Winter Spring Final 2014 cpreslar version (joe
Transcription
Winter Spring Final 2014 cpreslar version (joe
1 // faith // community // service My Name Is Audience of One Atheist at The Gates A Shift in Perspective What’s Wrong with Grace Sound Bites Ignite Groups IGNITEMAGAZINE WINTER // SPRING 2014 2 KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Sharon Swanepoel WOMEN’S CONFERENCE2014 @ VALLEY FRI // MAR 7th // 6:30PM SAT // MAR 8th // 9:30AM FREE ADMISSION godsglory.org KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Rudi & Sharon Swanepoel GOD’SGLORY CONFERENCE @ VALLEY SAT // MAR 8th // 6PM ONEICE SUN // MAR 9th // 10AM SERV FREE ADMISSION godsglory.org 3 // faith // community // service CONTENTS Audience of One 08 Atheist at the Gates 10 My Name Is 18 His Plan in His Hands (Creative Director’s Note) 07 A Shift in Perspective 14 What’s Wrong With Grace 22 Sound Bites with Matt Cecil 26 30 Ignite Groups Valley Fellowship does not necessarily endorse, guarantee, support, or agree with the health, exercise, diet, and nutrition programs that small groups may recommend. Please note: Discuss childcare arrangements with the group leader. Ultimately, parents are responsible for their own children. However, some members of Ignite Groups work together to hire childcare for their children. Given that these engagements are lead by individual group members and not by the church, those members are encouraged to exercise reasonable care in their selection and supervision of childcare workers. IGNITEMAGAZINE WINTER // SPRING 2014 4 Valley Fellowship Church SERVICE TIMES sun8:30am/10:00am Worship Service all ages Worship Service all ages Ignitus Kidz Church ages 4 - 12 wed6:30pm Small Groups/Youth 231 University Dr. www.valleyfellowship.com 3616 Holmes Ave, Huntsville AL 35816 Governors Dr. Bob Wallace Ave. Triana Blvd. I-565 14th St. Tel: (256) 533 5117 Holmes Ave. Memorial Pkwy. all ages WHO WE ARE Lead Pastors Greg & Patti Simon We want to welcome you to Valley Fellowship Church! We hope you enjoy the experience. Our goal is for you to connect with God and with others! Greg & Patti Simon 5 Co-Pastor Youth Pastor Carol Simon Will Umbarger Worship Pastor Bookkeeper Chris Preslar Lisa Wester WHAT WE ARE ABOUT O ur physical church building is not God’s house; collectively, the people of our congregation are a local house of God. Every believer needs to be planted somewhere in a local work of God that is vibrantly alive and in action for Jesus. The Bible uses the analogy of trees to describe those who believe and walk with God. Psalm 92:12-13 tells us that, “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.” We want you to flourish in all that God has for you. Where are you planted? What choices are you making? Choose to connect. Get involved with people and build relationships. This decision means you seek to become a part of the Valley Fellowship Church family. In order for your relationship to grow and be connected with the family, you’ve got to develop close intimate friendships with those around you. 6 ife” L w e N into g n i r p S “ // faith // community // service IGNITE MAGAZINE igniting faith, community, and service Creative Director & Senior Designer Joseph Mackenzie Production Editor Chris Preslar Senior Editor Andrew Isley Senior Editor Chris Brown Editor Photography Va l l e y F e l l o w s h i p Chr istian Academy ANNUAL AU C T I O N Jorge Lima Sarah Annerton Special Thanks To PixelMe Photography Matt Cecil Barry Dudley Pastoral Staff Greg Simon Patti Simon Carol Simon Chris Preslar Will Umbarger www.pixelmephotography.com Want to join the ignite team? Or do you have an article or story to share? Maybe you would like to respond to articles in the magazine. To get plugged into IGNITEMAGAZINE send your responses or articles to the following email address: [email protected] April 11, 2014 Browse with Desserts & Coffee @ 6:30pm Auction begins @ 7:00pm Embassy Suites Hotel 800 Monroe St., HSV, AL Purchase Tickets At: valleyfellowship.smartevents.com His Plans in His Hands I am excited that you decided to read this edition of IGNITEMAGAZINE. This is just a small bite size portion of the voice of the people of Valley Fellowship Church. We are a wonderfully diverse group of believers on a journey together, and I hope the stories and ideas shared in these pages challenge you to read the Word, speak with God, and grow your faith in community with each other. Many and great are the plans that God has for His people. The Word tells us this over and over again throughout the entirety of scripture. I know many of you have committed yourselves to fasting and prayer over 21 days in January, and like many of you I was praying for direction to better understand God’s plan for my life and the life of my family. I can’t speak for everyone but sometimes I feel as if God hasn’t spoken to me for some time or I haven’t specifically felt His presence in some tangible way. I was speaking to my brother-in-law Mark Sanchez, who pastors a church in New Hampshire, about this and he shared something with me that really opened my mind. He went through a similar season of seemingly not hearing or perceiving God’s tangible presence and he asked God why he didn’t feel Him? God responded with “You did. When I said I would never leave you nor forsake you, I didn’t promise you would feel me all the time. Sometimes when you don’t feel Me, that is my faithfulness carrying you.” This blew my mind. Sometimes, I find myself always looking for a feeling of Him, or another amazing higher level. When in actuality, He is at work at all times causing all things to work together for good for those who love the Lord. I still long to know His plans for my family especially as it has grown by one; my son Ray. One thing is for sure. He is always there, always with us, always protecting us and even if He sees fit to keep me living day to day with no revelation of tomorrow. I choose to walk in faith and trust His Plans, in His Hands. Joe MacKenzie is the Creative Director behind Ignite Magazine. His passion is worship, and his heart is to improve communication through design. He has been married to his beautiful wife Christy for 6 years now and attending Valley for over 2 years. 7 WHERE DO YOU SERVE? 8 Audience Of One by: Greg Simon Read more online www.pastorgreg.org Are you living before One Audience – the Lord Jesus Christ? To what audience are you playing? You will either play to an Audience of One or to an audience of many. Do you desire to please God or impress people? When you aren’t seeking to be noticed or publicized or praised, you are released to accomplish great things for God’s Kingdom. Perhaps that is the reason Valley Fellowship Church has made such a significant impact – we want to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ in the Tennessee Valley and around the world. We don’t do what we do to be praised. We want to see Jesus exalted! Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth, but His essential audience was not people who surrounded Him. Jesus said, “I always do the things that are pleasing to Him [Heavenly Father].” (John 8:29b NASB) Jesus wasn’t interested in crowd approval (John 5:44) and He rebuked His listeners, “How could you possibly believe? You like to have your friends praise you, and you don’t care about praise that the only God can give!” (John 5:44 CEV) “Most of us, whether we are aware of it or not, do things with an eye to the approval of some audience or other. The question is not whether we have an audience but which audience we have... A life lived listening to the decisive call of God is a life lived before one audience that trumps all others – the Audience of One.” (Os Guinness, The Call, p. 70) IGNITEMAGAZINE WINTER // SPRING 2014 9 Paul was a God-pleaser, not a manpleaser. I agree with Kent Hughes’ assessment that “Paul would have loved Eric Liddell—the runner who placed spiritual conviction and loyalty to Christ above Olympic or national glory!” (Acts: The Church Afire, p. 289) Paul lived his life before an Audience of One. Consider his words: praise. Employees perform for a boss or will be fired. Students adjust to the wishes of a teacher. Writers heed their readers, putting pen to what sells. Basketball players respond to fans, drawing energy, heart to play. Teenagers play to their peers, claiming to be an individual, yet listening to what others listen, dressing to fit the trends even styling their hair like their cliché. Have you noticed how your audience shapes your “We do not aim to please men, but to please life? God who knows us through and through.” (1 The Puritans lived as if they had swallowed gyroscopes; we Thessalonians 2:4 PHILLIPS) modern Christians live as if we have swallowed Gallup polls. Or as Martin “Obviously, I’m not trying to win the Luther King wrote in his Letter from approval of people, but of God. If pleasing Birmingham Jail, “in those days the church was not merely a thermometer people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s that recorded the ideas and principles of servant.” (Galatians 1:10 NLT) popular opinion; it was a thermostat that transformed the mores of society.” Leaders or panderers? Gyroscope or “Be assured that when we speak to you we’re Gallup poll? Thermostat or not after crowd approval—only God thermometer? Only those who practice approval.” (1 Thessalonians 2:4 MSG) the presence of the Audience of One The Gospel of John criticizes the leaders of Jesus’ day who “were more concerned about what people thought of them than about what God thought of them.” (John 12:43 GW) Are you playing your life before an Audience of One, or playing before many: your peers, your neighbors, your mentors, your family? Who you choose as your audience has a tremendous impact upon your life. People adjust their lifestyle based upon the people around them. Children attune their own tastes, pursuing parental can hope to attain the former and escape the latter. (The Call, p. 73) To live before an Audience of One is to consider what He thinks as what counts the most. Satisfying life results from pleasing God, not pouring out your energy for temporal praise. Seeking to live for an Audience of One — the Lord Jesus Christ — liberates you from operating out of a response to what others say about you. Make the decision now to surrender your life and your lifestyle to the Lord. Ultimate success is not fame, fortune, or power, but hearing God’s commendation, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” Greg Simon is the senior pastor at Valley Fellowship. He joined the VFC staff in 1988 and became co-pastor with his mother after the death of his father in 1993. You can follow Greg Simon on Twitter @GregLovesPatti or you can check out his blog at www.pastorgreg.org. IGNITEMAGAZINE WINTER // SPRING 2014 10 ATHEIST AT THE GATES by: Chris Brown It was the morning of the Valley Fellowship Labor Day BBQ when I was walking into church and spotted two of our ushers speaking to a young man in jeans and a black t-shirt. The Holy Spirit led me to join the conversation, and I prayed that He guide my words as I walked over. “Christianity disgusts me,” was the first thing I heard the young man say as I approached the ongoing conversation in the parking lot. I introduced myself and reached out to shake his hand; he reluctantly shook and introduced himself as Bobby (not his real name). I gathered he was a UAH student and quickly learned that he was working on a Ph.D. in the same department I had graduated from 10 years earlier. “I’m just here for the free food,” Bobby said when I asked why he was here. He had gotten a card about the BBQ during a campus outreach the day before. “There are plenty of places to get free food without coming to a place that IGNITEMAGAZINE disgusts you,” I replied, knowing that wasn’t the real reason he had come. “I just like to troll,” he said. I responded, “You either really like to argue, as you say, or you’re here looking for some truth you’ve never heard before.” He denied that possibility vehemently, of course, then went back to attacking Christianity, saying, “You know Odin was crucified for nine days, Jesus only a few hours, shouldn’t you be worshipping Odin?” In Norse mythology Odin crucified himself for nine days in pursuit of wisdom, but Bobby was not deterred by the lack of witnesses to that monumental occasion. One of the ushers related a time that Jesus appeared to him and ultimately healed a person he was praying for. “Brahma appears to many people,” Bobby replied. The Hindu god of creation is claimed to appear to many, but there seem to be as few witnesses to that as to Odin’s crucifixion. As to the healing, that was a statistical anomaly, Bobby’s answer for any kind of miracle. In WINTER // SPRING 2014 11 case it might not have been a statistical became one of the greatest Christian authors anomaly, he made sure to accuse the usher of of our time. That wasn’t the first time Bobby having used psychotropic drugs. used the word moron to describe his present “If someone had a limb severed and company or any other Christian. Nonetheless it grew back, or if the sky goes black and I promised to bring him a copy of lights spell out ‘Bobby you’re wrong,’ I would McDowell’s extremely dense volume, believe that,” he said. Evidence That Demands a Verdict. I pointed “No you wouldn’t,” I replied, “You out some very smart people that follow would simply come up with more and more Christ, including several of his professors, incredible explanations for how it happened and Bobby was forced to backpedal a little naturally.” That is, after all, why God doesn’t bit. Ironically the copy of McDowell’s book I reveal himself any more than the myriad hope to give him was given to me by a UAH ways he already professor in his does, because the “Christianity disgusts me,” department. I hard heart will pointed out that was the first thing I heard believe no sign or Bobby’s posture wonder. and body language the young man say.. He had changed as his asked why he guard dropped, should believe Jesus even existed, and I and he ran out of credible arguments, which described the many manuscripts and ancient he of course denied. Sensing a bit of texts of those who witnessed those events. exasperation as he exhausted his supply of “Why should I believe any of those?” rehearsed lines, I told Bobby I was going to “Year after year, these people were test whether he was really there for the free killed in the most horrible ways,” I replied, food. I offered him a little money to go “Don’t you think by the 10th, 11th, 12th guy somewhere and eat right then. He was someone would have said ‘OK, I made it all backed into a corner, and he had no choice up, don’t kill me’?” He invoked Occam’s but to take the money, which he did as he razor for what had to be the 20th time and stormed off. Of course he couldn’t come to brought his more likely explanation, saying the BBQ after that, but I believe he left with plenty of people in cults convince themselves a lot more to think about this way. something is true. All I could do was laugh, I don’t know how the Bobby story point out he was on the wrong side of ends. Maybe he’ll be the next Josh Occam with that wild assertion, and that it McDowell. It’s more likely he’ll go on being took a lot more faith to believe in all of his that typical