Waterbrook Phase 2 Building Update

On Sunday, August 15, 2010, our Waterbrook Bible Fellowship family gathered on our property at 507 Thomas Street in Wylie, to perform our GROUNDBREAKING. It was a HOT day with temps in the triple digits, but that didn’t dampen our enthusiasm. The Wylie Fire Department assisted with some overhead pictures of the event, including pictures of people broken up into the locations of their future ministry spaces and the congregation surrounding the foundation perimeter of the building. A quick moment of prayer, and we all dug in – adults, teens, little kids – everyone! You can read more and see additional pictures at my personal blog site. Click THIS LINK to go there.

The first permit has been secured from the city of Wylie and work contracts have been signed to get excavation work (state one) started on the property on Monday or Tuesday, August 23-24. Be sure to drive by soon and see the progress.

Pastor Jeff

Phase 2 Groundbreaking to be held Sunday, August 15, 2010

If you haven’t heard the good news yet, we DID get our final approval from the Wylie City Council Tuesday night and are ready to begin moving on construction of the new Waterbrook Bible Fellowship building!

We celebrate our new project with a GROUNDBREAKING this Sunday after our worship service. We’ll gather at Dodd Elementary School for our 9:30 classes (and there are some great classes if you haven’t been in a while), then our 10:45 worship service. After that worship service we’ll ALL help with a quick tear down and pack up. Then, we’ll head straight to the 507 Thomas Street property. We’ll gather under the trees in front of the 507 Ministry Center. After a few brief instructions and a couple pictures…we’ll turn the shovels for our Phase 2 building! We know you’ll be hot and hungry, so this little ceremony will be short.

The Groundbreaking includes everyone, so be sure to bring a digging tool for every member of your family. You can bring a shovel, posthole digger, spade, garden trowel, a snow shovel (do you all know what those are?), or even a spoon. We’ll be surrounding the perimeter of the new building and breaking ground as a family. This is a special day in the life of our Waterbrook family, and I hope you’ll join us for this historic event.

By the way, Pastor Don Moore is back and leading the music team this Sunday in what will be a powerful time of worship in song during the worship service. Plus, our world traveling Teaching Pastor Stephen Bramer is also back this weekend and preaching as part of our summer series “Birthday Celebration.” PLUS, in celebration of our new building “birth” this weekend, everyone in the worship service will get a special treat! I can’t tell you what, but it has icing and rhymes with “ache”.

I can’t tell you how excited I am about this weekend’s groundbreaking for our church. God is doing amazing things in, with, and through our Waterbrook family. This building is just a representation of what God is building in the lives of people. It’s amazing to me what God has done in the short six year history of this congregation. And to think that one year ago we didn’t even own any property; yet we’ve already renovated and moved our offices into the Phase One 507 Ministry Center, and finished plans, received city approval, secured financing, and are READY TO BUILD our Phase Two building – a sanctuary and children’s ministry space! We’re only MONTHS away from being in our own church home on Sunday mornings! There are many people who have sacrificed and worked in a variety of ways to make this happen, but it has only been possible because God has led over every mountain and through every valley. So, this Sunday we CELEBRATE God’s Goodness!

I look forward to worshiping with you this Sunday!

Pastor Jeff

** Click this link for directions to the 507 Thomas Street property.
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ENUS338&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=507+Thomas+Street,+Wylie+TX+75098&fb=1&gl=us&hnear=Murphy,+TX&cid=0,0,8613107129046704814&ei=v8BlTKbmH4Wdlgfp75GVDg&sa=X&oi=local_result&ct=image&resnum=1&ved=0CBoQnwIwAA

Groundbreaking! and Other Waterbrook News

Great News! We passed through the Planning and Zoning Board (P&Z) Tuesday night and were given “back to back status,” so we go to the Wylie City Council on Tuesday (8-10-10) for final approval* of the new Waterbrook church building. I took cupcakes into the city offices this week, so I’m confident we’re going to sail through this final step, so we’re very pleased to announce…

GROUNDBREAKING Ceremony for Waterbrook Phase 2 will be held Sunday, August 15, immediately after the worship service! This is exciting! It’s monumental! It’s gonna be…hot! It will be short and sweet. We’ll gather at Dodd Elementary that morning for regular 9:30 classes (kids, teens, Revelation & Twisting the Truth), followed by our 10:45 worship service (Stephen continues the summer ‘Birthday Celebration’ series that morning – with a gift for everyone that day). As soon as the worship service concludes we’ll tear down, then head straight over to the church property at 507 Thomas Street for our groundbreaking and a prayer. We want everyone, every age, members and friends to participate in this groundbreaking event, so we’re asking everyone to bring something to help start our foundation. You can bring a shovel, spade, post hole digger, garden trowel, even a spoon. We’ll be surrounding the perimeter of the new building and declaring “We’ve begun!” Please be sure to mark you calendar for Sunday, August 15^th.

