sixteen:nine, fall '09

2 Chronicles 16:9a

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strongly support those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

Wounded Healers

God Can Use Your Hurt to Help Another

Thriving in Suburbia

One Suburan Mom Moves Beyond ‘Surviving’

Help Your Children Develop a Heart for God

Make the Bible Come Alive for Your Kids

What in the World Is Going on Around Here?

Make the Most of Your Chapel Experience

See Clearly Why God Calls Us to Joy in the Midst of Darkness

fall 2009

Worship & Communion This is a meaningful and refreshing time to worship, hear from God’s Word, and take Communion as a church family. Mark your calendars for these fall dates!

Barrington Campus: Oct. 14, Nov. 11, Dec. 9 Grayslake Campus: Sept. 16, Oct. 21, Nov. 18 Libertyville Campus: Sept. 15, Oct. 20, Nov. 17 Mundelein Campus: Sept. 15, Oct. 20, Nov. 17

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: table of contents IN EVERY ISSUE: 12 The Deep End 17 Tough Questions 18 Chapel Picks

GROW SPIRITUALLY

4 Front Porch News

FEATURES 6 See Clearly: Why God Calls Us to Joy in the Midst of Darkness Discover why God intended for us to live a life of joy and how you can do it even when life is hard.

10 Take a Joyride

Use this four-week study of biblical characters in your quiet time with God and follow their example to pursue joy!

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What in the World Is Going on Around Here?

Make the most of your Chapel experience by understanding why we do what we do and how God can use it to change your life.

40 Chapel Stories 42 Compassion 46 Volunteer Spotlight

50 Back Porch News

CONNECT RELATIONALLY

35 The Great Adventure 39 Student Ministries

STRENGTHEN FAMILIES

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On the Move: The Chapel‘s History in Photos

Help Your Kids Develop a Heart for God

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

24 Group Life 26 Chapel News 28 Staff Spotlight 29 A Church You Can Believe In 30 Chapel Community

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Wounded Healers: God Can Use Your Hurt to Help Another

From an apartment clubhouse to multiple campuses, now you can picture where our church has been and what God has done for us.

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The Chapel’s Web Site Gets a Facelift This is not your average church Web site! Learn about some cool new features that you’ll find on www.chapel.org.

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The Bible will come alive for your kids when you use these four experiences from the life of David.

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Thriving in Suburbia

One stay-at-home mom wanted to move beyond “surviving” and instead make the most of her life in the suburbs.

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Ever wondered what the purpose was in your painful experience? These Care group leaders let God use their hurt to minister to others.

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from the editor

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I have a special appreciation as a Mississippi native for being able to experience the four seasons. As autumn approaches, my anticipation is building for the small pleasures that I didn’t often experience as a child in the South: turning off the air conditioner and opening windows, watching the leaves change to rust colors and then hearing them crunch under my feet on the sidewalk, and keeping a light jacket handy for cooler evenings.

The approaching fall season reminds me of the constantly changing seasons of our lives. Life changes can be difficult, whether it’s a move or heartbreak or a job transition or the loss of a loved one. When life change happens, on whom do you rely for support?

We’re meant to live life in community. Today’s culture pushes us inward and encourages us to put up walls. But when life happens, we all need people that we trust and with whom we can grow as individuals and as Christians. At The Chapel, small groups are the models we use for living in community. These are not just weekly meetings of Chapel attenders. They are relationships between people that model transparency, compassion, fun, growth, grace, and more than often provide needed support at the most crucial points in our lives.

Change will happen, and it may often be difficult. The move to Chicago from the South was not an easy one for me, but joining a small group made all the difference in my outlook on life (and on the brutal winter). There’s no better time than today to take a step of faith and get connected — it will be well worth your effort.

Peace,

Allison Cox Editor

The magazine sixteen:nine is a publication of The Chapel, an evangelical church in Chicagoland that is on the course of helping people rediscover God.

Editor Allison Cox

acox@chapel.org

Editorial Coordinator Julie Berry jberry@chapel.org

Associate Editor Stacia Gibson sgibson@chapel.org

Associate Editor Katie Persinger

kpersinger@chapel.org

Graphic Designer Jonathan Strauss jstrauss@chapel.org

Contributors Heidi Anderson, Writer Pamela Burns, Writer Julie Dahlberg, Writer Ron Kempka, Writer Susanne Osborne, Writer Cleve Persinger, Writer Steve Pugh, Writer Ann Smith, Writer Cathy Woodside, Writer Val Ziebel, Writer

Ask and Answer

Q: How do I submit my tithe at my particular campus? —Joe, Grayslake Campus A: In addition to submitting your tithe online at www.chapel.org/onlinegiving, there are also

specific ways to give at each campus. At Grayslake, you can slip your tithes and offerings in the wooden box on the pillar directly outside the main doors to the Auditorium. If you attend the Barrington campus, look for the slots on the back wall of the Auditorium, in between each set of doors. At Mundelein, the box for tithes and offerings is located at the back of the Auditorium. If you attend the Libertyville campus, the ushers will pass baskets down each aisle during family time; just put your tithe in there. If you submit cash, be sure to use one of the provided envelopes. Also, kids can leave their offerings in the box in the lobbies of The Great Adventure.

Correction: In the summer edition of sixteen:nine, we misstated writer Virginia Lange’s background and hometown. She is, in fact, retired after working in the medical field as a transcriptionist and at Moody Bible Institute and lives in Crystal Lake. We regret our mistake and appreciate that Virginia, a highly valued and loved volunteer, showed us grace and her hearty

Send your questions to editor@chapel.org and we’ll do our best to answer them!

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sense of humor.

: about the chapel WISCONSIN

“For the eyesILLINOIS of the Lord range throughout the earth to strongly support those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”

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What we believe can be summarized in four short statements …

Jesus is the Son of God. The Bible is the Word of God. The Gospel is the way to God. The Church is the people of God.

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These four values are at the center of who God has called us to be …

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As a church, our primary emphasis is to help people …

Grow spiritually.

Connect relationally.

Strengthen families.

Make a difference in the world.

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180 N. Hawthorne Rd. Barrington Hills, IL 60010

25270 W. IL Route 60 Grayslake, IL 60030

330 S. Old Rand Rd. Lake Zurich, IL 60047

1200 American Way Libertyville, IL 60048

1966 Hawley Rd. Mundelein, IL 60060

Service time: Sunday at 10 a.m.

Service times: Saturday at 6 p.m.

Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m.

(future campus)

Service times: Saturday at 5 p.m.

Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m.

Service times: Saturday at 5 p.m.

Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m.

Fall 2009 |

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front porch

: thoughts from the senior and campus pastors

We asked our senior pastors …

“What is the best advice you’ve ever received and how have you applied it to your own life?”

I received one of my most helpful pieces of advice at a gathering of Christian leaders some years ago. Joe Stowell, former president of Moody Bible Institute, made the comment that “time and truth go hand in hand.” The idea behind the axiom is that the truth about something or someone becomes more visible and clear over time. While conceptually this seems straightforward enough, its implications are profound.

Hold opinions with an open hand. This principle acknowledges that in the short run we will not always come to the right conclusions about things and people. Wisdom avoids quick judgments and lets time progressively uncover the truth. This is particularly helpful in relating to God. How often have we felt frustrated with

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God about the circumstances of our lives only to find out later that his character and plans were far better than we realized? We cannot understand who God is or have confidence in his goodness in the short run. It is only over time that trust in his wisdom and love for us is built.

Realize everything eventually comes to light. All of us face the temptation to take moral shortcuts that promise to deliver what we hope for without anyone ever being the wiser. This notion simultaneously underestimates the power of sin and overestimates our capacity to fool others, including God. Sin doesn’t just change how we act; it also changes our hearts. Isn’t it better to live honestly, openly, admitting our failures, and acknowledging

We asked our campus pastors …

“What is the best advice you’ve ever received?” our frailty, than to create a life of pretense and intrigue that ultimately can’t be maintained?

Energy is better spent pursuing a virtuous life than defending one. For much of my life it drove me crazy when people would say negative things about me that weren’t true. Over time, I came to realize that I have a limited amount of energy and I could spend it on defending myself to my critics or on living a virtuous life. Some people will always think less of us than we would like, but most people will eventually see us for who we really are over time.

So when I am tempted to make rash judgments, keep moral secrets, or defend myself against critics, I’ve found that remembering that “time and truth go hand in hand” helps to set my mind on the long view of life and frees me from the turbulent pull of the immediate.

—Scott Chapman, Senior Pastor

The advice that stands out to me at the moment was given to me by my father. It was back when Jen and I were engaged and I was getting a little bit stressed out about the wedding plans. I know that only the bride is supposed to be stressed but I have to confess I was as well. I was a youth pastor at the time and did a lot of event planning, and this was a big event. My dad saw my anxiety and said he was concerned that I was so stressed that I was failing to enjoy my engagement. “Don’t ever be so preoccupied with tomorrow that you fail to enjoy today,” he said. My dad reminded me that I would never be engaged again and this was a unique moment in my life that I shouldn’t miss out on enjoying. I realized that my dad was really speaking God’s words to me at that moment. Not only did I change my perspective on my engagement, but I have also used that advice throughout my life.

I think a lot about the future. I like to plan what I want my life to become, what I want our church to become, what I want my family to become. While planning is very good and biblically mandated, a preoccupation with future objections can steal our joy from the present. So I am trying to not miss out on the precious moments that I’ve found in each day. I want to raise my kids to become godly adults, but I need to enjoy them in their present state of youth and spiritual immaturity. I want our church to accomplish greater things for God’s Kingdom in the days ahead, but I need to enjoy the victories that are a part of each moment today. I think there’s a delicate balance here that I am really striving to live out. I want to be mindful about the future and plan accordingly, but I also want to deeply live each moment and see the significance of what I’m experiencing of God today so that I don’t miss out on the joy in the journey of life.

—Jeff Griffin, Senior Pastor

After repeatedly under-throwing the deep pass in football practice, my dad took me to the backyard and taught me to “throw it where they are going, not where they are.” While that become good advice for quarterbacking, I have heard that phrase echo in my head in a bunch of different settings. Life is not static, unchanging, and stationary. It requires movement and momentum. Even the familiar changes as we grow and mature. The more I can see those I encounter as people on a journey — with growth and promise, heritage and potential, experience and destiny — the more I remember that the action of life “isn’t where they are, but where they are going.”

—Steve Pugh, Barrington Campus Pastor Before Lisa and I got married, we were talking to my brother and sister-in-law. Based on their experience in blending financial habits in marriage, they strongly counseled us to put together and use a budget. It’s been so good for us, primarily because it has helped us establish and share expectations sooner rather than later. We’ve found that when we experience strife in our marriage, the majority of that comes from instances when we haven’t shared expectations with one another and have either projected our own expectations on a situation or expected the other person to read our mind, only to learn later that we were not on the same page.

—Brent Davis, Grayslake Campus Pastor From several mentors, I’ve been challenged to live out my priorities. Sure, work and ministry are important. But so are family, health, recreation, friendships, and community. Each needs to be intentionally managed and integrated in order to live a healthy life. I work weekly to make sure that I’m applying the right energy to the right priority at the right time. I’m not sure “balance” is a biblical model, but health sure is!

—Matt Furr, Libertyville Campus Pastor I was a very quiet kid in high school and when any youth group event was over, I wanted to be the first to leave. My sister, on the other hand, was a social butterfly and wanted to be the last to go home. On the way home from one of these events we were talking and she said to me, “Rick, you have to ask people questions.” The idea had never really occurred to me. I tried it and discovered that it worked and that it was fun. This simple but profound challenge helped a shy kid learn how to open up and engage people, which is a huge part of my role at The Chapel today.

—Rick Smith, Mundelein Campus Pastor

Fall 2009 |

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GROW SPIRITUALLY :

See Clearly

by Susanne Osborne

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Why God Calls Us to Joy in the Midst of Darkness

As

a little girl, my parents worked hard at teaching me my manners. “Please” and “thank you” were routine for all my interactions with others. My parents regularly received comments from impressed adults when I answered the phone, “Hello, this is Susanne. How may I help you?” My severe shyness aided them immensely in their quest to raise a daughter who is kind to others. The very thought of rocking the boat or evoking anything akin to dislike or anger absolutely petrified me. Good manners were a safe shield for me; I could be polite without ever being known. Below the surface of my cordial conduct, I had a lot more going on and every now and then it would rear its head outside my family circle. My mom loves to recall the day in Kindergarten when I got so angry that I threw my toy across the room and hit a boy in the head. Fortunately he wasn’t hurt, but my mom had a hard time keeping a straight face at the teacher’s concern since such behavior was so unexpected from me.

Growing up within the circles of Christianity, it became easy for me to equate my faith with being kind and good; I did not see how the love of God could engage with my deeper longings, hurts, and desperations. I carried this attitude into the teachings I heard about the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23). I don’t know about you, but when someone speaks to me about the fruit of the Spirit, it conjures up a series of polite images. Visions of grape clusters and fruit baskets come to mind and I find myself imagining pleasant people. You know the kind of person I mean — the stereotypical “nice Christian” who always smiles, always has a positive outlook to bring to the table, and, you suspect, always does their prayers and makes it to church (probably early).

The fruits of the Spirit sound inherently mild-mannered. They are, after all, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

As a church, we will soon explore God’s call to Christians to be joyful, one fruit of the Spirit, in our series called Joyride. Does this mean that we should all start exercising our smile muscles and working on our dulcet “please” and “thank you” responses?

I sure hope not! Over the last 13 years, as I have grown in my knowledge and intimacy with Jesus, I have become enraptured with a man who is anything but mild-mannered. His passion is explosive and his determination more often leads to offense than pleasantries.

The apostle Paul, the man who wrote about the fruit of the Spirit, was very much like his God. He was a wild man whose convictions about the love of God and his Gospel compelled his life to radical measures. Paul’s vision of the fruit of the Spirit is a far cry from grape clusters and fruit baskets. When read in context of the whole letter, we find that the fruits are actually quite dangerous; they are warfare and no less than a call to death! As we narrow in on the fruit called joy, we will find that there is a lot more than the appearance of happiness going on under the surface.

