Woodside Bible News August 2009 : Page 1A
TEamS miNiSTEr wOrldwidE wOOdSidE page 12-13a krEaTivE kidS, ONgOal SOCCEr aNd pONTiaC SummEr CampS page 13-15a wOOdSidE arTS fESTival page 1B VOL 4 ISSUE VII AUGUST 2009 A PUBLICATION OF WOODSIDE BIBLE CHURCH Culture of generosity permeates campuses BY SUSAN FULCHER WOODSIDE NEWS WRITER W oodside’s culture of generosity is per- meating its four campuses as stories abound testifying to lives blessed through the spirit of goodwill of God’s people. The Generous Church, launched in June and based on the framework and prin- ciples of the early church as recounted in Acts 2, is designed to develop a culture of generosity within the Woodside family as it responds to the needs of its own members and those in surrounding communities. As the Woodside family acknowledged the truth of IDBTM (It Doesn’t Belong To Me) bills have been paid, needs have been met and many have been encour- aged through the outpouring of generos- ity of God’s people. “The Becoming Generous project has been a blessing not only for those who were recipients of the gifts but to those who gave and were behind the scenes in planning and implementing the projects,” says Troy Campus Pastor Vince Messina. Payment of utility bills, gifts of checks and Meijer gift cards to those struggling with job losses and economic circum- stances met needs campus-wide. Stephen Ministers supervised the distri- bution of the second week’s efforts of checks and gift cards at the Troy campus. Their training enabled them to identify emotional and spiritual needs of the recipients. “We saw tears in the eyes of those with whom we prayed,” said Stephen Minister Anna deCarvalho. “Some of these peo- ple who wondered if God even cared for them saw the generosity of the church as a sign God does care.” Stories from people touched by the generosity and love of the Woodside fam- ily continue to be heard at all campuses. “We have been unemployed for almost a year. Things were getting pretty tight. Our prayers for relief have been answered in many ways including the generosity of this church and its members,” says a couple who received help from the Troy campus. At the Warren camous, Cathy and Jim Schoenherr, reeling from high medi- cal bills and loss of jobs and considering bankruptcy, received an income tax re- fund far short of expectations. But after hearing the challenge to be generous, they took an elderly relative shopping at the supermarket and used what meager funds they had to pay her bill. “We didn’t really have any extra money but she was in worse shape than we were,” said Cathy. “So you can imaging our sur- prise when, a few days later, we saw a let- ter from the IRS in our mailbox. When we opened it, the check was many times what we expected from our refund. Now all our bills are paid. God continues to bless us.” Generosity isn’t just in the hands of adults. A four-year-old boy taught his family the lesson of a generous heart. GENEROSITY continued on page 5 Woodside commits to new Lake Orion campus BY KARON MATHEWS WOODSIDE NEWS WRITER I t’s official, though a date for the occa- sion remains to be set. Woodside will launch its fifth campus, this one serving the Lake Orion/Oxford area. The board of elders approved establishment of the new campus at its July 22 meeting. Home for the new campus will be Waldon Middle School, 2509 Waldon Road, west of I-75, between Baldwin and Joslyn Roads in Lake Orion. Rick Seidel, former youth pastor, church planter and entrepreneurial ministry leader, is the new campus pas- tor. Seidel met with Woodside mem- bers and attendees to answer questions about the new campus following Troy Sunday services in July. Offices for the Lake Orion campus now occupy the said Seidel. “Hearing their ideas, learn- ing how God has worked in their lives, and seeing where their spiritual gifts and other talents lie will help shape the Lake Orion ministry. “This will be a campus with Wood- side DNA, so to speak, and our vision is CONTENTS PASTOR’S PEN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2A FROM THE EDITOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2A HIS STORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3A YOUR PC PITSTOP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4A FIT AND HEALTHY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8A WOODSIDE WORLDWIDE . . . . . . . . . 10A FAMILY FUN GUIDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12A MOVIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21A CHRISTIAN CROSSWORD . . . . . . . . 23A THE BIBLE AND SCIENCE . . . . . . . . 26A TROY HAPPENINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2B WARREN HAPPENINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . 