2013 Winter Newsletter

WBC
NEWS
WINTER
2013
Regarding Jim...
It started with odd verses resonating
unexpectedly last April. Not just one, but a
number of verses, having a distinctive and
personal “from God for me at this time” ring in
the reading. Then there were comments. Simple
statements made by others in the flow of a
Godward conversation. Again, a distinctive and
personal “from God for me at this time” stirring
within. There were also sermons and messages
heard on-line or via radio. Speakers who had no
personal connect but whose words had a very
personal “from God for me at this time” ring in
the hearing of them.
It happened enough that Jim went to his trusty
yellow pad in order to track them. Verses and
comments noted and pondered. They did not
seem to relate to anything that was “right now” for
him - and yet they had an urgent “pay attention,
this is for you” feel to them.
Through the summer and on into the fall
the “soundings” continued. Then came the
recurrent pain, followed, eventually, by a visit
to the emergency room and finally the doctors
diagnosis. Cancer. Aggressive and incurable.
Suddenly the notes on the yellow pad made
sense. Like a missing puzzle piece the doctor’s
words brought everything together. Bold letters:
“This will be a life change”. Equally bold letters: “I
am with you”.
Strange time to be filled with peace - but peace is
exactly what filled Jim’s soul.
Even with regular testing, the disease had flared
undetected yet it did not catch him unprepared.
In fact, instead of groping with the common
questions that arise at such moments, Jim found
himself gripping answers that had already been
given - before the questions were asked.
among us with a simple Godward attentiveness.
As a result he has lived and served among us
as one who hears God. We have been blessed.
Blessed by the example of Godward attentiveness
Jim has set. Blessed, even more, by the Godgiven words of grace given him and passed on
to us in all sorts of varied circumstances and
conditions. Blessed, most of all, by seeing God
answer to his attentiveness in a way that gives
witness to the wonder and reality of Jesus
among us.
Difficult news: Jim has retired. As of January 1,
Jim retired from our pastoral staff. After working
beside Jim this long, it is hard to type those
words. But he cannot walk the cancer road that
God has called him to walk with his family and
still carry the weight of pastoral responsibility.
God has told him that clearly.
We are beginning to look for the person God
has prepared to fill Jim’s key position on our
pastoral staff. It will look like a typical hire
process. Applications and resumes. Interviews
and reference checks. Ultimately decision and
placement. The goal is to have the position filled
in February. It is not a typical hire process. This
is a pastoral placement in a family of faith. That
is not easy. We will need to keep praying the
process forward at each step.
The good news: Jim will continue to live and serve
among us with that simple Godward attentiveness
so long as God gives him the health and strength
to do so. Stephen Ministry, Community Group,
or friend to friend, we will still enjoy his presence
as the Lord allows. However long that is, cherish
it and enter into it in the same Godward way that
Jim does. There is rich grace
to be found among those who
hear God in the simplicity of
attentiveness.
I tell the story because it reflects what it has been
like to have Jim on our Pastoral Staff these past
16 years. Jim has consistently lived and served
MAKING DISCIPLES AS WE…
W O R S H I P TO G E T H E R .
IN THIS
ISSUE
Adult Ministries
Winter Course Line-up p. 2
Extended Ministries
Supported Missionaries p. 3
Youth Ministries
Youth Ministry Update p. 4
Music Ministries
A Week in the Musical Life of
WBC p. 6
Children’s Ministries
Fall Event Recap p. 8
Resource
Past and Present Plans p. 10
Valley Blessing
Thanksgiving Recap p. 11
WBC Life in Pictures
p. 12
AND MORE!
~Larry Kroon, Senior Pastor
L E A R N TO G E T H E R .
S E RV E TO G E T H E R .
ADULT
MINISTRIES
Winter & Spring 2013
Adult Ministry Course Line-up
Adult Studies:
• Sunday Mornings, Ongoing
11:15-12:30pm
Pastor John
Rm. 204
Adult Sunday School: We are currently studying our way through 1
Samuel and plan to continue into 2 Samuel in the months to come.
Feel free to join us at any time.
• Sunday Evenings, Resumes January 5th
6:30-8:30pm
Pastor John
Gillespie’s
GAP (college and career age): “I searched for a man among them
who would build up the wall and stand in the GAP.” Ezekiel 22:30
Please join us this year as we enjoy food, fellowship and an in-depth
look at Deutoronomy. Contact John @ 376-2176 for more information.
