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Fall 2015 | valleyfree.org
ARE YOU READY? PAGE 2
PHOTO GALLERY PAGE 10
JOIN A LIFEGROUP PAGE 5
P A G E 2
What would you do, what would you change about your life
today if you knew the Lord was coming to fetch His people in the
next weeks or months? How would that realization impact your
heart?
The biblical prophecy watchers are telling us that the Jewish
holidays, the world political scene, the financial crisis, the moral
rejection of God’s truth and the preparation for war are all
pointing to a fulfillment of a multitude of prophecies, unlike any
time in prophetic history.
According to some, there are too many indicators to ignore.
There is a good chance that God is preparing to move in epic
ways. We are all aware that date setting is not appropriate. But
God tells us to know the times in which we live. Is it possible that
our Living Hope (I Peter 1:3-9) is about to be realized? Is it
possible that the Shofar (trumpet) of the Lord is being tuned up
for that anticipated calling?
So how do we respond when a truth like this really sinks in?
By Pastor Mike Sindelar
It seems unfathomable to think of anything but joy and
anticipation as we consider that our Living Hope will soon be
fulfilled. But, change always brings a little uneasiness, even fear.
When the Lord calls, our world and our lives will be changed in the
blink of an eye. By faith, we are ready, excited and even pray,
“Come, Lord Jesus”. But what if the distant future is next month?
Are you ready?
Then comes confusion and uncertainty. As with any big change,
our thoughts may start with, “What will happen to [you fill in the
blank]” What if my relatives, friends or neighbors aren’t saved?
What will happen to my pets? What of the comforts of life that I
am accustomed to? What lies ahead for me?
We can all point to the promise of Jesus that He has gone to
prepare a place for us. We can all recite the vivid description of
heaven in the book of Revelation. What a place awaits us! Against
that backdrop of hope and assurance, it seems crazy to think that
the promises of the Lord wouldn’t flood our thoughts. So, why
would our hearts be unsettled about the prospect of going home
to heaven? Perhaps it is our confusion with temporal things that
serves to highlight how easy it is to make the things of our current
world. It reveals how an idol draws our attention and hearts away
from the life found in God. These eternal thoughts reveal those
things that might have become idols in our lives.
But after the initial thoughts or shock, our hearts turn once again
to the joy that is awaiting us. The Living Hope that will soon
become an eternal reality. Jesus will be seen face to face and we
will join with the saints of history to worship the Lord with hearts
utterly abandoned to Him and His glory.
So, how do we respond if we come to realize the fullness of the
truth that Jesus is coming soon to take us home? Of all people,
Jesus used Noah and his experience with the flood to show us how
to be ready. Here are four things from Matthew 24:36-39 that
guide us:
P A G E 3
Repent. The people all around Noah were carrying on life as
usual, not giving any credence to his message of
repentance. If we know that God is coming soon, that
judgement is at hand, we are to take stock in our lives,
deal with our sins and enter into the relationship with
God that He is calling us to.
Watch. Jesus gave a stunning indictment of the people of
Noah’s generation: “They were unaware.” Yet they had
the word of Noah preached and they had the testimony
of the ark ever present in their lives. They chose not to
watch what was happening. As believers, we are to be
watching the times so that we can anticipate the
movement of God.
Trust. Noah understood that God was about to move. God
told him. He not only watched and waited, but he took
steps to be actively preparing for the coming work of
God. Building an ark was a huge step of faith that
portrayed the deep confidence he had in God’s Word.
Invite. Scripture tells us that the righteousness of Noah was
a vivid testimony to people concerning the Lord. Through
Noah, his words and life, God communicated His
message. In light of the soon arrival of Jesus Christ, we,
too, are called to live our lives and proclaim the gospel so
that everyone knows that they too can enter into the
eternal and abundant life of Christ.
It is our desire as a church to equip you and your family in each of
these areas. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are to be watchful for
the coming of the Lord and also to be working, busy with the
calling of God’s kingdom.
In light of the day in which we live and also the living hope that
we have in Christ, may we be marked by this living hope that we
have in Christ Jesus!
