Connection Summer 2017 by Stonebriar Community Church

connection stonebriar community church

glorifying God by

what’s the word?

growing up in e-kids

an afternoon at the ranch

meet the pastors

recipe

home fellowships leader survey

encouraging all people to pursue a lifelong, joyous relationship

a look into what our children learn at stonebriar on sunday mornings

with Jesus Christ senior pastor chuck swindoll senior director of resource ministries carol spencer communications director sandi garrett communications coordinator sarah mcfarlane senior graphic designer susan jacobson editor/writer patricia salcedo graphic designer michelle sweeten graphic designer angie chi

experience lebsack’s ranch and equine therapy insight

ignacio cerda and nathan kocurek

easy crumb cake

staff spotlight

kids’ activity page

lindsay grove in care ministries

videographer brandon blackard volunteer editor olga ball volunteer editor shelly king

©2017 Stonebriar Community Church, Frisco, Texas. The material within this publication may not be disseminated without permission. All inquiries, comments, suggestions, and story ideas may be e-mailed to our Communications Department at communications@stonebriar.org.

summer-themed coloring and puzzles

what’s the

How has leading a Home Fellowship deepened your relationships with God and others? “Leading a Home Fellowship has deepened our relationship with God by reminding us we are here to serve Him, not just enjoy the blessings He gives us. Fellowshipping with other believers in a way that puts us as servants keeps life in perspective.” Lynn & Marsha R. “It has made us feel more aligned with His will for people in His Kingdom to walk more closely with each other.” Sixto M.

How would you describe the importance of a Home Fellowship? “Home Fellowships make a large church feel smaller and help connect people, giving them an opportunity for community.” Larry J. “It is much easier to get an unchurched person into the doors of your home than through the doors of a church. There are a lot of people who have had negative experiences at a church . . . Home Fellowships are perfect for them! Get them into your living room and share the love of Christ through the participants and the discussions.” Kathryn P.

What inspired you to lead a Home Fellowship? “We decided to go to the first leader training session just to explore what it would involve. The others in the training were so genuine and sincere it drew us in, and we were committed. I still reflect on the group discussions and how powerful they were. As in all things with God, if there is a small tug on your heart, pursue it, even in doubt. You will quickly know if you are on the right path.” Steve and Joanne L.

home fellowships leader survey

“The inability to locate an existing fellowship that could accommodate us! That’s a ‘good problem’ for the church, as it reflects the growth in attendance and participation.” Brett F.

What would you say to encourage someone who is thinking about becoming a Home Fellowship Leader? “Jesus commanded the apostles to ‘Go and make disciples,’ and He promised to be with us always. Becoming a Home Fellowship leader has helped us focus on the simplicity of following Christ so we can cut out all the other things that have taken away from a meaningful, purpose-driven life.” Ron and Shannon W. “Don’t worry if you feel ill-equipped—that is why Stonebriar trains its facilitators using the Entrust curriculum. I had never led a Home Fellowship group and felt very uncertain about the entire thing. On this side of the training, I feel much more comfortable and prepared.” Kathryn P.

What have been the most surprising, unexpected benefits of leading a Home Fellowship group? “Finding very interesting people I never knew who were sitting around me in church, and discovering the indescribable feeling of “belonging” to others with whom I can share my heart.” Jeanne H. “God has opened up our eyes to the Kingdom of God: it is diverse, vast, and continues to grow deeper and deeper all over the world. We have seen some amazing transformations in our own lives and have made some lasting friendships that we are so grateful for.” Ron and Shannon W.

Are you interested in becoming a Home Fellowship leader? E-mail equipping@stonebriar.org.

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growing up in e-kids

an inside look at sunday morning children’s activities

More than 450 kids come through the Elementary area each Sunday, plus hundreds more in our Early Childhood classrooms. It takes a big team of ministry partners to care for all these little ones. We need you! Our Sunday morning classrooms have an urgent need for more ministry partners. When you volunteer your time to invest in His kids, whether rocking babies or telling Bible stories, you can trust that God will make an everlasting impact through you.

