Mountainview Musings

Meet Me In The Meadow an excerpt

2012-03-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

Meet Me in the Meadow blog
10 Reasons to Come to Jesus

Jesus replied, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, before Abraham was born, I AM. John 8:58 AMP

Luke 2:11 - Jesus is the Savior,
come to Him and be forgiven and saved;
John 10:9 - Jesus is the Door,
come to Him and enter His provision;
John 6:51 - Jesus is the Bread of Life,
come to Him and feast at His table;
John 8:12 - Jesus is the Light of the World,
come to Him and see clearly;
John 10:14 - Jesus is the Good Shepherd,
come to Him and be led in right paths;
John 15:5 - Jesus is the Vine,
come to Him and abide in fruitfulness;
John 4:10 - Jesus gives living water,
come to Him and drink to the full;
John 11:25 - Jesus is the Resurrection,
come to Him and have blessed hope;
John 14:27 - Jesus gives peace,
come to Him and be not troubled;
John 1:33 - Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit,
come to Him and be empowered to witness.

Devotional excerpt by Roy Lessin, from his blog: Meet Me In The Meadow.

March 4th Message

2012-03-08T08:18:00.000-08:00

Listen and watch as Pastor Dave concludes our Joshua series. The props he uses drive home a great point. Enjoy!

The Dollar Store

2012-03-07T09:00:00.000-08:00

One of the ladies in our church shared with me today that she was in the dollar store the other day, buying food pantry stuff, and a woman came up to her and asked her why her cart was so full of food. She was in a hurry and thought this woman needed something so just explained quickly to her that she was buying for her church pantry. The lady proceeded to tell her that they had just moved to Gresham from the West Side, had not found a church yet, and wondered if she could give her $15.00 worth of food as a donation. The lady from our church said she learned right there to wait on God. She invited the woman to church and thanked her profusely for the donation. The woman said she had a friend that came to Mt. View and would love to come visit...who knows? But the lady from our church said she experienced a teaching moment that day.

Praise God!!!

Jesus Calling an Excerpt

2012-03-05T08:22:00.002-08:00

Jesus Calling

I am the Resurrection and the Life;
all lasting Life emanates from Me.
People search for life in many wrong ways: chasing after fleeting pleasures, accumulating possessions and wealth, trying to deny the inevitable effects of aging.
Meanwhile, I offer abundant Life to everyone who turns toward Me. As you come to Me and take My yoke upon you, I fill you with My very Life. This is how I choose to live in the world and accomplish My purposes. This is also how I bless you with Joy unspeakable and full of Glory. The Joy is Mine, and the Glory is Mine; but I bestow them on you as you live in My Presence, inviting Me to live fully in you.

John 11:25; Matthew 11:28-29; I Peter 1:8-9

Excerpt from Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young.

Another Faith Adventure Story

2012-03-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

One of the men that has been leading our Men of Honor class this school year has a cool story. The small group is a high school boys with mostly no fathers in their lives. They have learned a lot in this study and have been introduced to biblical truth when otherwise they would have not been in church at all. One of the boys is 15, his father is locked away in a mental facility and his mother is slowly dying of cancer. He will probably be alone before his 18th birthday.

Yesterday, for the third time, his mom came to church. She had recently been forced to move from her home and lost the children she was providing daytime care for. Broke and on the verge of being evicted from her apartment this week, she walked several miles to church to pray, passing several churches along the way.

This man and his wife loved on her during her time here on Sunday morning. They were able to find her help for her short term need to finish paying for her rent this month. Got her information on ladies bible studies, Friday night RENEW classes and upcoming church activities. Her spirit had been lifted and encouraged by her time here and the ministry provided by the church family. But then there is the rest of the story.

Before she left, they sat with her to pray about solving her long term income need. While they were praying for God to provide for her, her phone rang. It was a request for day time childcare for three children….. God provided.

The journey to lead this Men of Honor class has been a challenge and truly a faith adventure for he and his whole family. Yesterday God not only provided for a family, He encouraged the family in their Faith Journey.

Thanks be to God for his enduring patience, unfailing love and abundant mercy.

Hopefully this is a great encouragement to you this week!

February 26th Message

2012-02-29T08:37:00.000-08:00

Listen as Pastor Dave shares with us from Joshua about when the sun goes down. Listen for the 5 things you can take away. Enjoy.

Iranian Pastor Faces Execution

2012-02-24T09:00:00.000-08:00

An edited repost of Jim Daly's blog.

If he surrenders his faith, he’ll save his life.

Or will he?

Youcef Nadarkhani is an Iranian Christian pastor. He was arrested back in 2009 for protesting compulsory Islamic religious instruction in the public school system. Although initially charged with protesting, an illegal act, the charges were amended to apostasy and evangelizing Muslims.

When asked by a judge to “repent” of his behavior, Pastor Nadarkhani’s response was blunt:
"Repent means to return. What should I return to?” he asked. “To the blasphemy that I had before my faith in Christ?"

The judge replied, "To the religion of your ancestors, Islam."

To which the imprisoned Christian replied, "I cannot."

What courage! What boldness!

To most Americans, this story seems to be half a world away, and not only geographically speaking. And although we’re saddened and startled by it, we’re not necessarily shocked. After all, it’s Iran. Religious freedom is a foreign concept in a nation where government oppression is the standing order of the day.

But I wonder if the news of Pastor Nadarkhani’s arrest isn’t closer to home than you think? All throughout America secularists are committed to controlling Christian speech and even criminalizing behavior.

How is the state of religious freedom faring in America today?

You might recall that on two separate occasions, in Arizona and California, individuals were fined and threatened for hosting Bible studies in their respective homes. In both of the situations officials cited them for violating local zoning regulations. In Virginia, five men were ordered to stop sharing their faith on a Richmond sidewalk. Several public officials in North Carolina have been told they’re prohibited from praying before meetings. New York City officials have just announced that 68 churches who rent public school space over the weekends will no longer be allowed to do so.

I’m not suggesting the oppression that some believers are experiencing in the United States is on par with what’s happening in Iran. But the common denominator is the loss of religious freedom. And when it comes to our religious liberties, to lose even a little is to lose a lot.

Rarely do free societies and cultures collapse overnight in some single stroke. Freedom is often dismantled one right at a time.