Special Thanks to all who participated in our Bond Sale this week through prayer support, and through the purchase of Waterbrook bonds to finance our construction loan. If you didn’t hear, we had around $1 million in bond reservations turned in. It we weren’t doing our best to stay fiscally responsible, it would have been tempting to take it all and build an even bigger building. J  Instead, our team opted to ask many people to take a cut in what they’d purchase and allow everyone from our church family who wanted to participate the opportunity to purchase bonds. We didn’t have any bonds to sell to friends from outside the church who wanted to be involved. Wow! Be sure to thank Tonia McBride and Mark Tapee who headed up the bond process, and the rest of the Building Team and chairman Don Reed, who all spent hours of their time preparing this event.

With all the excitement about a building, I want you to know we’re just as focused on building the church family as we are the church building – hopefully more so. We have a new Membership Class scheduled for Aug. 15 & 22. If you’ve not yet become a member, this would be an excellent time to pray about this commitment to our church family. You can sign up online to reserve your spot. If you know someone who is new to Waterbrook please encourage them to sign up for the next Newcomer Lunch scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 29^th. If you’ve recently brought a friend to Waterbrook, you’re welcome to sign yourself up with your friend and join them for this free lunch at the 507 building.

And, if you need to get caught up on some of the other exciting things going on in, around and through Waterbrook Bible Fellowship, be sure to check out our online resources. Here are a few key links:

• The August Newsletter is available online AND includes special online content not available in the print version (puzzle, cartoon & more) à http://www.waterbrook.org/waterbrook-bible-fellowship/pastor-jeffs-august-newsletter
• If you’ve missed any recent sermons, you can get caught up on the “Birthday Celebration” series (video and audio) here à http://www.waterbrook.org/archives/category/current-sermon
• Plus, if you’ve been gone on vacation some this summer, you can help keep us financially healthy by giving online at www.Waterbrook.org

 

This is just a sample of the many exciting things going on at Waterbrook Bible Fellowship. Thank YOU for being part of our church family!

Pastor Jeff

*Just so you know, there will be other steps of “final approvals” along the way as we work on the building. There’s another “final” plat approval once we’ve done work on the foundation, drives, and parking.

Important Meeting at Waterbrook…and other News

Don’t forget that we’ll be having an important meeting this Sunday morning, July 18, at 9:30 to show you the most updated building plans, and hear an explanation on the Bond program offering that will be financing our church construction. It’s really important you get to this meeting, then to any of the follow up meetings that have been listed in the bulletin in the past few weeks, to guarantee you’ll be able to be part of this crucial phase of our growth. You can also invite anyone who you think would like to invest in our church bonds to attend this meeting.

Other meetings related to the Bond Offering include:
IRA SEMINAR: Sunday, July 18, at 6:00 pm at American National Bank (301 Highway 78, Wylie)
BOND INFORMATION MTG: Monday, July 19, at 7:00 pm at American National Bank, Wylie
IRA SEMINAR: Monday, July 19, at 8:00 pm at American National Bank, Wylie

As you may surmise, you can roll your IRA into church bonds. These bonds are really an investment in Waterbrook Bible Fellowship. Bond purchases are not an offering given directly to the church, but an investment purchase that pays off over time. They can be used to save for education costs, retirement, or simply to secure a good financial return on your money than what you may be getting elsewhere. (Our bonds will include an option for up to 8.0% interest.)

Bond sale is currently planned for Sunday, August 1st. There will be arrangements available for those who may be on vacation during that date so you don’t miss the opportunity to invest in your church. If you have questions about the bond meetings, process, or purchases – please contact Mark Tapee or Tonia McBride.

This Sunday morning will also be the second sermon in our new “BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION” Series. The sermon this Sunday, July 18, will look to the birth and early life of Moses. It will include some thoughts on the importance of babies in the Bible. We’ll also have a report from our Rush ministry and this week’s “Mission Wylie”.