Stonebriar kids love to raise their voices and hands in worship every week. Here, ministry partner Karen Wilson (known to the kids as “Miss America”) is guiding kindergarteners through motions as they sing “waves of mercy, waves of grace,” and “Every move I make, I make in You—You make me move, Jesus!”

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Now called “e-kids,” our elementary ministry is geared up for exciting changes in the fall. Stay tuned!

In each classroom, children earn pom poms for bringing their Bible, completing their take-home activity page, reciting their memory verse, or bringing a friend to church. This encourages kids to participate and work together toward a fun goal. Once the class pom pom supply is full, they earn a party with special snacks like soda floats or make-your-own mini pies!

Ministry partner Tad McClellan (or “Captain,” as the kids call him) teaching the story of King David to first and second graders. Stonebriar’s curriculum offers a chronological overview of the Bible at a children’s level, teaching them how individual Bible stories are part of God’s “big story” of creating and redeeming the world.

Each month, parents are encouraged to pick up a HomeFront magazine, which features kid-friendly craft ideas, recipes, and stories that help families bond and grow in faith together. Children also receive a weekly HomeFront activity page that helps parents prepare their children for the following Sunday’s lesson.

Curriculum, training, and support is provided for ministry partners. All you need to offer is your time and a willing heart. Find opportunities to serve at [keyword: projectserve]. www.stonebriar.org | 7

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an afternoon at the

through certain exercises involving horses, such as grooming or training. One of the goals of these exercises is to encourage emotions and memories to surface naturally through experiences, rather than forcing them out through long talks in a counselor’s office.

oto: michelle sweeten story: patricia salcedo | ph

Last year during a staff meeting, Dan Lebsack (associate pastor of recovery ministries) and his wife Suzanne (an equine therapist) shared their desire to use their ranch home and horses as a ministry. The idea sounded so intriguing to our team we wanted to share it with you, our church family. So one afternoon, staff designer Michelle Sweeten and I escaped the suburbs and took a winding road all the way out near Lake Ray Roberts to see their ranch in person. Though I went there simply planning to find a story for the Connection, I ended up experiencing the benefits of the ranch myself. I had forgotten how quiet the world could be, away from the constant drone of passing cars or construction zones. The Lebsack property is rich in picturesque scenes—a bird dog and a loyal golden retriever lounging in the grass by the fire pit; hens pecking in a coop Dan built himself; cats roaming the barn while the horses soak up sun in the pasture. In addition to all the country charm, Dan and Suzanne themselves complete the atmosphere with their warm hospitality. It is in this peaceful environment that Dan and Suzanne hope to welcome guests for a time of healing and rejuvenation, especially those who have experienced trauma or are nearing spiritual burnout. As we toured the ranch, Dan and Suzanne explained the process of an equine therapy session, which they offer together. I had never heard of an equine therapist before I met Suzanne, and my slight fear of horses has kept me ignorant of ranch life, so it is safe to say I needed a lot of explanation. Equine therapists help clients by walking them

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An equine therapist like Suzanne is trained to identify and interpret a horse’s reactions to a client. During a therapy exercise, horses can sense when a client is being incongruent or is experiencing a strong negative emotion, like fear or sadness. The horse then reacts to the client’s discomfort with physical cues, such as swishing his tail, flicking his ears, or shifting on his hooves. When a counselor is present during a session, the equine therapist will inform him or her of the horse’s abnormal behavior, so the counselor can explore that area of concern with the client. “Anyone can ask you how you are,” Dan told us as we watched their horses graze, “and you may not be honest about it. You can put on a mask and say, ‘I’m fine,’ but if you do that around our horses, they will react.” The horses’ presence and reactions encourage more vulnerability from therapy clients, who can no longer fully hide any inner turmoil. This all sounded pretty amazing, but hearing about it could not compare to the awe of experiencing it myself later that afternoon. Ready to see these exercises in action, Michelle and I followed Dan and Suzanne to bring the horses into the barn. Pilot (their first horse) and Soto (named for the Greek word for salvation, Soteria) are both retired thoroughbred racehorses, but their personalities are starkly different. Of the two, Pilot is the strong yet gentle alpha, while Soto is more of a rebellious teenager. Thankfully, Suzanne agreed to let us work primarily with sweet Pilot for our exercises. Our first exercise was grooming Pilot in the barn, which Michelle eagerly volunteered to do, while I cowered in the background. Suzanne explained that simple exercises like grooming can be relaxing to a client as he or she bonds with and nurtures the horse. While Michelle was brushing Pilot’s side, they accidentally shocked