It is in times of trial and testing when our faith is strengthened most. As believers we have solid confidence that even though things are difficult, God is in full control of all time and space.

We don’t know what will come of Pastor Nadarkhani’s short-term fate. We need to pray for him. I hope you’ll join me in doing so. Thankfully, we do know of his ultimate fate because his eternal future is safe and secure in Jesus.

In Your Hands - A prayer

2012-02-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

Please enjoy this prayer by Jill Kelly.

Heavenly Father, my life is in Your hands.
Yesterday, today, and forever, I am safe and secure in You.
Lord, please help me to know that You are in control.
Help me to believe You are at work in my life right now,
even when I don't see it.
Help me to trust in what I do not see,
when what I see is so painful.
Please help me to know You are taking care of my needs.

Lord, thank You for listening to my cries for help.
Thank You for loving me so much.
Help me to believe You and the promises You have made.
Forgive me when I doubt You and Your love.
I believe, Lord. Forgive me for my unbelief.

The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.
Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Deuteronomy 31:8

Devotional excerpt by Jill Kelly, from her book Prayers of Hope for the Brokenhearted.

A UHaul truck, The Faith Adventure and a Rock

2012-02-22T09:00:00.002-08:00

Please enjoy this wonderful story of one of the people (their name has been left out intentionally) in our church taking a step on the Faith Journey. Perhaps this will encourage you to take that first step.

God moving upstream, a U-Haul truck, a Faith Adventure...and a ROCK which one of these things doesn't belong. Sounds like the beginning of a joke, doesn't it? Well, its not; they are all one in the same. Let me explain.

Yesterday, I received a phone call from my uncle in the Puget Sound area. He shared with me that a wonderful Christian lady (Julee) from his church was moving to the Gresham area but had no one to unload the truck on the Oregon end and wondered if I could help. She has been praying that God would provide and work upstream to find a new church where she could serve and start a new chapter of her life. Until yesterday that Faith Adventure had been unanswered in her life. But still she has believed that God would provide if she stepped out in faith. Much like our current series in Joshua at church, Julee has believed that God is working upstream.

So I have said yes, and have been an answer to prayer in Julee's Faith Adventure; but now I have discovered that the Faith Adventure is mine. On Sunday a 26-foot U-Haul truck will be arriving in Fairview and I will be there with my family to help unload it. I am praying that God is working upstream of me and that I will not be the only one to meet Julee. I am believing that God can do amazing things if I trust and follow him; so here is to putting a "pinky toe" in the Jordan River. I need your help to unload this truck to "Show Love and Share Christ" with Julee. I look forward to participating in a miracle answer to prayer.

If you can lift a lampshade or lug a piano I hope to see you there. Band of Brothers bring your boys; let them see you serve someone they have never met. Please forward this on to anyone that would want to be involved. The more the better!! Time, location, specifics below.

But, What About The Rock???? Well, remember when the Children of Israel crossed the Jordan River, what did they pick up and build on the other side? Bring a rock, fist size or smaller and lets build a monument to honor Julee's Faith Adventure. Lets build a monument to how great God is, that Julee can see every time she walks past.

See you at the ROCKPILE!!

Here is what happened on the big move day.

It was amazing. We had a group of 20 people that were all there ready to help out. The truck was a little late so we had some that were a bit anxious to get started but everything went smoothly. Julee and her husband were totally overwhelmed by the love and support. They were just amazed that we would do something like this.

The pile of rocks was pretty impressive. The D.O.V.E. (Director of Volunteer Envolvement) at her previous church wanted a picture of the monument to use for future events at their church. In all a very good afternoon. I would not be surprised to see them visiting our church this coming Sunday.

Update from Julee:

Here are two pictures of the stones. I had sent the night photo out to my friends who had been praying for me and told them all about the GANG who showed up at my house. I can't even begin to tell you how overwhelming it was to me to have that many strangers come help. On the Friday before moving weekend, the verse in I Cor. 2:9 kept going through my head and I even wrote it down in my journal "Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither has it entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him". That was truly the case for me. I could not have imagined the wonderful crew from my church that came to my house on Sat. to load the truck so perfectly, and NEVER could have imagined the army of fathers and sons (with two lovely wives) that came to help on Sunday. I was blown away. It is truly a testimony to God's grace in my life (and I hope a blessing in the lives of those who served).

And you, my man, are one amazing servant/leader and organizer. Thank you for coming early and staying late, and for all the work you did between that time. Your thoughtfulness with the flowers for me and also bringing water for your men/boys and showing us the U-Haul place was so appreciated. I have shared this wonderful story with friends and family all over the place and was just talking to my cousin in Yorba Linda, CA who had shared the story with some of her church family on Monday.

I looked up the verses in Joshua 4 about the stones, and it made me realize I can use those stones in my life to tell friends/family that visit about my miraculous unloading day. In fact last night as I was having trouble sleeping because so much was still floating through my brain, I thought about God's faithfulness and those stones by my front door. They will be a reminder to me, too.

Update from our servant at MVCC:

I am still absolutely blown away by this whole experience. God has been so great in all of this. It is far beyond what I could have dreamed, planned, or imagined. What started out as answering "yes" to a phone call and then trusting God to move where appropriate, has become so much more. If it had been done in my own strength it would have been so much less than it was. To God be the glory, great things he has done.

February 19th Message

2012-02-21T07:48:00.002-08:00

Listen as Pastor Craig walks us through chapters 7 & 8 of Joshua. Enjoy!

Pay Attention by Matt Chambers

2012-02-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

I stumbled upon this blog post and thought it incredibly poignant. Please enjoy Matt Chambers (Director/Co-Founder of SafeWorldNexus. Husband. Father. Humanitarian. Advocate. Dreamer. Doubter. Believer. Follower. Writer. Speaker. Leader. Learner. )perspective on how generosity can be easily overlooked.