4B WOODSIDE OF WARREN . . . . . . . . . . . 4B FROM DON PEDDE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5B ROYAL OAK HAPPENNINGS . . . . . . . 6B FROM ANDREW FRITH. . . . . . . . . . . . . 6B FROM BRAD HULCY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8B WHITE LAKE HAPPENNINGS . . . . . 8B WOODSIDE OF WHITE LAKE . . . . . . 9B TELEVISION SCHEDULE . . . . . . . . . . . 9B CLASSIFIEDS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10B former Troy Coffee Café. “Getting acquainted with Woodside members who want to be involved in making things happen in Lake Orion is a big priority in the weeks ahead,” one all campuses share.” Pastor Doug Schmidt, Executive Pastor Eric Haven and Church Devel- opment Director Beth McKenna are working with Seidel to finalize plans for the first service and beyond. “We are seeking the LAKE ORION support of Troy fami- lies to build the core of volunteers needed to launch this cam- pus. Typically, families who express an inter- est in this ministry opportunity want a campus closer to where they live,” said McKenna. “Already 75 families have come forward.” The Lake Orion development team LAKE ORION CAMPUS continued on page 4 final call for woodside News Summer photos The final call for Woodside News Summer photos is Monday, August 24. Pictures received after that date cannot be published. You may submit up to three of your favorite photos for inclusion in our Septem- ber summer photo spread. Please make sure to include you name, phone number and a brief description of each photo activity. Your photo entries should be emailed to summerpho- tocontest@woodsidenews. org. If you have questions, please contact Ann Mulven- na at (248) 879-8533. WWW.WOODSIDEBIBLE.ORG aNNOuNCEmENTS Church-wide garage sale scheduled for august 28-29 As an ongoing effort to demonstrate God’s gen- erosity to the communi- ties around each campus, Woodside has scheduled a church-wide garage sale for August 28-29. The purpose for the event is to have each campus raise monies to be contributed to a local community-based relief organization. Leaders will be selected at each campus to recruit volunteers, organize dona- tions and host the garage sales. All monies raised will then be donated to local organization(s), in the area of each campus, that reflect beliefs similar to Woodside. If you would like more information, or would like to volunteer for this event, please contact Nick Deane (nickdeane@woodsidebible. org) at the Troy campus, or call the church office at your home campus.
CULTURE OF GENEROSITY PERMEATES CAMPUSES
SUSAN FULCHER
Woodside’s culture of generosity is permeating its four campuses as stories abound testifying to lives blessed through the spirit of goodwill of God’s people.
The Generous Church, launched in June and based on the framework and principles of the early church as recounted in Acts 2, is designed to develop a culture of generosity within the Woodside family as it responds to the needs of its own members and those in surrounding communities.
As the Woodside family acknowledged the truth of IDBTM (It Doesn’t Belong To Me) bills have been paid, needs have been met and many have been encouraged through the outpouring of generosity of God’s people.
“The Becoming Generous project has been a blessing not only for those who were recipients of the gifts but to those who gave and were behind the scenes in planning and implementing the projects,” says Troy Campus Pastor Vince Messina.
Payment of utility bills, gifts of checks and Meijer gift cards to those struggling with job losses and economic circumstances met needs campus-wide.
Stephen Ministers supervised the distribution of the second week’s efforts of checks and gift cards at the Troy campus. Their training enabled them to identify emotional and spiritual needs of the recipients.
“We saw tears in the eyes of those with whom we prayed,” said Stephen Minister Anna deCarvalho. “Some of these people who wondered if God even cared for them saw the generosity of the church as a sign God does care.” Stories from people touched by the generosity and love of the Woodside family continue to be heard at all campuses.
“We have been unemployed for almost a year. Things were getting pretty tight.
Our prayers for relief have been answered in many ways including the generosity of this church and its members,” says a couple who received help from the Troy campus.
At the Warren camous, Cathy and Jim Schoenherr, reeling from high medical bills and loss of jobs and considering bankruptcy, received an income tax refund far short of expectations. But after hearing the challenge to be generous, they took an elderly relative shopping at the supermarket and used what meager funds they had to pay her bill.
