FALL 2011 VOLUME NUMBER
13 3
connection volume 13 • number 3
A quarterly publication, © 2011 Stonebriar Community Church, Frisco, Texas. The material within this publication may not be disseminated without permission.
FALL 2011
2
All inquiries, comments, suggestions, . and story ideas should be directed to . Kenny Courtenay, creative director, by. e-mail to communications@stonebriar.org.
senior pastor chuck swindoll senior director of resource ministries carol spencer director of communications andrea bagwell creative director kenny courtenay writer amber mcdonald
membership class: more than adding numbers....... 1
editors hollis roberts susan jacobson
ask the pastor ................................................................................... 1
designer connie o’hara
how does our church use my financial gifts? .......... 2
administrative assistant jeri kopp
what are you devoted to?.......................................................... 3
volunteer editor shelly king
stonebriar organizational chart............................................ 4 family finds church home through fall festival......... 6
encouraging all people to pursue a lifelong,
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4 6
summer in review................. 6 mary joulevette—sharing God’s love................. 8
joyous relationship
emergency response plan........................................... 9
with Jesus Christ
did you know? .................................................................... 9
9 www.stonebriar.org
fall calendar of events............................. back cover
more stories at www.stonebriar.org
ask the pastor by roy williamson pastor of family & parenting ministries
“I heard Chuck’s explanation of the inspiration of Scripture. My sister claims that because translators aren’t inspired there have been ‘mistakes’ made in translations. Is she correct?”
by dr. richard mabry, stonebriar member When my wife Kay and I moved to Frisco three years ago, we were already. familiar with Stonebriar Community Church from visits while we were house hunting. We quickly knew that we wanted to become members, but to do that we couldn’t just walk down the aisle or fill out a card. We needed to complete the new member class. Although we had been church members elsewhere for many years, we had. never been asked to attend a new member class, so we had no idea what to. expect. We were thrilled with the experience. The class emphasized. Stonebriar’s mission statement: Encouraging all people to enjoy a lifelong, joyous relationship with Jesus Christ. It impressed us that, as a part of the class, the Gospel was presented and each of us were asked to affirm our personal. relationship with Jesus Christ before asking for membership. In the three one-hour sessions, we were introduced to many members of the staff. We learned a great deal about the way the church functions. We got an overview of ProjectServe and the many ways in which Stonebriar members can be a part of the church in action. It was exciting to see so many in the class fill out cards indicating their desire to join in service. When you see those who have completed the Membership Class presented to the church each quarter, you see a group signaling their willingness to add their. hands and hearts in service. Soon after completing the class, we were asked to assist pastor Les Fleetwood with future classes. We accepted, and it’s been a great experience in many ways. Not only do we have an opportunity to meet lots of great people, but every time we act as facilitators for a class we learn something new about Stonebriar.
It is true that the translators of Scripture are not. inspired—they don’t need to be! Translation of the. inspired Word from the original languages into a modern language is an academic exercise. As. such, accuracy is readily verified by other scholars,. and “mistakes in translation” do not occur. . Mistakes in transmission (the copying from. manuscript to another) did occur, resulting in. typos, accidental additions, and purposeful. additions or changes. Typos are innocent errors. (misspellings). Accidental additions are text notes. one scribe made that were accidentally copied by. a later scribe. Purposeful additions and changes. are things “made to order” to fit a belief. Biblical. scholars apply the science of “textual criticism”. (comparing manuscripts from different times and. sources to accurately reconstruct the original. document) to weed out these alterations to the. Bible. The result is a very accurate and reliable. reconstruction of the original text. Guidance from the Holy Spirit is desired but. not required to translate the Scripture. His. power is absolutely required to apply. Scripture: to understand the Word so that it. challenges and changes me (John 14:26).. .
