Sunnyvale EFC

The Bread Winner!

2008-06-16T22:57:00.000-07:00

I like Togo’s. It's funny each time I go there, which is at least once a month, they ask what kind of bread to make the sandwiches. I didn’t realize how many kinds of bread there are! There’s tons. Since we just passed Father’s Day, when we honor dads and tell them how much we appreciate what they do and how they work to put bread on the table. I was reminded that in the old days, dad’s were called the breadwinner— a term we don't use much any longer. But Jesus is the true bread winner! Yes, He said in John 6:51, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.”
Jesus makes a big claim after he fed more than 5000 people in the wilderness. He said, "I am the Living bread from heaven." He is the true Bread of Life. You know, we can eat a lot of bread. Cake and cookies are so sweet. Sourdough is really good with soup. Then there's chapatti, pita, bammy, barbari, focaccia, injera, lavash, lefse, matzo, naan, and tortilla. Yum! And there's Coburg, Epi, Pumpernickel, and Rye breads. Makes me hungry! Jesus said, "I am the living bread!" Not I give you living bread.
If you think about delicious bread, He is the bread that comes from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. Eating bread takes care of our hunger for a few hours, but Jesus is forever. To eat of this bread is a figure of speech for believing, for no one eats something they're scared of eating, like, "What's that? Ee-yu!" Eating a meal implies that it is wholesome, nourishing, and good--trustworthy.
Jesus said, "This bread is my flesh which I will give for the life of the world." Jesus gave Himself as bread so that the world could live. Not only had the Father given the bread, but the Bread gave Himself. He is truly God and truly man. “Flesh” refers to His human nature. He offers His humanity, for the life of the world. Jesus looks forward to the cross where he paid the penalty for sin. In effect, He becomes the bread for poor starving souls to feed upon and live forever. Like eating bread, we trust in Him to find life. When we eat our natural bread it becomes part of us and gives us new strength and life. In the same way, when we take Jesus at His word by faith, we receive life and strength. But this life qualitatively different, because it is eternal life. Eternal life is not just life that is really long, but that which is close and intimate with God. He’s better than any pretzel you could eat, better than any pasta, better than any cake. He gives Himself freely for those would take and eat and believe. He’s the breadwinner! We become breadwinner’s when we trust in Him and eat.

Summer Fun

2008-06-05T20:04:00.000-07:00

I have been teaching at Valley Christian through this year part time. Our school year ended May 30th. When I think of the school and neighborhood where I grew up, I find the students at Valley are very dear. They still have a sweetness and kindness though the world continues to grow hard and cold toward children. I am very thankful for these students and their openness to learn new things.

But with the end of school, I have a little more time to devote to serving my community in Sunnyvale. As Wellspring continues to grow and develop, God is doing so many cool things to teach me his love and compassion. On Tuesday during the Puppets in the Park a large group of kids and their caregivers assembled. I ran out of crafts and used every craft I had in my bag. There weren't enough crayons to go around. But the children shared, the parents waited patiently as each of the children worked, created, imagined and made stick puppets. It was fun! It was fun to see in a ;public arena where so man y diverse people coming together could ccooperate and give me a glimpse of His grace in smiling faces that weren't too upset that evrything wasn't perfectly in place.

As I saw my children running and playing in the playground, I recognized again how important that we live in community, giving and receiving, helping and being assisted, caring and encouraging.

I look forward to this summer to build community and see how God will work to develop a community that reflects His character and grace.

Sunnyvale Faire Carnival games

2008-05-11T10:19:00.000-07:00

As the weather gets progressively better, warmer and the summer season is upon us, what a great day for a Faire! Having a picnic in our community is fun. Adding friends from the community, neighbors and more friends is more fun. Add in games like a soccer shoot, basketball shooting, toddler area, tractor run, horseshoes, croquet, miniature golf, and face painting along with a vegetarian grill and some chicken dogs, that's great fun!

We're inviting our community for the Sunnyvale Faire on May 18, 2008 from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Everything is free! Along with games, we'll have a brief talk, puppet show and music for the whole family to enjoy.