• Tuesday Evenings, Begins January 7th
7:00-8:30pm
Joe Kirkwood
Rm. 204
I Corinthians 13: How is your relationship with the Lord, family members and friends? 1 Corinthians 13 teaches how to successfully grow
in the relationships God has placed in your unique world. Contact
Joe Kirkwood at 373-7977 for more information.
Men’s Bible Studies:
• Sunday Mornings, Begins January 5th
11:15-12:30pm
Loren Kroon
Sports Complex
Men’s Connection: The men of WBC meet weekly for discussion and
prayer to encourage one another.
• Tuesday Mornings, Begins January 7th
8:00-9:30am
Pastor Joel
Rm. B11
Men’s Bible Study: Join us as we continue to study the book of
Psalms. Each week we will read, discuss, and sing a psalm, and pray
for one another.
• Wednesday Evenings, Begins January 8th
7:00-8:30pm Mark Doner & Pastor Larry
CoffeeHouse
Men’s Bible Study: The coffee is on at 6:30pm. The study begins
at 7:00.
• Thursday Morning, Ongoing
6:00-7:30am
John Doak
CoffeeHouse
Men’s Thursday Morning Breakfast: Come to the church coffee house
at 6:00am to help cook and fellowship, eat at 6:30am and spend
time in the Word and prayer before we hit the day ahead. We shoot
to end around 7:30am but you can split whenever work calls. Bring a
few bucks to help costs as you are able.
PAGE 2
Women’s Bible Studies:
• Tuesday Mornings, Begins January 7th
10:00-12:00pm
Sarah Brown
CoffeeHouse
10:00-12:00pm
Merry Doner
Rm. 204
• Wednesday Evenings, Begins January 8th
7:00-8:30pm
Nikki Toll
Rm. B03
Women’s Bible Study: ”What do we do with the prophets? These
were real men in historical situations with God-given messages for the
people of Israel. But that was THEN... a long time ago “THEN”! Why
are their words important to read now? What are we NOW meant to
understand about God and his people? Indeed, what do we do with
the prophets? Childcare is available upon request, sign up in
the foyer.
Starting Point:
• Sunday, February 9, February 23, and March 9, 2014
1:00-2:30pm
Rm. B03
Starting Point: Starting Point is designed to be an on-ramp into the
various aspects of congregational life. Through the three sessions of
Starting Point we will relationally coach you through the process you
want to begin (whether that’s joining community groups, pursuing
church membership, getting baptized, or something else). We’ll do
that in a low-key, relational setting where we can get to know one
another, typically over a meal. The bottom line is that if you want to
move deeper into church life, Starting Point is where you want to go.
Sign Up at the Welcome Desk, in the foyer.
Other Ministries:
PrimeTimers: A Senior Adult Ministry for men and women at or near
retirement whose purpose is to fellowship, support, and encourage
one another. Primetimers meet on the 1st Saturday of each month at
9:00am. Call Mel @ 376-7719 for more info.
Defend: WBC Adoption and Foster Care Ministry whose purpose is
to connect and support adoptive and foster care families with workshops, training, and meetings. Call Amanda Bacon @ 373-0081 for
more information.
Stephen Ministry: Our congregation’s Stephen Ministry equips lay
people to provide confidential, one-to-one Christian care to individuals in our congregation and community who are experiencing difficulties in their lives. Call 376-2176 for more information
Perspectives: Experience God’s heart for all peoples and encounter
the momentum of the World Christian Movement. Begins January
14th, from 6:30-9:00pm in room B03 and ends April 29th. College
credit is available, please visit the table in the foyer for more info.
WINTER 2013
ADULT
MINISTRIES CONT.
Benevolent Ministry
“Thank you,” to all who were able to join the Benevolent
Ministry meetings that were announced at our annual pie social.
We met three different times with people who are interested
in offering their time, talents, and resources in response to
those in need. I realize that there are more of you out there
who would love to pass on the grace and blessings you have
received from God. May this article be that opportunity.