Whether you’ve been attending for quite a while or if you’re a first-time. visitor, we hope you’ll pray about becoming a true part of our fellowship.. Your next step would be to sign up for the next quarter’s Membership Class. We can promise you a friendly greeting at the door, a cup of coffee, and the opportunity to join fellow Christians in a learning experience that will make you a better servant of Christ. Dr. Richard Mabry and his wife, Kay, have been members of Stonebriar Community Church for three years. In addition to serving as facilitators for Membership Class, they are members of Impact Fellowship and the Molina Home Fellowship group.
www.stonebriar.org | 1
by shelly king, contributing writer
thousands of lives are touched each year through our church’s generous giving.
As we all know, it takes money to run any church—Stonebriar is no exception.. With a vibrant and growing ministry, there are numerous daily financial needs to. be met. Every week during our services,. the offering plates are passed, but many members and guests may not understand the intricate process behind managing the church’s finances. One may ask, “How are my offerings used?” Sam Mathai, a charter member seated on our. board of elders, is. chairman of our. Finance Committee.. With a 25-year career. in finance and. administration, Sam. has worked in various. industries, including. non-profit organizations.. The committee consists of two elders and four lay. volunteers—from the banking,. accounting, and business sectors—as well as senior staff leadership. Sam underscores that all members take their roles very. seriously.
Sam Mathai, chairman of Stonebriar’s Finance Committee, has 25 years of. experience in finance and administration.
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“This committee is comprised of godly men and women, and I am proud to serve beside them in this crucial area of
devoted to . . . by tony cammarota, associate pastor of equipping ministries When you think of devotion, what comes to mind . . . devotion to Christ, your family,. your job? Devotion is defined as profound dedication or earnest attachment to a. cause or person. Consider that phrase “earnest attachment” for a few moments . . .
the church’s operation,” said Sam. “Each member has a heartfelt conviction that he/she is serving in accordance with God’s leading and fully understands all the. responsibility that entails.” Stonebriar’s financial fiscal year runs. from July 1 to June 30, and weekly. we need $226,875 to meet our ministry needs. Overall operating expenses are. broken out as follows: Ministry Expenses. —67%; Missions and Outreach—14%; General and Administration—19%. . Undesignated giving always goes to the our general fund, which pays. most expenses. Although contributions . typically lag until Christmastime, when. giving accelerates, Sam continues to be amazed by the ongoing generosity of our congregation. “Stonebriar is unique in many ways— excellent worship, solid teaching, and. a generous community of believers,”. said Sam. “From stacking plastic chairs. in the church’s infant stages, to the current. campaign to reduce the debt, I have. experienced the faithfulness of the. believers. And this faithful giving allowed. Stonebriar to touch approximately. 38,000 individuals last fiscal year. through various care and outreach. ministries.”
The early church described in Acts 2:42 was devoted (earnestly attached) to learning about Christ, prayer, and fellowship. They had a profound dedication to one another caused by Christ’s work in their lives. Throughout the New Testament, Christians encouraged one another, bore each other’s burdens, prayed for, and loved one another.. There is no doubt that these believers cared for one another. This is what Christ desired. then and what He desires today. In today’s world, devotion to fellowship has many challenges such as busyness,. over-commitment, fear of being transparent, past disappointments, lack of effort, and not knowing where to connect. One of Satan’s most effective strategies is to keep. Christians isolated from meaningful relationships with other believers. The good. news is that things do not have to be that way. Christ desires for all Christians to. experience the benefits of genuine, biblical, and honest friendships. Our church is committed to providing opportunities for this kind of devotion.. We offer adult fellowships and home fellowships that encourage all people to pursue a lifelong, joyous relationship with Jesus Christ by providing opportunities for authentic community and spiritual growth. . Adult fellowships meet Sundays at 7:45, 9, and 10:45 a.m., as well as 4:30 p.m. These. groups vary in size from 20 to 250 people. While each of our 23 adult fellowships has a. unique personality, each is committed to getting to know one another, studying. Scripture, and prayer. One of the best things about adult fellowships is the ease. of getting connected—a person simply needs to show up. Home fellowships meet in people’s homes throughout the metroplex on various nights. of the week. These groups are intended to stay small (around 8 to 15 in attendance). and are wonderful environments to know and be known by others. Like our adult. fellowships, these groups also share a commitment to fellowship, Bible study, and prayer. We encourage you to take time this fall to visit one of our fellowship groups. Through your participation, you will experience the great benefits of being devoted to fellowship. To find an adult or home fellowship that fits your lifestage or to find a group that. meets near your neighborhood, pick up a brochure at the Ministry Center, or visit. www.stonebriar.org [keyword: fellowshipgroups]. For more information, e-mail. equipping@stonebriar.org, or call Melinda at 469-252-5380.
