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.” WADE IN THE WATER What’s the Big Deal About Baptism?
GET IN THE ZONE! Youthful Energy Meets Spiritual Depth
QUITE A CREW
The Guckys — Not Your Average “Leave It to Beaver” Family
TEAM 180: ON MISSION Taking the Gospel to the Streets and Slums of Kenya
HOMEFRONT MINISTRY Serving Military Families
RESCUE MISSION: God’s Plan to Save a Broken World
Summer 2009summer | CVR12009
Are you ready to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ? You can help serve the people of our community this summer through ShareFest, a joint effort of churches across Lake County to change lives and hearts in Chicagoland.
Backpack Project
Help provide all the supplies that kids need to go back to school! Backpacks will be available in the Chapel lobbies starting July 11.
School Work Day
We will impact local schools by helping them with needed projects to improve their facilities before school starts. Look for sign ups in the Chapel lobbies.
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www.sharefest.net
: table of contents IN EVERY ISSUE:
18 Group Life 24Staff Spotlight 25 Lake County Jail 26 Chapel News 28 Chapel Community
CONNECT RELATIONALLY
10 The Deep End 14 Chapel Picks
GROW SPIRITUALLY
4 Front Porch News
FEATURES 6 Rescue Mission
It’s the story of ransom paid and God’s great love for a broken world. It’s the story of your salvation!
12 Wade in the Water
Learn why baptism is such an important part of one’s spiritual journey — even Jesus did it!
16 Leading Courageously: Large Group Men’s Studies Joel Glende shares how he has grown spiritually and learned to step out in his faith.
17 Lasting Relationships: Large Group Women’s Studies
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Alaina Gibbons found more than a Bible study in the interaction with her tablemates in the large group study.
20 The Zone: A Photo Story
46 A Church You Can Believe In 48 Chapel Stories 49 Compassion
51 Back Porch News
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
34 The Great Adventure 39 Student Ministries
STRENGTHEN FAMILIES
Don’t just read about the craziness in The Chapel’s junior high ministry — picture it!
29 The Chapel Family Tree
We want you to know who the leaders at The Chapel are and how you can connect with them!
30 Quite a Crew
Jay and Maureen Gucky share the joys of raising Crew, a special boy, and his four active siblings.
36 Homefront Ministry
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Chapel attenders are reaching out to servicemen and women who are overseas by helping their families in the States.
40 Team 180: On Mission
What happens when a Chapel team travels halfway across the world to share the Gospel? God changes hearts, including those of the team.
44 Student Ministries Missions
Support The Chapel’s high school students with prayer as they travel with a mission this summer.
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from the editor
:
This is an exciting time to be a part of The Chapel! We’ve plunged headfirst into simulcast technology with awesome results and are starting to get our feet wet in Lake Zurich with the addition of a new campus. We’re also testing some new waters when it comes to sixteen:nine, including changing our format from a monthly webzine to a quarterly magazine. We hope you’re enjoying being able to read this while curled up on your couch or enjoying the warm weather in the park, but we also hope you’ll remember to pass sixteen:nine on to a friend. This is a great way to introduce someone to The Chapel! You’ll notice some changes within the magazine, one of which is that we no longer follow a certain theme for each issue. There is, however, one recurring theme that we hope will pervade every article and feature in sixteen:nine: that rediscovering God transforms our lives into something truly fantastic. If you need proof, look no further than the following pages!
What has God been doing in your life? Let us know so we can help you share your story.
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
Writer Joy DeLaere
jdelaere@chapel.org
Allison Cox Editor
Ask and Answer
Q: When is the bookstore open? —Mitzi A: The Chapel bookstores have great resources for you and your family,
including devotional books, Bibles, Christian fiction, children’s books, music, and greeting cards. You can visit any campus bookstore during regular service times on the weekend.
If you have questions or are interested in volunteering in the bookstore, please call 847.201.2777.
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Contributors Steve Cosmos, Photographer Jim DeLaere, Photographer Julie Dahlberg, Writer Matt Furr, Writer Christine Groschel, Writer Virginia Lange, Writer Jamie Wamsley, Writer
: about the chapel
“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strongly support those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9a) Four Things We Believe 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 of God. The Church is the people of God.
Four Things We Are
These four values are at the center of who God has called us to be … Authentic Joyful Loving Inspiring
Four Things We Do
As a church, our primary emphasis is to help people … Grow spiritually. Connect relationally. Strengthen families. Make a difference in the world.
Locations Barrington Campus
Grayslake Campus
180 N. Hawthorne Rd. 25270 W. IL Route 60 Barrington Hills, IL Grayslake, IL 60010 60030 Service time: Sunday at 10 a.m.
Service times: Saturday at 6 p.m. Sunday at 9 and 11 a.m.
Lake County Jail Campus
Lake Zurich Campus
Libertyville Campus
Mundelein Campus
18 N. County St. Waukegan, IL 60085
330 S. Old Rand Rd. Lake Zurich, IL 60047
1200 American Way Libertyville, IL 60048
1966 Hawley Rd. Mundelein, IL 60060
(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.
Contact The Chapel at 847.201.2777 or www.chapel.org.
Summer 2009 |
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front porch
: thoughts from the senior and campus pastors
What does a quiet time with God look like?
I
believe that time devoted to conversation with God is the most important time of the day. Just as conversational time with a spouse is absolutely essential to the health of that relationship, it is impossible for our friendship with God to be healthy if we do not prioritize time to be with him. I really seek to make my time with God the highest priority of my day and it’s actually become the most enjoyable part of my day as well. I look for the best time — when I am awake and alert — and the best place — where I am undistracted. I start with Bible study so that the Lord will determine my time with him as he speaks to me through his Word. I pick a book of the Bible and work my way through it. When I am done with that book, I will cross it off in the table of contents in my Bible and then prayerfully choose another book to start studying. I read between one verse to a whole chapter a day. The thing I’m really looking for when I read is for truth to grip me, for the moment when I see something about who God is, who I am, or how life was meant to
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be lived. I have a sense that says, “Yes, that’s what I need to hear!” Once I’ve found that truth, I’ll think about it for a while and let it sink deeper into my soul and impact me emotionally to the fullest extent. I will often turn to a commentary to provide clarification on passages that I find confusing. Then I turn to prayer. I’ve found that a prayer journal is extremely helpful in keeping my prayers focused. I have a notebook where I write the date, the passage that I just read, and the discoveries I’ve made in my Bible study. I talk with God about what I just learned about him. I worship him. I repent of how I see my life failing to live up to what I read. I commit to follow him in the direction that I saw in the passage. After praying about the text, I pray about issues that are heavy on my heart: problems that are causing anxiety or opportunities that I’m excited about. I also remember my consistent prayer requests: my wife, my children, and our church. I repent of any sin that comes to mind and beg for God’s forgiveness and ask
him to lead me in the path of obedience in the days ahead. I frequently end my quiet time by sticking a CD in the stereo and worshipping. My quiet times range anywhere from half an hour to two hours and they are really the highlight of my life. I walk away from that time with God feeling renewed, refreshed, transformed, and ready to face my day with him. —Jeff Griffin, Senior Pastor THOUGH THE PHRASE “QUIET TIME” IS OFTEN HEARD in Christian circles, we don’t always know exactly what the term fully means. I define “quiet time” as time intentionally set aside to relationally connect with God. I have found my quiet time with God to be the singular most important Christian activity that I can engage in — more important than attending church or participating in a small group. My time with God has been and continues to be the primary influence on my relationship with him. There have been three consistent elements to my quiet times that have been unbelievably significant. The first is Bible study. Currently, I am exploring the life of Abraham in the Old Testament. I have been moved to see with fresh eyes how God interacted with his life. It has been reinvigorating to realize that God’s relationship with Abraham several thousand years ago provides real-world lessons that are applicable to my own relationship with him today. I am amazed that every time I open the Bible and reflect on what is said, God speaks to me in tangible ways. For those that would like to begin studying the Bible but are struggling with where to start, I recommend beginning in the Gospel of Luke and listening to the words of Jesus. The second aspect of my time with God is prayer. Talking to God about our lives and listening to his voice is the spiritual equivalent of breathing. We exhale when we pour out our hearts to him and inhale when we allow him to share his heart with us. Jesus himself taught us how to pray and to experience a balanced prayer life; discovering this in the Bible was a revolution for me! I shared what I found with our church in a message during the Hi-DEF series a few months ago. The passage we studied in Matthew 6 offered a great framework on how to connect deeply with God in prayer. And finally, I review my calling with God everyday. One of my favorite verses, Ephesians 2:10, reminds us that each of us was made to partner with him in the advancement of his Kingdom on Earth. If you have never explored your calling with God, I would encourage you to do so. Simply begin by asking him, “What am I here for?” As God begins to reveal his will for your life, spend time revisiting it every single day. It will help anchor you in God’s purpose, even as the waves of competing voices and urgent demands attempt to sway you off course. Over the years, my time with God has been transformational for me. I believe it is the most important spiritual decision we can make and will be one of the greatest contributors to the overall quality of our lives. —Scott Chapman, Senior Pastor
What have you been studying in your quiet time? Someone e-mailed me index cards with a “What to read when your feeling …” heading. I have been going through a daily study of the words on that list. I have made it through the “Anger,”“Avoidance,” “Blame Shifting,” and “Conviction” sections and am focused on the “D’s.” Today I got excited about “Depression” — or maybe not. Anyway, Proverbs 18:14 was the passage and it pointed out to me the high calling that God has on our lives. God wants to take the times when our spirits are crushed and turn them into something that is attracting, interesting, and winsome — something that is so authentically inspiring that it will attract others. —Steve Pugh, Barrington Campus Pastor For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been in the book of Galatians and God has really used chapter 1 significantly in my life. While Paul is clearly addressing some of the specific problems that the churches in Galatia were facing, the thing that really jumped out at me is his deep recognition that his authority, validity, and identity as a minister of the Gospel all come from God. It’s been good for me to meditate on that principle and to ask God to lead me in a deeper understanding and experience of that for myself so that I will have greater boldness in my leadership and in all arenas of my life. —Brent Davis, Grayslake Campus Pastor I have been going back through the book of Acts and spent a number of days in chapter 4, attempting to glean out all that I have missed. I have been very captured by the report of Peter and John, who, after healing a crippled man, are interrogated by the rulers and teachers of the law, but refuse to stop teaching in Jesus’ name. The teachers were taken aback by Peter and John’s courage and commented that they were ordinary, unschooled men, but then took note “that these men had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13 NIV). Wow — what does that teach us about how we prepare to make a difference in our world for God’s purposes? —Mark Pietscher, Lake County Jail Campus Pastor I’ve been focusing my personal study on God’s characteristics. There is a book by Bill Bright that has framed the study nicely called God: Discover His Character. Through this time, I’ve been experiencing a broader view of who God really is … and it’s changing me. —Matt Furr, Libertyville Campus Pastor I have been going through the book of Romans and a book called The Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee. This book digs deep into the ideas found in Romans 5-8. I have also used my study of Romans to guide my “dates” with my daughter. We meet on Sunday mornings and, along with a cup of coffee and lots of conversation about her life, we have been looking at the ideas in Romans that have sparked great conversation. I’ve found that when my devotions are feeding into other aspects of my life, I am more consistent in having them and I better understand what God is trying to teach me. —Rick Smith, Mundelein Campus Pastor
Summer 2009 |
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GROW SPIRITUALLY :
God’s Plan to Save a Broken World
RESCUE
by Jamie Wamsley
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B
ack when I was planning to ask my wife to marry me, I of course had to shop for a diamond engagement ring. What an experience! My education began with the “four C’s,” but I soon realized that carat, cut, clarity, and color only represented the starting point. Although all diamonds are genuinely beautiful to look at, as a man who was head over heels in love, I wanted to find a truly amazing stone. I was searching for a diamond that would shine, sparkle, and dance in the sunlight and one that would reflect the depth of my excitement for my soon-to-be-wife. Diamonds like that are special. A diamond-cutter has to approximate a very precise set of measured cuts and angles on the 58 facets of a stone in order to generate real “fire” within the jewel. A diamond cut to those specifications is an amazing thing to behold. Upon close reflection, these diamonds are mesmerizing; they produce a dazzling array of color and movement. The biblical concept of redemption is a lot like a finecut diamond — God shows us its brilliance through multiple facets. For those of us who remember hearing the term “redemption” once or twice in church, we know it points to the work of Christ on the cross and the sacrifice he made on our behalf. For that reason alone, even at a small distance, redemption seems to be a beautiful concept. By pausing even for a few moments and gazing more deeply into it, however, we can gain an incredibly vivid and powerful understanding of the depth and centrality of redemption to the way we understand and live out our faith. The concept of redemption is actually rooted in Old Testament Jewish culture. Initially, it referred to the purchase of land. In American culture, buying and selling our homes is a routine part of life. Many people move for a variety of reasons all the time. Yet in the stability of ancient Israelite culture, the purchase of land played a vastly different role; it was central to that family’s identity. Land was passed from generation to generation and was an integral part of one’s social standing. For the people, land was not simply a possession; it was their inheritance, their assurance of belonging to God and to their community. To an Israelite in this culture, selling one’s land was an act of great desperation resulting from deep financial distress. In fact, the land was so important that God built a stipulation into the Jewish law that allowed land to be repurchased by a close relative (called a kinsman redeemer) on behalf of the family that had gone
