FRUIT How to Grow at The Orchard in 2014

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