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senior leadership
Carol Spencer
Senior Director of Resource Ministries
Rhonda Guerry
directors
Senior Ministry Assistant
Andrea Bagwell
Lorie Bradshaw
Vickie Bray
Barry Buchanan
Marge Ditka
Teresa Kay
Beverly Montgomery
Chris Whitson
Communications
Finance
Human Resources
Information. Technologies
Special Events & Housekeeping
ProjectServe
Database Management
Building Management
Abbi Vance Receptionist
Kenny Courtenay
Robert Crosland
Assistant Director Building Systems
Creative Director
Eric Collins
Connie O’Hara
Assistant Director Building Management
Graphic Designer
Amber McDonald
James Bentley
Writer
Hollis Roberts Editor
Micheal Cole
Infocaster Specialist
Jeri Kopp
Administrative Assistant
Susan Wedel Assistant Director, Finance
Kenna Smith Cash Management Specialist
Darlene Burner
Accounts Payable Specialist
Jimmy Clark
Manager, Help Desk
Calendar Coordinator
Vala Wood
Greg Luttrell
Help Desk/ PT
Facilities Team
George Hicks
Cyndie Ward
Help Desk/ PT
Jessamine Wong
Facilities Team
Database Assistant
Michael Vincent Stephanie Stuck
Database Assistant
Facilities Team
Charles Crossman
Facilities Team/Security
Diane Snow
Administrative Assistant
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Doug Cave
Mechanical/Technical
Dr. Chuck Swindoll
Charlton Hiott
Senior Pastor
Senior Associate Pastor of Pastoral Ministries
Kathy Clegg
pastors
Senior Ministry Assistant
Kristi McElheney
Dave Carl
Tom Hayes
Steve Fischer
Jason Stevenson
Les Fleetwood
Carlos Zazueta
Don McMinn
Children’s Ministries
Missions & Community Impact
Care Ministries
Student & High School Ministries
Connecting & Equipping Ministries
Stonebriar en Español
Pastor of Worship & Music
Joe Harms
Ministry Leader, . Elementary
Crystal Kirsch
Associate Pastor, Preteen Ministry
Lauren Newport
Ministry Assistant
AWANA Commander
Amanda Hight
Sarah Borszcz
Coordinator,. Resource Room
Michelle Felt
Coordinator,. Childcare Ministry
Linda Wylie
Ministry Leader, Preschool Ministry
Meaghan Wall Darla Hill
Administrative Assistant
Ministry Leader, Sports Outreach
Roy Williamson
Associate Pastor, Care Ministries
Taylor Gardner
Administrative Assistant
Coordinator, . Special Needs
Roger Campbell
Associate Pastor, Care Ministries
Chrissy Smith
Pastoral Leader, Care Ministries
Lindsay Grove
Ministry Assistant
Kelley Wilkinson
Karen Hawkins
Preschool Pals Director
Pastoral Leader, Community Care
Tonnya Blaylock
Julie Gandia
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistant
David Ake
Pablo Monroy
Associate Pastor, Junior High
Stonebriar en Español
Alysse Henry
Angelica Olivares
Ministry Leader, Jr. High Women
Heather Severding
Ministry Leader, High School Women
Sean Easley
Ministry Leader, High School
Kathy Goodwin Student Ministries Coordinator
Jean Allen
Senior Ministry Assistant
Sandi Altstaetter Ministry Assistant
Tony Cammarota Associate Pastor, Equipping
Mary Dean
Pastoral Leader, Equipping
Melinda Crego Administrative Assistant
Music Associate, Children’s &. Youth Choirs
Amy Stamps
Administrative Assistant
Chuck Swindoll, Jr.