By the way, I’ve spent some time with the students and leaders this week during their ministry in the parks, and I have to tell you we have the best team of adults and students! They have been doing a fantastic job, and having fun while they do it. If you could see them in action at both Friendship Park (in the mornings) and Community Park (in the evenings), you’d be just as impressed as I am.

I hope to see you Sunday morning at Dodd Elementary for the Congregational Meeting at 9:30, and our worship together at 10:45!

Jeff

Waterbrook News from Pastor Jeff for 6-4-10

Greetings Friends!

It’s hot enough for a popsicle! So, that’s what we did this week at the 507 building – we passed out popsicles to students walking home from Burnett Jr. High and Harrison Intermediate past our property. We’re helping cool them off on their way home. We did it Wednesdday, and again Thursday as school got out. Students in Wylie and many other districts are now out for the summer. Hooray!

Here’s some Waterbrook News for this week…

Sunday, June 6th, in our worship service we’ll be recognizing our graduates. This will include a slide show of our high school graduates, but we’ll also be recognizing those who’ve graduated college, graduate studies or anything else this year. Make sure those graduates join us Sunday morning as we celebrate with their accomplishments and pray for them as they move forward.

Our WAVE Jr. High students are leading us in a Food Drive to start the summer. They’re collecting cans of tuna and jars of peanut butter for the Community Christian Care Center. Items may be brought each Sunday in June to our worship services and will be taken to the Care Center the first of July. Maybe you could determine how much tuna or peanut butter would be required to feed your family for a meal or week, and bring that equivalent to provide a meal(s) for a family in need. Look for the banner and drop off box in the lobby at Dodd Elementary on Sundays in June.

Speaking of students, our RUSH high school students are celebrating the start of summer (and school being out) with a Sock-Hop at the 507 next Wednesday, June 9th. Students should sign up and pay their $10 (covers food and drinks) with Noelle Massey by this Sunday. Be sure to get your best 50’s outfit ready!

OPPORTUNITIES for GIVING: I have a praise and two special needs I want to share with you.

- PRAISE! We’re very thankful for consistent giving by our Waterbrook family as we’ve moved farther into 2010. You may recall we started the year with giving below budget needs, but have turned that around in the last couple months. We have been meeting our budget needs on a monthly basis. Thank you for your faithfulness to God’s work through our congregation. We need to continue with that level of giving and will hopefully make up what we were short the first few months of 2010.

- NEED #1 – Due to some new government regulations, we’re going to have to cease use of our current cordless microphones this month. (It has to do with changes in frequency assignments by the FCC and congress.) We’d like to replace the two we regularly use. This includes the handheld wireless microphone (usually used by Pastor Don to lead singing, and for announcements, etc.) and the preaching over-ear microphone (used by whomever is preaching). Cost for replacements will be around $1,200-1,400.

- NEED #2 – We currently have five people signed up to go on the mission trip to Colombia this summer with E3. Two sets of the participants are family members – Pastor Don & daughter Mikayla Moore, and Mark McCune & daughter Kaitlin. Fundraising is difficult when multiple members of the same family go on trips. Carlos Lucatero is also scheduled to go on this mission trip.

If you’d like to help with any of these needs, above your regular giving and building fund obligations, please contact the individuals or Pastor Don Moore for more information.

It was pointed out to me, by more than one person, I mentioned last Sunday that I wouldn’t be at Waterbrook this weekend, but I never said why or where I’d be. I’m easily distracted, even during announcements. Let me finish my statement…because I’ll be preaching at Gateway Community Church this Sunday, June 6th, as a favor for Pastor Blake Switzer; who you’ll recall did one of the messages for us during the “I Love My Church” series last month. I’ll be sharing a greeting from our church family to theirs on your behalf. I’m sorry I’ll be missing the third message in Pastor Stephen’s current series from the Sermon on the Mount. (I peeked, and saw the title for this Sunday’s sermon is, “But People ARE the Reason I Do What I Do”. Intriguing…)

MORE NEWS…If you didn’t get a copy of the June newsletter last Sunday, click this link to read this month’s newsletter online at Waterbrook.org. (Read Newsletter by Clicking Here)

Thanks for your support, prayer, and love! I love and pray for all of you. I hope you’re praying for me, because, as I’ve said before – You get the pastor you pray for!

