The Flame

The Flame
THE MAGAZINE OF CHRIST CHURCH

SPRING | 2015
ONE
church.
multiple locations.
CONTENTS
4
CHRIST CHURCH 2015 AD
SERVING:
LOVING BEYOND EXPECTATIONS!
AN ETERNAL INVESTMENT
by Rev. Shane Bishop
by Rev. Troy Benton
by Matt Rygelski
22
CHRIST CHURCH
-BIKER CHURCH
23
CONNECTING
AT CHRIST CHURCH
24
SAFETY AND SECURITY

AT CHRIST CHURCH
25
WHOLE AND HOLY
by Larry Weber
by Pam Huff
11
LONG TERM IMPACT:

IT TAKES A KINGDOM
12
PREACH THE GOSPEL

TO ALL CREATION
by Rachel Frazure
26
AROUND THE WORLD
13
CONNECTING STUDENTS:
IMPACTING THEIR WORLD
29
ONE CUP OF COFFEE
30
ATHLETIC MINISTRIES
14
THE CHURCH AND THE ARTS:

A MODERN STRUGGLE
15
THE CARING MINISTRIES

OF CHRIST CHURCH
32
GETTING TO
KNOW YOU
36
GOD AT WORK
17
CHRIST CHURCH-CM CAMPUS
19
IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY

THROUGH THE SCOTT CAMPUS
21
A SUNDAY IN THE LIFE

OF MILLSTADTS CAMPUS
by Melissa Bishop
by Robb Hass & Brent Alexander
by Rev. Don Frazure
by Debby Creagh
by Larry Weber
by Matt Denny
by Rev. Benrie Kneale
The Flame Magazine is a quarterly magazine published by Christ Church. 2015 Christ Church.
Learn more about Christ Church at www.MyChristChurch.com.
EDITOR: Carrie Gaxiola DESIGN: Justin Aymer
by Jim Hutchison
by Jerry Dortch
by Dave Merrill
by Noel Russell
by Kelli Tobin
SENIOR PASTOR
Rev. Shane Bishop
ASSOCIATE PASTOR
Rev. Troy Benton
For a complete listing of the
Christ Curch Staff visit:
www.MyChristChurch.com/staff.
FROM THE EDITOR

Life is full of interesting twists and turns,
isnt it? As Christians, it is vital to learn
that our best laid plans are just that, our
best laid plans. God in His wisdom (and
sometimes sense of humor) has perfect
plans and will use us as He sees fit. All He
is looking for in us is a willing, obedient
heart.
I never dreamed I would be a magazine
editor. I love to write and was content to
do just that and only that! My best laid
plansHA! God had other things in
mind, and after months of wrestling with
Him, here I am. Donna Harrison, our
previous Flame editor, deserves all the
thanks we can give her. She performed a
labor of love for over 7 years and paved
the way for what the Flame is today. I am
grateful for her leadership, mentorship,
passion and dedication, and honestly, I
already miss her! What you have in your
hands today is a result of her devotion to
obey Gods calling, and I hope I do justice
in carrying on the work she began.
Having said that, as we relaunch the
Flame, my passion is to carry the message
of Christ Church in that we exist to connect people to Jesus Christ through the
written word. Through thought-filled
articles, ministry spotlights and more,
may these pages find you encouraged,
challenged in your walk with Christ and
desiring to go deeper in love and service
Mission Of The Flame
Be inspirational through biblical articles

and devotions. Be informative in the
announcement of future events that
connect people in ministry.
to the One who first loved us and saved

our souls!
As you read these pages, our theme for
this issue is Impact! As we embark on
the exciting journey of launching our
Capital Campaign to build an addition
that will propel us into a wonderful facility for our growing Childrens Ministries,
you will find a passion on these pages
from our major ministry leaders. This
issue by no means represents the myriad
of ministries and opportunities available,
but perhaps it will stir you to explore the
many possibilities God has available in
serving Him at Christ Church. As we
connect people of all ages and stages, you
will see that Christ Church is making an
impact for the Kingdom of God!
May you be stirred in your hearts as you
read these pages, and as you think of
your best laid plans, be ready for God
to speak to your heart and ask Him how
you can be a part of making an impact in
your service to Him and being a part of
connecting people to Jesus Christ!
And the Lord answered me: Write the
vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may
run who reads it. Habukkuk 2:2
In His service,
--- CARRIE GAXIOLA ---
The Flame Online:
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Visit MyChristChurch.com/theflame.
Questions about the Flame?
Contact the Editor, Carrie Gaxiola, at:

CarrieGaxiola@MyChristChurch.com
THE FLAME // SPRING 2015
CHRIST CHURCH
2015 AD
BY REV. SHANE L BISHOP
I am often asked by fellow pastors, How

was 2014 at Christ Church? It is an interesting question.
One problem that churches face is how
to evaluate their effectiveness. In the last
recorded words Jesus spoke on earth, He
offered His followers an unambiguous
commission that we appropriately call
the Great Commission. For me, the only
way to truly gauge the effectiveness of a
church is to ask, Are we doing what Jesus
specifically told us to do? Jesus tells us
to do five things in the Great Commission. He tells us to go, make disciples,
baptize, teach, and remember. We simply MUST do these things!
A church committed to the Great Commission will take on a unique personality
or nature that is in keeping with the Biblical church.
The nature of the Church of Jesus Christ
is:
1. MISSIONAL
Meaning it exists solely to connect people

with Jesus Christ
2. EVANGELISTIC
Sharing the Good News of Christs salvation to the world
Rev. Shane Bishop, Senior Pastor

facebook.com/revshane
@RevShaneBishop
4
SPRING 2015 // THE FLAME
3. SACRIFICIAL
Consisting of disciples willing to sacrifice

personal preference, time, talent, and resources toward the pursuit of the mission
4. RESILIENT
2. Raise the Roof Campaign: Our goal is

to raise the resources to build with threeyear pledges while we pay down the current debt! The campaign begins after
Easter.
meaning it does not always get things

right in a fallen world but remains Gods
chosen instrument
3. Filling Out: We want to let our existing campuses and worship services grow
without starting a lot of new things.
5. EFFECTIVE
4. Permanent Rental Space for the

Maryville Campus: We are out of childrens space at the YMCA! We would like
to turn the energy spent in set up/tear
down into growing the campus toward
150.
producing measurable fruits

What were our 2014 fruits?
Though we often quantify our fruits statistically, we can be comforted that the
Bible did so as well. 5,000 men were fed.
3,000 were added to the church that day.
We must remember when we talk numbers that every number is a name, every
name is a story, and every story matters
to God! In 2014, we received 193 members (135 of those were on profession of
faith). Our weekly worship attendance
increased to 2,065 (up 263 per week over
2013), and we celebrated 103 baptisms
(the most in our history).
What is coming up in 2015?
1. Completion of a Vision: Finishing a
second and third floor childrens wing
project first approved in 2006.
5. Celebrate an Evangelistic Culture: The

question is never, Will we grow? The
question is, Will we invite? If we invite,
we will grow.
How was Christ Church in 2014? Absolutely incredibleand we expect 2015 to
be even better!
Go.
Make Disciples.
Baptize.
Teach.
Remember.
And they went beyond

our expectations; having
given themselves first of
all to the Lord, they gave
themselves by the will of
God also to us.
(2 Corinthians 8:5, TNIV)
SERVING:
LOVING BEYOND EXPECTATIONS!
BY REV. TROY BISHOP
At Christ Church we live our mission by

syncing our lives with the Great Commission in four ways: worship, loving
God, loving neighbor and tithe. Each of
these four expressions embodies our love
of Jesus and our desire to hit the bullseye of what God desires of us as our optimal life when we were created. Serving
Christ, one of the ministry areas of our
church, provides multiple ways we become the hands and feet of Jesus Christ
(James 2:22) when we fully engage in the
witness of Christian service.
needed this help by not only giving tangible resources, but the unquenchable truth
and power of God in word, worship, and
fellowship. Many of these families have
had continuing relationships with those
in this ministry area, and some have connected with our church. Some of those
who have been served have received salvation in Jesus through acceptance of the
gospel right on the spot. In the words of
Aaron, they think they got the best gift
ever in Jesus, and they didbut we got
some gift in the spirit too!
What makes this form of leadership

through service different from others in
the world is the goal and the grace involved in the actions we take. The goal
is to give a tangible example of the love
of Jesus to those who wonder where care
and hope can be found when they are in
crisis, and Gods promise of presence.
The grace of this leadership is our unabashed respect of all without any visible
or perceived judgment (at any time) of
those being served by the body of Christ.
Our partnership with the Christian Activity Center has been in existence for
over 10 years. With many ministries of
our church being active there (Birthday
Wishes, Least of These, our womens and
mens ministries, etc.), the eyes and hearts
of young people in East St. Louis are being lifted weekly. The efforts of mentoring, providing clothes-school resources-tutoring, direct fiscal support, and
building projects at the center are just
some of the ways the members of Christ
Church have lived out a witness of love
and connection to thousands of young
people and their families. The stories of
how our resources, time, and giving have
helped in incalculable ways, the number
of stories of how young people have encountered Jesus Christ are equal in figure, but more potent in power. During a
recent time on site at the center, a young
girl saw my Christ Church sweatshirt.
Knowing me, she walked up to me and
said, Pastor T, I found out that Jesus
loves me and that no one can take that
from me when I was being taught by Ms.
Rose. She gave me a hug, and then her
mom hugged me. The mom thanked me
for our faithfulness AND our faith in her
daughter. This mother who was making
her way in life in spite of great challenges
said she was confident that she was going
There are literally tons of ways anyone

