By Toledo Campus on 4/16/2008 1:13 PM

I heard that at least 15 people from the Toledo campus are being baptised at the New Community service this Sunday at P'burg.  I would love to see us pack the house with Toledo people to cheer these 15 as well as the other 50 or so also being baptised.  If you haven't been to a baptism service yet, you need to check it out.  It's a blast.

Mark

By Toledo Campus on 4/15/2008 10:17 PM

It would be so easy for the folks out at Whitehouse  to be a bit envious about the building that was built for the Toledo campus.  After all, they started first and have been dealing with being a portable church and all it's headaches for what must seem like an eternity.  However, their attitude is just the opposite.  They seem to be genuinely excited about the new campus.  Last Saturday, after services were complete, I noticed a group of unfamiliar people cleaning the Toledo campus.  It was a lifegroup from Whitehouse.  Thanks to all of them for living out the idea of 'one church...three locations'. 

Mark

By Toledo Campus on 4/14/2008 2:57 PM

Okay, first of all a million apologies for being just about the worst blogger in the history of blogging.  So much has happened over the last four weeks, as God has opened the Toledo campus with a bang.  With an average attendance of about 2600 hundred people, He has once again far exceded our expectations.  The most exciting part was the 126 people who made a decision to become  followers of Christ on Easter Sunday.  If the Toledo campus was built just for that Sunday and just for those decisions, it would be worth every penney.  A special thanks to the hundreds of volunteers and supporters who made it happen. 

I promise to blog more, maybe even every day.  But only if I hear from you too.  Until tomorrow...Mark

By Toledo Campus on 3/21/2008 9:49 PM

I can't believe it all begins tomorrow.  The two 'practice' services are over and everything went reasonably well with most of the people attending giving us positive feedback.  I am still amazed by the hard work of all the volunteers who made this building happen.  We  could not have done it without them.  Also thanks to Dave M. and Bill Ruch from New Vision for all their hard work.  Last but not least a special thanks to my staff for their remarkable dedication and efforts above and beyond the call of duty.  Ed, Jason, Jodi, Sarah, Danielle, and Terry...you guys rock!

Mark

By Toledo Campus on 3/14/2008 5:49 PM

Attention:  All Early Risers!

Those of you who like to get up early on a Saturday--this job is for you!  Dave would like some people there bright and early at 8:00 a.m.  to help clean out the Atrium area of all the junk so that the carpet guys can begin laying the carpet in that area.  This job is only expected to take a couple of hours, so if you snooze, you loose -- literally! 

We will be needing LOTS of people throughout next week for the "Spit-Shine" as Dave calls it...just about every inch of the place is covered with dust, so we need your help!   If you have a leaf blower, you are encouraged to bring it so that we can blow off the dust from the ceiling vents and ducts.  (Which will leave more dirt on flat surfaces, so bring your dust rags, also!)  STAY TUNED for the
day(s) to show up for this!

I still need meals for next week, as I'm sure there will be lots of last minute work to be done and lots of volunteers to do it!?!   If you can help out, please let me know.

Just think...only 6 more days, and then you will be done with these annoying e-mails!  (Ain't life grand!)

Thanks all!

Jodi

By Toledo Campus on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

Just a reminder about our meeting, Monday (9/17) at 7:00pm, for anyone interested in helping with the construction of the new Toledo campus. You will have an opportunity to get a first look at the floor plan as well as ask any questions you may have about the project. We need people of all skill levels, so don't worry if you are not a professional. Some of the areas we need help are:

• Painting
• Finish Carpentry
• Cabinetry
• Plumbing
• Flooring
• Dry Wall
• Wall Framing
• Clean Up
• Hospitality (refreshments)

Hope to see you Monday in the South Atrium!

- Mark Bernard

By Toledo Campus on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

By Toledo Campus on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

By Toledo Campus on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

By Toledo Campus on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

We wanted to say thanks to the  100+ of you that showed up for the Toledo campus construction meeting last night! We could tell from last night that this is going to be a fun group to be working with in the coming months!
 
For those of you that weren't there, here is a picture of the tentative blue-prints.
 
If you squint you may be able to read a word or two :)
 
Thanks again!
 
-Jason Smithers
 
What I'm listening to:
Hot Hot Heat
"Let me in"

By Toledo Campus on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

Recently I came across an interesting illustration by Michael Frost in his book about the future of the church called ‘The Shaping of Things to Come’.  Here is a portion of it:

‘In some farming communities, the farmers build fences around their properties to keep their livestock in and the livestock of neighboring farms out.  But in rural communities where farms or ranches cover an enormous geographical area, fencing the property is out of the question.  In Australia, ranches are so vast that fences are superfluous.  Under these conditions a farmer has to sink a bore and create a well, a precious water supply.  It is assumed that livestock, though they will stray, will never roam too far from the well.  As long as there is a supply of clean water, the livestock will remain close by.’

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this illustration and what you think Frost is trying to tell us.

- Mark Bernard

By Toledo Campus on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

I am hearing  stories about how some churches in the west Toledo area are concerned about Cedarcreek coming to DeVeaux.  Any thoughts on how we can help to ease their fears as well as  foster cooperation among Christ following churches?

Mark

By Toledo Campus on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

The programming team is currently planning the Christmas services for this year.  I would love to hear what part of our Christmas services you like and which portions you think we could change.