First some background. For quite a few years we have
been taking a benevolent offering on the Sunday prior to
Thanksgiving. It seems fitting at that time of year, when we
are most focused on giving thanks for what God has done,
that we remember those around us in need. Through the
years the WBC pastors (chiefly Pastor Jim) have administered
the offering while helping those in need in our church and
community. Since coming on staff, I (Pastor John) have been
Pastor Jim’s back-up. I have learned much from Pastor Jim and
pray that God will guide me well as we continue to respond
to needs.
Help. I’ll take all the help I can get. As you pray for our
church, please remember that we do minister to those in need.
Pray that this ministry will “Meet the basic needs of people as
we disciple them God-ward,” our stated purpose. Pray for the
Benevolent Ministries Team as we meet to discuss this ministry,
as we respond to needs, and as we seek to enlist people like
you to partner with us in ministry.
The point of the December meetings and this article is to make
you aware of benevolent ministries and enlist your help. Often,
but not always, the need can be met with contact, prayer, and
financial resources. Thus, the offering… However, there are
many situations where money is not the main need or answer.
Many situations of need require hands-on involvement. We
have moved a family while Dad was deployed, we have built a
wheelchair ramp, we have conducted financial and employment
counseling, we have delivered meals, and the list goes on. (By
“we,” I mean YOU the people of WBC.)
Some needs are typical. Most are not. So, if you have read
this far and God is leading you to offer yourself, time, talents,
and resources to the Benevolent Ministry of WBC your next
step follows: email me at [email protected] and give
me your name, contact info, and a list of what you are willing to
make available. Think outside the box. Needs include, but are
not limited to, respite care, hauling, digging, feeding, clothing,
etc… God only knows how your offering will be used.
Please understand that when you offer yourself you are not
obligating yourself to every call that comes your way. We as a
benevolent team will work with the people in need and bring in
your resources as required. When we call, a “not available just
now” is a fair answer. A gentleman once said to me, “Call if I
can help…” Later when I did call he was on a beach 2500 miles
away. I called someone else that day. That is ok.
In the story of the Good Samaritan Jesus asked the lawyer;
“Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor
to the man who fell among the robbers?’ He
said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ And
Jesus said to him, ‘You go, and do likewise.’”
Luke 10:36, 37 (ESV)
~John Doak, Adult Ministries Pastor
WOMEN’S MINISTRY
Dear Women of WBC!
As we look back on 2013 it is with gratitude to God! He has
blessed us in Christ! Women’s Ministry introduced the heart of
our purpose: Making disciples! How will we do this? Answer:
By Growing, Nurturing, Extending and Reviving through our
relationships with each other as we loyally follow Jesus. It is in
knowledge of Him that we, as women, are knitted and woven
together in love. (Colossians 2:2,3)
Through rich Bible study together in the book of Hebrews we
did Grow! Through establishing groups of women who serve
others and connect through similar cares and situations we
Making Disciples As We...Worship Together, Learn Together, Serve Together.
did Nurture! Through ministry to Young Lives at Burchell and
through 2013 Valley Blessing we did Extend! Through our
November 8th “Come Together” event we did Revive!
Looking forward to 2014 we fully anticipate that we will see
the excellence of our God together. We invite you to join us
in the coming year! There will be many
opportunities to follow Jesus together. New
Bible studies begin in January! Nurture and
Extend will continue to develop. Watch for
news of our next Revive event in March!
~Merry Doner, Women’s Discipleship Director
PAGE 3
YOUTH
MINISTRIES
Youth Ministry Update
WBC FamilyI’d like to take this opportunity to catch you up on the most recent
events in WBC’s youth ministry. This past fall we held our annual high
school fall retreat at Victory Bible Camp. The theme this year was
“Medieval.” Needless to say, there were some really good costumes,
some great games, awesome air-band performances, and… possibly
a prank or two. Our large and small group discussions that weekend
were on dying to ourselves and being kingdom focused. It was a great
time spent with Jesus.
As for middle school, we held our annual Novemberfest, an exciting
evening for middle school age youth and their families to come together
and enjoy fun challenges, great food, (including the best homemade
corndogs in Alaska), face painting, game booths (my favorite was frozen
turkey bowling), and the most popular challenge; Gladiator Jousting in a
blow-up rink. I also enjoyed the opportunity of meeting families.
