Momentum | November 2013

Page 1


TODAY AT REDEEMER

TONIGHT AT 5 PM FELLOWSHIP HALL BRING A DISH TO SHARE

WANT TO GET PLUGGED INTO A COMMUNITY GROUP?

CONTACT OUR NEW COMMUNITY GROUP COORDINATOR!

Katie Hollermann

email: katie @redeemerbiblechurch.com

MERCY MINUTE Many of you had the opportunity to hear John Leonard’s testimony several weeks ago. During that time, John provided a brief overview of Redemption House, a gospelcentered addiction recovery program. Redemption House has been blessed with a generous donor who will be offering a 1:1 matching gift to help achieve Redemption House’s capital goal of $1.1 million dollars. All contributions raised through December 15, 2013 will be matched. Because Redeemer is committed to living out the gospel, we will be devoting all funds raised during our December Mercy Offering to Redemption House in an effort to

fully utilize the generous matching gift. Please prayerfully consider donating between now and December 15th. This is also a wonderful time to learn more about Redemption House, its mission and other ways to support them. Checks can be made out to: Redeemer Bible Church. Please note on the memo line: Redemption House. QUESTIONS: John Leonard at 651.270.2358


November 3rd, 2013

10

NOT ALL POVERTY IS CREATED EQUAL “A

HELPFUL

STEP

IN

THINKING ABOUT WORKING

WITH THE POOR IN ANY CONTEXT IS

TO

DISCERN

SITUATION

WHETHER

CALLS

FOR

THE

RELIEF,

REHABILITATION, OR DEVELOPMENT.

MEDITATE ON THIS 4 | “God’s idea of justice

HIGHLIGHTS FROM RBC.COM 5 | Two great reads from

is at the very core of the gospel...appointing humans to exercise loving rule on His behalf over all His earthly creation.”

Pastors Mark Suchta and Warren Watson. Dig in and then check out some more at redeemerbiblechurch. com.

Q & A // MERCY MINISTRY 6 | Meet Lead Deacon

STRATEGIC PRAYER TEAM 9 | “Prayer is the

Mark Summers and learn more about what the Mercy Ministry is for at Redeemer.

foundation under and the umbrella over the vision, mission and strategy of Redeemer Bible Church. It is essential to our success.”

LIFE ON LIFE DISCIPLESHIP 19 | Here is a life-on-life

REDEEMER KIDS CORNER 20 | Parents: article about

IN FACT, THE FAILURE TO DISTINGUISH AMONG THESE SITUATIONS IS ONE OF THE MOST COMMON REASONS THAT POVERTY-ALLEVIATION

EFFORTS

OFTEN DO HARM.” - STEVE CORBETT AND BRIAN FIKKERT

CREDITS Design/Direction: Chuck Forsberg Content Manager: Lorie Schnell Writer: Brittney Westin Copy Editor: Anne Lynn

testimony from Hannah Beers whose life has been impacted for the gospel by another member.

VOLUNTEER // GET INVOLVED 23 | Redeemer needs your help! There are many volunteer positions available.

a mercy opportunity for you and your kids. Also, another coloring page to kill the time. Have fun!

FINANCIAL UPDATE 22 | How is our church doing financially? Get a year to date snapshot here.


meditate on this

CONCERN FOR JUSTICE BY: MARK SUMMERS

C

oncern for justice is a value that we at Redeemer

cross. In the meantime, the gospel calls the

hold as one of the fundamental tenets that define our

church to demonstrate a picture of what the

church. It is core to the foundation upon which our

coming kingdom will look like by emulating

vision of what a Christian church must be is defined

Jesus in working to reverse the aftereffects of

and implemented.

the fall such as hunger, sickness, homelessness,

Justice is a defining characteristic of God and a consistent thread

relationships

and

psychological

throughout the entirety of the Old and New Testaments. But what

problems.

does this mean? How does God define true justice? Why is He so

people, casting out demons, raising the dead

concerned about it? Why are understanding justice and living a just

and feeding the masses, he was putting the

life so central to true Christian living? What are the implications for

words of the gospel into action in very tangible

believers in terms of how we should think about the communities

ways that positively impacted the people to

around us – inside Redeemer, out in the western suburbs, in the

whom He ministered. His parable of the Good

urban fabric of the Twin Cities and the world beyond? How should

Samaritan is a beautiful picture of the gospel

Biblically understanding and living a just life work itself out in our

in action. At the end He tells His listeners (and

relationships with the poor and needy?

readers) to “go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37).

God’s idea of justice is at the very core of the gospel. He created

We

When Jesus went about healing

must

be

concerned

about

justice

mankind to live in perfect harmony with Him, appointing humans

because God is concerned about justice. In our

to exercise loving rule on His behalf over all His earthly creation.

helpless state of alienation from Him, unable

Adam and Eve’s disobedience and fall destroyed the harmonious

to turn away God’s holy and righteous wrath

relationship between mankind and God as well as His creation,

for our sins and save ourselves, He comes

replacing it with a world characterized by vicious enmity between

alongside us with everything we need in the

humans and God, nature, each other and even ourselves.

As

Person and work of Jesus Christ. In the same

children of Adam, we are the inheritors of his rebellious nature,

way, we are called to come alongside those

this world and these enmities. Because of this, the natural state

who are homeless, hungry, sick and otherwise

of mankind today is defined by every imaginable sort of alienation

suffering

from God and His creation, resulting in everything from animosity

alienation from God, and meet their needs in a

toward God, antagonism toward other people, crime, social and

beautiful demonstration of the gospel at work.

psychological problems, sickness and disease, natural disasters,

This is how true mercy ministry, rooted in the

and on and on.

from

the

effects

of

mankind’s

The byproducts of these alienations are “felt”

gospel, differs from mere social work: it is a

needs, meaning needs that are experienced by humans in very real

very picture of the coming kingdom, which

and tangible ways, such as those for food, shelter, clothing and

points to the gospel, which in turn points to

medical care.

Jesus, Who meets our need to be saved from

The church and Christians are called to actively and consistently work at reversing the effects of sin in the world by coming to the aid of the poor and needy. The gospel isn’t just about individuals being saved from their sins.

4

broken

our sins, which is the greatest need of all mankind. A true understanding of the gospel causes

The entirety of the gospel entails

us to see in the poor and needy an image of

the restoration of all things. At the end of this age a new heaven

ourselves before God, as if we are looking in a

and new earth will be ushered in, with all creation fully restored

mirror. We see our own spiritual bankruptcy

in a right relationship with God, a relationship without sin and its

and neediness, completely unable to meet

alienations. This is the ultimate fulfillment of Jesus’ work on the

our need for the perfection God requires

MOMENTUM // NOVEMBER 2013

Continues on page 8


highlights from rbc.com

WHAT IS A “MATURE CHRISTIAN”?