In Galatians 5, Paul depicts a battle scene for us. He first explains that we have an “old sinful nature” that is intrinsically selfserving. If left to ourselves, we fall into patterns of greed, arguing, and selfish ambition. This is reminiscent of Romans 8:21 where Paul writes that the world is in bondage to decay — everything, including ourselves, naturally deteriorates in this world. Due to our willful choice of sin, we have separated ourselves from the life of God and become enslaved, ironically, to our own destructive desires. We pursue “joy” and find only emptiness.

Fortunately this is not the end of the story. Paul proclaims there is another force charging the field on our behalf. For those of us who have received Christ, we have actually been indwelt by the Spirit of God and his life is at work in us to set us free and re-create us as we are meant to be. He states, “These two forces are constantly fighting each other, and your choices are never free from this conflict” (Galatians 5:17 NLT). The Spirit of God is far stronger than our sin, but there is a catch! To live by the Spirit, we must come face to face with God’s unabashed call for our death to self-dependence: “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. If we are living now by the Holy Spirit, let us follow the Holy Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives” (Galatians 5:24-25).

It is in this context that Paul lays out what overflows from our lives when we die to our sin and live by the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and selfcontrol. A life of joy is therefore nothing like obliging manners; it is a battle cry to align our lives with the Gospel of Christ and the Spirit of God in the midst of a world decaying around us! Although there are countless biblical figures who are models of joy for us, let us learn about joy by going right to the heart of God himself in the life of Jesus.

It should jar us to read that Jesus is described in Isaiah 53:3 as “a man of sorrows, acquainted with bittersweet grief” and then described in Hebrews 1:9 as having been anointed by God with “the oil of joy … more than on anyone else.” This reality shapes our understanding of joy as a posture of heart that is not in conflict with suffering or sorrow but, for a time, can walk handin-hand with them. We see this duality of emotion in Jesus as he consciously neared the cross; he shared that his heart was heavy and “deeply troubled” (John 12:27, Mark 14:33-34) but also talked of his great joy, promising the disciples that they were being offered a share in his delight (John 15:11, 16:20-24, 17:13).

How do we make sense of this apparent contradiction? Either Christ was emotionally unstable or he profoundly embraced both joy and sorrow simultaneously. It never ceases to impact me when I recognize how vulnerable God has made himself in his love for us: he knows sorrow and endures such pain because of the separation we brought into the world. At the same time, he also experiences such delight and joy in us (Zephaniah 3:17).

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As we see the intermingling of joy and pain in the heart of Christ, it is important that we understand the sources of his joy, that we may follow in his footsteps when we also face a grief that shatters all our happiness.

One of the keys to understanding the joy of Jesus is his eternal perspective. Happiness is a response to current circumstances and is therefore dependent upon them, while joy is a response to eternal circumstances and is independent from the ups and downs of our lives. We must climb to a higher vantage point to realize that heaven is not a vague after-death reality. The heavenly realms are always invading our earthly circumstances; eternity is already at play among us (see Ephesians 6, Romans 8, Luke 17:21) and we are invited to join in the romp!

J.R.R. Tolkien poignantly depicts this in the character of Gandalf in The Return of the King. The scene is the battle for Minas Tirith where the dark forces have the city in the grasp of fear and utter despair. Gandalf, the good wizard, is described from the perspective of Pippin: “Pippin glanced in some wonder at the face now close beside his own … in the wizard’s face he saw at first only lines of care and sorrow; though as he looked

more intently he perceived that under all there was a great joy: a fountain of mirth enough to set a kingdom laughing, were it to gush forth.”

This is Christ. Living with joy is not about having rose-tinted glasses to shield out the darkness and pain of this world; rather it is to be like Jesus in coming face to face with the brokenness and yet daring to embrace the truth that God’s Kingdom is at work within the darkness. The apostle John saw the world from God’s perspective when he exclaimed with the raw hope of a persecuted believer, “… the darkness is disappearing and the true light is already shining” (1 John 2:8b). As we also recognize the deeper work of God, we will remain vulnerable to the angst of a broken world; however, our losses can be grieved with the bittersweet mingling of the joy that is born of hope.

One of the most mysterious and glorious truths about God is his Trinitarian nature (he is three-in-one). Although even an overview of the Trinity is beyond the scope of this article, the faithful intimacy shared within the Godhead is essential to knowing the

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joy of Christ because the fundamental source of his joy was his Father. Have you ever tried to break your body’s dependence on food and water or rid yourself of the pesky habit of breathing?

Of course not! We understand that these are basic needs for life because they are intrinsic to our design. Jesus expressed that his dependence on the Father was even more essential to him than food or bodily life (John 4:32-34).

In John 5:19-20a, Jesus declared to his skeptics, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does” (NIV). Christ saw his Father at work in everything — and I mean everything. He couldn’t look at a sparrow or a flower, let alone a human being, without seeing his Father tending to it with love (Luke 12). For Jesus, the world was enchanted with the presence of God and for those of us who have eyes to see him, it is still thus enchanted today!

Even at the Cross, his faith in the Father drew him to joy.

Hebrews 12:2 extols us to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” This joy was the love of his Father and the sure promise of joy bought through pain.

The most astounding invitation we will ever receive comes from the heart of God, who beckons us to come and share in the intimacy of this Trinity; it is only as we come home to the open embrace of God that we know the joy that awaits us on the other side of Calvary (John 17).

Isn’t it true that the things we love the most are the ones for which we are willing to pay the highest cost? This is why men save for wedding rings, why families skimp so they can splurge on vacation, and why I give up my few free weekends to visit my beloved nieces! It is love that compels us to sacrifice. Jesus welcomed pain because his love was set upon the heart and work of his Father; it was also his longing for us that strengthened him during the cold dark nights. As we look at this love which spurs Jesus to joy in the midst of suffering, we realize that he did not fear sorrow because he knew that joy is eternal and therefore deeper than all pain. In this light, we can finally understand what Jesus meant when he disclosed the secret of his joy in Matthew 13:44-46: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.” 16:9 Susanne works with the Office of the Senior Pastors at The Chapel. She also uses her gifts to serve through missions and the prayer ministry, as well as writing the devotionals in the weekend program.

Don’t miss the final U.S. tour of this Grammy nominated, Dove Award winning Christian rock band!

Wednesday, Sept. 16 Barrington Campus

Tickets are on sale now at all the Chapel bookstores or you can order them online at www.edanconcerts.com.

Fall 2009 |

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Take a

Joyride

by Susanne Osborne

This month, take a ride of discovery — join these men of faith in their pursuit of joy!

God tells us that his Word is living and active, sharper than a double-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12-16). It cuts deep into our lives to expose our needs and to reveal to us the heart of God. Reading Scripture is not solely a mental exercise, but it is a living encounter with the personal God! It is crucial that we actively engage with the passages we read. Each of us is created uniquely and we connect to God in different ways; therefore we urge you to explore how God has wired you to encounter him as you read.

Here are some ideas to try as you spend this month with four men of joy:

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• As you read about the joy and struggles of each man, bring a pen and paper with you. Keep a running list of the following: 1. What are the sources of his pain? What are the sources of his joy?

2. What aspect of God’s character did he experience that brought him joy?

• At the end of each week, spend time reflecting with God. Ask him to reveal to you where you have allowed pain to steal your joy. Also, ask him to highlight one aspect of his character that he would like you to meditate on over the next week. Journal about these.

• Write out a verse or two you would like to memorize on an index card. Go for a walk and keep repeating the verse(s) as a prayer to God.

• Rewrite the passage using your own words (this is especially helpful with the Psalms).

• Write out a prayer of response to the passage.

• Go on this journey with a friend. Get together weekly and share what you are learning about the character of God and his call to a life of joy. Discuss what is keeping you from a life of joy. Pray for one another.

• Think about a time you experienced a similar situation as this passage records. What was your response? How would you like to respond differently in the future? Share this with a friend and ask them to keep you accountable to your attitude when life gets challenging.

• Each week, ask God to show you one way you can actively live out joy in your relationship with him and with others. Then, just do it!

• You get creative …

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A Week in the Life of Habakkuk Intro from NIV Study Bible: This account of wrestling with God is not just a fragment from a private journal that has somehow entered the public domain. It was composed for Israel. No doubt it represented the voice of the godly in Judah, struggling to comprehend the ways of God. God’s answers therefore spoke to all who shared Habakkuk’s troubled doubts. And Habakkuk’s confession became a public expression.

Habakkuk was perplexed that wickedness, strife, and oppression were rampant in Judah but God seemingly did nothing.

When told that the Lord was preparing to do something about it through the “ruthless” Babylonians (1:6), his perplexity only intensified: How could God, who is “too pure to look on evil” (1:13), appoint such a nation “to execute judgment” (1:12) on a people “more righteous than themselves” (1:13)? God makes it

clear, however, that eventually the corrupt destroyer will itself be destroyed. In the end, Habakkuk learns to rest in God’s sovereign appointments and await his working in a spirit of worship. He learns to wait patiently in faith (2:3-4) for God’s Kingdom to be expressed universally (2:14).

Day 1: Read Habakkuk 1:1-11 Day 2: Read Habakkuk 1:12-2:1 Day 3: Read Habakkuk 2:1-11 Day 4: Read Habakkuk 2:12-20 Day 5: Read Habakkuk 3:1-15 Day 6: Read Habakkuk 3:16-20 Day 7: Read Habakkuk 3 again (Trust me, it’s worth it!)

A Week in the Life of David Intro from NIV Study Bible: The Psalter is for the most part a book of prayer and praise. In it faith speaks to God in prayer and of God in praise … one of its main purposes was instruction in the life of faith, a faith formed and nurtured by the Law, the Prophets, and the canonical wisdom literature.

Day 1: Read Psalm 4 (Who will show us better times?)

Day 2: Read Psalm 100 (sheep of my pasture) Day 3: Read Psalm 16 (no wonder my heart is glad) Day 4: Read Psalm 42 (downcast … put your hope) Day 5: Read Psalm 84 (how lovely is your dwelling place) Day 6: Read Psalm 32 (joy for the forgiven) Day 7: Read Psalm 103 (who crowns my life … forgives …)

A Week in the Life of Jesus “The joy of Jesus will be my strength — it will be in my heart. Every person I meet will see it in my work, my walk, my prayer — in everything.” —Mother Theresa “To follow Jesus is to be learning of him, to think his thoughts, to use his judgments, to see things as he sees them, to feel things as he feels them, to be of the same heart, soul, and mind, as he is.” —George MacDonald

Prophecies about Jesus as our joy-bringer Day 1: Isaiah 53; Hebrews 1:8-9, 12:2 Day 2: Isaiah 9:1-7 Day 3: Luke 1:67-70; Luke 2:33-35 Joy of Jesus Day 4: Luke 10:21-24; Matthew 13:44-46 Day 5: John 15 Day 6: John 16 Day 7: John 17

A Week in the Life of Paul “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again — rejoice!”

—Apostle Paul, Philippians 4:4 (NLT)

Day 1: Romans 14:17-19, 15:1-13 Day 2: Romans 5:1-15 Day 3: 2 Corinthians 6:18–7:7, 8:1-5 Day 4: 1 Thessalonians 1, 2:19-20, 3:9 Day 5: Philippians 1 Day 6: Philippians 2:12-19, 4:1-8 Day 7: Philippians 3 (the key to Paul’s joy)

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the deep end

: by Fred von Kamecke

Look Who’s Partying I once preached a sermon on the Prodigal Son from Luke 15, focusing on repentance and salvation. Since then I’ve heard countless other “Come to your senses and get saved like the prodigal son” sermons. That’s a fine message and certainly part of the story; it just misses the point of why Jesus told it.

Another message I’ve heard from Luke 15 ever since I cut my Christian teeth is that angels have a party every time a sinner repents. True, perhaps, but it also misses the point entirely. Just who is throwing this party and why? Why did Jesus tell the parable of the Prodigal Son in the first place? To answer these questions we need to do an old-fashioned Bible study.

Looking at Luke 15, we should ask ourselves: What’s going on?

What’s the context? What’s the flow of thought? Who is speaking to whom, and why? Are there any recurring themes, repeated phrases, or any type of pattern? What lessons can we draw from it?

As for the Prodigal Son, notice that it’s the third parable in a series: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and then the lost son. All have the same message: something is lost, then found, let’s party. Digging further we discover why Jesus told these stories — he was seen eating with some unsavory characters: “Now the tax collectors and ‘sinners’ were all gathering around to hear him. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’

Then Jesus told them this parable” (Luke 15:1-3 NIV).

The Pharisees wouldn’t be caught dead dining with such a rabble. Jesus should’ve known better than to hang out with this riff-raff. It’s as if we catch a supposedly upstanding preacher in a raunchy part of town yucking it up with some seedy characters. For the Pharisees, it was another example that Jesus wasn’t the godly man he claimed to be.

The parables answer this charge. Verse 4 begins “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep,” followed in verse 8, “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins,” then in verse 11, “Jesus continued: ‘There was a man who had two sons.’” All three start with the same problem and have the same conclusion. When the sheep is found the response is “Rejoice with me” (v. 6); then Jesus mentions “rejoicing in heaven” over a sinner’s repentance (v. 7). When the coin turns up the woman says “Rejoice with me” (v.9) and again Jesus mentions “rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God” over the repentant sinner (v. 10). We see the same gladhearted response when the son comes home; it’s time for a celebration (vv. 24, 32). See the pattern? The stories go beyond the

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mere fact of the lost being found. They all revolve around the response.

In the third story, Jesus takes the time to develop the characters and adds something missing from the others. The most notable scene is the son’s return. Up until then things go as one would expect, given that the son’s a loser. But as he rounds the bend rehearsing his speech, the father comes running, smothers him with affection, and calls for a celebration. Not what you’d expect, to say the least. The end of the story resounds with singing and dancing, but as the party progresses, two individuals are not pleased: the older brother and the fatted calf. This downturn is what is missing from the others.

