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May 2012May 2012

2 Walloon Lake Community Church Newsletter © 2012 A Walloon Lake Community Church Publication. Questions? Contact 231-535-2288.

P. O. Box 35Walloon Lake, MI 49796

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Glorify Jesus Christ by making disciples...by loving Jesus...loving Others...and Serving the world!

WWaalllloooonn LLaakkee •• EEaasstt JJoorrddaann

In this IssueEJ: Perspective . . .1Board Corner . . . . .2Opportunities . . . . .3Youth News . . . . . .4Loving Others . . . .4Building Homes . . .5Calendar . . . . . . . . .6Worship Arts . . . . .8Birthdays . . . . . . .10Anniversaries . . . .11

www.walloonchurch.com

So there I was, living in a house in WalloonLake that we call home, enjoying the teachingjob that I love, (how God provided that is anoth-er story for another day!) being a part of achurch family that truly felt like family, servingalong side my husband in an exciting youth min-istry, and trying to mold my children into adultswho love Him above all else.

Ahhh.... Life is good....

"East Jordan..." What?

"I'm preparing a role for you in East Jordan."What? You want me to do what? CHANGE?Maybe you didn't hear me God: Life is good!!

When I read the life stories of Moses, Jonah,Noah, and many others throughout the Biblewho questioned God: "You want me... ME to dothat?" I have read all their stories over the yearsseveral times, and again this year as we readthrough the Bible with our children and churchfamily. It's easy to judge them and think that ifGod asked me to show miraculous signs toPharoah, I could to do that. Build a boat? Sure,no problem. I would that. But to change MY lifeto go into unknown uncharted territory with mykids? Now I'm not so sure about THAT...

As Jason and I would talk about East Jordan,wondering what God might have in store for Hisnew church, I would pray "Lord, get me as excit-ed as Jason is. Help me to find my new place inthis new church. Help my children to transition."God took a summer of change in my life to showme that it's all Him. He was asking us to go, andall He wanted obedience from Jason and me.That, I decided, I COULD do.

When you finish their stories, God did all Moses,Noah , and Jonah could ask or imagine. God'swork was done and it brought Him immeasura-ble glory. That is what I want for my life: tobring Him glory. To have my life reflect whoJesus is. So I love it when people ask me aboutEast Jordan because I get to brag on God and allHe has done through His people. I thought mywhole life could change, nothing would be thesame, and God was asking me to sacrifice all theblessings He had given me. He was asking me tofollow Him into something new, yes, but alsosomething I could never imagine could be so ful-filling. So here I am now, still living in myhouse, still teaching, still molding my children,still in a church family that feels like family...ahhhh...life is good...And God is too!

East Jordan Community Church Another Perspective•Kelly Richey

June 25-29 9am-3pm

WALLOON LAKE CAMPUSDAY CAMP!

Walloon Lake Community Church Newsletter

May 2012May 2012

Page 11 Walloon Lake Community Church Newsletter

The Board CornerMeet The Board - Part 2 •Kevin Klevorn

I enjoyed a spring break trip to the Big Apple with myfamily to see our oldest who lives there now andworks as an architect there. A view of the Statue ofLiberty from his office was impressive, and things likeBroadway plays and museums are pretty cool. Weeven saw one of the largest exhibits of the Dead SeaScrolls that have ever left Jerusalem, so it was a funtrip. "A nice place to visit, but I wouldn't want to livethere." was certainly true for the visitors. I caught upon my reading while gone, and want to share an articleI read, warning you that I have always had a soft spotfor the persecuted church, and am on the mailing listfor Voice of the Martyrs. This true story came from theChristian Law Association in their April newsletter.The rhetorical question of the month comes fromRomans 12:1-2: What is your "reasonable service?"

The setting was a trip to Russia in the summer of1991, when Pastor Earle Lee led a small team therejust after the coup that toppled the Gorbachev leader-ship, and Boris Yeltsin took over. Pastor Lee held thefirst open church services in 30 years for the under-ground church. Not surprisingly, after hiding for solong, few noticed that the service was 5 1/2 hourslong! One Russian pastor was called up for the rest tohear his testimony, again, for the first time in public inthree decades....