OTHER GREAT BLOG POSTS FOUND AT:

BY: PASTOR MARK SUCHTA

W

e hear this term often. We see

that without Christ they are

others who are “strong” in the

absolutely nothing.

faith, who are “mature,” and

They quickly run to the

we use these two terms to

cross when they sin and

speak kindly of them. But I think often when

celebrate

we use these words; if we are not careful, we

their behalf. The life of a

can quickly go to “works” in our heart and

mature Christian is a life

mind.

of brokenness and joy. So

His

work

REDEEMERBIBLECHURCH.COM /RESOURCES/BLOG

GOSPEL ATTITUDES ABOUT MODESTY

on

We see mature Christians, view their life,

when you think of “mature

view our own and feel guilty because we are

Christian,” from now on don’t

not like them. We then resolve to do more

think of “do more, be better,”

and be better and sin less. But wait a minute!

as you view their life, think

That is not what characterizes a mature

of “done.” Christ’s work is

Christian! A mature Christian is one who is

DONE for me. As a maturing

broken in their spirit and very dependent

Christian, you have nothing

on the person and work of Jesus Christ for

more to prove, Christ proved

everyday life. They are desperate people

it all for you. //RBC

10.15.2013 | AUTHORED BY: GAYLE GLENN

STOP RUNNING

10.1.2013 | AUTHORED BY: REBECCA PEEL

GOSPEL SOUL FOR YOUR SOUL 9.24.2013 | AUTHORED BY: GABE ZEPEDA

who view themselves accurately. They know

THE ‘BOTH AND’ OF LIFE BY: PASTOR WARREN WATSON

M

he never loses sight of this opposite truth, “But as for

vibrancy wanes, and there

me, I trust in You oh Lord, I

is a fear they will move into

say ‘You are my God…my

This post is being written 7

blackness. Can I as a pastor,

times are in Your hand…..How

months into a medical crisis

who wants to encourage the

great is Your goodness, which

my

experiencing

flock, his family and himself,

You have stored up for those

that appears to have no end.

admit what a toll this has

who fear You…..for those who

taken?

take refuge in You….”

family

is

There have been months of doctor visits, hospitalizations, drugs, surgeries, prognoses

I

find

in

King

David

King David knew the ‘both

and changes seemingly every time a new

someone who understood;

and’ of life: both the realities

professional opinion is rendered. A chart of

his words are so helpful.

of our suffering AND the

my felt emotions over this time period would

Many of his psalms proclaim

power, glory, majesty and

create dizziness from its sheer variability.

a real world approach to the

sovereignty of God. He never

Hope, disappointment, repeat.

above question:

diminished

“…..I am in

his

condition,

So many caring friends and family have

distress; my eye is wasted

and never diminished in his

asked how I am doing. As a pastor who loves

away from grief, my soul and

understanding of where his

Jesus, it’s hard to admit that it seems I am

my body also: for my life is

hope and joy and life came

losing a battle against despair. I want to glorify

spent with sorrow, and my

from.

Jesus, and proclaim God’s loving-kindness

years with sighing…” These

I rejoice that in my lament

and His intimate care for me. How can I do

are just a few of many verses

the Lord Jesus has given me

this when depression and despair, a result of

we find in David’s psalms

the ability to praise. For it

this horrible battle, lurk around every corner?

that unabashedly admit his

is in Him that all my hope is

When the colors of life go flat and their

condition and despair. But

found. //RBC NOVEMBER 2013 \\ MOMENTUM

5


q & a with

FALL.” CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THIS MEANS? What we mean by reversing the effects of

MERCY MINISTRY DIRECTOR: MARK SUMMERS

the fall is reversing that which results in need within the world. When God made creation, everything was in complete harmony with Him, but when sin came into the world, it produced four kinds of alienation from God. One was alienation from God Himself. We see that in the garden when Adam and Eve are hiding. The second is alienation from each other. We see that right away when Adam and Eve begin to have a disagreement over who was responsible for eating the fruit. The third Mark Summers

alienation is from nature, from God’s natural creation. We see that when God says to Adam and Eve that going forward they are only

INTERVIEWED BY: BRITTNEY WESTIN

going to eat food from the sweat of their brow and that the ground will bring forth thorns and

WHAT EXACTLY IS THE MERCY MINISTRY AND HOW LONG

thistles instead of fruit. And then the fourth

HAS IT BEEN A FORMAL MINISTRY WITHIN REDEEMER?

kind of alienation is alienation from self. All

The Mercy Ministry is the ministry we have at the church

of these alienations result in need. Alienation

to meet the needs of the poor, both inside and outside of

from nature can result in natural disasters:

the church. Primarily we focus on core needs: food, clothing,

tornadoes, hurricanes, things of that nature.

shelter, and medical care. Medical care would include emotional

Alienation from self can cause psychological

care, counseling, as well as physical medical care. We’ve had a

problems. Alienation from others can also

formal ministry of mercy since Pastor Bob came. The first fall

cause psychological problems as well as

he was here, he taught a leadership class to the deacons and

violence and things of that nature. And then

elders. Once of the things we got exposure to in that class was

alienation from God is when we don’t live in

Tim Keller’s book, Ministries of Mercy, and Bob started talking

relationship with God as He intended. So all

about the need for doing this. I read the book and in it, Keller

of those alienations in the fallen world have

refers to some people having a switch flipped inside them when

produced need. Those needs are the effects of

they hear the teaching on the ministry of mercy. That’s what

the fall, the physical effects we feel. But then

happened to me. It’s something that I became very passionate

what Jesus did was to usher in the return of

about. We’ve gone through a lot of growth in the ministry of

the kingdom of heaven. As Pastor Bob is fond

mercy over the years and we’ve come so far from that time. It’s

of saying, which has an “already and not yet”

amazing and we’re at a point now where we’re ready for what

component to it. The “already” component is

we think is a significant expansion of the ministry of mercy to

what Jesus demonstrated when He came and

the cities.

showed us what the kingdom is all about. So when you see Jesus feeding the thousands,

IS MERCY TO THE CITIES WHAT WE FORMERLY CALLED

casting out demons, healing the sick, raising

MERCY TO THE WORLD?