Here is the link to his original post:

http://ethoshift.wordpress.com/2012/02/15/pay-attention/

Can I put those items at the front counter while you finish shopping, sir?”
I never made eye-contact, but the retail worker stretched her hands toward the pile of glass bowls I was balancing in my arms.
“Thanks, that would be great,” I said, still concentrating on her hands.
Her hands.
They were gentle and middle-aged, slightly weathered but well cared for.
As I transferred the bowls from my arms to her hands, I noticed there was an untanned circle of skin around her left ring finger. As if an actual band of precious metal representing a long-standing relationship or marriage had once occupied that space, but no longer.
She headed in the direction of the front counter and I continued scouring the shelves for bargains. That was the end of our short, no eye-contact interaction.
After we checked out, and as my wife strolled into another store, I opted to stroll our special-needs son, Jude, around outside the doorway as he let us know in no uncertain vocal terms he was quite bored of our shopping habits.
I pushed his stroller back and forth in wider and wider paths until we began passing back and forth in front of the store where I bought the bowls.
And there she was. The kind woman who had helped me only moments ago. Standing in the shop doorway.
Weeping.
Another woman around the same age had pulled her into a tight embrace and was trying very hard to help bring comfort.
“It’s going to be ok,” She was saying, “You won’t be alone, I am here for you…divorce isn’t the end…”
Woah. I didn’t see that coming at all.
Mostly because I wasn’t looking.
I wasn’t paying attention.
I was so busy eyeballing the sales, I completely missed an incredibly broken person standing right next to me.
Our hands touched, but I never even looked at her.
All day long she served customers who had absolutely no idea that as she smiled at them, her heart lay broken inside her.
A line from the film Crash that came out several years ago that’s always stuck with me sums up this moment powerfully:
“It’s the sense of touch. In any real city, you walk, you know? You brush past people, people bump into you…We’re always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much, that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something.”
In scripture, Jesus invites us to walk two miles when we’re asked to walk one…
to give our coat also when we’re asked for our shirt…
to bless…
to pray for…
to love…
And all those things specifically for people who appear as our enemies!
So, if that’s how we give our lives away to our enemies (which is a whole different topic for another day), then how much more so should we give care to the broken and indifferent?
We must learn to pay attention.
To our spouses and children and close friends (they should be the most obvious).
But to the server having a terrible day at the restaurant where we’re eating…
The clerk behind the counter with a bad attitude…
The smelly guy who cuts in front of us at the grocery store…
Create your own list.
Make eye contact.
Be merciful.
Give grace.
Offer second chances.
Speak life and healing.
Pay attention. (A command I give my children all the time, but one that I need more than they do.)
Generosity (in any form) is never wasted.

MVCC Quilting Ministry

2012-02-16T09:00:00.000-08:00

Ten ladies from the Common Threads quilting group met recently to make quilts for members of MVCC who are going through radiation treatments. As much as they love making the quilts, they hate to have to give them out since we know that the reason the recipient is getting the quilt is because their lives have been impacted by cancer.

Here are some photos of this great ministry and fellowship time. Enjoy!

February 12th Message

2012-02-13T11:29:00.000-08:00

Listen to Pastor Tom speak to us out of Joshua chapters 5 & 6. Enjoy.

February 5th Message

2012-02-07T09:18:00.000-08:00

Listen as Pastor Tom talks to us from Joshua chapters 3 & 4. You'll be challenged to get your feet wet as we step into the river. Enjoy!

Forget About It

2012-02-02T08:59:00.000-08:00

Please enjoy this blog post from "Orange Parents" written by Reggie Joiner. The original link can be found here: http://www.orangeparents.org/forget-about-it/

This month’s issue of Scientific American Mind is about your memory and learning how to erase distractions. It challenges the idea that the brain is simply a “passive storage unit.” The editors suggest that your mind “behaves like a seamstress who sews concepts from threads of vital information while snipping away extraneous material.”

According to the special report, “the best memory is not the one that holds the most data, but the one that can deftly distinguish between the pieces to keep and those to discard.” The brain is evidently intricately designed to prioritize information. Without that ability our memories would be overloaded with so much negative, superfluous and competing content that we would ultimately shutdown or go insane.

The brain is amazing. What you can learn to forget or remember definitely helps you survive. It’s the reason why—

You forget the details of walking in on your parents when they were. . .
A baby doesn’t remember getting circumcised.
A wife is willing to give birth to another child.
Someone can love again after they have been deeply hurt.
People can start over after a natural disaster.
No one really remembers a politician’s promises.

I’m thankful for my brain’s ability to filter through so much irrelevant and negative information. The mind’s skill to prioritize may be more critical than we realize.

How to stay focused on what is most important may be the most important thing you ever teach your kids. Life is really about sorting through and organizing countless experiences, relationships, and even extraneous material so that whatever is most critical is never forgotten. There are a number of ways we communicate what’s important to our kids.

The questions we ask.
What we do with our time.
The stories we tell.

I wonder sometimes what my kid’s brains will remember as the important stuff. I had a discussion with my parents a few nights ago at dinner about things I remember growing up and the things I don’t. It’s interesting how some of the things they reminded me of I had completely forgotten. I could make a list right now to entertain you, but I suspect your brain would discard it pretty quickly. So, I will just give you one memory that I have never forgotten.

When I was eight, I heard my dad stand in front of group of people and explain how he became a Christian. It is a very vivid and clear memory even though it happened over 40 years ago. For whatever reason, my brain logged it as critical data and it was permanently stamped into my memory. Since then, millions of pieces of information have been discarded, but not that one.

A friend of mine, Dr. Kara Powell, wrote a book called Sticky Faith. Over the past few years, her team has done countless interviews with teenagers. One of her leaders recently asked a group of teenagers individually if their parents had ever told them the story of how they became a Christian. They were surprised that not one teenager knew how or when their parents had started pursuing a relationship with God.

I happen to believe the spiritual dimension of a child’s life is important. And although a lot of us are not sure how to talk about spiritual issues with our children, one simple way would just be to tell the story of how your faith started. I personally think it will be something your children will always remember.

With all of the stuff they will hear while they are living in your house, that one piece of information will probably stick in their brain. It did in mine. It’s just a thought. What if you act on it, before you forget it?

The NFL and being a Christian

2012-01-31T09:00:00.000-08:00

What Christians and NFL "Goats" Have in Common
It’s always painful to watch another person hang their head in shame, even if it’s over a non-critical issue like a fumble or a shanked field goal in the NFL playoffs.
So, when the Baltimore Ravens’ Billy Cundiff missed wide to the left against the New England Patriots and the 49ers Kyle Williams fumbled his second punt return of the game against the New York Giants this past Sunday, many of us winced.