Jeff

Memorial Day Weekend at Waterbrook

It’s Memorial Day weekend and I hope you’ll take a moment to pause with family or friends and give thanks for those who have sacrificed for our freedom by shedding their blood and giving their lives. We have the privilege of worshiping freely this Memorial Day weekend because of those sacrifices.

This weekend at Waterbrook…

Remember that you can bring flowers or a plant in memory of a loved one to help decorate the stage this Sunday. Be sure to put your name and the name of the person you’re remembering since we’ll be reading those names off during the worship service as part of a special worship segment Pastor Don has put together for us.

Also Sunday, Pastor Stephen will be continuing his sermon series, “Did Jesus Really Say That?”

The June Newsletter will be available in this Sunday’s bulletin. Be sure to get your copy because it contains a new Building Team report, details on a new Stewardship Team, pictures from the Spring Rush Banquet, and information on the new demolition begun at the 507 building this week. (You’ll have to get a newsletter to find out what I’m talking about…)  *Newsletter is also available online. Go to “News” and click on “Newsletter” on the pull down menu.

On behalf of Deana’s sister and extended family, I share a heartfelt “Thank You” for those who have been praying for our nephew since the boating accident in Illinois about 10 days ago. His situation is still very serious, and he remains in ICU; but God has been answering your prayers in many encouraging ways over the last week-and-a-half. Please continue praying for Michael.

Finally, did you read in today’s Dallas Morning News the volume of snakes is up in the DFW metroplex this spring/summer? We’ll make every effort to make sure none of them get into Dodd Elementary School this Sunday; so it will be a safe place to be Sunday morning. If you want to read the news article, here’s the link > http://www.wfaa.com/news/More-snakes-than-usual-in-Dallas-Fort-Worth-area-this-spring-95021364.html

I hope you have a wonderful and safe Memorial Day weekend. And, I hope to see you Sunday to worship at Waterbrook!

Jeff

“One Another” Passages & Pledge Results

Not only are we connected together through Christ, but we NEED one another. Even better, we’re stuck with one another in the Family of God!

What a wonderful crowd out to worship this morning! It was exciting to see so many engaging with God and one another. We had a great Newcomer’s Lunch at the 507 today with some folks new to Waterbrook. More new faces to get to know in the days and weeks ahead.

In this morning’s sermon, I said I’d try and get you a listing of “One Another” passages for your own reading and study. After all, how can we know if we’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing if we don’t know what we’re supposed to be doing? (Does that make sense?) I’ve not provided an exhaustive list, but have included a good listing of those passages below with the assistance of heartlight.org. Each of the verses has a link to additional study resources, commentary links, etc. if you’re looking for more insight on a particular verse.

I hope you understand the balance we try to maintain in dealing with financial matters like today’s Capital Campaign ReLaunch Pledge collection. I also pray you are encouraged as we strive to move toward God’s will together. Two people mentioned to me afterwards they are one of those people who tries to sneak out and avoid people after worship. Both said they’re glad we took time to interact in the worship service, they left with a greater sense of connection than they usually experience when trying to hustle out of door. Thank you for being willing to minister to one another today.

Malcolm Mudderidge, who died near the end of the 20th century, once made this observation about God’s people as they deal with being sacrificial:  “Christians are often accused of being morbid when they talk of the joy of sacrificing. I think it is one of the deepest truths of the Christian religion. Far from being a source of sadness, sacrifice is a great joy and source of illumination – perhaps the greatest of all.”

Our congregation embraced sacrificial giving today. I’m incredibly grateful for the pledge totals. This gets us moving toward a summer groundbreaking, and gives the Building Team some firmer numbers with which to work. They’ll have to determine the size and scope of the building as they meet with our architect late this next week with new construction cost estimates. We’ll know more in the days and weeks ahead. I spoke to a few individuals/couples today who are still praying and will be turning in their pledge in the future, but here are the results of this morning’s pledges toward our Phase 2 building:

$  93,376  FIRST GIFTS in by June 30th to begin construction.
$  61,392 FURNISHING GIFTS in by October 31th to get the building ready for us to move in.
$  88,894 FINISHING GIFTS in by June 30, 2011 to wrap up new building needs.
————
$243,662 TOTAL PLEDGES   *UPDATED NUMBERS 4-25-10

WHAT DOES THIS TOTAL MEAN?
As I said, the Building Team will have to determine exactly how these numbers play out, but the initial result is that we’ve covered our expected mandatory costs (Hallelujah!), and will have between $50-60,000 to add the additional square footage the Building Team has proposed. Will it be enough? I know our team will squeeze every penny to get the maximum amount of space for ministry use. We’ll keep you updated and informed as they work on the next steps toward construction.