the dead, that’s what he was doing: He

Yes. Mercy to the World sounded too much like feeding

was reversing the effects of the fall and

starving children in third world countries, which can be part of

demonstrating to people what the kingdom

a mercy ministry, but we wanted to have an emphasis that is

of God will be like when all the effects of the

more in line with the vision of Redeemer. We’re located in the

fall are reversed to the point that it’s like the

suburbs but we’re also a city facing church so we wanted to

original creation. And so we’re commanded to

rename the ministry to better fit that vision.

emulate Christ in the same way. We’re not God like Jesus is but we are commanded to emulate

6

PART OF THE MISSION OF THE MERCY MINISTRY IS TO

Him by working to reverse those effects of

“EMULATE CHRIST BY MEETING FELT NEEDS THROUGH

the fall. This shows people what the kingdom

DEEDS IN A WAY THAT REVERSES THE EFFECTS OF THE

of God is like. It’s a form of evangelism and

MOMENTUM // NOVEMBER 2013


it should make the church a really attractive

to one of the deacons (usually me because I’m responsible for

place so that people who are outside the

Mercy to the City). If there’s someone who attends Redeemer,

church want to be part of it.

but hasn’t been plugged into a Community Group, then one of the deacons will take on that case. That’s one of the reasons

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THERE’S

why we’re really pushing people to get involved in Community

SOMETHING BIGGER THAN AN IMMEDIATE

Groups. They are like a house church that meets during the

NEED? HOW DO YOU HELP IDENTIFY THE

week so they can meet mercy needs. Also, we want to give

ROOT CAUSE BEHIND A NEED IF IT EXISTS?

Community Groups the opportunity to minister to somebody.

Mercy is a picture both of justification, which

One of the things about the ministry of mercy is it isn’t just

is when we’re saved, and of sanctification. God’s

something we have to do it’s something we get to do. So if

mercy initially comes to us unconditionally:

someone doesn’t go through a Community Group with their

there’s nothing we can do to save ourselves;

need, we’re really taking away the opportunity for the brothers

God unconditionally saves us. But once we’re

and sisters closest to that individual, family, or situation, to

saved the process of sanctification kicks in,

come alongside and meet that need. Meeting one another’s

and that’s where there are conditions. God

needs is the way the Christian faith is supposed to function.

does His part but then we are to do our part in sanctification as well. When we don’t,

HOW DO THE DEACONS FIND MERCY CASES OUTSIDE OF

sometimes there are consequences. So part of

REDEEMER?

the process of sanctification is understanding

We have several connections with our community where

what the idols of our heart are: what it is that

we’re able to find and help people. One way we do this is

we’re worshiping, wanting, and loving in that

through a partnership we have with Resource West in Hopkins.

moment more than God. The Mercy Ministry

Resource West identifies families who are in need of financial

is very much the same way because we’re

assistance as well as mentoring. The mentoring is in what I call

modeling the grace and mercy of God toward

life skills—everything from job seeking and work skills to family

us in Christ. And so, immediate needs we’ll

and relationship skills. Resource West has certain families who

often meet unconditionally, but then as time

are a part of their mentoring program and we provide financial

goes on, if the need continues to be there,

sponsorship as well as families from our church body to come

then we begin to get involved in somebody’s

alongside and mentor the families from Resource West, usually

life and understand what the root cause of the

for a six to twelve month period. We just finished what was

need is. And the reason we seek to do that is

really a pilot a few months ago. We had two families we were

because it’s the merciful thing to do. Allowing

working with through Resource West and two families from

somebody to not address a need through the

Redeemer who were mentoring them. A second way we have

gospel is, by definition, not merciful. What

found to minister is through a group I’m a part of called WEST,

we’re doing then is fostering sin and allowing

which is a group of churches in Minnetonka and Excelsior who

someone to continue to cling to an idol. But

all have an interest in the ministry of mercy. They’re churches

we often find our identification with our idol

of every stripe ranging from United Methodist to Presbyterian

instead of with Christ, and we don’t want to

USA to community churches. These other churches have an

let that go. That’s where the ministry of mercy

informal ministry of mercy but we’ve been able to work with a

requires a tremendous amount of wisdom

few families through that group. The third way is through the

and a very merciful heart because involving

people of Redeemer having their own ministries of mercy.

ourselves in somebody’s life isn’t something that we take lightly. We really plead with people to let us into their lives.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE? Everyone from Redeemer is encouraged to have his or her own ministry of mercy. People are encouraged to look for

HOW DOES SOMEONE IN OUR CHURCH

opportunities in their neighborhoods and in their social circles

GO ABOUT SEEKING HELP FROM THIS

or work circles. What we don’t want is for people to go out,

MINISTRY?

look for a mercy need and then say, “Call the church office and

If it’s somebody inside the church, the first

one of the deacons will take care of it.” What we’re looking

place they go is their Community Group leader

for is for people to get involved with a neighbor and begin to

who is trained in the ministry of mercy. If it’s

meet the need that person has. Once they’ve done this, they

somebody outside the church, usually he or she will call the church office and be directed

Continues on the next page NOVEMBER 2013 \\ MOMENTUM

7


Q & A: Mercy Continued

Concern for justice Continued

can bring the church in for coaching or maybe additional financial help when it’s

(Matthew 5:20) as a condition of being

needed. We as leaders are really trying to help the people of Redeemer understand

admitted to heaven.

that the gospel isn’t just something that we believe, but it’s who we are as people.

God completely and unconditionally

And if it defines who we are as people, then it should define the things that we do,

meeting that need in the Person and

how we spend our time and money, and so forth. The Mercy Ministry is part of that. CAN YOU SHARE SOME OF THE OTHER WAYS OUR CHURCH HAS BEEN ABLE TO WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY THROUGH OUR MINISTRY OF MERCY? In addition to Resource West and the WEST group of churches I’m a part of, we’re also starting a partnership with Zion Baptist in North Minneapolis. We want

We also see

work of Jesus, despite the fact we are totally undeserving. The gospel calls us in turn to reflect God’s grace and mercy toward us outward through meeting the needs of others, in so doing pointing them to the Meeter of the ultimate need of all mankind.

to undertake a community redevelopment project with them that probably will be

When John the Baptist, losing hope

a ten or fifteen year project. The Mercy Ministry also provides monthly support for

in the hellishness of Herod’s prison,

Deep Haven Counseling Center. We have specific mercy clients that we’re working

sent his disciples to ask Jesus “Are

with who are clients of Deep Haven and we help with their counseling.

you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another,” Jesus could have

WHAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS CURRENTLY EXCITING YOU ABOUT THIS MINISTRY? The Mercy Ministry works on each of us who are involved in it by reminding us that

simply responded “yes.”

