january 2008 edition
Evergreen-Lakeville, Evergreen-Bloomington, Evergreen-West, The Rock and The Urban Refuge are one church with many locations. Together, we are stronger than we could be apart. InTouch brings you a snapshot of news and events within our church family.
the evergreen office is on the move!
By lynn newman
On Monday, March 17th – the church office staff will be rearranging furniture, hanging pictures, unpacking boxes and rebooting computers at their new location at the new Bloomington church facility. The new church office address is 2300 East 88th Street, Bloomington, MN 55425. No change to the church office telephone number, it will remain 952-895-1773. Please note that the Bloomington congregation will be moving from Oak Grove to this new facility some time later this spring once all renovations and site work have been completed.
newsflash: Joe beard resigns
what do we do now?
By Your Pastors
After a decade of employment with Evergreen, our Production Director, Joe Beard has chosen to resign and take a job with a local marketing company where he will help them launch a new video department. This new position will help Joe develop professionally and allow him to spend more time with his family.
Joe has been the “creative genius” behind dramas, videos, staging, lighting, and projection for our weekend services and special all-location events (i.e. Couples Conference, Singles Conference and Fanning the Flame). He has brought a tremendous level of production excellence to all five locations.
We will miss his thumbprint at Evergreen and we wish him well in his new, exciting venture. His last day on staff is Friday, March 14. Please join us in thanking Joe the next time you see him. Joe and his family will continue to attend the Lakeville location.
So now what?
Joe’s resignation has brought about a significant decision. We have decided to change our production model. We will move production from a centralized multi-location function that supported all five locations to a decentralized function whereby each location will be responsible for their own production. In other words, there will be no single person spear-heading production for all five locations.
There are two main reasons for this change:
1) Each location values and utilizes production differently. Therefore, it makes sense that the vision for and implementation of production is determined by each location.
2) The job of managing the production needs at all of our locations is complicated—perhaps too complicated for one person to handle. Evergreen will be planting new locations in the future. Centralized production will become prohibitively difficult.
What does this decision practically mean?
The pastors and volunteers responsible for production at each location will cast a vision for this ministry and develop a plan to implement that vision. If you have any questions or ideas regarding your location’s production plans, please contact the following pastor/staffer at your location:
Evergreen-Bloomington – Brent Knox or Spencer Bernard
Evergreen-Lakeville – Charlie Meyer
Evergreen-West - Doug Patterson
The Rock - Mark Darling
The Urban Refuge - Chad Oltman
Multi-location events will be managed using a combination of staff and volunteers from all of the locations.
Assisting Joe in Production on a part-time basis since 2005 has been Marco Villar. Unfortunately, the decision to decentralize production means that Marco’s part-time assistant position is no longer practical and will be eliminated. Marco’s employment time has been extended so that he has adequate time to find new employment. We wish to thank Marco for all his contributions to the church and his many years of hard work and service. Please join us in our appreciation of Marco and give him your thanks when you have a chance and please pray for both Joe and Marco as they transition to and find new employment.
Change always involves some risk and uncertainty but we think this is the right time to try a new approach to production within our church. We ask for your prayers and patience as we make this transition—we are confident that over time each location will be well served.
god is doing great things at west
By Nicki Patterson
God has done great things throughout the history of Evergreen-West. We have reached friends and neighbors, participated in mission trips, and helped plant three church locations. Over the years, ordinary everyday people have become extraordinary devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
Our journey has not been without pain or struggle, of course. One unique trial to our location is that we have moved eight times over the last 13 years (4 long-term and 4 short-term facilities). We have joked and said, “We’re a great church if you can just find us!” (Some of you readers still call us the Plymouth location!)
Over three years ago, while meeting in a school in West Minneapolis, experiencing declining attendance, and wondering what our future held, God gave Pastor Mark Stiglicz this promise: “The surviving remnant of the house of Judah will again take root downward and bear fruit upward,” 2 Kings 19:30 (NASB). God showed us that He would once again help our church to become fruitful. We had no idea how, when, or what that would look like; we just hung on to that promise and began praying, “Lord, lead us in ways that are undeniably You. Provide for us in ways that are unmistakably You.” Well, God has been answering these prayers, and today the “surviving remnant” is seeing God’s promise fulfilled before our very eyes!
It would take too long to share all the details of how God undeniably led us, but here’s the condensed version. In 2004, God opened a door for us to share our current facility with Hope Alliance Chapel. During this time God grew us deeper in faith, individually and corporately. Then, God clearly led our pastors to exhort us in the area of financial stewardship. Many people repented and obeyed. As a result, for the first time in our location’s history we are “in the black” and no longer financially dependent upon the other Evergreen churches. It was shortly after this obedience in finances that our attendance started growing. In Matthew 25:23 (NLT) Jesus says to the faithful servant, “You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let's celebrate together!” A few months later we were given the opportunity to purchase this church building, which just “happens” to be in the center of what a Growth Team determined to be our “target location” years ago!
During the month of February we ran a capital campaign entitled, “Take Root, Bear Fruit,” based on our promise in 2 Kings. People gave sacrificially and joyously. Currently, we have raised 34% more than the minimum amount required to go ahead with the building purchase. Hallelujah! This shows the amazing faith and generosity of our congregation. It also overwhelmingly indicates that they agree that God has miraculously led us to this place and opportunity.
Equally exciting is the fact that our weekend attendance is growing like crazy. This has led to more people attending small groups and “Roots” (our mid-week service). Our current membership class is quadruple the size of past classes! People are getting connected and making new relationships. New people are volunteering to serve. People are getting baptized. The people in our church are “taking root” in their faith and “bearing fruit” with their lives!