For now, we REJOICE in what God has done in the past, is doing today, and will yet accomplish in the future of Waterbrook Bible Fellowship! And, if you were to ask me what I suspect God will be accomplishing in the days ahead, I’d suggest it has more to do with how well we apply the “One Another” passages listed below than what we build of steel and brick. So, please take some time, read the verses below, and pick a couple specific passages to work at applying in your relationships this week.

Pastor Jeff Denton

*Have a response, question, or other thought? Be sure to leave it as a comment below! Thanks.

ONE ANOTHER PASSAGES from the New Testament

Mark 9:50 — “Salt is good; but if the salt becomes unsalty, with what will you make it salty again? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”

John 13:14 — “If I then, the Lord and the Teacher, washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.

John 13:34 — “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

John 13:35 — “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 15:12 — “This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.”

John 15:17 — “This I command you, that you love one another.”

Acts 21:5 — When our days there were ended, we left and started on our journey, while they all, with wives and children, escorted us until we were out of the city. After kneeling down on the beach and praying, we said farewell to one another.

Romans 1:12 — that is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the other’s faith, both yours and mine.

Romans 12:5 — so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another.

Romans 12:10 — Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor …

Romans 12:16 — Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Romans 13:8 — Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

Romans 14:5 — One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.

Romans 14:13 — Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this — not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.

Romans 14:19 — So then we pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another.

Romans 15:5 — Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus …

Romans 15:7 — Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.

Romans 15:14 — And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge and able also to admonish one another.

Romans 16:16 — Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ greet you.

1 Corinthians 7:5 — Stop depriving one another, except by agreement for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.

1 Corinthians 11:33 — So then, my brethren, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

1 Corinthians 12:25 — so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another.

1 Corinthians 16:20 — All the brethren greet you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.

2 Corinthians 13:12 — Greet one another with a holy kiss.

Galatians 5:13 — For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

Galatians 5:26 — Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

Galatians 6:2 — Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.

Ephesians 4:2 — with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love …

Ephesians 4:25 — Therefore, laying aside falsehood, SPEAK TRUTH EACH ONE of you WITH HIS NEIGHBOR, for we are members of one another.

Ephesians 4:32 — Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

Ephesians 5:19 — speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord …

Ephesians 5:21 — and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Philippians 2:3 — Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves …

Colossians 3:9 — Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices …

Colossians 3:13 — bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.

Colossians 3:16 — Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

1 Thessalonians 3:12 — and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you …

1 Thessalonians 4:9 — Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another …

1 Thessalonians 4:18 — Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 — Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.’

1 Thessalonians 5:13 — and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.

1 Thessalonians 5:15 — See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 — We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater …

Hebrews 3:13 — But encourage one another day after day, as long as it is still called “Today,” so that none of you will be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

Hebrews 10:24 — and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds …

Hebrews 10:25 — not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

James 4:11 — Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.

James 5:9 — Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door.

James 5:16 — Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

1 Peter 1:22 — Since you have in obedience to the truth purified your souls for a sincere love of the brethren, fervently love one another from the heart …

1 Peter 4:8 — Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins.

1 Peter 4:9 — Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

1 Peter 4:10 — As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

1 Peter 5:5 — You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE.

1 Peter 5:14 — Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.

1 John 1:7 — but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 3:11 — For this is the message which you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another …

1 John 3:23 — This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.

1 John 4:7 — Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:11 — Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

1 John 4:12 — No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.

2 John 1:5 — Now I ask you, lady, not as though I were writing to you a new commandment, but the one which we have had from the beginning, that we love one another.

I Love My Church #3: Relationship Space & Other News

In this Webpost…
- Praising God for Sunday!
- Day of Prayer this Saturday at the 507
- Special Prayer Request: Tom Daun
- Monday Events: FCA & Taste of Wylie
- The New Building: Relationships Need Space

PRAISING GOD FOR SUNDAY!

What a wonderful time we had with the Big Reveal last Sunday. I’m thankful for the Capital Campaign Team for organizing the event. Dean & Cindy Dahlke served a wonderful free lunch. It was great watching Wes Bolton allow folks to have a “hair raising” experience using the Van de Graaf generator after the worship service. Speaking of the worship service, a big thanks to the worship team who led while Pastor Don was out of town. I hope you got an “I Love My Church” button, and are proudly wearing it!