Instead, He

answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see:

the blind receive

their sight and the lame walk, lepers

when we see someone in need, we’re looking in a mirror. It’s very humbling and it’s

are cleansed and the deaf hear, and

also very gratifying. We have several people who attend Redeemer now who came

the dead are raised up, and the poor

in through the ministry of mercy. We also had quite a few needs inside Redeemer

have the gospel preached to them”

when we started the Mercy Ministry. We had some long-term, ongoing and pretty

(Matthew 11:2-5). These are the clear

big mercy needs and those are gone! Through counseling, shepherding and the

and unmistakable signs of the kingdom

aid we’ve given people, those are mostly all gone. The other thing is the deacons

of heaven.

used to be heavily involved in mercy cases to the church and that’s virtually all handled now through the Community Groups. It’s just been really amazing to see that. The Community Group leaders have done an incredible job so that it’s almost on autopilot, which has allowed us as deacons to focus on mercy to the cities.

Jesus’ ministry was characterized by tireless demonstrations of reversing the after effects of our rebellion against God.

In so doing, He was

not only validating who He was, but also demonstrating what the coming

WHAT ARE SOME WAYS YOU HAVE SEEN GOD WORKING THROUGH OUR

kingdom will look like when the effects

MERCY MINISTRY?

of the fall will be permanently and

As I mentioned, we have a number of families at Redeemer who came in through

forever reversed. In the same way, a

the ministry of mercy. We’re seeing tremendous change in people. I think of one

hallmark of a true Christian church

family right now that we started working with back in the summer. They were living

and its body of believers must be love

in a motel. They had been renting a house and the owner of the house wasn’t making the house payment, which they didn’t know, and the sheriff came and foreclosed on the house. They had no idea the owner was taking their money and not paying the mortgage payment, so they ended up in a motel, which is when we met them.

and concern for the poor, manifested through tirelessly working at putting the gospel in action by meeting their needs. Where there is no institutional or individual ministry of mercy rooted

The father had lost his job and they literally were two days from being put out from

in the gospel, there is no true church

this motel. We started working with the husband, his wife, their daughter and her

or believer.

son. Currently, the dad has gotten a job and the daughter and the wife are both

The gospel is not just something

looking for jobs. We were able to get them into a house for rent through the WEST

we believe, but it is who we are. And

organization, and we’ve also been able to help them get some car repairs made so

if it’s who we are, then of necessity it

they have transportation to work. We’ve just seen incredible change. They’re not

changes everything about the way

believers but they’ve come to church on occasion and they’re hearing the gospel— you know you can’t come to Redeemer and not hear the gospel. There are just many, many cases like that where we’ve been able to minister to somebody over the longer term and make a really big difference in somebody’s life. It’s really gratifying to see

we relate to the world, each other, and ourselves, resulting in an inability to turn our backs on the poor and needy because of the massive and undeserved grace and mercy God has

the gospel applied in a very tangible way and to see those effects of the fall reversed

shown to us in the person and work of

in somebody’s life. //RBC

Christ. Nothing less can ever pass the test of true Christianity.

8

MOMENTUM // NOVEMBER 2013

//RBC


ministry highlight

STRATEGIC PRAYER TEAM BY: BETHANY HWAY

P

rayer is the foundation under and the

the word, for hearts and eyes to be opened to the

umbrella over the vision, mission and

truth of the gospel and for effective ministry to the

strategy of Redeemer Bible Church. It

congregation and newcomers. These meetings are

is essential to our success. We cannot

open to all! Come when you can, leave when you

produce “the fruit of the gospel for the good of

need to. We meet from 8:30 – 8:55 AM and from

the world” on our own strength. Fruitfulness can

10:30 – 10:55 AM in Room 104 in the Lower Level.

only come when the Spirit moves in the lives of

Become a Prayer Ministers – Prayer Ministers are

individuals. Thus, the Strategic Prayer Team. Our

RBC Members who have a heart for others and an

purpose is to promote deepening personal prayer

ability to apply the gospel through prayer. Prayer

in the lives of individuals, to facilitate corporate

Ministers will be stationed at the front of the

prayer focused on the vision and ministries of

sanctuary after both services, and will be available

Redeemer, and to ask for an outpouring of the

to minister to others by listening to their needs

Holy Spirit on our church and city.

and praying with and for them.

The prayer team is just getting started. We

Join the team! – Our Strategic Prayer Team

need busy moms and seniors and teens willing

still has need of a few individuals to serve in

to pray for our leadership in the time they have.

leadership. Team members will help to organize

We need people to help in smaller, behind the

the resources needed for the congregation to

scenes ways. We need members willing to serve

pray for our leadership and vision. Responsibilities

our congregation in larger, administrative roles.

will be mainly administrative in nature, such as

If you have a heart for prayer and a desire to

collecting, organizing, and distributing key prayer

see the gospel spread like wildfire through our

points and answered prayers from leadership and

church and city, consider joining the Strategic

church ministries. //RBC

Prayer Team. Contact Bethany Hway (bethany@ IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THE PRAYER TEAM

redeemerbiblechurch.com) for more info.

CONTACT SARA SEELAND: SARA@ THREE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED Sunday

Morning

Prayer

Meetings

REDEEMERBIBLECHURCH.COM are

an

opportunity to spend a just few minutes with others asking the Lord to come and work in our worship services. We pray for the preaching of NOVEMBER 2013 \\ MOMENTUM

9


NOT ALL POVERTY IS CREATED EQUAL BY: STEVE CORBETT AND BRIAN FIKKERT

10

MOMENTUM // NOVEMBER 2013

ADAPTED WITH SPECIAL PERMISSION OF MOODY PUBLISHERS FROM WHEN HELPING HURTS


Y

iou turn on the evening news and

of the helpless man who lay bleeding along

see that a tsunami has devastated

the roadside is an excellent example of relief

Indonesia, leaving millions without

applied appropriately.

food,

adequate

clothing

or

shelter. Following a commercial break, the news returns and features a story about the growing number of homeless men in your city,

(Insert Figure 4.1)

who are also without food, adequate clothing or shelter. At first glance, the appropriate responses to each of these crises might

“Rehabilitation” begins as soon as the

seem to be very similar. The people in both

bleeding stops; it seeks to restore people and

situations need food, clothing and housing,

their communities to the positive elements

and providing these things to both groups

of their pre-crisis conditions. The key feature

seem to be the obvious solution. But there

of rehabilitation is a dynamic of working with

is something nagging in us as we reflect on

the tsunami victims as they participate in their

these two news stories. Deep down it seems

own recovery, moving from point 2 to point 3.