bankrupt. As found in the book of Leviticus, no purchase was exempt from this clause! The idea of redemption, even as it related to land, has always been close to the heart of God. In the same chapter of the Bible, Leviticus 25, we find the theme of redemption addressed with respect to slavery. If an Israelite went bankrupt and did not have family to support him, he sold himself into slavery in order to pay his debts. God did not allow this to remain a permanent state, but required that a redeemer be allowed to repurchase the slave and buy his freedom. All Israelite slaves held the hope of being ransomed back into a life of freedom. Again we find God righting what is wrong, fixing what is broken, and restoring that which has fallen into disrepair. This is the essence of redemption, and redemption is God’s plan to transform the world. In the New Testament, we find an incredible spiritual parallel, one that is applicable to our own lives. In the book of Romans, the Bible tells us that when we sin, we sell ourselves into a sort of spiritual slavery. In Romans 7:14 and 18, the apostle Paul said, “I am sold into slavery, with sin as my master. … No matter which way I turn, I can’t make myself do right” (NLT). This is the story of our lives; when left to ourselves, we choose to give ourselves over to sin time and again. We are not capable of our own spiritual transformation. Thankfully, all God taught the Israelites about the mercy of redemption pointed to his own impending rescue mission. In 1 Peter 1:18, it says that God “paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold or silver. He paid for you with the precious lifeblood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God.” This is our redemption story, foreshadowed in a multitude of Old Testament accounts and fulfilled through the cross of Christ. This was God’s dream from the beginning: to step into our bondage by becoming human and facing temptation, to re-do our humanity by living as we were created to live, and to break loose the chains of the enemy from the inside out. This kind of redemption points to far more than a one-time event that gets us a ticket into heaven. We are not only redeemed from slavery but also redeemed for the fullness of life in the here and now. Redemption is not just a salvation event; rather it is the ongoing re-creation of our entire lives. C.S. Lewis put it this way in Mere Christianity: “God became man to turn creatures into sons: not simply to produce better men … but to produce a new kind of
Summer 2009 |
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man. It is not like teaching a horse to jump better and better but like turning a horse into a winged creature.” As we examine the Old Testament imagery of land purchase, we are reminded that because of Christ, we have a new inheritance; we now belong to his family! With his own suffering, God purchased for us the inheritance we threw away in our pursuit of sin. In the imagery of a bond-slave, God proclaims that he has ransomed us
Genesis speaks of this separation as a divorce. We have been bent inward on ourselves when we were designed for the freedom of true intimacy and the safety of love. We may live and be in relationship, but we feel a restless separation that nothing can satisfy. When we set ourselves up as the master of our universe, we dig our own grave. Yet God is our Redeemer; he has reclaimed us out of death and into true life! The cross of Christ and the indwelling of God within us begin a life-long process of coming alive again to our relationship with God and each other. As Christians, we cannot overemphasize the significance of the cross. It is the turning point of creation’s history. It is the turning point of our lives. Christ was crucified so that our bonds to sin would be broken and that we would now be bound to him. This is the story of our redemption! Like the prodigal son, we are not only rescued from our isolation; we are also welcomed into the glory of life as it was meant to be. God himself has run toward us to usher us home. Yet, through redemption, God not only pursues our individual lives but also pursues the entire world. Our union with Christ recreates us in such a way that the light of God is seen through us. More than any other topic, Jesus loved to speak about the Kingdom of God, which is the rule and reign of God on Earth. Every time we live in joyful obedience to the new life of God within us, we are bearers of his Kingdom in the world! His redemptive work reaches others through us and the light of God penetrates the darkness of the world. As we glimpse the splendor at the heart of this diamond, as we live increasingly out of the indwelling life of God rather than the living death of sin, we are granted the exceptional joy of joining God in his ongoing work of calling others home into fullness of life. 16:9
“This was God’s dream from the beginning: to step into our bondage by becoming human and facing temptation, to re-do our humanity by living as we were created to live, and to break loose the chains of the enemy from the inside out. This kind of redemption points to far more than a one-time event that gets us a ticket into heaven. We are not only redeemed from slavery but also redeemed for the fullness of life in the here and now.” from our slavery to sin and bound us to his love — we are heirs of his heart and his Kingdom. This new life Christ purchased for us takes on profound value when we remember that we have been redeemed from death and for true life. It is impossible to grasp the staggering reality of redemption if we are unaware of the bondage we have been delivered from. Scripture teaches us that when we are enslaved to sin we are trapped in a living death. In fact, Paul describes it in Romans 7:24 as being bound to a body of death. This is because we were created for union with God and with one another. It was sin that brought isolation, loneliness, and shame to the Garden of Eden. This death was not just physical, but brought a division both relationally and spiritually. In the original Hebrew language,
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Susanne Osborne contributed to this article. Jamie Wamsley is the associate pastor at The Chapel. You can reach him at jwamsley@chapel.org or follow him on Twitter at @jamiewamsley.
at Th e Chapel
Divorce Care
Mondays, July 13 – Aug. 3 7 – 9 p.m. Libertyville Campus Divorce is a painful, overwhelming, and often lonely experience that can lead to despair and hopelessness. Divorce Care extends a supportive hand to those in the midst of this pain and offers hope and healing through Jesus Christ. Join us beginning Monday, July 13 for a four-week intensive Divorce Care session that will leave you feeling inspired and hopeful.
Registration is $10 per person and scholarships are available. Free childcare will be provided. To register or for more information, contact Cathy at cwoodside@chapel.org. Summer 2009 |
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the deep end
: by Fred von Kamecke
Is It Just My Karma? As I sat with some neighbors on a cool night, gathered around the warm embers of a campfire, the conversation drifted toward how people generally get what’s coming to them, or “What goes around comes around.” One neighbor said it was karma and that karma is in the Bible. It wasn’t the time for a discussion about comparative religions and biblical theology, so I didn’t pursue it. But it did get me thinking. By thinking that karma is in the Bible, I think my neighbor had “sowing and reaping” in mind. Jesus once said, while contemplating the opportunities in Samaria, “the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true” (John 4:37 NIV). Paul reminded the Corinthians about their pledge, but warned, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously” (2 Corinthians 9:6). And elsewhere he said: “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life” (Galatians 6:7-8). So sowing and reaping is clearly biblical, but does it really square with karma? How are they alike? How are they different? As for how they’re alike, both karma and sowing and reaping share the idea of getting what’s coming to you, whether good or bad. Your actions return to you. This similarity leaves people with the impression that they are really the same thing, but that just isn’t so. Now, as for their differences, karma is a major feature in Hinduism. In Hinduism, God isn’t a person, but rather an “It,” an impersonal force called Brahman. All that there is, is Brahman. Brahman didn’t create the universe; Brahman is the universe. All of the galaxies, spirits, gods and goddesses, mountains, rocks, bugs, and plants — and yes, people — all are merely visible expressions of the mysterious one, Brahman. The problem, according to Hinduism, is that we’ve forgotten our true identity, and it takes several lifetimes to realize it and reach enlightenment. Until then, we’re stuck in the wheel of reincarnation — a seemingly endless cycle of birth, death, rebirth, death, etc. As we go about our lives, the things we do (or fail to do) begin to accrue to our karma account. If you are good and generous, you’ll be rewarded in the next life. If you’re an ornery cuss in this life, you’re going to get nailed in the next. That’s why some Hindus get so irritated with Christians trying to help the destitute on the
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streets of Calcutta. The starving, blind, and maimed widow left begging for scraps is just working out her bad karma from a past life. Don’t help her or you’ll just mess up the process. Karma, you see, is a matter of fate. You get what’s coming to you — period. This brings us to another important difference. Between birth and death, karma has no room for mercy, grace, compassion, love, or forgiveness. While we’re at it, since all is Brahman (the one overarching reality), then all suffering, sin, and death are ultimately illusions. They are all the mysterious outworkings of the reality that lies behind our muddled lives. The idea of sowing and reaping is very different because the biblical context is distinct from Hinduism. First of all, God is personal and distinct from his creation. Sin and death are realities, as seen in the long run of a very bloody history in an unjust world going increasingly mad. Sin is running amok. We are not born with the baggage of previous lives; we’re simply born in sin. We also don’t have endless chances to get it right. We’re each given one shot at life, and then comes judgment. Now we’re ready for the biggest difference of all: Because of Jesus, we can be forgiven in this life, and reap the benefits of that change in this life, and further enjoy this blessedness beyond our
“It doesn’t matter what we’ve done, how horrible, or for how long. When we come to Jesus in genuine faith, he forgives all our sins.” death and into eternity. There can still be, and often are, earthly repercussions and consequences of the sinful things we’ve done. But it doesn’t matter what we’ve done, how horrible, or for how long. When we come to Jesus in genuine faith, he forgives all our sins. Yes, we’ll reap what we sow, but God gives us the chance to start planting different seeds for a different harvest. That’s why Paul warned the Christians in Galatia to stop sowing to their sinful nature (with its harvest of certain destruction) and to start sowing a different seed. The new goal is to live in such a way that reaps a harvest of spiritual fruit — a life that brings a smile to the heart of the Holy Spirit. Fred von Kamecke is the director of growth curriculum at The Chapel. You can reach him at fvonkamecke@chapel.org.
Baptism: Your testimony of God’s power to change lives.
Barrington Campus July 26
Grayslake Campus
June 14, July 19, Aug. 23
Libertyville Campus Aug. 1 and 2
Mundelein Campus
To sign up, please call 847.201.2777.
Summer 2009 |
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Jim DeLeare
June 14 and Aug. 23
by Matt Furr
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D
uring college, my wife and I were a part of an African-American Baptist church. For this church, baptism was a revered and highly-celebrated part of the weekend worship service. On one particular weekend, a young boy who was about 8 years old was going to be baptized. As the pastor walked down into the Plexiglas tub, the choir began to sing an ominous-sounding spiritual, “Wade in the Water.” As the phrase was quietly sung over and over, the boy, who was entering the pool, began to have second thoughts. It may have been something about the phrase “watery grave” in the song that gave him pause. The pastor encouraged. The boy hesitated. The choir sang a little louder: “Waaaade in the waaaater,” as if to coax the boy into the water. As the pastor got a firm, encouraging grasp on the boy, he started to scream in fear. Then, from the back of the auditorium, the boy’s younger brother announced his support by running down the center aisle yelling, “Let go of my brother!” at the top of his lungs. To this day, I’m still not sure that boy ever did return to the “watery grave” to be baptized! However, that incident captured, for me, so much about baptism. There is something sacred yet everyday, ominous yet joy-filled about baptism. Jesus must have thought it was pretty important. To launch his public ministry, he was baptized by his cousin, John (Matthew 3:13-17). And when he spoke final words before he ascended into heaven, Jesus commanded his followers to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit …” (Matthew 28:19 NIV). Paul, one of the most prolific writers of the New Testament, taught that baptism was an important part of a person’s spiritual journey. So what’s the big deal about baptism? What happens when I’m baptized?
Jesus. The act itself carries such powerful imagery — going down into the water is like going down into the grave. No wonder the boy in my story was so afraid! As Paul continues in Romans, he makes the case that our death (through faith in Christ) frees us from our sin “because anyone who has died has been freed from sin” (Romans 6:7). That’s amazing in itself, but it doesn’t stop there.
Through baptism I identify with Christ’s Resurrection. Romans 6:5 reads: “If we have been united with him in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” In baptism, I’m not left in the water (ideally), but am brought back up. Coming up out of the water is a physical identification with the Resurrection of Jesus. The Bible teaches that Christ’s Resurrection was only the first of many. Those who put their trust in Jesus will also experience the power of resurrection. At the end of the story, we are given a new body (here’s to hoping)! The act of baptism is an act of hope for the resurrection to come and an act of defiance toward death — though each of us will experience it, it will not hold us down forever!