As we come out of the Christmas break we will be hosting our winter
guys lock-in on WBC’s campus January 24-25. I’m looking forward
to hanging out with the guys, spending some time in the word, and
possibly participating in a game of intense mafia. We are also planning
a father/daughter banquet in February and a middle school H2Oasis
trip in March. To top off the year we will put on our annual chili cook-off
and auction (Refer to the calendar on the right for more details).
As a team of leaders, our ultimate goal is to plant seeds of truth that the
Lord will water into a great knowledge of Christ. We accomplish this
through building relationships with the students during small groups,
instructing with the Word, events, and having fun. This year we have
been adventuring through the Gospel of John. It has been a great
study and glance into the life of Jesus and the message with which he
was sent to deliver to the world. So far in this study we have looked
at the humility, boldness, claims, miracles, truths and grace that Jesus
possessed. We are looking forward to finishing this Gospel strong and
continuing to turn hearts Godward through the power of the Holy Spirit.
Pray that the Lord would bless the work of our hands and the heart of
our kids at WBC.
WEEKLY
YOUTH
SCHEDULE
PAGE 4
High School Youth
Group (Crossfire)
Wednesday Nights
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Rm B03
Pray also for the teens, that they would be spurred on to give witness to
the reality of Jesus in their daily lives.
Blessing to you for the glory of Christ Jesus,
~Josh O’Donnell, Youth Pastor
STUDENT CALENDAR
High School (Crossfire)
January 12 - S.A.L.T. 2nd Semester Start-up
January 24 & 25- Guys Lock-in
March 12- No Youth Group
March 30 - Chili Cookoff
April 12 - Mother/Daughter Easter Tea
May 10- Bondservant Workday
May 17- Bondservant Workday
May 18 - Senior Sunday
May 21- Youth Group Ends
May 24- Bondservant Workday
May 31 - Bondservant Workday
June 15-20 - Gulkana (Freshmen Summer Trip)
July 6-13 - G.R.I.M.E (Sophomore Summer Trip)
July 9-18 - Beyond Malibu (Junior Summer Trip)
Middle School (Crosswalk)
Febuary 7 - Father Daughter Banquet
March 1 - H2Oasis
March 11 - No Youth Group
April 12 - Mother/Daughter Easter Tea
May 18 - Sunday School Ends
May 20 - Youth Group Ends
Leaders
May 18th - Volunteer Potluck
Middle School Youth
Group (Crosswalk)
Tuesday Nights
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Auditorium
Middle School Sunday
School
11:15am - 12:15pm
Annex
WINTER 2013
YOUTH
MINISTRIES CONT.
Middle School November Fest. & High School Fall Retreat 2013
Making Disciples As We...Worship Together, Learn Together, Serve Together.
PAGE 5
MUSIC
MINISTRIES
A Week in the Musical Life of WBC
Tuesday Morning, early: My Tuesday morning Bible study
group has been working through the Psalms this year. Each
week we conclude our study of that week’s psalm by singing it.
If there is a contemporary musical setting that we all know, we
sing that, otherwise we use a metrical translation of the psalm
and a familiar hymn tune. If you walk past B11 at 7:45am on a
Tuesday, you’ll hear anywhere from three to eight low, morning
voices singing through a psalm.
Tuesday Morning, a little later: A lot of preschoolers and
homeschoolers come with their moms for Tuesday Morning
Women’s Bible studies. The kids all have Bible lessons, too,
but first they gather for a song time. My wife Naomi plays the
ukulele, Becky Winter plays the bass guitar, Heidi Doner the
piano, and I get to do lots of motions with the kids. Right now
two of their favorite songs are “I’m in the Lord’s Army” and
“Montaña”, a setting of Matthew 17:20 that we learned from our
sister church in Mexico (we sing it in English).
Wednesday Evening: In B03, the Youth band gathers to
rehearse and then lead their peers in worship. Depending
on the Wednesday, the instrumentation can really vary. The
first Wednesday of the month is acoustic night with ukuleles,
acoustic guitars, bass guitar, and cajón (a Peruvian box drum).
On the other weeks you may hear a string section with two
violins and two cellos or driving electric guitar. The beautiful
baby grand piano gets a lot of use as does the drum set. One
Wednesday I came downstairs and heard Thomas and Jessica
Doak playing “Everlasting God” on a seven foot marimba
hand-made by Hal Grindle.