P A G E 4
My favorite person in the world, my wife Jenni, and I have been working with youth for over 20 years. We love them and we can’t help ourselves. It’s how God made us. Some people find the thought of speaking in public terrifying. Some of these same people would rather speak in public than work with teenagers. These young people can be a bit mysterious, a bit complicated and hard to understand at times but then again so are most of us. It just takes a bit of investment of time and energy (some more than others) to really get to know them When I took on the Interim Youth Ministry Director job last January I admit I felt a bit nervous about working with the Valley Free youth. Even though I’ve worked with youth for over 20 years, I found myself wondering if they would find me funny, encouraging or even relevant. Like most people in this world I wanted to be valued and liked and I was coming into a new church with new traditions and culture. God is good and it’s been a great eight months with the Valley Free youth. You have a great group of kids here. I am so glad that there is an emphasis at Valley on children, youth and families. It is vitally important that we “train them up in the way they should go” for the sake of their souls, their hope and joy. It is also in the interest of the world we live in to introduce our youth to Jesus since he is “the way, the truth and the life” and they will be going out into the world whether it’s close by or as far away as around the world. Jenni and I have had the opportunity to work with youth who love Jesus and are or have been literally all around the world sharing the good news about Jesus. We see many who are now great
moms and dads, neighbors, friends, and citizens. Some have been or are in the military. Some have felt the call to full time vocational missions and other who are bringing their considerable gifts and talents into the secular work place. Jesus has called them to himself and they have responded to him. Jesus also put loving adults into their lives to encourage, train, exhort and redirect them so that they can carry out the work God has given them to do. Jesus promised His disciples he will always be with us all but he also promised that “in this world you will have trouble.” As much as we hate to see it as we work with our own children or others these kids will face hard times, confusing times, times of loss and humiliation and times of pain. They will also be friends, coworkers and neighbors to people who also experience this broken world where sin is wreaking havoc. If they have a solid foundation in the Word of God, a close walk with Jesus and are filled with the Holy Spirit they will withstand, they will conquer and they will bring the hope of Jesus to the hopeless. My encouragement to Valley Free is to keep on keeping on. You clearly love your youth and the youth in the community. Never stop seeking Jesus and to disciple your youth. Keep pouring in money, resources, time and energy into finding the best possible ways to engage, equip and release our youth. You will never ever regret this investment in the kingdom, the world, your church and our communities. It has been a joy for us to serve alongside of you all. May God bless you richly as you pursue Him and His purposes for your lives.
By Nate Streed, Interim Student Ministries
“There is no man that ever understood the interest of mankind, of families,
cities, kingdoms, chur ches, and of Jesus Christ the King and Savior,
but he must needs know that the right instruction, education,
and sanctification of youth, is of unspeakable consequence to them all.”
Richard Baxter Puritan Pastor – England – Mid 1600’s
P A G E 5
LifeGroups at Valley Free exist to create of the fabric of Christ-centered relationships in our church community. Components of LifeGroup gatherings include meaningful fellowship, thoughtful Bible study, supportive prayer and practical service. Groups vary in frequency of meeting days, times and locations. Groups are resuming in September and adding new participants. We'd love as many as desire to find a place to connect in a Valley LifeGroup. Contact a LifeGroup leader listed below to learn more.
Jim & Audrey Bentson
[email protected] / 952-448-4697
Sermon Based Study
Meets on the 1st & 3rd Sunday from
4:30-6:30pm at the Bentson’s home
in Chaska.
Bret & Mary Wightman
952-442-9737
Sermon Based Study
Meets on Sundays from 6:00-8:00pm,
rotating homes.
Jayme & Candace Wisely
952-401-7994
Sermon Based Study
Meets every other Tuesday at 7:00pm,
rotating homes.
Zach & Alicia Kaiser
[email protected] / 715-207-5455
612-250-2647
Study TBD
Meets every other Tuesday in Chaska.
Bill & Rhonda Weber
612-327-9103 (Rhonda)
612-518-8825 (Bill)
Commitment to daily personal
devotion time / discipleship.