can serve and grow in their discipleship
here at Christ Church. Two examples of
our joint labor through Serving Christ
ministries are Welcome Home and our
partnership with the Christian Activity
Center. Led by Aaron Abeyta, Welcome
Home Ministry works with families
throughout the metro area and St. Louis
to assist them in finding, furnishing, and
formalizing a home in the time of crisis
or when they were without one. This
team has literally helped hundreds over
the past three years gain access to a proper living location and shown them that
they have both a future and hope. More
than just giving them dignity and stability, this team has provided the love of
Jesus Christ in all seasons to those who
to be just finebecause of Jesus. I reminded her of that just a few weeks ago
when I welcomed her to church for her
third visit.
What I did not tell you are the countless
stories of how many members are being
stretched and strengthened, encouraged
and equipped, nurtured and made whole,
a person of full faith in Christ because of
their commitment to serve. One person
in one of these ministries sent me a note
that simply said, If we ever stop doing
these ministries Im quitting. Knowing
Jesus and living in the world for Jesus
are inseparable; Ive found this out being
here in two years, and Im not going to
stop doing both no matter what!
Paul, writing instructions on living out
the faith, noted in 2 Corinthians 8 that
this kind of living will do more than just
help people for a moment it will give
them a wealth of evidence to consider to
fall in love with and follow Jesus. I take
from his words above that living this kind
of life is what changes us forever, as we
watch God through these earthly vessels
do amazing things that go far beyond the
served expectations! Service for me is
the real final frontier! These are just two
of the many ministries that serve. Get
on the team, get in the game, and watch
God use you to make a difference on the
scoreboard of life you would have never
believed possible. Go beyond your own
expectations, and watch God go beyond
all of ours and change the world!
Rev. Troy Benton, Associate Pastor

facebook.com/tmbenton
@revtroy
AN ETERNAL
INVESTMENT
BY MATT RYGELSKI
Whoever welcomes one of these little

children in My name, welcomes Me; and
whoever welcomes Me, does not welcome
Me but the one who sent Me. Reflecting
on Mark 9:37 gives me great optimism.
In fact, one could find many verses in
our great scripture in which Jesus emphasized the importance of children not
only in welcoming them, but in appreciating their innocent perspective. It is in
that innocence, seeing the world through
their eyes, that we catch a glimpse of the
beauty of God.
My wife and I have been blessed with a
beautiful son named Jack, but he wasnt
brought into our family as immediately as we had hoped. Two years into our
marriage, and pregnancy was not coming. Professionals with decades of degrees and impressive titles behind their
name could only conclude unexplained
infertility as their expert opinion -- creating even more questions than before,
at the expense of lab fees and insurance
co-pays to receive in return nothing but
additional frustration. We felt so alone.
We felt cheated. We questioned our faith
as our prayers became bargaining a negotiation with God that if only He would
give us a child, we would then do.
whatever. Wrongly, we demanded God
ante up to prove He was with us before
we pronounced we were with Him. We
had lost faith.
And then, something strange happened.
One Sunday morning, we came to Christ
Church. My wife and I still debate whose
idea it was, but somehow we were pulled
out of bed and led to this community. As
we entered, our hardened hearts became
softer with each welcoming smile and
handshake offered to us total strangers
Matt Rygelski
facebook.com/mrygelski
who knew no one, but felt that everyone

knew us. Perhaps it was our sluggish
shoulders showing the weight of all the
baggage we were carrying with us that
day, or perhaps there was a unique look
in our eyes that appeared oh so familiar
to those volunteers who remembered
walking in our footsteps before. We
made our way to sit down. And as if we
had finally found rest from a very long
and exhausting journey, we looked at one
another and we cried.
People were bringing little children to
Jesus to have Him touch them, but the
disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw
this, He was indignant. He said to them,
Let the little children come to Me, and
do not hinder them, for the kingdom of
God belongs to such as these. I tell you
the truth, anyone who will not receive
the kingdom of God like a little child will
never enter it. And He took the children
in His arms, put His hands on them and
blessed them. My wife and I felt those
embracing arms as in Mark 10:13-16. We
had been to other churches before, but
Christ Church seemed different. Later
that day we decided that when we do finally conceive, we absolutely must raise
our child in a church like this with those
who epitomized those enveloping arms
of Jesus. Our faith was restored and we
placed our complete trust in Gods plan.
Two months later, He blessed us with
conception.
Christ Churchs mission is simple: Connecting People With Christ. They succeeded that day. Not only was that mission successful with us and our story,
but the thousands of others who have
connected to God because of the people
who share that mission. It is our new
home. Unfortunately, victims of our own

success, the current facility space is no
longer sufficient to meet the increasing
demand. We are doing something great
here and His word is spreading outside of
these walls! Now is the time to prepare
a bigger shelter for more of Gods people and their children to experience their
own story of connection with Him and
His love for all of them.
Over the next few months at Christ
Church, others have agreed to share their
stories of what brought them to Christ
Church and I invite you to consider your
own story. Starting in April, we will begin a new prayer study called Draw the
Circle: The 40 Day Prayer Challenge by
Mark Batterson and encourage everyone
to keep Christ Church and our Raise the
Roof Campaign in their prayers. Please
follow us on social media for daily reflections on this prayer study and additional
conversation.
On Sunday, April 12th, we will officially
kick off our campaign with our annual
Horse Trough Sunday in which God
asks us all to serve as witness to those
who choose to be spiritually reborn in
life through Gods gift of baptism. It is
through the beauty of baptism that we
publicly announce our commitment to
the church and with Christians everywhere. If you have never been baptized,
what a great and powerful day to do so!
On Sunday May 10th will be the time
we ask you for your commitment. If it
were not for Christ Church, my wife and
I would not have our story to share. For
Christ Church, we are thankful; for God,
we are blessed.
What Do
You Love
About Christ
Church?
We had a roving reporter at
each of our campuses over the
past few weeks. With the Capital Campaign getting ready to
kick-off, and the focus of the
new building addition being a
space for our children to learn
and thrive in the gospel, we
thought it would be important to hear what our children
and young people are saying
about their church. Not only
are our children the future of
the church, they are our present! What they have to say is
of great value, and this is one
of many reasons we are going
forward to give them the very
best so that they can be connected to Jesus Christ in profound ways.
10 SPRING 2015 // THE FLAME
LONG TERM IMPACT:

IT TAKES A KINGDOM
BY MELISSA BISHOP
As I look back over the past 18 years and

think about the impact Christ Church
has had on the children and students who
have passed through these doors, I am
impressed, amazed and thankful to God
for all Hes done. Do you realize that the
children that were the 3 and 4 year olds
known as the Passion Peanuts are now,
driving cars? Or that the Sr. High group
I led are now in their late 20s and early
30s? That is one great thing about being
somewhere so long, seeing where weve
been and where we are now. The other thing that impresses me is that some
of the young adult teachers that started
out with me years ago, are still leading in
some way in our current Childrens and
Student ministry.
When we measure growth in our congregation, we usually think in terms of
adults but when I measure growth here,
I see it in children/students. Next time
you have a minute, whether youre at the
Fairview Heights Campus, Collinsville/
Maryville Campus, Millstadt Campus or
the Scott Campus take a look around at
the kids. Walk around to where they are
learning and worshiping and you will see
what looks like someone kicked a good
ol South Georgia ant hill. IT IS AWESOME! We have children and students

everywhere and boy are we blessed, but
with any blessing comes great responsibility.
Children have an incredible capacity for
the things of God. Their ability for faith,
love, giving and trust are off the charts.
Did you know that the vast majority of
Christians accepted Jesus Christ before
they were fourteen years old? That is why
this ministry is so important!
Our job at Christ church is to partner
with parents, grandparents and guardians to bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ
to our children and students at the level
they will understand. I oversee an incredible staff who I know love the Lord
with all their heart, soul and minds.
Their sole mission is to see your kids getting all they need to accept Jesus Christ
as their personal Savior and then teach
them to be Christian disciples. Since we
were all created for a reason, and a purpose, wouldnt it be great for your kids to
find out early on what that reason is?
looking at all of the kids, tweeners and

teenagers who are servingyes, I said
serving. One of the big emphases here
is to plug our students into service areas
and they love it. It gives them purpose,
it makes them feel like they are not only
taking something from the table, but they
are bringing something to the table, again
AWESOME! We have students serving
as greeters, ushers, buddies for the Special Needs Ministry and Upward volunteers; there are students leading small
groups for the little kids, on the worship
team, on the tech team, in the orchestra,
in the band and some of the high school
students that I taught a long time ago
are now a vital part of the leadership of
Christ Church!
My passion is to see kids come to Jesus
Christ, so it looks like Im in the perfect
spot as the Coordinator of Children and
Student Ministries Staff at Christ Church!
People always say it takes a village to raise
a childI say it takes a Kingdom!
After you take a look around and see

all of the children and students, start
WHAT DO YOU LOVE

ABOUT CHRIST CHURCH?
Jesus
LUCY
Age: 2 | Scott Campus
I love hugging people!

NATE
The people are really nice,

and everyone is cool.
LACHLAN
Melissa Bishop
Education Ministries Coordinator
MelissaBishop@mychristchurch.com
THE FLAME // SPRING 2015 11
PREACH THE GOSPEL