We look forward to meeting new friends and blessing our community with the love of God.

Egghunt Resurrection Sunday March 23

2008-03-21T15:39:00.000-07:00

We are hosting an Easter Egghunt on March 23. We have invited our friends and neighbors and the community to come out and participate at DeAnza Park from 11:45-1:45.

What a wonderful time to remember our Lord Jesus who offered Himself on our behalf on the cross. Praise God who raised Him from dead and He is alive!

As the egg symbolize new life, we thank God for the new life we have in Jesus. As the eggs contain sweets, we recognize that Jesus makes our life sweet no matter how things get or difficult the circumstances are.

We pray that we can bless our community and that they will be refreshed as they join us in celebrating this life-giving event of Jesus’ resurrection.

Sunnyvale Sundays in the Park

2008-01-26T17:08:00.000-08:00

Thank you for your prayers.

We currently meet two Sundays a month. One Sunday has an extended time for teaching at 1 pm until 2 pm at DeAnza Park Community Center. There are also activities for kids to learn and grow.

We are following the text of John's Gospel. In January, we discovered John the Baptist testified to Jesus as the Lamb of God. During election times when people are vying for the spotlight, being called a lamb may seem somewhat insignificant. Jesus didn't seek to impress people. But he was never too busy with those who may be seeking a deeper relationship and understanding.

When two of John's followers went to meet Jesus, he gave them a simple invitation, "Come and See." We also want to extend an invitation to our community to come and see who Jesus is.

We'll be at the DeAnza Park Community Center February 3rd at 1, and then February 17th at 11:30 when lunch is served and finishes at 1:30 pm.

God is good!

2007-06-07T10:47:00.000-07:00

My last posting was in October. Even though eight months have passed by in a flurry of activity, our ministry has been going strong. This hiatus from blogging was inadvertent. From November I had taken a long-term substitute teaching opportunity while continuing to start a church in Sunnyvale by God's grace and mercies.

I found that the ministry in Sunnyvale is a deep fervent love. When I think of each of the people in my community, I smile. What a great joy there is knowing and meeting these precious people! As I see their faces in my minds eye, I am overwhelmed with how blessed I am to be part of something so significant and yet so tender.

Puppets in the Park continues. We have larger crowds. When I arrive with my sons in the park, I am lugging behind me a portable puppet stage and suitcase where puppets Ben and Akosh rest until the puppet show. The children and their caregivers sometimes announce "Puppet show" and gather before I have a chance to set up the stage. Everything is low key. There is nothing fancy. But we have fun and laughs.

Diane Lyall, the Children's Director at Trinity has been faithfully helping on Mondays at DeAnza Park with story time and crafts. She is enthusiastic and has a deep love for the children who come.

As summer vacation begins, Puppets in the Park will be covering more character topics in line with the Fruits of the Spirit described in Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Please pray with us that we will have a great harvest with much fruit.

Later in June, on the 24th we will be at DeAnza park with a potluck and singing, talk, puppet show and lots of fun activities from 11:30-1:30. We're calling it Summer Sundays in the Park so that residents can a fresh sip of the Spirit with Wellspring.EFC.

See you there!

Dwain

Values

2006-10-19T14:58:00.000-07:00

I was going through some church planting studies. The Church Planter's Toolkit had some nuggets that caught my eye. In the section on “Clarifying Your Core Values,” are statements that help me understand why having a statement on values is important.

“Core values drive and shape ministry. There is a guiding force, a controlling assumption, a directing conviction behind everything that happens…. The values of any organization control priorities, provide for the foundation for formulating goals, and set the tone and direction of the organization…. For what do you want your church to be known? What should be your critical success indicators?… Values communicate what is important. Values inspire people to action. Values influence the organization’s overall behavior. Values determine the ministry vision.”