Meanwhile up in the coffeehouse, the Wednesday Evening
Men’s Bible Study band is rocking out with Phil Evans on
vocals, Josh Heffner on lead guitar, Taft Tracy on rhythm guitar,
Jess Lederman on keys, Mike Kelly on bass guitar, and Igor
Galakhov on cajón.
In the sanctuary, the WBC bluegrass band is rehearsing.
This past semester we enjoyed working on some new songs
that are actually old songs, such as “Come, Ye Sinners, Poor
and Needy” from the classic 19th century American hymn
book Southern Harmony and Musical Companion . Southern
Harmony is famous for being the first to publish John Newton’s
hymn text “Amazing Grace” with the American folk melody
“New Britain”, a pairing of words and music that has now
become the most recorded song in the world.
Thursday Evening: On Thursday evenings our other Sunday
morning worship teams rehearse. Depending on the Thursday
and which team is practicing, you may hear Dale Tumey and
Steve Everhart trading licks on saxophone and electric guitar
or our string quartet working out their parts or Tanya Galakhov
teaching the team one of her original compositions. Thursday
evening is a key time of musical preparation and of prayer for
our Sunday morning services.
Saturday Morning: On Saturday mornings, the Men’s Bible
Study Band rehearses. Taft Tracy’s electric guitar and Phil
Evans crooning vocals fill the coffee house.
Sunday Morning: At 8:00am, the worship team gathers to
pray with the set-up and coffee house crew. We then run
through all the music for the morning, working out any final
musical details, adjusting the monitors, checking the lyric slides,
etc. We spend a focused hour working through the mechanics
so that when the service begins we can focus on our Lord and
enjoy joining the congregation in worship of Him.
In B03 at 8:30, the Fishing Crew worship team gathers to do
what the team upstairs is also doing: pray, rehearse, work out
the mechanics, and then lead in worship of our glorious God.
9:30 in the Grow Zone: as the sanctuary and B03 are filled
with people praising God, Cody Buzby goes around to the
pre-school class rooms and leads the kids in songs of praise.
Thomas and Jessica Doak also lead a song time in their
pre-school class room. Cathy Winter makes the Grow Zone
rounds during the second service. “My God Is So Big” is a
favorite with these young worshippers.
At 11:15, as again the sanctuary and B03 are filled with people
PAGE 6
WINTER 2013
MUSIC
MINISTRIES CONT.
praising God and the Grow Zone is again extolling the
greatness of our God, in the annex Alyssa Foss is also leading
our middle-schoolers in worship.
Sunday Afternoon: Before Christmas and Easter, our choir
gathers at 1:00pm on Sunday afternoons to work through quite
a bit of music. It is an enjoyable challenge for all of us in the
choir to learn our various parts and then work at putting them
all together with the goal of exalting Jesus and encouraging
his people. Thanks to Maggie Chapman for leading and
rehearsing us this past Christmas season.
Sunday Evening: At Awana, Dave and Laura Horning lead in
an enthusiastic time of worship with musical support from their
son Ryan on drums and Kiara Fleckenstein and Cody Buzby
on guitar.
Any Given Day: Thus far I have tried to give a glimpse of
some of the music that happens on-site each week, but just as
we as a church are not confined to our facility, so neither is our
song. Each week’s worship leaders spend time at home singing
and planning the various services. Some of the community
groups have a time of sung worship in the homes where they
meet. Most Sundays I give away sheet music to people in our
congregation who take the songs home to play and sing. Each
week WBC’s musical life extends well beyond this building.
One of the more powerful times of worship I had the privilege
of being part of last month was in an Adult
Critical Care room at Providence Hospital
where the Doner family was singing “Be Still,
O My Soul (Psalm 46)”.
~Joel Stamoolis, Worship Pastor
WORSHIP LEADER PROFILE: Steve Everhart
How long have you been involved in
the Worship Ministry at WBC and
how did you get started? I started
getting involved in the Worship
Ministry at WBC by sitting in
with Paul and Karen Schindler a
few times. I took over the team
when they left back in the 90s.
A couple of years later I started
leading worship for the youth. Within a year or so l needed to
cut back on my commitments so I stepped away from leading
Making Disciples As We...Worship Together, Learn Together, Serve Together.
the Sunday morning team to concentrate more on Youth
worship. Connie Stahle took over leadership of the team
and I stayed on as a guitarist and backup singer. Not long
ago Connie and I figured out that we'd been leading worship
together for about 17 years.