TO ALL CREATION
BY RACHEL FRAZURE
It was a typical Sunday morning at Christ

Church, with kids coming in for Sunday School. It would be a time of large
group worship with the days Bible story, and then the kids would go into their
small groups to dig deeper into what they
had already learned. I was the Childrens
Director at the time, and I remember a
child who was visiting that Sunday whom
I had never seen before. His behavior
was different. He didnt fit the mold of a
typical kid that came through our doors.
At first, I was a little puzzled. My oldest
child was six years old at the time, and
although she displayed some of the same
behaviors as this boy, my husband and
I had yet to put a name on her behavior (we would about 2 years later). One
of my wonderful small group volunteers
looked at me and said I think he has autism. We continued through the service
and, afterwards, I met with his parents.
I remember that when we met, his parents had a look on their faces that said, I
hope he did okay. Only by the grace of
God, I had sense enough to say, We will
make this work.
For me personally, that was the start of
our Special Needs Ministry. The goal
from the beginning was not to start a
ministry for the sake of starting one, but
to meet a need. At the time, I didnt realize how difficult it was for families with
members who have additional needs to
find a church home. Without going into
any statistics, I think most of us are aware
of the rise of disabilities in our country
and in our world, especially with the autism diagnosis. There are also other concerns, such as individuals with Downs
Syndrome, disabilities resulting from
premature births, international adoptions
of children with special health needs and
Rachel Frazure
Director of Special Needs Ministry
facebook.com/rfrazure
children with ADHD and ADD. Many of

the families affected have chosen not to
find a church home because it has been
difficult to find a church where these individuals impacted by special needs can
feel accepted. Also, not many accommodations are provided for the parents and
other family members that allow them to
feel accepted and worship and fellowship
in an environment just for them.
Over the past few years, our church has
made it our mission to reach out to these
families and to provide a church home
for them. The mission of Christ Church
is to connect people with Jesus Christ.
That is goal of the Special Needs Ministry. In Mark 16:15, Jesus says Go into
all the world and preach the gospel to all
creation. Individuals with disabilities are
a crucial part of Gods creation, and it is
our mission to make sure they are given
the opportunity to hear the good news of
Jesus Christ.
Christ Church has been blessed over
these years with special needs coordinators and wonderful volunteers who have
put their heart and soul into this ministry. I am constantly amazed at the wonderful people who are stepping up to
serve. Our volunteers are Buddies to children with special needs and range from
pastors wives to police officers! I also
have individuals who vocationally serve
the disabled community and have chosen to share their gifts with our church.
Again, we are so blessed.
It is a joy to spend time with these kids!
Each week, the team never knows what to
expect. The one thing we do know is that
these kids are going to surprise us by how
they try so hard to be all that God has
created them to be. Whether they realize

it or not, they teach us so much about the
love and character of God.
Special Needs Ministry not only meets
the needs of the individual but also the
family. This ministry has created a place
for their child to feel loved and accepted.
In turn, we have created an environment
where families can worship and serve,
without worrying about their child. I
have heard stories of marriages being
saved as a result of this ministry. We
want them to know that our goal is for
them and their child to have a positive
church experience. We want the whole
family to grow closer to Jesus Christ!
What is the future of this ministry? My
personal goal is to keep doing what are
doing for these families, but keep getting
better! I also want to minister to these
families by offering nights out and small
group opportunities for the parents of
children with special needs. In my heart,
I know this ministry will continue to
grow, reaching out to our own community of individuals with special needs, and
as a result, our Special Needs Ministry
Team will grow. I often say that Special
Needs Buddies know in their heart that
they are wired for this ministry. Is your
calling to plug in to ministry reaching
to families and individuals impacted by
special needs? Now is the time to join
this thriving ministry and be a part of
what God is doing in this community.
CONNECTING STUDENTS:
IMPACTING THEIR WORLD
BY ROBB HASS & BRENT ALEXANDER
While in the depths of the trenches, it

can be challenging to obtain an objective
view of the bigger picture. As youth
leaders, we often try evaluating the overall impact that we make with the students
in Junior and Senior High Schools. We
see this impact in individual students
lives through spiritual growth, discipleship, and connection in Christian fellowship along with their impact on other
lives down the hall, around the corner,
and around the world.
In reviewing our missionconnecting students with Jesus Christwe find
that many of the Christ Church youth
regularly attend Student Ministry Bible
Studies on Sunday mornings and youth
groups on Wednesday nights. On Sunday mornings, we study Gods word and
explore the Bible with meaningful topics that apply to todays growing disciples. On Wednesday evenings, we enjoy
Christian fellowship with fun activities
and snacks while providing a devotional
message to the entire group followed by
smaller group discussions and accountability checks.
The students that attend regularly are
definitely growing in their knowledge
and love for Christ, and they are demonstrating Christian discipleship. We find
that Sundays and Wednesdays offer different experiences, and the students that
attend both sessions are obtaining maxi-
mum grow in both connection and spiritual development.

We also have many opportunities and a
variety of activities throughout the year
to connect with other Christian students
and experience God. We kick off activities in late summer through fellowship
activities, like a pool party. After school
starts, we host an annual bonfire, hayride, and picnic along with a Dodgeball
tournament. In the fall, we have a Senior High School retreat and a Junior
High Camping trip. Both retreats have
not only numerous fellowship and fun
activities included, but also new opportunities for meaningful encounters with
Jesus Christ through campfire sermons
and outdoor natural amphitheater devotionals.
As the year progresses, we celebrate the
holidays through a full course Thanksgiving meal which unites us as family, and
later celebrate the birth of Christ through
our annual Christmas gathering. In
2014, we gathered donations and gifts for
needy teens in our community to bless
and show them the love of Jesus Christ.
In January, we kick things off early with
Winter Jam, a massive Christian concert
event. Students experience a wide variety of Christian music as well as worship
with nearly 20,000 other young believers.
Spring brings a couple of exciting events.
A youth lock-in with worship, devotion-
Robb Hass
Senior High Student Ministries Coordinator
RobbHass@mychristchurch.com
als, food, and fellowship was recently

held in March. One of the biggest events
of the year is the student evangelism
conference, Dare 2 Share, which is held
in April. This is a fantastic event as we
always see students lives transformed
during those two days.
Lastly, we look ahead to July for our annual student mission trip. This year we
are heading to Columbus, Georgia to
help with mission work through an organization called TEAMeffort. We will be
helping needy community members as
we learn how to be the hands and feet of
Christ as well as enjoying fellowship with
each other. All of these events prove to
have much impact on the lives of the students and the lives of those they meet.
As youth leaders, it is a true joy for us
to see the fruits of our labor as students
graduate high school and transform into
adults. Our graduates are more than just
ordinary adults! These young men and
women are disciples of Jesus Christ that
are going out into the world and putting
the go in the gospel of Christ and
making their own IMPACT on the world
around them. It is a true blessing to see
our mission coming to fruition each and
every year!
Brent Alexander
Junior High Student Ministries Coordinator
BrentAlexander@mychristchurch.com
THE CHURCH AND THE ARTS:

A MODERN STRUGGLE
BY REV. DON FRAZURE
There was a time when the church was

the center of creativity. At one time, the
church fostered and embraced incredible
expressions of worship through both the
visual and performing arts. The great cathedrals and churches of Europe were the
architectural marvels of their day. Artists
and craftsmen were commissioned to design, sculpt and build the stained-glass,
statues and church furnishings for them.
Composers were commissioned to write
the great masses and oratorios that we
still hear today.
So what happened?
My thought is that the mediums for expressions changed so quickly - especially
in the last quarter of the 20th century,
that the church is still having a difficult
time embracing new forms of creativity while still trying to hold on to its traditions. In other words, even though
things have changed quickly, there are
still plenty of us who remember how
things used to be, and we are still struggling to embrace new expressions of worship.
What mediums have changed? Instead of
stained-glass and paintings, we now have
video and lighting. Instead of pipe organs, we now have live audio and bands.
Instead of composers taking a biblical
theme and setting it to secular classical
music styles, we have songwriters taking
biblical themes and setting them to secular popular music. This is what Charles
Wesley and many hymn writers did with
the hymns they wrote back in the day thats nothing new. They are just called
songwriters today, and use rock band
instruments instead.
Rev. Don Frazure

Pastor of Worship Arts
@donfrazure
But why do we have such an issue with

these modern mediums being used in
the church? Im not sure that it is the
mediums themselves that are the issue,
but that they are replacing what are generally considered church appropriate
mediums that have been used for centuries. I admit, singing How Great Thou
Art or Great is Thy Faithfulness with a
band does not inspire me the way it does
being accompanied by a fine pipe organ
and organist (believe me, you have to
have BOTH.) That being said, I have a
nostalgic connection to that instrument.
Ive always been a fan of the organ and
its music - I even have a minor in organ
performance. That aside, Im guessing
that most you reading this article do not
share the same penchant for the organ
as I do (other than those who still prefer
hymns played on the organ anyway) and
therefore, dont have the same nostalgic
connection to singing hymns in that way.
Even though the old medium of hymns
with and organ still speaks to me, I have
been called to serve a congregation that
exists in 2015, and I must be prepared to
use the mediums that will connect with
the people of this period in time. The
organ still connects with some of us, but
we have to be honest, those numbers are
less and less with each passing year, and
for the most part are people that are in
church already - not the ones that we are
trying to reach for Christ.
We also use lights and video as artistic
expressions in worship today. I recall
that once I attended a church in New
York where the stained-glass windows
were by Tiffany & Co. I stared at those
windows for most of the service. The
windows depicted the life of Christ in
a brilliant visual expression of the Gos-
pel. In our worship context, we have a

team of people who get to create modern expressions of light for our worship
services. The lights are not programmed
for random colorful lights shows. They
are set to enhance the mood of a song.
They also help draw your attention to
something specific, such as a speaker or
moment in the service. Much like the
stained-glass in that great church on 5th
Avenue, the lights enhance the meaning
of what we do each week and give lighting designers (visual artists) an outlet to
express their gifting to honor God.
What I think we have to get our heads
around is the idea that although the mediums for artistic expressions in worship
have changed, the motivation behind
them is still the same. The arts have been
inspired by the original artist: In the
beginning, God created the heavens and
the earth. (Gen. 1:1) Using modern mediums is just another chapter in how we
connect people to Jesus Christ through
the arts. The key that sets church artists
apart is the Holy Spirit, Who inspires artists, both in the past and the present, to
use their gifts to tell the story of Jesus.
There was a time

when the church
was the center
of creativity.
THE CARING MINISTRIES

OF CHRIST CHURCH
BY DEBBY CREAGH
These are two of the guiding scriptures

for the ministries that care for the Christ
Church family:
By this all men would know that you are

my disciples, if you love one another.
John 13:35
Jesus went through all the towns and

villages, teaching in their synagogues,
preaching the good news of the kingdom
and healing every disease and sickness.
Matthew 9:35
The following ministries are part of serving Christ down the hall here at Christ
Church. Jesus command to love each
other and his mission to preach, teach
and heal are at the core of His charge to
Health and Wellness Ministries: Medical and health
professionals use their gifts and skills in connecting people

with good health practices so that they can be and do all that
God calls them to. Debby Creagh RN, BSN is a professional
Faith Community Nurse Coordinator and on the staff at Christ
Church.
Faith Community Nursing: We are all about Health,

