Next Generation Ministries

This summer is an exciting time here at Church of the Redeemer. We are reaching out to the next generation.

One of the most important things we can do in ministry is to pass on our faith in Jesus Christ and love for His church to children, young people and young adults -- to the up and coming generation. Over the last several weeks we have been busy making this one of our summer priorities.

We kicked off the beginning of the summer with a huge Block Party for our teenagers. Terry and I had the opportunity to hang out with the kids for most of that evening, and it was incredible. The back parking lot of the church was transformed. We had music, food, games, art competitions, and a variety of other activities. The night ended with a great message from our youth pastor, Justin McAuliff, calling teenagers to commit their lives to Jesus, and quite a number did!

This week we had Vacation Bible School. It has been exciting to see hundreds of kids here each morning, playing games, having loads of fun and also learning about God’s Word and the love of Jesus Christ. I am sure that many of these kids will end the week by making a personal commitment of their lives to Jesus.

Our summer internship program is in full swing now as well. We have a great group of young adults who have committed their summer to serving God, serving the church and growing in their faith. I had the opportunity yesterday to spend some quality time with them, talking about the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It brings tremendous joy to my heart to know that our church is investing in such quality young adults. It is amazing to think about the potential each of them has for the Kingdom of God and His church.

Also, beginning in July, our young adult ministry, Axis will be holding weekly worship services each Thursday night @ 7:00 pm. If you are a young adult, get this on your calendar and be there for great times of worship, teaching and fellowship.

One final word about next generation ministries. None of these exciting ministries and events happen without wonderful, caring adults stepping up to serve. I am so blessed by all the folks who regularly volunteer with our children and youth. Your investment in the next generation is one of the greatest things you will do with your life. Thank you!

If you would like to serve, let us know about your interest. We would love to hear from you. Check out the links below to communicate your interest in being a part of transforming the lives of children and youth at Church of the Redeemer!

Children's Ministry

Youth Ministry

Pastor Dale

Kindred Spirits: Church of the Redeemer Midwest

This week we have a group of about 25 people with us from our Wisconsin campus.  These folks are doing a wonderful job establishing and growing Church of the Redeemer Midwest (http://www.church-redeemermidwest.org).  We are so thrilled with the commitment and passion they have to reach and serve their community with the love of Jesus Christ.

We were privileged to host the group for a reception following our midweek service.  It was such a joy to connect with them, to hear their hearts and sense their excitement for what God is doing at our midwest campus.

Our time of fellowship reminded me of one of the great blessings of the body of Christ.  It is something called a “kindred spirit.”  As I met people from the Wisconsin church that I had never met before, I immediately felt that I was with family -- the family of God!

This is something I have noticed in travels around the world.  When Christians meet, there is an undeniable and amazing connectedness of spirit.  This “kindred spirit” is actually the witness of the Holy Spirit reminding us that we are a part of the same family, we have the same Father and are living for the same purpose, the glory of Jesus Christ.

Thank God for the “kindred spirit” we share as Christian believers!  And thank God for the good folks from Church of the Redeemer Midwest!

Pastor Dale

Strategic Living

How strategically are your living your life?

One of the games my wife and I have played at home from time to time is checkers.  While the game is much less sophisticated, intellectually challenging and time consuming than chess, it still requires a similar skill -- strategic thinking.  Consistent winners are strategic in their thoughts and actions.  They think through the positive and negative implications of their moves BEFORE they make them.  A strategic checker or chess player is always several steps down the road in their mind.  They know where they are going and how they are going to get there.  Each move is appropriately considered in the light of the desired end result.

What is strategic thinking?  Thinking is strategic when it goes after long-term goals and advances.  Thinking is strategic when it focuses on a bigger picture and a greater purpose.  Thinking is strategic when it involves moving toward a positive plan for the future.

The opposite of strategic thinking is short term thinking.  Short-term thinkers yield to the wants, desires and pressures of the immediate at the expense of the truly important.  They are unwilling to invest spiritual, mental and emotional effort and energies in considering the implications of their decisions, actions or attitudes for the future -- their future.

One of the saddest examples of non-strategic thinking is seen in the story of a man in the Bible named Esau.  His short-term mindset cost him his destiny.  (Read the full story in Genesis 25:27-34.)

The New Testament writer of Hebrews reminded Christian believers of the tragedy of Esau’s poor strategy:

Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. --  Hebrews 12:16 (Message)

Esau’s failure should cause us to stop and think about the way we are living our lives.  All of us sacrifice certain possibilities and potential for our tomorrows when we fail to think and live strategically today.

Living strategically starts with a goal.  In the personal realm, it involves identifying and defining the kind of person we want to become in character and skill in the next one, five or ten years, and setting in motion the decisions and disciplines that are required to get us there.  It involves getting rid of habits, behaviors and attitudes that are robbing us of our spiritual, mental, emotional and relational potential, no matter how deep-seated they are or comfortable we are with them.

Living strategically is the right way to live.

By the way, going back to the checker games with my wife, she usually wins!

Pastor Dale

A proverb a day ...

One of the devotional habits I try to maintain consistently is the daily reading of a chapter from the Old Testament book of Proverbs, based on the corresponding day of the month, (e.g., June 1: Read Proverbs 1, etc.).  Since there are 31 chapters in Proverbs, and 31 days in most months, it is possible to read through the entire book every month.

The book of Proverbs is a source of practical wisdom, instruction and correction.  I find that reading and meditating on the short nuggets of truth in each chapter provides me helpful guidance and knowledge for daily interactions and decisions.  Many times the course of my day has been positively altered or mistakes avoided because of the principles I discovered in the pages of this wonderful book of the Bible.