What instruments do you play? Growing up I really wanted to
play the drums but my parents wanted me to take up something
more classical, so, after about two or three piano lessons from
my mom, I selected the trumpet. Two years after that we moved
back to Alaska and we sold my trumpet and to my parents'
chagrin my oldest brother gave me his old Stella Harmony
guitar. These days I mostly play guitar but I am trying to learn
to play the bass. Whenever I can, I indulge my inner drummer
with my Djembe and other assorted percussion instruments. I
have a dream of someday doing a solo on the egg shaker.
Do you have a favorite verse or passage related to worship? 2
Samuel 6:14 “And David danced before the LORD with all his
might...” I love King David's passion for the Lord and the ways
he expressed that passion through worship. He was not afraid
to look foolish in the eyes of man.
What are some of your favorite worship songs and why? Lyrically,
I prefer songs where God is the primary intended audience,
where worshipers are singing to Him. “Shout to the Lord”, “We
Fall Down”, Strong Tower” (Kutless), “You Are My King”, “Better
Is One Day,” and “It Is You” are among my favorites. Musically,
I find myself drawn to songs with fun and interesting guitar
parts for some reason. “Everlasting God”, “Grace,” and “You're
Worthy of My Praise” are among my favorites. I would have to
say that Chris Tomlin is my favorite modern worship composer.
What do you find most challenging about leading worship? Not
getting to sleep in on Sunday mornings. Okay, seriously the
most challenging part is keeping the message of each song
fresh even if we've played it a hundred times. As part of the
worship team my goal should be to draw the congregation into
worship while turning their attention away from me and toward
God. I often find that hardest to do when I'm enjoying myself
or enjoying a song the most.
What do you enjoy most about leading worship? I really enjoy the
fellowship of the band, whether its taking off between services
to a coffee shop or getting our groove on during a song where
we're together and really tight. Leading worship is most
rewarding when the congregation is with us, responding to the
song and joining in with enthusiasm.
PAGE 7
CHILDREN’S
MINISTRIES
Mid-Week Ministry
We’ve had some amazing changes this school year. One
of the biggest and most exciting would be in the Mid-Week
Ministry. We started with Answers in Genesis for the older
kids and BOZ for the younger. With the help of Cindi Dupuis
and Linda Churchill teaching our large group lesson and Joel’s
Mid-Week Worship Team’s dedication, our kids are doing some
amazing things. We get to witness 2 & 3 year olds praying for
their parents…and a few stuffed animals. A 3 year old stood up
in front of a large group and said his memory verse word for
word! This is awesome! You took a part in all of this too. The
take home sheets are being done. Hopefully the family time is
well worth it and you’re enjoying it too. Your positive feedback
has been such an encouragement. Thank you!
5 days of VBS—essentially a week of our precious Alaskan
summer-- is a lot to give. Thus, we’re looking into the
possibility of changing VBS to be in August and to shorten it to
3 days instead of 5. With moving it later in the summer, we will
have less time to recover from it so we’re hoping by shortening
the event we will make it a better fit. In addition, we will be
better able to connect kids to Sunday school and disciple them
there. We welcome your feedback on this and desire most for
God to be glorified in all that we do with our
kids. Feedback or questions can be emailed
to Tonya at [email protected].
~Tonya Jones, Assitant Children’s Ministry Director
FISHING Crew
FISHing Crew has had some changes too. This year we
implemented an incentive program for our grade school kids.
They’re bringing their Bibles, learning their verses, and bringing
friends! We love this. The bigger prizes that they’re winning
encourage family time and togetherness. We’re focusing on
the attributes of God in 1st -3rd grade. The 4th & 5th graders
are about to begin learning how to do inductive Bible study.
GrowZone
GrowZone continues their adventure through Bible stories.
Our little ones learn the basics which we build on each year
through Children’s Ministry. Our team this year is super
creative and work really hard to make the stories come alive to
the kids.