“We didn’t really have any extra money but she was in worse shape than we were,” said Cathy. “So you can imaging our surprise when, a few days later, we saw a letter from the IRS in our mailbox. When we opened it, the check was many times what we expected from our refund. Now all our bills are paid. God continues to bless us.” Generosity isn’t just in the hands of adults. A four-year-old boy taught his family the lesson of a generous heart.
Having participated in Operation Christmas Child two years ago, the young boy urged his parents to purchase groceries for a family in need.
Together with his family, the four-year old took the shopping list, loaded his shopping cart with items and helped carry the groceries to the door of the family in need.
Royal Oak Campus Pastor Andrew Frith shared the thoughts and contents of an anonymous letter.
“We have been so blessed by Woodside Bible Church over the years. Please use this to bless others.” The envelope contained 17 one-hundred dollar bills.
As Woodside continues to demonstrate God’s generosity to campus communities, a church-wide garage sale is scheduled for August 28 and 29.
(See separate story for details.)
Planning is also underway for a church Web site business directory which would provide opportunities for unemployed church members to use their skills, abilities and home-based businesses for other members.
“The Becoming Generous series was used of God to resonate with all our hearts. So many people have given and so many have received,” says Senior Pastor Doug Schmidt. “I believe a wave of generous giving has begun within Woodside that will continue.”
WOODSIDE COMMITS TO NEW LAKE ORION CAMPUS
KARON MATHEWS
It’s official, though a date for the occasion remains to be set. Woodside will launch its fifth campus, this one serving the Lake Orion/Oxford area. The board of elders approved establishment of the new campus at its July 22 meeting.
Home for the new campus will be Waldon Middle School, 2509 Waldon Road, west of I-75, between Baldwin and Joslyn Roads in Lake Orion.
Rick Seidel, former youth pastor, church planter and entrepreneurial ministry leader, is the new campus pastor.
Seidel met with Woodside members and attendees to answer questions about the new campus following Troy Sunday services in July. Offices for the Lake Orion campus now occupy the former Troy Coffee Café.
“Getting acquainted with Woodside members who want to be involved in making things happen in Lake Orion is a big priority in the weeks ahead,” said Seidel. “Hearing their ideas, learning how God has worked in their lives, and seeing where their spiritual gifts and other talents lie will help shape the Lake Orion ministry.
“This will be a campus with Woodside DNA, so to speak, and our vision is one all campuses share.” Pastor Doug Schmidt, Executive Pastor Eric Haven and Church Development Director Beth McKenna are working with Seidel to finalize plans for the first service and beyond.
“We are seeking the support of Troy families to build the core of volunteers needed to launch this campus.
Typically, families who express an interest in this ministry opportunity want a campus closer to where they live,” said McKenna. “Already 75 families have come forward.” The Lake Orion development team Is looking for families and individuals to “plug in” and take on responsibility for the four pillar ministries: worship, small groups, students, and young family ministries.
“Tough economic times present opportunities, as well as great needs.
Peoples’ hearts are open,” said McKenna.
She added, “We can’t step back, but as Pastor Schmidt says, we can proceed wisely. Lake Orion met all the criteria that guide Woodside’s investigation of where to go next to meet the church’s vision.” The first criteria is geographic location, as a new campus must be at least a 20-minte drive from existing campuses.
Secondly, there must be a strong representation of Woodside membership living in the area being considered.
The determining factor then becomes, “Can God use Woodside Bible Church in this location?” McKenna said.
Mindful of the economic challenges gripping Michigan, communications about the new campus will be primarily people powered and electronically driven. Word of mouth, regular updates on the Woodside Web site and e-mails to families who’ve said, “Count us in at Lake Orion” will be used to quickly and inexpensively spread news of campus activities.
Seidel will meet with Lake Orion and Oxford government officials and community leaders to announce Woodside’s presence and lay groundwork for future involvement in community activities. Prospects for service projects in the area already are being discussed.
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