

I got plugged into the youth team and started serving immediately. The biggest thing that I have learned in my three years here is obedience. Learning to be obedient to God’s will and leaning into His promises is when real growth happens. I have learned about love from my Champions Centre family and from my heavenly Father who has always shown me how much I matter to Him. I choose to lay down my control, anger, and resentment to God. That’s the only way for Him to be able to give me the more in my life that I have been searching for.

This more is what I feel called to accomplish for my family, to change my legacy, and to also build a cause greater than any other—building the local Church.

k. wise CHAMPION FIND:

FORCES THAT FORM YOUR FUTURE THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM THE "THOUGHTS" CHAPTER

THOUGHTS ARE LIKE TRAINS: THEY TAKE YOU SOMEWHERE A person wouldn’t think of going to the train station and getting on a train without first checking where the train is going. Many people, however, get on a “train of thought” without ever considering where it’s taking them, and what happens is that people often end up in places they didn’t want to go—places like Anger-ville, Self-Pity City, or the state of Hopelessness. The good news is you have the ability and the opportunity to board a different train of thought and travel to a better destination, a place where happiness, contentment, and joy reside.

“As a man thinks...so is he.”

—Proverbs 23:7 What we have to realize is that our trains of thought take us to where we will go in life. Thoughts make us sad or glad. They can stress us out or calm us down.

Thoughts affect the way we eat, how we sleep, what we wear, who we like, etc.

Your thoughts are a powerful force forming your future.

A major part of our identity is wrapped up in the way we think. To change our thinking is an admission that who we have been is not the person we want to be. Thinking new thoughts can be an unsettling experience, because it literally changes who we are.

The question is whether or not you are truly happy with who you are, or is it time for a change?

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BY KEVIN GERALD

Set a goal for yourself; Philippians 4:8 challenges you to “. . . fix your thoughts on what is true, good, and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about” (The Living Bible).

The fact is that people are all a product of their thinking. Nothing defines us quite like our thoughts. If the way a person thinks doesn’t change, they don’t change.

Mental ruts are deep, and although we can temporarily drive outside the ruts (to make necessary impressions on others), our thoughts will pull us back into the ruts. Only the renewing of our minds will bring transformation to our lives.

The only way to get different results and go to new places in your life is to renew your mind with new and better thoughts.

Just like Romans 12:2 says, “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing, and perfect will.” I don’t know about you, but I want God’s perfect will for my life. I want a life of abundant favor, immense blessing, and unspeakable joy.

Don’t let your thoughts be what keeps you from the life God has destined for you.

Shift your mentality, shift your thoughts, and watch it shift your life...and your future.

“come near to God, and He will come near to you” —James 4:8