We’ll leave the calf’s beef to your imagination, but take a look at the older son. His work is interrupted because of the father’s mercy for his worthless brother. Drenched in sweat and seething with resentment, he refuses to take part, even with the father’s appeal: “But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (v. 32).

So, three characters emerge: the younger son, representing all sinners, the father, standing in for our heavenly Father, and the grumpy older son, who reminds us of the Pharisees. At the end of the story we’re brought back to where we began: a bunch of ruf-

“The Pharisees and teachers of the law were so concerned to ‘get it right.’ It’s too bad they utterly missed God’s heart on full display.

Jesus, acting on the Father’s behalf, was lavishing love and acceptance on those who didn’t deserve it.” fians, the merciful Jesus, and his disapproving accusers.

So what’s the point? The Pharisees needed to let go of their prejudices. They looked at the “tax collectors” as traitors and thieves in league with the Romans — the lowest of the lowlifes. The “sinners” were not aligned with any religious groups (like Pharisees) and so often left the narrow path. The supposed leaders looked down their snouts and despised them as cursed (John 7:49). The Pharisees had plenty of rules but completely missed the heart of God — mercy and compassion for the helpless. As the ones who were

supposedly so concerned with God’s will, they should’ve been doing what Jesus did.

Ah yes, what was Jesus doing? Why would he even consider having a meal with these losers? To answer that we need to clear up another misconception that creeps into our thinking.

There is a fairly prevalent impression that God the Father is rather stern and it takes the kindly Jesus to soften him up a bit.

Nothing could be further from the truth. Jesus only said and did precisely what the Father told him. In fact, he so perfectly personified the Father’s attributes that Jesus said, “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9; I developed this theme a bit more in the February edition of sixteen:nine, in an article entitled “True Love”; for a fuller exposition check out my handling of the myth “The God of the Old Testament is a God of Wrath, but the God of the New Testament is a God of Mercy and Grace” in Busted: Exposing Popular Myths about Christianity, Zondervan 2009).

The Pharisees and teachers of the law were so concerned to “get it right.” It’s too bad they utterly missed God’s heart on full display.

Jesus, acting on the Father’s behalf, was lavishing love and acceptance on those who didn’t deserve it. Here was mercy, poured out like new wine into parched souls — God’s generous redemption permeating lost lives.

Jesus wasn’t crashing a party. The wayward ones gathered

around to hear him (v. 1). Sinners were coming to Jesus to hear about God and the Pharisees should’ve rejoiced over these lives being turned around. Jesus certainly was, as was someone else.

Is Jesus really concerned here with angels? Just who was he referring to when he said there was rejoicing “in heaven” over repentant sinners (v. 7); just who rejoices in the presence of God’s angels (v.

10)? We need look no further than the lost son’s return. Who came running? The whole chapter revolves around one central truth: the Father is overjoyed when lives are changed, so he invites us to rejoice with him.

What lessons can we learn? People who may rub you the wrong way (for whatever reason) visit our services “to hear him.” We also have several ministries in tough neighborhoods and even countries, specifically striving to reach people the world ignores. Jesus made it simple: we can grumble with the Pharisees, or rejoice with God the Father.

I’m grateful for the feedback I received from Laurie Miller, Chrissie Lux, Tony Jao, and Susanne Osborne.

Fred is the director of growth curriculum at The Chapel. You can reach him at fvonkamecke@chapel.org.

The bookstore has a new name, but we still have the resources you need, including small group materials!

Journey Resources is excited to offer special ordering. Most items arrive within a week after your order is placed.

20% off purchase of $25 or more (expires Nov. 31, 2009)

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by Steve Pugh

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What does it mean to grow spiritually? Most of the time, we think about growth in terms of independence. We manage our fitness by thinking that we can control our long-term health. We view improvement at work as moving away from the need to be managed (or micromanaged) and toward self-sufficiency. As parents we view our growth as growing in confidence and competence so that we can make better decisions more quickly. In stretching our minds, it is so that we know more and develop a broader perspective. But is growing spiritually the same as growing mentally, physically, or in our relationships? Is the point of growth simply to be able to deal with all that life has to offer?

Here is where spiritual growth runs counter cultural. We have probably all seen examples of how the world’s view of growth can poison spiritual growth. If we seek knowledge of what the Bible says so that we can wield that information to condemn, judge, belittle, or criticize, then we are not a useful tool in the hands of a loving God. If we progressively aim at becoming more confident, more sufficient, more honed, more aware, and more independent, then we can begin to feel like God is lucky to have someone so sharp, dedicated, and good.

Jesus’ harshest words were reserved for the people who claimed to follow him but missed the fact that apart from him any life change is superficial, any growth is temporary, and any impact may be self gratifying but eternally minute. To grow spiritually means to follow his command to love God with everything we’ve got and love others as ourselves. This is not a call to a season of accountability or a moment of a changed perspective. It takes a lifetime to see this through.

Community is an important part of the Chapel experience but also an inherent need for us as human beings. When we say that we want to help you connect relationally, we are not insulting you or saying in effect that you can’t make friends without us. We are saying that we were all designed by God to live in community.

It is part of our nature and the Bible gives us an amazing picture of what it is supposed to look like. It is for Christians and nonChristians, the rich and the poor, young and old, men and women.

The problem is that some of us would rather be in dysfunctional, harmful, or painful community than choose to live without it. Bad decisions, mixed up priorities, misplaced loyalties, and weird family dynamics create for us a network that is familiar, known, and easily navigated — but it isn’t helping us, equipping us, challenging us, celebrating us, or loving us.

That is where we want to step in: to create a safe, joyful, and inviting place where you are free to be you, to pour into the lives around you, and to be poured into by others. It could be a small group or someone with whom you serve. It could be a couple who mentors you through marriage woes or grandparents that won more parenting battles than they lost. It could be that we simply need to equip you with the vision, skills, and resources to inject God’s dreams for community into your existing friendships.

So use the meet-and-greet time in our weekend service to get to know someone sitting around you. Hang out after the service and see who God brings into your path. Join a small group; lead your friends in a small group. Expect to find that God has people he wants to put in your life to inspire and care for you, and to see that this biblical model of community isn’t a pie-in-the-sky ideal, but the natural expression of who it is that God made you to be.

It’s also a natural expression of who God is. Read the stories of Jesus’ life — how he intersected with humanity in time and space.

Ponder the idea of all that he sacrificed before even getting to the cross. Can you imagine Jesus coming to live here to set up a Kingdom for insiders? Can you allow the possibility that Jesus did all that he did so that only a few people would be impacted? I can’t and neither can our church. We have to embrace the simple idea that it isn’t really just about us. We don’t exist to fulfill our desires or to create our own comfort. The Chapel is not just an interesting place to spend an hour on the weekend. Our intention must echo Jesus’ call to live a sacrificial life and embrace the needs of others. His final instructions were to find the lost, serve the needy, and bless the least. He modeled servanthood perfectly.

At the Barrington campus, our leadership team has come up with a list of ways to make a difference. It is simple, personal, and answers a simple question: “What am I going to do with my one and only life?” Here’s the answer: Serve where you are gifted so we all benefit from your gift. Serve the Body of Christ. Serve the needy. Serve the lost. Serve locally. Serve beyond. This list captures a lot of what Jesus taught, modeled, and called his followers to do.

So ask yourself, “How am I wired to serve in these areas? What can I contribute? When is writing a check just not enough? What will make my life meaningful? Who is in need and who can I help?

What good can come from me being alive today?” The answers you discover will help you to grow roots here at The Chapel as we help you make a difference in our world.

During a recent breakfast with a man at our campus, I shared the frustrations of raising a 4-year-old boy. I explained his temper, unpredictability, and tantrums. This man (whose children had left home for careers, college, and military service) smiled and said, “Steve, small children — small problems; big children — big problems.” We spent the rest of the breakfast digesting that timeless truth. I don’t know what awaits me as a father. I am unsure of the decisions and circumstances that will define my kids’ lives as they grow. But the Bible is not just instructive in its direction; it is also helpful in the most authentic way I can imagine — by its very intention.

Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Timothy are, among other books of the Bible, written to a younger generation. They leverage the wisdom of a life well lived to instruct, improve, and strengthen those starting out life’s journey. We believe that God’s wisdom, poured out in his Word and along with the collective experiences, mistakes, and victories of the people around us, gives us a recipe to be the men God wants us to be, to be a wife of honor and strength, to be children who progressively grow in love for God and others, and to impact our families toward God-sized dreams.

Take the family devotional from TGA as a roadmap for leading your young kids. Talk with leaders from The Zone and The Edge about the challenges your student faces, attend a marriage seminar or a parenting small group. But most of all, get really good at following God. Show your kids what sacrificial love is. Honor your parents throughout your life. Respect those who have walked this path before you.

And pray that God will create a family that is vital to our health. 16:9 Steve is the campus pastor at The Chapel’s Barrington campus. He lives in Lakemoor with his wife, Paige, and their three children.

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If you’re looking for life change, look no further than our men’s large group studies!

Our fall studies will begin the week of Sept. 13 and focus on the book Winning at Work and Home.

This study gives you the tools you need to build or rebuild your confidence, expand your vision, develop successful life strategies, and improve your performance in your relationship with your wife or girlfriend, your children, and in your job.

Barrington Campus Second and fourth Sundays of the month, 6 – 7:45 a.m.

Grayslake Campus Thursdays, 7 – 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays, 7 – 8:30 a.m.

Libertyville Campus Wednesdays, 6 – 7:30 a.m.

Mundelein Campus Thursdays, 6 – 7:30 a.m.

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Registration is $25 and available online at www.chapel.org/register.

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by Peter Worrall :

tough questions

Send your tough questions to editor@chapel.org for possible inclusion in sixteen:nine.

Q: How do I know if I A:

am a Christian?

This question is usually asked by people who are afraid. My wife would frantically ask herself this question when she was growing up in the 70s. She was part of the generation that watched a series of different Left Behind-style dramas.

The dramas were used to strike fear into youth who would then run to their rooms and ask Jesus to come into their hearts for fear of being the only one left at the breakfast table next morning. I remember having a personal fear that I would be on an airliner when the pilot and co-pilot were raptured. Of course, the same fears arose when watching the next drama and the next. The fears didn’t go away and so the salvation didn’t stick, right?

The other fears that I grew up with arose from the “turn and burn” preaching where hellfire, damnation, and hot lava poured out of the pulpit and everyone in the congregation would duck and cover because they were sinners in the hands of an angry God. However, whether this was each night at a teen camp or a sermon series of revival, the guilt and hellfire came back. I was petrified that I hadn’t been saved as I wandered out in the fields of darkness to find my tent, where there was weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth.

Jesus is coming back. There is a real hell. There is a real God. There is a real need for fear. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. However, these fears focus more on what I am running away from and less on who I am running toward. The desire to know whether you are a Christian may arise out of fears about hell and the Second Coming of Christ. However, peace comes from looking away from these things and focusing on the author of our faith, Jesus.

The question “How do I know if I am a Christian?” can be rephrased, “How do I know that I have a relationship with Jesus?”

The Bible tells us that you know whether someone has developed a relationship with Jesus by his or her actions. “Oh, no!” I can

hear someone scream — “I still tell lies! My daily devotions are dry! I ate an extra burger for lunch! It’s all because I’m not saved!”

To put your mind at rest, I heard Joe Stowell tell a story at Moody Bible Institute about a man who had become a Christian and then slept with three women in the next year. We all sat there questioning the man’s commitment. However, the previous year the man had cheated on his wife 300 times. Suddenly we saw the amount of improvement the man had made and we believed that he was saved. It is by works that you can see if someone’s faith is genuine, says the book of James. Salvation is by faith in Jesus Christ apart from works. However, a thankful heart serves God out of gratitude and thanksgiving. This is seen by others in what we do.

This is where the health of those initial fears come in. If you understand hell and the story of Jesus’ second coming, you will want to be saved. A person who is saved is overwhelmingly grateful and lives life accordingly. They are positive, encouraging, and concerned with clean and healthy living (at least a little bit more than they were last year).

Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” You can take that to the bank. If you have sincerely asked Jesus to come into your life, you are saved.

You can know it. The peace of more fully knowing your own salvation comes as you exercise your newfound faith and grow in it.

Ask friends who know you well if they see a difference in your life since you decided to follow Jesus. I would be concerned if they sincerely tell you that you are the same self-centered, egotistical slimeball that they once knew. Most of us weren’t quite like that to begin with. However, all of us should see evidence that our lives are no longer centered around ourselves, and, forgetting the sin and fear that so easily entangles, we are focused on running a race toward more of Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

Peter is assistant professor of educational ministries at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. He lives in McHenry with his family.

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chapel picks

: music recommended by Kim Fukai

Mat Kearney City of Black and White Great for sunny drives and rainy days. Mat Kearney’s second major label

release is an album full of versatile songs that meet you on multiple levels and take you a step deeper. It’s a collection of personal and honest songs about standard topics: life, love, searching — but better than the usual fare. His acoustic-driven music and poetic lyrics compliment each other to create sweet moments of reflection and emotion. This album is a stylistic change for Kearney. Gone are the wordy, hip-hop lines that have been replaced by simpler rhythm and melodies. However, this album includes the same welcoming percussive syncopation with a playful mix of synth sounds that lends itself to catchy songs — catchy songs with depth, that is.

He sings of unlimited love that spans distance and weathers storms and relationship ups and downs, and muses on life’s gentler moments and tough times. The range of emotions I experienced listening to this album make me think he really spent his time contemplating how to express that emotion in a song. It’s no surprise that many of Kearney’s songs have been featured on multiple episodes of Grey’s Anatomy and other popular television shows (www.imdb.com/name/nm2108978). His songs sit nicely in the pocket of life’s many emotions, taking us to a place where we can experience it on the same level and providing a soundtrack to our lives.