Through baptism I identify with Christ’s community, the Church. 1 Corinthians 12:13a reads: “For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body …” In a culture that values rugged individualism, it’s easy to forget that we are a part of a community of people, designed by God to represent him in this world. That community of people is called Church. Paul, who taught about life in this new community, often referred to Church as the Body of Christ.
Think about your body — so many parts that all have different functions but are so important. Without a key part, the rest just doesn’t work as well. Try navigating your day without your right thumb — doable, but life looks a little different. Try going about your business with no tongue. You get the point. Each part is important. The same is true with Church. Each person who has given himself or herself to Jesus by faith is a part of the Body of Christ. Each person is important. Baptism unites us together through a common experience. We have a common marker on our spiritual journey, a point to look back on when our faith was anchored and announced publically through baptism. No matter where you came from, the choices you made in the past, how much money you make (or don’t make), married or single, African-American, Asian, Hispanic, or white — it doesn’t matter. Through baptism, we have all publically identified with Christ and thus with each other. Through baptism, I belong to Christ, and I also belong to you. I was a teenager when I was baptized. I remember walking down into the water to my pastor/mentor who was waiting for me. I wasn’t anything special or extraordinary. Even so, God freed me from myself, gave me a hope like no other, and brought me into his family called Church. It was faith that connected me to Christ. It was baptism that marked me as his. That moment will always stand as a monument of the soul and as a public testimony of the love of God for an ordinary kid. 16:9 Matt Furr is the Libertyville campus pastor. He and his wife, Heidi, live with their three kids in Lake Villa.
Through baptism I identify with Christ’s death. Romans 6:3 reads: “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?” We are not “saved” through baptism but through connection with Jesus through faith. Even so, baptism is a physical identification with Summer 2009 |
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chapel picks
: music recommended by Kim Fukai
Jars of Clay
The Long Fall Back to Earth
The Long Fall Back to Earth is a welcome offering from a band that is constantly reinventing themselves. The opening track sets up the album perfectly; the sweet melodic lines and creative use of new sounds gives the listener a taste of what’s to come — and it’s totally awesome. Jars fans can easily see how they have progressed as a band since debuting their acoustic-driven-sounds-like-a-drum-machine-honestly-it-really-sounds-like-a-drum-machine album more than 13 years ago. Not all the tracks are a complete departure from their acoustic sound; however, this is a much-improved aesthetic. This album explores the tension we experience between our thoughts and actions in our relationships (with God and each other) and contains influences from their passion for humanitarian work — blood: water mission, World Vision, and Habitat for Humanity, to name a few. If your musical taste walks along a more melodic rock road than typical CCM (contemporary Christian music), then you’ll definitely want to check out this album.
Hillsong United
[a_CROSS//the_EARTH] :: Tear Down the Walls
Solid music. Solid lyrics. Solid album. This is the fifth and latest live album from the well-known Australian worship team known as Hillsong United. This album adds new voices to the crew and a new flavor of energy. United’s lyrics continue to be centered on Jesus, the cross, and Resurrection that brings us into freedom, joy, and life. If there is a formula for authentic, cutting edge worship, United has it; there’s nothing showy or insincere about their music. Their instrumentalists have crazy amounts of talent, but they don’t waste it showing off on ridiculous solos. Instead, they find the perfect balance of musical lines that pull you into the moment. Every year they travel to countries around the globe to lead thousands and thousands of people into a worship experience that is unrivaled. This project is a taste of what their worship services are like — and it tastes good. I am a huge fan of Hillsong United (which makes this review completely unbiased … completely). However, it did take a few listens before I started to become attached to these songs. My favorite tracks are “Tear Down the Walls,”“You Hold Me Now,” and “Freedom is Here.” All in all, I find this album doesn’t take any steps back or leaps forward, but it is a solid effort by the United crew.
iPodcast
How about u?
Podcast sermons are a great way to hear messages from other pastors — it’s accessible, there are a lot of great churches to choose from, and it’s free!
Kim Fukai 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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If you are impacted by teaching that is transparent, straightforward, challenges you to examine yourself, and isn’t afraid to say something you don’t want to hear (but need to), try Cornerstone Church in Simi Valley, Calif. (www.cornerstonesimi.com or subscribe to the Cornerstone Simi podcast on iTunes). If you are impacted by teaching that is honest, encourages you to develop into your best you, causes you to consider humanity’s response to Jesus, and empowers you to change (not to mention the fantastic Q&A sessions) try Mosaic in Los Angeles, Calif. (www.mosaic.org/podcast or subscribe to the Mosaic podcast on iTunes).
books recommended by Galen Thomas :
chapel picks
Hinds’ Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard
Anyone who finds himself in a tough circumstance he didn’t choose and can’t really change has wondered, if he’s honest, if God really knows what he’s doing.
The truth for the Christian is that God is fiercely committed to forming his Son’s likeness and character in each one of his children, and nothing happens that he doesn’t use in some way to accomplish this transformation. Hinds’ Feet on High Places is Hannah Hurnard’s classic allegory about overcoming the fears, anxieties, and pain associated with the hard (but formative) circumstances of this life. It’s a tale of one’s journey from a fear-ridden, anxiety-encumbered existence to one of joy, meaning, and fulfillment. This story tracks the shepherdess Much-Afraid’s decision to trust the Shepherd to lead her on a journey to the High Places, a symbolic place where fear and anxiety give way to joy, transformation, and confidence. All her family (the Fearings) work to prevent her from ascending to these High Places, and the Shepherd, knowing this, provides Suffering and Sorrow as travel companions. Much-Afraid must face her own fears and persevere in the face of her family’s efforts to persuade — and even force — her to give up the journey. The Shepherd, the Jesus of the story, does the work necessary to transform her from an awkward, club-footed being that can hardly walk into a graceful hind, leaping about joyfully. So our Good Shepherd desires to transform and deliver us from a fear-filled, limited existence into a joy-filled relationship with him!
Encouragement: The Key to Caring by Larry Crabb and Dan B. Allender
One of my top three spiritual gifts is encouragement, so it should come as no surprise that this book is one of my alltime “Top Five.”
The authors define encouragement as “the kind of expression that helps someone want to be a better Christian, even when life is rough.” This book explores the responsibility of every Christian — spiritually gifted or not — to “encourage one another, to say and do things that stimulate others to a deeper appreciation of Christ and to stronger commitment to our relationship with Him and with each other.” Why do so many of us sadly say that, in a typical day, we receive no real encouragement? Why is it so hard for us to give meaningful encouragement to another, especially when she really needs it? What is it about us that results in the observation that the “Christian army” is the only one in the world that shoots its own wounded? Quite simply, it’s our self-centeredness. We perceive that another is in pain, but that pain makes us uncomfortable. We don’t like feeling uncomfortable so we move off. We feel awkward, afraid to say or do anything for fear that it would be the “wrong” thing. In short, we don’t draw near to pain because we’re not committed to someone else more than we’re afraid. We settle instead for superficiality and our words and actions have no power to lift others. The solution is to speak and act from a posture of love toward another’s fear-filled heart. It requires a determination to put encouraging another above our desire for comfort and safety. It means taking risks and engaging beyond the first, superficial, and false answers and assurances most of us offer. It also means trusting Jesus to fully meet our own needs because, while we choose to be an encourager, there is no assurance we ourselves will be encouraged by another. We meet Jesus most deeply in this deficit.
Galen Thoman is the director of human resources at The Chapel. You can write to him at gthomas@chapel.org.
Summer 2009 |
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CONNECT RELATIONALLY :
Leading Courageously: Men’s Large Group Studies When Joel Glende first heard about Men’s Fraternity — the most recent large group men’s study — he wondered if the large group format was the best way for him to grow deeper in his walk with God. Two years later, he has not only stuck with it, but has also been a small group leader and helped to share with other men in the church the power of God to transform lives.
Q: A:
How did you first get involved with the men’s large group study?
A couple of years ago, my wife and I were in a small group. I had been in prayer about trying to do something more to grow spiritually. After one of my prayer sessions, I talked to my small group leader about it and he suggested I check with Brent Davis, the campus pastor at Grayslake. Brent referred me to one of the leaders of Men’s Fraternity. I had no preconceived notion about it, but I knew I wanted to serve in a greater way and learn more about what it was. I showed up at a breakfast meeting and that was the beginning. I was able to connect with this large group study and it was just amazing. I’m 53 years old and I said, “Where was this study 20 years ago?” because it has had such an amazing impact in my life.
Q: A:
What happens during the men’s large group study?
The first part of the study is DVD-based. We watch a 35 to 45-minute message and take notes in a workbook that goes along with it. The second part includes interaction with a small group of four to six people that is formed within the larger group, and there are leaders for each group. We talk through experiences that we’ve had personally as it relates to the study. Over the course of 19 weeks, we’re able to connect with a smaller group of men as we go through the course together.
Q: A:
Do you see your small group outside of the weekly meeting?
Two years ago, our group went down to Moody and participated in a “Walk Worthy” event, where there were large groups from churches all over Midwest. We try to periodically have breakfast together before or after the large group meeting. Over the Christmas break, we got together with our small group for a breakfast fellowship.
Q: A:
What topics are addressed during the large group meeting?
The study goes back through life experiences as a child and through young adulthood (“look back”), another section walks through the experiences you have as a man now, wherever you are in your Christian walk (“look at now”), and then the next series is “look ahead” into the future. Some life-guiding principles are addressed that help everyone from young men through middle age and even those that are more senior in years. I’ve seen just about every age participate in Men’s Fraternity.
Q: A:
How have you grown spiritually through being a part of the men’s large group study?
I’ve been saved for many years and gone through different cycles of life. This series has helped me grow so much more in how I am able to mentor young adults and my own family members — it’s really helping in the core principle of “leading courageously.” Another core principle is “reject passivity” — now I’m able to share my spirituality with others. Before, I was secure in my own personal walk, but I was more passive in nature when it came to sharing that experience with others. Men’s Fraternity helped me in that.
Q: A:
Who do you think should attend the men’s large group study? Do you think it matters how spiritually mature someone is?
I would recommend the men’s large group study to anyone who is curious about understanding how to grow spiritually. I was one that was kind of curious at first and didn’t know if I needed it. Once I was involved, it was amazing how enriching it was in terms of insight that I never knew about myself and my relationships with other people. Anyone who has any curiosity should seek this out.
If you would like more information about upcoming men’s large group studies, please contact Dave Thompson (Grayslake campus) at dthompson@chapel.org or Thomas McArthur (Libertyville campus) at tmcarthur@chapel.org.
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Lasting Relationships: Women’s Large Group Studies Alaina Gibbons was a leader for the women’s large group study He Is at the Libertyville campus. She has discovered, along with her tablemates, that the relationships they’ve formed as a small group within a large group are much more meaningful than answering questions from a DVD study each week. They’ve grown spiritually, and more so because they’ve formed friendships that will last beyond a four-week study.
Q: A:
How does the large group experience work? Do I have to know someone to join a table?
If you know someone in particular or if you’ve been invited by a friend and request to be in a certain group, that request is certainly honored. Otherwise, when women sign up at different campuses for the study, if a table is not at the maximum level (around 12), new people can be brought into the group. It’s common to stay together for a year. Our group had one new addition in this last study, but otherwise we’ve been together for the full year in our small group and have formed some lasting relationships.
Q: A:
Do you only see your small group members (your tablemates throughout a study) once a week at the study?
The goal is to meet socially a couple of times a year, whether it’s for coffee or dessert, or to have an activity together. Our group has twice met for brunch and had time to fellowship.
Q: A:
Fellowship is obviously important to the large group experience. What has it meant to your small group?
We had a member this year who needed to downsize from a two-bedroom condo to a one-bedroom condo. We asked her if she had hired a moving company or had any help lined up and she didn’t. The leader at that time and I talked to the ladies at our table and discussed either helping her pay for movers or helping her pack boxes or getting a group together to give her some assistance. We also let Ron Kempka, the leader of the People to People ministry, know about her situation. We gave him a list of her furniture and how many boxes and when she was moving and asked if he could gather a group of people together who had a truck or some vans and could help her move her stuff. He was able to get some people together to help.