If you would like to support Dan and Suzanne in prayer, please pray that: • people experience a deeper connection to The Creator as a result of their time at Redemption Ranch.

each other, which sent Pilot’s head rearing back in alarm. Michelle handled it beautifully, taking the time to soothe the frightened animal before resuming her grooming. Dan and Suzanne explained that those unexpected moments can reveal a lot about a client and open up deep conversations during therapy. Had I been the one to startle Pilot, for example, I probably would have shrieked and ran all the way home to Dallas. And that would have given them plenty of reason to counsel me. In the next exercise we tried, a therapy client stands in the center of a circular pen and asks a horse to move around in certain directions and patterns. Dan demonstrated first, showing us how to strike the ground with a whip, point the horse in the right direction, and speak commands. “Horses only respond well when you are calm and confident,” Suzanne explained as we watched. “This is a great exercise for people who need to practice assertiveness.” When Dan finished demonstrating and asked who would drive the horse next, I think Michelle and I both took three steps back. I imagined if I got too close to the enormous horse, he would bite, kick, or trample me, even though Pilot had proven himself a lamb more than a lion. But as I considered the opportunity—one that does not come along every day for a city girl—I decided I could not walk away without trying it.

I was still a little terrified of getting hurt, or just failing at the exercise and looking pathetic, but Suzanne reassured me. “I will be right with you the whole time,” she said kindly, “and I promise, you will not get hurt.” I followed her into the middle of the circle and did as she directed. To my incredible surprise, Pilot actually listened to my voice and followed my instructions. He even chose to join up with me and walk alongside me, showing that I had earned his respect and affection. Completing this exercise turned out to be one of the most triumphant moments I have ever experienced. After petting Pilot and saying plenty of “Good boy” comments, my first response was, “That really wasn’t so bad!” That statement held more significance than I realized in the moment.

my family in Christ is near to offer me the support I need. It is up to me to trust and to move forward. “You got me,” I eventually acknowledged to them, amazed by how much a short exercise with a horse could reveal about my struggles—and the truth that can ease them. We did another exercise in which I led Pilot and a blindfolded Suzanne through an obstacle course (which led to another revelation about my desire to avoid conflict), and then we sat by the fire pit to finish up our interview. I truly cannot remember the last time I felt so safe and relaxed, and the Lebsacks were thrilled to hear it when I told them so. “God gave us this place so we could share it,” they told Michelle and me. “It’s very healing to get out of the chaos. We hope people can come here and just be.” Dan and Suzanne have big plans for their property, we learned. They hope to put in a prayer garden and build a guest house where pastors and ministry workers can come for a weekend of rejuvenation. Sometime this year, they hope to have their property set up as a nonprofit called Redemption Ranch Therapy Center. Whether spurring healing and encouragement for trauma victims or offering respite for the burdened, their mission in sharing their beautiful escape with others is this: “We want people to reconnect to God, to others, and to themselves.” Watching the Lebsack ranch fade away in my rearview mirror was a sad sight, but even though I am back home in the suburbs now, I still feel tied to that special place. I do believe my visit to the ranch provided the reconnection the Lebsacks expressed. Sharing this story with others has connected me to them in laughter and empathy. Seeing my struggles through a new lens connected me to parts of myself that need care and attention. And spending time with loving folks close to nature connected me to our Creator. I learned quite a bit that afternoon with the Lebsacks, and I guess my only remaining question is this—when can I come back? If you are interested in learning more about the Redemption Ranch Therapy Center, e-mail redemptionranchtc@gmail.com.

Dan and Suzanne encouraged me to process the experience and see what it meant for me. They helped me tie the exercise into how I approach real-life situations—I often have to choose between my fear of a situation and my fear of missing out on something great. And whenever I do choose to do the “scary” thing, once it’s over, I realize it “wasn’t so bad,” meaning there was no reason to fear at all. Just as Suzanne was there to guide and encourage me, the Spirit and • Dan and Suzanne receive guidance and support in filing for 501c3 status. • those who continually care for others would allow themselves to be cared for.