You also might like using a web resource for daily Bible reading if you are not doing so already.  Bible Gateway (www.biblegateway.com) is a great source for online Bibles.  I like to use their audio Bible resources and listen to Scripture being read while I follow along in my reading.  Here is a link for that resource:

 http://www.biblegateway.com/resources/audio/

Enjoy your Bible study!

Pastor Dale

Makeover -- The Power of Small Intentional Change

All of us have seen television programs that chronicle some kind of home makeover.  It is interesting to see how an interior designer can come into someone’s house, review their current room layout and decorations, and with a relatively small budget and a few key changes, transform the place.  The house takes on a whole new look, all because someone was willing to change a handful of things.

Changes don’t have to be big to make a significant difference.  Sometimes small intentional changes have a huge positive impact.  For example, small changes in our diet such as reducing our intake of soft drinks by one serving per day (or for me, one Starbucks latte per day) results in over 46,000 fewer calories a year, or a potential loss of almost 12 pounds!  12 pounds make a big difference in how a pair of pants fits!

The point is, to grow and improve the quality and impact of our lives, we have to be intentional about making positive changes.  All too often we think that big changes are required for big impact.  Actually, making the right small changes in how we think, live and relate to others is frequently where the most significant dividends are realized.

What small intentional changes do you need to make that could significantly transform your life?  What changes could you make in the way you think, live and relate that could dramatically improve your personal effectiveness and positive impact on others?

Don’t let apathy, complacency and comfort keep you from your makeover!

Pastor Dale

Peru Missions Outreach

Last week some folks from our young adult ministry, Axis,  headed to Peru, South America to serve our sister church, Camino de Vida.  After a brief stop in the capital city of Lima, the team traveled into the high Andes Mountains near Cuzco to a small, extremely remote village named Limatambo.  Camino de Vida, pastored by Pastor Robert Barriger, has a children's home in Limatambo of approximately 60 precious kids.  These children come from very difficult and challenging backgrounds and experiences.  Camino de Vida's home offers them a safe place where they can experience a loving family environment, food, clothing and care, receive spiritual instruction and a get a good education.  We are privileged to support this ministry through our church's missions giving.

Our team spent several days loving on the children there, playing with them and teaching them God's Word.  They also provided practical help with some of the home's needed projects.  In addition, the team did some evangelistic outreaches in the surrounding villages, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with others.  They went to the "front lines" of ministry.

I've had the opportunity to talk to several of the team members since they returned, and their reports were all similar -- "Awesome!"  "Life changing!"  "Incredible!"  It was a good reminder of the joy that comes when we push the limits of our comfort zone and serve others.

This week we are sending another team to Guatemala to serve.  Keep this trip and the team members in prayer.

And remember, all of us can do mission work, and we don't have to travel thousands of miles from home to do it.  Look for needs around you this week, press the boundaries of your comfort zone, and serve others.  Your experience and response will be the same as that of the Peru team members I talked to -- "Awesome!"  "Life changing!"  "Incredible!"

Pastor Dale

The Heart of the Matter

This past Wednesday our area was hit with some significant thunder storms with very strong winds.  All throughout the DC vicinity trees were downed and electricity was off.  As I listened to and watched the intensity of the wind and rain, it brought to mind our real weaknesses and vulnerabilities as human beings.  The wake of the storm revealed a lot about the importance of having the right spiritual foundation and strength of character -- of having the right heart.

An example of weakness and vulnerability exposed by this storm happened at our house.  One of our trees, a big, beautiful and mature Weeping Willow tree at the entrance of our driveway, took a hit from the wind.  A large section of the tree split from the main trunk and much of it landed on a power line.  It was amazing to see the tree trunk suspended in air.  It was hanging precariously, with part of the damaged section dangling over the road in front of our home.  It was supported primarily by electrical cables that appeared ready to snap at any moment.

My wife reported the situation to our utility company and eventually a tree cutting crew showed up at our home to take care of the situation.  As the workers carefully pruned back the large portion of the split trunk, something interesting and instructional became evident.  The inside of the tree was diseased, decayed and infested with hundreds if not thousands of black ants.  The inner disease, decay and infestation had weakened this huge section of the tree and made it vulnerable to the storm.

From outside observation I would have never thought that such a problem existed.  The tree looked healthy to me.  Obviously, there was a lot more going on inside the tree than the outside revealed.  The storm made evident the real character of the tree.  It had a heart problem.

This situation brought to mind the biblical teaching about the human heart.  When our heart is infected and infested with the wrong thinking and attitudes, the resulting spiritual and emotional disease and decay weakens us and makes us vulnerable to destruction, especially when times of testing come our way.  Just as the disease and inner decay of the tree not only made the tree vulnerable to destruction but also made the tree dangerous to others, the diseases, decay, infections and infestations of our heart are not only destructive to us, but also make us dangerous to others.

Listen to these words of wisdom:

“Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.” -- Proverbs. 4:23 (NLT)

What’s going on in your heart?

Pastor Dale

Building Strong Marriages

One of the exciting ministries here at Church of the Redeemer is our Marriage Matters Ministry, headed up by Pastor Joey Vazquez.  From small groups, to marriage mentoring, to seminars, to fun activities and events, Marriage Matters is all about helping couples tackle the tough and challenging relationship issues that every couple experiences using the resources God has given us through His Word.

This past weekend our Marriage Matters Ministry conducted a special growth seminar.  Dr. Frank Pedreira did a wonderful job teaching key principles that help marriages succeed.  He talked about how to work through tough times and how to practice kindness, encouragement and understanding in the home.  Check out the Resource Center online or at our campuses to purchase CD’s of his teaching if you missed it.

Also, don’t miss the Marriage Matters Baltimore Harbor Dinner Cruise coming up on Friday, June 20.  Take a look at our website (www.church-redeemer.org) for more information about this event or other Marriage Matters ministry events.

Pastor Dale