As a small group, we came at different times to help her pack and clean both her old place and new place. On moving day, a couple women from the group came to help the group that Ron put together. It was a rainy day, but in between the raindrops they were able to get her stuff moved in. She didn’t have to shell out a lot of money for movers, and she was very grateful. She said, “I don’t know what I would do without all of you.” She was really happy that we were able to step in and help out. When I started the study last fall, my dad died within eight weeks of finding out he had cancer. It was an extremely difficult time for me, but I kept coming to Bible study. Through the process of getting to know these ladies, a couple of the women opened up and told me their stories of losing a parent and what they went through. A woman who helped me co-lead one of the studies went through a similar experience and we’ve become very good friends. These kind of relationships have formed that are more than just a casual conversation on Wednesday mornings or even just a study — we’ve gotten to know each other on a personal level outside of Wednesday mornings and the weekend. A lot of lasting relationships have been formed. We’re putting into practice the things that we’re learning during these studies. We’re being the hands and feet of Jesus and acting on what we believe to be true and what he would do given that situation. It definitely has had a greater impact than simply meeting to grow theologically on a Wednesday morning. I think that each woman at our table would be able to say, with confidence, the same thing — that there were certain times where, if it weren’t for the Wednesday morning small group, it would have been a lot harder for them. An encouraging word or Scripture, or just being together, has been really valuable.
If you would like more information about the next women’s large group study, please contact Beth Whartnaby at bwhartnaby@chapel.org.
Summer 2009 |
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group life
: by Beth Whartnaby
Slow Down! Scripture. It’s designed to facilitate an One Friday evening, I rushed out of work to deliver my son’s of encounter with God through the taking in of his Word in a deep and deliberate way, baseball bag to the practice field. We had both forgotten allowing the quiet voice of the Holy Spirit that it was in the back of my car. From there I raced home to speak to you through specific words or phrases of the text. Anyone can practice to let the dog out, do a few things around the house, then this — no matter where you are on your gather the DVD and study guides for our small group’s next spiritual journey (no previous experience required!). Here are some simple steps to study before heading back to the field to pick him up. On practicing Lectio divina in your small group. the way to the field, I called our leaders’ house to say that I Preparation for the leader: might need to bring my son with me that night, because my group Before your small group meeting night, husband and I had gotten our schedules a bit crossed. I got pick a short Bible passage (four to eight verses is a good guideline). Familiarize the answering machine and left a message. yourself with the text by reading with the In order to actually put some sort of dinner into my son, we decided to drive through Burger King on the way home. I paid for the chicken nuggets, got my change, thanked the nice man, and drove home — without the chicken nuggets. At that point, I wondered why our leader had not called me back and if we actually had small group that night — or did I miss something? So, I looked up her cell phone number and discovered that I had been running around like a chicken without a head (and without nuggets!) for no good reason. We were indeed not meeting that night. In April we went through a great weekend series titled Redline, where we explored the dangers of living our lives without margin. Every now and then, we all need to slow down and take stock of our pace. I’m wondering if you’ve felt any of the hustle, bustle, and “redline” tendencies creeping into your small group time. It’s ok — go ahead and admit it if you have! It’s not always easy fitting everything into our lives — even the most important things. But after we actually get to our small group meeting, walk through the door, and hang up our coats, we all long to let out a big sigh and slow down a little. Taking time to slow down and be still before God, individually and in our small groups, is vital to our spiritual growth. In Psalm 46:10 we are reminded to be still and know that he is God. The author of Lamentations encourages us to “wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord” (Lamentations 3:26 NIV). If we truly want to hear God, we must make time and space to listen for his voice. In our noisy, fast-paced world, this time and space does not just happen. Consider trying the practice of Lectio divina in your small group. Lectio divina simply means “sacred reading” and is a practice started by Benedictine monks in the first century A.D. Lectio is a slow and thoughtful reading of and meditation on a specific passage
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practice of Lectio divina prior to your group meeting. You might want to look up your passage online and print out copies for each group member to keep everyone on the same page and reading from the same translation (you can do this at www.biblegateway.com).
At the meeting: Set the stage for your group. Go over the guidelines. Remind group members to be listening for a word or phrase that speaks to their heart at this moment. Encourage them to ask themselves questions during the reading meditation phase, such as, “What is this word or phrase saying to me right now?” Later they will be invited to briefly share this word or phrase with the group. Take a couple of minutes to be silent and allow your group to be centered and attentive. Say a brief prayer asking God to be in your midst and to speak to each of you through this practice.
Lectio divina: Read (Lectio)
The leader reads the passage through one time, slowly and clearly, pausing to allow the words to sink in deeply and God to speak to you through his Word. After a minute or two, another group member reads the same passage. Again, allow a few moments of silence. Then invite group members to briefly share the word or phrase that God is using to speak to them. Another group member should then read the passage a third time.
Meditation or Reflection (Meditatio) After the last reading, provide several moments of silence to allow group members to reflect on how the passage is speaking to them personally at this moment.
Prayer (Oratio) The next step is personal response to God. Encourage group members to spend a few minutes in silent prayer, responding honestly to what God is saying to them through his Word. The group leader then closes this prayer time with a brief prayer.
Contemplation (Contemplatio) Take a few minutes as a group to first rest in God’s presence. Enjoy the peace that comes from slowing down, really hearing God through his Word, and taking the time to respond fully. These steps are simply guidelines, not rules or a formula. It’s a good place to start when exploring this ancient spiritual practice that might be new to you and your group. Experience the freedom to adjust the pattern to fit your own group or situation. Encourage your group members to engage with God’s Word through Lectio divina in their own personal times with God, as well as in your small group. The goal is to make the time and space to hear God’s voice. The prophet Elijah was reminded that God was not in the earthquake, the fire, or the “great and powerful wind” that tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks. The voice of God came to Elijah in a “gentle whisper” (1 Kings 19:11-13). In today’s crazy world, we need to slow down and create the quiet space to be able to hear that whisper.
Suggested Reading: Ruth Haley Barton Sacred Rhythms: Arranging our Lives for Spiritual Transformation (InterVarsity Press)
Jan Johnson Listening to God: Using Scripture As a Path to God’s Presence (NavPress)
Thelma Hall Too Deep for Words: Rediscovering Lectio Divina (Paulist Press)
Beth Whartnaby is the director of groups at The Chapel. You can write to her at bwhartnaby@chapel.org.
Available now in the Chapel bookstores! For Father’s Day (June 21):
HCSB Sportsman’s Bible
Also, look for cards for Father’s Day, and gift cards are available in any denomination. We are happy to provide special ordering and receive most items within a week!
The Drive Time Message for Men, Volumes 1 and 2 (devotional CDs)
For the graduate: Life Principles for the Graduate: Nine Truths for Living God’s Way by Charles F. Stanley Goodbye High School, Hello World: A Real Life Guide For Graduates by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz Does MasterCard Accept Visa? And Other Issues You’ll Face After Graduation by Michael and Tiffany Ross
The One Year Mini for Men (devotionals)
the Chapel
bookstores
20% off purchase of $25 or more (expires August 31, 2009)
Summer 2009 |
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You’ve heard about it and read about it — now picture what junior highers at The Chapel do every week in The Zone.
Photos by Allison Cox
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When students arrive at The Zone’s weekly gathering on Tuesday evenings, they check in with a volunteer or regular Zone attenders can use their “Fast Pass” to speed up the process.
The Stadium is the hub of all Student Ministries activities at the Grayslake campus. On Tuesday nights, The Zone is a flurry of junior high students playing ping-pong and video games before they head into the gym for Bible study. Summer 2009 |
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After speaking to the students as a group, Bekah Layton helps them through their individual study.
At The Zone, students are encouraged to get serious about their faith. At one recent Tuesday night gathering, Grayslake Zone director Bekah Layton shared with the students: “God wants to connect with you. He’s waiting for the chance to hang with you. How can you carve out 10 minutes a day to hang out with God? You have to say, ‘God, you’re more important to me than soccer and baseball.’”
Dave Griffin, The Chapel’s director of Student Ministries, organizes students at an all-campus lock-in. The Zone meets at each Chapel campus during the week and on the weekend during services. There are special events and activities, however, that allow all Chapel Zoners to interact and get to know each other.
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Volunteer Meredith Domanico gives the standard Zone greeting — a fist bump — to students arriving for The Zone lock-in at the Libertyville campus.
The Zone could not happen each week without the help of many volunteers like Domanico, who don’t just show up and chaperone, but invest in students’ lives and care about their spiritual growth.
Before Bible study on Tuesday nights, Zoners have a chance to use up their youthful energy in a series of fun games, including this version of “knock your friends out of the circle while crabwalking without letting go of your ankles” (do these games ever have names?).
The Zoners have officially made head-banging cool again. It’s a workout just to watch students jump, sway, and bob their heads during worship times in The Zone, all while singing their hearts out in praise to God.
Summer 2009 |
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staff spotlight
: by Joy Delaere
WELCOME: Danina, Van, and Steven Welch, with the Sydney Opera House in the background.
I
ntroducing Steven and Danina Welch, two of our newest Chapel staff! Steven and Danina joined our team in April — Steven as a worship leader and Danina brought much needed expertise to the role of human resources administrator. They made a big move from Australia, where they lived and worked for the past year, to join our team here in Chicagoland. Danina, a native of Australia (it is wonderful to listen to whatever she has to say), married a southerner, born and raised in Missouri. Steven too has a bit of an amusing accent, especially since he mixes in a bit of Australian slang! The big question, of course, is: How did they meet? The story goes back 10 years, when Danina played drums in Australia for a band called Muppet. She was also working for a radio station and part of her job included bringing in bands for a music festival — and Steven’s band was one of them. “After I met her, I asked her to come to America to see our band, Twotimer, and that was the beginning of the end,” said Steven. “Yeah, he fell for me,” confirmed Danina. “For months he called and even sent flowers, but I wouldn’t call back.” “I was chasing after her because she was one of the few godly women that I had ever met,” Steven recalled. “It took nine months for her to talk to me.” After that, Steven joined Danina’s band, touring with them in Australia as a guitarist and songwriter. During that time, their love grew. Ten years later, they are married and have an 11-month-old son, Van. In addition to music, the couple also shares a passion for traveling. “I love to learn about other countries,” Danina shared.
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“Yeah, but I’ve been to more countries than you,” piped in Steven. “When I was touring [and] making a missions CD, I went to Kenya.” “Together we’ve traveled through London, Paris, and Dublin and we have both been to New Zealand,” offered Danina. “But I’ve been to Thailand, Singapore, Barbados, Canada, and Hawaii.” Both Steven and Danina also have a passion for missions and world poverty and hope to be able to continue serving in these areas. “Whether financially or with our time, we love to be able to help out with these causes however we can,” shared Steven. When asked if they have a life verse, Danina offered hers up first. “John 14:15 — ‘if you love me obey my commands’ — this was a verse that I shared a lot when I was volunteering with Steven’s youth group back in Australia, and it has served to be a great guide for me, too,” Danina said. Steven shared that his verse is from Philemon, his favorite book in the Bible. “I like to read Philemon a lot — that way I can say, ‘I read a book of the Bible today, sometimes several times a month’ — not such a tough feat since it is only one chapter long,” he said while laughing. “My favorite verse is Philemon 1:6: ‘I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ’.” A “good thing” is what we have been given with the addition of this dynamic and delightful couple. Welcome to Chicagoland, Welch family! To check out another band that Steven is a part of, visit www.theanthemmusic.com and listen to free samples of their music.
by Mark Pietscher :
lake county jail
Picture This Snapshots of an event or family gathering will tell a single story, but when put together in a photo album, they reveal a much wider, more complete story. Here are a number of snapshots of life and ministry at the Lake County Jail that reveal a larger story of how God is active behind the walls of a corrections facility. Recently, a man who has been incarcerated for the past four or five months was sharing what he had been learning about God. He got a surprised look on his face and said, “I realize now that I was not just arrested; I was rescued.” Many individuals report that their time in jail has served as a “red light” for them to reflect on life and lifestyle and has been the stimulus to cause them to seek God. On Good Friday, inmates were not allowed to come down to the library for services, but chaplains and volunteers were allowed to go to the pods and conduct services for anyone interested. One powerful moment took place when 20 male inmates crowed into a 10x12-foot program room and sang “The Old Rugged Cross” just before taking Communion together. These men were experiencing the reality of redemption. Working in the jail is definitely a cross cultural and international experience. All of the materials we provide must be available in Spanish since 30 percent of the jail population at any given time is Spanish speaking. In past weeks inmates have asked me for Bibles in Polish and Russian. One young man who was born in India and identified himself as a Hindu asked if I had any materials he could read. I told him the only book I had with me was by a Christian author who wrote about God’s design for men’s hearts (Wild at Heart); he asked if he could have the book. The most effective ministry inside the Lake County Jail is inmate-to-inmate spiritual mentoring. Since inmates are around each other “24/7,” it does not take long to spot someone who is living uniquely inside the jail due to their faith in God. Christian inmates are asked all the time about their faith because many individuals who are incarcerated are searching for answers on how life can be different when they get out. Inmates mentor others in spiritual growth, lead Bible studies, answer questions, offer encouragement, and regularly have opportunities to pray with fellow inmates. Recently a man who held to Muslim beliefs politely questioned a group of Christian inmates. They asked me if I would go over their answers to make sure they were accurate, biblical, and loving.