Healing, and Wholeness! We plan for monthly events and longer health initiatives that increase the knowledge and participation in keeping you and your family healthy. Monthly Blood
Pressure Clinics are open to everyone to check a basic component in your health foundation we offer resources and advice
during this time as well. We are available for medical emergencies during services and events. Debby Creagh RN is available
for resources, prayer, encouragement, advice, and as an advocate for the congregation whenever needed. You can contact
her through the church office or email her at debbycreagh@mychristchurch.com.
Fit for One: This team is a collaboration of the Athletics and
the church. Our mission is to connect

people to Christ with these principles as
our guide and the vision of being like the
Acts 2 church - that God will add to our
numbers daily as we honor, glorify, and
follow Him. May you experience Gods
love and grace through the Caring Ministries of Christ Church.
for individuals with medical concerns. They offer prayer prior

to surgery as well as during the length of the hospital or rehab
stay. They also cover the emergency phone when the office is
not open, so people can reach us 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
for spiritual care during emergencies. The information on how
to reach us is on the answering machine for the church. At any
time, call the church number. If you need us, we are available.
Shepherd Care: These volunteers visit with those that are
homebound, in nursing homes, or assisted living and are unable

to come to church on a regular basis. They visit at least once a
month to be the connection with Christ and Christ Church for
the one they are visiting.
Prayer Cards: Response cards to the prayer requests that
are given each Sunday are sent out by this team each week. A
person receives a response once a month if there are multiple requests, but every request is prayed for each week. We earnestly
seek God for each of your requests as we pray and then write to
you.
Health Ministries. It is brand new and has a vision of assisting

people to care for their bodies, the temple of the Holy Spirit, so
that they can live an abundant life and serve God at their best.
You will be hearing more about this ministry soon. Kelli Tobin,
Rick & Theresa Cavalier, and Debby Creagh are leading this together.
Wee Welcome: Nancy Weber and Pati Church lead this
Congregational Care: These ministries connect people
Funerals: Jacque Hart is our funeral coordinator and does a
in our congregation with Christ and the pastoral care at Christ

Church. Rev. Troy Benton and Debby Creagh RN lead these
ministries.
Visitation Team: This volunteer team is trained and visits

our members who are hospitalized or in a rehab facility for spiritual care and support. They represent the pastors as they care
ministry for families with newborns or new adoptions. They

love welcoming new family members to the Christ Church family. Nancy and Pati also pray for every arrival. You can sign up
on the Christ Church website under Connect/Children/Creation
Corner/Wee Welcome, and they will contact you.
wonderful job of shepherding families through the process of

having a funeral at Christ Church. There is a brochure available
with information at the Reception Desk in the office area if you
would like to know more.
Debby Creagh
Parish Nurse
DebbyCreagh@mychristchurch.com
WHAT DO YOU LOVE

Its fun, we get to do skits
and learn about God
GARIN
Age: 11 | CM Campus
I like that its one big place to

learn and share about God
CHRIS
Age: 11 | CM Campus
Its really fun to learn and do

all of the activities
NIC
Age: 9 | CM Campus
I love the open and friendly

people, the music, and it is
good overall.
MALEA
Age: 12 | CM Campus
I like watching the videos

ZACHARY
Age: 6 | CM Campus
I love the multiple campuses,

fun people, and the music.
DREW
Age: 12 | CM Campus
I like learning about God and

watching the videos
BRYCE
Age: 9 | CM Campus
I love that there are lots of

activities, fun events and
good food.
FERN
Age: 12 | CM Campus
I like seeing my friends from

church
HEIDI
Age: 8 | CM Campus
I love seeing everyone, the

friendly people, extra devotional (mornings), and the
music.
EMMIE
Age: 15 | CM Campus
CHRIST CHURCH
-CM CAMPUS
BY LARRY WEBER
greater difficulty in reaching others for

Jesus Christ without a 24/7/365 space to
meet. The Clark and other families continue to make their homes available for
Marriage Studies and Hayrides. Their
growth as a church location now warrants a permanent space in which to
meet.
A few weeks ago Rev. Shane performed a

baptism at the Christ Church-CM Campus; I accompanied him to the campus
for his message and the baptism. As we
prepared to leave the campus to rush
back to Fairview Heights in time for him
to deliver his message there, we found
ourselves stepping over the Jr. High Sunday School that John and Lyndelle Luecking lead at that campus. What a perfect
illustration for how the CM campus has
grown; and an illustration for what it
needs for the future!
As I write this article, the CM Campus over the past few weeks has experienced its largest ever childrens ministry
numbers. Youth numbers continue to
climb; and worship numbers continue
to grow-often because the children bring
their parents to church because they were
invited by their friends and acquaintances. Each of those numbers represents a
story. For example, Chuck and Lisa Camp
and their twin children, Henry and Jes-
sica, attend the CM Campus. Last week

Jessica led the devotion at UPWARD on
Saturday at the Fairview Heights Campus. Another example: Nate Luecking,
a high school freshman, is an integral
part of the tech area at the Campus.
Each child at the CM Campus is learning
about God and His faithfulness to provide for His people regardless of their age
and stage of life.
The Sunday that Rev. Shane and I attended the CM Campus it had over 125
in attendance. The average United Methodist Church in the Illinois Great Rivers
Conference is under 100. In that 125 that
Sunday, nearly all were faces that I have
come to know since the campus opened.
I saw the family whose marriage was reconciled after divorce. I saw a family that
is raising foster children, one of whom
has unique, physical and special needs. I
saw a family whose dad lost his job and
he has accessed our Network of Caring
and counseling from Rev. Troy. I saw at
least two families whose mother recently
passed on and needed the support of a
loving congregation while they grieved.
And I saw many who have been a regular
part of my prayer life for other reasons.
The challenge at the CM Campus-they

need additional space for their childrens
ministries and for discipleship during
the week. The CM Campus has done a
remarkable job using the YMCA to its
fullest capacity for worship and its ministries; including baptism by immersion
in the pool, Family Fun Nights when
the Y closes and makes its pool available
for use, and a multitude of other activities and events that help make disciples
of those connecting with Jesus Christ
through the Christ Church-CM Campus. But the CM Campus will experience
Christ Church-CM Campus continues

to meet the needs of the communities
it serves with dynamic worship and effective discipleship. It has a place in
the life of so many that call Collinsville,
Maryville, Edwardsville, Troy and Glen
Carbon their home. As 1 Peter 3:15 says,
But in your hearts set apart Christ as
Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give
the reason for the hope that you have.
My hope is in the Lord; and in the CM
Campus as a way to connect people with
Jesus Christ in the communities it serves.
Larry Weber
Director of Campus Development
LarryWeber@mychristchurch.com
WHAT DO YOU LOVE

I love the teachers!
BLAKE
The people are really nice,

and everyone is cool.
LACHLAN
I love to dance during

worship.
PEYTON
I love that I get to be with

God.
LANEY
There are plenty of kids my

age, and I love the sermons.
MORGYN
I love the music.

JOHN
It is a great atmosphere
to worship!
SCOTT
The people and the way

the teachings are taught.
MAXAMILLION
Its fun for everyone, sermons are extremely engaging and interesting,
and it gives the youth an opportunity to get involved with the church
and ministry as a choice not a must. For example my name is Kaitlynn, I
am 13, when I moved to Scott Campus at the age of 12, and I was shy.
Then I met some new people that took me in as their friend and offered
me multiple opportunities in the tech field. My current job I accepted
was to operate the light board in the tech booth during Sunday morning
worship services. That has made me feel accepted and like I am someone special in Gods eyes. They can do that for anyone who puts their
time and effort into helping support the mission of the church; connecting people with Jesus Christ...
KAITLYNN
IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY

THROUGH THE SCOTT CAMPUS
BY MATT DENNY
of whom had never attended one of our

services. Local businesses provided door
prizes, the congregation provided food,
and our incredible technical department
provided the video and sound. The event
was a tangible way for our campus to
share the love of God with our community, and the mission was successful.
If you have attended Christ Church for

longer than 10 minutes, you have certainly heard or read: Christ Church exists
to connect people with Jesus Christ. As
great as our flagship campus in Fairview
Heights is, it has limited reach. The ability to connect with a church decreases as
your distance from the church increases.
With that in mind, Christ Church began
launching regional campuses in 2011 to
extend the reach of the great things God
is doing in us and among us. In September of 2014, we launched the Scott AFB
campus.
This new campus is already making an
impact in its community. As worship
leader, I have the unique opportunity of
seeing every adult attendees face every
Sunday. This past week, I made a point
to count each family that has joined us
since we launched. There were 7 of these
families, totaling over 15 people. Because
Christ Church had the courage to step
out, these 7 families are now getting an
opportunity to connect with Christ in a

way that was not available before.
Church growth is great . . . it is what we
are supposed to do. The Great Commission tells me so. However, there is another positive outcome when a church opens
a campus; you build new leaders. A new
campus has needs. Coffee must be made,
children must be taught, buildings must
be maintained, and evangelism has to
happen. These jobs fall on the shoulders
of new leaders, and I have seen time and
again how God gives strength while those
leaders learn to carry their loads. The
Scott campus was blessed with an experienced leadership team out of the gate,
and Gods work is getting done in a tremendous way.
We recently hosted a Super Bowl party
for the surrounding community. This
was our first major community event
since launch, and it was very successful.
We hosted over 100 adults, at least 20
You may be asking, How can I be a part

of what God is doing 20 minutes down
the road? First, we need prayer, Even
if you never set foot on our campus
grounds, we need your prayers. Pray that
God give us vision, wisdom, strength,
and compassion. We have had opportunities to provide food for the needy, and
a shoulder to cry on for those who are
grieving. Please pray with us and for us
that God continues to lead and equip us
for the work ahead.
Next, if you live in the Scott/Mascoutah
neighborhood, give us a try! We have
services in the old grange building starting at 10:00 AM. Come and meet the
people, try the coffee and snacks, enjoy the music and sermon. We have
been blessed to see friends and family
come and visit our campus over the last
4 months. It is always great to worship
with other parts of the body!
Lastly, if you feel God calling you to be a
part of what Rev. Shane refers to as the
tip of the spear of evangelism, talk to
Larry Weber about becoming a permanent part of our campus. Spirit-filled,
joyful Christians attract the lost. If this
is you, and you feel the call, we would
love to have you add your hands to the
plow. God is good, and He is doing great
things!
Matt Denny
Scott Campus Worship Leader
MatthewDenny@mychristchurch.com
WHAT DO YOU
LOVE ABOUT
CHRIST CHURCH?
I like being able to see my
friends every week
CHARLI
Age: 7 | Millstadt Campus
I like that we get to praise