From these thoughts about values, I look at values for a church start up as not just a dream of what things can be like, but as the pathway leading beyond the horizon from what I as yet cannot see. Being from a city, hiking in the woods was new and filled with fantasy. Trying to catch glimpses of chipmunks and birds, hearing new sounds. I often left the well paved path to pioneer my own. I would not venture too far off for fear of getting lost. The well worn path was my guide even though it was not immediately in sight. The path I ventured on my own, I marked by ravines and other features of landscape. Then as the sun began to set, trotting back to the safety of the well worn path, I returned with a sense of adventure. I had new discoveries of "the untamed wild" of nature. Not having that path to guide me would require me to find other reference points that I was not sure would lead me back home. The path was my base from which I could move forward.

Our core team has been meeting to discuss and consider, what are the values that guide us. Without having public services during this time and looking out beyond the horizon, what are the values God would desire us to embrace for this work?

We will be prayerfully considering and asking and searching the heart of God. The draft of our value statement is tentative not in the sense that we have no stand, but the sense that we seek God's finger print. Into his hand we submit ourselves according to his grace.

Value Statement
Working on the ABC’s

Authentic Worship
Jesus said that the greatest commandment is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all of your soul and with all of your mind and with all of your strength.” We believe that worshipping our God and Savior authentically engages our heart, soul, mind and strength. There are many dimensions to worship expressed in the Sunday service as well as during the week as we serve our God. Our acts of service can be an offering to God being rendered unto God and for God’s glory. We want to express our worship in fresh ways and . Our prayer is that God is exalted in everything.
(Psalm 59:16; Matthew 22:37-38; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 5:15-20)

Bible centered teaching
The Bible exhorts pastors and teachers to teach wisely and prepare His people for works of service. We want to be students of God’s word. We believe the Bible is God’s authoritative word. The life-giving message of Jesus is meaningful and powerful. We may not have all the answers but God’s word does. We may lack wisdom, but God’s word provides wisdom. The Holy Spirit speaks to us through the Bible to equip us for every good work. Though our culture grows further away from biblical truth, the Bible is still the most relevant document to bring absolute truth to a world that has lost its way. Our prayer is that we teach and follow God’s word in the Bible.
(Psalm 119: 11, 105; Isaiah 55:10-11; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16; Hebrews 4:12)

Community Presence
Jesus commissioned the church to go and make disciples. Jesus said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” Jesus went into the world to seek and save the lost. He sends his church to go into the world, too. We must go to them, like Jesus came to this world. We want to have far-reaching, positive impact in our community. Engaging the community for Christ, our prayer is to reach out with the hope, love, grace and truth of Jesus.
(Matthew 28:19-20; Luke 19:10; John 20:21; 2 Corinthian 5:14-16; Galatians 6:9)

Diversity with grace and truth
The Bible uses a picture to describe believers in Jesus as His body. The body of Christ is diverse. In the rich tapestry of God’s church, we are unique strands forming a beautiful whole. The Holy Spirit has equipped members of the body with differing gifts and functions so that together we may serve the will of God for the common good. In this diverse body, we celebrate our unique contributions without taking pride over one another. Rather, we respect each other, honoring one another, building up one another, and love one another as the Bible teaches. We want to be a place that accepts and welcomes all people regardless of background, social status or race. Our prayer is to be a place where people feel they belong.
(1 Corinthians 12:12-31; Galatians 3:26-29; John 13:14; 1 Peter 1:22)

Empowering followers of Christ
Jesus commissioned his followers to go and make disciples. Jesus trained his disciples and then released them for service. Disciples are believers who are students of Jesus, following Jesus’ example. We prayerfully labor to build disciples to grow to their potential, who have regular times in the Bible and prayer, who enjoy the fellowship of believers in the Church and share the gospel with non-believers, serving others with the love of Jesus. Effectiveness and quality for service takes place through the Holy Spirit, working together, praying for God’s power and grace to serve well, and trusting Jesus to do what we cannot do by our own strength.
(Matthew 10:1; 28:19-20; John 13:15; 15:6, 16; Acts 4:29-30; Ephesians 4:11-12; 6:19-20; Colossians 1:28-29)