VBS
VBS changes for 2014. It is our desire that VBS complement
our Sunday school curriculum, reach out to children with the
Gospel and use volunteer time well. We took a long look
at how our present VBS matches those goals. With much
rewriting, the content of our last VBS dovetailed nicely with our
Sunday school curriculum. As far as reaching out to children
with the Gospel, I am happy to report that there were kids who
did accept Christ! Yay! However, because it was at the end
of the school year, we had no way to follow up with them until
FISHing Crew started again several months later. As for our
volunteers, they were fabulous and they gave sacrificially of
their time and energy to make a great week of VBS. However,
PAGE 8
Rwanda Offering Project
This past school year, our kids prayerfully chose to focus their
offering money towards Tim and Jessica Brubaker’s ministry
in Rwanda. After some dialogue back and forth, Tim came up
with two great ways we could bless the pastors in training at
the Bible college: study Bibles and t-shirts emblazoned with the
school logo for each pastor. We saved up our offering money
all year and sent it on to the Brubakers in June right about
the time the pastors would be graduating. In Tim’s words,
“everyone was TREMENDOUSLY excited and grateful” to
receive their gifts. The first picture shows the pastors in their
new shirts. The second picture is of the study Bible in their
native language. It has been a great joy to the kids at WBC to
reach all the way from Alaska to Rwanda
with our prayers and gifts for these young
pastors who are working so hard to become
ministers of God’s Word.
~Linda Anderson, Children’s Ministry Director
WINTER 2013
CHILDREN’S
MINISTRIES CONT.
Children’s Ministry in Pictures
Making Disciples As We...Worship Together, Learn Together, Serve Together.
PAGE 9
RESOURCE
Fall: A Look Over Our Shoulder
There are few times in the year that force me to deliberately
stop and look back. The start of the New Year by far is the
greatest of these times. I find it hard for me to stop, take my
eyes off of the course long enough to enjoy what has happened
in the wake of life. The crazy thing is that in these times of
reflection I often see with the greatest clarity the evident hand
of God in our lives!
This Fall the Resource Office and support team was working
to help launch a new community group structure, implement
video functionality of our Sunday service, start the deployment
of a new congregational communication tool (The City),
add additional functionality to our growing kitchen, start the
planning process for a classroom expansion, and maintain
consistent support of our ministries and pastors. I am happy
to report that we have seen the Lord raise up over 30 leaders
of community groups, a fully implemented video of our Sunday
sermon available through our web site, an initial integration of
almost 300 people in our family of faith using our common
communication tool (The City), a completed first draft of
possible classroom expansion options from the architect, and
a maintaining of staff and pastoral support that has weathered
one of the biggest hits to our team with the retirement of a key
staff member, Jim Eller, due to his fight against cancer.
It is only when I look back that I am thankful the Lord gives
us a lamp unto our feet to go forward. While I see the hand
of the Lord in hindsight it is an act of grace that He leads us
forward with what is needed for the work of today. While I
cannot see the detail of the road ahead, I as always have a plan,
knowing fully that man makes the plan and God determines the
outcome. With that, lets look to the good toil for this winter as
we watch the days grow longer…
Winter: Watching the Days
Grow Longer
While I celebrate the progress made, it is not with a check
in my spirit to the work that is still ahead and the desire to
continue to move these projects forward. Let me walk you
through some of the toil that lays before us.
Community Groups: While we had a good start to our launch
of community groups with a solid leader group we turn the
corner to the work and prayer of raising up new leaders to
grow our coverage of community groups. We have people
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that desire to plug into community, but we need more leaders.
This is a tension that we knew would come as we focus on
quality leaders, trusting the Lord that as he provides them more
groups will start thus covering more of our family of faith. If
you are reading this, please do two things… first pray for more
leaders and secondly consider if the Lord is answering our
prayers for leaders by you becoming a leader :) If you desire
to engage in this please contact Larry Kroon at 376-2176.
We will work with you to equip you for the role of leading a
community group.
Common Communication (The City): Over this fall, we
have deployed a common communication tool to all of our
ministries, service groups, community group leaders, Elders,
Staff, Worship Teams, Children’s Ministry, and any functional
area of Wasilla Bible Church that could be served well with
a tool for communication. We are continuing to learn how
best this tool can work in our context and are now preparing
to launch the tool to the whole congregation. By the end of
February we will be ready to open this tool to everyone in
Wasilla Bible Church. Our core desire is to have a functional
common communication tool to help our family of faith
communicate well as we grow. If you are reading this and you
are not on The City and do not want to wait until February,
please feel free to contact me at 376-2176 and I will help get
you set up. We are encouraged with how this tool is allowing
us to communicate more effectively in various groups and
look forward to the benefits of better communication with the
whole of our family as we work to get everyone on the same
communication channel.