and worship God
SPENCER
I like that we have fun

TRISTAN
I like that we get to see

different people
EVAN
I like getting to know new

friends and experiencing
what they are like
JASON
I like that we get to do really

fun games
LIAM
I like playing with my friends

and I love Jesus and God!
LYLA
Age: 5 | CM Campus
I like learning about God and

loving my friends
MORGAN
Age: 6 | CM Campus
A SUNDAY IN THE LIFE

OF MILLSTADTS CAMPUS
BY REV. BERNIE KNEALE
7:30 am: The first of two trailers packed

with equipment needed to transform a
school gym into a worship center arrives
at the Millstadt Primary Center. Members of the set-up team are on hand to
roll out the cases containing a multitude
of equipment. All have assigned tasks
but each member willingly stops to help
wherever needed.
7:50 am: Trailer #2 arrives. The early
team suspends their work as they roll in
the crates that contain the supplies for
hospitality, welcoming, Sunday school
and nursery equipment. By this time,
more set-up members have arrived and
head directly to making classrooms and
halls ready for the days activities.
8:30 am: Much of the set-up in the gym
is completed. The stage is up. The lights
are set. The sound system is ready for
sound checks. Musicians and singers
are making the finished touches. All the
while, there continues to be pleasant interactions between the members of the
Millstadt Christ Church campus community. The coffee pot is ready to dispense
the first cups of coffee. The snack table is
prepared with delicious treats.
What started as a small team at 7:30 a.m.
is now numbering close to 20 members.
8:40 am: A call goes out to all areas:
Prayer time! As we assemble in front of
the stage, one can sense that the space is
no longer a gym. It is now a worship center, a sacred space.
8:50 am: Following the team prayer,
workers return to their unfinished business. Sound checks are completed, with
worship leaders beginning warm-ups.

The prayer team completes its prayer coverage over every single place and space.
There is an increasing sense of anticipation of the worship that is to come!
9:40 am: Our church family begins to arrive. The greeters are at the door with a
welcome smile. The vast crowd of young
children are signed in and delivered. Coffee and refreshments are on hand to help
set a relaxed atmosphere to ready the
heart and mind for a wonderful hour of
worship and teaching.
10:00 am: Worship begins with live music, followed by a moment to say good
morning, a scripture reading and the dynamic sermon via video.
11:00 am: Worship comes to a close
with announcements and invitations to
participate in the life of this church family. A lively time of fellowship follows
as people go for one more cup of coffee
and check the treat table one last time.
People are encouraged to fellowship and
in this atmosphere that is not difficult to
do. Shortly after, the children are gathered by their parents and folks are headed
home. The set-up team now becomes
the take-down team. Yet there is an interesting dynamic that occurs. Many who
would not be considered a part of the
take-down team pitch in by stacking
chairs, picking up rugs and the list goes
on? It is amazing to me that no one really has to give orders to pack things into
the trailers, but there is a strong sense
of ownershipour church, our worship
space, our church family.
ed, the gym is back to being a gym, and

the team is ready to head home. We then
gather for a closing prayer.
This is a Sunday in the life of the Millstadt Christ Church Campus. The Millstadt Campus is unique. There is a
blessed sense of community where each
person is important and cared for deeply. There is a closeness not felt in a larger
venue. We have a ton of babies and toddlers. We have young families that are
coming together to worship and pray together. We are quick to have a great time
together and quick to give a hand and
work together.
The Millstadt Campus supplies meals to
families in need, providing much needed goods to the local food pantry and
adopting two families this past Christmas, allowing them to have a most memorable holiday. Our leaders pray regularly
throughout the week, and there are small
groups meeting in homes
While the bulk of the Millstadt campus
activity takes place on Sunday morning,
this worshiping family stays in touch in
many other ways. We are not just a Sunday thing. The Millstadt Campus is a living, breathing entity that is making an
impact on the local community.
Come join us some Sunday! But I must
warn you: you will need to be prepared
to be greeted warmly and experience
worship of our God with a joy-filled
group. Thank God for His work in Millstadt!
11:45 am: When all the cases are load-
Rev. Bernie Kneale

bkneale@accessus.net
CHRIST CHURCH
-BIKER CHURCH
BY LARRY WEBER
I am a control enthusiast. Despite repeated attempts to repent, I still want to control what God does and when He does
it. So eighteen months ago when Wayne
Witter and Jeff Allen came to me to suggest that God had laid on their hearts the
idea of beginning a church service for
Bikers, all I could think was that it was
not a convenient time for me to consider
this idea. Christ Church was gearing up
for a new campus and I was busy looking
for a location to place it somewhere near
Scott Air Force Base. Didnt God know I
was busy!
The Sons of Thunder Motorcycle Ministry had been in existence for several years
by then. Wayne and Jeff had attended a
Bike Blessing in Smithton and upon returning to Fairview Heights they felt God
calling them to start a church service for
Bikers. So even though the timing was
not exactly convenient, we went with the
idea and Biker Church was started!
What has happened since then is a God-
Larry Weber
Director of Campus Development
LarryWeber@mychristchurch.com
thing. I have had God-things happen to

me before, but not like this. God does
provide! God provided a person with a
free, outdoor pavilion space for the Biker
Church to meet for the summer and until
we were able to find a permanent location at the Fairview Heights VFW. We
were able to move around some money
in the Campus Development budget to
assure we could provide the resources
for a Biker Church service. God provided a group of men and women to assure
worship would be fruitful, who would fill
each service with songs, message, prayer,
and witness. God sent free publicity via
interviews on KMOX Radio. And God
brought new people to Himself three
baptisms and three professions of faith
this past year for a congregation that averages just 40 attendees each month.
The baptisms and professions of faith are
evidence of lives being changed by this
ministry, a ministry formed from the
vision of Wayne Witter and Jeff Allen.
They trusted God and went beyond their
comfort zone, to hold a church service in

a bar. Any ministry driven by the Holy
Spirit will impact lives when and where
you least expect it to happen.
If you havent attended a Biker Church
service, it is something you should experience! Biker Church is held the second
Sunday of each month at 1 p.m. at the
Fairview Heights VFW. Conversations
are underway to determine if we should
have a second service each month in the
Maryville area. I cannot remember the
last time I was in a bar and the last time
I was on a motorcycle was in high school
some 50 years ago. But God wants us to
reach others for Himself and there are
people who frequent bars and ride motorcycles that He believes should be in
Christian community. So, thanks to the
efforts of those who believed it could be
done, and Gods perfect timing, Christ
Church has a Biker Church! God is
Good!
CONNECTING
AT CHRIST CHURCH
BY PAM HUFF
I have a question for you. Are you best

friends with everyone at Christ Church?
I think I can hear your answerprobably not. Fellowship is a necessity in our
lives as believers. If you look around
Scripture Hall or the Coffee Caf, listen
and observe, you can see how important
fellowship can be to us. We need folks
to care for, hang with, come alongside
and serve together, and have accountability and a sense of close community. We
need a place to grow deeper in our faith
as individuals. This is where our Connect
Groups at Christ Church enter in the picture.
Why a Connect Group, you may ask.
Here is why it is so valuable to be part
of a group through Christ Church: Fellowship with other like-minded people
allows us to become more. More of a servant. More of a caregiver to others, more
of a student, and, most importantly, more
of a disciple of Jesus Christ.
People often ask what are Connect
Groups or small groups as some would
know them to be called. They are groups
in which you can live life together. Small
groups are places in which we can learn,
play, care and serve one another. There
is no better place to develop friendships
than in a small group setting. When we
sit down, share a meal, share life crises,
care for a friend in need and actively go
and serve one another, we are doing what
Christ showed us by example when He
called His twelve disciples. Today, we are
His disciples and are called to follow Him
in every way. Connect groups are an excellent way to develop close relationships
in Christ.
The other side of our Connections Ministry and my job as Connections Coordinator is helping you find your place
in serving the body of Christ. At Christ
Church, we are encouraged to practice
Worship + 2 and a Tithe. Where are
your gifts being used? Dont think you
have any gifts to offer? You dont have
time? Do you have lots of other excuses
that come to mind? Sometimes we dont
allow God to work through us for various reasons. Well, we need to remember
we are not alone. If God calls us to some
kind of service, He has equipped us. We
must trust Him, step outside of ourselves
and see the wonderful work He will do
through us.
There are so many places of service to
connect at Christ Church. In regards to
the church standard of Worship + 2 and
a Tithe, we all know how to worship and
how to tithe, but what is the + 2? It is
participating in a small group and serving in ministry at Christ Church. You
can serve Down the Hall, Around the
Corner or Around the World. One group
is for us, and one is to help others. We
can connect in small groups, classes, in
worship, in athletics and in service. I am
available to help you find your place in
one or more of these areas. I encourage
folks to take the Spiritual Gifts inventory offered on our website. This is a great
tool in helping you identify what your
gifts are and where you would be most effective in serving. It is usually easy to be a
participant when we are on the receiving
end, but it is much harder to step outside
of ourselves and help others. There is a
certain sense of sacrifice we must exhibit,
but when we find our place of calling and
get out of that comfort zone, God can
use us to impact the world around us.