Fervent Prayer
Jesus’ followers asked Jesus how to pray. Jesus taught much about prayer in word and action. The early church fervently prayed. The Bible states simply, “Pray continually.” As we abide in Christ, prayer is the breathing of our soul. Regarding all that we do in all our activities, we rely on our Lord and Savior and His grace. Prayer is the natural response to Him. We desire to pray in rich communion with our Lord.
Matthew 6:5-15; John 15:7; Philippians 1:3-5; Ephesians 1:15-16; 3:15-21; 1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Glorifying God through Multiplication
As Jesus commissioned his followers to be his witnesses to Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, we want to share God’s heart to reach out to our world with the message of Jesus. God desires to bless all people of the earth. Our God not only blesses us but calls us to be a blessing to all peoples. We will endeavor to multiply churches locally and globally. Our prayer is that God use us to make Him known.
(Genesis 12:2-4; Psalms 22:27; Acts 1:8)

Summer Fun

2006-09-08T17:08:00.000-07:00

With school already in session, summer seems to have disappeared. Yet, the warmth of the sun continues and is reminiscent of refreshing times before.

Summer began with a Memorial Day carnival. Carnival games included soccer, basketball, croquet, miniature golf, horseshoes, and frisbee golf. Every participant won a prize and enjoyed candy of many variations. The Warwick’s also set up a volleyball net. Toddlers enjoyed their own games in a separate area where there was a tent, bubble play, mini golf, and water play. They also had a chance to pedal a tractor through an obstacle path. Free food was offered which included: salad, chicken dogs and vegetarian burgers. People picnicked and enjoyed the activities.

Other activities were face painting. Dynamic music for the kids began our event and set the tone for a fun afternoon. We had a welcome table where kids could hear the story of Jesus and do scratch art. We had a professional photographer taking free family photos. We had a puppet show and a brief talk about the Wordless Book relating how Jesus is our Savior and died and rose from the dead to open the way to heaven. More than 70 people from our community join us as well as 46 volunteers from Hillside EFC. I wish I had time to tell all the stories of how the love of Jesus was very evident in the way they interacted and served. We were even able to help a woman who was living out of her car in a parking lot in Santa Clara with two children.

This was such an encouraging event. Many of my neighbors came out. I saw friends from the Puppet In the Park ministry and our Good News Club. I have gotten to know better many of those from Hillside. Seeing all of these people getting along and having fun was a God thing. The directions to the park were a little misleading and several people got lost on their way to the park. But despite some of the foibles in organization, people were smiling and enjoying themselves. I thought about how it must have been when Jesus taught the crowds and saw so many who like sheep without a shepherd. How different was this crowd! Yet how much each of us are searching for the Good Shepherd. And how thankful I am that the Good Shepherd seeks each of us and calls us to himself. I pray that someday, that God’s love will be evident throughout my community in people who know Jesus as their Shepherd, Savior and Lord.

Following the Memorial Day Carnival, in June we invited our community to a different kind of event. Teens who were from The Peninsula Bible Church in Cupertino performed a drama they had performed in Mexico for youth there. Goyo, who had been their interpreter, made contacts and through his leadership assembled the “Magnificent 7.” The teens not only performed a drama, we had music, a memory verse and craft. Goyo narrated the drama and then gave an invitation to the families attending. The result: a boy who had previously said, “No” to Jesus opened his heart. He is a normal kid that may never have given Jesus the time of day, but not that day. Praise God who opened his heart to trust in Jesus as his Savior. God continues to work!

The teens reminded me of Jesus in so many ways. I am thankful for how they were willing to give their time and effort and labor of love. Just as Jesus was willing to leave the 99 for that one lost sheep, they were willing to stick their necks out and serve. They displayed the same heart as Jesus had for His lost sheep. It didn’t matter whether the crowd was large or small.

