STEWARDSHIP PROJECT #1

Aaron Anderson 5/23/06

What I did with the money:

Two summers ago, my family took a trip to Yokosuka, Japan to take a month-long shift running a hospitality house for Cadence International. Ever since that trip, I have had a heart for the American military and a love for Cadence’s ministry. While this was my first experience with Cadence, my mother was connected to the ministry when she visited a hospitality house in Germany on a trip she took several years ago. The family running the house in Germany now supports, administrates, and runs a house in Tacoma, WA. I had a chance to visit them (Ron and Susan Hand) while I’ve lived here and was just as touched by their ministry my second encounter with the ministry as my first. Therefore, not only because of my love for what’s happening up there but also because of our church’s involvement with this particular home, I decided to give my money to Ron and Susan to use for the Lord as they see fit in their ministry.

What I hope to accomplish for the master with the money:

Cadence International targets people my age who have enlisted in military service and have been poster both here in the US as well as overseas. Because of the depraved nature of military life and because of the hardships that come with military enlistment, the gospel as well as ministry training are well received by the servicemen. Ron and Susan are currently trying to raise up their home so that it will be fully functioning in the next few years. They are currently running at about 30% capacity (an estimation by Ron Hand) and I would have this money go toward bringing them to full working capacity. I have seen a Cadence ministry in full functioning order and were saw 50-60 men and women for bible study and fellowship twice a week and saw 4 men give their lives to the Lord and follow Him in obedience through baptism (my father was able to baptize the men he led to the Lord). This is what I would love to see for the servicemen in Tacoma as well.

How this project has helped/challenged/encouraged me:

The most helpful thing of this entire project was something Pastor Scott said right before he gave us the money. He said: “This $50 is no different than any other $50.” It is not very often we have to actually give account for money we spent and this helped me see that, just as I am the church’s steward of this money, so am I God’s steward of all the money that comes into my life. I feel very strongly that our culture has a wrong view of how money works and that, as a consequence, the heart of our nation is in the wrong place. I was greatly encouraged to see this project that forces people to recognize where their heart is based off of where this money goes. I’m sure all of the money went to good places but I know I have a greater sense of just how much Cadence International means to me because of where I sent my money. I also feel more equipped to teach others to change their hearts by changing the location of their treasure. This is an experience I, and I think most of our church, will never forget. I will keep this project in mind and may even use this experience for my kids or close friends some day. All in all, this was a very beneficial experience.

NO Treasure Island this Wednesday!

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 2 Timothy 4:7 NIV

We have "finished the race", at least for this season. Our first year of Treasure Island has concluded. Thanks to everyone involved and all the kids who participated every week. Our Fall start up date is set for September 13th. Have a awesome Summer as you TREASURE GOD ABOVE ALL ELSE!

The Multi-Site Revolution

As I mentioned in the previous post, this new book references New Life Church on page 33. They didn't have a picture of this book, but you can see if you follow the link. Maybe later I can scan my advanced copy and picture it for you.


The Multi-Site Revolution

Multisite Church Revolution Blog

Here's a blog to support The Multi-site Revolution book that references our church! Geoff Surrat, Greg Ligon and Warren Bird pulled a ton of information together.

Multisite Church Revolution

Then and Now

The more things stay the same, the more they change. Here are some choir pictures.

Can anyone name people in either choir? Is anyone in one choir related to anyone in the other?

65th Anniversary Quiz, Continued

This may be too much help, but these men joined the previous "Guest Speaker" on the platform at the same event. What was the event? What part of this announcement has the most to do with our 65th Anniversary Celebration?

65th Anniversary Quiz Continued

This man was a guest speaker. What was he guest speaker for? For extra credit, where was he born? The tie-breaker: can you name a book we wrote?

65th Anniversary

On June 11th we will celebrate the 65th anniversary of New Life Church, formerly known as West Linn Baptist Church. Come join the fun and remember the faithfulness of God to people many of us didn't even know. We didn't know their names, but they paved the way for us.

Here's a little quiz. Do you know anyone in this picture? Do you know what they were doing? About what year would this have been?

We're going to CAMP!!!

Calling all KIDS - If you are in 3rd through 6th grades come to camp this Summer! Camp TADMOR that is - July 26th-29th. You can check out Camp TADMOR on the web at: www.tadmor.org, and look for more information in the weeks to come. We will begin registrations at both New Life locations at the Camp TADMOR sign-up table on June 4th. The cost is $165 per camper and space is limited. Talk to your parents and be ready to sign-up for camp! Pastor Tim and Bree will be hosting the group from New Life and will travel and stay with the campers. We hope you can make it to Camp TADMOR this Summer!

New Life for Runners?

