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 Dan's February 2008 Update
Tithe Challenge Weekend
This weekend we will conclude "The Treasure Principle" series (see the book by the same name written by Randy Alcorn) with teaching on generosity. Why are we in America so wealthy? "God prospers me not to raise my standard of living, but to raise my standard of giving."
So to kick start our giving practices, we are asking each person and family to give 10% of what they earn this week. For many that is a huge step. But together we want to test God (Malachi 3:10) and see what happens. It will also help us discover what is going on in our hearts!
Easter
Actually it is next month! This year the holiday comes almost as early as it can be! (For you detail folks, it is always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the first day of spring.) So, avail yourselves of the "cultural practice" of going to church on that weekend, and encourage some friends to join us for the celebration. We will add another Sunday service at 10:30a. And let’s fill them all up!
Hope for the World’s Neediest Children
Calvary has entered into a new partnership with Vision Trust International (www.visiontrust.org) and the Prime System School of Christ in Monrovia, Liberia. Our goal is to help orphaned and vulnerable children in their spiritual and educational development while supporting good physical health. This new initiative started off with an explosion of support! We had information on almost 50 of the children (there are still more in the works!) and all were sponsored within that first week! WOW! And thank you for stepping up to do what God says! If you have interest in specific sponsorship please contact Jill Cawiezell, our Calvary missions director, jillc@calvaryonline.org.
Staffing Transitions
· Beginning this month Jeff Allgood will be working part time to lead the charge at second base—small groups! We are delighted to have him on board in a role which responds not only to serious needs here at Calvary, but also to the passion of his heart.
· Joanne Arentson has very capably provided the leadership for women’s ministries (Tapestry) and is moving into a mentoring role with Mary Hopkins. Mary is taking on that leadership this month and will provide general direction and oversight of the team. We celebrate this "passing of the baton" as Calvary continues its commitment to encourage people to do what God has wired them to do. Joanne will continue to lead Bible studies and support communications church wide.
· Last fall we announced that Scott Mauck, our Pastor of Student Ministries, will be moving into the oversight of training/equipping/serving (3rd base). That transition will take place officially when we staff student ministries.
We ask you to pray for and support Jeff, Scott, Joanne, and Mary in these new positions. And don’t forget the teams behind these leaders.
The ‘68 Firebird
 You blew me away with the anniversary gift of the restoration of my first "baby." I visit the body shop every week and check on the project. Most of the effort during the first few weeks was removing and discarding what had been "corrupted by rust" (Matthew 6:19). Now it is taking shape fast! Road rally weather is coming! Thought you’d like to see what it looks like!
Perspectives
Lea and I are going on dates each Monday evening to take this 3 hour class together. It is fascinating to sit with Liberians and Brazilians and Americans and realize this barely scratches the surface of what it will be like someday! Though we both have been in several countries and experienced a variety of cultures, this has enabled us to connect more of the dots of how God sees our world. Our understanding is so limited, but we know the One who has a purpose in it all!
Dan Schoepf is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Church.
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