Counting on God

by Ross Parsley and The Desperation Band

This album has been out about a year and I’m still listening to it! Is that sad?Maybe, but it would be even sadder if you never take the time to listen

to the whole album! You are probably familiar with the catchy title track, a popular weekend song at The Chapel. Chapel staffers recently intensely debated the awesomeness of this track and decided that you either love it or you hate it. Guess which side I’m on?

This album is a collection of simple prayers and Scripture turned into worshipful melodies that will get you excited to sing. The live recording is full of fast and mid-tempo songs with a handful of slow songs that are just as moving. Personal declarations of the goodness of God, his unfailing love and steadfastness, and the glory of Christ’s sacrifice continue throughout the whole album. No matter where you are in your conversations with God, you will find a lyric that meets you there and carries you forward.

These songs come from the worship ministry of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., and are led by worship pastor Ross Parsley and Desperation Band, a worship band that originated from New Life’s student ministry. Desperation Band leads worship at New Life Church but they also travel around the U.S. for conferences and other events.

The church has weathered scandal and tragedy in the last few years; this album is a testimony of how a church and people who go through difficult times together can still worship God through those trials.

iPodcast

Kim is the assistant to the campus pastor and office manager for the Grayslake campus.

You can reach her at kfukai@chapel.org or follow her on Twitter at @kikifoo.

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How about u?

“Rediscovering God: Messages from The Chapel.” Sound familiar? It should! Our current series messages are posted weekly. You can even catch the weekend messages from your favorite teaching pastors as far back as January 2008. Now you can go back and hear that funny story or profound statement that helped you get your head around the vast story of God. Happy listening! (Go to iTunes to download podcasts.)

“The Dave Ramsey Show.” Talk show host and financial advice guru Dave Ramsey answers questions from callers and helps teach listeners to manage their money so that they can live in financial peace. These are honest words from a wise man that can help you gain confidence in and control over your finances.

books recommended by Andy Burns :

chapel picks

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell Malcolm Gladwell continues his best selling work that he started in Tipping Point and Blink. Gladwell uses his patented style of taking something and flipping it on its head to show it for what it really is. “Outlier” is a scientific term to describe things or phenomena that lie outside normal experience.

In Outliers, Gladwell examines such outliers as The Beatles, professional hockey players, and Bill Gates. Gladwell takes their stories and shows that there is more to their stories of success than working from the bottom up. They all received special breaks that allowed them to get the practice needed to become something special. Gladwell shows that things are outliers not because of random luck, but that there are a series of events, privileges, and heritage that make up the recipe for an outlier.

There is a chapter where Gladwell explains that what sets some people apart is their ability to sit longer and solve a problem. He shows that the key to success is the ability to get the magic number of hours of practice and not just being brilliant. I think this is useful when looking for prospective employees or volunteers. Gladwell explains that often times the curious nature of a person can be just as valuable as their IQ. You cannot judge a person solely on their “smarts” or their “wit.”

As a guy who loves random facts and information, this book is a goldmine. Did you know that the Chinese number system is much more pragmatic than the English number system?

This gives Chinese students an advantage in math by the age of 4. It’s these little tidbits that Gladwell unearths that really shed light on age-old misconceptions and further his point.

I love an opportunity to see things differently than they have always been presented.

Jesus Wants to Save Christians

by Rob Bell and Don Golden

This book does not shy away from its controversial nature.

From its provocative title to the synopsis on the back cover, Jesus Wants to Save Christians aims to stir the Christian body to action.

The synopsis says, “There is a church not too far from us that recently added a $25 million addition to their building. Our local newspaper ran a front-page story not too long ago about a study revealing that one in five people in our city lives in poverty. This is a book about those two numbers.”

Bell and Golden aim to put the Bible back into its proper perspective. The Bible is written by an oppressed people, often times living under the rule of a foreign empire. As citizens living in the most powerful nation the world has ever seen, we can miss some of the central points of the Bible. For example, it’s hard to fully understand the miracle of feeding thousands of chronically hungry people with two loaves of bread and five fish when we throw away more than 10 percent of our food.

Bell and Golden go through the central narrative of the Bible and show the patterns of history from Adam in the Garden of Eden to John on the island of Patmos; from the first exile east of Eden by Adam and Eve to the exiled nature of today’s Church. Jesus came to save us from exile. He was the new Moses. Bell and Golden want us to see the world as it is and to be aware of the tremendous blessings we have been given and use them as a blessing to others. That was always God’s plan. God wants to bless his people so that they can be a blessing to the whole world.

This book was very eye opening to me and has solidified itself as an annual read just to maintain perspective and to motivate me to “be Jesus” to the world around me. This is a great book to read and explore with others and use as a tool to encourage each other. It has the potential to change you and the world around you.

Andy is The Chapel’s video director. You can write to him at aburns@chapel.org or follow him on Twitter at @theandyburns.

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CONNECT RELATIONALLY :

On the

MOVE The Chapel’s History in Photos

A lot has changed at The Chapel in the past 15 years, including the logo. The original logo was used from 1994 to 2005.

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3. The group of friends soon started asking the question, “Where does God want us to minister to best serve his Kingdom goals?”

The answer was northwest Chicagoland and a rented warehouse space in Grayslake.

1. The Chapel started as the vision of two seminary students, Scott Chapman and Jeff Griffin, who wanted to see God change lives in the suburbs of Chicago and beyond. They are pictured here with their wives, Tammy and Jen, shortly before launching The Chapel.

2. “Services” in the early days of The Chapel looked quite different from and fairly simple compared to our current weekend experience — just some dedicated friends who met weekly for Bible study and fellowship in the clubhouse of a local apartment complex.

4. The first Chapel service was held in the warehouse in the summer of 1994.

Additional warehouse spaces were rented as the church quickly grew in numbers.

When The Chapel started meeting at Woodview Elementary School, the warehouse hosted weekly Community Nights.

The current Chapel logo, 2005 to present.

5. The years spent meeting in the warehouse saw continuous growth. A generation of children grew up in The Chapel and witnessed from an early age the incredible things God was doing in and through this new church.

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6. As The Chapel continued to grow, weekend services moved to Grayslake High School. “It was a time of genuine spiritual formation,” associate pastor Jamie Wamsley said. “There was not a high that we wouldn’t climb, a job that we wouldn’t tackle — nothing we wouldn’t do to see God move. I think that defined the core ethos of who we are.”

7. While The Chapel was still meeting at the high school, the adults were invited every year to attend a retreat called Intimacy with God, to grow spiritually and also relationally as friends and as a church.

8. The Chapel has always been a church on the move, figuratively and literally. Tech equipment was transported in a trailer and adjustments had to be made each week to accommodate the nature of the weekend services, including covering a ram’s head each week in the high school auditorium.

9. The Great Adventure is known as a fun, safe place for kids to learn about God. When Adventure Avenue was just a dream, however, school chairs were pushed aside, toys brought in, and story time took place on a blanket.

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11. Family members placed stones in a pile at the dedication site of the Grayslake campus to remember God’s faithfulness to The Chapel in the past and in anticipation of the great things they knew he would accomplish.

10. When attendance climbed to 1,500 people, The Chapel broke ground and began a building campaign for the facility that is now the Grayslake campus. On May 19, 2002, senior pastors Jeff and Scott led a service on the knoll of a hill that is visible from the Grayslake campus building and dedicated the new project to God.

12. After two weeks in the new building, attendance jumped from 1,500 to 3,200 people, and the Chapel leadership had to make decisions about how to handle the growth. Almost immediately after it was decided to implement the multi-site strategy, God began to open doors at different churches in the area that are now the Mundelein, Libertyville, and Barrington campuses.

Grayslake campus, opened 2004

Libbertyville campus, opened 2006

Mundelein campus, opened 2006

Barrington campus, opened 2006 Fall 2009 |

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group life

: by Beth Whartnaby

Add Spice, Simmer, and Serve To an Italian, “gravy” is not the thick brown sauce you pour over roast beef and mashed potatoes. It’s that rich, red tomato sauce that goes over homemade spaghetti and meatballs. And if you’re really Italian, the only gravy that will do is the kind your mother (and her mother) always made. The kind that’s just the right thickness, has just the right amount of spices, and has been simmering most of the day to achieve just the right flavor.

I’m not Italian, but my husband is, so learning how to cook at least a few Italian dishes became a necessity. His grandmother’s gravy was the best and I’m sure it took her years of practice to get it that way. I may not do everything the way she did, but I have learned that it takes time, commitment, and perseverance to make food that is worth eating. I also learned that it’s good to have someone willing to take the time to help me learn to do it right.

True biblical community is in many ways like that rich, red sauce. It takes time, commitment, and perseverance for a group of people to simmer into that sweet and spicy, “just right” gravy we call a small group. And it’s good to have people committed to helping you learn to be the best small group you can.

This fall at The Chapel, GroupConnect will be our “recipe card” for small groups. GroupConnect is a two-hour event that will be held at each Chapel campus during the last two weeks of September and the beginning of October. At GroupConnect you will meet and begin to get to know other people who attend your campus and live in your neck of the woods. You will be able to form a new small group that night or get connected with an existing small group. You will learn what to expect in your small group and how your first group meeting will go.

Just like a good Italian dish, though, a recipe card only gets you so far. Becoming a small group takes time — just like anything worthwhile. Determine to give your new group time to become the group God has in mind. Determine to give yourself time to grow and time to embrace what God is doing in you through this new community. Commit to your group for at least six weeks and watch it begin to simmer!

Anything worthwhile takes commitment. First and foremost, commitment means making your group a priority and attending

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as regularly as you can. It also means preparing yourself for your group time. Good cooks know that it’s not just the right ingredients that matter ­— it’s good quality ingredients used the right way. Come to your small group meeting mentally and spiritually prepared. Commit to reading and working through the curriculum.

Commit to opening up and sharing with the group. Commit to pray for your group during the week.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25 NIV).

Commitment also takes perseverance. Community is not always clean, neat, and easy. It’s not meant to be. Sometimes dealing with people who are different than us, supporting each other through hardship and tragedy, and working through conflict and hurt

“True biblical community takes time, commitment, and perseverance for a group of people to simmer into that sweet and spicy, ‘just right’ gravy we call a small group.” are just the situations that the Holy Spirit uses to build character, deepen relationships, and mold and shape our lives. Even the world’s greatest chefs had to start somewhere, and you can be sure they had to persevere. The sweet taste of true community is worth the perseverance needed to get there.

Finally, it’s good to have help. A team of Chapel people is committed to helping your small group form, grow, and thrive.

Beginning with your first experience at GroupConnect, our goal is to help your group develop into a healthy, transformational small group — an authentic biblical community.

For GroupConnect dates and times, visit the small groups section of www.chapel.org.

Beth is the director of groups at The Chapel.

You can write to her at bwhartnaby@chapel.org.

by Cleve Persinger

Gets a Facelift

N

o need to adjust your monitor — The Chapel’s Web site really is getting a new look! And a new design won’t be the only change. The improved site will have some new features we’re really excited to launch.

On Demand Message Videos The Chapel’s new site will include one of the most asked-for functions on Web sites. Not only will you be able to download the audio file of weekend messages, users can also watch the teaching each week. Like many of your favorite TV shows, you will be able to catch missed “episodes on demand.” If you’re visual like I am, this is a huge improvement to your experience on the Web site.

Mobile Phone Compatible — BlackBerry, Too! When you access www.chapel.org from your mobile device, you will automatically be redirected to the mobile version of the site.

This advantage will allow users of all cell phone types to get the information they want quickly. In addition, this function will be used occasionally on weekends to access resources that may not be found anywhere else.

www.chapel.org will be the “Open Mic” section. This is a place designed specifically for your input. “Hard Questions” gives site visitors a platform to ask difficult questions and get real answers.

There is also an application that allows you to make message suggestions and rate the ideas of others. We’d also like to hear what’s going on in your life through the new “My Story” section that allows you to upload bite-sized webcam videos. Check it out! We’re looking forward to hearing from you.

Get Connected Easily accessible on the homepage, there will be a small group finder and volunteer opportunity list at your fingertips.

The new Web site will make it easy for you to get connected and impact the lives of others by serving. The small group finder will help you choose a group in your community. You can also stay up-to-date on the areas most in need of volunteer support.

The Web site www.chapel.org is an evolving resource and these improvements are just the beginning. I think you’re going to like what you see! I appreciate and invite your feedback — write me at cpersinger@chapel.org. 16:9

Karaoke, Anyone?

Cleve is the executive director of Web and community engagement at

Probably the most exciting and interactive addition to

The Chapel. He and his wife, Katie, live with their two children in Libertyville.

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chapel news

:

Don’t forget!

Elder Prayer Night Sunday, Oct. 25 6:30 p.m.

Mundelein Campus

Childcare will be provided.

“Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick?

He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven.”

(James 5:13-15 NIV)

Grayslake.

urch in t n i at Faith Ch o 9 1 P . v r o N e n Pray st Forum will take place o er, is a network of churches thamt inpagrt-

. This upco l is a partn The Cataly in our area The Chape st h ri ic h h C w e Breaux f f o o n , o C and Mik putati Catalyst IN re e e v o th L f re o o e of om er to rest Robert Od aningful tim e rs e m k ner togeth a a e e b sp l il ature guest ho will kford and w h leaders w event will fe urch in Roc rc h u C h y c it e n u th r t, d Comm l growth fo f this even of Heartlan nd spiritua ttendees o a a , d g n in a , rk rs o e m niz , netw at the foru akers, orga fellowship established for the spe s y ip ra p sh n se o a ti e and rela attend. Ple the messag se u l il goland. w d o that G on in Chica ti lu o v re l a spiritu to further a

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d!

Look what God di to our Redemption

nse Thank you for your respo see our church come to series! It was amazing in process of redemption together to continue the our world.

r: ies we were able to sponso As a church, during this ser able ies, which means we’ll be • 11 Mobile Food Pantr ek. we e 3,300 families for on to supply enough food for

s to our youth on mission trip • 1,471.5 miles to send Lake County.