That’s because most of us don’t like to see another person hurting. We feel for the guy who makes the big mistake in the big game. Perhaps it’s because deep down we know we’re likewise faulted and prone to doing the same kind of thing within our own little world. Kyle Williams fumbles footballs. I’m prone to fumbling for the right words to comfort my wife when times turn tough. Billy Cundiff’s kick missed the mark at the wrong moment. I’ve been known to kick a problem down the road. My intentions may have been good, but something slipped at the very last moment.
The only difference between me and the two latest NFL “goats” is that millions of people aren’t watching me blow it in prime time.

Can you relate in your own life?
Ever since the fall in the Garden of Eden, men and women have been fumbling their way through life. Even the most upright (no pun intended) slip and stumble, which is why Jesus had to come and die to save us from our sins.

We are faulted and imperfect. We can’t do it alone.
Sadly, both Cundiff and Williams have received death threats from obviously troubled people. Fortunately, others have given them what every Christian considers one of the greatest of all gifts:
Grace.
Williams’ own teammate, tight end Delanie Walker, stood up for his friend in the aftermath of the loss:
“We all lost this game … We play as a team — it’s 45 of us out there. It’s not Kyle’s fault, so don’t go over there and act like it is. Cause it’s not.”

That’s a good friend and a generous gesture. But as good as that gift of human grace may feel, it pales in comparison to the grace and love Christ offers all who come to Him.

There are no second chances this season for Cundiff and Williams. Not so for the Christian.
Ours is the God of the second and third and fourth chance. He will lift up the weary. He will give strength to the weak.
“I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” said He.

Have you felt like a “goat” lately? Have you dropped the ball or blown a kick? Are you in need of a second chance? It’s only through the Lord that we can recover the fumbles of life. After all, it is He who has come to seek and to save what was lost (Luke 19:10).

January 29th Message

2012-01-30T09:28:00.001-08:00

Have a listen to Cameron Lucas, our pastoral intern speak out of Joshua chapter 2. His message will leave you challenged. Enjoy.

There was a big party in Mathare, thanks to people like you.

2012-01-25T16:13:00.001-08:00

We want to express our heartfelt thanks to you on behalf of our sponsored children, their families, the Missions of Hope school teachers and staff for your contributions to our “Christmas in Kenya” year-end giving opportunity. We were overjoyed by your response!

Nearly 900 friends of CMF donated $102,000 for the Christmas baskets given to each family who has a child attending a MoHI school. More than 600 donors gave about $24,000 for teacher and staff bonuses, and 408 donors contributed more than $48,000 to the fund for children who are attending MoHI schools but are not yet sponsored.

In all, 6,700 families received the 25-pound food baskets in December. With an average family size of 5 in Kenya, that makes approximately 33,000 individuals in the Mathare Valley who were ministered to over the Christmas break because of your generosity. In addition, each of the 395 teachers, social workers, CHE trainers and MoHI staff were given cash bonuses of $40 to $50. Along with the food and cash, rewards such as washing basins, water pitchers, schools supplies, towels and backpacks were given to children who performed well throughout the year. Quite a party!

CMF missionary Keith Ham was there for several of the Christmas parties held at the 11 MoHI centers, which also included hot meals, sodas and cake. “The openness of the American church to the needs of the disadvantaged is a gift of grace,” he wrote. “And that grace will flow out to many more. We thank God for you all.”

Doug Priest
Executive Director, CMF International

The Faith Journey

2012-01-24T07:49:00.001-08:00

Join Pastor Dave as he starts our series on the book of Joshua. We are excited about the Faith Journey we are all on.

Jesus vs. Religion part II

2012-01-19T11:47:00.000-08:00

For those who saw the earlier post about Jesus vs. Religion, here is an opposing viewpoint to consider. It is good to have discussions and conversations about these type of things. Please watch both and join the conversation. Enjoy.

Michael W. Smith

2012-01-18T09:00:00.000-08:00

Learn the story of Michael W. Smith the famed Christian singer. Another wonderful story of Rescue.

January 15th Message

2012-01-17T09:00:00.000-08:00

Pastor Craig shares with us the power and importance of prayer warriors from Colossians Chapter 1. Enjoy this great message.

From Korn to Jesus

2012-01-16T09:00:00.000-08:00

Here is a very real story about the power of Rescue, Restore and Release. Brian Welch formally of the hard rock band Korn shares his story.

Christian Satire

2012-01-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

Check out this video blog post by Jon Acuff who specializes in Christian Satire. It's well worth the 11 minutes of your time to hear what he has to say. You may even laugh at some of the crazy things we do as Christians. Enjoy!

Jesus vs. Religion

2012-01-12T09:46:00.000-08:00

Here is a four minute video that speaks to the power of Jesus and not the religion of man. Take the time to listen to the heart of this man. Even though what he says may be controversial, please look for the nuggets of truth contained in his message. Enjoy!

Stop Praying - a word from Francis Chan's Crazy Love

2012-01-11T11:10:00.000-08:00

Take 10 mins to listen to this message by Francis Chan. What a great word from his book called Crazy Love! We are going to be offering this DVD series in the spring.

January 8th Message

2012-01-09T09:01:00.000-08:00

Listen as Pastor Tom challenges us from the parable of the good Samaritan taken from Luke chapter 10.

Christmas Morning Service

2012-01-09T08:59:00.000-08:00

For those who might have missed our Christmas morning service we've reposted it. Enjoy!

Mathare Community Latest Happenings

2012-01-05T09:00:00.000-08:00

"Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the grey twilight that knows not victory nor defeat."
Theodore Roosevelt

Greetings!

It is in this spirit that we celebrate great things that God has done in 2011, and look forward to ever greater things in 2012. In the last few months we have seen God provide in great ways in our schools. We currently have 6353 total pupils in the program, and 390 total staff.

There are a lot of changes going on at Joska. Three fish ponds are steadily growing tilapia which should be ready to harvest in early 2012. We have been working towards these ponds in an effort to promote sustainability, as well as to expand the skills training opportunities.

We have acquired land for a second Joska campus, and are in the process of separating the girls from the boys. Construction has already begun! Until now, the boys have primarily dominated the academic realm, and we hope that the separation will both motivate and challenge the girls to work hard and aim to be at the top of their class. This separation also sets the stage for a Missions of Hope High School that will begin in February 2011, with the most recent candidates who took the Class 8 exam, along with students from the former School of Acheivers. This is a very big undertaking, and we need to do it right.