Over August 14 –18 we had a 5 Day club, which included soccer and baseball skills development. Singing amd Bible Memory started the day, Puppet Shows, and Dramatic Bible studies gave the kids a break while they snacked on cookies. I was praying that we would have 30 kids sign up. We actually had 32 sign ups but only 30 came. Some were neighbors, friends from Puppets in the Park ministry, my son’s baseball team, a mom’s prayer group, others invited friends and one family I have no idea how they heard. Two of them made a commitment to trust Jesus as their Savior. I praise God that no one was injured! I cannot express how much I am so thankful for folks from Hillside who came to help and Max from the Peninsula Bible Church in Cupertino. Each of the volunteers showed a great willingness to serve, be stretched and be flexible. When the parents dropped off their kids, they kept telling me how much their kids were enjoying the club. They said if we do another club they would definitely be signing their kids up. Our volunteers made the club not only a fun place, but a safe place. And they were a lot of fun to work with, too! At the end of club, some asked, “What’s next?”

I am hoping to start an Alpha Group and other small discussion groups from among the families who came to our summer events. At our home, we are beginning a Good News Club. We are also praying that God would open the doors to our local school for an after school Bible club.

As I think about these summer events, I rejoice in Jesus my Savior. There is no one like Him, who can speak to our heart and captivate our thoughts. With all these activities, I am able to invite people from the community and keep in their mind that there’s a new church starting. This new church is fun, inclusive, and always talks about Jesus because Jesus is so great!

We have a vision for an emerging church in Sunnyvale, where people love Jesus, worship Him in spirit and truth, grow in their faith, share about Him, and welcome and love all people. Thank you, Jesus! And I thank all of the volunteers and Hillside EFC and PBCC who continue to contribute to this ministry!

Free Carnival

2006-05-06T20:18:00.000-07:00

Coming on May 28, 2006

at: DeAnza Park

Free Carnival

Last year, more than 50 people from the community came out to our free, fun, family carnival. About 35 volunteers from Hillside EFC assisted and gave a kind and gracious welcome to the community. Activities at the carnival included Music, puppet show, gospel presentation, miniature golf, horseshoes, basketball, soccer shoot, croquet, tractor rides, a toddler area, scratch art, candy guessing jar, and face painting. We provided a barbecue with veggie burgers, turkey hot dogs, chips and drinks all free of charge. Those who came expressed appreciation for the carnival and for the friendly and welcoming volunteers.
This year Hillside EFC is going out to the community on Memorial Day, May 28. We will be signing up volunteers to serve in the following fun activities in Sunnyvale:

Ongoing Music, Puppet Show, Gospel Presentation, Miniature Golf,
Horseshoes, Basketball, Soccer Shoot, Croquet,
Face Painting, Toddler Area, Tractor Rides, Scratch Art,
Guessing Candy Jar, Frisbee Golf, Barbecue!

During the carnival participants will receive prizes, such as candy, sunscreen, first aid kits, and visors.

We’ll distribute Flyers for neighborhood distribution and possibly at the schools. We want to have a prayer walk to bless the neighborhood.

At the Carnival we want to inform the community of several opportunities for the family. During our June event, we hope to have a youth group perform live music and drama. In July, we will host a family fun picnic at the park. And around mid-August, we’ll be providing a sports VBS featuring puppets, baseball, and soccer. We will also let people know about available discussion groups, with such topics as Narnia, In Search of DaVinci’s Code, and an Alpha discussion group. We’ll include information for the Good News kids club and the after school club we’ll be starting in the fall.

Much ado about nothing

2006-04-26T22:50:00.000-07:00

Being new to blogs is a learning experience for me. My learning curve seems a little gradual and maybe somewhat developmentally delayed. But one of my new discoveries is that friends from the past have found my blog and can send comments. This is so cool! Hopefully I will be able to communicate more and more timely as things progress.

Have a great day and May God put His smile in your heart.