Staffing: As we come into the new year there are two
positions that we will be working to fill. The first is Jim’s
replacement and the second is a front office administrative
assistant. If you are interested or know of someone who may
be a good fit please stop by the Welcome desk and pick up
a hire packet. We ask that you pray with us for wisdom and
knowledge as we process these hires. The Lord has faithfully
brought to the staff team the right people at the right time for
His purpose. We look forward to this process and seeing the
Lord continue to staff His church.
Building Plans: Over this winter, we will be working with
the Building Committee and Staff to fine tune a classroom
expansion project. Our goal has been to have a good plan and
initial timeline to report this coming Annual Meeting. We are
currently on track to accomplish this. Our desire is to plan well
so we can respond to growth in our family as the Lord adds to
WINTER 2013
RESOURCE CONT.
our numbers. The common thing you will hear from me is “plan
proactively to respond well reactively”. Our building is a tool
that we as a family want to grow in direct support of the growth
of His church (People); never assuming growth but responding
well to growth. This is a delicate balance that we ask for your
support in prayer on. Buildings cost a lot of money and we
desire to plan well so we can prepare for the needed costs in a
balanced financial plan.
Prayer: Stopping as We Start
When you have a list sitting before you and pressure around
dates and deadlines, people needing information, tasks that are
not crucial but are the loudest ones talking, and a ticking clock
in your office that you cannot get out of your ears it is hard to
push it all aside and stop to pray. Yet that is exactly what we
are called to do with confidence. While the world will look at
you as wasting precious time, talking to someone you cannot
see, and asking for things that are yet to be “started”, we must
discipline ourselves to be obedient in this. Trusting that while
we see with a lamp it is he who holds that lamp that we must
trust and be in communication with. For me this is a discipline
that I continue to have to work on. The press of the immediate
is often louder in my ears then the call to my knees in prayer.
This is something that I continue to actively work on in my life
and I ask that you join me. Priority of prayer looks great on a
banner in our auditorium as a core commitment, but is lived out
in the quiet of our rooms with the shades closed and a heart
in submission to our God. Trusting with confidence that while
many are the plans, it is the will of God that
will prevail. Thank you for your role in our
Family of Faith. It is a joy to serve in support
of you and alongside you.
~Jake Davies, Resource Manager
Valley Blessing: Extending Grace As We Serve Together
This past Thanksgiving we as a Family of Faith opened our
home to the community and various partnering organizations
and communities of faith to extend grace to families in need
through the giving of food for a thanksgiving meal.
Last year we committed to host the Valley Blessing at our
church for two years. This first year we were happy to come
together and serve just under 1000 families who needed food
for a thanksgiving meal. We distributed over 40,000 lbs
of food!!
While the meal is the tangible take away it is the relational
connect that we work to incorporate into the day. We
intentionally structure the food pick up in a way that has each
receiver connect with as many people as possible. From the
time they walk in to the time they leave they will meet and
be served by 12 people at a minimum. This connect allows
for God’s grace to be extending one conversation at a time
through the people of our church and the other partnering
agencies, organizations, and churches.
We look forward to next year and the continued opportunity
to serve alongside each other and in support of those in our
community. Thank you to all who served from WBC, all 100+
of you!
~Jake Davies, Resource Manager
Making Disciples As We...Worship Together, Learn Together, Serve Together.
PAGE 11
WBC LIFE IN PICTURES
Malachi Stamoolis at the Father Son Event.
The PrimeTimers enjoying their Christmas Party.
A baby moose visiting WBC.
Seth Collins learning about a British
Enfield Mark IV at the Father Son event.
The Novak ladies with Margaret Melear having fun during the Valley Blessing.
PAGE 12
Claire Smith helping at the Valley Blessing.
Tanya Galakhov and her daughter during one of our morning services.
Our three year old classes presented thier version of the
nativity during our Christmas service.
Making Disciples As We...Worship Together, Learn Together, Serve Together.