Have you ever wondered what volunteers do at the Lake County Jail? They lead Bible studies, conduct worship services, pray with family members awaiting a visit with an incarcerated loved one, help inmates record the reading of books for their children, mentor inmates as they prepare to re-enter society, facilitate book clubs, encourage, and teach classes. One of the privileges of volunteering at the Lake County Jail is the opportunity to share the greatest message of life change God offers. While leading a Tuesday night Bible study, Judy explained
“Recently a man who held to Muslim beliefs politely questioned a group of Christian inmates. They asked me if I would go over their answers to make sure they were accurate, biblical, and loving.” how a person could have a personal relationship with God and two inmates responded by asking Jesus to be their Savior. During a recent Sunday service on the women’s floor, Cathy had the privilege of helping a young woman ask Jesus to forgive her sins. Craig had the opportunity to hear a young man explain that he gave his life to God during the fatherhood class that Craig was helping lead. A frequent comment that is voiced by individuals who volunteer at the jail is, “I came to the jail to be a blessing and instead, I was blessed.”
Mark Pietscher is the campus pastor at the Lake County Jail. You can reach him at mpietscher@chapel.org.
Summer 2009 |
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chapel news
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Lake Zurich Fast Facts Get to know the setting of our new Chapel campus!
• Lake Zurich was voted “Best City to Live, 2009” by readers of the Daily Herald. • The village of Lake Zurich is located in southwestern Lake County, approximately 37 miles from downtown Chicago. • There are already more than 200 Chapel families living within five minutes driving distance of our newest campus. • The growing population of Lake Zurich is 18,104. • There were 123 adults and 25 children at the first interest meeting on May 4 — the level of excitement was uncontainable! • The building for the new campus was purchased with money given by several Chapel families, making this a venture that we can enter into debt-free. • The building is six years old and will receive only a few modifications that will allow us the necessary space for our children’s ministry (The Great Adventure). • Centrally located between all existing Chapel campuses, the Lake Zurich campus is also located right in the center of community life in Lake Zurich. It is next to the library, police department, medical building, post office, fire department, and a sports complex. • The exact launch date is still unknown, but you can check www.chapel.org regularly for updates and announcements.
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There are many ways to get involved! If you would like more information or would like to help with the steps needed to launch The Chapel’s Lake Zurich campus, send an e-mail to info@chapel.org or call 847.201.2777.
Check this out!
Look what God did during Easter weekend at The Chapel!
14,246 people attended some type of service on Easter weekend:
There were 29 services at four campuses.
244 people picked up Bibles after the services. 100 people indicated a decision to follow Christ at ONE.
Steve Cosmos
800 students attended ONE. 4,388 people attended Good Friday services . 9,058 people attended Easter services. Good Friday service attenders nailed their burdens to the cross.
Did you know?
During the weekend services on June 13 and 14, Catherine Rohr was a special guest speaker as part of the Redemption series. This was a unique opportunity to hear about what redemption looks like in the real world. Here are five things you may not know about Catherine and her ministry; you can read more at www.prisonentrepreneurship.org.
Catherine Rohr founded Prison Entrepreneurship Program in 2004.
• Catherine Rohr is a former Wall Street investor who, after graduating from the University of California Berkeley Haas School of Business, generated $32 million in equity investments and worked with 4,000 CEOs at Summit Partners and American Securities Capital Partners. • In 2004, Rohr and her husband toured a prison in Texas, where she was surprised to find that the inmates were “moldable men thirsty for change” instead of caged animals. • As a result of that trip, Rohr founded Prison Entrepreneurship Program to equip inmates with legitimate business skills that can help them start and run their own companies. • More than 97 percent of PEP’s 370 graduates were employed within four weeks of release, at a starting wage of $10.51 per hour. There have been 43 businesses started as a result of the program. • Rohr is a three-time marathon runner and California State Wrestling Champion, and actively trains in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.
Reminder
You may have seen signs or advertisement for events at The Chapel that have to do with Catalyst, but you may not even know what that is! Catalyst is a mobilization of churches in Lake County to bring about spiritual revolution across Chicagoland. The churches that partner with Catalyst work together to connect their people and resources for greater Kingdom impact. One of Catalyst’s most recognizable outreaches is ShareFest, a concentrated effort to meet physical needs in the community, including backpack and food drives. The Chapel is a partner church with Catalyst, which means we have committed to partnering with other pastors by attending regular gatherings, contributing a percentage of our annual budget, and by being involved with one or more Catalyst initiatives. You can find out more about Catalyst at www.catalystweb.org.
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chapel community
: by Beth Whartnaby
Singles: Another Thread in the Fabric of the Church Did you know that, according to the Barna Research Group, there are more single adults here in the United States than any other nation in the world, except for China and India. In fact, the number of singles in the U.S. exceeds the total national population of all but 11 of the world’s 192 nations? Besides that, the number of single parents in the United States is greater than the entire population of Colorado and Tennessee combined. All that means is, as a single, you’re not alone. These are just a few of George Barna’s findings in his book Single Focus. Understanding the statistics associated with singles is one thing, but grasping the nuances of the single adult life in order to better minister to their lives goes beyond mere statistics. Barna himself acknowledges this. His research presses further to show us that, in our churches, single adults are no different from anybody else. They’re just people striving to understand themselves, God, and their place in his world. Singles don’t want to live on the outskirts of the congregation simply because they are not married. They want to be completely bonded to the heartbeat of the church. So, in light of these thoughts, how do we as a church minister to the single adults in our midst? At the risk of oversimplifying — we minister to them just like we minister to anyone else. We can strive to understand each other, accept each other as we are, and help each other grow in the areas we need it most. We can recognize the potential for loneliness amidst a culture of “family” and include singles in our lives. We can also recognize that there are different types of families and remember to provide opportunities for singles to connect with each other. The Chapel’s ministry to singles is committed to reaching the singles in our area by providing opportunities for them to connect relationally, grow spiritually, and serve others. It is encouraging to see that single adults in increasing numbers are looking for a small group to join and have stepped out to serve at The Chapel. Recently, 160 single adults from several local churches attended a workshop called “Living Single: Values, Dating, and Sexuality for the Christian Single.” This event provided a connection point to discuss the material presented, meet other singles, and take a next step into community through a small group or through serving each other.
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Cathy, a single mom of teenagers, attended the workshop. She has attended The Chapel for more than three years. During this time she has formed close and lasting relationships through serving and attending Chapel social gatherings. Opportunities like women’s large group Bible study and Deep End events have fed her interest in the Bible and resulted in a regular personal time with God. It’s clear to Cathy that we all “need to work on our relationship with God first, and as we do, we will become more obedient to his Word.” Cathy points out that many singles experience stress due to the pressure of the secular culture’s view on sex and dating. “The recent singles conference was a good start, but I would love to see singles deepen their relationship with God in order to stand tall against the temptations they face in their lives. We need to know how to spend quality time with God and
“Singles don’t want to live on the outskirts of the congregation simply because they are not married. They want to be completely bonded to the heartbeat of the church.” strengthen our relationship with him. We need to want what he wants for us and we need to have the tools to help us in our walk with him.” The Chapel’s ministry to singles is looking for more people to join their planning team. Is God stirring your heart for singles? If so, contact Beth at bwhartnaby@chapel.org to discuss the possibility of serving in this ministry. (You don’t have to be single to serve!) To see what’s happening with singles in The Chapel, check out www.chapel.org/singles. Beth Whartnaby is a guest writer for this issue of Chapel Community. She is the director of groups at The Chapel. Rex Minor is the executive director of Transformational Community at The Chapel. You can reach him at rminor@chapel.org.
IT TAKES A SIZABLE ORGANIZATION to create a small, intimate, and personal experience for people gathering across several locations. Each person on our leadership team plays a vital role in making our church a place where people can really encounter God. Our leaders are accessible to you — we want you to know who they are and how to connect with them. Below you will find a chart that explains how our leadership team is organized and connected to each campus. If you have questions, feel free to contact us at info@chapel.org.
v
ELDER BOARD
Family Tree
SENIOR PASTORS Scott Chapman Jeff Griffin
ASSOCIATE PASTOR Jamie Wamsley
EXECUTIVE PASTOR OF CAMPUSES Rick Egbert
CAMPUS PASTORS
Dan Huffman, Executive Director, TGA, Inc. (curriculum) STUDENT MINISTRIES Dave Griffin, Executive Director COMMUNICATIONS Stacia Gibson, Executive Director, Connections Cleve Persinger, Executive Director, Web and Community Engagement
Lake Zurich Campus
Campus Staff and Volunteers
THE GREAT ADVENTURE (children’s ministry) Dee Dee Estes, Executive Director
Campus Staff and Volunteers
HUMAN RESOURCES Galen Thomas, Executive Director
Campus Staff and Volunteers
TRANSFORMATIONAL COMMUNITY Rex Minor, Executive Director
Rick Smith Mark Pietscher Steve Pugh Mundelein Lake County Jail Barrington
Campus Staff and Volunteers
WEEKEND EXPERIENCE Andrea Minor, Executive Director
Campus Staff and Volunteers
OPERATIONS Jim Alexander, Executive Pastor
Matt Furr Libertyville
Campus Staff and Volunteers
Brent Davis Grayslake
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QUITE A CREW
STRENGTHEN FAMILIES :
by Christine Groschel
A
“crew” is defined as a team or a group, which is how the Gucky family of Grayslake operates — acting as a team with a unique system of support. It is also the name of their oldest son, who has a rare disorder called Costello Syndrome. Jay and Maureen Gucky openly share the joys and difficulties of having a special needs child along with four more children under the age of 7. The Gucky household is full of energy, laughter, and, of course, children running around. The family is like any other that enjoys the pool in the summer and playing in the park, but they have different considerations because of their son Crew. Now 9 years old, Crew was diagnosed with Costello Syndrome when he was born. It is hard to believe that the little boy who is constantly grinning from ear
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to ear, is eager to give high fives and hugs, and loves talking about his favorite show, Elmo, has also been through seven major surgeries, including open heart surgery earlier this year. Costello Syndrome is a genetic disorder that often causes heart defects and seizures along with other symptoms. Crew has HCM, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a serious heart condition that must be monitored very closely. He is the size of a 5-year-old and will not get much bigger than he is now. Crew is fed five times a day through a tube and has the brain function of an 18-month-old. The diagnosis was not easy for Maureen and it tested her faith in many difficult ways. “When Crew was first born I asked, ‘Why me, God?’” Maureen said. “Then Christ changed that bitterness. I didn’t think I was
capable of taking care of a child with a seizure disorder, three heart defects, a g-tube, and an 18-month-old mentality. Jay kept me grounded and trusted me and God and himself to take care of him. [When Crew was born,] it was love at first sight and now I know my purpose in life.” After Crew was born, he was in intensive care for more than two months. Maureen and Jay were told he would never come home and that he would never be able to walk or talk. Crew now does both and happily lives at home with his six other family members. “God has provided for us and anything Crew has needed we have been able to get,” Jay said. Crew’s special needs have not always provided an easy situation for the Gucky family, but they believe it has
Allison Cox
THE GUCKY FAMILY: (clockwise from top left): Hampton, Jay, Bauer, Maureen, Graf, Teller, and Crew.