Easter Hope

2006-04-26T22:49:00.000-07:00

Over the Easter week, on April 8th, I joined with Child Evangelism Fellowship and several local churches in a great Easter Egg hunt in Cupertino at Memorial Park. In addition to the Egg hunt, there was face painting, a jump house, animal balloons, crafts, and Wordless book sharing. Hundreds of families join in the festivities. My son and I shared the good news of Jesus’ love with more than 30 children. Three trusted in Jesus as their Savior. My son was so excited that he brought over several of his classmates to hear the good news, too. Then on Wednesday at our Good News Club, we celebrated that Jesus is alive and two new children joined us and heard the gospel for the first time. On Saturday, the day before Easter, we joined a family in Sunnyvale who has their own backyard egg hunt with neighbors. Nine families came together from the neighborhood from all different backgrounds. With puppets, crafts and games, I shared the hope of Jesus and the empty tomb. Finally, we joined BayLife Community Church for their Easter service and egg hunt. Their attendance swelled to 100. My puppet, “Professor Paul” explained the Easter Story while the children acted out and sang an Easter musical. Many had never been to church or heard the Easter Story before. Pastor Fred Cheng gave a brief, Spirit-filled message about Jesus’ resurrection. His wife, Sylvia, organized and directed the Children’s musical. It was a great time to celebrate what God has done.

God’s grace is truly amazing. No matter how old or young, the hope of the resurrection is powerful and life transforming. We don’t look at death as the period to life, but only a comma. We don’t look at the grave as our final resting place, but look forward to being with Jesus. Just as Jesus rose bodily, we trust that God will raise us up with transformed bodies. No matter how difficult things get in this world, we have hope for life that will never end. Our present sufferings are not even worth comparing to the glory that will be revealed. Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Easter Happenings 2006

2006-03-28T18:13:00.000-08:00

Jesus rose from the dead. The empty tomb is really great news because we have been given a living hope that will never perish, spoil or fade. On April 8th, Child Evangelism Fellowship, in conjunction with local churches, is participating in a great Easter Egg hunt outreach in Cupertino at Memorial Park. In addition to the Egg hunt, there will be face painting, jump house, animal balloons, crafts, and Wordless book sharing. I have been invited to help out. Hundreds of families join in the festivities. This is great fun for the kids and a wonderful way to introduce God’s love and grace, presenting the good news. The following weekend, I have been invited to lead a neighborhood outreach presenting the Easter Story to about ten families who range in faith traditions from Agnostics to Buddhists to Catholics. Then on Sunday morning, I will be joining BayLife Community Church an Evangelical Free Church – Church Plant in Foster City. We will be creatively presenting the Easter story with drama, puppets, music and song.

When I reflect on the Easter message, I am deeply humbled and moved. Who could imagine that God in his holiness would seek to grant us forgiveness? Completely without merit and nothing worthy in myself, Jesus was willing to die in my place to take the punishment of my sin—my rebellion toward Him. Though I did not recognize Him as God and wanted to go my own way, He sought me and called out to me. He invited me to trust His promise and His love as it says in John’s Gospel: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and Only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” What an amazing love that is so extravagant and gracious! What an all encompassing love to invite “whoever” to experience forgiveness! What a deep love, that will stop at nothing, so that even a rebel like me can find His grace and eternal life in a loving and personal relationship with Him! Praise God who in Hhis great mercy gives us a living hope, that will never perish, spoil or fade, kept in heaven for those who trust in Jesus. The Easter story is truly remarkable and transformational.

Happy Easter, Happy Jesus’ Resurrection!

Puppets in the Park (PIP)

2006-03-15T14:12:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful setting to meet the greatest kids. Puppets in the Park takes place at De Anza Park on Mondays at 4:10 pm. and Las Palmas Park on Tuesdays at 4:15 pm.

All are welcome!

This is a fun time for the family. The puppet show lasts from 3-5 minutes. The cast includes two main puppets. Ben is playful and likes to use gadgets and toys in unusual ways. Akosh is thoughtful and a great friend and cheerleader for Ben. Every so often Dave, who is a little bit whiny and loves video games, joins Ben and Akosh on their adventures. Grandpa also makes appearances and gives wise counsel to the boys. Wrinkles is Brian's dog who is very hungry. And Squak is hoping to pop in sometime soo. We may even get a glimpse of Brian, a sporty but brainy, friend.

They discuss kid things, like making friends, not getting too annoyed with younger siblings, getting lost, having nightmares, staying in because of the rain, and dealing with disappointment as well as many other subjects. Often they are reminded of what their moms and dads having been reading to them from the Bible and how the Bible or Jesus speaks to these various situations.