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While completing his Th.M. program at Dallas Theological Seminary, Ignacio began working with Stonebriar en Español as an intern for Pastor Carlos Zazueta in August 2015. During the intern process, Ignacio and his wife Rachelle felt God calling them to continue ministry here, and Ignacio joined our staff full time in August 2016. Nathan has 18 years of experience in high school ministries and most recently served on staff at a church in Plano. Stonebriar members Tony and Sonia Oaks were Nathan’s mentors when he was in college, and they have remained friends to this day. Once Tony and Sonia heard about the search for a new high school ministry leader, they gladly recommended Nathan, and we welcomed him onto our staff in October of 2016.

Ignacio’s hope is that all our church members would have biblically formed minds that stem from humbly submitted hearts, transformed by following our great Teacher, Jesus Christ. Due to his thorough study of church history in seminary, Ignacio teaches that Christians today need to see ourselves as part of a long tradition of faith. One of his goals is that we would learn to remember the past to see what God has done, so we can better see what He is doing now—and see what He will do in days to come. Nathan encourages students to love God, rescue the lost, and protect the broken by being biblical, missional, and relational. As he says, teen ministry is not about just pizza parties and mission trips. Nathan wants teens to experience God’s love in community so they understand the value of remaining in church for their whole lives. Instead of only offering another form of entertainment for teens, he aims to teach them what the church has to offer that the world does not—the Gospel.

Ignacio and his wife Rachelle met at a DTS outing to an FC Dallas game. Rachelle was studying cross-cultural ministry, and from that first meeting, Ignacio admired her character, humility, and biblical worldview. Rachelle loves to see how other cultures express Christianity, which Ignacio values deeply due to his family’s missionary background. They

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bonded immediately over their interests in serving in Spain and France, and the rest, as they say, is history. The couple married in May 2014, and Rachelle graduated with her M.A. in May 2016. Nathan and his wife Marie met at New Mexico State University and worked side by side in student leadership for Campus Crusades for Christ. They have two sons in middle school, and they adopted their daughter from China in 2014 after being on a wait list for seven years. The Kocureks have seen God provide for their little girl abundantly, such as the time a missionary doctor repaired their daughter’s cleft lip and cleft palate for almost nothing. Nathan says that watching his daughter always reminds him of how God adopts us into His forever family and cares for us.

Of all the work Ignacio does in his new role as associate pastor, the two tasks he is most passionate about are preaching the Word and being involved in discipleship. Whenever Carlos is away, Ignacio has the opportunity to preach the Word to our Spanish-speaking members on Sunday mornings. He loves connecting the biblical world with ours, showing people that God’s Word is always relevant. Nathan loves to think about what God can do through one person dedicated to the cause of Christ—especially a young person who can impact so many people through the course of a lifetime. Hanging over his desk is a picture from a former student that reads, “If you reach a student today, you change the world tomorrow.” He is passionate about working with ministry partners to guide the students in their lifelong relationship with Christ.

Ignacio enjoys playing soccer and dodgeball and challenging himself with indoor rock climbing. Rock climbing reminds him of the rhythm of Christian life—working and resting, failing and trying again by God’s grace. The fulfilling arrival at the top of the wall makes him think of what it will be like when we meet Jesus and look back at how far He has brought us. His wife Rachelle also has her share of fascinating talents and interests, including playing the harp— a skill she is using for ministry and worship here at Stonebriar. Nathan loves to walk, talk, and pray with Marie—a pastime they have enjoyed since college, when they would wander through the greenhouses where Marie studied biology. They also love to go on breakfast dates whenever they can get an early morning babysitter. As a family, the Kocureks explore the great outdoors by hiking, biking, boating, camping, and fishing, especially in the mountains of New Mexico near Marie’s family. In his few moments of solitude, Nathan enjoys creative writing, reading, and working on his first novel.