Our Business Development Services continue to grow, with our Micro-Finance team serving 1514 current active loanclients. The sewing skills program recently graduated 30 women. As we look towards the future of children who graduate from High School we are hoping to increase the skills training program to include those who may not qualify for University. This includes starting a one-year Discipleship Program based out of Joska for post-High School graduates to study the Bible and agribusiness skills, and to be encouraged towards responsibility and the possibility of volunteering in other MoHi centers.

A new church officially opened in Baba Ndogo in October, making a total of 6 Outreach Hope Churches. There are three CHE Bible studies in Mathare North, 4A, and Kiamaiko that are headed in the same direction.

As we write this letter, we have closed the year with our third annual staff party, where staff from every center came together for games, food and motivational speeches to look forward to the next year. We are grateful for the staff that God has provided to work with, and ask for your continued prayers for them in 2012.

Family News:
All the Kamau's are in school. David loves attending Rosslyn Academy Kindergarden. Faith is very active in Sports, including Basketball and Soccer. Victory is increasingly keen in academics, and will also be trying out for Boys Basketball. Both Mary and Wallace are pursuing Masters of Arts in Leadership from Pan Africa Christian University. Mary is focusing on Education Istitutions, and Wallace in Business and Entrepeneurship.

There is a lot going on in each of our centers, and in the Mathare Community and beyond. We thank God for his continued provision, and for you, our faithful partners in prayer and in ministry.

May God Bless you this holiday season, and into 2012.

Wallace and Mary Kamau.

Great Prayer Information

2012-01-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

This is a great link to another person's blog who has some wonderful thoughts on prayer and the power of it. Enjoy!

http://www.whenyourise.com/2012/01/teaching-your-child-to-pray-seven.html

Cell phone vs. The Bible

2012-01-03T11:30:00.000-08:00

This was borrowed from Jim Daly's blog of Focus on the Family.

Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several times a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to kids as gifts? bible1.jpg

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you go....hmm...where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing.

Unlike our cell phone, we don't have to worry about our Bible being
disconnected, because Jesus already paid the bill.

Makes you stop and think 'where are my priorities'?

And no dropped calls!

January 1st Message

2012-01-03T07:56:00.001-08:00

Have a listen to Pastor Craig's message from I Peter.

Answered Prayer

2011-12-21T14:18:00.000-08:00

This is a very cool story of how God is moving in our church.

I have a huge praise. Yesterday I had a benevolence situation that went like this. A member had sent in a past student of his (single Mom with a 4 year old little boy) kicked out of her house with just the clothes on her back. She is living presently with her disabled Mom. I gave her a food box and gift certificate for meat, and then visited with her about her needs. She just asked for socks for her little boy and one gift for him to open at Christmas. I decided we would use next months benevolence monies as I went to K-Mart and purchased what this gal needed and a coat for her as she said she didn't have even a coat. I spent $100.00 on my church credit card. When I arrived home to my house last night, I had $100.00 in cash on my doorstep with a note that said "Use for a needy family at your church". Is this God's timing or what? Then, I arrive at church this AM for work and a member has given another $100.00 check for Benevolence. Is God working miracles or what??? Praise God -who is control of all things. He doubled the gift we gave!!!

December 18th Message

2011-12-19T15:33:00.000-08:00

Listen to Pastor Tom talk about how Jesus is our Savior. Be blessed.

Grounds Care

2011-12-16T09:00:00.000-08:00

On Saturday mornings you will find several people here at the church taking care of our grounds. Did you know that this is all volunteer? These servants allow us to all appreciate the property that houses our church. They cut the grass, trim the hedges, rake the flower beds and blow the parking lot clean. These acts of service save our church thousands of dollars in lawn care and maintenance each year.

Bryan Chase, Steve Muma, Wayne Felton and Jim Holding are the people behind this great ministry. Can you believe that 4 people actually manage to do the whole thing? They are always looking for other people who would love to serve in this way. Please contact us for more information on how you can be involved.

The Names of Jesus

2011-12-15T09:00:00.000-08:00

During this Christmas season we have been working through a few of the names the bible ascribes to Jesus. We don’t have the time to cover all 100 of them in 5 Sundays, so here are a few more for you to look up on your own for a little self discovery.

Bread of Life – John 6:48 – I am the bread of life. Fresh baked bread is on the corners of many streets in Jerusalem. Imagine a daily trip to the corner vendor to pick up a loaf of bread, and then wrap that experience up in Jesus’ statement as he maybe holds a loaf in his hand that He gives eternal life like the daily loaf of bread sustained them physically. What a word picture.

Counselor - Isaiah 9:6 – For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be on his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. While there are many names in this verse, I love it that Jesus is called our counselor. There are many days that I am in need of direction, guidance, or simply someone who will listen and understand who I am and where I am at. Jesus provides that for me and for each one of us.

Good Shepherd – John 10:11 – I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Sheep were a valued commodity in Jesus’ day. From sheep the people gathered wool and milk, traded for other commodities, took them to the temple for sacrifices and fed themselves with good meat. They also wandered off, got into trouble and are easily distressed. Sheep were another very real example Jesus used that the Jews and others would readily understand. They also understood the value of a strong and brave shepherd who would spend much of his time (awake and sleeping) with the sheep to guide and protect them. A good shepherd knows the temperament and behavior of each of his sheep. A good shepherd in many ways gives his life for his sheep as they in turn give their lives for him and his family. While I don’t like being equated to a sheep, I do find comfort in knowing that Jesus was willing to lay down his life for me.

How Big is our God

2011-12-14T08:59:00.000-08:00

Another thought provoking idea from Francis Chan. It makes you wonder how big our God really is.

What are you Living For?

2011-12-13T08:43:00.001-08:00

Please enjoy this clip of Francis Chan as he talks about what we are living for. Great stuff to think about this time of the year and beyond.

December 11th Message

2011-12-13T07:45:00.001-08:00

Listen to Pastor Tom speak on Jesus as our mediator.

December 4th Message

2011-12-05T09:45:00.001-08:00

Here is the message from December 4th. Hear pastor Craig talk about the coming Messiah.

November 27th Message

2011-11-28T08:50:00.000-08:00

Be sure to listen to Pastor Craig's message as we start our series: Adore Him.