Chief Engineer, Audio/Visual
Jason Webb
House Engineer, Audio/Visual
Paul Thompson
Music Associate, Instrumental. Worship & Music Ministries
Steve Farrar
Associate Pastor, Men’s Wednesday Night Bible Study
Lynne Laminack Ministry Assistant
John Dill Organist
Priscilla Murphy Pianist
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family finds connecting point at our fall festival Two years ago, Audrey Major’s eight-yearold daughter, Abigail, was invited to our. Fall Festival by a friend. Though a bit. reluctant, Audrey and her family came.
elementary camp Sabine Creek Ranch in Royse City, Texas was the. site of this year’s “Krazy Kountry Kids Kamp.” Each day, 130 of our second-grade through fourth-grade kids participated in Bible stories, worship time, pond time, rock wall climbing, games, crafts, small group. time, and more! This year, six kids made first-time. decisions to trust in Christ. Elementary Ministry Leader, Kristi McElheney, shared, “God was so faithful, as He always is. We saw Him work in mighty ways.”
“We had such a great time!” remembers. Audrey. Impressed by her experience,. Audrey and her family began to attend. our church—it was the perfect fit! When asked why she chose us as her church. home, Audrey said, “I felt so welcomed. . . . like they were my extended family.” Audrey quickly became connected . through serving and through our . Women’s Wednesday Bible Study. She. and her teenage daughter, Anabelle, serve. in Children’s Ministries every Sunday.. “As a mother of five,” says Audrey, “I. love children. I also feel great being able to help other parents by caring for their. children while they get the opportunity. to hear the wonderful service on Sundays. or take part in classes. It’s also a great. time to spend with my daughter.”
junction 56 camp This summer, 80 preteens loaded a charter bus. headed to Jan-Kay Ranch near Paris, Texas for. five fun-filled days of camp. “It was the best. camp ever! It was so awesome learning about God, and they have the best water slide!”. said first-time camper, Sean Kopp. With twelve. preteens making first-time decisions for Christ, this year’s camp was definitely one to remember!
sports camps Featuring baseball, softball, basketball, and. football, this summer’s camps were a hit! Each day consisted of learning fundamental. sports skills and having “Chalk Talks,”. conversations about Christ and the Gospel.. Of the 175 kids who attended, 28 made. professions of trust in Christ!
For the Major family, attending our Fall. Festival meant finding Stonebriar, and finding Stonebriar meant finding the perfect fit. “I wanted a place where we felt comfortable and great. Stonebriar is that place for our family.” The Major family chose Stonebriar as their church home after attending our Fall Festival.
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joni & friends camp This year, 15 special needs families and 10 volunteers attended the Joni & Friends Camp. Special Needs Coordinator, Meaghan. Wall, shared, “I saw some of our kids do. things I never thought they’d do, from. petting a baby goat to climbing up a. ladder on a fire truck. The relationships formed at camp are everlasting.”
vacation Bible school With 700 kids in attendance, this year’s vacation Bible school, “Welcome to Wildwood,” was a huge success! While 99 kids stated they desired to grow in their walk with the Lord, 37 kids made first-time decisions to trust in. Christ! Elementary Ministry Leader, Kristi McElheney, shared, “Seeing. families participate in VBS together was great. Dads, moms, brothers, and. sisters learning to love Jesus and worshiping Him together is a great sight!”