hard-hearted, arrogant, angry statistical anomalies than it did to believe in my Jesus. “I find all Christian apologists to be morons,” Bobby said in reply to my description of Josh McDowell. McDowell famously set out to refute any factual basis to Christianity, and in the end not only became a Christian but 12 atheist. He certainly didn’t appreciate his arrogance being pointed out, and he had no interest in talking about his own past, saying things like, “I went to church as a child, but stopped when I started reading and learned to think for myself ”; that was the most he would say about his background. I doubt I’ll ever know anything more about his experience in church before or where he goes from now. Why have I spent the last 900 words telling you about the conversation we had with Bobby in the church parking lot? Jesus spoke more than once about people’s hearts being hardened. Bobby was a young man so hardened against Jesus that he drove all the way to a church on a Sunday morning for no reason other than to pick a fight with Christians and call them rude names. We have a college campus, a city and a nation filled with people like Bobby. We should be ready to answer people like him on a regular basis. Being mocked and called names is hardly the level of persecution many face, but it will be challenging for many of us. We must respond with the love of God, no matter how offensive a person’s words are. We must prepare ourselves for many more like Bobby to show up either at our church or somewhere else in our lives. “We must respond with the love of God, no matter how offensive a person’s words are.” Chris Brown is an Aerospace Engineer by day, student and entrepreneur by night, and amateur writer whenever his wife and daughter allow. He and his family have been attending Valley Fellowship for six years. IGNITEMAGAZINE WINTER // SPRING 2014 13 Valley Fellowship Christian Academy Little Valley Academy provides loving care and academic enrichment for children ages 6 weeks to 4 years old. Space is limited. We would love to see your little one growing with us soon! For more information go to: www.valleyfellowship.com 14 A Shift in Perspective by: Barry Dudley 15 Picture this: You get some free tickets to see your favorite team play in the nearest major city. It’s all very last minute, but you never pass up this kind of chance, so you throw some things together, find another willing friend, and hop in the car. On your way there, you make a wrong turn, and you end up God knows where. It’s filthy. You can almost taste the smog blowing through the vents of your car. The walls on every building seem to be swallowed up by graffiti. There’s a car with a tire missing, presumably left to be impounded by its owner. As you stop at a run-down gas station to ask for directions, you can’t help noticing a young man standing around the corner of the entrance. His black baseball cap is turned sideways and worn at his eyebrows; the shadow from the brim makes it difficult to make any eye contact with him. His small frame is hidden in the hooded sweatshirt two sizes two big, and baggy jeans sagging too low to be comfortable. Even his gray work boots seem too big for him. He looks right past you. You immediately pick up on his nervous energy as he glances over his shoulder and back around, taking in his entire environment. Another car pulls in the vacant parking spot next to his. The engine remains running as the occupants remain in the car. The nervous looking young man greets them with a nod, some words you wouldn’t hear at Sunday service, and a hand shake you might see in any high-security prison yard. After leaning with both elbows on the open window of the car, and exchanging some words, the car pulls away. Using the deductive abilities that you developed in a past lifetime of addiction, or perhaps by watching your favorite detective show, you determine that the suspicious young man is a drug dealer. The occupants of the car that just left were undercover police officers, unable to get the savvy dealer to take their bait to sell them a small bag of heroin. What runs through your mind? I’ll tell you what I would most likely think, or even say to my friend. I would first point out that I know 16 what that man is going through. I’ve stood right where he is, thinking that my choices would never catch up to me – thinking that I was invincible. My favorite statement to follow the obvious observations is usually, “That guy needs to go to church.” Or I’d go with this one, “He needs to get saved.” A similar situation presented itself recently. Not exactly the same, but very similar. I was by myself, and just knew that someone was up to no good. I couldn’t help but think to myself, “This guy really needs to find Jesus. He needs to go to church.” In that moment, God began to change my perspective. While he does need to go to church (we all do) how about looking at it this way - On the streets, this young man is considered a “chameleon.” We all understand that the chameleon lizard can change its colors to blend into any environment – just as most drug users or street dealers have mastered the ability to relate to people of many different walks of life and blend into any situation. What a gift that is! The Apostle Paul had that same gift – he expressed it this way in his first letter to the church in Corinth: Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings (1 Corinthians 9: 19-23 NIV). IGNITEMAGAZINE WINTER // SPRING 2014 17 Consider also that this young man spent a mere minute or two talking to the occupants of this other car before he knew not to take their bait, or he’d be spending some time in jail. That’s a gift of discernment! This man needs Jesus, and he needs to go to church of course. How about a change of perspective though? Instead of thinking, “This man needs to go to church,” try thinking like this, “The church really needs men like this.” “The church really needs men like this.” Barry has been attending Valley for 2 1/2 years with his wife Lauren, and their two daughters Abigail and Emma. They have been blessed by all the lasting friendships they have formed with other members of the church. Barry testifies to seeing each member of Valley carry the message of God's love through service and selflessness for each other and for the community. IGNITEMAGAZINE WINTER // SPRING 2014 18 story is not about hard times that I went through or bad choices I made. My childhood was about as normal and happy as it could be. My family was loving and stable; I had both parents. Even in my extended family there were not any divorces while I was growing up, much less any kind of dark family secrets. My dad always had a good job, and my mom stayed home after I was born. We never went to church, even on Christmas or Easter. In fact, my parents never really talked about faith or church. I had a Bible story book when I was young. Later my mother would tell me she tried to raise me with Christian values. She might have gone to church, but my dad was not the least bit interested in going. He had grown up attending a Methodist church, but stopped going as soon as he was old enough to refuse. My mother grew up Episcopal, and even completed all of the classes in the confirmation process. The only time I ever went to a church service was a couple of times with my grandparents. I never felt like anything was missing from my life. By the time I was a teenager I thought of religion the way you might think of mythology. I had friends that went to church, but it seemed like a waste of time to me. I saw some of the Christians that were in the news, the ones that always seemed to end up as great hypocrites when they fell from