The Old River Ramble was a 1k/5k/10k run that rambled its way through the Robinwood neighborhood of West Linn on Sunday. Above you can see that Byron and Darcy Philpot staffed an aid station, giving out water in our cool new life cups. The run was a benefit for Cedar Oak Park Elementary School (less than 1/4 mile from New Life Robinwood). Several other New Life Church volunteers helped make the run a success (Louise Bennett, Maile Ferguson, Ricky Berndez, Chuck and Julie Gatewood, Lenny, Pam, Melissa, and Kristin Gafner).

You may or may not know that Old River Drive (which runs in front of New Life Robinwood) is one of the most well traveled running, walking, biking paths in West Linn. Does anyone see a ministry opportunity here? Please leave a comment on this blog if you have any ideas or would like to be involved a ministry to runners, walkers, or bikers.

Game, Set, MATCH

The GAME was started by Dan & Alice Simmons last month. They are inviting anyone to help the Gandolfos (pictured here) to remodel an unused portion of their home into an apartment. This would provide additional income for the family as they plant a church in Ostia, Italy. You can read their original invitation here.

To that end, the elders SET up a fund to collect money to send to them for this project. We became convinced there were several advantages to collecting it here instead of routing a bunch of independent checks to their mission board. We will collect funds through the summer.

And, an anonymous donor has agreed to MATCH every dollar given through our fund. So, every dollar you give to the "Gandolfo's Remodel" will be find a friend and become two dollars. So don't hesitate.

Sports Camp is Coming!!!!

Mark you calendars for Sports Camp at New Life Church on June 19-23, 2006. Sports Camp '06 is for students in grades 1-6th. Sharpen your sports skills and Bible knowledge as we Treasure God Above All Else.

Brochures and registration forms coming soon!

Support Your Katrina Relief Team '06

If you haven't heard already, a team of 17 (11 high school students and 6 adults) has been assembled to be commissioned by New Life Church with the goal of providing ongoing relief in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Our trip will be from June 24-July 3. We will be returning to the same area as the team that was sent last year, teaming up with Bible Fellowship Church and Delta Ministries to impact the community of Pass Christian, MS for Christ.

We plan to do this through a number of means, including construction, cleanup, children's ministry, etc. The "etc." basically indicating that we know little about what exactly we will be doing at this point. That is why the keyword for our trip is "flexibility." More than anything, we want to be a blessing to the community of Pass Christian and the church by serving in whatever ways are most needed.

A variety of talented and gifted representatives of New Life Church are on the team (top row from left to right - Taylor Reavley, Brian Cochran, Lauren & Chris Curry, Alex Curteman, TJ Elliot, Alex Polley, Larry Littrell, and Matt Vorhees; bottom row from left to right - Mandi Elliot, Hannah & Brianne Cochran, Katie Tefft, Donna Silva, Alicia Vorhees, and Meredith & Nick Curteman). As a small cross-section of the membership here at New Life Church, we recognize that our ultimate effectiveness will not be reached apart from the support of the entire body; therefore, we are asking for your support.

We covet your prayers and ask for help with finances. Like we are learning in our stewardship series, God already owns everything; He owns cattle on a thousand hills; there is no lack of resources when it comes to our God. So please ask that He would provide financially for our trip, but also pray that He works powerfully in us and through us. We won't be changed apart from His Spirit filling our hearts and impacting the hearts of those we're ministering to. Please pray!

And would you be an answer to our prayers regarding this? Should you feel inclined to contribute financially, you can make checks payable to "New Life Church" and indicate that it is for Katrina Relief Team '06. Please do not write an individual's name on the check.


Thanks for your support! We've already experienced it in the kind and encouraging words that have been spoken in passing. We hope to represent New Life Church well and advance the reputation of our God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who is this man and what is he doing?

The 65th anniversary of New Life Church will be June 11th at New Life Church Riverfalls at 7:00 p.m. We will have pictures and music depicting the history of the church. And, rumor has it there may be an old fashioned strawberry social downstairs afterwards.

To get you started thinking about the great things God has done through the years -- Who is this man and what is he doing? I'm sure there will be some kind of prize for the first person who will answer correctly.

Katrina Team 2006

Seventeen people from New Life Church will go to Pass Christian, Mississippi and serve Bible Fellowship Church as they help their community recover from Hurricane Katrina. They will leave on June 24th and return on July 3rd.

Please pray for them as they discover their support and make preparations for their trip.

Here is a link to some pictures from the first team we sent down last December.

The cellular church

Malcolm Gladwell, author Blink and The Tipping Point weights in on interesting issues for the church. See the link below:

gladwell dot com - the cellular church

Approaching 10,000 Visitors

We are approaching 10,000 visitors. Any predictions what day and time we will have our 10,000th visitor? Any suggestions for a prize?

A Prayer for Today: Joy

O Christ,
All thy ways of mercy tend to and end in
my delight.

Thou didst weep, sorrow, suffer that I might rejoice.
For my joy thou hast sent the Comforter,
multiplied thy promises,
shown me my future happiness,
given me a living fountain.

