Faith-Valpo

Building Community, 1 Hot Dog @ a Time

A couple of weeks ago following our Sunday service (9:30 a.m) we had hot dogs in our lower level that we hadn't used for Trunk or Treat.  Unsure of how many people would be ready for hot dogs @ 10:30 in the morning (since most people don't buy them @ Home Depot @ 7:30 in the morning as I do), I told the team to use their best judgement.  Over 100 hot dogs were devoured and the community time was great. 

We still have some hot dogs so we're going to do the same thing this week.  Come join us for our second week looking @ Christ in the Drama of Life and stay for a free dog!

Jason

Love of Sundays

I was reminded again today about how much I love Sunday mornings.  I get up around 5:15, shower, get ready and then go to Faith-Dyer to pick-up all of our transfer material.  Then, it's back home to wake-up the troops so they can get ready.  (We actually have our dog trained to say, "Toby, wake-up Justin" and she jumps on their beds and licks their faces until they're moving.)  About 7:15 we hit the road to make the 23 mile, 41 stop light trek from our house to Faith-Valpo.

Today I just had the feeling all morning about how blessed I am to do what I do and to do it with you.  Whether you call Faith-Valpo home, come to visit, or are apart of another Faith-Campus, it is such a joy to be with you in ministry.  (Don't tell our Stewardship Team, but I would probably do Sunday mornings for free.)  What a joy to see people serving, worshiping, exploring and just generally being together.

I also realized that if I didn't get up so early on Sundays I would miss views like the one above.  I took it from the doors at Faith-Dyer while getting the transfer bins.

Can't wait til next Sunday!

Jason

Happy Birth Day John!

Tomorrow we start a 3-part series looking at the theology we hold to as a church.  A great excuse to cover this topic is the fact that this year would have been John Calvin's (pictured above from his high school yearbook) 500th birthday.  He is one of the most influential reformed theologians and we will be looking at how our theology and doctrines shape us and our church over the next few weeks.  Would love to have you join us.  Studying our theology and doctrine helps us follow 1Timothy 4:16 which says:

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

See you in the morning!

Jason

Trunk or Treat

This Friday, from 5-7 we will be hosting "Trunk or Treat" at all of our campuses, including Faith-Valpo.  It is a great outreach event to our community as we provide a safe alternative to Trick-or-Treating.  Thanks to all who have signed-up to bring and decorate cars, I can't wait to see what they look like.  (Of course, I still need to figure out what I am doing.)  If you are available to help in any other areas let me know.

If you haven't yet checked-out Faith-Valpo, this is a great opportunity to come and meet some people. Hopefully I'll see you there.

Jason

Making Room for Life

 

This weekend Pastor Bob brought a powerful sermon on "Hope for the Burned Out" and talked about the pace that many of us live our lives.  A great book that helps you address questions on this topic is  Making Room For Life by Randy Frazee.  While some of the concepts would be difficult to live out, the topics discussed are worth the read, and discussion with those closest to you.  (Randy was the Senior Pastor @ Pantego Bible Church when he wrote this and was able to control his schedule.  Little glimpse:  Do all work between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. allowing for 6-10 p.m. for relationships.  Because he was Senior Pastor he could call 6 a.m. meetings.  I don't know how many of the people I meet with would be up for that.)

Take a look and let me know what you think.

Jason

Trunk or Treat

 

Our family just returned today from a week away and I just realized we have less than a week until Trunk or Treat.  Next Friday from 5-7 p.m. we will be hosting this event as a way to reach people around Faith-Valpo.  What happens is people from Faith-Valpo decorate the trunks of their cars, backs of their vans, and beds of their trucks and people come around and get candy at each trunk.  It's fairly easy, lots of fun, and great outreach!  Our goal is 30 cars for Valpo.  If you can help, let me know.  I'll give you more info @ tomorrow's service.  See you then!

Jason

Thanks for all the help!

    
  

Thanks to everyone who came out for our work day last Saturday.  We got a lot done, from painting and organizing to cleaning half of the playland!  We're hoping to do this once a month, so check back here for details!

Jason

Men (& Women) @ Work

O.k., so I don't think we will be listening to "Who Can it be Now" or "Down Under," but there will be Men (& Women) at work this Saturday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at our facility.  (1155 S. Sturdy Rd. in Valpo.)  We are going to try to have a one-Saturday-a-month work time in order to continue to shape and improve our facility and just build community amongst people who call Faith home, no matter the campus.  

Hope to see you there!  You don't need to be skilled, just willing to work!

Thanks,

Jason

Church of the Week

This week Faith-Valpo is the "Church of the Week" for Shine.FM.  They were out broadcasting from our facility last Sunday and have been running a free commercial for us all week.  Shine.FM has been a huge resource for Faith Church and all of our campuses.  They have really gotten the word out about who we are and different events that we host.  If you haven't listened, you should check them out.  They are located @ 89.7 on your FM dial.

Shine also has a special place in our hearts @ Faith-Valpo.  Last year, two weeks before we began to transition WayPoint Church into Faith-Valpo they were "Church of the Week."  We used that opportunity to promote our new venture.  The pastor of the Valparaiso Church of Christ heard that broadcast and contacted us on working together.  A great relationship was formed and we purchased our current facility from them, which allowed the Church of Christ to restart as GracePoint.  A true win-win situation for the Kingdom!

So thanks to Shine.FM for making us "Church of the Week."  May the Lord continue to bless your ministry in ways you can't even fathom!

Proof I go to Class

Just wanted you to know that when I say I will be gone taking classes, I go!  This came out yesterday as a part of a denominational newsletter.  (You're mentioned too!)

 The scene below is the RCA History & Missions class

this past summer. Two stories are worth sharing - in

the front and yellow shirt is Jason DeVries - he has

recently launched a church start in Valparaiso, Indiana in

conjunction with Faith Church, Dyer, Indiana.

Second person in the front is James Eastland from

Catskill New York - he and his wife Vicky (MFCA alumna)

are in the final stages of an international adoption.

(O.k., so maybe I was a little sleepy here)