Jim Kuphol, a newcomer, was asked if it was a turn-off to start attending a church when it was beginning a capital campaign. He replied, “Not at all. In fact, it’s exciting to be a part of something that’s just ‘starting.’ Rather than trying to fit in with something that’s been established, we feel like we’re joining when there’s change for everyone. And we feel like we can contribute right away rather than wait on the sidelines. We also appreciate the pastors continually emphasizing that the building is simply a tool that God can use.”
How true! While we are excited about finally having a permanent building for our church home, our focus and passion is building lives. We genuinely view this facility as a tool that allows us to “take root” in the community of New Hope and to do the work that God is calling us to do here.
By the way, our church location will be changing our name one final time… Evergreen Community Church – New Hope! Praise to God!
coming to faith at the rock
two stories of finding god
Compiled by Karl Quickert
God has been doing just some fantastic things at The Rock. Just in the last three months, we've seen at least 10 people come to faith in Christ through people at The Rock. In previous InTouch articles we shared about the students that do cross-walking, and in the last edition we shared about the profound impact Faithwalkers had on our church. The following testimonies are from someone who got saved at Faithwalkers, and someone whom we met cross-walking and began living his life for Christ at Faithwalkers.
A Rock Story:
Alicia Bernards
When I was first introduced to The Rock by Micah Darling and Jordan Monson, I was in a slump in my life. I was hanging out with the wrong people, partying on weekends and getting drunk. Also, I was a rather promiscuous young woman and didn't really have a conscience about any of the things I was doing because everyone I hung out with was doing it, too.
I met Micah and Jordan at a concert hosted by The Rock on campus at the University of Minnesota. I was with a group of friends, and we saw a band on stage and free food, so we decided to check it out. Jordan and Micah were passing out candy and decided to sit down with us and chat. They told us they were members of this church and that we should come check it out some Friday night. My friends thought it sounded cool, but I was really at a very un-religious part of my life and wasn't interested. But, I decided to attend The Rock with my friends anyway.
After our first visit my friends weren't interested in going back, but I was. I kept asking my friends if they wanted to go the next Friday and Fridays following, but they didn't want to go. Finally, Alyssa Perry, another U student, asked if I wanted to get coffee and then go to The Rock. I said, “Sure!”
I kept going to The Rock, but nothing really significant happened to me until I went to Faithwalkers. Now the fact that I even went to Faithwalkers is a miracle in and of itself. About a week before the end of the term, Sarah McClanahan offered me a free trip to the conference. Being at Faithwalkers was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. I was completely submerged in the Christian way of life. I went to sessions and seminars and listened; actively forming questions and pondering the truth.
The second night at Faithwalkers I sat down with Sarah and her dad Craig and discussed all of the questions I had. The next night, my small group held a prayer session. I got there a little late and jumped into a group of people I didn't know very well. I listened to their prayers and then, to many people's surprise, I added my own prayers. This was the first time I had ever prayed with others. Christ spoke to me that night and made me His. The last day of Faithwalkers, I joined Sarah McClanahan's baptism and officially devoted my life to Christ.
I just want to give thanks to everyone I mentioned in this testimony for helping me when I didn't even know I needed help and to everyone in my life that wasn't mentioned in this, you all mean more to me than words can ever explain.
A Rock Story:
Erik Williams
To put it simply, Jesus Christ has changed my life. I am now 20 years old. I spent the first eighteen years of my life growing up in a Christian home. My parents never forced their faith on me, but I was imprinted with an undeniable belief that there was a God out there who cared about me. I always enjoyed Sunday school and church. But about the time I entered high school, almost simultaneously all of my close Christian friends moved away or fell away from their faith, and, with no one to have fellowship with, I fell away as well.
My senior year and my freshman year in college saw my straight-A, overly ambitious life turn to a life of desperation. I became completely addicted to cocaine, and was sure to supplement my speedy addiction with a "healthy" dose of painkillers and heroin. As I felt myself losing more and more control of my life I could never shake the feeling that God was there, but I had developed a mentality that even if He was there I wasn't worth saving anymore for I had screwed my life up so badly.
Last summer I completely broke down. Several close calls with my drug usage as well as other circumstances going on in my life led to me driving around one night in a thunderstorm for four hours, talking to God. The first hour or so I was screaming, angry at the way my life was going. But somewhere in there my screams turned to sobs and I realized I had finally been broken; as the song says this world had nothing for me. I needed God's rescue.
So I wanted God back in my life. But I was moving to Minneapolis, a metropolitan area where all of my old vices were sure to be available. So my main prayer after having been broken was to come across a solid group of Christians with whom I could have fellowship and grow. God answers prayer!
About a month into my new life in Minneapolis, I ran into a bunch of goofballs walking down University Avenue with a huge cross. I approached them, got a Rock card from Jacob Quickert, and God has been working in my life ever since.
I attended the Rock off and on from October to December, still going out on the weekends to party. But finally at Faithwalkers God removed the blinders from my eyes and showed me the absolute joy that can be found in a life with Him.
Since Faithwalkers, I have been drug and alcohol free, I've been seeking to start a music ministry with my brother at the Rock, Steve Johnson. I have become more active in my small group, house church, and even have joined the Crosswalkers to pay back to the ministry that led me to the Rock.
Ultimately, God literally has snatched me from the fire. In a sort of "Prodigal Son" sense, I have come back to serve my Lord with more passion and conviction than I've ever had for anything in my life. The Rock has been an important part of that, for while it is important for us to feed ourselves and rely on God, the unbelievable amount of love, fellowship, conviction, and the uncompromising attitude of all the on-fire believers I have the privilege of running the race with have helped me to maintain my own zeal and provide encouragement as I slowly but surely leave the things of this world behind me.
As one of the songs Steve and I wrote boldly declares: “I will live for You. I
will live for God, and I've never had more joy in my life, and never been
more confident in the Truth.” Praise be to God!