DAY OF PRAYER THIS SATURDAY

As we seek God’s leading through our rather ambitious building program, we want to be sure we align everything to His will. One of the key ways to do this is through time spent in prayer. Our leadership team has designated this Saturday a Waterbrook Day of Prayer. We’ll have time to pray for other needs and requests, but most of our time that day will focus on the building project. We’ve broken the day up into hour segments from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm. Each hour allows for 30 minutes of prayer so we can move people in and out of the limited parking spaces at the 507. If you sign up for an hour slot, you’d show up at the top of the hour or a little after (not before). We ask you to be in the 507 and ready to pray by quarter-after (:15). One of the pastors will in a 30 minute prayer time with resources we’ll give you, and finish at quarter-‘til (:45). You’ll have to be out of your parking spaces before the top of the hour to allow the next group to arrive. You can sign up for available slots online at this link - http://www.waterbrook.org/archives/1851 . We do want to fill the entire day with prayer, so please sign up and join us. All ages are welcome to participate.

SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST: Tom Daun

Many of you have already received an email with details from Tom regarding his recent diagnosis of multiple myeloma of the bone marrow. Please pray for Tom & Barbara as they process this news and the extensive treatments Tom will undergo in the weeks and months ahead.

MONDAY EVENTS: WYLIE FCA & TASTE OF WYLIE

I’ve been invited to speak to the monthly gathering of the Wylie Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) next Monday, April 19th. Pastor Don is recruiting a Waterbrook band to help lead worship songs for the 75+ athletes we’ve been told to expect between 6-7 pm. Justin Hartweck will be helping lead some games. We also get to provide a supper for the athletes, which my wife has agreed to coordinate. She is looking for some others willing to make a crockpot of BBQ/Sloppy Joes. We’ll also need some chips and pop. If you’re interested in helping, please contact Deana at Deana@DentonsLive.com or 972-429-0172.

The other big event in Wylie on Monday is the annual Taste of Wylie. It’s the primary fundraiser for the Community Christian Care Center, which Waterbrook helps support. It’s held during lunch Monday (11 am to 2 pm) and features food from 30 local restaurants. It’ll be held at the Wylie First Baptist Church new Special Events Center on Ballard Avenue. Tickets are available at local banks or at the door.

THE NEW BUILDING: Relationships Need Space

In the last two weeks, I’ve addressed the importance of our worship services and ministry to children. These are important, and most everyone can recognize how valuable the planned programming is within a church family. We’ve set aside space for another key need within any church…and it’s not the bathrooms. (You will notice we’ve set aside room for the bathrooms because they are important, but that’s not the space I’m addressing today.) The third area we feel is very important is RELATIONSHIPS. It can be difficult to define how “relational ministry” takes place. It’s not easy to harness relationship building into a room or program, but it’s something for which we MUST provide time and space.

We emphasize the role of relationships by providing a brief time in most worship services to “turn around and greet someone near you.” Our hope is for everyone to have a moment of contact with other members of the church family. This time is intentionally short and not adequate for developing deep bonds with one another. Our hope for those brief greetings is to provide the impetus to take time after the service and speak to someone further. Building those relationships and participating in “one another” ministries is fundamental to our identity as the body of Christ. We can have all kinds of first rate programming, but if we don’t take time to build relationships with those who walk through our doors we might as well post an “UnWelcome” sign on the door. Even in God’s eyes, the most amazing productions or incredible sacrifices are noisy droning if we are a people without love. (See. 1 Corinthians 13:1-3)

In the new building, we’re seeking to provide space for those relational connections to take place. You’ll have the opportunity to do that before and after worship services in the auditorium. We also expect much of this to go on in the lobby of the new building. The lobby space isn’t as big as we’d like it to be (a money/square footage thing), so we’ve created a space outside for “hanging out” and talking. One side of the building has a large awning with space for seating and possibly tables. This will be an idea place to relax after a worship service and talk with friends on a beautiful day. We’ve even included a green space directly in front of the canopy area for kids to play while mom and dad talk. We’ve even talked about options for making this area useable no matter what the weather, but those concepts are for future implementation if finances allow.