Are you wanting to be that more that
God desires you to be as stated earlier in
the article? Come by the SYNC Center
in Scripture Hall and let me help you get
connected. You will not regret it! Just as I
mentioned in the article earlier, when we
are doing what Jesus, by example, showed
us when He called His twelve disciples,
we, like them, can make an impact that
will change our part of the world!
FIND A
CONNECT GROUP
Learn more about Connect
Groups at Christ Church
online at
MyChristChurch.com
/ConnectGroups
Call the church office at
619-277-4659 or email Pam Huff at
PamHuff@mychristchurch.com to get
help connecting at Christ Church.
Pam Huff
Connections Coordinator
PamHuff@mychristchurch.com
SAFETY AND SECURITY

AT CHRIST CHURCH
BY JIM HUTCHISON
Im often asked Why do we need a Safety & Security Ministry? After all, when
I was growing up (a few years ago), I was
told I could ALWAYS go to church to feel
safe and secure - for sanctuary!
Alas, we now live in a fallen world where
evil is rampant. People are robbed, shot
and beaten on the street at any time of
the day. Churches are viewed as soft
targets, easy places to rob and steal. Little consideration is given to what our
churches really stand for - worshipping
our Lord and Savior. In addition, we experience bad weather and various medical emergencies.
Even more startling are recent statistics
from a Church Security Leaders group
that indicate in the last 15 years there
were more shootings in churches in the
United States than in our schools. Twothirds of the shootings took place during
church services.
The genesis of the Safety & Security Ministry (SSM) at Christ Church occurred on
March 9, 2009, when Pastor Fred Winters
at Maryville Baptist Church was shot and
killed during a worship service in front of
his congregation. The following week, I
proposed to Pastor Shane the idea of developing a ministry that would respond
to all types of emergencies, from medical to fire to criminal to bad weather,
with the purpose of keeping everyone at
Christ Church safe and secure. He im-
mediately accepted and weve been building this ministry ever since.
So, what do we do? The SSM is made up
of 50 volunteers (give or take a few) and
these volunteers are divided into several
different groups. The Watchers are the
foundation of the ministry. They look
for unusual situations that may need
special attention from medical emergencies to lost parents, to directions within
the church grounds. The Guardians
have all made a commitment to getting
involved in events that require physical intervention. A number of Guardians are active law enforcement officers
(LEOs) with arrest authority as well as
former and retired LEOs. Then we have
the Shepherds, who are the team leaders. They are the ones you will see in a
burgundy sports coat or vest. Finally, we
have our Controllers who work in our
Control Center, monitoring our radios
and cameras. Each new member receives
initial training and all members meet
bi-monthly to address any issues and
concerns in order to keep our House of
the Lord safe.
How do we do it? We have 10-12 people every service positioned around the
church campus, in the sanctuary, the
gym, and creation corner and outside in
the parking lots. We also have people
at most of our special events. In addition, we have over 60 cameras that cover
most of our entrances and rooms in the
Jim Hutchison
Director of Safety and Security Ministries
JimHutchison@mychristchurch.com
church. We even receive specialized oneon-one training in self-defense from a

martial arts master every month.
What does this mean to you? When
you come to Christ Church, there is a
dedicated group of people committed to
keeping you safe and secure so you can
focus on your worship experience.
We are always looking for new members. Members of this Ministry must be
21 years old or older, a member of Christ
Church, and have a true love for the
Lord. Were also looking for active and
retired LEOs. If you are interested, please
contact Jim Hutchison at umcguardian@
yahoo.com.
As SHEEPDOGS WATCH OVER THE
Lambs Well Oversee Church Activities
with a SOFT VELVET GLOVE BUT
Well Know What to DO IF the Wolves
Show Up!
WHOLE
AND HOLY
BY JERRY DORTCH
The sole purpose of Christ Church is

connecting people to Jesus Christ. Every program, every class, every mission
trip, any activity at Christ Church must
pass that standard test- does what we are
proposing to do connect people to Jesus
Christ. The goal of the adult discipleship
program takes that question one step further. Now that people are connected to
Christ, what happens next? Through the
Holy Spirit working in our connect classes and connect groups we are looking for
transformation of the heart. The goal of
adult discipleship is Spirit-led life change
and spiritual growth. The adult discipleship programs work to create an environment where that transformation can
occur through the movement of the Holy
Spirit. This spiritual growth is a lifelong
process.
The impact of this transformation of the
heart and spiritual growth is life changing
for the individual and for those around
them. When your emphasis in life is becoming less like the world we live in and
more like Jesus, the effect is staggering.
Spouses, children, extended family members, co-workers and the community as a
whole are all impacted in a positive way.
Quite simply, the question that needs to
be answered is this: What is Christianity
supposed to DO to a person? What is the
EFFECT Christianity is intended to have
upon a person who becomes a Christian
or is seeking to live as a Christian? Part
of the task of the adult discipleship program is to help our students answer that
question because their beliefs about this
will shape their convictions about nearly
everything else. It will shape their understanding of the purpose of the Gospel; it will shape their understanding of
what they believe God is up to in their
lives. The way that one question is answered will shape their thoughts about
church and community, service and justice, prayer and worship. It is currently
shaping the way they interpret their experiences and their beliefs about their relationship to God.
As always, scripture gives us the answer
to the question. Paul tells us in Ephesians
1: 3-4:
How blessed is God! And what a blessing He is! He is the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high
places of blessing in Him. Long before
He laid down the earths foundations, He
had us in mind, had settled on us as the
focus of His love, to be made whole and
holy by His love.
The heart of Gods plan for all of us is
to be made whole and holy by His love.
The entire adult discipleship program is
about helping people realize what Gods
plan is about and to help them achieve it
through Bible study, spiritual discipline,
group fellowship, etc.
Becoming holy sometimes gets a bad rap

because we equate it as being too hard for
us to really achieve: too much denial, too
much disciple, or too much separation
from this world. We must realize that
becoming holy is to be set apart to do
Gods work. When the Holy Spirit guides
your heart to be transformed, you are in
the process of becoming holy. Why does
God want this transformation to occur?
Because Gods work is the restoration of
this world and we are His instruments
to achieve that restoration. God trusts
us enough to share in His work, but before we can go about transforming the
world around us we must be transformed
ourselves. In order for human beings to
become what God intends us to be, the
love of God seeks to make us whole and
holy. In fact, the entire assumption of
the New Testament is that you cannot become whole without becoming holy; nor
can you become holy without becoming
whole.
There is a rescue waiting for all of us if
we can learn to understand what Christianity should do to a person. Hebrews
12: 7-13 says that God is working with
us- correcting, guiding, disciplining- so
that we might share in His holiness. Luke
19:10 tells us that the Son of Man came
to find and restore the lost. The adult
discipleship ministry simply wants to
help people find their way on that path
and assist in whatever way we can, so that
whatever is broken might be healed.
Jerry Dortch
Adult Education Coordinator
JerryDortch@mychristchurch.com
AROUND
THE WORLD
BY DAVE MERRILL
Members of Christ Church enjoy an

amazing assortment of ministry opportunities down the hall, around the corner,
and around the world. Our mission to
connect people with Jesus Christ extends beyond our walls with meaningful
impact at local, regional, and international levels. Gods Word commands us go
and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit and teaching
them to obey everything I have commanded you. Matthew 28:19-20 NIV
Jesuss last words to his disciples before ascending to His Father were, you
will receive power when the Holy Spirit
comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and
Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.
Acts 1:8-9 NIV
So as obedient disciples of our LORD and
Savior, we clearly are commanded to witness to the Metro East (our Jerusalem),
the Nation (our Judea and Samaria), and
to people around the globethe ends of
the earth. Our Flame already shines
brightly around the world in several places.
Did you know that Christ Church helped
plant the very first United Methodist
church in San Pedro Sula, Honduras?
Our Bibles for Honduras ministry exists to purchase, transport, and distribute Spanish bibles and put the gospel of
Jesus Christ into the hands of the Honduran people. We send teams to carry
the love of Jesus throughout Honduran
streets, prisons, churches, and communities. Most recently, Charlie and Bonnie
Fahrner, Ben Belvin and Bob Nelson led
Dave Merrill
facebook.com/davemerrill819
a team to help rebuild homes destroyed

in Honduras after a tragic Christmas Eve
fire.
The Christ Church Feed My Sheep
ministry is another extension of our mission to connect the people of Honduras
with Jesus. We provide opportunities to
the poorest of Honduras to change their
lives and situations. We supplement diets
with healthy feeding programs, provide
much needed medical, dental, and vision
care, and give Hondurans the opportunity to further their education. Involvement includes traveling to Honduras as a
missionary, providing food, Bibles, clothing, toys, and medicine.
Shifting focus to another remote corner
of the globe, our Philippine Scholars
ministry works with our sister church,
Christ Church Philippines in Mindanao, to provide scholarships to qualified
students at all levels of education. Our
scholars reside and study in ten distinct
locations throughout the Philippine islands. Part of this ministry also supports a supplemental feeding program
for elementary students who would otherwise go to school without first eating
breakfast. Throughout the year, Christ
Church offers opportunities to sponsor
Philippine scholars or support programs
that feed or care for the medical and dental needs of our sponsored students.
Our own Todd Griffin has taken on a
calling to fulfill his God-led ministry in
Uganda. Todds heart to feed the children of this impoverished African nation inspires the rest of us to reach out in
meaningful ways. World Vision provides
the infrastructure to fulfill a mission to
promote human transformation, seek justice, and bear witness to the good news
of the Kingdom of God. Our bookstore
offers amazing jewelry and gifts from artisans around the world; we can help others through our purchase of those goods.
The proceeds from these items enable us
to continue support for our missions in
Honduras, the Philippines, and Uganda.
Reverend Shane has already posted plans
for another trip to the Holy Lands in
2016. Im too excited not to re-tweet his
post here: We will leave on June 15, 2016
and return June 22, 2016. We will spend
our time in the Sea of Galilee region and
our last two days in Jerusalem. Just a
few of the features will include a renewal
of wedding vows in Cana of Galilee, remembering your baptism in the Jordan
River, an optional hike in the Galilee, a
boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, a drive
along the Golan Heights, a visit to Masada by cable car, prayer time in the Garden of Gethsemane, a walk down the Via
Dolorosa and communion at the Garden
Tomb More information is coming
soon!
You have abounding opportunities for
global ministry. Whether or not you
travel to Honduras, the Philippines,
Uganda, or Israel, you can support these
ministries by purchasing goods in our
bookstore, sponsoring student scholarships, or contributing to the funds, equipment, and resources needed to support
these efforts around the world. Through
the blessings God has bestowed on us, we
are able to make an impact through our
prayers and giving, supporting a global mission to connect people with Jesus
Christ.
WHAT DO YOU LOVE

The youth have the opportunity to do stuff in the church.
NOAH
Age: 16 | FH Campus
I love that the congregation

is embracing, as if I have a
second family.
KYLIE
Age: 17 | FH Campus
They always keep us involved!