Happy Thanksgiving

2011-11-24T09:00:00.000-08:00

Today we celebrate Thanksgiving. Our hope is that as you eat and spend time with family you will remember the reasons that you are thankful. We encourage you to take time from the football, turkey and family traditions to be intentional about giving thanks. Here are some things we are thankful for as a church.

-For our church
-For our building
-For our country in which we worship freely
-For our leadership
-For our missions across the globe that help us show Christ's love to the world
-For the resources that we have been blessed with
-For the people like you who call this your home
-Most importantly for Christ who gives us the only example of what true servant leadership looks like. For his willingness to give his life so we may have eternal life.

What are you thankful for today?

Operation Christmas Child

2011-11-23T09:29:00.000-08:00

Here is a note from Vicky Brunelle on our Operation Christmas Child:

MVCC brought in 242 shoe boxes, including 24 that came from Cradle 2 College Ministry. (Last year MVCC contributed 80 boxes)
The Collection Center as a whole, brought in 7,894 shoe boxes, and filled a 53 foot tractor/trailer 3/4 full
Collection volunteers included Paul and Terri, their family members and friends, Mountainview Middle School and High School Ministries,
Cub Scouts, and various Mountainview members.
The shoe boxes from the west coast, will most likely bless underprivileged kids in the Philippines this Christmas.

Thank you for your contributions to this wonderful ministry!!

To learn more about Samaritan's Purse and the good work they are doing, click here.

November 20th Message

2011-11-22T08:10:00.000-08:00

Enjoy our worship service from November 20th.

Dodgeball Campout Rewind

2011-11-21T10:36:00.000-08:00

Over 50 people attended the dodgeball campout. From the photos it looks like they had a great time! Enjoy your viewing.

Children's Mapbooks

2011-11-16T08:30:00.000-08:00

In case you missed this great resource here are copies of what your children are working on during Sunday mornings. These resources offer a great way to reinforce the weekly lesson at home. Enjoy!

November 13th Message

2011-11-14T11:24:00.000-08:00

If you missed the message this weekend by our special guest Arty VanGeloof you'll want to watch it. Here is a quick bio on who he is:

Arty is recognized for his work as a Family Pastor at Eastside Christian Church in Fullerton, CA. However, his title only hints at the scope of his influence for God's Kingdom. He has been instrumental in beginning formal ministry efforts to the poor in Placentia and Fullerton, as well as significant missions work in Kenya, Africa and Rosarito, Mexico.

VanGeloof has started many projects and ministries while working with Eastside Christian Church. One of those projects was a ministry to the homeless in Fullerton called "Life Support," which is now the Hispanic Ministry at Eastside. He also worked with the Turkana tribe in Kenya digging "sand point" wells and providing medical relief. Kenya was not the only project of VanGeloof's that extended beyond the borders of the United States. His ministry has also reached into Mexico with projects such as building a new orphanage facility in Rosarito called "City of Refuge."

VanGeloof's tireless work to assist in the day-to-day physical and spiritual needs of people in Fullerton and around the world illustrates his commitment to helping others. VanGeloof's influence has inspired hundreds of others who now work in ministry themselves. Arty VanGeloof has dedicated his life to serving those in need.

A Faith I Cannot See

2011-11-11T09:00:00.001-08:00

Pam Jordan is one of our valued volunteers. She answers the phones two days a week in our front office, she meets and greets people and she helps with office work. She is also the primary person in charge for our VIP (Visually Impaired People/Very Important People) ministry. Pam teaches many of the folks who come to us through that ministry how to use the brailer and how to function in a "sighted" world. She has been known to go to VIP's homes and help them learn their way around the kitchen. She takes notes on Sunday mornings for lay counseling and she is an active speaker. She is a constant source of encouragement to all she meets. To top it off, Pam is blind herself.

One of the greatest things about my conversation with Pam this past week is that although she is blind, that doesn't define her. Pam allows the Lord to define her life and her abilities. She walks this life with the man of her dreams, Marvin and they have been married for 29 1/2 years. Together they were adopted by some teenagers who claim them as parent figures. Pam attended Olympia Technology Community College and has a certificate in Medical Transcription. Pam has even written a book: "Racing in the Slow Lane" which is the story of her life.

As I sat to talk to Pam about her service here at the church a couple of things became apparent. She loves the Lord with all of her heart. If you have spent any time with her at all you know this to be true. You also know that Pam has a heart to serve her community. She and Marvin have been here at Mountainview for 15 years. With her experience in phone systems she answered the call from the Lord to serve about 6 years ago and started working in our front office. Pam tells me that even though society may not see it this way, her life feels full and satisfied. She tells me there is great peace in knowing you are just where God wants you to be.

"When you do it all for the Lord your rewards are great. The little bit that I have to bring, which seems so little to offer, when given to the Lord is made wonderful and great. God rewards me with smiles and hugs from the many people I get to meet."

Next time you stop by the office or see Pam at church, please don't be afraid to say thank you or give a hug. Pam's service to our church echos a faith that IS seen.

To get more information on Pam check out her website. You can also email her here.

Thanksgiving - A Thought

2011-11-09T16:04:00.001-08:00

Beyond gratitude and the Thanksgiving concept-Thanks Living
To live in a Thanks Living way, we acknowledge all that God has done for us and return our thanks to God…

by living triumphantly.
by being grateful for all who have helped us along the way.
by using our talents and gifts for the common good.
by striving to make others happy .
by living each day to its fullest.
by being an inspiration to others.
by facing the opportunities of life as a challenge for achievement .
by enjoying what we have and sharing it with others.

Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for all we have, but Thanks Living is a way of life that improves the quality of life for everyone in our community.
THANKS FOR LIVING AND GIVING ALL YOU DO!

Do You Coupon?

2011-11-08T11:18:00.000-08:00

Some great thoughts from Kimberly Brown on how we can all save a few dollars and help others in the mean time. Please contact her directly at thalassy1@yahoo.com for more information.

Couponing.

You've perhaps heard about it in the media for a while now. Shows depicting regular people, going through the check out lanes with over $1,000 in groceries, and being able to get out paying less than $25.

Probably an isolated and well-planned shopping trip. But really though. How many bottles of mustard is one going to actually go through in a year's time before they expire?

A month ago, I decided to give this couponing thing a try. The first week, I saved about $80 on $150 worth of groceries. And I have to admit-- it gave me a little bit of a high.