Trinidad, Indianapolis, and gram. on Entrepreneurship Pro • 69 inmates through Pris

Coming up in TGA:

This fall, our grade sch ool children in The Gr eat Adventure will go adventure called The on a brand-new Fantastic World! After a mysterious box tra Pickens to a parallel ns ports young Molly world, she learns she is the last hope for the wise Box Maker know fad ing land. The s that only a love like Jesus’ can save his be the clutches of Rainy lov ed home from Day, the not-so-kind ruler who seeks to en only the Fantastic Wo d ha pp iness in not rld, but in Molly’s wo rld as well. Molly’s ne her what it means to w frie nd s will teach love like Jesus and he lp her save the Fanta stic World.

This eight-week curric ulum will unlock the mysteries of Jesus, ma children to grasp an king it easy for d participate in the ch anging power of his focus on strength, fai lov e. The lessons will th, encouragement, humility, service, shari thy, sacrifice, and for ng, honesty, empagiveness. There is ev en a rumor that two The Fantastic World of the characters fro will visit us at The Ch m apel when the series finishes in November!

You don’t want your children to miss this exciting new series, this fall in TGA!

Hands on Lake Zurich

At the recent Kids Win event in Lake Zurich, 35 volunteers helped with everything from setup and tear down, selling raffle tickets, working at the concession stand, collecting trash, security, as well as sharing information about the upcoming launch of the Lake Zurich campus. At another Lake Zurich event, Alpine Fest, 45 people helped man the Chapel booth and marched in the parade. This event was a huge success! More than 1,100 bags filled with information about the Lake Zurich campus, magnets, and message CDs were handed out, and at least 800 people stopped by the Chapel booth to play games and inquire about who we are or ask if we are open yet. Some of them even said The Chapel is “quite the buzz around Lake Zurich.”

Are you ready for what’s coming in Lake Zurich? It’s going to be beyond our dreams!

Fall 2009 |

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staff spotlight

: by Allison Cox

EmilyHernandezPhotography.com

WELCOME: Sara, Connor, Jonathan, and Caleb Strauss.

Behind the Design

I

ntroducing Jonathan Strauss: husband, father of two, amateur carpenter, and The Chapel’s new media and production designer. You see his work every week in the program, around your Chapel campus, and in the pages of this magazine — now get to know the man behind the design!

What drew you to The Chapel and your new role?

A couple of years ago, before I worked for the Willow Creek Association and when I was at a company called Learning Resources, we filled out a self-evaluation form. One of the questions was, “If you could create any position for yourself, what would it be?” At the time I was doing only print design but I had the desire to do more Web projects and even video. I wrote that down, even though there wasn’t anything they did in-house with Web or video.

Flash forward a year or so: I left Learning Resources and joined the staff at WCA. I enjoyed that job, which was strictly print design. Unfortunately, six months later I was laid off. Of course that brought up a lot of questions, like “God, why would this happen?”

In that whole process, another manager set me down and said he knew about a position at The Chapel. Ironically, the job description was similar to what I had written on the self-evaluation form two years before. I probably would have never found out about the Chapel position if I had never been hired at the WCA and if I had never been laid off. To me, that kind of connects some of the dots for what God had in mind.

You may be the first person many people will have met from Iowa. What’s it like?

It’s a land of rolling cornfields. I grew up in a friendly town of about 1,200 people called Strawberry Point (home of the world’s largest strawberry ­— seriously). I was always amazed to drive around the suburbs here and see signs for a “village,” and it’s 75,000 people!

I always thought a village was smaller than a town with grass huts and natives running around.

You have a really long title. What does it mean?

My job entails a lot of design for anything from ministry flyers

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to the program to lobby posters and banners to graphics on the sideboard to anything on the Web. What’s one thing people would be surprised to learn about graphic design?

Photoshop can’t fix everything!

Tell us about your family.

I’m married to Sara and we have Connor, who just turned 2 in June, and Caleb, who will be 1 in November. My parents are still in Iowa and my sister and her family live in Kansas, but a lot of my wife’s family (she has four sisters) live in this area.

How did you meet Sara?

We met through a serving trip to the Dominican Republic. She caught my eye right away, to the point where I wondered if there was something going on. It was a work trip so we had an accelerated process — everyone’s dirty and sweaty and you see the worst side of everyone, so there’s no façade that you’ve put up to try to impress somebody. But it was a great week. I knew something was definitely happening on the way home when I gave up the front row on the airplane and a lot of legroom to sit next to her. For a guy who’s 6’6”, that’s a sign that something’s up.

What do you do in your free time?

There is generally a lot of roughhousing with my boys. We have instilled a thing right after a meal or before a nap called “family wrestle time.” Connor pronounces it as “wethel.” Generally any free time I have is focused around my boys. I enjoy working on the computer at home and reading. I also do dishes and clean the house — you know, manly stuff. I enjoy doing amateurish woodworking stuff; I’m currently building a swing set for my boys.

Do you have any famous friends?

I met Weird Al at the airport once. He sat a few rows ahead of me on my plane to Buffalo and fell alseep on the shoulder of the person sitting next to him (a woman he was not traveling with).

by Jamie Wamsley :

a church you can believe in

The Problem of Forgetfulness I have a problem: my memory is terrible. I forget things all the time. Important things. Things I really should remember: birthdays, anniversaries, milk at the grocery store, turning off the alarm system before I open the door — pretty much anything my wife tells me (this is what she says, at least). The biggest problem I have, however, is that I forget God. I’m amazed that I can do this, but I can. As a Christian, I have a relationship with God. In fact, I tend to think it’s a pretty good one. I talk with God all the time in prayer. I read the Bible constantly and am excited to learn more about him. I have seen God move powerfully and change my life in dramatic ways. I genuinely love both Jesus and his Kingdom.

And yet, in the midst of all these very spiritual activities, I find that I can still allow the circumstances of my life to push God away. Something urgent needs to be done at work, one of the kids needs attention at home, or any of a million other things grabs my attention and shoves God aside. Without ever really acknowledging what is going on, I allow God to subtly shift to the outer edges of my life. Occupied with other things, I lose my desire to reach out to him in a significant way.

It is in these moments that I forget God. It’s not like I forsake my Christian faith or even admit there’s really a problem, but I allow God to become a non-factor in the way I live my everyday life. I succumb to the ever-present threat of Practical Atheism. I am also not the first person to ever have this problem.

Immediately after God supernaturally rescued the Israelites by drowning the Egyptian army in the Red Sea, they praised God, singing to him, “Who is like you — majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders?” (Exodus 15:11b NIV) The obvious answer to all who had witnessed what God had done was “no one.” There was no one who could have done what God did; he was simply unlike anyone or anything they had ever seen or experienced. The Israelites could do nothing but marvel at who he was. Amazingly, their awe of God did not last. After less than two months, the Israelites were complaining against both God and Moses, openly wishing they had never left their misery in Egypt.

Collectively, the Israelites had the same problem I have. They

experienced God firsthand, they saw him do truly unbelievable things in their midst, and yet, in a matter of weeks, they allowed their circumstances to overshadow everything that God had done on their behalf in the past. They forgot God. For the Israelites, this was a real problem. Throughout the pages of the Old Testament, we find that their forgetfulness continually eroded their faith in God and in many ways led them far from him. As disastrous and damaging as the decisions of the Israelites sometimes were, I am at least glad to have them as a spiritual example. When I recognize the seeds of Practical Atheism in my own life, I understand that it is time to embark on a journey of rediscovering God. Rediscovering God is the process of allowing God to move back into the center of our lives and to re-orient everything we are and

“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

(Revelation 3:20) do around him. There is always the need for repentance — to acknowledge our drift and express genuine sorrow for it. Often, there is the need to grow in our understanding of God in ways that deepen our faith. Ultimately, overcoming our forgetfulness requires a ruthless commitment on our end to cling tightly to God and not let go.

As prone as we are to forget God, the beautiful reality is that God never forgets us. Psalm 115 says, “The Lord remembers us and will bless us … he will bless those who fear the Lord” (v. 1213a). Take this opportunity to remember God, to call out to him, to move him back to the center of your life, and to re-engage in the journey of rediscovering God. Jamie is the associate pastor at The Chapel.

You can reach him at jwamsley@chapel.org or follow him on Twitter at @jamiewamsley.

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chapel community

: by Rex Minor

So You Want to Be a Hero?

I think I am a normal American man, especially when it comes to movies. I love sports movies, war movies, blood and guts-type movies, but I am particularly drawn to movies where the protagonist is a hero who saves his fellow man, saves the world, etc.

Heroes are attractive to me because they give me a vision of the impact I would like to make on this world before I leave it.

My favorite movie is Braveheart; I have seen it at least 30 times and get choked up almost every time I view it. Why? Because the story of William Wallace, a 13th century Scottish rebel and commoner, is the story of a hero. He leads an uprising against the tyranny of the cruel English ruler Edward the Longshanks, who wants to inherit the crown of Scotland for himself. Against insurmountable odds, he leads a ragtag army against the English and beats them, thus winning freedom for Scotland. He sacrifices his own life for the sake of a greater cause — freedom for his people. He wanted his fellow Scotsmen to live a full, satisfying, abundant life devoid of tyranny and fear. Sound familiar?

The Church of the first century was a magnet to males. Jesus’ strong leadership, blunt honesty, and bold action mesmerized men.

He did not just want to save a whole country; he wanted to save the world. And he challenges us to be a part of his cause in changing the world for the better. At its core, being a devoted Christ follower involves risk, adventure, and daring — it involves greatness.

Is it a sin to seek greatness? Men seem to gravitate toward some measure of greatness, whether in sports, business, hobbies, gangs, or the military. All of these offer the possibility of triumph and achievement. Jesus was asked about this topic of greatness by two of his disciples in Mark 10. James and John asked Jesus if they could sit next to him in heaven — their way of seeking greatness and recognition. The other 10 disciples got angry with James and John and fully expected Jesus to reprimand them for their arrogance. But to everyone’s surprise, Jesus did not rebuke the brothers. Instead, he redirected them to real greatness: “If you want to be great, you must be the servant of all the others. And if you want to be first, you must be everyone’s slave. The Son of Man did not come to be a slave master, but a slave who will give his life to rescue many people” (Mark 10:43b-45 CEV).

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David Murrow says in his book Why Men Hate Going to Church: “Those first six words are remarkable: ‘If you want to be great …’

The desire to be a great man is not sin; it is a virtue. Instead of opposing James and John’s lust for greatness (as the other ten disciples did), Jesus redirected it. Later in John 14, Jesus made a remarkable predication: the disciples will do even greater things than He did! These are not the words of a jealous, insecure Savior.”

Jesus said it is OK to reach for greatness as long as we do it the way he prescribes — not through self-promotion, but through self-sacrifice. Robert Lewis once said, “As I talk with men about their struggles, I realize many men are languishing because nobody is recognizing the noble things in their life. Men need male cheerleaders. If no one cheers for nobility, men are going to collapse back into a dumbed-down masculinity that follows the cheers of the world — obsessive careerism, selfish pursuits, and ignoble deeds.”

We need to recognize men for the good they do. It is not about

“Jesus said it is OK to reach for greatness as long as we do it the way he prescribes — not through self-promotion, but through selfsacrifice.” praising individuals; it is celebrating what God is doing in our lives.

Every time we help the oppressed, love our family and neighbors, pray for a friend, align our lives with the hope we have in Christ, and serve each other, we achieve greatness in God’s eyes!

If you would like to meet with other men at the Chapel who desire to make a difference in this world, there are a number of opportunities, including joining a men’s small group. The goal of these groups is to help life change happen in men who will become authentic, passionate people of God.

Rex is the executive director of Transformational Community at The Chapel. You can reach him at rminor@chapel.org.

: STRENGTHEN FAMILIES

by Ann Smith

F

or my friend Jen’s 40th birthday, she wanted to do something out of the ordinary and fun, so we took her

downtown and surprised her with a Segway tour of Chicago. I don’t remember the last time I laughed that hard! I’m not sure what was funnier — when Kim couldn’t figure out how to stop and almost ended up in Lake Michigan or when Jen accidently let go of

the unit and ended up chasing it into a fountain. It probably doesn’t sound that funny because you really had to be there.

Doesn’t experiencing something add an entirely new level of understanding instead of just reading about it? What if we could actually experience the things we read about in the Bible, like spending three days in the belly of a whale or surviving a worldwide flood on an ark? How would our view of God change after living these experiences?

continues on next page >>

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As Christian parents, my husband, Rick, and I desire more than anything to pass on to our kids a love and passion for God and a desire to follow Jesus wholeheartedly. Yet making it real and relevant is challenging — partly because we live in an increasingly busy culture that sucks up time like a black hole, but primarily because Satan wants it to fall by the wayside and uses any and all means possible to discourage us.

One of the things we love most about God is the way he makes every encounter with himself inspiring, exciting, and deeply satisfying. This summer, Rick and I started thinking about how to show this to our kids — experientially — through the life of David. Our goal was for our kids to begin developing a “heart after God” like David had. We want to share our experience with you and inspire you to use this with your family throughout the school year. There are four different “experiences” here; feel free to add your own or choose different Bible stories. Have fun!

Experience 1: David’s Perspective David was very young — probably anywhere from 7 to 14 years old — when he was anointed as the future king of Israel.

Before that, he was a shepherd — the menial job of the youngest child in the smallest, weakest, tribe in Israel. But on a fateful day, recorded in 1 Samuel 16:1-13, everything changed for David — not his job, his home, or even his lifestyle, but his perspective. He didn’t actually become king until much later in his life, but he knew his calling and the gifts God had given him from this moment on, and that changed everything.

How do our kids see themselves? What is their perspective? Do they know their unique gifts and calling? These were some

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of the questions we began asking ourselves.

