A LETTER FROM OUR SHEPHERDS
|
|
Hello to my church family!
As I was preparing to write this letter, it dawned on me that the last letter I wrote to you was about a trip to Ukraine. You must think that I really love that place . . . and I do! This past week I had the opportunity to go to the city of L’viv in Ukraine to help some of our church missionaries and good friends of mine, Katie and Lee Humerian. We went into four different public schools with a local church, and we put on an international program called EXIT Tour, which included concerts, lectures and group games. This program created an avenue for the local church to connect with and invite students to come to their youth group.
It was an amazing, jam-packed week full of setting up and tearing down sound equipment, jumping and dancing to music performed by a rapper from London, and taking many selfies with young Ukrainians! But now, as I sit at home on my couch feeling exhausted, jet-lagged and fighting a sore throat, my role is to pray for the connections that were made with the teenagers – that they would be saved.
I must confess how quick I am to forget to pray and how I doubt the power of prayer. But even while being on this trip, I was overwhelmed, humbled and encouraged by my church family praying for me and for the work that I was called to do. Prayer is essential to our Christian walk! Through prayer, we are connected to the work of God and to each other. We are a part of His Kingdom growing, and we are embracing the reality that we are in a relationship with the living God.
We have our Local School Prayer Walks coming up on Saturday, March 16 from 9-10am. I know for a fact that our family is one that prays, and this event is a great way for our church to come together to pray. Please consider joining a host family at any of the schools listed below. Let’s continue to be a part of what God is doing in and around our city! Love you all!
|
|
Kelsey Crowe
Connections Director
|
|
|
Prayer Walk Our Local Schools
Saturday, March 16, 9:00 - 10:00am at various locations
The Connections Ministry will be doing our Prayer Walk again at local schools! What better way to connect as a church family than to pray for the younger generations. We invite you to join us at the school where you attend, where your kids go, where your grandkids go, where your neighborhood feeds into, where you work or any other connection you may have to the list of schools below. Come to any of the schools listed and there will be a family to greet you. Let's lift up our students, their teachers, faculty and staff in prayer and supplication. Meet us at the main front entrance of the school. Homeschools please meet in the High School Foyer on the North Campus of EvFree. We'll be ready with granola bars, prayer suggestions and others to pray with you. See you there!
Elementary schools: Beechwood, Rolling Hills, Acacia, Arovista, Laurel, Fanning. Junior High schools: Brea Junior High, Parks, Beechwood, Tuffree, Granada. High Schools: Fullerton, Brea, Troy, Sonora, El Dorado, La Habra, Sunny Hills.
|
|
Lent Project
In preparation for Easter, we are pleased to partner with Biola University’s Center for Christianity, Culture & the Arts and their annual Lent Project. The CCCA has curated amazing content to walk through the journey of the Lent season in Scripture, song, fine art, poetry, and personal reflection by their faculty and staff. This digital delivery is available via website and also through daily emails. We encourage our church family to follow along in the readings together and also recommend that you surround yourself with a group of people who you will be able to directly interact with along the journey. We praise God in advance for the ways He will work through us as we seek Him together this Easter season.
|
|
Prayer Somewhere
Friday, March 15, 5:30am in The Well
Join us for "Prayer Somewhere" – a weekly prayer gathering in an ever-changing location.
|
|
Men's Steak Fry
Saturday, March 16, 6:00pm in the Commons
Haruki Rocky Seto, or Rocky Seto, is a former American football coach; he last served as the Assistant Head Coach for the NFL's Seattle Seahawks. In 2017, Seto announced that he was leaving the coaching industry to become a pastor and now serves on the staff at Evergreen Baptist Church in the San Gabriel Valley. Join us for a steak dinner, worship lead by Justin Christian and to hear Rocky’s story. Tickets are only $15 and will be sold Sundays on the Plaza or you may purchase tickets here.
|
|
ThinkWell
Sunday, March 17, 6:00pm in the Chapel
ThinkWell is a lecture series to address a variety of current issues and how the timeless fundamentals of the Christian faith impact our approach to those topics. Each month will feature a variety of different communicators, teaching with the goal of helping each of us to be thoughtful and discerning about important ideas. Designed to be appealing to both longtime disciples of Jesus and those who have no prior connection with the church, we are praying that ThinkWell can be a point of meaningful connection and community around vital issues of the day.
This month we will be joined by Jay Sherer, Executive Director of Reclamation Society and Host of The Story Geeks podcast. Jay will be helping us develop biblical lenses so that we may see pop-culture in possibly new ways through his talk Interpreting Pop-Culture. We pray you are equipped, encouraged and empowered to continue the conversations after you leave!
|
|
Child Dedication Class
Sunday, March 31, 11:30am in the Family Room
For families interested in dedicating their children to the Lord, themselves to the task of raising them to be disciples of Jesus and desiring their church family to love and support them in this journey. Child dedication class is mandatory for anyone who has not previously dedicated children at our church. Child dedications will take place on Sunday, April 7, in all three services. Register for this class here.
|
|
Men's Retreat – Beat the Price Increase on March 17th
April 26 - 28, 2019, Catalina Island
Men, you have until March 17 to snag the early bird rate of $249 and $199 for students. After March 17 the price jumps to $279 and $219 respectively. We’ve got a great weekend planned full of great teaching, relaxing, and adventure and we can’t wait to see what God does. The price includes a private ferry to and from Catalina. Scholarships are available as needed. Visit here for more information.
|
|
|
Charlie Strauss, a longtime attendee of EvFree, passed away on February 27. Charlie began attending EvFree in 1980. He was involved in the For God's Glory Group, Kingdom Builders and Fellowship of Friends class, and was also actively involved in HoopStars. Charlie was known by many for his big, engaging smile! A memorial service was held on March 7.
|
|
Short Term Missions
Someone somewhere is depending on you to do what God has called you to do. Several short term missions teams are currently being formed. To see all of the teams for the summer and apply click here.
|
|
Mongolia Container
Thank you for your generosity in filling the Mongolia Container with gently worn clothing. The container is now full and will be shipped to the church in Mongolia soon. Your donations of clothing may now be directed to the Good Samaritan Center in NC100 during the week.
|
|
Good Samaritan Center
The Good Samaritan Center is in need of warm coats for men and women. Donations can be dropped off at NC100 during the week.
|
|
We're Hiring!
We have a current opening for a Lead Infant Preschool Teacher. Preschool Lead Infant Teacher Lead Teachers must have completed 15 ECE units of Early Childhood education, including 3 units in Infant/Toddler courses from an accredited State-approved school. Apply here!
|
|
Budget–Year to Date
Budget: $6,050,000
Received: $5,531,906
Surplus (or deficit): ($518,094)
|
Actual–Year to Date
Actual Income: $5,531,906
Actual Expenses: $4,972,743
Positive Cash Flow: $559,163
|
|
Your conviction and commitment to give is an encouragement to all of us who are Christ followers. It is also a very real reminder that we have work to do in discipling future generations to give sacrificially as well. In addition to whatever financial offering you will make in 2019, we humbly ask you to join us in ongoing prayer for those in our congregation and our community who may not yet understand the joys and challenges of biblical discipleship the way you do.
This week’s financial report includes a Legacy Gift which added $141,000 to the General Fund. Money also went to the Compassion Fund, Debt Reduction Fund and Facilities Reserves.
Numbers are based on an annual budget of $7 million dollars.
|
|
|
|
The Spirit moving in the 5th and 6th graders was evident last night at the FSM Night of Worship. The students worshiped together with their voices, instruments, written responses, and artistic expressions. Praise God for opportunities like this that cultivate worshipful encounters with Him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