After the puppet show, kids can view the puppets and try their hand at puppeteering. With some guidance, we create puppets, stick puppets, bag puppets and sock puppets. The children are always creative and are able to express their artistic talents while enjoying the company of their friends in the park.

Everything is free!

After the puppet craft time, some of the kids will go behind the stage to engage the audience with their impromptu puppet scripts. They're so cute! At the same time their imaginations go wild.

We have a brief Bible story from early reader bibles. The story will usually relate to the script and puppet craft.

We end with a silly song, like Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star or Itsy Bitsy Spider or a request from one of the children. Sometimes the children will teach each other a song they love.

PIP brings a smile to my heart every time I'm there. I hope it will bring a smile to your heart, too.

Thank you, Hillside!

2006-03-15T14:03:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Hillside EFC for your very gracious support of our ministry to start a new Free Church in Sunnyvale. During February, Hillside hosted 4 informational desserts. The response to our desserts was beyond expectation. 45 people from Hillside came out to our desserts (not including my family). Many volunteered to help in some capacity and some have wanted to help on our core team. Others joined our prayer support and some mentioned helping financially. I can’t say thank you enough for the boost and encouragement Hillside has been for me and for this ministry. It is exciting to consider all the possibilities of having help to launch this new church.

The pastoral staff are always helpful and encouraging. The leadership is gracious and open handed. The congregation is warm and welcoming even to a "church planter." I praise God for Hillside. Thank you for your kindness.

Purpose

2006-03-15T13:31:00.000-08:00

I am very new to blogging. Writing letters has never been my forte. But I am excited to communicate the vision of this emerging ministry in my community. Through this blog I want to communicate with the core team and people who are interested to pray. I hope to make many connections with people and describe the events and activities and happenings of this ministry. I have a monthly newsletter called the mustard seed gazzette. So I was thinking about having a weekly update and calling it the cherry blossom journal. Sunnyvale has a cherry orchard and was once home to thriving orchards. Now, the only orchard that I found is by the community center. So for those of you who may be perusing this site, thank you for your time. Big Thank You for your prayers.

Vision

2005-12-08T14:06:00.000-08:00

Sunnyvale EFC Church Plant
An emerging church

We have a vision to start a new church
Where people love Jesus
Worship Him in spirit and truth,
grow in their faith
and share Christ with others,
welcoming and loving
people who need Jesus
in a multi-cultural context

A place where you will personally encounter the Living God.

Jesus is what its all about. He is our Saviour! He is the Lord of lords and King of Kings. There is no other no greater. He is totally awesome. He is reliable and trustworthy faithful who knows us sees us and understands. He cares and loved us so much laid down his life for us and rose again. He is no cardboard figure to be kept on a shelf. He is living and powerful. He interrupts our routines and even our plans. We love Jesus because he first loved us. His love for us is immense and deep and real. We have a vision where people know how much Jesus loves them and bask in his love and express their love for him

Jesus is God and deserves our worship. Our Father God is looking for worshippers who will worship in spirit and truth. We will concentrate on worship that is spiritual and truthful not just going through the motions. An expressive worship that engages our heart and mind and soul. A celebrative worship that celebrates who God is and what God has done, is doing, and continues to do. A reflective worship seeking God and a close connection and intimacy.

Growing in faith. Faith comes by hearing the message. Faith is active. By faith we live and act. By faith we can do great things—Jesus promised. By faith we can suffer. By faith we can be victorious. In a church plant setting faith is a driving factor. We are immediately placed in a position where trusting God is not a option. We see the fruit of our labors and the disappointments on a regular basis. In our small groups we learn to trust God making new friends and serving and caring for one another. In our community, we learn to stretch to care for neighbors or people we’ve never met and share the good news of Christ. In our family and work we learn that faith is integral part of our lives that encourages us through our stress and struggles, our joy and triumphs.

John 3:16

2005-11-30T14:33:00.000-08:00

For God so loved the orld that He gave his only begotten Son that whoever beieves in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. Praise God!