grace, and I didn’t want to be associated with My My Name Is interview by: Chris Brown 19 Christianity. I saw the self-righteous and the hypocrites among Christians and wanted no part of it. I remember lying in bed one night when I was young and telling God that if He was real, He should reveal himself to me somehow. At the time I thought He hadn’t answered me. I am one of those extremely rational, logical people. I excelled in math and science, and eventually went to college to study engineering. I lived in the dorms even though the university was in my home town. My roommate was a Christian. She was serious about her faith and committed, but she wasn’t pushy about it. I guess she made me think more about faith and God, and I thought back to that time I asked God to reveal Himself if He really existed I was still in my first semester of college when I met a boy from Alabama at a conference. He was a Christian just like my roommate. In fact, I tried to set him up with my roommate since they were both Christians, and I really wasn’t. He was persistent though. It started to dawn on me that this influx of Christians into my life could either be seen as a coincidence, or I could see it as part of God revealing himself to me. But part of the problem for my rational mind was that most of this faith business didn’t make sense. In one of our conversations, the boy from Alabama said that he would be willing to die for me; he knew where he was going when he died after all. I didn’t know how to accept that. How could he be that confident? Why was the Christian God more real than any other religion’s deity? Why Christianity instead of some other religion? How do you believe that people come back from the dead? Why believe the Bible? There are plenty of other ancient texts that are just stories. How do we know that one is real? The circular logic of believing something just because the Bible said so would not be enough for me. I had to answer some of these questions before I could accept any belief in God or Christianity. My roommate lent me two books by Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ and The Case for Faith. Strobel was a journalist who investigated the factual truth of the Bible. Apologetics reading was a very important way to move past some of the intellectual hurdles and questions. I would read apologetics, then read counter-arguments to the apologetics points, and then arguments to counter those. I went back and forth, but finally decided that I just had to make a decision, and choose. Even after making an intellectual choice to believe in God and Jesus, I still didn’t like the connotations that Christianity held for me because of the way some Christians behave. I still dislike the connotation that the term “Evangelical Christian” carries with it in my mind. But at some point, I remember realizing that I didn’t want to let “bad Christians” keep me from having a relationship with God if He was real. I had to make a decision to make this 20 “I saw some of the Christians that were in the news, the ones that always seemed to end up as great hypocrites when they fell from grace, and I didn’t want to be associated with Christianity” just about me and God, and block out the choices other people made. I had to make the right choice for me. Getting saved was a long process for me, not a single moment. I can’t point to a specific time that I suddenly knew I was saved. It was two steps forward and one step backward. I still struggled with the intellectual component, and the idea that if you studied enough material you could silence all the doubts and prove God’s existence to anyone. I was feeling extra depressed one night in college, and I started having a conversation with God. I told Him it was a good thing Jesus died for a whole world full of people, because it wouldn’t have been worth it just for me. I felt Him respond that He still would have done it just for me. And with all the back and forth and up and down with my walk with God, I had a sense from God that He wouldn’t let me die before I got IGNITEMAGAZINE to the right decision about Him. If I wasn’t saved yet, He would stay with me until I got there. This was an emotional connection with God, and the emotional component was the missing piece to what I was trying to make into a purely intellectual process. My faith needed to find that emotional piece. After my first year of college I moved to Huntsville to transfer to school here and be with the boy I had met. We got married shortly after we both finished college. Throughout our college years and our marriage I continued walking through that process of faith. I remember clearly when we were going through a time of great financial difficulty and failing businesses where I was very stressed pretty much all of the time. Occasionally though, I would find God for a few moments of peace. In one of these moments, I got a sense that we should pray for a clean slate, for all of those problems to fade away. This was not a typical thought for me at all, and we had no reason to think it was possible for everything to just go away with no consequences. God told me that he had placed that thought for us to pray, and amazingly He answered that prayer, and we got the clean slate and fresh start we had prayed for. WINTER // SPRING 2014 21 I don’t have a good sense of heaven being a real place. Maybe if I did, the Christian walk would make more sense. If I thought a seat in heaven were the only reason to be a Christian, I probably wouldn’t be one now, but I know that God is real and present in this life. I worked through many of the intellectual issues with faith and eventually discovered the emotional reality of believing. I have continued walking through my process of faith all these years since college, and will until I get to the heaven that awaits me. These days, I recognize that it is impossible to absolutely prove God, but I’ve found that if you study a troubling issue, there is usually a reasonable explanation. My rational brain still wants that explanation, but my emotional faith and trust help me to believe that those explanations exist without having to seek out every one of them. I eventually got baptized at Valley Fellowship Church in 2010, where I still attend with my husband and baby girl. My name is Sarah Brown. IGNITEMAGAZINE WINTER // SPRING 2014 22 What’s Wrong With Grace? by: Chris Preslar 23 Over the past few years, grace has become a controversial topic among Christians. I'm not talking from denomination to denomination. I'm talking from member to member within the same church. Many Christ followers have grabbed hold of an idea of grace that is like fire insurance, hoping that it covers all the wrong and sin we have in our lives. Many of us think the Law given in the Old Testament doesn't apply to us today. We say a quick prayer on Sunday but “live like the devil” during the week, thinking God’s Old Testament Law isn’t relevant to us today. But this idea that we can say a simple prayer and live however we want isn't founded in Scripture. To the contrary, the Bible warns us about such ideas (Romans 3:8 & Romans 6:1-15). Grace doesn't excuse us to continue sinning. We only cheapen God's grace when we pretend that this is the purpose of His grace. God’s miraculous grace has power beyond just pardoning us from our sins. John Piper, in his book Future Grace, says it this way, “By grace I do not merely mean the pardon of God in passing over your sins, but also the power and beauty of God to keep you from sinning.” 24 Let’s take a moment and define “grace.” Grace is defined as “unmerited favor” or in other words, it is all the good stuff from God that didn't require us to do anything to deserve it. Meaning, you can't earn God's grace no matter how many good deeds you do. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is our faith in Christ Jesus that allows us access to God's grace that He freely pours out on us. Imagine if we did have to earn grace. Try going a week, no a day, without thinking a corrupt thought or sowing a malicious word price. “For the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23 NIV). If we truly had to pay for our sins, we would all deserve to die. But the best part of that verse comes one word later, “but the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord.” How amazing is that? God made a way so that man could continue to live and maintain relationship with Him. In Old Testament practices, animal sacrifices at the temple would pay the price for sin, thus bringing men back into right relationship. Thankfully, we no longer have to indulge in animal sacrifices because God sent His pure and blameless Son, Jesus Christ, to fulfill and uphold the Law to die in our place as “Imagine if we did have to earn grace.” or being covetous of our friends. It would be impossible for us to earn God’s grace. We see in Romans that, “All have sinned.” No man or woman is without fault. And sin isn’t free. It comes with the highest of IGNITEMAGAZINE the ultimate sacrifice. So, what then is the purpose of the Law? Firstly, how do you know what sin is apart from the law? You don't. “When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. WINTER // SPRING 2014 25 Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break” (Romans 5:12-13 NLT). The law was given to show us our sin. Secondly, the law shows us that we cannot fulfill the law when left to our own devices. We cannot live righteous lives in our own resources. We cannot get anywhere by focusing on the law, but only by believing in Jesus Christ through faith do we receive God's grace as the ultimate resource to fulfill the law. Without His grace, we are unable to die to sin. We must make a conscious effort to avoid sin, to die to the things of the flesh because the devil prowls around like a lion looking for someone to devour. Jesus warns us in Matthew 26:41 to “keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” We have to turn from our selfish ways in order to follow Christ (Luke 9:23-24). Our human nature leads us to be selfish. We must pursue His Spirit and live by the Spirit in order to put to death the deeds of the body (Romans 8:12-13 ESV). Yes, God's grace does forgive us when we repent of our sins, but it is His grace that helps us turn from our selfishness. His grace is more than an insurance policy. It’s not just there to erase the sin in our lives. It is the power of God to actually keep us from sinning and to stay in right relationship with Him. Let’s tap into the true meaning of God’s grace and allow it to sustain us through every area of our lives. “His grace is more than an insurance policy.” Chris Preslar is the Worship Pastor at Valley Fellowship Church. He and his beautiful wife, Sara, came onto staff in 2009. Chris and Sara have a handsome, energetic little boy and a beautiful baby girl on the way. Chris loves serving the church through leading worship and taking people into into the presence of God. IGNITEMAGAZINE WINTER // SPRING 2014 SOUND BITES SOUND BITES SOUND BITES SOUNDBITES 26 with Matt Cecil Artist // Derek Minor Album // Minorville Imagine a large city, made up of various regions and people groups, each with their own struggles. “Minorville” is an album built on the concept of telling the stories in this city through the eyes of the gospel. This album deals with issues that affect rich, poor, married, single, black and white people. As Derek Johnson “Minor” said, he wanted to make an album that dealt with real life so that it could truly connect with all people. That is where this album truly shines. The lyrics deal with real life in a direct way, but always with the idea of showing the listener where true life comes from. Of course lyrics alone don’t make a good song, and this album is full of excellent beats laid down by Derek Minor. Derek collaborated with many artists and producers to IGNITEMAGAZINE make an album where the sound varies as much as the subject matter. The sounds and production values are at the level of any mainstream hip hop/ rap album. There are so many great tracks on this album, but a few really stand out for their excellent beats and lyrics. The first standout song is “Gimmie”. This is an excellent song dealing with greed, the temptation of wealth, and the idea of success in our society. The lyrics will make you think, and the hook will get stuck in your head. “We Gone Make It”, “Hot Air Balloon” and “We Are (Champions)” are three great songs that encourage you to overcome through the strength that comes through Christ. “Love You Better” is a love song about applying Christ’s example of love to a marriage. “Making Me More” is the standout track of this album. Derek Minor collaborated with blues musician and singer Mel Moore to create this unique and energetic song. The pair sing about what they were before salvation, and how through God’s continuing work they are being made new. One of the most challenging songs is “Dear Mr. Christian”. This song shares the perspective of a young woman who has been sexually abused, and a young man who joined a gang. The lyrics are raw and hard hitting, but the overall message is a call to show these people God’s love. This is not a song you can listen to without truly examining yourself. There are two things that make this album great. The first is the music, which is top notch and will get your head bobbing. The second is the lyrics. The words are powerful and raw. Because of the subject matter covered, I would give this album a PG-13 rating. WINTER // SPRING 2014 27 Artist // Dustin Kensrue Album // The Water & The Blood “The Water and the Blood” is the latest release from the team at Mars Hill church. This album is the project of their Bellevue campus worship leader Dustin Kensrue. Dustin, formerly the front man for the popular alt rock group Thrice, is an extremely talented songwriter with a gift for writing fresh lyrics. When Dustin started to write this album he had two goals. He first wanted to make an album that musically engaged our culture and offered a fresh sound compared to contemporary worship Artist // My Epic Album // Behold IGNITEMAGAZINE music. The second goal was to craft lyrics that celebrated what Jesus has done while being exciting, theologically sound and easy to digest. The variety of songs in this album makes it truly engaging. While Dustin’s rock background is evident throughout this electric guitar driven album, it never becomes overwhelming. He blends different sounds and hooks to make each song fresh from the beginning to the end. The lyrics are easy to sing and put together in a way that is refreshing. Even the frequently used Christian expression “God is good, all the time” is given new life in the song “God is good”. All of the songs on this album were created for congregational worship, except for “Not enough”. This song deals with our inability to satisfy our souls with earthly treasure or praise. As the chorus says, “It’s not enough, it’s not enough/ I could walk the world forever/ Till my shoes were filled with blood/ It’s not enough, it’s not enough / I could right all wrongs or ravage/ Everything beneath the sun/ It’s not enough, it never was”. The song “Suffering Servant” is a raw description of the sacrifice Jesus made on Calvary. Another standout track is “Come Lord Jesus”. This song speaks to the authority of