Another intentional step we’ve taken to allow relationship building is in making the auditorium a flexible space. This means we can tear down the seating and set up tables/chairs for a church dinner, wedding reception or funeral lunch. We won’t have a fully developed fellowship hall, but will have the ability to transform our biggest space into a community gathering area when needed for special events. What about coffee pots or a pop vending machine? Well, we haven’t gotten that far in discussions yet, but I’m sure we’ll have a donut table somewhere. J

Next Week: The Value of our Own Home

Jeff

I Love My Church #2: Children’s Ministry Space

In this Email…
- Praising God for Easter Week!
- New Sermon Series begins this week.
- Big REVEAL Lunch THIS SUNDAY
- Our Need for Landscaping Help
- The New Building: Space for Children

PRAISING GOD FOR EASTER WEEK!

Thanks to all who made it out to the 507 building last Wednesday evening for our prayer meeting! What a powerful time of praising God and praying together. Our Sunday morning was a fun and worshipful time together. Thanks to Carolyn Russell for organizing a fantastic egg hunt on the front lawn – and the kids and adults who helped. Thanks to Pastor Don and the music team for leading those amazing songs of praise. And a special thanks to Linda Emmons for sharing her story of Willie’s homegoing and her confidence that she’ll see him again. I’m still praising God for the visiting families we had join us. Several came as a result of the invitations passed out to students at Dodd Elementary School during the week. I’m grateful for all the Waterbrook folks who took time to talk to visitors (kids and adults). We had just over 200 in the worship service. What a weekend to focus on God’s power as evidenced in the resurrection.

THIS WEEK: I LOVE MY CHURCH & YOUR FREE GIFT

If you left church Easter Sunday saying, “I didn’t get a present from Jeff today during the sermon,” you better come back this Sunday. I’ll be following up our “Team Player/Prayer” series with a series to help us understand the coming group of believers Jesus prayed for in John 17. This “I LOVE MY CHURCH” series will dive into WHO the church is and WHAT the church does. Stephen and Don will join me April 18th for a sermon on the WHYs and HOWs of what we do during our Sunday morning worship services. We’ll study the inward focus of the church presented throughout the New Testament “one another” passages on April 25th. Then, on May 2nd, another local pastor joins us to help broaden our view of the church in context of the larger community. PLUS, those who join us this Sunday will receive a FREE gift that goes along with the series.

BIG REVEAL LUNCH THIS SUNDAY

I had a thrilling evening last night sitting with the Building Team as they looked at drawings and talked about plans. Our designer, Bryan Rogers, sent me the drawings with the latest improvements today – and they look great! I look at these drawings and can see space for people to gather and learn together. I see space for kids to play, celebrate God and accept Christ as Savior! I see space for people to hang out and get to know one another. And I love the way the building(s) – yes, buildings – are arranged for future growth with green space for kids to play while parents talk under the awning. I have no idea how many hours I’ve spent during my pastoral career looking at concept site plans and building blueprints, but I can honestly say I’ve never been more excited than I am about our new Waterbrook Phase 2 plans. I really hope you’ll plan to stay after the worship service this Sunday, April 11th, our BIG REVEAL lunch and meeting. The lunch is being provided by the Capital Campaign team and is free, but they do need a realistic count to know how much food to have prepared. So, if you haven’t yet RSVP’d – please take a moment and click the following link. You’ll go to the page on our church website where you can complete a form that tells us you’re coming to the lunch. It’ll take less than 4 minutes (as long as you can remember your name). During the REVEAL, which immediately follows lunch, I’ll be showing you the interior and exterior plans, and present the finances and our needs. I sincerely believe you’ll leave this meeting excited about what God is doing through Waterbrook Bible Fellowship. Here’s the link to RSVP > http://www.waterbrook.org/archives/1837

OUR NEED FOR LANDSCAPING HELP

Would you believe our HOA guidelines (a very thick manual) include rules about “no weeds in the yard or flowerbeds” and that we must have our sidewalks edged. We also have instructions about the maximum height of our grass. (“Quick kids, get dad a ruler!”) We would be in violation of every one of those rules if it wasn’t for my wife. She’s the one who makes sure our landscaping stays in compliance. I tell you that because if you thought I’d be the one to keep the lawn and flowerbeds at the 507 looking good, well…you may be wrong. J Seriously, we need some help keeping our yard looking good. We have a commitment from the Rush teens to help with mowing. (Let’s hear it for the Rush students and leaders!) We still need some help with our flowerbeds. Please email our Office Administrator Norma Peyton if you’d like to help with this project. (We have no budget, so it may just be weeding.) The other BIG thing we need help with is moving some brush tomorrow. We have a trailer, truck and driver (Thank You Don Reed!) to haul away the debris from recent tree trimming. We even have a place to take it. But, we need help getting it loaded on the trailer. Pastor Don tells me he’ll be at the 507 this Thursday at 5:00 pm to get it loaded. Email or call him if you are willing to help get it loaded onto the trailer. Any assistance would be appreciated.