like the people in these two crises are in very

“Development” is a process of ongoing

different situations and require different types

change that moves all the people involved—

of help.

both the “helpers” and the “helped”—closer

How should we think about these scenarios?

to being in right relationship with God, self,

Are there principles to guide us to the

others, and the rest of creation. In particular,

appropriate response in each case?

as the materially poor develop, they are better able to fulfill their calling of glorifying God by working and supporting themselves

PICK A NUMBER BETWEEN 1 AND 3 A helpful step in thinking about working with

and their families with the fruits of that work.

the poor in any context is to discern whether

Development is not done to people or for

the situation calls for relief, rehabilitation, or

people but with people. The key dynamic in

development. In fact, the failure to distinguish

development is promoting an empowering

among these situations is one of the most

process in which all the people involved—

common

both the “helpers” and the “helped”—become

reasons

that

poverty-alleviation

more of what God created them to be, moving

efforts often do harm. “Relief” can be defined as the urgent and temporary provision of emergency aid to reduce immediate suffering from a natural man-made

crisis.

As

pictured

in

figure

4.1, when a crisis such as the Indonesian

beyond point 3 to levels of reconciliation that they have not experienced before. It is absolutely crucial that we determine whether relief, rehabilitation, or development is the appropriate intervention:

tsunami strikes at point 1, people are nearly

One of the biggest mistakes that North

or even completely helpless and experience

American churches make—by far—is in applying

plummeting

relief in situations in which rehabilitation or

economic

conditions.

There

is a need to halt the free-fall, to “stop the bleeding,” and this is what relief attempts

development is the appropriate intervention. The

Good

Samaritan’s

handouts

were

to do. The key feature of relief is a provider-

appropriate for the person at point 1, a victim

receiver dynamic in which the provider gives

who needed material assistance to stop the

assistance—often material—to the receiver,

bleeding and even prevent death; however, the

who is largely incapable of helping himself at

person at point 3 is not facing an emergency,

that time. The Good Samaritan’s bandaging

and handouts of material assistance to such


people do not help to restore them to being the

steward of his own resources and abilities.

productive stewards that they were created to

Fourth, to what extent has this person

be. In fact, applying a material solution to the

already been receiving relief from you or

person at point 3, whose underlying problem—

others in the past? How likely is he to be

like ours—is relational, is likely to do harm to

receiving such help in the future? As special

this person and to the provider of the material

as your church is, it might not be the first stop

assistance, exacerbating the brokenness in the

on the train! This person may be obtaining

four key relationships for both of them.

“emergency” assistance from one church or

The remainder of this chapter uses the relief-

organization after another, so that your “just-

rehabilitation-development paradigm to flesh

this-onetime-gift” might be the tenth such gift

out some principles as we seek the goal of

the person has recently received.

poverty alleviation—low-income people and

My family experienced this situation two

ourselves increasingly glorifying God through

months ago when a young woman knocked

reconciling relationships with God, self, others,

on the door of our house asking for some

and the rest of creation.

food. We complied, but we later found out that she had received similar assistance from

WHO’S #1?

weeks, and we still see her going door to door

for help will state that they are in a crisis,

asking for food. When neighbors have sought

needing emergency financial help for utility

to provide her with long-term solutions, she

bills, rent, food, or transportation. In other

has refused such help. The loving thing to do

words, they will state that they are at point 1 in

for this woman is for the entire community to

figure 4.1. Is relief the appropriate intervention

withhold further relief, to explain our reason

for such a person? Maybe, but maybe not.

for doing so, and to offer her wide-open arms

There are several things to consider.

should she choose a path of walking together

First, is there really a crisis at hand? If you

MOMENTUM // NOVEMBER 2013

with us in finding long-term solutions.

fail to provide immediate help, will there really

While many of these rules of thumb strike

be serious, negative consequences? If not,

an intuitive chord when working with the

then relief is not the appropriate intervention,

materially poor in North America, many of us

for there is time for the person to take actions

ignore these principles when working with

on his own behalf.

the materially poor in the Majority World.

Second, to what degree was the individual

Compared to our own situation, the levels

personally responsible for the crisis? Of

of poverty in the Majority World seem so

course, compassion and understanding are in

devastating, and the people seem so helpless.

order here, especially when one remembers

In such contexts, many of us are quick to hand

the systemic factors that can play a role in

out money and other forms of relief assistance

poverty. But it is still important to consider

in ways that we would never even consider

the person’s own culpability in the situation,

when ministering to the poor in North America.

as allowing people to feel some of the pain

12

other members of our community for many

Many of the people coming to your church

To illustrate, consider the savings and credit

resulting from any irresponsible behavior

association

on their part can be part of the “tough love”

Church, a congregation located in a slum in

needed to facilitate the reconciliation of

Manila, the Philippines. Each of the members

poverty alleviation. The point is not to punish

of this savings and credit association live on

the person for any mistakes or sins he has

approximately one to five dollars per day. Each

committed but to ensure that the appropriate

member of the association deposits into the

lessons are being learned in the situation.

group just twenty cents per week, which the

affiliated

with

Jehovah

Jireh

Third, can the person help himself? If so, then

association uses to make very small, interest-

a pure handout is almost never appropriate, as

bearing loans to the members. In addition,

it undermines the person’s capacity to be a

each member contributes five cents per week


to the association’s emergency fund, which

assessment tools help to identify the type of

can be used to provide relief to members

assistance that would be most beneficial and

facing an emergency crisis.

can also help to determine if the need for help

From a North American perspective, these

is real. Furthermore, these tools can reveal the

people are extremely poor. In this light, it is

willingness of the person to address larger

instructive to consider the policies that the

life issues that may have contributed to the

savings and credit association developed for

present situation.

its emergency fund. Money from the fund is

It is helpful for your church or ministry to

lent—not given—at a 0 percent interest rate to

have a set of benevolence policies in place

group members whose family members get

to guide decision making when working with

sick. No assistance is available for people who

materially poor people. These policies should

have had their electricity or water cut off for

flow from your mission and vision and be

not paying their utility bills. According to the

consistent with a biblical perspective on the

group, such a situation does not constitute

nature of poverty and its alleviation.

an emergency, since electric and water bills

Who is #1? It is unlikely that you know many

are regular household expenditures for which

people in this category, for the reality is that

they should all be prepared. The group will not

only a small percentage of the poor in your

even give emergency loans for hospitalization

community or around the world require relief.