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strengthened their patience, reliance on God, and compassion. After Crew was born, there was hesitation about having more children. However, three years later they had Bauer and then three more children after that. “We just decided to trust the Lord with having more kids,” said Maureen. Crew, Bauer, Hampton, Teller, and Graf are the kids of the Gucky family. With five kids in the family, there are schedules that are followed and routines that keep the family functioning smoothly. Every morning begins early, with most of the kids leaving for school and Jay heading off to work. Weekends are the best times for the family to all be together. Both Jay and Maureen are very intentional about making sure their kids all know they are loved equally. The kids seem to have a basic understanding of Crew’s condition and are also learning at young ages the importance of patience and love. Maureen and Jay both shared how amazed they are by the impact Crew has on people wherever he goes. It is not uncommon for Crew to know more people in a room than both of his parents, and he is accepted and liked wherever he goes. “We see the number of people Crew has affected in his life,” Jay said. “If I could affect even a quarter of the amount of people he has then I would feel good when my time is up.” The Gucky family moved to Illinois from Indiana less than a year ago for a job opportunity. They looked around at a few churches and when Jay and Maureen heard about the Chapel, they decided to give it a shot. They now attend the Libertyville campus and have already become involved with activities and volunteer opportunities at the church since first visiting last fall. Through their relationships at The Chapel, Jay and Maureen have been encouraged by a support system of new friends. “When Crew had his open heart surgery in February, the pastors came and visited him at the hospital, people brought food for our family, and the church just supported us,” said Maureen. In addition to the business of their home life, Jay and Maureen have also taken on the responsibility of helping to greet all the new families with children and helping
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them get situated in the church and children’s ministry. Even after very full days with five active kids, Jay and Maureen still share a passion to serve the kids and families of the church. The Gucky kids are all plugged into the children’s ministry at The Chapel and never complain about having to get up on Sundays to go to church. Jay and Maureen are involved in a Bible study as well, which has allowed them to meet more people from the church. “We truly are so blessed in every way,” Maureen said. “We certainly aren’t the ‘Leave It to Beaver’ family, but we try our best to live by our Lord and to guide our children down his path. I have come a long way and I had a lot of help — Jesus!” 16:9
Christine Groschel is a recent graduate of Trinity International University and a former intern for The Chapel and Catalyst of Lake County.
ABOVE: Crew has hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, an “instant death” condition that some children with Costello Syndrome develop. The condition has led to several hospitalizations and must be monitored very closely. PAGE 33, TOP LEFT: Jay Gucky gets silly with his daughters, Hampton and Teller, while they try to finish breakfast. PAGE 33, TOP RIGHT: Saturday mornings at the Gucky home are a flurry of fun, with kids simultaneously stacking blocks, playing Guitar Hero, and watching Elmo.
SPECIAL FRIENDS When Crew was hospitalized in February for open-heart surgery, the volunteers in his Special Friends class at The Chapel didn’t just note his absence on a sheet of paper. A week before the surgery, volunteers and the pastor at the Libertyville campus gathered around Crew and his family and prayed for his surgery and asked God for healing. Every week, Special Friends volunteers gather in a circle, hold hands, and pray for the children in their care. “We care about their total lives — spiritual and physical,” said Ozella Harris, or “Miss Ozzie” as she is known to the kids in Special Friends. “We love him; we love all of them!” Special Friends allows parents who have children with special needs to enjoy the weekend services together, while knowing that their child is in a safe, loving, and fun environment. The kids are matched with the same volunteers each week. They engage in activities in the Special Friends classroom but are integrated into their respective age group classrooms when possible. “Most volunteers have not had training in special education,” Harris said. “It just takes a person who has a lot of love to give. To me, it’s just natural that you would open your arms and love these kids.” If you would like more information about Special Friends or would like to sign up to volunteer, please visit the TGA registration booth.
Crew and his Special Friends “shadow” Matt sing along with the children in the preschool classroom at The Chapel’s Libertyville campus.
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the great adventure
: by Dan Huffman
The Power of the Moment The sun was shining bright with a warm breeze blowing through the air. It was one of those days that you’d want to bottle up and save for February — not too hot and not too cold. I had nowhere to be for about 30 minutes, so I asked my son and daughter if they’d like to go on a little nature walk. I actually called it a “daddy adventure” to ensure their answer would be “yes.” I had spent most of the day inside. I was hoping to enjoy the beautiful weather we were having while, at the same time, talking to the kids about their day. We strolled through a nearby field looking for anything interesting. My son was carefree and ran ahead, while my daughter clung to my arm, afraid of encountering “killer” bees. I decided to get them both engaged by pointing out an interesting plant that had leaves shaped like hearts. I have no idea what type of plant it was, which made me glad I didn’t call this a nature walk. Regardless, it accomplished the purpose as my son ran back and my daughter let go of my arm and I could feel my fingers again. We took a few moments to talk about how God might have put this plant in our path just to remind us of his love. I challenged the kids to keep looking for amazing things God made as we continued our hike. As we walked along, I reflected on how effective that moment was. Now my son and daughter were walking ahead, carefree and keeping their eyes open for a God encounter. There was nothing super theological or deep about our discussion. It was just a moment where we acknowledged God’s love for us and felt his smile on our lives. We continued pointing out a few other plants and bugs … thankfully there wasn’t a bee in sight. Then I looked down and saw a deer leg! There were no other deer parts in sight — just a full leg gnawed off at the hip. I blurted out, “Wow, look what I found! It’s a deer leg. Eww, that’s gross!” My son quickly ran to it and shouted, “Cool!” My daughter ran to me and grabbed my arm tighter than ever. She had now forgotten all about bees and was very concerned about what might have happened to the rest of the deer. As much as I tried, I couldn’t come up with any spiritual significance. (Maybe I could have talked to the kids about Jesus’ words in Mark 9:43: “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.”) Just then my cell phone rang. My wife called to remind me that it was time
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to drop off my daughter. The carefree stroll was over. We picked up our pace, got to the car, and raced off down the road. I don’t remember the car ride or anything else from that day … mainly just the gnawedoff deer leg. Now that summer is finally here, I bet you’ll have many moments to relax and many moments to race off from here to there. In both times, we should look for ways to talk with our children about God. I realized that if I wait for the perfect moment to talk to my kids about God, it may never come. Life is filled with many moments and God is there for each one. As Moses was growing old, he challenged Israel’s families to make the most of their time with their children. In Deuteronomy 6:6-7, he wrote: “And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up” (NLT). The power of our moments is that they add up! Our children spend only about 40 hours a year at church. If that is the only place they hear about God, it is not enough to truly influence them. As parents, however, we have more than 3,000 hours a year with our children. Those moments count! There is power in talking about God throughout our days. God is there during the good moments, the bad moments, and even the ugly moments. If we as parents live out Deuteronomy 6, God promises that we will pass along an authentic faith to our children. The moments we spend with our children have a profound impact on who they will become. So take a deep breath and start looking for opportunities to talk about God with your children this summer. He is there when you encounter something beautiful and he is there when you encounter a gnawed-off deer leg. The power of the moment is that God is in every moment, waiting to encounter us with his love and grace.
Dan Huffman is a guest writer for this issue of The Great Adventure. He is the executive director of TGA, Inc., the children’s ministry curriculum at The Chapel. You can reach him at dhuffman@chapel.org. Dee Dee Estes is the executive director of The Great Adventure, the children’s ministry at The Chapel. You can reach her at destes@chapel.org.
Summer is full of fun in The Great Adventure!
Kidmo Super-U Summer (Grades 2-5) Curriculum Starts June 13/14
Auto B Good (Grades K/1) Curriculum Starts June 13/14
CYT (Christian Youth Theater)
Barrington Campus: July 27-31 Grayslake Campus: July 6-10, July 20-24 Libertyville Campus: June 22-26
Elevate: Adventures in Science (Grades K/1)
SportsLife Camp
Adventure in Odyssey (Grades 2-5)
Libertyville Family Camp at Timber-lee
The Fantastic World (Grades K-5)
Grayslake campus: June 22-25 June 26-28
Curriculum Starts July 18/19
Curriculum Starts Aug. 22/23
Curriculum Starts Sept. 12/13
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Homefront
Ministry Vir by La gini ng a e
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T
he idea of war is old and did not originate with man. Scripture tells of the battle in heaven between Michael and the dragon in Revelation 12. When man was placed on Earth, the war between good and evil continued. Adam and Eve got into the fray and their son, Cain, quickly followed. Satan was in their midst. In our season of time, we fight important battles on many fronts. We wage spiritual war over the temptation and influence of the evil one in our lives; many here at home work to keep us safe from terrorists and foreign attack; we send our military men and women to actively engage the enemy on foreign soil. Satan is still in our midst. As I write, I can see the house down the street. I do not know these people, but proudly flying over their front porch is a flag bearing the insignia of the Marine Corps. I have given a cursory glance at this flag many times, not understanding what it means to be a military family. Ashamedly, I have taken for granted their son’s service to his country and to me. In an effort to achieve greater awareness and understanding, I spoke to a couple of people in military families. Just as in civilian life, military experience and personalities vary widely. One person can be a swaggering hot shot, while another may wish he were anywhere else — but all of them need the support of their fellow Americans. Tracy Steele, who attends The Chapel’s Grayslake campus, has first-hand knowledge of what it’s like to be part of a military family. Her husband, Larry, has been in the military for 21 years, 12 of them in active duty and nine in the reserves. His unit was called up and he recently returned from a one-year deployment in Afghanistan. In her aloneness while Larry was deployed, Tracy sought support — not just for herself, but for the many military families that she knew would also need encouragement. She spoke to a Chapel staff member at the Grayslake campus and the word started to spread. Several months ago, a group of about 25 people gathered for the first time to discuss what kind of support could be provided for the troops and for their families. After learning what items were not appropriate to send overseas (for example, no pork products are sent to Afghanistan and ramen noodles are not practical for soldiers in the field with no means of boiling water), the first group project was organized to assemble and send 25 care packages to military personnel serving overseas. That group of people has now organized to form a ministry, Military Connection, to further meet the needs of military families. The group meets about once a month, usually for a potluck dinner. They discuss relevant topics such as raising children, loneliness, and finances. Resources are pulled from within the group, which includes one person with a USO connection. Other resources are sought and obtained as needed. One current goal of the group is to expand the understanding of the children of military families by providing them with a “mini military boot camp.” It can be very depressing to be deployed and receive little or no mail. When Larry was overseas, Tracy was able to obtain a list of some troops in Afghanistan who received no mail from home, and she purposed to write at least one letter to everyone on the list. She said that task made her feel closer and more connected to her husband while he was away. If you are in any way a part of the military experience, the Military Connection group can provide a safe, Christian environment of support. If you are interested in writing letters, sending care packages, or getting more information about the group, you may contact Tracy at tracy_j_steele@hotmail.com. May each of us be in grateful prayer for God’s protection on those who serve. 16:9 Virginia Lange is a retired schoolteacher and lives in Algonquin. She attends the Barrington campus.
Help Is a Click Away! Resources for military personnel and their families
Military Spouse magazine: www.milspouse.com/at-home.aspx Military member, spouse, and family support: www.militaryonesource.com Military Community and Family Policy information: www.militaryhomefront.dod.mil Free military guides: www.govamerica.org Military Youth Camp: wingfam.org/youth/youthcamp.asp Naval Services FamilyLine: lifelines.navy.mil/familyline/index.htm Navy Fleet and Family Support Center: www.nffsp.org
Members of the Military Connection ministry met and enjoyed fellowship and support while packing boxes of supplies for servicemen and women overseas. Summer 2009 |
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Are you tired of arguing with your spouse about the same old issues? Do you dream of a marriage with less conflict and more intimacy? These issues and many more will be discovered, illustrated, and evaluated by a couple that has seen it all, Milan and Kay Yerkovich, authors of How We Love.
SpeakerS | Milan and Kay Yerkovich Date | Saturday, June 27 time | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. CoSt | $10/person or $15/person with a box lunch LoCation | 180 N. Hawthorne Road Barrington Hills, IL 60010 847.201.2777 For more information or to register, please visit www.chapel.org/register.
