A LETTER FROM OUR PASTORAL STAFF
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Hello Church Family!
I wanted to share with you some ways the Lord has been working in the hearts of high school students at our church.
Two weekends ago we loaded up 170 students and leaders and headed up to winter camp. Our theme for the weekend was "With Everything." The question we posed all weekend long was: How do you glorify God with everything, all that you have, and all of who you are?
The students in our high school ministry are a group of talented, kind, intentional, energetic, hilarious, diverse, respectful and fun students. All the while, they are also going through some really hard challenges and asking good questions along the way. Our prayer for the weekend was that students would have fun in community together, that the Holy Spirit would convict students in areas of their lives where they are not glorifying God, and ultimately that students would experience God's grace and freedom. God truly answered prayers even greater than we could have imagined.
For some students, it was repentance stories. God showed them areas of their lives it was time to surrender, and they were able to confess to their core groups and be surrounded in support. For other students, it was finding freedom in who God created them to be, and discovering ways to glorify Him with their unique gifts and personalities. For some, it was just the beginning of a longer process considering what God might be asking them to give up in order to fully surrender their lives to Him.
No matter what the story, God was glorified in His work in students' lives. I would ask that you would continue to pray for these students to know God's grace and freedom. I hope that you are encouraged hearing how God is moving in students' hearts at our church, and I leave you with the same challenge.
How do you glorify God with everything? All of your possessions, all that you are, all that he made you be? Does anything need to change? Are there any areas of your life God is prompting you to surrender? Join us on our journey as we are asking the same question.
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In Him,
Stephanie Tanquary
High School Associate Director
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Library Book Sale
Sunday, February 3, in the Library adjacent to The Well
(Weekdays 7:30am-6:00pm, Sunday 7:30am-1:00pm)
The Library is hosting a Used Book Sale inside the library in the Commons building. You will find new materials on a wide variety of topics at reasonable prices. You are welcome to take as many books, audiobooks, CDs, and DVDs as you like, in exchange for a donation of any size. The proceeds help the Library purchase new materials.
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Family Business Meeting
Sunday, February 17, 3:00pm in the Chapel
Join us at our quarterly Family Business Meeting as our leaders discuss the latest ministry news and information. You will also have an opportunity to meet our new elder nominees. We look forward to seeing you there!
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Prayer Somewhere
Wednesday, February 6, 7:30am in the Commons
Join us as we start again in prayer weekly for "Prayer Somewhere" – a weekly gathering in an ever-changing location. To find out more about each week's location, please sign up for the "prayer" Push Notifications in the Set-Up section of our app.
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Discipleship Training
Starting Wednesday, February 6, 7:00-8:30pm in NC180
The spring offering to help you on your discipleship journey will be a six-week series on the Enneagram and Spiritual Gifts. This series will help you better understand your personality strengths and shadows as well as your spiritual gifts. This information will position you to be used in the most effective way possible in serving the body of Christ. If you are interested in attending, please register here.
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Love for Life – Marriage Prep
Starting February 10, 2:00-4:00pm in NC180
A nine-week series for either seriously dating or engaged couples. The class includes Marriage Coaches assigned to each couple, and a 15-page personalized relationship report about YOUR specific relationship, showing areas of strength and areas needing growth. Open to the public, we meet on Sunday afternoons starting Feb.10. Visit here for more info and to register.
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Sunday Night "Service"
February 10, 5:00pm in the Commons
This month's Sunday Night "Service" is going to be a little different – instead of just one night of service we’re extending it to TWO! This may come as a surprise to many, but one of the most underserved populations in any community are Seniors. So this month we are going to exercise our creative muscles and craft Valentine cards & blankets for two of the local senior living facilities. This simple act gives us the opportunity to show some of the seniors in our neighborhoods that they are seen and madly loved by Jesus. The Craft night will take place on Sunday, February 10 with dinner provided. Then on the following day, we’ll send out two teams to deliver the gifts! This is a great opportunity to serve with your family or even to invite a neighbor. For more info or questions email Mitch.
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Baptism at EvFree
Baptisms will take place on Sunday, February 10 in all three services. If you are interested in being baptized, please register here. You may also visit our website here to learn more about baptism or email Heather Freeman with any questions.
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LGBTQ+ Forum
February 11 (6:30-9:30pm) and February 12 (8:00am-4:00pm) in the Chapel
As you know, questions surrounding same-sex marriage and how the church responds and cares for LGBTQ+ people and their families are significant matters in our ministry today. In an effort to help navigate these questions more effectively, we have invited Dr. Preston Sprinkle with The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender to conduct an Introduction to the LGBT Conversation on February 11, and a one-day Leaders Forum the following day. The Introduction is for anyone who wants to be better equipped to enter into the conversation, and the Leaders forum is for pastors, pastoral staff, lay leaders and volunteers to be better equipped. The cost for the intro is only $25 and $50-95 for the one-day training. Please register here.