for giving birth, because the family had nine

These would include the severely disabled;

months to prepare for the delivery of the

some of the elderly; very young, orphaned

baby. Finally, the amount of the loan from

children; the mentally ill homeless population;

the emergency fund is limited to the amount

and victims of a natural disaster. People

of the savings contributions of the members

in these categories are often unable to do

getting the loan. The members of this savings

anything to help themselves and need the

and credit association are tough cookies!

handouts of relief. However, for most people,

Now what happens when a North American

the bleeding has stopped, and they are not

church encounters the members of Jehovah

destitute. Acting as though they are destitute

Jireh Church’s savings and credit association?

does more harm than good, both to them

We often project our own ideas of what is an

and to ourselves. This does not mean that we

acceptable standard of living onto the situation

should do nothing to help those who are not

and are quick to take a relief approach, doling

destitute. It just means that rehabilitation or

out money in ways that the local people would

development—not relief—is the appropriate

consider unwise and dependence-creating.

way of helping such people. This help could

And in the process, we can undermine

very well include providing them with financial

local

assistance, but such assistance would be

judgment,

stewardship,

discipline,

savings,

and

accountability, institutions.

In

conditional upon and supportive of their

fact, research has shown that the injection of

being productive. Chapters 8 and 9 provide

outside funds into these savings and credit

examples of interventions that do this by

collapse.1

complementing people’s work and thrift with

groups typically dooms them to

The point is that, in deciding if relief is the

additional resources.

appropriate intervention, we must be careful lest we impose our own cultural assumptions into contexts that we do not understand very well. Assessment tools can help you to discern the nature of a person’s situation. These

HOW DO YOU SPELL “EFFECTIVE RELIEF”? If you do determine that relief is the appropriate response in a given situation, there are some principles that can help to make your relief efforts more effective.

tools can range from an informal set of

First, relief needs to be immediate. If a

questions used in an initial conversation to a

person is in the midst of a crisis and cannot

more formal and detailed written form. Such

help himself, a timely response is crucial. For


T

his Christmas season Redeemer families, through the Angel Tree Ministry right here at RBC, will be able to participate in sharing the gospel and the love of Jesus with a local child whose parent is in prison, yet wants them to know they are loved and missed. We do this by purchasing and delivering them a Christmas present the parent has indicated would be suitable, along with a gospel message. It’s simple and a blessing; pray about your participation and be watching for the Angel tags distribution on November 17 & 24 in the fellowship hall to choose the child you’ll get to minister to this year!

MORE INFORMATION // CALL JAN WYDER-BARCK AT 612.961.9271 TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP // CALL REBECCA PEEL AT 952.567.3304


WOMEN’S THIRD THURSDAY STUDYING MODEST BY R W GLENN

MEETS THURSDAY NOVEMBER 21ST @ 7 PM PURCHASE YOUR BOOK COST IS $ 9.00

Fellowship Hall // December 19th // 6:30 - 9:30 pm Contact Rebecca Peel at rebecca.peel1044@gmail.com


example, when a large-scale natural disaster

appropriately.

hits, the victims cannot wait weeks while

How do you spell “effective relief”? S-e-l-d-

churches try to think of what they should do

o-m, I-m-m-e-d-i-a-t-e, and T-e-m-p-o-r-a-r-y.

and secure funding. What is true for largescale disasters is true for the battered woman

DOING RELIEF AND REHABILITATION,

who has bravely come to the church office

DEVELOPMENTALLY

seeking safe shelter. Sending her back home

Once relief efforts have stopped the bleeding,

to wait while the church tries to find her

it is time to move quickly into rehabilitation,

some alternative shelter is not a good relief

working with, not for, people to help them

response.

return to the positive elements of their pre-

In order to provide timely relief, it is

crisis conditions. Again, rehabilitation must

important to engage in disaster preparedness.

be done in a way consistent with the long-run

This

and

goal of poverty alleviation: low-income people

forecasting the types of relief situations

and ourselves increasingly glorifying God

that the church or ministry may encounter.

through reconciling relationships with God,

Financial, material, and human resources can

self, others, and the rest of creation.

simply

means

looking

ahead

be identified and secured to be ready to be

About twenty years ago, my wife and I

put into play at the right time. For example,

helped to mobilize our church to volunteer at

the deacons can ensure that the church either

a Christian homeless shelter. Most of the men

obtains or creates a directory of services that

living in the shelter had experienced some

are available in the community to address

sort of trauma such as a divorce, a death in

relief needs. The deacons can also line up

the family, or the loss of a job. Turning to

people within the congregation who would be

drugs or alcohol to ease the pain, these men

ready to give of themselves to help someone

had lost everything and needed emergency

who is in the midst of a crisis. Such help could

help to survive in the frigid conditions of

include opening their home for a few nights,

the Connecticut winter. By providing food

providing transportation to an agency, taking

and warm beds, the shelter had stopped the

a person out to eat, or working in the church’s

downward plunge for these men and was now

clothing closet to ensure it is well organized.

trying to help them to rehabilitate through a

Second, relief is also temporary, provided

16

MOMENTUM // NOVEMBER 2013

range of counseling services.

only during the time that people are unable to

Once a month the members of our church

help themselves. Unfortunately, determining

graciously bought food, prepared a meal,

when to stop relief is never easy. On the one

served it to the shelter residents, and cleaned

hand, we can make the mistake of ending

up afterward. We did everything short of

our assistance too early. An uninsured family

spoon-feeding the men, never asking them

facing ongoing medical bills due to a health

to lift a finger in the entire process. A more

emergency may need more than a single gift

developmental approach would have sought

of one hundred dollars from the church’s

greater participation of these men in their

benevolence fund. On the other hand, if relief

own rehabilitation, asking them to exercise

is given for too long, it can do harm by creating

stewardship

dependence. Again, your church needs to

beginning to reconcile their key relationships.

have benevolence policies in place that define

We could have involved the men every step

the degree, frequency, and length of relief

along the way, from planning the meal, to

efforts. While there may be occasions that call

shopping for the food, to helping with serving

for working outside of these policies, having

and cleanup. We could have done supper

such policies can greatly aid in providing relief

with the men, working and eating side by

as

part

of

the

process

of


side, rather than giving supper to the men,

years non-government organizations working

engaging in a provider-recipient dynamic that

in Kibera have tended to operate on the basis

likely confirmed our sense of superiority and

of “quick fixes.” Frustrations set in because

their sense of inferiority.

changes in individuals are not forthcoming as quickly as anticipated. Many of these

BAD RELIEF UNDERMINES WORSHIP

organizations then either close down or move

The sprawling Kibera slum of Nairobi, Kenya,

to other parts of the country, leaving people in

is believed to be the largest slum in Africa.

