july 2014 FRUIT How to Grow at The Orchard in 2014 At The Orchard, we talk often about ROOTS, LIFE, and FRUIT, but what do those words really mean? Why are they so important? Does being involved in ROOTS, LIFE, and FRUIT ministry really help us to grow? In February, our campus pastors helped us understand how to grow through digging deep ROOTS into God’s Word. In April, we read about how being involved in a LIFE Group helps us to grow. In the final installment in the series, How to Grow at The Orchard in 2014, we’ll take a closer look at how bearing fruit helps us to grow. We bear fruit for Christ through praying, giving, serving, and inviting. How are you bearing fruit at The Orchard? Read the stories that follow and be encouraged – and challenged – to bear fruit for Christ. Praying E very Tuesday, a small group of intercessors gather at the Barrington Campus to pray for The Orchard, the staff and congregation. This group was started because we believed Pastor Colin Smith’s words to be true: “If you think one life can be set free from the power of darkness by my preaching or by your parenting, you’re greatly mistaken. It is God who opens blind eyes and softens hard hearts. It is God who drives back the dark powers that keep people bound. It is God who brings new birth, sends new power and grows new fruit. When you see that, you will pray—not out of duty, but out of sheer gratitude and joy that we have the privilege.” (From the sermon titled, The Urgency of Persistent Prayer, July 1, 2007.) Intercessory prayer changes us. Prayer is for our good, and it does something in us. It creates intimacy with God, it reinforces our dependency on Him, and it leads to a heart at peace and a soul that worships. Our prayer group is small in numbers, but we have seen countless answered prayers. It’s exciting and humbling to see Jesus Christ’s love for The Orchard, as He faithfully builds His church according to His good will and pleasure. Mary Kusak, Barrington Campus giving D id you know that giving is about what God wants for us, not what He wants from us? Consider this: God is the great Giver, and He asks us to honor Him with the resources He has entrusted to us so that we can know the freedom and joy He created us to intentionally. I lived from paycheck to paycheck. Attending FPU has changed all of that.” These classes will be offered again in the fall. Consider participating, and watch for details. coming together, the program would not be possible. Jeff & Debbie Bonta, Arlington Heights Campus Ruth Guillaume, Director of Resource Development experience. Jesus’ words in Mark 4 are powerful. “Listen! Behold a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed… some seed fell among the thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. …These are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” God wants us to be fruitful, but unwise choices, greed, and misplaced desires rob us of our ability to bear fruit through giving. Enter Financial Peace University; taught by well-known communicator, Dave Ramsey, this nine-week class was offered last fall and winter at both the Barrington and Arlington Heights campuses of The Orchard. Approximately 175 people discovered how to live on a budget, how to plan for college and retirement, how to get out of debt and how to live with an open hand—realizing that we find freedom and joy when we give back to Him. Those in attendance participated in small group discussions and learned how to put helpful tools into practice. One person shared, “My husband and I have never been able to talk rationally about money. Thanks to FPU, we actually talk about our finances, and we love planning how to give.” And another, “My finances weren’t a mess—I just never did anything Serving T I f you love young children as we do, you cannot help being excited about leading and teaching in Awana. The Sparks program is designed to teach children about God’s Word in a fun environment with songs, instruction, games and prayer. They are eager, impressionable learners, and we, along with their parents, have the challenge of being role models to demonstrate our love for Jesus. From our actions each Tuesday night, the blessings flow. As leaders, we have the joy of watching them grow physically and spiritually. The added benefit is that children say and do the cutest things that really put a smile on your face. Even though our own children were in Awana more than 20 years ago, we continue to love the program and want to support the parents who faithfully bring their kids each week. Serving as Co-Directors this year has proven to be challenging as we learned how to run such a large program, but it’s also been encouraging to see the many volunteers come together to serve the Sparkies. Without the body of Christ he Orchard has been very fortunate to have a group of dedicated men who serve our church in a unique way as members of the Properties Committee. They provide hands-on support for special projects which keep our facilities in proper condition to support ministry activities. Their work extends to all four campuses. Our congregation is very blessed by these men, who are committed to good stewardship by keeping our church properties functioning and in good condition. We are grateful for them as they continue to serve the Lord in this important role and thank them for their commitment to the life and ministry of our church: Ron Andrews, Tino Ayala, Bill Barry, Dave Berry, Tom Bott, Phil Carella, Tom Clark, Conrad Del Bosque, Dan Eder, Mark Graves, Nathan Hand, Jeff Hill, Steve Hoerman, Nathan Kohl, Alex Kouris, Mike Malzahn, Norm Peterson, Tim Platek, Jim Pollina, Brad Reddington, Mike Ryg, Ron Scherer, Phil Shirley, Tim Snarski, Josh Thiemeyer, Jeff Veenendaal, Al Weidner, Roger Wightman, Paul Zittnan We are encouraged by their faithfulness. We pray for continued strength and perseverance for each one as they continue to serve the Lord in the days ahead. Tim Beechick, Past Properties Committee Chair Inviting I started praying about whom I could invite to the Grand Opening of the Marengo Campus. I thought of several people, but Jim’s name kept coming back to me. In my mind, I could be bold in the way I would invite Jim, but in reality I was scared of being rejected. We all are fearful, but should realize it’s the message they reject, not us. Still, that didn’t make it any easier. I