Mark

 

 

By Toledo Campus on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

First my Sooners are tragically upset by Colorado, then my Tigers finish the season 8 games behind the much despised Indians, but then Springsteen releases a new CD and suddenly everything is cool again.

Mark

ps. Go Cubbies

By Toledo Campus on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

I am notorious for reading 5 or 6 books at one time and very rarely get more than half way through before moving on to the next.  I have always said that an author only has about 100 pages to keep my attention.  Lately though I am totally engrosed in two books that I actually have a good chance of finishing.  One is The Shaping of Things to Come by Micheal Frost and Alan Hirsch.  The other is Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath.  I think I was supposed to read this in High School but never really did it (I survived on Cliff Notes).  I'd love to hear what you folks are reading and recommending.

Mark

 

By Toledo Campus on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

 

This is about how I'm feeling today...

 

I wish I could blame the following accident on anyone but myself...but I can't.

 

So here's what happened. Gather round.

I was attempting to put a lawn roller into the trunk of my tiny Nissan Sentra. For those of you that have ever handled one of these things you know my above stated action was like trying to fit an angry elephant into a closet...full of glass windows...and the elephant is weilding a bat.

Culprit: 

The handle had to go first and all it had to do was drop gracefully into the trunk...

...It did no such thing...

 

The handle fell with the fury of a gulotine onto my back window leaving me with this... 

I'm hearing plastic wrap is the new glass for this coming year...

 

That's all I got...time to glass shop...

What I'm listening to: Colin Hay- Man at Work

         

By Toledo Campus on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

You ever have a song that just brings you back to reality over and over again? Well, that’s what this song is for me. Listen to this song by 33 Miles called "Stand Amazed" and read the lyrics… it is incredible.

It’s so easy to serve when you are in front of a bunch of people and they expect you to do so. But what about when you are alone and no one can see you? Do you serve in the secret when only God can see you?

This song brings me back to the reality that God sees me “when the world is quiet and no one is around” and He wants me to serve Him even in those times.

God convicts me to serve when no one notices: to pick up trash, to clean the house, to do dishes, and to serve even if no one acknowledges my acts of service.

Do you serve to get recognition, praise, to get something back, or do you serve even in the quiet when no one is around, simply because you want to serve your Father in Heaven?

- Danielle Keyes

By Toledo Campus on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

Last Monday I had the opportunity to attend a neighborhood forum in west Toledo in which the agenda was centered around the recent expansion at DeVeaux Village.  About 150 people were there with a few folks not very happy about the recent changes.  Most of the angst was centered around parking and traffic concerns.  However, most of the attenders seemed extremely positive about the additions of Goodwill, Cedarcreek, and various retail businesses.  The one thing evident with all the people in attendance was a concern and a passion for their neighborhood.  It made me all the more excited about becoming part of this vibrant  community.  I pray that God reveals to us how we can become good neighbors and  have a positive impact for the kingdom.

Mark

 

By Toledo Campus on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

This was sent to me recently.  It was written by Craig Groeschel, Senior Pastor at Lifechurch in Oklahoma.  Groeschel is one of the most respected and influential leaders in the church today, so at first some of the following was a bit surprising.  However, if we are all honest with ourselves, I think we will realize that many of these 'confessions' apply to each of us as well.  Let me hear your thoughts...Mark

 

* New confession: I am a practical atheist. That is, I believe God exists but I sometimes live as      though He doesn't.
    * I believe in God, but sometimes I do ministry as though He doesn't exist.
    * When I would tell people I was praying for them it was almost always a lie.
    * I heard Hybels say, "The way that I was doing the work of God was destroying the work of God in me."
    * When we slip into practical atheism we rely more on our own efforts than God's power.
    * When we slip into practical atheism we start to believe that our private life won't affect our ministry.
    * I ask my team, "If something is going to take you out, what will it be?" We all have those areas. And they change over time.
    * I was more afraid of what people would think than what God would think.
    * We should use culture as a hook, but we can't stop there. We must bring God's Word to speak to culture.
    * I don't know any substitute for spending time in God's Word, fasting, praying,
    * I've learned to step into authentic confession. You confess to God for forgiveness, but you confess to people for healing.
    * I'm in recovery for my practical atheism. I'm in a divine discomfort, a disturbed place, wanting more of God.

By Toledo Campus on 3/12/2008 3:20 PM

This past Sunday evening, I had the honor of accompanying Mark and Ed to a LifeGroup gathering to discuss the future Toledo Campus. We all hopped in Mark's Prius and headed out to the Whitmer area to meet with the Dotson's LifeGroup.

I first want to say that I've been a part of many LifeGroups, and I was very impressed by the community and friendships in the room last night. From the moment you walked in, you could feel a genuine sense of community. To me, that's what living in the kingdom is all about. People loving Christ, doing life together, and serving others. It was truly an honor to be there.

The night started off with Mark giving a brief overview of how things have gotten to this point. Then Ed spoke a little bit about the building, ways we can utilize the space... so on and so forth. I spoke a little about some of the cool technology we're going to be bringing in. Then we all answered some questions.

After that, we took the group on a "field trip" to check out the new Toledo Campus, in all of it's "empty shell" glory.