a worse situation than they were before. In the

Development workers commonly refer to

process, individual and community lives have

Kibera as “scorched earth,” because decades

been devastated. It appears that many donors

of well-meaning outside organizations have

are willing to give to any venture as long as

made it nearly impossible to do long-lasting

they see pictures of “dilapidated” Kibera…

development work there. Failing to recognize

Of

course,

there

are

some

occasions

that the appropriate intervention in Kibera

in which there is a need for relief work in

is neither relief nor rehabilitation, outside

Kibera. For example, often times there are

organizations have poured in financial and

fire breakouts where houses and business

human resources, crippling local initiatives in

premises are gutted down. It might be

the process. Alvin Mbola, a Kenyan community

necessary to bring in outside resources to

development worker who tries to build up the

provide relief and to rehabilitate these homes

indigenous churches in Kibera, describes the

and businesses. But even in these situations,

situation as follows:

caution should be taken so that the relief

To many people, the Kibera slum in Nairobi,

efforts are not prolonged to the point in which

Kenya is a place with no equals. It is filthy,

they undermine local people’s stewardship of

congested, degraded, and unfit for human

their own lives and communities.

habitation.

Like

the

scriptural

The root issue in all of these considerations

reference to the birth place of Jesus Christ,

is that God, who is a worker, ordained work so

many people believe that “nothing good

that humans could worship Him through their

can come out of Kibera.” Therefore, most

work. Relief efforts applied inappropriately

remedies

are

often cause the beneficiaries to abstain from

motivated by the sympathy of outsiders, who

work, thereby limiting their relationship with

often give handouts in an attempt to cushion

God through distorted worship or through no

the residents against their perceived, gigantic

worship at all.3

directed

proverbial

towards

Kibera

problems. In reality, many of the problems of Kibera

FOOTNOTES:

stem from chronic issues that can only be

1. Jessica Murray and Richard Rosenberg,

solved through a consistent and long-term

“Community-Managed Loan Funds: Which

relationship between the change agent and

Ones Work?” Consultative Group to Assist the

the residents. Changes within individuals and

Poor, Focus Note No. 36, May 2006.

communities are not instantaneous; long-

3. Alvin Mbola, “Bad Relief Undermines

term relationships are needed to bring out the

Worship in Kibera,” Mandate, Chalmers Center

best of “what is” and of “what could be.” The

for Economic Development, 2007, no. 3,

people in Kibera have capacities, skills and

available at www.chalmers.org.

resources that need to be tapped if genuine development is to be realized, but the process

When Helping Hurts, © 2009, 2012 by Steve

of identifying and mobilizing these gifts and

Corbett and Brian Fikkert. All rights reserved.

assets takes time. Unfortunately, for many


redeemer kids corner

SHOWING MERCY WITH SHOE BOXES BY: PAULA POPPE

A

ttention families of Redeemer Kids! From October 20th until November 10th, the focus of the Redeemer Kids’ Mercy Ministry will be

Thanks to all of you who choose to support our efforts to teach our Redeemer Kids to extend God’s mercy to other children!

Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes, a ministry

of Samaritan’s Purse. Individuals or organizations (such as our

GIFT OPTIONS

Sunday School classes) pack shoe boxes that are then sent all

• SCHOOL SUPPLIES: Pens, pencils and

over the world to children in need. The boxes are distributed

sharpeners, crayons or markers, stamps and

by local churches, and many families of these children become

ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar

connected to their local church through this program. Each box

calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

comes with a simple gospel booklet in the local language that

• TOYS: Small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed

is written especially for children. And each box also contains

animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump

an offer for a correspondence course that many kids complete,

ropes, small Etch-A-Sketch, toys that light up

believing in Jesus as their Savior in the process!

or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky,

With this in mind, each of our Sunday School classes will be packing a box as follows:

etc. • HYGIENE ITEMS: Toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a Zip-lock bag), comb,

• 3’s class: a box for a boy and for a girl age 2-4 • 4’s-5’s class and 1st-3rd grade class: Two boxes for a boy and for a girl age 5-9 • 4th-6th grade class: a box for a boy and for a girl age 10-14.

washcloth, etc. • OTHER: T-shirts, socks, ball caps, stocking caps, mittens, sunglasses, hard candy, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries)

You may send any of the items listed below to your child’s

• DO NOT INCLUDE: Used or damaged items;

class any time between now and November 3rd. You may also

war-related items such as toy guns, knives or

send cash donations, as each box must be accompanied by $7

military figures; chocolate or food; out- of-

to cover the literature and shipping. The classes will be packing

date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or

the boxes on Sunday, November 10th, so while you may still

vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes

send money on that date, we need the items all collected by

or glass containers; aerosol cans. //RBC

Sunday, November 3rd.

18

MOMENTUM // NOVEMBER 2013


redeemer kids corner

THE PROMISE REAFFIRMED

GENESIS 28:20-22 20Then

Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, 21so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord

shall be my God, 22and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house. And of all that you give me I will give a full tenth to you.”


life on life

DISCIPLESHIP I

BY: HANNAH BEERS ’ve been in Life-on-Life Discipleship for one

Perhaps the most valuable aspect is knowing

and a half years, and it has often been the

each other’s testimonies and tendencies. We

link between “what I’m learning” and “how I’m

began by studying Gospel Transformation, and

living.”

I was struck by how my gaps in understanding

I sought out Discipleship as a single person

aspects of God’s character paralleled areas of

relatively new to Redeemer (not to mention

struggle in my day-to-day life. Building on that

the

post-college-graduation

foundation, the stories, questions, prayer requests,

life in general!) The consistency and natural

and encouragement became more specific and

accountability of meeting with someone to

fruitful.

Twin

Cities

and

discuss life and the gospel was really influential.

I think we are naturally drawn to people who share

Over the next year, I encountered a lot of changes

the same interests, circumstances, and perspectives

and decisions - some of them very difficult - and

as ourselves. Similarities are often a shortcut to

was really blessed by learning from someone a

close relationships. But in my experience, both

little older and more familiar with scripture.