ELIZABETH
Age: 15 | FH Campus
All the people are pretty

friendly.
ALYSSA
Age: 14 | FH Campus
The sermons are really

good.
GARRETT
Age: 18 | FH Campus
Theres always something

new and interesting going on.
You can pretty much make
friends with anybody.
JESSICA
Age: 16 | FH Campus
Kids from my school come to youth. I love all the things we talk
about, and I can talk about things that matter in my small group on
youth nights.
AGODA
Age: 17 | FH Campus
ONE CUP
OF COFFEE
BY NOL RUSSELL
I regularly tell people that if you dont

make it to the Coffee Caf on a Sunday
then you are missing out on something
special. I wholeheartedly believe that.
When you walk in the caf you have an
opportunity to feel the energy and excitement that comes with being a part of
Christ Church. It is a little loud, definitely
crowded, but its full of fun and laughter.
Its an opportunity to know others and
be known that you do not always get sitting in the pews on a Sunday morning.
When you share in a cup of coffee with
other people its much more than that. It
breaks down barriers and helps to make
conversation a little easier.
Our volunteers are often some of the first
people you talk to as a new person, and
they love the opportunity to be the welcoming and inviting faces guests see. It
makes new members and visitors alike
feel like they can find a sense of belonging here. As the church continues to
grow, it occasionally feels like you might
get lost. Once you get plugged in to the
church through fellowship and volunteering, the sense of community is undoubtedly one of the best things about
being part of the body of Christ. It can
be so difficult to find your way, from
walking in the front door, to knowing
where you belong.
The best part of the Coffee Caf is that its

a ministry, not a business. When someone walks through the door and doesnt
have money for a cup of coffee, there is
always a volunteer willing to say, No
problem, its on me this week. Hope you
have a great day. With that simple act of
kindness, you have just made someones
day. In many ways, what our wonderful
volunteers do is so simple, yet it can have
such a huge impact on how the church is
viewed. All of us have the ability to impact the people we come across in a simple but far-reaching way each and every
time we are here, but I think that the caf
ministry brings such a positive light because of the warm atmosphere and the
caring people that give out of their hearts
in caring for people.
Many times we have such a difficult time
trying to figure out where we are being
called to serve within the church. Its
hard to figure out if we are truly gifted to work with children or to serve the
homeless on the streets. We are all called
to act as Christ and the caf volunteers,
with their welcoming spirit and friendly
faces, do that each week. We have volunteers, young and old that have continued to serve through all of the caf updates over the past few years. When we
added the espresso machine and started
serving lattes and cappuccinos many of
them were intimidated. The caf ministry may require a little training, but all
we really ask of our volunteers is to have
a welcoming spirit and the desire to serve
each person with which we may come in
contact.
Although it can be busy and hectic, the
caf team has so much fun serving together and interacting with each and every person. How can you not want to be
a part of a team like that? You dont have
to have any prior knowledge, just the love
to serve the people God puts in front of
you. Its incredibly humbling to think
that because of one positive interaction
with the person God puts in your path,
you may be the person that helped make
an impact on their day or helped them
find a church home. And to think, it can
all start with one cup of coffee.
NOL RUSSELL
Director of Retail Services
NoelRussell@mychristchurch.com
ATHLETIC
MINISTRIES
BY KELLI TOBIN
high school age volunteers who spend all

Saturday assisting in several capacities,
including peer mentors for players with
special needs.
Anyone interested in learning more
about Christ Church Upward Basketball and Cheerleading can contact Rick
Cavalier (rickcavalier@mychristchurch.
com) or Lisa Camp (lisacamp@mychristchurch.com).
The Athletic Ministry has also linked
arms with the Parish Nursing Team to
offer Becoming Fit for One: A Wellness
Ministry at Christ Church. Our goal is
to educate and help others form healthy
habits so we can be used to the fullest as
the body of Christ. We hope to offer fitness classes, nutrition education, and various prevention models to get you on the
track to better health in 2015.
I am thrilled to be joining the Christ
Church staff this year as the Athletic
Ministry Coordinator. We have new, exciting ministries and a vision for 2015
that will take us to the next level in our
outreach, discipleship, and relationships.
Our mission is to connect people with
Jesus Christ through athletics. Our strategy is to invite, build relationships, and
raise up disciples of Jesus Christ through
competition, teamwork, and community. Some ministries we currently offer
are softball (mens and womens leagues),
bowling, running, volleyball, basketball,
and the Upward Sports program, which
includes basketball and cheerleading. We
have a unique opportunity to inspire and
equip others to live spiritually and physically whole lives through athletics. Our
Upward Sports program kicked off for its
Kelli Tobin
Director of Athletic Ministries
KelliTobin@mychristchurch.com
second season in January and one of our

leaders, Rick Cavalier, has this to share:
Our number of participants has increased
from 200 boys and girls during the initial 2014 season to 230 participants this
season. The children range in age from
Kindergarten through 8th grade and are
not only from Christ Church but many
neighboring communities and churches as well. Prayer and devotionals are a
regular part of practice and games, which
allows Upward Sports the opportunity to
connect others to Jesus Christ.
Many volunteers have taken the opportunity to serve in this ministry either
as coaches, referees, concession stand
workers, prayer leaders, and scorekeepers. This includes several junior high and
Christ Church Athletics is leaving a huge

imprint on the lives of our athletes, the
surrounding community, and our children. We strive to live healthy, whole
lives complete only in Christ to reach
others and deepen our relationships with
Him and each other. I am excited for all
that God has planned as our teams go to
the next level in 2015! Wont you join us
this year and make it the best year yet?
For more information, please contact
Kelli Tobin (kellitobin@mychristchurch.
com).
Operation Christmas Cheer

Sends Thanks to Christ Church
Dear Christ Church,
Thank you for supporting Project Christmas Cheer again this year. With
your help, we provided 342 gifts to residents at 16 different nursing homes.
Your gifts insured that some of our neediest seniors received a gift this past
Christmas.
We also thank our pastors for their support and the church staff for their
administrative help. Without this support, this project would not have been
possible. A special thanks to the ladies from Women4Given who helped
sort, check and purchase missing gifts so that we met our commitment to
the nursing homes and their residents. They were the hands and feet of
this project. I would also like to thank the volunteers who braved a very
cold blustery Monday in December to deliver the gifts to the various and
widespread nursing homes.
I feel so fortunate to belong to a church that is dedicated to giving. It is
such a blessing to know people are willing to buy a gift for someone they do
not know and who they will never meet just because it is the right thing to
do. This is truly serving Christ around the corner. It is also a tremendous
way to be involved in community service. The comments we received from
the participating nursing homes assures me they are well aware of Christ
Church and our willingness to help others less fortunate.
Thank you all again for your support of this ministry and, if God is willing,
we will do it again in 2015!
God bless you,
Jean Casey
Nursing Home Ministry and Project Christmas Cheer
GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Rev. Shane Bishop
Job Title: Senior Pastor
Job Description: Church Overseer
WHAT DO YOU
LOVE ABOUT
CHRIST CHURCH?
The playground outside.
JJ
Age: 6 | FH Campus
Worship leading. It gets me

really, really excited!
JANAE
Age: 9 | FH Campus
Upwards Basketball.
JACOB & DYLON
Age: 9 & 11 | FH Campus
What was the worst job you ever had? I

washed RVs. It was a terrible job.
Have you ever met a famous person?
Tony Dunge, it was awesome. Famous
people in our region and Kirk Cameron
What could you do as a child that you
cant do now? I could put one of my legs
behind my head
Name one thing you miss about being a
kid: No responsibility. Just being able to
play
What Bible character do you relate to
the most? John. He was a thoughtful guy
and interpreter of the gospel. He was also
one that ended up raving mad and writing the book of Revelation
What makes you feel most alive? Competition
What is your favorite time of year? The
fall, when you can wear sweatshirts and
shorts
If you were the richest person on earth,

what would you do with the money you
had? Pay off the church debt. I would
give the vast majority away to ministries
and places that would solve world problems, make the world a better place and
reach the world for Christ.
If you could interview someone famous, who would that be and why?
Hank Aaron. I would want to hear how
he made the transition from the Negro
Leagues to the Major Leagues and as a
man what it felt like to carry that pressure
throughout his career
What do you think delights God above
everything else? When we lose ourselves
in worship and in service and transcend
our self-awareness becoming fully God
aware.
What would you do if you didnt have
to work? I would preach, study and roam
the mountains and watch a whole lot of
baseball.
What word describes you best? Relentless
How do you handle stress? Exercise, try

to keep perspective, realize its all Gods
stuff, not mine. Its not all about me
How would your life be different if you
knew Jesus was returning later today? I
might cut my lunch by 20 minutes
What drives you every day? The idea

that God has given me significant gifts,
and I need to produce a good return.
What super power would you most like

to have and why? I have super powers.
Next question
Who plays the most influential role in

your life? Melissa
If you could go on a road trip with any

person, dead or alive, who would you
choose and where would you go? Abra-
Whats your taste in music? Really eclectic but I hate the Grammys
Playing with my friends.