Molly Jennerich, ministry assistant to Student Ministries, loves to bake this cake with her daughter Alli. Try baking something sweet with your teen, too! Cake Boxed yellow pudding cake, prepared as directed Crumb Topping • 1 pound margarine (4 sticks) cut into tablespoon chunks • 1 ½ cups sugar • 1 pinch salt • 3 tablespoons cinnamon • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract • 4 cups flour Make the Cake 1. Grease a 9x13” cake pan. 2. Prepare a yellow pudding cake mix as directed on the box and pour into prepared pan. 3. Bake 20–25 minutes. 4. While cake is baking, in a large bowl, combine all crumb topping ingredients. 5. Use your hands or a pastry blender to mix and then sprinkle over the top of the warm cake. 6. Bake the cake with topping for 20 more minutes. 7. Let cake cool and then sift powdered sugar over the top (to taste). Enjoy!

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staff spotlight: lindsay grove by patricia salcedo If you have ever met Lindsay Grove, a ministry assistant in Care Ministries, you will know she is a woman overflowing with the love of Christ. If you have not, this is your opportunity to hear her story. Lindsay Grove started attending Stonebriar Community Church at its inception. She remembers the first meetings at the country club and community college in 1998, almost 20 years ago. “I was so excited about serving here,” she recalled during our interview. “Everyone was eager to get the church started.” Lindsay began volunteering in the Children’s Ministry early on, and her attitude was that she would serve wherever the Lord called her. As she volunteered at Stonebriar and considered how much she treasured helping people, she thought, Wouldn’t it be great to work here? At that time, the idea seemed an improbable dream, as the staff was still small. But as her previous job at a computer consulting company was coming to an end, and she wanted to put her degree in psychology and social welfare to work, Lindsay submitted her application to the church offices anyway, curious to see how God may lead her. Shortly after that, she got a call from Carol Spencer asking her to come in for an interview. Caring for others has been one of Lindsay’s passions since childhood when she was a second mother to her adopted sister, so when Carol asked her what she may be interested in doing at Stonebriar, pastoral care came to her mind. In June of 2000, Lindsay was hired to work with Pastor Charlton Hiott in Stonebriar’s Pastoral Care Ministries (now called Care Ministries), where she still works today. During her nearly 17 years on staff, Lindsay has seen changes from new buildings to growing staff and membership, and it has been a joy for her to be here through everything. “It’s been a blessing to work here and serve with these people,” Lindsay shared with me. “Everyone here is exceptional at what they do. They could work anywhere, but I am thankful that God has called them to serve here

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in this church and community.” Lindsay works primarily with our SoulCare program, as well as our encouragement groups such as GriefShare and Cancer Encouragement and our benevolence ministry. Her favorite part of her job is the chance to share Christ with others and serve their practical needs. As she puts it, “Making a difference in people’s lives keeps me going.” During our interview in Lindsay’s office, Pastor Steve Fischer popped in to rave about his team member. Though he joked with us for a bit, he eventually wrapped an arm around Lindsay and said, “This woman is a true servant and a faithful co-laborer, and I love working with her.” The way our staff members express Christ’s love to one another, especially among our Care folks, is a beautiful thing to witness. Once Steve left her office, Lindsay told me with tears in her eyes, “That’s why I love working here—we all love each other.” From volunteering with children at the start of Stonebriar’s ministry to leading a small group of single senior ladies now, Lindsay has impacted every stage of life at this church. Anyone can tell from Lindsay’s warm, compassionate smile she has a deep love for our Savior and His people. Beyond her work at Stonebriar, Lindsay adores her four nieces and loves to spoil her two great nieces and two great nephews, as well as her beloved dog Gigi. We are so thankful for Lindsay’s role in our church history and for all she does for the Stonebriar family today.

Lindsay, seated bottom left with the Care Ministries team, has impacted every stage of life at Stonebriar during her nearly 17 years on staff.

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picnic party The jumbled letters below contain eight things that you can find at a picnic. Remember to look for words that are backwards!

PIE FAMILY

BASKET PICNIC

NAPKIN TABLE

KETCHUP SUNSCREEN

Help us care for kids in need through our Summer Lunch program! Families are invited to serve together as we prepare and deliver hundreds of lunches every week.

Help Emma find Evan for the picnic party!

HI!

START

HEY!

END

Learn more and sign up online [keyword: summer lunches].

Color this page and find answers at [keyword: puzzle].