Jesus, and our eager anticipation of his return. This album is full of beautiful lyrics describing Jesus’ life, sacrifice and ultimately his love. Musically, “The Water & the Blood” is unique and stimulating, but the lyrics make it powerful. “Behold” is the third record from the California based indie rock band My Epic. This four-man group has truly found their sound with their most recent release. Blending ambient, progressive sounds with indie rock they have produced a sound unlike any other band. The vocals are strong, and the musicianship is as deliberate and unique as the lyrics. The songs “Arise”, “Approach “ and “Arrive” tell the story of the return of Jesus, and carry common musical themes throughout. The other songs placed between these three were approached as psalms, according to the lead singer Aaron Stone. These songs are sung to God and express the experience of men trying to live Godly lives. The song titles represent the type of psalm they are modeled after. “Confession” and “Liturgy” are two great examples of the psalm style songs. “Confession” is especially striking as parts of it are sung from the perspective of the thief who Jesus forgave on the cross. One striking part of the song sings, “and in the end may l die as the thief/ my WINTER // SPRING 2014 28 Artist // My Epic Album // Behold greatest joy that You'd hang there with me/ blessed further still if my flesh could be made an object of grace/ to walk behind, to die beside/ then wake to find my Lord/ my love in paradise.” Another great song is “Hail” which also also works in the old worship song “Majesty” in a fresh way. The song “Curse” contains some of the most powerful lyrics in the album as My Epic sing, “You’re not a memory we celebrate/ You’re not a martyr that we venerate/ And God forgive us if the church forgets/ You are not a corpse and we’re/ Not a movement/ You’re alive and we’re the flesh you’ll wear till the worlds end.” Overall this album has to be one of the most exciting releases of 2013, even though it came out in late December. It has already been labeled by many reviewers as one of the top five albums of last year, and will only continue to become more popular as the album gains traction. // WHAT PASTOR CHRIS IS LISTENING TO // Artist // Bethel Music Album // Tides The latest studio album from Bethel Music is “Tides”. Bethel Church has gained a reputation for releasing some of the best praise music out today. Many of their songs from previous albums are sung in churches around the world, and that trend will surely continue with “Tides”. This album contains great praise and worship songs with a focus on God and his presence. Musically this album is fresh with a slight emphasis on the electro-pop sound that is so popular. “Letting Go” may be the stand out track on this album. Steffany Frizzle’s voice is unique and the musical restraint allows her voice to take center stage. This allows the listener to truly experience the peace that comes from letting go and letting God take control. Other standout tracks include “Chasing You”, “Give Me Jesus” and “Heavens Song”. Hillsong Young and Free is a branch of Hillsong music focused on the youth. This focus is evident in the 80’s synth/pop sound that the album achieves. The live recordings on this album are truly special as the energy from the worship service comes across even more than in most live albums. These songs will have you tapping your foot as the drums and synthesizers pound out the melodies. The lyrics are straightforward and easy to sing. Songs focusing on the life we have through Jesus are the focus for much of this album. Some of the best examples of this are “Alive” and “Wake”. Other standout tracks on this album include “Gracious Tempest”, “End of Days” and “Sinking Deep”. This is a great album that will bring you to a place of excited worship. Artist // Hillsong Young & Free Album // We are Young and Free (Live) IGNITEMAGAZINE WINTER // SPRING 2014 29 // NOW FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT // Combining elements of Hip-Hop, poetry and spoken word, “Instruments of Mercy” is truly a different album. Based out of Portland, Oregon Beautiful Eulogy offers up biblically based rhymes set to amazing analog beats. These are songs that will preach; so don’t expect skin-deep lyrics. Standout tracks include “Symbols and Signs”, “You Can Save Me” and “The Size of Grace”. Artist // Beautiful Eulogy Album // Instruments of Mercy All albums reviewed are available on iTunes and Amazon.com. If you find an interesting band no matter how obscure or what style, please feel free to share them with me at [email protected]. Matthew was born and raised in the Tennessee valley. He attended Valley Fellowship Christian Academy and graduated in 2003. He then earned his A.S. in biotechnology from Calhoun Community College. Matt married his high school sweet heart in 2006. Matt and Karen are proud parents of their 3year old daughter Ella, and have been members of Valley Fellowship Church since 2006. He has a heart for worship and loves music. IGNITEMAGAZINE WINTER // SPRING 2014 30 ignite groups directory “what are ignite groups?” By Greg & Patti Simon What are ignite community groups? Ignite community groups are at the heart of community building at Valley Fellowship. These groups offer members, friends of Valley Fellowship, and visitors a chance to develop relationships through common interests. Interested in golf ? Want to learn to mature and develop your spiritual gifts? Looking for a practical way to reach out to the community? Or maybe you just want to spend time with friends? Ignite community groups has you covered. Collected on the pages following are all the community groups offered in our fall semester. Community groups are formal and informal gatherings based upon the interests, hobbies, gifts, and passions of our members. However, you do not need to be a member of Valley Fellowship, or even attend our services, to participate in most of our small groups. You may be asking yourself: “How do I get involved?” It’s as easy as contacting the small group leader to let them know you are interested (contact information is provided in this directory). The groups change and begin three times a year, so you have the chance to try out different ones in the next semester. While we have a variety of groups, we do not have a group for everything. If you see a hole in our groups, you might consider starting your own group in a future semester. If you are interested in starting a group, please contact the church office for information about the next New Leader Orientation. D. L. Moody, a great American preacher, used a wonderful analogy to illustrate the importance of being an active member in God’s community. A friend told him that he could be just as good a IGNITEMAGAZINE Christian outside the church as he could be inside it. Moody said nothing. Instead, he moved to the fireplace, blazing against the winter outside, removed one burning coal, and placed it on the hearth. The two men sat together and watched the ember die out. When we don’t use our God-given gifts and talents to serve the church as well as serve others in fellowship we become lukewarm. Jesus taught us what lukewarm is: no different than not knowing Jesus at all. Moody’s analogy is a perfect metaphor for our ignite community groups. These groups are fueled by your passions and ignited by God’s spirit. But a fire either spreads or burns out. We must work together to stoke the fire that ignite spiritual passions and build relationships. The Apostle Paul sums up this idea in Romans 12:11 when he urges us to “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.” Ignite