THE NEW BUILDING: Space for Children

According to a recent Barna survey, 70% of adults say they attended church every week during their childhood. During teen years, those statistic drop to only 50% of the population attending a church event on a weekly basis.[1] That’s a drastic drop in a short period of life. As teens grow into young adults the percent who attend a weekly church even continue to drop drastically. You’re probably seen the statistics that demonstrate a person is most likely to accept Christ as Savior during childhood. That likelihood drops dramatically into the teen years, and becomes a less than 30% chance once a person reaches adulthood. These are just a few of the statistical reasons we believe quality ministry to children is important.

We also know ministry to children is important to parents considering a church home. Did you know an adult will put up with bad music, parking problems, mediocre preaching, and even unfriendly people at a church, and come visit a second or third time? But, if they show up and don’t feel their kids are safe or being adequately cared for and taught, they won’t come back! I’ve spent years studying marketing surveys directed at both parents and kids. The business world knows a dedicated child “customer” always draws in a dedicated parent “customer”. Every parent knows they find a McDonalds during vacation travel because you know it’s what will make your kids happy. And no parent in their right mind would spend an evening at Chuck E. Cheese if they had a choice. They go because it’s where little Johnny wants to have his birthday party. So, you typically get one shot at providing a positive environment for children and parents. One visit for them to either be impressed or repulsed by what you do. This is part of the reason we believe quality ministry to children is important.

The primary reason we believe in providing quality ministry to children is because children matter to God. The importance of teaching children is covered in both the Old and New Testaments, my favorite being the importance of the role of godly parents in raising godly kids. (See Deuteronomy 6:6-9 or Ephesians 6:4 for the value of parents.) There’s also the incredible story of the time Jesus stopped his ministry among adults to spend some time with kids, whom the disciples appeared to believe would be a bother to their master. (See Matthew 19:13-15) Ministry to children is not a secondary thought, or simply to provide babysitting so we can do “real ministry” without distractions. Quality ministry to children is attractive to parents and helps bring new families to the church. It helps feed quality students into our teen ministries and gets a jump on training the leaders of tomorrow. Children in the church bring real “childlike faith” in for all of us to observe and learn from. Good children’s ministry is a blessing to students in public schools, private schools and families who are homeschooling. And, most importantly, it pleases our Heavenly Father because children matter to God. Have you heard that somewhere before? Click this link to see a good listing of how children’s ministry benefits everyone –> http://ministry-to-children.com/benefits/.

Realizing these biblical, statistical and marketing realities, the Waterbrook leadership team decided a portion of our new building would be designated for quality ministry to children. Teens are also very important to us, but we decided our teens, like adults, can go to the 507 building for ministry space on Sunday mornings. Parents want to know their younger kids are safe and nearby, so nursery, preschool, and younger elementary kids will have rooms in our new Phase 2 building. We’ll provide a secured area that is clean and fun. We’ll continue our dedication to providing the best content to go with the great fun. It also means we’ll continue using the best children’s ministry volunteers around. Children Matter to God, so they matter to us too!

Next week: The Need for Space to Build Relationships

Jeff

RSVP for the April 11th BIG REVEAL Luncheon

Fill out the form below to RSVP for the Reveal Luncheon to be held Sunday, April 11th. The lunch will be right after the morning worship service (around 12:30). The free lunch will include deli sandwiches, chips, cookies and drinks. (Maybe some PBJ for the kids.) After the lunch, Pastor Jeff and others will be unveiling the plans for the new building that will be built on the Thomas Street property next to our current offices and ministry center. He’ll also be sharing the financial needs in the short and long-term regarding the project. Members of the Building Team and Capital Campaign Team will be available for questions. This will be an exciting day in the life of Waterbrook Bible Fellowship. We hope all Waterbrook friends and family will plan to join us for this historic moment. Though the meal will be provided free of charge, we do need to know how much food to prepare.

Next Page »