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ThinkWell
February 17, 6:00pm in the Chapel
Recently we had an amazing start to our ThinkWell Series. In case you missed it, we have the audio available HERE! Be sure to mark your calendar to join us for our next ThinkWell on February 17 at 6:00pm in the Chapel.
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Coed Volleyball League
February 21, Registration at 6:00pm with Evaluation at 6:30pm in the Gym
Calling all volleyball players! Come check out our brand new Coed Volleyball League on Thursday nights from 6:00-10:00pm. We are kicking off the winter season starting February 28 and ending with playoffs on May 9. There is a fee of $55. Register here or email Heather Freeman for more information.
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Legacy Coalition Grandparenting Summit
February 21-23, EvFree Worship Center
Don't miss out on this extraordinary opportunity to attend the Legacy Grandparenting Summit here at EvFree in a few weeks! The cost for the EvFree family/attendees for the 3-day conference is $164 until Feb. 10, when the prices go up. Go online to Legacy Coalition and enter the code "EvFreeMem" to register or you can sign up on the plaza the next two Sundays. Schedule/speakers/breakouts are listed on the website.
Here's one more option for those of you not able to attend the entire Summit: We've just added a 24-hour rate for $75 which can be divided between two days of a 24-hour period (Thurs. afternoon-Friday afternoon, etc.). Go online and enter the Code: " 1day19."
Lastly – if you are a grandparent and have custody and are parenting your grandchildren, please come as our guest at no-cost! You already have lots on your plate and heart! Contact Pastor John Coulombe to sign up and attend.
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AMP Conference
March 8-9, at EvFree
AMP is a two-day conference that aims to amplify the voices of Christians in sharing their faith to the world. The conference features multiple speakers, all leaders in Christian apologetics, in hopes to cultivate sound reason and awareness in key issues in today’s outreach efforts. AMP’s mission, “Equip to Evangelize,” is designed to prepare Christians to use apologetic tools to become confident witnesses to a skeptical world.
For program information and to register, visit here. Use code PARTNER to get 20% off “Both Day” tickets.
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Men's Retreat
April 26-28, Catalina Island
Join us for the Men's Retreat which will be held at Campus By the Sea on Catalina Island. We have invited Kirk Winslow, lead pastor of Canvas Church and the host of the podcast Jesus@2am to be our main session speaker.
Retreat costs are $249 per person. The cost for students is $199. (Costs rise to $269 and $219 respectively on March 17). The price includes private chartered ferry boat transportation which departs from San Pedro Harbor on Friday, April 26 at 3:30pm. Our group will return to San Pedro on Sunday at 12:30pm. Scholarships are available as needed. Visit here for more information.
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We're Hiring!
Preschool Lead Infant Teacher. For a detailed description of this current opening or to apply, please click here.
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Good Samaritan Center
Since it never rains in California, we were surprised to see more than the usual number of clients come to Good Samaritan Center during the second week in a row of steady rain. One rainy day a young woman rode up on her bicycle, soaked to the bone. She couldn't take much food since she had just a small basket on the front of the bike, but she did appreciate the umbrella and a blanket in a waterproof plastic bag that was offered to her.
She didn't know our clothes closet existed, so she was stunned when we asked her if she needed clothing or a warm coat. She didn't take long to select and bundle up in dry clothes and a waterproof coat. When she rode off, it was still raining, but gave us a priceless smile as she waved goodbye and thanked us. She was still homeless, but at least she was warm and dry.
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OC United
Want to make a difference in your city? OC United was founded on the core beliefs that ANYONE could make a difference. We believe that communities are made better when we're united on the front lines with compassion to empower the vulnerable. Join OC United, be a part of the movement!
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Budget–Year to Date
Budget: $5,430,000
Received: $4,839,487
Surplus (or deficit): ($590,513)
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Actual–Year to Date
Actual Income: $4,839,487
Actual Expenses: $4,333,337
Positive Cash Flow: $506,150
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Foster Care: The statistics regarding Foster Care and the traumatic impact therein are staggering. At the close of 2016, there were over 3,000 children registered in the Foster Care system in Orange County alone. These children have experienced circumstances far beyond what they should have at their age.
Over the last 18 years, our church has decided we will not stand still – but we will join together and we will choose to love the fatherless in the name of our Father.
In the summer of 2001, we launched our first Royal Family Kids Camp. For one entire week, our campers, ages 6-12, received dedicated attention and encouragement from counselors who loved them just as they are. In 2007, we felt the call to host our first Teen Leadership Camp for teens ages 13-18 affected by the Foster Care system.
This ministry that turns the fatherless into family, that has been building heavenly families for over a decade, is only possible due to the generous giving of this EvFree Church family. Our giving allows kids to experience the joy and belonging that comes with camp, which otherwise they could not financially afford, and gives them a glimpse into the family of God.
Numbers are based on an annual budget of $7 million dollars.
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