community groups are one outlet for you to develop and grow your spiritual fire. Spending time with others in God’s family is at the heart of Ignite groups. Relationships are vital in the church. Everything God has done in our lives is demonstrated in the midst of relationships. Ignite groups serve as an invitation to join what God is doing in the midst of His people. Get lit! Ignite your fire! Join a community group and find a place to serve at Valley Fellowship. Watch as you get ignited with a new passion for God. Greg & Patti Simon are Senior Pastors at Valley Fellowship Church WINTER // SPRING 2014 A Heart for Him Book Club Leader(s) Community Women 31 Brenda North Who’s it For? This is a group is for women with the focus of developing relationships. We enjoy fellowship, lunch, and discussing the book we are reading. This semester's book is : Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers (Book and Lunch is provided) Ages 19+, women only Where’s it at? Youth Firehouse, 3209 Holmes Ave. Description When do we meet? Contact Us Adult Sunday School Leader(s) Tuesdays @ 11:30am // 2/4, 2/18, 3/4, 3/18, 4/1, 4/15, 4/29, 5/13 256-852-0322 // [email protected] Bible Study Men/Women Buford Terrell Who’s it For? This group meets on Sunday mornings for a time of fellowship while studying God's Word. Ages 23+, men and women Where’s it at? VF Building 2, Room 205 Description When do we meet? Contact Us The Avenue Leader(s) Sunday mornings from 8:45-9:45am 256-535-4441 or 256-426-4534 // [email protected] Bible Study & Community College & Career Andrew Isley & Chris Preslar Who’s it For? We are all doing life together, and that's what this group is about. Our discussions cover a wide spectrum of topics from real life situations to our spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ. Come be a part of a relaxing environment with coffee and good conversation while developing lasting relationships. Ages 18-39, men and women Where’s it at? Youth Firehouse // 3209 Holmes Avenue Description When do we meet? Contact Us First meeting Feb. 21 @ 6:30pm // Third Friday of each month 256-479-2514 or 256-694-1029 [email protected] or [email protected] 32 Basketball Sundays Leader(s) Community Men Josh Laster Who’s it For? Basketball Sundays is a group of guys that get together and play basketball on Sunday evenings at 5:00. The skill levels range from beginners to guys who have played all their lives. The main focus is to have fun and get some exercise, all while enjoying time together. We usually play for about 2 hours and if we have enough people we like to play full court. Come out to get some exercise, have some laughs, and get to know the men of Valley Fellowship. Ages 13+, men Where’s it at? The Dwelling Place, 2550 Redstone Rd., SW Description When do we meet? Contact Us Better Man Leader(s) Sundays from 3-5pm 256-665-7372 // [email protected] Bible Study Men Josh Laster Who’s it For? Better Man is a bible study that is targeted to men of all ages to help them become better in every area of life. We talk about marriage, family, careers, addictions, goals, and anything else that men deal with. We dive into the scriptures to see what the Bible says a man is to be, as well as discuss daily, common sense solutions to problems we face as men. Ages 19+, men Where’s it at? VF Building 3, Room 303 Description When do we meet? Contact Us Boomers Leader(s) Wednesdays @ 6:30pm starting Feb. 5 256-665-7372 // [email protected] Community Seniors Darrell and Randy Bourne Who’s it For? Bring together Boomer age persons and their invited guests to fellowship around food while sharing and experiencing the love of Christ within each other. Ages 50+, men and women Where’s it at? TBD | Contact group leaders for meeting information Description When do we meet? Contact Us IGNITEMAGAZINE Feb 4 , Mar 20, April 15, and May 3 256-883-7359 // [email protected] WINTER // SPRING 2014 Daughters of Zion Leader(s) 33 Worship Arts/Education Diana Hase Who’s it For? Join with us in praise dancing for Jesus! We incorporate flags, tambourines, fabric, and more and use all of our heart, soul, mind and strength to give honor and glory to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is worthy of all of our praise! No prior dancing experience necessary, just a willing heart to adore Him! Ages 10+, men and women Where’s it at? VF Building 3, Room 305 Description When do we meet? Contact Us Firehouse Youth Leader(s) Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30pm 256-882-1674 or 256-651-6871 // [email protected] Community, Worship, Bible Study, Prayer Youth William Umbarger Who’s it For? We praise and worship the Lord, followed by preaching of the Word. We also break into small groups at this time. Ages 13-22, men and women Where’s it at? VF Church Fellowship Hall (Building 2) Description When do we meet? Contact Us Friday Night Friends Leader(s) Wednesdays from 6-8pm 256-527-8303 // [email protected] Bible Study, Prayer Family Erika Medley Who’s it For? Based on Acts 2:46-47, we meet to study God’s Word, sing and fellowship. We discuss God’s plan and fellowship over a covered dish meal. Join us for dinner fellowship, teaching and prayer. Ages 13+, men and women Where’s it at? Erika Medley's home, 3005 Morgan St. Huntsville AL Description When do we meet? Contact Us IGNITEMAGAZINE 1st & 3rd Friday of each month; 6-9pm 256-812-0004 or 256-468-7131 // [email protected] WINTER // SPRING 2014 34 Funeral Ministry Leader(s) Description Who’s it For? Outreach Men/Women Ellen Hunter We minister to families in our church in the loss of a loved one by providing food. If you have the time to shop and cook and you want to help "behind the scenes", this may be the ministry for you. Also, monetary help is much appreciated. Ages 13+, men and women Where’s it at? When do we meet? Contact Us Ignite Creative Leader(s) We do not meet // You will be called as needed 256-895-6511 or 256-508-8128 // [email protected] Community Arts/Education Chris Preslar Who’s it For? If you have interests or hobbies in graphic design, photography, journalism, videography, or other creative endeavors, then you need to be a part of our team. Our main focus is collaborating togther to design our tri-annual Ignite Magazine as well as develop creative designs for other areas of our church. If you want to grow spirtually and creatively with a group of peers who have the same passions this is the place for you! Ages 13+, men and women Where’s it at? VF Sanctuary building // Glass office downstairs Description When do we meet? Contact Us Ignitus Kidz Choir Leader(s) Wednesdays @ 6:30pm starting Feb. 5 256-694-1029 or 256-533-5117, [email protected] Worship Children Greg Simon Who’s it For? This kids group is focued on preparing for a performance on Palm Sunday, April 13. We will be studying the Bible and learning fun, interactive songs.The final dress rehearsal will be Saturday, April 12 at 2:30pm. The performane will take place during both Sunday morning services on Palm Sunday. Ages 5 years - 6th grade Where’s it at? VF Sanctuary building // Classrooms downstairs Description When do we meet? Contact Us Wednesdays @ 6:30pm starting Feb. 5 256-533-5117 // [email protected] Ignitus Kids Church Leader(s) Worship, Bible Study, Prayer, Community Children 35 Greg Simon Who’s it For? Power packed Sunday morning service @ 10am for ages 4-6th grade. Nursery care provided for infants-4 years olds in all services. Ages infant - 6th grade Where’s it at? VF Church Fellowship Hall (Building 2) 3616 Holmes Ave. Description When do we meet? Contact Us Intercession Leader(s) Description Sundays 10am; Wednesdays 6:30pm 256-533-5117 // [email