Flexible meeting time based on
group’s needs.
Allan & Barb Crider
952-856-2528
Mike & Sandy Sindelar
612-532-73147 (Sandy)
A Sermon Based Study
meeting the 1st & 3rd
Tuesday of the month
from 6:30-8:00pm,
rotating homes.
Ryan & Becca Poeschel
952-292-2473 (Becca)
Pete & Megan Tornquist
651-792-6520 (Megan)
A Sermon Based Study
meeting every other
Friday from
6:30-8:00pm,
rotating homes.
Steve & Carol Santovi
952-873-6488
Van & Shirley Sindelar
952-445-2161
A Sermon Based Study
meeting the 3rd
Saturday of the month
at 8:30am,
in the Fellowship Hall
at Valley.
Bruce & Melissa Whipp
952-594-5007
Mike & Sandy Sindelar
612-532-73147 (Sandy)
A Sermon Based Study,
meeting date and
time to be
determined by group,
rotating homes.
Leaders Communicators
P A G E 6
By Mary Lou Menning, VBS
During the last week of July, Valley hosted Backstage with the Bible VBS. children from
different towns and different
churches had a great time dancing, singing, eating, playing, crafting, and learning about Jesus. The 4th-6th graders made
sandwiches for The Sandwich Project, decorated t-shirts for MyStuff Bags Foundation, and washed toys in the Toddler Nursery. amazing
volunteers gave tirelessly of their time and energy. All the supplies for snack time were generously donated. God answered prayers for good weather and safety. God’s Word was planted and watered in young hearts and minds and we rejoice in the harvest that God will bring. Thank you for your love and support for VBS.
F amily is one of our core values here at Valley. We desire to come alongside and support
you as you lay spiritual foundations and build your child’s faith. Faith@Home classes are designed with that goal in mind. Classes are held monthly on a variety of different topics. They are open to everyone, including grandparents, step-parents, relatives, and any adults who invest in the lives of children. Fun activities, engaging lessons and take-home resources are all designed to help you learn a new faith skill that you can start implementing in your home right away. Classes scheduled for the 2015-2016 year include topics such as prayer, worship, God as Creator, the story of the Bible, and the Church. More information will be communicated closer to the date, so watch your bulletin and e-mails for more details.
Upcoming Classes: Oct. 11 @ 10:30 a.m. Prayer / Nov. 15 @ 10:30 a.m. K-1 class
P A G E 7
Connecting people to Jesus and encouraging their walk with Him is a deep passion for our family. That passion works itself out in formal
and informal ministry, through relationships, and in everyday life. We seek to live in community with other believers, equipping and
encouraging one another in the Christian life while reaching out to those who have not yet met Him.
Tim and I have had the honor of serving together alongside a variety
of churches, including New Hope Church (where we were married),
Arbor Road Church in Long Beach CA, and Faith Church in Austin
MN. Along the way we had the opportunity to attend Talbot School
of Theology where Tim received his M.Div in Spiritual Formation
and I completed an MA in Spiritual Formation and an MA in
Christian Education. After graduation, life and ministry came full
circle as we returned to Minnesota.
It was through my studies that God kindled a passion for paying
attention to the soul and heart-work He continually and graciously
works in us. Bringing the heart and head together, working in
concert like the lenses in a pair of glasses, fuel my ministry and
continually sharpen me in my own life. He also taught me the
importance of listening to children on their faith journey, of coming
alongside them as they learn and deepen in relationship with Him.
Some of the most profound lessons of my life have come through
walking with children and being willing to learn along with them.
I love sharing my life and faith-journey with Tim and our daughter, Anneliese. Together, we have fun just being together, camping,
cooking, reading, being silly, taking road trips, and spending time with extended family, especially when we can be up north together. We
are excited to join Valley and the work God is doing here.