kept planning out how I would talk to Jim. I got cold feet and kept making up excuses to put it off until the next day. I finally gave Jim a call on the Tuesday or Wednesday before the Grand Opening. Jim was very interested in it and told me he was raised in a churchgoing family and now has his own family and needed to get re-connected with a church. Jim came for the Grand Opening and also the following Sunday, which was Easter. He thanked me for inviting him. I felt truly blessed to see Jim at church, but I felt more blessed to know that I honored God’s call and followed through with what He wanted me to do – speak up and share. The Orchard. In this wonderful place, I am fed spiritually, emotionally, and socially. The blessings that I receive from the sermons, Bible study, and fellowship make me want to share it with others. I have had many opportunities to extend an invitation to people from different walks of life. While pushing my child on a swing at the park, I have been able to engage in a conversation that has led to inviting that person to church. Other times I have been at a child’s sporting event and been able to establish a relationship, which has led to an invite, too. As I go about my activities, I have been able to extend invitations to people at the library, park, and other community events. One such family attended the Easter Eggs at The Orchard in April. Another person attended a ladies’ Bible study. I have found that being blessed by God in the church has enabled me to genuinely be excited for what God can do for those whom I invite. By stepping out in faith, I am able to trust God that He can use me to simply invite people to church. Kristina Schulz, Itasca Campus July 2014 Preaching Schedule July 12 & 13 Loving and Being Loved by Christ Enjoying the Love of Christ Colin Smith July 19 & 20 Arlington Heights – Brian Dye Barrington – Tom Olson Itasca – Tom Yoon Marengo – Dillon Mack July 26 & 27 Arlington Heights – Scott Lothery Barrington – Tom Olson Itasca – Greg Norwine Marengo – Adam Magnuson August 2 & 3 Arlington Heights – Dr. David Dockery Al Weidner, Marengo Campus Barrington – Tom Olson Itasca – Greg Norwine Marengo – Arthur Kok W B eing a stay-at-home mom, I enjoy finding opportunities around my neighborhood to invite people to church. First of all, I can say that I love e’ve tried to obey Jesus’s command to “go and make disciples” in our neighborhood (Matthew 28:19-20). We take prayer walks, praying for our neighbors and that we’d be sensitive to His Spirit among them. We’ve served our neighbors by organizing summer block (continued on back page) Missionary Update Roy & Darla Oksnevad Mark & Jodi Revell Justin & Courtney Wallhoff ReachGlobal/Illinois ReachGlobal/Hungary Mark is the City Team Leader in Budapest, responsible for leading a team focused on helping the Hungarian church grow in effectiveness in proclaiming the Gospel. This includes the Kelenfold Montazs Kozpont, a community and ministry center that serves as the city’s key location for developing relationships and sharing the Gospel. A major project is that of completion of the Montázs Art Café Coffeehouse, which will have their grand opening the weekend of July 18. New Tribes Mission/Asia Pacific Justin and Courtney have served for the last four years in Indonesia. Their children Max and Lucie are now third generation missionaries! This family serves the tribal church planters and facilitates local church outreaches to isolated regions. Justin’s primary role is that of a helicopter pilot and mechanic. He supplies delivery and med-evac flights in areas more easily reached by helicopter. Courtney works with the field education committee in the Child Safety Department. Praise that this long-dreamed-for place of ministry will be a reality within the next month. Praise for several new co-workers who are joining our Budapest City Team (including Betsy from The Orchard). PRAise for anticipation of reaching almost 200 children and young people who have signed up for Summer Outreach English Camps. Praise that the Wallhoff family is taking time out of ministry to be in the United States for rest, visiting family and supporters. They arrived in the States at the end of June. Pray for this important time of being away from the demands of ministry and that it will be a restful time for them. Pray for Max and Lucie to adjust to new surroundings and acclimate quickly to living in new places. kids attended. Significant fruit and blessing followed this effort: A friend of our daughter invited Jesus into her heart, and she’s coming back again this year! The camp also helped open dialogue on spiritual issues with the kids’ parents. Additionally, a Christian neighbor who attended last year is bringing six kids from their part of our neighborhood to SpringHill this year! the joy God gives us when we align ourselves with what He’s doing. Roy and Darla are new to our missionary family at The Orchard. They have served with ReachGlobal since 1985 in a ministry with people of Muslim background. Roy directs a program with this ministry in mind at the Billy Graham Center in Wheaton. He provides leadership training that facilitates ministry to internationals in the U.S., Canada, and England. They lead a fellowship of former Muslims who are Christian believers, which provides Bible teaching, discipleship and encouragement to meet needs that may not be addressed by the local church. Pray for open doors in providing leadership training for reaching internationals. Pray for opportunities to offer tutoring and ESL classes as a means of sharing the Gospel. parties and Christmas parties, having coffees, and looking for ways to build relationships. God has also brought us in contact with other Christians in our neighborhood who have prayed and partnered with us. So when God brought SpringHill Day Camp to The Orchard last year, we trusted He’d use it to help reach our neighbors with the Gospel. With established relationships (and the help of scholarships), we invited those God put on our hearts, and 16 Mike & Mary Jo Beasley, Barrington Campus One of the biggest benefits we’ve experienced from obeying Jesus in reaching out to our neighbors is www.theorchardefc.org Arlington Heights Campus · 1330 N Douglas Avenue · Barrington Campus · 1301 S Grove Avenue · Itasca Campus · 716 E George Street · Marengo Campus · 20911 Ratfield Road