protected] Prayer Carol Simon We worship and pray for the local church and family. Who’s it For? All ages men and women Where’s it at? VF Church Sanctuary 3616 Holmes Ave. When do we meet? Contact Us Ladies' Bible Study Leader(s) Tuesdays from 9-11am 256-533-5117 or 256-882-3734 [email protected] Bible Study Women Patti Simon Who’s it For? This is a 6 week Bible study directed by Pastor Patti Simon. Jesus wants to spend secret time with you—an interior relationship that's unique to just you two. Sacred Secrets is the new 6 session study from Beth Moore that explores the theology of secrets. Secrets can be good or harmful. Some need forgiveness, and some should be kept between you and God. There will be integrated times of prayer, personal ministry and exposition from the video teachings. Come join us as we draw closer to Jesus. Ages 19+, women only Where’s it at? VF Church Sanctuary, 3616 Holmes Ave. Description When do we meet? Contact Us IGNITEMAGAZINE Wednesdays @ 6:30pm starting Feb. 5 // Optional Book $16 256-527-8302 // [email protected] WINTER // SPRING 2014 36 Married Life Leader(s) Community Family, Marriage Andrew & Angela Isley Who’s it For? Join Married Life as we discuss marriage, family and serving our local church body. We are a casual, conversational group who meet over coffee and dessert. Ages 19-39, men and women Where’s it at? First meeting @ Isley's home, 133 Raleigh Way Description When do we meet? Contact Us Pray for America Leader(s) First meeting Feb. 7 @ 6:30pm // First Friday of each month 256-479-2515 // [email protected] Prayer Men, Women Camille Nehmsmann Who’s it For? America needs prayer! Sequestration, debt, jobs, the economy, social and political issues all need Divine intervention. Join us as we intercede for our nation as directed by the Holy Spirit. Ages 13+, men and women Where’s it at? Camille Nehmsmann's home // 312 Fussy Hill Rd., New Market Description When do we meet? Contact Us Singles & Single Again Leader(s) Description Fridays from 1-3pm // Please call first, to confirm date. 256-379-5254 // [email protected] Outreach & Community Men, Women Dawn John The goal is to have fun and support one another. We will have a dinner together, short message, prayer and just hanging out with one another. Who’s it For? Ages 40-69, men and women Where’s it at? Dawn John's home // 104 Doe Creek Circle, Toney, AL When do we meet? Contact Us IGNITEMAGAZINE Saturdays from 6-9pm // Call for more information 256-651-5717 // [email protected] WINTER // SPRING 2014 Sunday Morning Prayer Leader(s) Description Prayer Men, Women, Youth Nancy Bufkin Cover our Sunday morning services with prayer: Impressions team, worship team, pastors, volunteers, grounds, childcare, youth, workers Who’s it For? Ages 4+, men and women Where’s it at? VF Sanctuary building, Room 104 When do we meet? Contact Us Treasure Hunting Leader(s) 37 Sundays @ 9:15am 256- 9457026 // [email protected] Outreach Men,Women,Youth Diana Hase Who’s it For? Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. We were that hidden treasure that He bought with His own precious blood. Then He gave us the command to go into all the world and make disciples starting in our own city! There are treasures out there longing to be found and reclaimed for the Master's use! Pray the Lord of the Harvest to send forth laborer's into the fields that are already ripe for harvest! We also need intercessors to pray when we go out! All ages, men and women Where’s it at? Hase's home, 3300 Hastings Rd. Description When do we meet? Biweekly on Saturdays @ 9am Contact Us 256-882-1674 or 256-651-6871 // [email protected] Ushers Service Men,Women,Youth Leader(s) Charlie Dill Who’s it For? Caring for those in attendance at church services providing protection and seating, offering, and ministry assistance. Ages 19+, men and women Where’s it at? VF Sanctuary Description When do we meet? Contact Us Sundays @ 8:30 & 10:00am 256-509-1197 // [email protected] 38 Valley Worship Team Leader(s) Worship Arts/Education Chris Preslar Who’s it For? The purpose of the Valley Worship Team is to edify and build up the body of Christ by creating an atmosphere for the anointing of God to flow. Our goal is to lead our congregation into a passionate, exhilarating, and intimate time of praise and worship every time we come together. We want Valley to be a place where people can experience a divine encounter with the Lord and have their hearts prepared to receive the teaching of the Word of God. Ages 13+, men and women Where’s it at? VF Sanctuary Description When do we meet? Contact Us Widows in Deed Leader(s) Description Sundays | 8:30am & 10am Rehearsals as needed Application & audition required 256-694-1029 or 256-533-5117 // [email protected] Community Women Erika Medley We meet for dinner, fellowship and prayer once a month. Who’s it For? Widows only Where’s it at? Various restaurants. Contact Erika for details. When do we meet? 2nd Tuesday of each month @ 6pm // Call for location information Contact Us 256-812-0004 or 256-468-7131 // [email protected] Worship Flags Leader(s) Worship Arts/Education Carol Payne Who’s it For? Our goal is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and to help lead the church into worship. Ages 19+, men and women Where’s it at? Beauregards, 511 Jordan Ln. Description When do we meet? Contact Us IGNITEMAGAZINE 1st Sunday of each month @ 12pm 256-655-6205 // [email protected] WINTER // SPRING 2014 * index 39 small groups | service groups Small Groups by focus Bible Study Adult Sunday School p31 The Avenue p31 Better Man p32 Friday Night Friends p33 Ladies’ Bible Study p35 Community A Heart For Him Book Club The Avenue Basketball Sundays Boomers Firehouse Youth Ignite Creative Ignitus Kidz Church Married Life Single & Singles Again Widows In Deed p31 p31 p32 p32 p33 p34 p35 p36 p36 p38 Outreach Funeral Ministry p34 Single & Singles Again p36 Treasure Hunting p37 Prayer Friday Night Friends p33 Intercession p35 Pray For America p36 Sunday Morning Prayerp37 Worship Daughters of Zion Ignitus Kiz Choir Valley Worship Team Worship Flags p33 p34 p38 p38 IGNITEMAGAZINE Small Groups by category Service Areas Arts & Education Daughters of Zion p33 Kidz Church/Nursery Ignite Creative p34 Ages 4-12 Valley Worship Team p38 If you would like to serve, Worship Flags p38 contact Greg Simon at [email protected] Children Ignitus Kidz Choir p34 Firehouse Youth Ignitus Kidz Church p35 If you would like to serve, contact Will Umbarger at College & Career [email protected] The Avenue p31 m Family Friday Night Friends Married Life Marriage Married Life Worship Team: p33 p36 Band/Vocals/Tech p36 If you would like to be a part, contact Chris Preslar at [email protected] Men Basketball Sundays Better Man p32 p32 Recreation Basketball Sundays p32 First Impressions: Greeter/Parking Lot/Security Usher/Welcome Center If you would like to be apart, contact Jorge Lima at [email protected] Youth Firehouse Youth p33 Sunday Morning Prayerp37 Treasure Hunting p37 Seniors Boomers Women A Heart For Him Book Club Ladies’ Bible Study Widows In Deed p32 p31 p35 p38 WINTER // SPRING 2014 OPEN 20 HOUSE 14 40 Valley Fellowship Christian Academy come see what we have in store... >>>Sunday, March 2nd @ 1pm Scan to find out more today! CELEBRATING OVER 25 YEARS RAISING GODLY LEADERS Fall 2014-2015 Registration is Now Open! ( ) If you have returning students, please register soon. We have packets of more information available for new students to learn about VFCA, call the school office at 256-533-5248 Call: 256.533.5248 www.valleyfellowship.com K5-12th Grade Christian Academy Dual Enrollment for High School Little Valley Academy* *(6wks - 4yrs. old)