The gospel of Jesus Christ rescues people from spiritual poverty, and a school education is a key
factor in lifting children out of physical poverty. Did you know that school supplies students
receive in Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes often are key in their education? You may not be
thinking about Christmas just yet, but this is a great time to be purchasing school supplies while
they are on sale for those boxes. Crayons, pencils, pens, paper, glue sticks, markers and colored
pencils are wonderful additions to shoebox gifts. If you don't plan on putting your own boxes
together, you can donate these items to our church's OCC packing party.
NEW CHILDREN’S EDUCATION DIRECTOR
—SHELLEY BATDORF—
Mark You Calendar: November 17 — OCC Packing Party
P A G E 8
“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness” Lamentations 3:22,23 It’s hard to believe that almost 11years have passed since September 29, 2004 – the day that our energetic, loud, ever smiling strong, fun-loving, tenderhearted, 23 year old middle son, Jon, died as the result of a motorcycle accident. Jon had a passion for Jesus and urgency for sharing his faith in a “cool”, natural way that made his faith a magnet to those around him. Even in the midst of deep grief, our family prayed that God would somehow continue to use Jon’s life to impact others for eternity – and God has faithfully answered that prayer in a way we never could have imagined. Sunday September 20th will mark the 11th Annual Jon “Just Get ER Done” Memorial Motorcycle Ride. ALL proceeds from the ride are used to purchase motorcycles for indigenous pastors in Africa. Over the past 10 years, over $147,000 has been raised and 95 motorcycles placed with African leaders!! We’re so blessed and humbled that God is choosing to allow Jon’s legacy to be continue to be written through these motorcycles. This past March, 18 motorcycles purchased with the funds from the 2014 “Ride” went to graduates and alumni of Africa Theological Seminary in Kitale, Kenya. The recipients represent the countries of Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi, and Democratic Republic of Congo. Some of the recipients had applied for a motorcycle for multiple years – one stated “Being the third time to apply for a motorbike, I pray that God grant me an opportunity to win this time”. Many of this year’s applicants specifically mentioned their work with youth – Sunday school, vacation Bible school, rallies and crusades, mentoring programs, ministries in local schools – all with the goal of raising up the next generation to serve Jesus. The motorcycles given to these faithful youth leaders come at a crucial time in the African culture as they fight for the hearts and souls of their youth. Please keep these pastors in your prayers as they share the love of Jesus amid growing concern for their personal safety. Plans are underway for the 2015 “Just Get ER Done” Motorcycle Ride which will take place on Sunday September 20th. We will be leaving for a 100+ mile ride from a NEW LOCATION – McKnight Park, 110400 Pioneer Trail, Chaska. We hope that you’ll be able to join us for the bike ride and/or the dinner as we celebrate God’s faithfulness and Jon’s life while raising funds for a cause that reflects two of the passions of Jon’s heart – motorcycles and Jesus!! Living by His Grace, David & Cindy Just
P A G E 9
Highlighted Books For Kids: Heaven is for Real for Kids, by Todd, Sonja, and Colton Burpo As kids, we often have lots of questions about all different sorts of stuff. But one of the biggest questions some kids have is “what is heaven like?” It is often difficult to answer this question since we don’t really know what heaven is like. But thankfully, there are some very special people in this
world that God has allowed to have a glimpse into what heaven is like. Meet Colton Burpo, a three year old boy who was given the opportunity to go to heaven without dying while having an emergency appendectomy. In this book, Colton and his parents retell his amazing visit to heaven at a kid’s level.
For Tweens/Teens: Persia’s Brightest Star: The Diary of Queen Esther’s Attendant, by Anne Tyra Adams Travel back in time to the year 479 B.C. to the city of Susa, Persia. Here, you will meet Susiana, a servant in the royal haram of King Xerxes and the personal attendant and servant of Queen Esther herself. Throughout the book, you get an accurate picture of what
life was like for people back in Bible times and get a personal look at the story of Esther and how she saved the Jews from total extinction.
For Adults/Teens: Odyssey of a Romanian Street Child, by Catalin Dobrisan and John Kachelmyer In major cities around the world, mostly in
Europe, street children are considered a
nuisance and bad for business and tourism.