Life-on-Life Discipleship and Community Groups

Over time, we’ve adjusted our meetings to

have really caused me to appreciate the Church as

accommodate moves, job changes, and travel.

the whole body of Christ. The most obvious thing

We’ve discussed books and sermons, prayed

we have in common is Christ, and so He becomes

together, followed hundreds of tangents, and

the focus. In an unexpected way, the relationships

one time I learned how to check my tire pressure.

have helped me better understand myself, but

Another time, I really, earnestly tried to learn to

focus less on myself. //RBC

knit, and quickly forgot about it.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE DISCIPLED: WOMEN CONTACT: TAMMY HOYT AT REPENTANDTRUST@GMAIL.COM MEN CONTACT MARK: MARKSUCHTA@YAHOO.COM

WANT TO SHARE? 20

MOMENTUM // NOVEMBER 2013

Have you been blessed by being in a discipleship relationship? Do you have a story of how the gospel has changed your life because of this connection? If so, we need to hear from you! Each month Momentum will be highlighting a life-on-life testimony from someone whose life has been impacted for the gospel by another. If you are interested in sharing your experience with the greater RBC family, please email Lorie Schnell at lorie@redeemerbiblechurch.com.


GET INVOLVED

volunteer

ART DEPARTMENT

CHURCH LIFE

JOB TITLE

JOB TITLE

COPY WRITERS & EDITORS

USHER

DESCRIPTION: Write or edit copy for Redeemer’s website, printed materials, flyers and Momentum. RESPONSIBILITIES: 1. Source and write copy for various printed and digital needs. 2. Generate headlines and short paragraphs for flyers. 3. Write or edit blog posts for the church website. HOURS PER WEEK: flexible

DESCRIPTION: greeting, handing out bulletins, assisting attendees with seating, collecting offering, serving communion, and handling questions during the worship services. HOURS PER WEEK: 4 Sunday morning or evening services per quarter.

JOB TITLE

MEDIA INVENTORY MANAGER DESCRIPTION: Restocking printed materials for the Welcome Center as well as keeping the sanctuary chairs tidy and supplied with Bibles, pens and Lords Table cards. HOURS PER WEEK: +/- 1 (to be done every Wednesday night after Prayer Meeting) *May be a good ministry for a family to do together.

JOB TITLE

COMMUNION SET-UP DESCRIPTION: prepare and fill all communion trays for Sunday morning services and for Communion Service Sunday nights when needed. HOURS PER WEEK: Once every other month.

PRAYER TEAM JOB TITLE

WANT TO GET INVOLVED IN MINISTRY AT RBC? CONTACT SARA SEELAND

SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER MINISTERS DESCRIPTION: RBC members who have a heart to minister to others by listening and praying with them after the Sunday morning worship services in the front of the sanctuary. HOURS PER WEEK: +/- 1 hour (with the option of praying during one service, or both). JOB TITLE

STRATEGIC PRAYER TEAM LEADER DESCRIPTION: Organize the resources needed for the congregation to pray for our leadership and vision. Collecting, organizing and distributing key prayer points and answered prayers from leadership and church ministries. HOURS PER WEEK: 2-5 hours P | 952.935.2425 E | Sara@redeemerbiblechurch.com

NOVEMBER 2013 \\ MOMENTUM

21


financial update

BY THE NUMBERS OCTOBER 2013 - YTD

GENERAL GIVING FUND

BAR GRAPH

Operating Expenses $ 84,940 Giving $ 50,701 Forecast $ 85,926

PIE CHART

EXPANDING OUR GOSPEL VISION

Extra Commitments $ 41,427 Awaiting Commitments $ 260,379 | 11.9% Commitments Received $ 1,918,621 | 88.1%

BASE FORECAST

11.9 %

EXPENSES GIVING

88.1%

22

MOMENTUM // NOVEMBER 2013


SUN

25

18

11

4

MON 7

YOUTH BARN DANCE 7 PM - 11 PM

8

9

SAT

DATES TO REMEMBER 6

WOMEN’S BOOK STUDY 7 PM - 8:30 PM

15

FRI

5 WEDNESDAY WORSHIP & REDEMPTION | 7 PM MUSIC MAKERS 7 PM - 8:30 PM

14

THU

NO WOMEN’S BOOK STUDY

13

WOMEN’S BOOK STUDY 7 PM - 8:30 PM

WED

12

WEDNESDAY WORSHIP & REDEMPTION | 7 PM

16

WOMEN’S BOOK STUDY 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

21

23

20

22

19

28

30

WOMEN’S NIGHT 7 PM - 8:30 PM

27

NO WOMEN’S BOOK STUDY

29

WEDNESDAY WORSHIP & REDEMPTION | 7 PM

26

WEDNESDAY WORSHIP & REDEMPTION | 7 PM

MUSIC MAKERS 7 PM - 8:30 PM

WOMEN’S BOOK STUDY 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

THANKSGIVING

WOMEN’S BOOK STUDY 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM

TUE

November 3 MORNING WORSHIP | 9 & 11 AM REDEMPTION | Youth SS 9 AM NEWCOMERS LUNCH 1:00 - 2:30 PM | Glenn’s Home FELLOWSHIP DINNER | 5:00 PM EVENING WORSHIP | 6:00 PM

10 MORNING WORSHIP | 9 & 11 AM REDEMPTION | Youth SS 9 AM

17 MORNING WORSHIP | 9 & 11 AM (Including the Lord’s Table) REDEMPTION | Youth SS 9 AM

24 MORNING WORSHIP | 9 & 11 AM REDEMPTION | Youth SS 9 AM


A:: 16205 HIGHWAY 7 | MINNETONKA, MINNESOTA 55345 P:: 952.935.2425 E:: INFO@REDEEMERBIBLECHURCH.COM W:: REDEEMERBIBLECHURCH.COM

FEATURED EVENTS Friday NOVEMBER 8TH

Thursday NOVEMBER 21ST

Sunday DECEMBER 1ST

YOUTH BARN DANCE

WOMEN’S NIGHT

7 PM - 11 PM | Liska’s Home

7 - 8:30 PM | Fellowship Hall

NEWCOMERS LUNCH

Last year we had our first

Our Women’s Ministry will

1 - 2:30 PM | Glenn’s Home

barn dance and it was a

have its last “Third Thursday”

If you would like to attend

blast, so we decided we

of the Fall on November 21st.

the next Newcomer’s Lunch,

should do it again this year!

Our Women’s Ministry will

please RSVP with Laurie

Students; invite your friends

continue discussing the book

Summers at lsummers@

who don’t know Jesus

Modesty by our own RW

redeemerbiblechurch.com or

and introduce them to the

Glenn. We are encouraging

952.935.2425.

community of Redemption

all RBC Women to attend.

and Redeemer. We will have

Questions: Gayle Glenn at

a great time as always! The

gayleuglenn@gmail.com

Liska’s Barn: 6926 Pagenkopf Rd., Independence, MN 55378. Call 763.479.6797 for directions.


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