Since then, I've been clipping coupons, and trying to match them up with deals that I've been seeing in the paper. At the same time, it made me think. There's an awful lot of them that I end up throwing away as well. I don't have any pets. I don't need a colon cleanser. I'm doing alright with the razors, and I don't have a need to purchase five different brands of shampoo...

And that's when I came up with an idea of starting up a 'couponing' ministry. And I think with everyone's help, and a little bit of effort (perhaps 10 minutes a week), we can make a big difference in the lives of people out there in our community, who could benefit from these money-saving strategies.

Right now, we are in the preliminary stages. I am posting this as means to gather some of your thoughts to see if it might be something worth taking to a larger scale.

This economy and rate of unemployment has been affecting everyone in some way or another. There are those out there, who have suddenly faced a lay-off, an unexpected expense, etc., and have depleted their savings to pay bills with.

It might not mean that much to you, but a $2 off coupon for diapers, could actually mean an extra $2 to purchase cough drops with. A few .40 cent off coupons for soup, could mean a couple more dollars to get tissue paper or antifreeze with. These kinds of things cannot be purchased with food stamps.

I'm keeping in mind the honest individuals out there, who are trying their very best to be as self-sufficient as they possibly can during these hard times, and still keep coming up with their heads barely above water. Some can't afford a $2 Sunday paper, because they need that $2 to go towards bus fare the next day. Simple luxuries that most of us take for granted, need to be traded off for lower-quality generic products that barely do the job of what they are supposed to. All in the name of keeping the lights on!

Therefore, here are some thoughts:

· Lets begin collecting coupons. Since the paper hits every Sunday (with the exception of holidays), perhaps there can be some sort of collection box in the lobby, where people can toss their coupons into. From there, they can be sorted during the week, and through some kind of means, be disbursed out to those who could truly use them.

· Offer couponing classes within the church every couple of months. I by no means, have the knowledge to go about buying 30 bags of chips with coupons, and only end up paying $1 for them. So perhaps, someone with the knowledge, could come in and set up a session to teach us how to do it the right way. (I know there is a couponing class called 'Frugal Living NW'. I've been meaning to check them out, but have missed their sign-ups.)

· Use the learned experience, and go out there with those collected coupons, and purchase items for the food pantry, as well as items that are obviously needed, but yet not affordable to some. (Toiletries, simple cleaning supplies, dish soap, laundry detergent, etc.)

Learning about how to save money, can take you a long way. It can allow you to donate to the less fortunate in a bigger way than before! Did you know that if you have a 'buy one get one free' coupon, and you take it to the store that has a 'buy one get one free' sale, you will get BOTH for free? (The store ends up paying for one, and the manufacturer pays for the other.) No out-of-pocket expense for you-- just double the donation! (Just this weekend, Toys 'r Us was advertising their Toy Story 3 Operation game for just $1. And since Target and Walmart have a price-matching policy, they would allow you to purchase that game at their store for the very same price! That would be so great for a toy donation!)

I mean, it's AMAZING how much you can do, when you utilize your knowledge for good in the community! And with the holidays coming-- how great would it be to help a family get through a rough patch, and come out ahead, conquering the retail market at the same time? It's so addicting!

With that said, if this sounds like a good idea and you want to be involved, by all means, let me know! We can at least start the couponing part, and have people benefit from them this holiday season, so they can afford the things that they otherwise could not!

Thank you for your consideration in this-- I sincerely hope this can be the beginning of something big!

Kimberley Brown

Novemeber 6th Message

2011-11-07T08:08:00.000-08:00

Enjoy our continuing series in II Corinthians. We are speaking from chapter 12 starting in verse 1.

Are you Courageous?

2011-11-04T09:00:00.000-07:00

Our Band of Brothers group enjoyed an evening together with our sons on September 30^th at the opening of the movie Courageous. The goal of our group is to encourage men to be the best leaders and fathers that they can be as they raise up the next generation of men and women. Check out the clip and respond with your thoughts. If you would like to join us on the journey, call or e-mail Pastor Craig at the office. We are studying through the book Point Man this fall and would love to have you join us.

Trunk or Treat Recap

2011-11-03T14:56:00.000-07:00

This past Monday night the church hosted our first Trunk or Treat. Thanks to our Cradle to College ministry that put on this wonderful event. There were about 20 cars that came and celebrated with us. Enjoy the slide show by clicking below to see some of the fun!

Special thanks for Nancy Lucas and Angela Jacobson for the pictures.

Needs vs. Means

2011-11-01T09:00:00.001-07:00

Here are some great thoughts on needs versus means by our Cradle 2 College pastor, Tom Santillanes.

Have you noticed how the word fundraising is filled with so much emotion? I have recognized how parents react to the word. I’ve noticed how students respond to the word. I have noticed how potential buyers respond to the word. That’s why I want to share with you our ministries principles in fundraising.

First, we have to have fundraisers. The costs of things keep increasing while the income remains the same. In our ministry we are conscious of how to do more with less. When we prepare for our trips, events or other activities we are always looking for ways to cut the costs. For example, we look for a location closer to home, we look for volunteers to provide transportation, and we adjust and tweak the menu to be more cost effective. Even with all our efforts of cutting costs these events still cost.

Many have asked, then why do we do such events. For me the answer is pretty simple. One of our ministry values is service. We provide opportunities for young people to see the world through God’s perspective. This is why we have monthly reach (service) projects. This is why our middle school students serve in Portland one full week in the summer and why our high school students go to Mexico. In addition to service, statistics tell us that 70% of the people who make decisions to follow Christ do so between the ages of 12-16. Out of this 70%, 80% of them make a significant decision away from the home on a mission trip or at a retreat. This is why we have value in service and our trips.

Second, we really try to make our fundraisers practical. For example, our pop can drive. Many of you have pop cans, water bottles, etc. that stack up in your garage. You already have them, you really don’t want to mess with them, so we ask you to let us mess with them and take them off your hands. Another example is our current fundraiser selling poinsettias and wreaths. Many of you purchase wreaths and poinsettia’s every year from Christmas, so we are just asking that you would do so through us. In the spring we’ll have a plant sale. Each spring many of you purchase plants for your flower pots, gardens, etc. We are just asking that you would do so through us. We don’t want to burden our church with things they won’t use or don’t want. How about getting your car washed. We really want to make our fundraisers practical.