We spent some time (great date night idea!) writing down each of our kids’ unique gifts and picked a verse to go with them. Then we typed them out and framed them. We planned an evening and had an “anointing ceremony” in our living room where we literally crowned the girls (Claires: $6) and knighted Caleb (Dollar General sword: $1). We started by telling the story of David and his anointing. Then, we called each one up and shared their God-given gifts, reminded them that God has an awesome plan for each of them, and talked about the strengths and weaknesses of each of these gifts and how to use them to honor God and not ourselves.

We gave them a new perspective.

They loved it! They loved celebrating each other and themselves. They loved knowing their special gift and recognizing it was from God. We loved it, too. We saw them experience God and it was awesome!

We placed their frames by their beds and when we pray with them at night we remind them of their uniqueness and pray that they will use these gifts to bring others to know God.

Experience 2: David’s Friendship Our friends often significantly impact our choices. David’s friendship with Jonathan

was remarkable on many levels. First, it was completely other-centered. Jonathan was the heir to the throne of Israel and he knew that instead, David had been anointed by God (1 Samuel 17:58–18:4). He was not only OK with that, but he actually supported David to the point where he saved his life on several occasions (1 Samuel 19:1-7, 20:1-42).

Together they made a pact to care for each other’s families if one of them should die (1 Sam 20:14-17). The Bible talks about their hearts being knit together. Don’t you want your kids to have friends like that? We do!

We created an opportunity for them to experience meaningful friendship. We planned it during our vacation so the cousins could be involved. We started by acquainting them with David’s relationship with Jonathan. Then, we grouped them up by ages and gave them a list of five things to experience together and three questions to ask each other along the way. We had no time limit or set rules — just enjoy being together.

Here are some of the things we did along with some other ideas: swim or canoe to a set location, gather wildflowers, build a fire (great for little boys), write a poem, song, or story together, make something together, take a hike and find three interesting things.

Some ideas for “questions to ask your friend” are: “What is something new you’ve learned about God lately?” or “What are your dreams for the future?”

At the end we all re-grouped to download their experience. They loved sharing what they learned about each other and what they enjoyed about their time together. Then we discussed the importance of choosing good friends that build us up rather than tear us down. We talked about how friends can lead us toward God or away from God. And we all asked ourselves what kind of friend we want to be. Their friendship grew through their shared experiences.

Experience 3: David’s Solitude One of the things that shaped David into “a man after God’s own heart” was the significant amount of time he spent alone with God. During the many years that David was a shepherd, he learned about God in profound ways. He sat for hours playing the harp, composing songs of praise to God. He learned to sit quietly and listen to God. David learned that God alone was sufficient for him (Psalm 23).

We started asking ourselves, “Do our kids make time to listen and respond to God? Do they even know how? Knowing God takes time. Do they have time to hear God and respond to him?”

In this experience we wanted our kids to begin to learn how to sit and listen to God. So we prepared them to spend some time alone with God. We wrapped up a “Solitude Survival Kit.” The older kids’ kit included a Bible, notebook with a list of questions to think through, art pad, and writing/coloring utensils. The younger ones had paper and coloring utensils.

Before they left, we prayed over them.

We sent the older ones for a few hours, the younger for less.

When they returned they each had had a different but meaningful experience.

Rachel’s was the most unusual. She had taken a paddleboat across the lake and ended up getting stuck. Upset and crying, she requested to be finished with the task. We reminded her that Satan often tries to discourage us from spending time with God and encouraged her to

continue. She begrudgingly pressed on and ended up writing a beautiful and meaningful song about God’s call on kids to help others and his faithfulness. It wasn’t hard to convince her that she had heard from God!

Experience 4: David’s Courage David killed Goliath with a slingshot and a stone. What an incredible event this would have been! And yet, David had already experienced God’s help in killing lions and bears while he was a shepherd. He was incredibly confident in God and his ability to take care of him. God had prepared him for that moment.

Do you believe God will take care of you? This was the question we wanted our kids to know the answer to through their own encounter with God. Rick and I talked through several scenarios that would help them understand what it looked like to rely on God. We talked about giving each of them a challenge they were afraid to do — not skill related, just something they were afraid to try. We finally settled on having each of them walk at night in the dark along a designated path alone.

Instead, God provided his own moment for our whole family. We were traveling through the Black Hills in South Dakota looking for wild buffalo. We found an entire

herd of them but they surrounded us so we couldn’t move forward. We were all very nervous because the bulls were fighting with each other over the females. It was awesome and terrifying to watch them paw the ground, kicking up a fury of dust and then charge headlong, locking horns and wrestling each other. Our kids were begging us to get out of the way but Rick recognized this as a God moment and reminded us all that this was what it was like for David sitting out watching the sheep when a wild animal came. He knew God would take care of him. Did they think God would take care of us in our situation?

As we thought through this experience we realized that our family has some significant room to grow in this area. Rather than creating some elaborate event, it is more important for us to recognize that when we do anything at all, we need to walk in it in God’s strength and not our own. Then when something big and scary comes up we will be used to relying on God. go ahead and enjoy your own family experiences with God. We’d love to hear how they went for you and any other ideas you come up with along the way. 16:9

Ann and her husband, Mundelein campus pastor Rick Smith, live in Round Lake with their four children. To share your thoughts with Ann, write to editor@chapel.org.

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You can make a difference in the lives of children at The Chapel!

To join the fall team in The Great Adventure, contact your campus TGA director or Nancy Guhl at 847.281.3331 or nguhl@chapel.org.

by Dee Dee Estes :

the great adventure

A Message to Embrace: Livin’ It! I had a conversation recently with a parent from our church who was anxious to lay a good spiritual foundation for her child. She didn’t feel like she knew enough to teach her child and needed a place to start. I challenged her to focus on looking for the teachable moments every day to connect with her child on their shared faith.

While talking with this parent, I quickly realized that she was concerned about a specific path to take in teaching God’s Word to her child and she felt like she was losing ground every day. I also noted that she wasn’t really aware of what we were teaching her child in TGA, even though she could see it was having an impact.

That’s why I love our children’s ministry so much — because of its message. Our ministry is positioned to come alongside parents on the journey of raising spiritually strong kids — a “Livin’ It” kid as we like to call them! A “Livin’ It” kid is someone who is livin’ out what we refer to as “the three F’s.” The first is “livin’ with a great friend.” We teach kids that Jesus is the greatest friend we can ever have and that he wants to be their friend and do life with them every day! We encourage them toward prayer and Bible study (daily devotion) as a way to connect with God. We also teach them about the Christian life, about “livin’ with great fun.” They learn that following Jesus leads to the best life possible, despite the world’s determination to paint a life of faith as boring, overly restrictive, or irrelevant. They learn that “livin’ with great focus” means understanding that God made you special and has a great plan for your life.

My brief conversation with that parent gave me pause to thank God for the connections we make with parents, like encouraging them to get in the Word with their kids and to model a life of service. This mom brightened up as she realized that what her daughter learned would more likely be “caught” than taught. The embrace I got went beyond thanking me for taking time to talk with her; she was thanking me for the message of “Livin’ It.” She joked that based on what her daughter was learning at church, maybe she could learn a thing or two from her.

I’m the mother of 4-year-old twins and one of my favorite times during the week is connecting with my kids just as they are coming out of their TGA class on Sunday. A simple question —

“What did you learn today?” — gives me a sneak peek into what the day will hold for us as a family. Sometimes I get only a glimpse, like “Jesus wants to be my friend,” and with that to go on we head into the day looking for ways to connect with the message they got in TGA. I view Sunday as a day when I get a little gift from TGA, a day when part of the work is done for me. That simple takehome sheet (that I realize ends up on the floor of a lot of minivans) gives me the extra nudge I need to be deliberate with my kids in helping to shape their worldview and showing them God’s glory. I want my kids to see the difference it can make in our lives when what we are learning on Sunday is not about “doing church” but rather connected to how we “do life” every day.

As we head into fall, I’d like to invite parents at The Chapel to consider serving in TGA — but not for the reason you might expect. Sure, we need lots of volunteers to adequately staff our

“I want my kids to see the difference it can make in our lives when what we are learning on Sunday is not about ‘doing church’ but rather connected to how we ‘do life’ every day.” classrooms, but I’m looking for a different kind of victory this fall season. Take advantage of the unique opportunity to serve in your child’s classroom. See firsthand what they are learning. Jump into the experience of worship, teaching, and small groups with them that will give you lots of opportunities to live out what you are learning together. Serving in children’s ministry is a rewarding opportunity when you truly catch a vision for the impact you can have on the life of a child. How deeply rewarding then, when the child you have the potential to impact is your own?

Dee Dee is the executive director of The Great Adventure, the children’s ministry at The Chapel.

You can reach her at destes@chapel.org.

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iThriv ng in

Surviving Suburbia

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by Pamela Burns

As

a stay-at-home mom of two young kids, I have learned how to survive in suburbia. I am an expert on the local parks, libraries, and anything else I can do to keep my kids busy and me sane. Of course, I am one of those moms that can be found in Target on any given morning perusing the aisles while my baby takes his morning nap in the stroller. For a lot of my friends and myself, this activity has become the highlight of our week — “Target runs,” we call them.

One Tuesday morning, I was on one of our adventures to Target. After rescuing the display of picture frames from my 3-year-old’s curious hands and finding a snack to keep my 1-yearold happy enough to sit for just a few more minutes, it suddenly dawned on me: When God called me to stay home with my children, surely he intended more for our lives than meandering through Target. Don’t get me wrong — errands and mundane activities are a part of the package. But shouldn’t there be more to life than looking forward to a trip to the supermarket?

When I left the store, I couldn’t help but begin to wonder what exactly God had for my children and me during this time in our lives. What if we dreamt as big as him? Could it be that God didn’t just want us to survive but to actually thrive?

This was the beginning of a quiet discontent creeping within me. I needed to find answers.

I decided to study the book of Acts. If I was going to find lives that were thriving, I knew I could find their stories in this book. In chapter 9, I came across a woman named Tabitha. Verse 36 says, “She was always doing kind things for others and helping the poor” (NLT). As I read on, I noticed how loved Tabitha was by her community and what they went through to help her. Tabitha became sick and eventually died. Her friends heard that Peter was in the area and went and begged him to come to Tabitha’s home.

In the end, Peter did go to Tabitha and miraculously brought her back to life.

Tabitha’s life is a remarkable example of thriving versus surviving. How did she thrive? I believe there are three things that stand out in this passage and give us the answer. The first was that Tabitha was always doing kind things for others. It is embarrassing to think about the number of times I have been more concerned with my children and myself than doing something for someone else. It is much easier to just get through the store than to stop and genuinely acknowledge the cashier.

An example of kindness in my life is from a close friend of mine.

We have children exactly the same age, so any time we go out, it is always an adventure. My daughter has come to recognize her as the “snack mom.” Not only does she pack snacks for her children,

but she also packs extra for mine. Many times she will call me and offer to pack a lunch for my children as well. To some, this may not seem like a big deal. For me, however, her thoughtfulness in the midst of her crazy life blesses me beyond words.

The second area of Tabitha’s life that exemplified thriving was through helping the poor. When Peter went to Tabitha’s home, they showed him the beautiful clothing that she had made for people. Tabitha took what she could do and allowed God to use that to help people in need. The need in Lake County is staggering and I often think, “What could I possibly do to help, especially with two small children in tow?” Then I think of the mother just down the street who has children going to bed hungry. I may be just one mom, but I could give some of my food to help feed her children.

Tabitha’s life also thrived because of her relationships. Tabitha’s community was devastated over her death. Men went and searched for Peter to come, unwilling to accept that she was gone. If it weren’t for the people in her life, Tabitha would have remained dead.

My husband and I have been part of a small group for four years. Within this group, we have rejoiced with each other at the birth of our children, cried over loss, and found encouragement and support in day-to-day struggles. Simply meeting once a week and having dinner together has allowed us to grow as individuals and as a family.

I was recently shown another example of relationships that cause life to thrive. When my daughter broke her leg at the park, I was stuck with a hysterical toddler and a curious little boy and unable to carry both of them to the car. As I waited for my husband to arrive, a woman came and sat with me and watched my son as I held my daughter. I don’t know what I would have done if it wasn’t for this stranger. When I think of relationships, I often think about my close friends. That day I realized relationships could also be quick encounters with strangers that can greatly impact our lives.

That day in Target, I thought the answer I was looking for would be found in greater and bigger circumstances. After studying the passage about Tabitha, I found that a thriving life is not about where I am or what I do, but in how I do it. To show kindness and concern for those around me and to maintain strong relationships are what allow me to thrive in, and not just survive, my life in the suburbs. 16:9 Pamela is a Michigan native and graduate of North Central University. Before she accepted a full-time job as mom to Addison and Henry, she was a case manager for Catholic Charities.

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Who wants to be hungry?

Probably not many people, but for many families in our community, hunger is a reality that they face every day.

The Chapel’s youth believe that no family should have to worry about where they will get their next meal, and this fall, they’re taking steps to make sure that those families will have a holiday meal on their table.

You can help! Pick up a box in any Chapel lobby during the weekends of Nov 14/15 and 21/22. Fill the box with the accompanying list and return it by Nov. 29. This is a great project to do as a family or small group as we show our community that we care about their physical needs.

Look for more information in your weekend program!

by Dave Griffin :

student ministries

Go Left, Young Man Live differently — that is what the summer has been about for Student Ministries at The Chapel. You see, students these days are under a lot of pressure to fit in or conform. Their schools tell them that they have to be successful, get good grades, play sports, and make their life what they want it to be. Their friends tell them what they need to do to be accepted and popular.

Even the music they listen to and the movies they watch or the social network they log on to all tell them the same message: This world revolves around “you.” You are the center. You are the starring character of your life. You do what you need to do to get yourself what will make you happy. Our students are being taught to find happiness in serving themselves, but God says to live differently.

Jesus has called the students of The Chapel to live in a different way than the rest of the young people that walk this earth.