family experience nights This summer, 86 families attended our fun-filled Family Experience Nights.. Children’s Ministries Pastor, Dave Carl, shared, “The main objective for the. Family Experience Night is to provide a time for families to have fun with their children while they worship and learn about God. The atmosphere is relaxed and casual, perfect for families with children of all ages.” Each night included meal. activities, family performances, family challenges, learning time, worship time, group games, closing time, and take-home bags.
honduras mission trip This summer, 12 of our High School Ministry students went on a mission trip to. Honduras. Working closely with Honduras-based ministry, La Providencia, our team coordinated a vacation Bible school, worked on construction projects, and built. relationships with orphans and with their foster parents. High school student. Ian Huxham shared, “I soon came to realize that the community we thought we. would be serving actually was serving and blessing us in a way we could. never have given them. Their unconditional love for each other, for God, and for us. really challenged my faith and blessed me.”
summer escape More than 200 ladies attended Summer Escape this year. The day included 18 workshops, gospel music, old-time hymns, giveaways, learning how to. do the “Cotton-Eyed-Joe,” food, fun, and fellowship. Some of the workshops. featured were “Delectable Salads,” “Praying for Special Needs Children,”. and “What’s so Scary about Evangelism?” An enthusiastic attendee shared,. “Thank you! I needed this encouraging break!”
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by deborah distefano, contributing writer There’s something about Mary Joulevette. You can’t miss her on a Sunday morning. —or rather, she can’t miss you! Mary is known for her exuberant affection, which is her “spiritual gift.” “I can’t ever get used. to shaking hands because I got the love of God in my heart. I give love hugs.. It’s a gift God gave me, and my hugs are. spiritual hugs,” says Mary in her sweet Texas drawl. “They tell a story about the love of God, and it shines through me. and it’s real. It will always be real in my soul. He’s real in my life.” Born in Texas almost 70 years ago into. a family of strong faith, Mary remembers. learning about the Lord from her grandmother, who taught her the Bible. and led by example. “She would read the. Bible and talk to us about the Lord.. She would play gospel songs and sing.”
Mary Joulevette is seen giving one of her famous “love hugs.”
As an adolescent, Mary sang in choral. clubs and performed duets with her. mother at various churches and tent . revivals around the state. She went on to study voice at Texas Southern University. Mary loves true gospel classics such as “Rock of Ages” and “Jesus Goin’ to Make. Up My Dyin’ Bed.” One of her favorite. vocalists was the legendary Mahalia. Jackson. Although she jokes about having. a “strong voice,” Mary enjoys singing to her granddaughter, who will call and say “Granny, just sing a song.” Mary began a life of service through. her various vocations. She ran a church.
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nursery, drove school buses, and served. in a prison ministry. Her favorite job. was running a home health care business.. “I enjoyed loving on the elderly people,” she says. “I’ve always loved people.” Her love has been tested through fire.. Mary’s heart aches as she tells the story. of how she lost her son, Keffrin. He was an. all-American college football player who. was about to turn professional and had. just gotten married when he was. diagnosed with Leukemia. After being. hospitalized for a year, Lymphoma took. his life at the age of 26. “I miss him. so much, but I prayed and asked God. to give me strength, knowing that he. wasn’t going to live. And God gave. me strength.” She mustered enough. courage to even speak at Keffrin’s eulogy.. She adds, “It wasn’t me, it was God.” Despite her challenges and life’s storms, Mary keeps on keepin’ on. Her smile, her infectious joy, and “love hugs” are forces to be reckoned with as she attends the Life on Purpose fellowship and women’s Bible studies. “I will not miss going. to church or going to Sunday school or. Bible study unless I am ill. You have. to stay with it. That’s the way I live my. life. I was chosen by God to do so.. I know He loves me so much, He. chose me before the foundation of the. world. He loves me unconditionally.”. But Mary doesn’t just stop there, she. shares the love of the Lord with others who need it—and it is real.