Third, we’re really try to make our fundraisers fun. I’ve had a blast at our last two bingo events. This last year was really exciting with the auction of some really cool stuff and some awesome desserts. Although, many people wouldn’t see bingo or the auction as practical it is very fun.

One of the biggest challenges I have as youth pastor is connecting the needs with the means. Many of our students have the passion to do service, missions and attend our retreats and don’t have enough funds. Many people who have the funds don’t have the ability or desire to do service, missions and attend retreats. Our fundraising initiatives are a way for us to connect the needs and the means.

October 30th Message

2011-10-31T09:18:00.000-07:00

This week we continue on in our study of II Corinthians by looking at chapter 11: 16-ff.

The Jesus Storybook Bible

2011-10-27T09:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a wonderful resource for you and your children. This children' Bible by no means is the only one out on the market, but this one is unique in that it also has an audio CD that accompanies it. It turns those car rides into great teaching times as well.

The illustrations only enhance the wonderful stories. One of the most powerful things about the book is that it always points back to Jesus. Every story and every illustration focuses on Jesus being the only one.

See below for a sample story from this great Bible.

Enjoy!

www.jesusstorybookbible.com/

There is Peace with God

2011-10-26T09:00:00.000-07:00

One of our staff members, Vicky Brunell wanted to share this thought with you. She diligently works in our Cradle to College ministry alongside Pastor Tom and Cameron. She is a tremendous blessing to our staff and has a great word for us this morning. Be blessed today in the knowledge that God provides the peace and He is with us.

God has lead me to study Romans 5 this month, I think based on feeling overwhelmed with family struggles and trials. I needed a reminder that through it all, there is peace with God no matter what, and even when the trials are BIG, I can still be glad, because He is building in me, more perseverance, character and hope for the future.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." Romans 5:1-5

Forbidden Fruit Tour 2011

2011-10-25T14:41:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday the 22nd of October a group of ladies from our church gathered for some fellowship and good times. They toured some local pumpkin patches and craft type places. From the pictures it looks like they had a great time.

Thanks to Angela Bentley for some great photos.

Enjoy

October 23rd Message

2011-10-24T09:00:00.000-07:00

Sunday's message dealt with the voices we all listen to. It posed the question of who are you listening to? Are these voices speaking the truth of Christ. Enjoy.

Child Dedication

2011-10-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

We have been given an amazing gift at our church. There are a number of children who run the halls on Sunday mornings and spend time in our nursery. A couple of weeks ago several parents dedicated their children to the Lord. For those who are not familiar with dedication here is a brief synopsis of what it means.

Dedication is an act of giving back to God the gift He has given the parents. The parents are coming to make a covenant to raise their child in Godly ways. This is done by modeling Godly principles with the desire that one day they will make their own decision to accept Jesus as their savior.

It is also an opportunity for the church to partner with the parents by encouraging them and loving them as they seek to raise their children to these Godly principles.

Listed below are the children who were dedicated. As you look over them be mindful to pray for the parents and the children. They are the future of our church!

I Surrender All

2011-10-19T09:00:00.000-07:00

There are a few songs that stir the emotions of one's heart over and over again. "I Surrender All" is one of those songs. Written by Judson W. VanDeVenter in a time where he felt the tug of a professional music career versus a fully surrendered life to God's calling. This song evokes questions of how much we are daily surrendered to God's will in our own lives. It begs several questions. Are we ready to surrender everything to God for His will? Are we ready to truly forsake our own desires? Are we in a place where we can allow full surrender? Can we fully say, Lord more of you and less of me?

As you read through the words of the song be reminded that God deeply desires all of us. He wants not just a portion of us, but he calls us to live a life fully surrendered to Him. A life that is made complete when we are nothing. A life that is fulfilled by our realization that we don't have anything to offer Him except our lives. A true surrender that brings peace beyond measure. A surrender that shows the power of Rescue, Restore and Release in our lives as well as the lives of others.

Are you ready to surrender it all for His call and receive His blessing? Are you ready to be Released to do His work?

I Surrender All
by Judson W. VanDeVenter

All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

Chorus
I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my bless'd Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
O the joy of full salvation!

Home Groups

2011-10-18T09:00:00.000-07:00

What is a Home Group and why do we do them? This is a question often asked here at Mountainview. The answer is most succinctly summed up by one word: Community. Community is an often over used and misunderstood word in our culture. At its most simple form community is best understood as a gathering of people who share a common cause, goal or set of interests. That kind of community is realized in many ways within our church. Sunday morning services offer a large group community. Within each of our three services there is a distinct community focused around the style of the music. We have created communities around gender within the church to include men's ministry and women's ministry. We have communities of people like ABF and young mothers who like to study together. We have a community of people who enjoy playing music instruments or singing together. We call these worship team or choir. All of these are communities of people gather together for a purpose, common goal or set of interests and already present in our church body.

So why is it that we focus on Home Groups as a vital part of our ministry life? We realize that not everyone is going to be involved in one of the previously mentioned communities. When we gather in a group of 12-18 people for a study or prayer time we bring community to a whole new level. We experience each other outside of our Sunday morning services. We offer prayer support. We offer a place where our church's vision can be lived out in a very real and tangible way. We see the power of Rescue, Restore and Release at work in our lives as well as the others in our group. We practice our Core Values through living life together and reminding people of what we stand for. We help each other realize how much we need to personally be Rescued from our daily brokenness, Restored to the place where God would have us today and then Released to do His work in our everyday life. We hold each other accountable to this working of God in our lives. We come together to be a better example of Christ and to make finer uses of ourselves.

This is the kind of community we desire to be and we invite you to become involved with it. What would happen if you decided to check it out? Would you be willing to see if you might be changed? Would you like to see how your life can be different inside of a community like that?

We would love to take that risk with you. Come and be involved in our Home Group ministry.

Sunday October 16th Service

2011-10-17T09:58:00.000-07:00

We were blessed to have Art Spahr, the first full time pastor of Mountainview back in the mid 1970's be our guest speaker this weekend. He delivered a timely message from II Corinthians 10: 1-6. Please enjoy.

The Beginning

2011-10-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

Welcome to Mountainview Musings....an online continuation of who we are as a church. You'll notice our content is varied and gives you a broader perspective of who we are outside of our Sunday services. Enjoy!