DESTINEE
Age: 5 | FH Campus
We learn a lot about God

and pray with all the people
in church.
BRAYDEN
Age: 8 | FH Campus
ham Lincoln. We would travel the back

roads of Central and Southern Illinois. I
dont think any figure in American History withstood more stress. He had a moral
certitude was amazing
Describe the perfect date night: Melissa and me at Andrias Steakhouse for a 3
hour supper. Their filets are my favorite
food, by the way.
How did you meet your spouse? We attended the same high school
What advice do you have for the young
people at church? Dont be weak sauce
What advice would you offer to a newlywed couple? For the guys, I would
spend pretty good money on your guestroom mattress because you will sleep on
it more than you think
What movie tells your life story? Raiders of the Lost Ark. This is how I dream.
All my dreams are action movies with
roles of good and evil
When you think about God, what is the
first thing that comes to mind? Infinity,
overwhelming, blown away.
We get to go to classes,
draw pictures, play games
and everybody gets to have
special time together.
CARLEE
Age: 8 | FH Campus
GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Melissa Bishop
Job Title: Children & Student Staff Coordinator
Job Description: Oversee staff in children and student ministry
at Christ Church
WHAT DO YOU
LOVE ABOUT
CHRIST CHURCH?
There are classes for kids.
ELI
Age: 10 | FH Campus
We can learn a lot about

God. I have friends, and we
get together at church.
LORELAI
Age: 8 | FH Campus
We get to learn about God

and do fun activities. I love
Jesus because He died on the
cross.
SPENCER
Age: 7 | FH Campus
What made you decide to attend this

church? I had no choice.
What do you think delights God above
everything else? Worship
What would you do if you didnt have to
work? Watch my grandchildren. Wait, I
am doing that already!
Does your faith show while driving? My
Old Testament Faith
How would your life be different if you
knew Jesus was returning later today?
Not at all.
What dont you want said at your funeral? She looks very natural
What do you think the secret to a good
life is? Simplicity
Where are you from? DuQuoin, Illinois
Which sport do you like? Baseball
Do you have a nickname? Miss Anne
What is your favorite food? Anything
with pasta and cheese
What is your motto? Live. Simply. Beautiful.
Have you ever met a famous person?
Vincent Price
sets? Sunrise
human love
Are you a task oriented person or a people oriented person? Task
Are you a Cubs or Cardinal fan?

Cardinal
Name one thing you miss about being a

kid. I am still a kid.
What book are you reading now?

The Bible
What bible character do you most relate

to? Deborah
Whats the best birthday gift youve ever

received? Zec was born the day before
my birthday in 1984
What makes you feel most alive? Being

in the middle of nowhere worshiping the
Lord
What is your most favorite time of the
year? Summer.
Would you rather fly a jet or drive a

race car? Race Car
What is your taste in music? Nothing after 1955
Would your spouse say you are funny or

serious? Im hysterical. Who needs his
opinion? :)
What are your hobbies? Deer hunting,

gardening, decorating
What word describes you best? Passionate
Where do you like to vacation? The
Smoky Mountains
What were you like when you were a
kid? I had a great imagination
If you were the richest person on earth,
what would you do with the money you
had? Pay off the Christ Church debt
What is your goal in life? To have a farm
What would your dream house be like?

It would be like isolated
Are you a morning or night person?

Morning
When did you last have the heartiest

laugh? Last night
Which do you prefer, sunrises or sun-
Do you love kids? They are my greatest
Pastor Shane gets to know

everybody.
MORGAN
Age: 12 | FH Campus
Have you ever appeared on television?

Yes. Christian TV in the 80s.
I always learn valuable lessons.

SEBASTIAN
Age: 12 | FH Campus
What attracted you to your spouse?

He was a Christian
What holiday could the USA do without? Halloween
Do you prefer to text or talk on the
phone? Text
Are you a Facebook person? No
Are you an amusement park thrill-seeker? No
What dream have you yet to fulfill?
Farm ownership
What advice would you offer to a newlywed couple? Divorce is never an option
I love that you can feel accepted and never feel out of
place.
CHLOE
Age: 13 | FH Campus
GOD AT WORK
NEW MEMBERS
OCTOBER 2014
Sherrie Schrad
NOVEMBER 2014
Annemarie Clark
Maryn Hoskin
Charlene F. Hunt
Chrystie Nikkole Kannewurf
Keith Kannewurf
Monica Kopchak
Wayne Kopchak
Darlene Ann Linerode
Tassoula A. Nolden
Angel Pack
George Pack
Ashley Sanders
Dwight Sanders
Amy Susanne Shannon
Ed Shannon
Emmie Alysse Stanifer
Chad Schoonover
Jennifer Schoonover
Erin Strinni
Steve Strinni
DECEMBER 2014
Richard A. Rodawald II
JANUARY 2015
Becky Sue Rose
Langston Rose, Sr.
FEBRUARY 2015
Chinaya L. Brock
Thomas L. Brock, Jr.
Dean A. Crowl
Karen L. Crowl
Gerry Davidson
Michaelle Guerrero
Scott Kiser
Melissa Kiser
Amy Maly
Brian Maly
Bradley Moose
Alexis Moose
Larry E. Newell II
Tammy Ann Accola - Newell
Carol Elizabeth Taylor
Alana Thompson Byrd
Brad Walker
Lisa Walker
Ashley Ryan Waters
Larry White
Kimberly White
BAPTISMS
OCTOBER 2014
Alaina Peggy Budko
NOVEMBER 2014
Brooklyn Rose Cates
Evelyn Faith Gottschalk
Lillian Jane Gottschalk
Vivian Grace Gottschalk
Jackson Paul Hanschu
Emerson Mae Monroe
Noah Aaron Nyman
Wyatt Andrew York
DECEMBER 2014
Cassandra Nicole Dixon
Mickayla Neuwirth
Joshua James Pack
FEBRUARY 2015
Bekham Jeffrey Wardlaw
Alexis Moose
MEMBERS
PASSING
Dorothy J. Eck Oct 20, 2014
Ruth V. Porter Nov 3, 2014
Laura Yaap Dec 22, 2014
Forrest Heitman Dec 25, 2014
Linda Lee Blunt Dec 28, 2014
Gary R. Killion Jan 3, 2015
Tracy Rukavina Jan 24, 2015
WEDDINGS
Tiffany Lashon Johnson
& Walter James Roskowski
December 20, 2014
ATTENDANCE
2014
Avg Worship = 2,065
Avg Connection = 513
2015
January Worship Avg = 2,045
January Connection Avg = 352
February Worship Avg = 2,048
February Connection Avg = 467
sword
I
BIBLE
CROSSWORD

(6)

ok (9)

vid

d (6)
by

by Philologus
6 The words of Jeremiah

said not to listen to
these (10)
BiblePuzzles.org.uk
17 Ancient city of Og, King

of Bashan (9)
ACROSS
DOWN
1 An ancient weight
1 Skilled animal workers
4 Seemed
2 Inspiring
10 New Testament book
3 Compass point
11 Unit of length
5 Intense emotion
12 ...it is a ______ thing the king requireth

(Dan 2:11)
6 The words of Jeremiah said not to listen

to these
13 Contemplation
7 Jewish leaer
15 Abigail supplied David with one

hundred clusters of these
8 He is proud, knowing nothing, but

_______ about questions and strifes of
words... (1 Tim 6:4)
16 A son of King David

19 Concurred
9 Bread makers
21 Light sources
14 In this year of King Nebuchadrezzars

reign, Nebuzaradan arrived in Jerusaelm
23 Propitiations
17 Ancient city of Og, King of Bashan
25 A false god
18 Stringed instrument
27 Gather
20 Joseph, perhaps?
28 Abimelech was hit by this
21 Tiny amount
29 Instructors
22 Jesus did this with authority
30 Hastily
24 Last letter of the Greek alphabet

26 Province of the Roman Empire
ACROSS: 1-Shekel, 4-Appeared, 10-Ephesians, 11-Cubit, 12-Rare, 13-Meditation, 15-Raisins, 16-Nathan, 19-Agreed, 21-Torches, 23-Atonements, 25Baal, 27-Glean, 28-Millstone, 29-Teachers, 30-Rashly.
DOWN: 1-Shearers, 2-Exhorting, 3-East, 5-Passion, 6-Enchanters, 7-Rabbi, 8-Doting, 9-Bakers, 14-Nineteenth, 17-Ashtaroth, 18-Psaltery, 20-Dreamer,
21-Tittle, 22-Taught, 24-Omega, 26-Asia.
Bible Crossword by BiblePuzzles.org.uk
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The Flame - Spring 2015

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The Flame - Spring 2015

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THE MAGAZINE OF CHRIST CHURCH

CHRIST CHURCH 2015 AD

by Rev. Shane Bishop

by Rev. Troy Benton

SAFETY AND SECURITY

WHOLE AND HOLY

LONG TERM IMPACT:

PREACH THE GOSPEL

AROUND THE WORLD

ONE CUP OF COFFEE

THE CHURCH AND THE ARTS:

THE CARING MINISTRIES

CHRIST CHURCH-CM CAMPUS

IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY

A SUNDAY IN THE LIFE

by Robb Hass & Brent Alexander

by Rev. Don Frazure

by Rev. Benrie Kneale

FROM THE EDITOR

Mission Of The Flame

Be inspirational through biblical articles

to the One who first loved us and saved

The Flame Online:

Get The Flame Magazine online. Sign

Questions about the Flame?

Contact the Editor, Carrie Gaxiola, at:

THE FLAME // SPRING 2015

I am often asked by fellow pastors, How

Meaning it exists solely to connect people

Sharing the Good News of Christs salvation to the world

Rev. Shane Bishop, Senior Pastor

SPRING 2015 // THE FLAME

Consisting of disciples willing to sacrifice

2. Raise the Roof Campaign: Our goal is

meaning it does not always get things

4. Permanent Rental Space for the

producing measurable fruits

5. Celebrate an Evangelistic Culture: The

THE FLAME // SPRING 2015

And they went beyond

SPRING 2015 // THE FLAME

At Christ Church we live our mission by

What makes this form of leadership

There are literally tons of ways anyone

Rev. Troy Benton, Associate Pastor

Whoever welcomes one of these little

SPRING 2015 // THE FLAME

who knew no one, but felt that everyone

home. Unfortunately, victims of our own

THE FLAME // SPRING 2015

10 SPRING 2015 // THE FLAME

LONG TERM IMPACT:

As I look back over the past 18 years and

ol South Georgia ant hill. IT IS AWESOME! We have children and students

looking at all of the kids, tweeners and

After you take a look around and see

WHAT DO YOU LOVE

Age: 2 | Scott Campus

I love hugging people!

Age: 4 | Scott Campus

The people are really nice,

Age: 8 | Scott Campus

PREACH THE GOSPEL