by carol spencer, senior director of resource ministries
Our elders and staff actively promote safety and security on our campus. through the use of security cameras, security doors, and on-site police. protection. An emergency response plan, created with the advice of police. officers, firemen, and security experts, is in place and is currently in the process. of being updated. The plan contains ideas and safety precautions which have been. gleaned from a number of different sources: responses to medical emergencies. by our medical team, preparedness for severe weather, dealing with hazardous. materials, and a method for quickly evacuating the building. Staff and volunteers have been trained to provide an appropriate response should. an emergency arise. As the plan is updated, additional training will occur. This. training will further equip us on how to safely seek shelter or evacuate the facilities. if needed. Ushers and staff will be trained to provide leadership for those. persons in the Worship Center or adult fellowships. Children’s Ministries has a separate evacuation plan for all of your youngsters that. will take them out of harm’s way until the “all-clear” is sounded. They will be. in good hands should an emergency arise and will be reunited with parents at a. pre-arranged site. .
• More than 220 kids participate in our. Children’s Choirs—and. it’s still growing!
• Our church library contains more than. 5,300 titles!
• There are more than 2,500 single adults in. our congregation.
• www.stonebriar.org was ranked among the top. ten church websites by. webanddesigners.com
• Though our orchestra is comprised primarily. of volunteers, we do. occasionally contract. professional musicians. when necessary.
• Our orchestra members are required to pass a. challenging audition. process.
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where has connection been?
FALL 2011 sundays
estudio Bíblico
servicio en español
mondays
9 a.m., B203
10:30 a.m., multi-purpose room
10/28
fall festival
6 p.m.
11/12
thanks for giving boxes sort & pack
11/12
high school operation christmas child project
awana 4:30 p.m.
celebration singers rehearsal 6:30 p.m., choir room
tuesdays
frisco connect
reengage your marriage
10/28, 11/11 high school breakfast club 12/2, 16 6:30 a.m. 10/30–11/9 thanks for giving collection
(meets 1st & 3rd tuesdays) 9 a.m.–noon
10/30
high school pre-baptism lunch
offsite, meet outside hub at . 12:30 p.m.
6:30 p.m., B241-242
11/1, 8
children’s baptism class
women of grace
7 p.m., registration required
11/4–5
preteen mother/daughter retreat
7 p.m.
wednesdays women’s Bible study 9:30 a.m. & 6:30 p.m.
11/4–6
preteen father/son retreat
men’s wednesday night Bible study with steve farrar
11/5
center stage concert: j. s. bach
wednesday night live 11/5
high school barn dance & western hoedown
11/6, 12/4
stonebriar prays
6:30 p.m., worship center
6:30 p.m.
fridays
reach up, reach out
mom2mom encouragement fridays
submit photos to communications@stonebriar.org
10/23, 30, membership class 11/6 10:45 a.m.
10/30, 11/6, operation christmas 11/13 child box collection
Aaron Stammer at the 2011 Men’s Fall Retreat
7 a.m., B200-201
9:30 a.m., multi-purpose room
3 & 5 p.m., worship center
7 p.m.
5 p.m., A129
11/7, 12/5 cancer encouragement group 7 p.m., B203
11/13
11 a.m.
ordinance of baptism 1 p.m., multi-purpose room
11/21, 12/19 in His time 6:30 p.m., A129 11/24–25
church offices closed for thanksgiving
12/3
high school girl’s powder puff football
12/3
10 a.m., sports fields
high school boy’s paintball 6:45 a.m., offisite, meet at church.
12/4
children’s choirs christmas concert
12/7
sweet celebration
12/10
sanctuary choir & orchestra christmas concert
12/10
stonebriar en español christmas event, “noche de amor”
6 p.m., worship center
7 p.m., atrium/worship center
2:30 and 5 p.m., worship center
7 p.m., multi-purpose room
4801 legendary drive, frisco, texas 75034 • 469.252.5200 • www.stonebriar.org