Written by a former Romanian street child,
Catalin (pronounced Kuh-tuh-leen), this book
gives you an up close and personal look at the
horrible and awful life for many unwanted
children who live on the streets of Bucharest and many other
cities in Romania. Prepare to have your heart broken and eyes
opened to the reality of street life.
Take a Look at a Book Have you been looking for a good book to read but just can’t seem to find one? Are you concerned by some of the books that are being published today? If your answer is yes, then you might want to come and check out the Valley Evangelical Free Church Library. In our large and growing collection, we have a wide variety of books on many different subjects, from Christian Fiction to Biographies of great Christians, Parenting and Marriage to Children’s Books. We also have many DVD’s, VHS and cassette tapes (if anyone still remembers what they are :)), and CD’s for you to enjoy. The items from the library are on a one month loan system. Simply fill out the card in the back of the item with your name and date and then enjoy. When one month is up, return the book and select another. And if you have any Christian books or movies that you would like to donate to the library, don’t hesitate to bring them in. Just drop them off in the return bin in the library and they will be added to our collection. We hope you decide to check us out soon! If you have any questions or comments about the library, just contact Katharine Menning at [email protected] or at (952) 467-1927.
As someone who loves reading, books, writing, and literature, Katharine Menning is very excited to be the VEFC Librarian.
Katharine is 17 years old and a senior in high school this year. When she graduates, Katharine plans to pursue a degree in
English from Crown College or the University of Northwestern and become an English teacher. Katharine is the oldest of five
girls and is the daughter of Victor and Mary Lou Menning. She accepted Christ at the age of 4 and has grown up in the church as well as helping out with and attending the many programs Valley has. In her spare time, Katharine can be
found reading, cooking or baking, writing, listening to music, or doing something around the house.
By Katharine Menning
P A G E 1 0
Valley Photo Gallery
Baptism Class of 2015
P A G E 1 1
We exist to bring glory to God by calling all people into an abundant life with Jesus Christ
150 Engler Blvd
Chaska, MN 55318
Phone: 952-448-6144
Fax: 952-448-5119
www.valleyfree.org
Christians in today’s world increasingly face bioethical possibilities, choices, and decisions—and the agonizing difficulties that often accompany these realities. In light of these realities, we offer this conference about what it means to be human, to live as a human in relationship with God, and to care for others as humans created in the image of God. This is a conference about technology, but not technology only, and not just for the technologically minded. This is a conference aboutmedicine and health care, but not medicine and health care only, and not just for those who are facing health challenges. This is a conference about bioethics, and it’s for pastors, chaplains, healthcare providers, caregivers, church leaders, and all Christians. Our conference speaker, Dr. John Kilner, will offer Biblical perspectives and practical equipping. Dr. Kilner’s teaching, together with a variety of conference workshops, will help believers address complex situations and make decisions with Biblical integrity, reflecting a unique Christian worldview. Along with reproductive technologies and end-of-life care and decisions, themes will also include middle-of-life issues such as chronic illness and disabilities. Workshop topics will include:
Reproductive Bioethics
Advanced care directives
Disability, injuries, and chronic illness perplexities
A Biblical theology of suffering
Physician Assisted Suicide
Bioethics & Sexuality in Today’s World
Human Life and Dignity in Today’s World | October 5-6, 2015 Equipping Christians and Churches to Meet the Ministry Challenges of Bioethical, Medical, Financial, and Legal Aspects of Reproductive, Middle-of-Life, and End-of-Life Decisions.
Registration Cost: $79 per person
Includes: Conference programming and four meals (Monday lunch and dinner, Tuesday continental breakfast and lunch)
Registrations after Sept. 18, 2015 will incur a $20 late fee. Cancellations after Sept. 18, 2015 are non-refundable.
Register Online at ncdefca.org
Note: No child care will be available. Please plan accordingly. Minnesota Nursing CEUs will be available. Indicate your desire for credit of this on your online registration.
SEPTEMBER: Tuna OCTOBER: Cereal NOVEMBER: Rice
Place donations in the marked box near the church office.
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