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by Dave Griffin :
student ministries
Salt and Light I love my job! Sometimes I think that it is not fair that I like going to work so much. I have been asked a lot why I do what I do. The best way to explain it is to tell you a bit of a story. Some of our young people were invited to help serve in a different church — a small church but with a very vibrant and strong youth ministry. Our own students were inspired by the dedication and passion that their newfound friends had for Jesus. For days they served side by side in a poor community and I began to see the passion and excitement for Jesus being transferred from the small church’s students to ours. To me, I was witnessing a miracle. If you think about the society that we live in, our students are taught to take care of themselves, worry about their success, to do what’s best for them. They are taught to be self-centered. And through the influence of the small church, God was showing a new lifestyle to our students — a lifestyle that put God first and loved others even before themselves. It was awesome to see. The church’s young youth pastor — I call him a kid, but he was 21 years old — led by setting a great example. He loved his small group of students in such a sacrificial way that they couldn’t help but to see Jesus in him. Through his amazing guidance, these students were on fire for loving God and serving others. And now that fire was spreading to our students. I have to admit, I was almost feeling inadequate or less passionate. I began to compare myself to this vibrant young leader. I can even remember saying, “I want to be used like he is being used.” One afternoon, this young leader asked if he could have a few minutes of my time. As we sat in conversation, he said, “Thank you, because I am here because God used you in my life.” I didn’t know what he was talking about! He continued by explaining that seven years before, in a different country, I had taught a short devotional to a small group of students about being the salt of the Earth. He said I had given each of them a chunk of sea salt and told them to suck on it for a while. He said the flavor was so strong in his mouth that it made his eyes water,
and that was when the verse about being the salt and light to the world became real to him. So that’s why I do what I do. I am humbled to remember that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things in the lives of others. So if my silly words or a dumb piece of salt can help somebody to follow God more, then I am doing the right thing. My job also rocks because I work with a team of extraordinary people. If you don’t know them, you should look for them at your Chapel campus! There’s Bekah Layton, who leads one of the most energetic group of junior highers at the Grayslake campus, and Jeff Pittman, better known as JP, who hangs with the high schoolers at The Edge at the Grayslake campus. The Libertyville campus youth have the great Dan Baker as their fearless leader. Mark Robinson stands out with his passion as he leads the Barrington young people closer to Jesus. A Brazilian named Flavio Santos has taken over The Zone and The Edge at the Mundelein
“I remember that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things in the lives of others. So if my silly words can help somebody to follow God more, then I am doing the right thing.” campus. Our newest staff member is Dave Mudd; he will join me in leading Student Ministries to wherever God calls us. One last person who is not seen as much as the others but plays a vital role is Renee Christian. Pray for her. She has a tough job — keeping us all organized. To me, these people are heroes. They are willing to do whatever it takes to guide The Chapel’s youth into a relationship with Jesus Christ, one that transforms them and rocks the world! Dave Griffin 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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MAKE A DIFFERENCE :
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180:
On Mission by Julie Dahlberg
T
he word “missions” usually elicits a strong reaction, kind of like the word “evangelism.” If we have a heart for missions, we can’t get enough stories of trips people have taken and we look for opportunities to go into the world ourselves. But if we don’t have that disposition, the very word “missions” can make us nervous, hoping God doesn’t use a trip to a strange country — eating strange food and smelling weird smells — to push us out of our comfort zone. Why go on a mission trip? >> Summer 2009 |
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Why did Jesus, in the Great Commission, instruct us to go into the world and share the Gospel? Does he need us? Is God unable to grow his Kingdom without us being the foot soldiers? After all, we can’t, in one week, solve the problems in a small, povertystricken village. Mark and Maggie Mohr of the Grayslake campus led a team of 18 people on a mission trip to Kenya in February. Maggie explained that “more happens in us, in our hearts, than we can ever possibly do for anyone there.” God is in the heart-changing business. He draws us closer to him and shows us what he has done and who he is. We can’t help but long to be closer to him, to know him even more. The group is known as Team 180, named for the change in perspective the team believed God would bring about in their hearts. God used this trip to change hearts exponentially. Each member of the team felt God at work in their hearts, and that change impacted people in Kenya and continues to impact hearts here at home. Team 180 started meeting monthly in August to plan the specifics of their trip. Some team members wanted to help in a school, others wanted to lead a marriage or business conference, while others wanted to hold abandoned babies in need of love. They were able to work out a trip where everyone’s desires were met. For some portions of their time in Nairobi, the group split up to be able to address more needs. While part of the group led the marriage conference, the rest of the team helped out at a high school and shared with the students about our culture while learning about theirs. Part of the team led a business conference with business men and women in Nairobi, sharing about the “Kingdom Business”
TOP: Rick Egbert, The Chapel’s executive pastor of campuses, sings with children in the Kindergarten class in Kibera, Kenya. ABOVE: Joanie Woodall and Debbie Ruzga work with missionary partners to clean up a local soccer field.
TEAM 180: (front row, left to right) Joanie Woodall, Esther Hall, Mark Mohr; (second row) Teri Mattioni, Hailey Whitney, Grant Wachendorf, Mary Mohr, Debbie Ruzga, Madeline Mohr, David Rigby, Sarah Egbert, and Maggie Mohr; (back row) Kate Hatzopolous, Angie Wachendorf, team driver Richard, Michael Matteoni, Tom VanderMeer, Rick Egbert, and Hannah Broadus.
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“The trip wasn’t Never Too Young to Make a Difference about the what, it was about the who. T It was relational.” concept — how to make God the center of your business — and equipping people with the idea of evangelizing through business. Those business people continue to meet with each other in Nairobi, praying and studying the Bible together. The concepts Team 180 shared have transformed their way of conducting business. One of the keys to the success of the trip was the team’s nightly gathering to debrief and hear what others had experienced each day, processing all they’d seen, heard, smelled, and tasted. Team member Rick Egbert explained, “It was great to hear what others were picking up on that I may have missed.” Team 180 gathered a month after their return to talk through and identify the ways God had changed their hearts. High school student Mary Mohr said, “I have an appreciation and understanding of what we have. We have so much.” We know that as Christfollowers, God will change us and help us to be more like him. But there is a human tendency to try to plan it all out and then ask him to magically bless what we do. Where Mary once worried about the future, she explains that now she is “praying more and planning less. I’m living in the now. I’m letting God show me.” Other team members shared about how genuine the people in Kenya were. Rick shared, “The trip wasn’t about the what, it was about the who. It was relational.” Team 180 saw how much the people in Africa were eager and open, not distracted by all the things we let get in the way of loving one another. Angie Wachendorf shared that the relationships that were forged with other team members and with people to whom they ministered were awesome: “I have a completely new perspective,” she said. Team 180’s trip transformed their view of the lives they’re living. They stepped in a different direction and now wait to see what God has in store for the future. Not everyone felt changed immediately upon returning home, but there are daily reminders of all they saw and did and all the people they met. Tom feels he’s “still living it, partially,” as he sees here at home all he had previously taken for granted. Tom’s heart is changing gradually, day in and day out. What is God up to when he pulls us into unexpected areas to serve? We aren’t called to go into the world because God needs us, but because we need him. We need him to show us things from a new perspective. God has many tools that he can use to draw us to him, and missions is just one of them. As Maggie said, “You can’t plan the things God has in store for you. This trip was a little chapter in a big plan, and we’re watching God unfold it all.” 16:9
hink you’re too old or your kids are too young to travel across the world for missions? Then take a look at Madeline Mohr’s story. Not only did she go to Kenya on a mission trip with her parents; when she learned about children in need of help, she also found a way to do something about it while she was still here at home. “Invisible Children was started by three college boys who heard about the child soldiers in Uganda and wanted to know more. Once they were [in Uganda], they learned tons about the child soldiers and the 23-year war happening between the LRA (Lord’s Resistance Army) and the government. A few representatives came from Invisible Children to show us the I.C. movie. It was so inspirational for our school and when they came back a second time to show us another movie called GO, I wanted to get involved. I had been to Kenya once before and was going back in February, so I thought it would be cool to contribute my past experiences. Me and my friend Rachel Meyer decided to start an Invisible Children group at our school and raise money for schools in Uganda. During the course of about a month we raised $3,000 for Invisible Children. It was really cool to get our school involved. It is super important for kids to get involved with things going on [in the world]. Many kids in America are just centered around school and other things. Invisible Children was a way to get kids thankful for what we have and for our education. A lot of times, we take advantage of the fact that we can go to school every day. Kids are constantly complaining, especially in high school. In different countries kids are super excited to go to school. It is the only way to get them out of a bad life. That is what meant a lot to me. We have the resources to do it, so why not help? That is kind of my attitude toward helping others around the world. In America, we may be in an economic decline, but we still have so much more than those who are living in Uganda or Kenya or any third world country. That is why kids should get involved. Why not? God put us here to serve the poor and those who are in need.” For more information about Invisible Children, please visit www.invisiblechildren.com.
Madeline traveled with her parents and Team 180 to Kenya in February.
Julie Dahlberg is a full-time mom and lives in Grayslake with her husband and three children. She attends the Libertyville campus.
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Student Ministries: Taking the Acts 1:8 Challenge
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you … Students from The Zone and The Edge, the junior high and high school ministries of The Chapel, are taking Jesus’ command from Acts 1:8 and putting it into action! This summer, students will serve here in Lake County, outside the state, and in another country. Don’t just read through this information once; tear out the page and place it somewhere where you’ll remember to pray for Chapel students as they go into our community and into the world to share the love of Jesus Christ.
… and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem … Around 75 students in grades 8 to 12 will stay at Camp Hickory in Ingleside, Ill., and participate in Revolution ’09, an effort by churches in Lake County to reach out to the community through acts of service done in the name of Christ. Every morning, students will get on buses and travel to local sites to complete community improvement projects; at night, they will enjoy a time of worship and teaching from youth pastors. Date: June 10-14 Pray: Students will be completing physically draining tasks in the heat of summer — pray for strength and stamina. As students have the opportunity to interact with community members, pray that God would give them boldness and the words to speak in kindness and love.
… and in all Judea and Samaria … Students will travel to Indianapolis, Ind., to work with Group Workcamps Foundation and complete community improvement projects such as helping senior citizens and low-income housing residents, painting, and cleaning yards. These 60 Chapel students in grades 8 to 12 will be part of a larger effort by the foundation to flood the city of Indianapolis with the love of Christ by rotating church youth groups throughout the summer. Date: July 3-11 Pray: The tasks students will be completing may seem small or unimportant to young people who want to make a difference — pray that God would remind them that he will use their efforts for his glory and that he would give them a bigger picture of how he is at work across the city of Indianapolis. Pray for safe travel for the students and the leaders that will go with them.
… and to the ends of the earth.” In July, 25 students from The Edge will travel to Trinidad, the southernmost island in the Caribbean. For the first couple of days, students will receive training in how to be culturally sensitive and share their faith in appropriate ways. Then, they will work with a local church to complete community projects and interact with and encourage young people in the church. At night, students will engage youth in the community and try to build relationships that lead to a conversation about the Gospel. Date: July 2-12 Pray: For many students, this trip will be a major step away from their comfort zone — pray for students to have an openness to new sights, tastes, and experiences. Pray that God would give them his eyes to see opportunities to share the Gospel and his heart to approach nationals with humility and an attitude of servant hood.
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Don’t miss all the fun events planned just for you in Student Ministries this summer!!!
The Edge OUTBACK
Wednesdays, June 10 – July 29 7 – 8:30 p.m.
8th Grade Great America Trip Thursday, June 18
The Edge Camping Weekend August 7–9
For more information or if you have questions, contact Renee at
847.201.2763 or rchristian@chapel.org.
The Zone Camping Weekend August 14–16
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a church you can believe in
: by Jamie Wamsley
Taste of Joy One of the things that gets me excited about our church these days is the increasing clarity we have around who God has called us to be and what God has called us to do. We’ve been able to distill these big concepts into very small, very manageable thoughts. One of those big concepts — our core values as a church — we refer to as the “Four Things We Are.” The “Four Things We Are” represent those qualities that we believe God is calling us to most emphasize as a church. If you are not familiar with them, they are the call to be authentic, compassionate, joyful, and inspiring. These values should form the essence of our personality, of how our church should feel to the people who encounter us. That’s important because these qualities genuinely reflect the character of God and have the potential to overturn many of society’s negative and errant perceptions of the Church. Within that group, there is one value that I am particularly excited about: joy. In the book of Galatians, joy is listed as a natural by-product of the presence of the Holy Spirit within us. Joy is a beautiful thing — people are drawn to it, they almost always want more of it, and when they have it, little else seems to matter. When I imagine a truly joy-filled church, I see a place where people not only know and love one another, but they are also excited to be with one another. One glance around the lobby reveals a sea of smiles and hugs and laughter. There is a genuine, deep-seated happiness that abounds and fills the atmosphere. I see a place where people long to be because it feels so good to simply be there.
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Why is this important? Does it really matter if our church “feels” happy and excited? Shouldn’t there be an element of sobriety to worship? Those are important questions, and while I never want our church to be silly in a way that minimizes the spiritual significance of what is happening here, the truth is that our joy reveals an often forgotten spiritual treasure, one found in Psalm 34:8: “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (ESV) The Bible tells us not only that God is good, but also that we can experience his goodness. It says happy are those that live in his presence and experience his goodness as a normal part of their lives. We are joyful because we have tasted God’s goodness — and it has transformed us. In the same way, may the world around us see our joy, be drawn to God because of it, and rediscover him in a way that changes their lives forever.
Jamie Wamsley is the associate pastor at The Chapel. You can reach him at jwamsley@chapel.org or follow him on Twitter at @jamiewamsley.