While the youth culture lives for “self,” Jesus said, “Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave” (Matthew 20:26-28 NIV). Our students listened and summer ‘09 was full of selfless serving! Lake County, Indianapolis, and Trinidad were shaken by God’s love as more than 100 Chapel students gave their summer to serving God by loving others. It was amazing to watch as these so-called self absorbed young people pulled weeds, played with under-privileged kids, listened to the elderly, painted churches, fixed roofs, led Bible studies, organized food pantries, prayed for the sick, and loved the hurting!

One student said it all when he told his story of his summer mission trip. Normally, he explained, he spent his days in front of a screen of some sort, either watching TV on the couch or planted in front of his computer. On his missions adventure, he was called to serve at a home for the elderly. There were many other jobs that seemed so much more glamorous, but he reluctantly asked God to help him as he stepped into the lobby of the home. His life will never be the same! He was able to spend three days with a woman who was 85 years older than him. She told stories of her past, her family, and her lost loved ones. At the end of the three days, the woman thanked the young man and told him that nobody had shown her so much love and respect in years. A joy and sense of purpose swelled up in the heart of this young man. He told me later, “I was not meant to sit on my butt and watch a screen.” God had used him and that was better than any TV program. He made

plans on his own to visit his new friend.

Students across The Chapel are called to live differently. They are following God’s call to love him by serving others. It was a great summer, but as the students are saying, “It ain’t over yet! Let’s keep living differently!”

And that’s exactly what we want to do together this school year. First, let’s make Jesus our true Savior — every day. That requires more than just recognizing that he saves us from our sins. It means recognizing that he gives us our very life every day and beginning each day by spending time with him. Second, let’s make the King of Kings our King. There are two ways to go through the day — following others or following God. If God calls us to go left, let’s courageously go left even though the rest of the world calls us to go right. Let’s boldly do what the King says.

Trying to do those two things on your own is really hard. We

“While the youth culture lives for ‘self,’ Jesus said, ‘not so with you.

Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave’.” need each other. So, the third thing we can do is dive into our youth groups, The Zone and The Edge. Don’t go with the expectation just to “get.” Go with the desire to give all you have to make your Zone or Edge the best.

Lastly, let’s live love. Let’s serve a world that needs what we have­— the love of Jesus Christ.

At each campus, Student Ministries is going to be pushing these four things so that we can live in such a different way that the world can’t help but see Jesus in us!

Dave is the director of Student Ministries, or “the youth guy,” at The Chapel. You can reach him at dgriffin@chapel.org.

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chapel stories

:

What’s the Story?

Putting Action to Words by Ron Kempka A few months ago I received a request from a local school’s family services coordinator regarding a family with four kids in need of food and clothing. She made it clear to me that they were willing to receive help from The Chapel, but they wanted to make sure that we did not talk about God. “No problem,” I told her.

Over the past few months, People to People volunteers have made several visits to this family’s house to deliver food and clothing and the family continues to visit the People to People distribution center to pick up food and clothing.

To make matters worse for them, the husband recently cut two fingers off in a work accident. Without work and without any compensation or unemployment, they are in a really tough spot.

I recently visited them to discuss their financial situation. It was a blessing for me to be able to meet their children and visit them in their home. After about 45 minutes with them I started to say my goodbyes. The wife looked at her husband and reminded him to talk to me about church — that subject they wanted to make sure we didn’t talk with them about.

He proceeded to tell me that they have experienced a lot of hypocrisy in churches and church people and a lot of “religion” which amounted to words without actions. He said he had “checked into” the Chapel and has heard a lot of good things about it. He wanted me to tell him more, and we had an awesome talk. I shared with him my feelings about the difference between religion and relationship. It was received very well and they are looking forward to coming to The Chapel. Praise God for what he is doing through the People to People ministry!

Drive-by Redemption by Val Ziebel During the Redemption series, our family moved on the basis of Matt’s message on redeeming poverty. We had a great time! We had already planned to go to Chicago for a five-kilometer run at the Lincoln Park Zoo when we heard Matt’s message. The night before the run, we packed lunches not only for us but for eight homeless people as well. We decorated brown lunch bags with messages like, “Here is a meal from God” and “Enjoy your lunch! Love, God.” My son, who is 10, drew pictures of Jesus that said “This is the man who loves you” with a picture of God’s hand reaching out of the clouds with a sack lunch — it was heartwarming.

We drove around for one hour in the city and looked for people who we really thought needed a meal — that was the weird/ fun part because we had to be discerning and talked about why we thought they might be homeless or helpless, but that they shouldn’t be hopeless. We would pull over, jump out of the car (the kids took turns with me while my husband drove), and ask them if they would like a lunch. They were very grateful. The kids (Jordyn, 13, and Adam, 10) were full of giggles when they got back in the car, happy that they helped someone. They couldn’t wait to find the next person. It was a lot of fun and the kids asked, “Can we do that next time, Mommy?”

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Take It to the Next Level by Julie Dahlberg The phrase “small group” seems to come straight out of today’s “Christianese” dictionary. Ever wonder what it means or what goes on in a small group? Or why people would want to do it?

Jake and Cassie Phillips are a young, married couple who call the Grayslake campus their church home. After going to Linked (a fellowship of young married and engaged couples) for a couple of years, they started thinking about finding something a little more intimate and deeper.

“We were looking to get more involved, to take it to the next level,” Cassie explained, “so we decided to try hosting a small group.”

Jake and Cassie picked a Bible study they wanted to do and emailed couples from Linked, friends, neighbors, and co-workers, inviting them into their home to work on the study once a week. The group officially began meeting last October and now includes five couples (and one baby!).

A small group is just what it sounds like — a gathering of people small enough that everyone can fit in a living room, whose purpose is to draw closer to God, to learn more about him and his plan for our lives, and to do it together.

Most but not all of the couples in Jake and Cassie’s small group go to The Chapel. Together, the people in the group are growing in their understanding of the Bible and helping each other as they try to live out their faith. They study the Bible and pray together and have developed some meaningful friendships as they share life together.

“We are so blessed by having a small group,” Cassie said. “It’s been nothing but a positive experience and we’re so glad we did it!”

HELP D E T N A W ecessary.

No experience n en come. d, th If you love Go

If you’ve been looking for a way to serve God at The Chapel but didn’t know where you would “fit,” maybe God is calling you to step out and learn some new skills or use your work experience as a volunteer with the facilities team!

Here are some of the ways that you can be a part of the facilities team:

• Trade work (carpenters, electricians, plumbers, HVAC, painters, welders, etc.)

• Security (police, deputies, security guards) • Safety/Health (nurses, doctors, medical technicians) • Administration/Data entry • Mechanical (auto/small engine) • Landscaping/Snow plowing • Cleaning • Management/Supervision (ideal for retirees and/or part-time employed) For more information, contact HB Brewer at hbrewer@chapel.org or 847.201.2777.

compassion

: by Tony Jao

The Church Is You and Me This time of year brings about the sense of new beginnings. With summer behind us, we put away things like the Slip-n-Slide, sunscreen lotion, mosquito repellant, the pool toys, the camping tent, the sandals and summer clothes, the yard hose and the like. In contrast, we begin taking out the school supplies, the sweaters, the yard rakes, the lawn fertilizer, the outdoor jackets, and the myriad of other items that prepare us for the fall.

For many of us, each season brings not only the annual rituals of putting one season to a close as we enter into another; it may also stir up memories of past experiences, whether good or bad. For others, a new season may open the door to a new experience, a lifechanging event, or even a serious crisis. The reality is that while we can be certain that fall follows summer and winter follows fall, we can’t be certain as to what life will throw our way. How prepared can we really be for those times of uncertainty? What can we do?

I receive many phone calls from people informing me of the different needs of their family members, friends, or neighbors. I have often heard people say, “I just feel that the church should do this for that person in need” or “I think that the church needs to intervene in this family’s life.” I assume in these conversations that “the church” that needs to take care of this is, specifically, The Chapel.

In the Bible, there is a distinct description as to who “the church” is that should be taking care of the needs in our community. Jesus shares this description in Matthew 25:31-46. Verses 37 through 40 read: “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’” (NIV).

You see, you and I make up the Church. It is our responsibility as followers of Christ and as a community of believers to be present and available for others in times of uncertainty, loss, pain, and need.

In contrast, when we find ourselves having those experiences, we should know where to go for support. At The Chapel, Care Nights groups (Monday nights beginning Sept. 14) and Celebrate Recovery (every Wednesday night) are groups that provide the opportunity for support and encouragement. However, it still takes people like you and me to walk alongside others though their time of need as

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they move toward healing and hope.

May I encourage you to pray about how God might use you to make a difference in the lives of others in ways you might never have imagined? Don’t allow yourself to be stalled by thoughts like these: “I don’t have experience as a leader,”“I’m not sure that I have what it takes to help anyone in need,” or even the common misconception that “The church doesn’t need me; they have enough people serving already.” Instead, search your heart and ask the following questions of yourself: “Have I taken the step forward to trust Jesus as the forgiver of my sins and the leader of my life?”“Do I have a passion to help those in need?” and “Have I personally experienced God’s healing power when I or someone I loved went through a challenging time such as a divorce, the death of a loved one, or recovery from an addiction?” Ask yourself, “Do I see the urgency of demonstrating God’s truth, love, and power to everyone apart from age, ethnicity, religion, and socioeconomic status?”

If you find that God confirms those passions in your heart to

“It is our responsibility as followers of Christ and as a community of believers to be present and available for others in times of uncertainty, loss, pain, and need. In contrast, when we find ourselves having those experiences, we should know where to go for support.” make a difference or, as our mission says, “… to comfort and care for others with the healing power, truth, and love of Jesus Christ,” then let us in the Compassion ministry know. We’d love to walk alongside you as you begin your journey, whether you are looking for a place to be used by God or a place to receive encouragement, support, and community.

Remember, you and I make up the Church. Let’s do this together!

Tony is director of the Compassion ministry at The Chapel. You can reach him at tjao@chapel.org or follow him on Twitter at @tonyjao.

at The Chapel

Fall Care Nights will meet Sept. 14 to Dec. 14 at the Libertyville campus and will include: Marriage Care (“Boundaries in Marriage� group study) Divorce Care Divorce Care For Kids (children ages 5-12; parent must attend a Care group) GriefShare Free childcare will be provided for Monday night Care groups.

Register at www.chapel.org/register. For more information, contact Cathy at cwoodside@chapel.org or call 847.201.2777.

Celebrate Recovery will now meet on Monday nights from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the Mundelein campus; no registration necessary.

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MAKE A DIFFERENCE :

God Can Use Your Hurt to Help Another

by Cathy Woodside

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a

fter experiencing the divorce of her parents, Michelle struggled to handle the crisis in her family. She fell into drugs and alcohol — a decision that interfered with her plans to graduate from high school. The pain of her parents’ divorce was a challenge that took years to overcome. When Michelle was given the opportunity to become involved in the Divorce Care For Kids program at The Chapel, she jumped at the chance. Because of her past pain, Michelle knows that God prepared her for serving these children.

What is most gratifying to her is the transformation that occurs in these children as they build relationships with the adults who serve there.

“I see the same hurt in these kids and it breaks my heart,” Michelle said. “I’m not the fixer. God is. But I can say, ‘I understand, I get what you’re feeling.’ The kids change; I see them become happier, more self assured, and confident. They can go on with their everyday life knowing the divorce in their family is between their mom and dad. It opens up their eyes to the fact that their parents love them and that God loves them.”

Michelle is just one example of what Henry Nouwen, a Christian author, refers to as a “wounded healer” — people who have chosen to step out and care for others who are struggling with a fresher wound. Care Nights at The Chapel are support group sessions that meet throughout the year and provide opportunities for this type of ministry to occur. People come to these support groups to tell their story and are met by volunteers who can respond and say, “I know where you are coming from because I was there,” and sincerely mean it.

The “wounded healers” that lead support group ministries during Care Nights are representative of a God that calls each one of us to comfort others: “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV).

In Marriage Care, couples learn God’s design for marriage and share their challenges, difficulties, and blessings of married life.

Sue and Arvid served here as facilitators first, then stepped up to lead the entire ministry. They can attest to the healing power of Christ and the difference he makes when he is in the middle of a marriage relationship. Because of their own failed first marriages, they know this lesson well. They have a passion to help others keep their marriages together.

“God gave us a second chance to do marriage right,” they shared. “If we had followed Christ while we were in our first marriages, we know we would have had a better chance for success, instead of bailing out. With our personal experience and our knowledge from training, we believe we can help other couples understand what it takes to create a successful marriage. God must be in the middle.”

GriefShare is a support group for those who are grieving the loss of a loved one. Participants gather to work through their sorrow and share it with someone who can walk alongside them as they grieve. Last spring one of the GriefShare ministers, Jayne, lost her nephew to cancer in the midst of the session. The learning and sharing went both ways; group members and group leaders were present for each other.

“Even though I led the ministry, the group helped me to heal, too,” Jayne said. “I was able to talk it out, pray, and give it to God. I have learned that we are all on different paths when it comes to grieving. I am blessed to see people heal and get closer to God in the midst of it.”

Every leader in Divorce Care has gone through a painful marital breakup and divorce and has emerged from it feeling stronger and closer to God. The “wounded healers” in this ministry are able to share the insights they have gathered as their emotions have healed.

“Because of the things God has taught me through this divorce, I wouldn’t change the situation for the world,” said Melody, a Divorce Care leader. “I have had some incredible insights that have

“The great illusion of leadership is to think that man can be led out of the desert by someone who has never been there.”

—Henri Nouwen, The Wounded Healer changed my life and most certainly my relationship with God. It was not my choice for the divorce but God used this bad situation for good. Because of that, he is glorified. How? Because I can tell my story.”

Those who serve in The Chapel’s Care Nights support group ministry are ordinary people who have gone through difficult and challenging times in their lives and found significance in their suffering. Their joy is independent of their circumstance; they have learned that reliance on God is the way to heal. They have responded to a Holy Spirit calling to spread the hopeful news that God restores. These ministers can immediately connect with the suffering of others and they can encourage those who are truly lost to turn toward God. Coming from a “wounded healer,” messages of hope and victory in Christ are not empty platitudes.