Thou art preparing joy for me and me for joy;
I pray for joy, wait for joy, long for joy;
give me more than I can hold, desire, or think of.
Measure out to me my times and degrees of joy,
at my work, business, duties.

If I weep at night, give me joy in the morning.
Let me rest in the thought of thy love,
pardon for sin, my title to heaven,
my future unspotted state.

I am an unworthy recipient of thy grace.
I often disesteem thy blood and slight thy love,
but can in repentance draw water
from the wells of thy joyous forgiveness.

Let my heart leap towards the eternal sabbath,
where the work of redemption, sanctification,
preservation, glorification is finished
and perfected for ever,
where thou wilt rejoice over me with joy.
There is no joy like the joy of heaven,
for in that state are no sad divisions,
unchristian quarrels,
contentions, evil designs,
weariness, hunger, cold,
sadness, sin, suffering,
persecutions, toils of duty.
O healthful place where none are sick!
O happy land where all are kings!
O holy assembly where all are priests!
How free a state where none are servants
except to thee!
Bring me speedily to the land of joy.

-- Valley of Vision, p. 162

Mother's Day Fun, Facts and Figures

I hope you remember to do something special for your mom. You might take a look at this webpage and dazzle her with some trivia!

Mother's Day Numbers - Fun Facts & Figures

Thank You Note!

Dear Mrs. Larson,

Thank you for suggesting that your church's Treasure Island young poeple choose our yard to work in and beautify! We really apopreciated all the work. To the young people and children -- we loved having you here and watching you. Thank you to the big helpsers (Tim -- the music man), too. I laught with the flowers when I look out.
In Christian Love,
Rita & Elmer

P.S. -- This note is in reference to this earlier post.

Lisa and Louise rock the house!

Lisa Reavely and Louise Holladay brought the house down at New Life Church Riverfalls. I didn't think any pictures existed. . .until today. When Nick & Meredith sent me a couple.

They sang "His Eye is on the Sparrow," and encouraged us that God will provide for all our needs. It doesn't matter if you are young or old!

Heaven's Confidence

Alistar Begg, one of my favorite preachers, was using the following text this morning on the radio. He made a clear and confident assertion based on Abraham's response. He said, "The confidence of heaven rests in the Bible!" Read it for yourself and see if you agree:

"There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day. At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man's table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores. "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.' "He answered, 'Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father's house, for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.' "Abraham replied, 'They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.' "'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.' "He said to him, 'If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.'" -- Luke 16:19-31

Friday May 12th - The Worship Gathering II

...but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." John 4:14

Come worship together using scripture, songs, and prayer as we
earnestly seek Him as David wrote in Psalms 63.

O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;

with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

**************

The Worship Gathering II

Friday at New Life Robinwood

7:00 PM

And I missed it. . .

Yesterday was World Laughter Day. Guess I'll have to wait until next year. Or, here's a funny idea, maybe we should celebrate a day or two late. Hmmm.

One Church Two Locations

Pull out your Summer Schedules. We will be having several events this summer that will encourage us to be one church even though we meet in separate locations.

• June11, 6:00-8:00, 65th Anniversary Celebration at New Life Church Riverfalls.
• July 16, 5:00-8:00, Hang-out at Hammerle Park.
• July 21-23, Serve together at the West Linn Old Time Fair at Willamette Park.
  
• July 23, 10:00, Combined outdoor service at the fair.
• August 6, Combined outdoor service and picnic at Willamette Park.
  
• August 27, Combined outdoor baptism at the Haugen's home.
  

American Baptists Face a Crisis

The American Baptists are first cousins. The Baptists in America split into Northern and Southern over slavery during the time of the Civil War. The Conservative Baptists split from the Northern Baptist Convention in 1943 over doctrinal issues. The Northern Baptist Convention became the American Baptist Denomination in 1950. The are still struggling with some of the fruit of their own doctrinal choices as this link indicates.

American Baptists face split.

Help for Harried Pastors -- Finally!

Those of you in the second service yesterday at New Life Church Riverfalls will be pleased to know that I broke down and bought this book to help me.

Missionary of the Month

Dan and Alice Simmons are our missionaries for May. They will be visiting us May 7th because Dan will be recieved his D.Miss. from Western Seminary last weekend! Be sure and congratulate him when you see him.

The Simmons live and work in Rome and Ostia, Italy.

Primary Ministry Focus
Evangelism and leadership training.

The People The people who live in the fast-paced urban setting of Rome and who hold to a cultural-religious background in which traditions are carefully maintained.

Major Challenges The difficulty of communicating with people who are materialistic, who keep busy schedules, and who try to appear satisfied in their urban, affluent Western culture.

Prayer Focus That the Lord will bring new believers together into small groups related to local churches, that local churches will collaborate to form a united movement, and that Italian church leaders will accept the responsibility of evangelizing their own people.