: chapel stories
Keep on Truckin’ by Virginia Lange We are not on the road to nowhere, and we do not travel alone. Jeff Thornburgh of the Grayslake campus knows a thing or two about traveling, and he’s in a place he never expected to find himself. A few years ago, this ordinary guy came to The Chapel. He was in awe of a place where he was welcomed with open arms and treated and respected like a person who was loved by God. Jeff was growing in his relationship with Jesus when — whap! — the tech company he was working for went belly up and he was out of a job. Jeff was eventually offered a position as a long-haul truck driver and instructor. It meant he would be away from his wife and three children for two to three weeks at a stretch, then be at home for four days. The family discussed it and decided he should take the plunge. He has been driving for a while now, and the whole road experience has dramatically changed his life. Jeff put two magnets on his tractor — one that reads “The Chapel” on the passenger’s side and “God Is Real” on the driver’s side. And magnets they are! Truckers across the country ask what the signs mean and wonder if he is a chaplain. Guys talk to him for hours, discussing their problems and asking about God. Jeff tells them about Jesus and the plan of salvation. He has a guitar that he hadn’t played in years and he brought it out of retirement. At an Arizona truck stop, he was playing and singing “Life Be Like A Love Song” when a fellow trucker, drawn by the music, ambled over and began talking about his life. Jeff told him about real life. When he has a weekend on the road, Jeff likes to go to one of the U.S. Trucker’s Chapels scattered across the country. He hands out music and plays his guitar. The guys love to see him there, and he is warmly welcomed as they join in worshipping our Lord. Before Jeff was a driver, he had little time for Bible study. When he worked at his former job, “stuff would always come up.” Now he gets up an hour early and begins each day in the Scriptures. Once, while Jeff was waiting for a load in a distant city, a trucker began talking to him about the problems in his life. A friendly relationship developed, and they now have contact every month or so. This man is rebuilding his life, and his wife now attends church. Jeff never imagined he’d be spreading God’s message along the American highways, but God sent him to do some radical travelin’. He says his desire is to be a candle in the darkness. Burn on, brother! No matter who we are or where we have been, God positions us for his purpose. Walk in faith, knowing you have a “green” Savior — he will recycle, repurpose, and reuse you as he wills. Hallelujah!
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chapel stories
: continued
People to People by Allison Cox
W
hen a closet at the Mundelein campus started overflowing with donations of clothes from the church family, campus pastor Rick Smith decided they needed to set up shop to properly collect and distribute the donations. The campus had built up the collection of gently worn or new clothing as part of People to People, a ministry that meets the physical needs of the Mundelein community. Volunteers work with local agencies like the fire and police departments and schools to learn about families or individuals in the community who have a need. When the church would hear of a family that needed clothes, they responded generously, hence the overflowing closet. Mundelein staff and volunteers started looking for a building that could serve as a distribution center for the People to People ministry. They found several possibilities, but each building would have cost at least $1,000 every month. As soon as the volunteers and church staff decided to leave the search in God’s hand and trust him to provide, a man who they had called at the beginning of the search called them back. His building is situated in the back end of a parking lot on Route 176, behind a
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restaurant that has closed — leaving a lot of space and an ideal location for a distribution center. When the conversation turned to rent, the owner told the People to People volunteers and Mundelein campus staff that he had heard about the ministry and what they were trying to accomplish, and he wanted to help out by providing the building rent-free. God provided 1,000 square feet of ministry space at no cost so that People to People could better serve the people of Mundelein. On May 16, the distribution center opened its doors for the first time and invited community members who were in need to shop for free clothing that had been collected as part of a clothing drive at the Mundelein campus. More than 250 people visited the center and benefited from the ministry that day. Beginning in June, the distribution center will be open every week on Sunday mornings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Wednesday mornings from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Donations of food and gently worn or new clothing will be received during these hours and community members can shop for free clothing and food. Though the goal of People to People is to meet the physical needs of the community, volunteers want to engage with the community members for a deeper purpose. “It is really all about relationship,” said Smith. “We want them to wonder, ‘Who are these people?’ and, in the midst of conversation, open up and share more of their lives. We don’t just want to give; our heart is to form a relationship that leads them into a relationship with God. “We want people to know they can come to the church when they have a need — not just spiritual but physical. I believe meeting people where they are, showing that we care about the details of their lives, and then meeting their physical and spiritual needs will make The Chapel relevant in Mundelein.” The People to People ministry has also offered tutoring and home repair services, and will look for ways to expand their outreach to the community as the ministry grows. There is also an effort to establish more ministry arms of People to People at other Chapel campuses so that we can reach out to more communities. If you are interested in serving with People to People in Mundelein, please contact Ron Kempka at ronkempka@yahoo.com.
Do Big Things for God
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n April, students from The Edge, The Chapel’s high school ministry, organized a food drive to collect food items for the P.L.A.N. Food Pantry in Round Lake Beach. First, students stapled flyers to bags and distributed them to homes in 11 local neighborhoods. A group of 22 students and volunteers drove back to the homes to collect the bags full of food. In total, 585 bags of food were collected and given to the food pantry. “Watching students see a need and organize to fill that need was a huge blessing to me,” said Michael Pimpo, director of P.L.A.N. “Chapel students partnered with their friends from school. Some of these friends are Christians but a good portion of them don’t know Christ. The entire project was a great way for students to show the love of Christ to the community, the pantry, and to their friends. My prayer is that this project can spur more students into doing big things for God.”
“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.” (James 5:14 NIV)
Let us pray for you! ELDER PRAYER NIGHT Sunday, July 26 6:30 p.m. Grayslake Campus, TGA Theater Summer 2009 |
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compassion
: by Tony Jao
Now Is the Time for Compassion Living in the Midwest, we have the joy of experiencing four very distinct seasons throughout the year. For many, summer usually brings about thoughts of the sun, the beach, sunscreen, sunburn, vacations, camping, barbeques, mosquitoes, water parks, registering for school, buying school supplies, along with many other things. Sometimes we can look at the summer season with two very different perspectives. The first may be of one of eagerness and anticipation — some may be excited to have more things to do and more people with whom to meet to fill up our summer. Yet, the second may be a perspective from someone who is going through a season that involves stress, anxiety, and, at times, sadness. The Compassion ministry of The Chapel exists to comfort and care for others with the healing power, truth, and love of Jesus. We would like to invite you to participate in one of the following opportunities that will help you get through the summer and experience the love of Christ and the support of your church family, whether it is on the giving or receiving end.
Crisis Care: If you’re going through a hard time right now and you need help figuring out what to do to get to the next step, please call 847.201.2777 and ask for Crisis Care.
Divorce Care: The pain of divorce can be overwhelming and lonely. If you are in need of support during this extremely difficult and stressful time, then Divorce Care is here for you. Our summer session will include four weeks of intensive networking and support for those who have been touched by this difficult life change. Join us for this enlightening and educational series that will leave you feeling more knowledgeable, hopeful, and encouraged. Registration is $10 per person; scholarships are available. This group meets on Mondays beginning July 13 at the Libertyville campus. To register, please call 847.201.2777.
People to People: If you would like to participate in meeting the physical and spiritual needs of our community through the building of
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relationships, then we invite you to be a part of our People to People ministry. We’re currently in the building phase of this ministry. If you have specialized skills such as in the areas of household/appliance repair, electrical work, roofing, plumbing, or auto repair and are interested in tangibly helping someone while sharing God’s love, please contact Ron Kempka at ronkempka@yahoo.com.
School Backpack Drive: In July, keep an eye out at your campus for information regarding an opportunity to fill empty backpacks with school supplies for the children of families in our community who are struggling financially. Some of the ways that you can get involved are: purchase the school supplies on a predetermined list, be part of the team that collects the backpacks at your campus during a given weekend, or be a part of the delivery team.
School Workday: Be sure to watch your campus lobby for information about helping out a school in our community in their preparation for the upcoming school year. Some of the tasks may include grounds work, painting walls, fixing desks or chairs, or washing windows — just to name a few. IF YOU READ James 2:14-17, you will find that the person that holds each of the perspectives mentioned earlier is addressed. While we are all called to exercise our faith through action, there may be some of us that are in need of help. There’s no better time than now to get involved with the Compassion ministry at The Chapel!
Tony Jao is director of the Compassion ministry at The Chapel. You can reach him at tjao@chapel.org or follow him on Twitter at @tonyjao.
: back porch news
Congratulations GRAYSLAKE CAMPUS 1. Hawk Lauritz Jensen Born February 26, 7.7 lbs and 20 in. Parents: John and Jennifer Jensen
2. Parker Ryan Mitchell Born April 26 Parents: Brad and Mindy Mitchell
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3. Matthew Robert Nieman Born March 21, 9.13 lbs and 20.5 in. Parents: Rob and Sarah Nieman
4. Aidan Michael Schmidt Born March 28 Parents: Kirk and Iris Schmidt
2 5. Aaron George Schopper Born March 28, 6.1 lbs and 19.25 in. Parents: Chelsea and George Schopper
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back porch news
: continued
GRAYSLAKE CAMPUS (continued)
6. Colton Davis Skinner Born and joined his family April 2 Parents: Gary and Kim Skinner
LIBERTYVILLE CAMPUS 7. Kaia Deann Foelkner Born April 30, 6 lbs, 11 oz and 19 in. Parents: Rachel and Mike Foelker
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8. Jessica Grace Hedger Born March 22, 7.1 lbs and 19.25 in. Parents: Dan and Carol Hedger
MUNDELEIN CAMPUS 9. Luke Michael and Ryan Matthew Bellito Born February 24, 4 lbs, 7 oz and 17 inches each Parents: Matt and Becki Bellito
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Baptism
Child Dedication
BARRINGTON CAMPUS
BARRINGTON CAMPUS
Andy Coffern
James Coleman Makayla Richards
MUNDELEIN CAMPUS Krista Sperling Martha Montoya
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Faithful Service Grant Brown recently returned from Iraq, where he served with the U.S. Navy, providing medical support for Marine convoys that transported supplies. He returned to his base in Camp LeJeune, N.C., where he has served for the past three years. We are so thankful for Grant’s service and ask that you pray for him and his wife, Tammy (Libertyville campus), who have been apart since Grant was transferred to North Carolina. Pray that his new orders in December will bring him back home to Illinois. Correction: In the March issue of sixteen:nine, we said that Jim Lambert was at home with his family after serving with the U.S. Army at a base in Georgia. In fact, the family has been separated for the past year and a half while Jim was stationed in Georgia and the family does not know when they will be reunited, as Jim left Georgia in March for an overseas deployment. We apologize for our mistake and ask you to continue to pray that God would strengthen the Lambert family — Jim, Denise, and their daughters, Jessica and Jamie — even while they are apart. Please also pray for Jim and the troops that he is leading overseas.
New Staff Steven Welch, Worship Director
Danina Welch, Human Resources Administrator
Steven and Danina, along with their son Van (9 mo.), have joined us all the way from Down Under! Although Steven was born and raised in the U.S., he and Danina moved to her native country of Australia in 2005. He has 10 years of experience in full-time ministry as a youth and worship pastor at various churches, and Danina has experience working as a director of human resources for a construction company.
Great Job
Howard Coats, Area Leader, Grayslake Campus Howard joined the Chapel staff part time in March as an area community leader. When he is not running his own business, Howard will help Grayslake attenders find a small group that is a great fit. Howard, his wife Lisa, and their son Joseph (12) attend the Grayslake campus.
ZONE SERVICE PROJECTS
Since January, each of our Zone small groups has been working independently to make a significant impact outside their group. This came out of a teaching from Revelation, where students were challenged to become useful to God. Praise God for the amazing work he is doing in our Zoners!
required students to ask for donations to purchase an iPod Touch, which was completed in half the time projected. Then students sold raffle tickets in order to win the iPod. Nearly $300 was raised and the iPod went to a well deserving recipient, who is not a believer or churchgoer.
One 6th grade boys group had a twophase project that raised money for the Northern Illinois Food Bank. Phase 1
A 6th grade group of girls decided to adopt a child through Compassion International. Each month students bring in a
few dollars to cover the monthly costs of adoption. They also take turns writing letters to the girl that they adopted. Another group of girls raised almost $200 and decided to purchase items from Samaritan’s Purse Ministry. They purchased one milk-producing animal, two broods of chickens, and a box of Bibles that will be delivered to people in need around the world as the ministry sees fit.
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Just what is this church all about? Find out more about The Chapel and how you can take your next step here! Come to Meet The Chapel and meet our pastors and staff. Lunch and childcare are provided.
Meet The Chapel
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Barrington Campus
Libertyville Campus
Contact Steve Pugh at spugh@chapel.org.
May 3, June 7, Aug. 2, Sept. 13 12:15 p.m.
Grayslake Campus
Mundelein Campus
May 3, June 7, Aug. 2, Sept. 13 12:15 p.m.
May 17, June 14, Sept. 13 12:15 p.m.
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