“Where is God in all of this suffering?” is a question that “wounded healers” have the credibility to help others understand.

These ministers represent Jesus’ most compelling work — rebuilding lives. They also embody the heart and character of a God who wants to break the cycle of despair and loneliness and who loves using his people to do it. 16:9 Cathy is the recovery and support groups manager at The Chapel. If you are interested in serving as a “wounded healer” by volunteering in the Care Nights ministry, please contact her at cwoodside@chapel.org.

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volunteer spotlight

: by Heidi Anderson and Allison Cox

The Chapel Messengers

Ever notice or comment on how smoothly things run during the weekend experience? Or how many people The Chapel has an impact on because of its many ministries and broad outreach? Ever thought about how much information has to be processed and organized in a church of more than 5,000 attendees? Or how much preparation and time goes into a single event at any campus?

The Chapel does not function like a well-oiled machine because it has a secret formula for making the parts fit right and run smoothly. We are only as strong as the volunteer who shows up week after week to serve in a role they may feel is small, but that has a significant influence on how well we are able to do what God has called us to do.

One volunteer recently said she didn’t want to be recognized in our new Volunteer Spotlight feature because she is only doing what every member of the Body of Christ is called to do. She’s right. We do, however, want to honor just a few of the many people who sacrifice and serve faithfully at The Chapel — not because anyone but God deserves the glory for whatever is accomplished, but because maybe it will remind us to ask ourselves, “What is God calling me to do?”

One Thing Led to Another By the time she reached her second year of attending The Chapel, Jennifer Diefenbacher was ready to dive into serving. Even before she became a mom, Jennifer had a heart for children and had experience working as a nanny and in church nurseries. When she heard about an opportunity to serve in the 1-year-olds classroom in The Great Adventure, she knew it was a great fit for her. She was not as confident a year later, however, when she learned of another opportunity to serve as a small group leader for children in Kindergarten and first grade. Though she felt inadequate and unprepared to teach the Bible to children, she felt God telling her it was something she needed to do and decided to take a step of faith. She has served as a small group leader for the past five years and even continued in the role when her family started attending the Mundelein campus in 2006.

Serving children at The Chapel has been a joy for Jennifer, but it has also opened up other doors for ministry. When the People to People ministry started at the Mundelein campus last year, Jennifer learned that it required volunteers to start conversations and build relationships with people outside of the church. In her role as small group leader, Jennifer spoke with many parents who were visiting or new to the church. She believes that role prepared her to take another step of faith and sign up for the People to People ministry and receive e-mails requesting help for people in the community. Since then, she has built relationships with two women that started when they needed a ride to the grocery store. She also serves each week in the food pantry.

“All you have to do is have a heart for people,” Jennifer said. “Just say ‘hi’ to them and ask them how they’re doing.”

Taking small steps and sharing simple acts of kindness with the people God has placed in her life has made Jennifer’s serving experience both memorable and meaningful — the kind of experience God intends for everyone who follows him.

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Just When You Think You’re Too Young to Serve …

Alyssa Kagay is full of life, laughter, and has a smile that lights up the TGA classroom at the Libertyville campus. Though she is only 11 years old, Alyssa has already seen how serving and helping others can make a big impact in the lives of children and their families. Every other week, she serves in The Great Adventure, playing, singing, reading stories, serving snacks, and sharing Christ’s love to 2 and 3-year-olds with her loving and caring spirit. Her servant attitude and joy are evident as she is willing to take on any task and does each one with a smile.

One of the things that Alyssa has enjoyed the most about serving is being able to build relationships with these small children that she hopes they will not soon forget. She shared how some of the little ones see her in the hallways and run up to give her a hug, just one affirmation that her service and attitude are impacting the children and showing them the love of Christ. When asked why people should get involved in TGA and serve the kids of The Chapel, Alyssa’s response was simply, “because they need good teachers.” Alyssa is an example not only to the children she works with on Sunday mornings, but also to her peers who may have wondered if they are too young to serve. Alyssa models servanthood, joy, and God’s desire to use each of us to advance his Kingdom.

Equipped to Make a Difference After 26 years of working as a hydraulic technician, Tom Swiniuch retired but wanted to keep doing the things that he loved. He has an extensive background in mechanics, electrical work, construction, and even building racecars. He had attended the Grayslake campus for a while and one Sunday was telling campus pastor Brent Davis about his background, wondering if there was any way he could help.

Since then, Tom has spent up to five days a week at the Grayslake campus, volunteering with the facilities team and taking care of tasks from carpet cleaning to maintenance to holding the ladder as his wife, Diane, cleans windowsills in the lobby. God gave Tom a passion for his work and he loves every day he gets to join the ministry of what God is doing at The Chapel. His enthusiasm was contagious and encouraged Diane to quit her part-time job so that she could spend more time volunteering at The Chapel. She has watched as God called her husband into this role of serving and told him, “You did not go there; God sent you there.”

Tom found that the biggest blessing in serving is the relationships he has built with those he works with and has met as a result of being on this team. He has been a blessing to his team members but also to the church as a whole, as even his small tasks make a much greater impression to the people who attend the Grayslake campus. God delights in using everyday people in everyday tasks to make an impact not only in the here and now, but for eternity as well. God called Tom to use his time and skills to make a difference, and his obedience to that call has made a lasting impact on The Chapel.

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volunteer spotlight

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Service Is Worship Virginia Lange is on a mission to see God work in the lives of people as they come together to show and be Christ to the world. When asked why she serves at The Chapel, Virginia shared her vision for seeing people, both young and old, realize just how much they have to give and that God has called each of us to serve. She views the time and energy she gives not as a volunteer “job” but as “part of her worship.”

Virginia gives of herself whole-heartedly and feels that we all have something to give in order to strengthen, encourage, and build up the Body of Christ. It’s not surprising, then, that she serves The Chapel in a number of ways, including cleaning at the Barrington campus and writing for the Communications team. Another way that she serves is on the prayer team. Virginia has a passion for prayer and loves reaching out to people on Sundays after the services simply by being available to pray for them and whatever they may be facing. She counts it a privilege to be a part of what God is doing in the lives of his children and shared that you just never know who God will bring into your path. During the week Virginia also opens up her home for others to come over for prayer and is part of a team that is committed to faithfully praying for individuals and leaders in small groups. She prays because she is aware that we are all in a spiritual battle and because she knows that God has big plans to use his people to share his love with everyone. She encourages everyone, especially senior adults who have extra time to give, to look for ways to get involved and step out in faith so that God can use each one of us to bless others.

Witness to Redemption Dan O’Brien was serving as an usher at The Chapel when he began to feel a tug on his heart to experience more of God and the power of his transforming grace. His first thought was not, “I need to volunteer at the Lake County Jail,” but when senior pastor Jeff Griffin announced the need for help in this particular ministry, it became clear that that was exactly where God wanted him. Dan answered that call for help and began to pray about what his involvement might look like.

It wasn’t long before he realized that God was working powerfully in the lives of the incarcerated men, who had lost everything because of their sin, but whose lives God was redeeming in the way that only he can.

Every Tuesday night, Dan takes an early train from his job in Chicago and changes clothes in his car so that he can make it to the jail in time to lead a men’s Bible study, which he partners with volunteer Judy Stall to lead. For Dan, the experience has been nothing less than a miracle of how God changes and transforms lives. Dan admits that he was not naturally compelled to work with this ministry. In the year and half he has spent praying and reading Scripture with the men, however, he has not only seen the hand of God at work transforming others’ lives, but his own life has been touched as well as he sees God’s grace continually at work.

“If you want to see God working, volunteer at the Lake County Jail,” Dan said.

God delights in the redemption of his children and takes joy in making all things new, and Dan has had the opportunity to see firsthand how God is redeeming lives at the Lake County Jail. It might not have been the ministry he expected, but it has been the ministry where God was best able to use Dan’s gifts and faith.

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Be a part of churches working together to make a difference in our community!

Food Drive

Feed the hungry in our area by simply filling a bag with food! We also encourage you to canvas your neighborhoods with bags and recruit your neighbors to be a part of this ministry. Bags will be available in the Chapel lobbies starting Sept. 26 and should be returned the weekend of Oct. 10.

Baby Bottle Campaign

We will fill baby bottles with money to support our local crisis pregnancy centers. Bottles will be available in the Grayslake campus lobby starting Oct. 31.

Public Appreciation Meals

Prepare and deliver meals for our local public servants. Sign up in the Libertyville campus lobby beginning Sept. 26.

Safe House Kits

Assemble a kit full of needed supplies for our local safe house. Pick up a kit in the Libertyville campus lobby starting Oct. 3.

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back porch news

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Congratulations Barrington Campus 1. Anton William Banweg Born May 21 6.12 lbs and 19.5 in.

2. David Christopher Banweg Born May 21 6.12 lbs and 20.25 in.

Parents: Chris and Leslie Banweg

Grayslake Campus

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3. James “Jimmy� Good Born May 13 5.9 lbs and 19 in.

Parents: Jeremy and Liza Good, big sister Madison

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4. Faith Marie Koch Born May 10 8.1 lbs and 19.5 in.

Parents: Eric and Kristen Koch 5. Ascher Hayes Komas Born June 5 6.15 lbs and 19 in.

Parents: Rick and Mandi Komas, big brother Everson and big sister Montgomery

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6. Olivia Mae Venuti Born May 29 8.14 lbs and 21 in.

Parents: Nick and Heather Venuti

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Let us celebrate with you! Send your submissions for Back Porch News to backporch@sixteennine.com.

Libertyville Campus

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7. Margot “Maggie� Jane McCarthy Born April 7 8.1 lbs Parents: Pete and Rachael McCarthy 8. Charlotte Stafford Persinger Born May 20 8 lbs and 20 in.

Parents: Cleve and Katie Persinger, big brother Cy

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9. Rhys Harrison Sanford Born May 26 9.3 lbs and 20.25 in.

Parents: Zach and Penny Sanford 10. Catalina Lucia Gonzalez Born July 13 6.25 lbs and 18 in.

Parents: Hanh and Sergio Gonzalez

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Weddings Grayslake Campus Charlie and Katie Droessler Married Jan. 10 at the Barrington campus Residing in Round Lake

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back porch news

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Baptism Barrington Campus Jamie DePaul Lance Hammons Erika Kyle Sam Lake Nick Marsh Deb Meyers Candace Olson Joshua Schauer Rebekah Schauer Alison Schwartz Martha Soltwisch

Grayslake Campus Lanna Anton Allen Becvar Juan Colon Christopher Dobecki Nathan Draper Habtamu Ferris Shawnee Fitzgerald Rachel Fletcher Heather Flohr Ariana Hicks-Carter Christine Hodnik Bob Kilday Kris Kilday Kyle Kilday Jill Matoka Mukeya Matoka Jeremy McGraw Emma Moore Ashley Moore Cliff Ortmeyer Susan Osborn Jonathan Perron Julie Rillo Alicia Rivera Tabitha Smith Nicole Spears Kim Vagnoni Alex Wagner

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Libertyville Campus Bob Casey Marcy Perrin Amanda Sander Stephen Sander

Mundelein Campus Lisa Fay Christine Hodnik Fred Katterjohn

Child Dedication

Grayslake Campus

Let us celebrate with you! Send your submissions for Back Porch News to backporch@sixteennine.com.

Libertyville Campus

Jaelynn Anderson Parents: Greg and Jennica Anderson

Parker Mitchell Parents: Brad and Mindy Mitchell

Caroline McDonnell Parents: Mike and Tara McDonnell

Carson Congalton Parents: Michael and Karolyn Congalton

Bryce Monsen Parents: Melissa Monsen and Matt Knoll

Mathias Anderson-Cui Victoria Cui Parents: Charles and Carley Cui

Brittany Funk Parents: Todd and Sue Funk

Stella Moon Parents: Steve and Serena Moon

Matthew and Casey Gipson Parents: Greg and Shannon Gipson

Eli Murray Parents: Darrin and Jennifer Murray

Andrew and Alexander Hartmann Parents: Rick and Erica Hartmann

Matthew Nieman Parents: Rob and Sarah Nieman

Faith Koch Parents: Eric and Kristen Koch

Ryann Olson Parents: Jeremy and Carrie Olson

Malorie Komar Parents: Dennis and Jana Komar

Michael Rathjen Parents: Beth Meyer and Daniel Rathjen

Ascher Komas Parents: Rick and Mandi Komas

Kayla Rillo Parents: Kevin and Julie Rillo

Addison Lee Parents: Andy and Sue Lee

Derek Schlaman Parents: Art and Christine Schlaman

Julia Loud Parents: Daniel and Shannon Loud

Charlie Schuldt Parents: JT and Brandy Schuldt

Dylan and Jack Fredrick Parents: Brian and Jennifer Fredrick Isabella “Bella� Hoyer Parents: Ken and Audra Hoyer Cooper and Jacob Kotzamanis Parents: Nick and Julie Kotzamanis Calli Liu Parents: Jasper and Christine Liu Lila McArthur Parent: Abby McArthur

Mundelein Campus Marcos Lagunas Parents: Emily Kraus and Ciro Lagunas

Adalyn Madar Parents: Natanael and Elmira Madar

Faithful Service Grayslake Campus Calvin Hart, a corporal in the Marine Corps, was recently deployed from Camp Pendleton, Calif., to a NATO base in Kandahar, Afghanistan, where he works as an electrical technician. We appreciate Calvin and his service and ask you to pray for him and his family: parents Daryl and Chris Myrick and siblings Brian and Jessica.

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Whether you’re a new Christian or just want to take the next step in your faith, this class is designed for you. Plan to attend the next Starting Strong class at your campus.

Barrington Campus: Sept. 10 – Oct. 15 Grayslake Campus: Sept. 15-29 Libertyville Campus: Sept. 18-19 Mundelein Campus: Oct. 1 – Nov. 5 54 | sixteen:nine

For more information, please call 847.201.2777.