The older pastor was at first reluctant to say anything,for fear of getting personal glory, but after other pas-tors prodded him, he shared how he was first savedand called to preach. Russian authorities found out andwanted him to stop and threatened a loss of his job (asall were "assigned" employment in the communist waythen). He refused, and lost his livelihood, and thechurch was unable to pay him as well. It was a strug-gle to support his wife and three young children. Hewas arrested four different times, each time beingordered to stop preaching, and deny Christ. He refused,and eventually, each time, was let go.

The 5th arrest prompted authorities to up the ante:The also brought in his oldest child and produced hotpokers that they threatened to put in his daughters earsto make her deaf, and also they promised to cut hertongue out to make her dumb. As he looked at thempoised to carry out the threat, his daughter told him:"Daddy, don't you deny Jesus for me." Now in themovies, someone rides to save her or somehow a res-cue would happen. In real life, he did not deny, and hewatched the torture and mutilation of his daughterbefore they returned him to his cell. After some morejail time, his next daughter was brought in. She suf-fered the same fate as her older sister. More timebehind bars passed. Finally, his last/youngest daughterwas brought before him, and she also lost her hearingand speech because her father would not deny Christ.

While he was finishing his account, Pastor Lee noticedthree adult families near the front of the gathering,with someone standing in front of them signing tothem in sign language. Yes, the mom's were his threeoldest daughters. Through an interpreter, Pastor Leeasked them how they felt, and if they may have beenbitter at God for what happened to them. All three ofthem immediately signed back, in unison, with smileson their faces: "It was just our reasonable service..."

I am comfortable enough in life to pray that we inAmerica never have to pay such a high price for nam-ing the name of Jesus as Savior and Lord. If you didnot know that there were more Christians martyred fortheir faith in the 20th century than all other centuriescombined, now you do. The early church was severelypersecuted, but as time has progressed, man hasbecome much more efficient at killing his fellow man,and mass atrocities have so often occurred that it sel-dom warrants more than a 30 second blurb on thenightly news. Think though, of how you would react ifpersecution comes your way in some form. Would youconsider whatever came your way as your reasonableservice, or run for cover and deny the Savior who didn't duck for you?

Anniversaries in May

5-1 Jeff & Linda Uloth5-2 Matthew & Darlene Matelski5-5 Brian & Kathy Braddock5-6 Ron & Kathy Fila5-7 Terry & Susan Elzinga

Johnny & Jody JohnsonJohn & Dolores Medema

5-8 Keith & Paula Theodore5-9 Casey & Jennifer Powers5-12 Lynn & Lucy Groff5-15 Gil & Terri Redmer5-16 Ward & Jan Mihelich

Drew & Kris Mihelich5-17 Myron & Kim Matz

Gregg & Vicky Smith

5-18 Steve & Amy Cross5-19 Carl & Mary Cotanche

Phil & Ann DuranDan & Lisa Murray

5-20 Mike & Lynette McCreery5-21 Phil & Lee Cloyd

Larry & Dana Vance5-22 Steve & Nicole Murray

Gerald & Sue Sydow5-24 Dennis & Jill Crissman5-26 Don & Ellen Laurie

Howard & Sharon Stewart5-29 Rex & Maxine Stark-Behling5-30 Jim & Helen Davenport

Blessings of Joy!

A son, Caden Joshua born onThursday, April 19, 2012 to Jay& Heather Fowler.

Sunday, May 13, 2012


May 2012May 2012


Rejoice!Anniversary & Birthday Celebrations•Jean Fiel5-1 Shelby Bill

Trever Kruzel5-2 Alie Culver

Ethan HohnGrace LouiselleJackie PiefferSuzanne Thompson

5-3 Sherry BergmannApril CaverlyKevin KlevornCaleb Roberts

5-4 Vanessa Werth5-5 Sarah Banks

Phylicia DuranAmber LoyselleBrent Murray

5-6 Charlotte Loewen5-7 Hellen Fineout

Linda KoscCorey Micham

5-8 Kyle HempsteadHali SchmidtJohn Scott

5-9 Jennifer HarwoodJonathan Urman

5-10 Will DickinsonBeverly FordJohn LeeElleana Loper

5-11 Ryan BakerBarbara GoodwinHilary KlepadloMicah MantheiCelestia McGeorgeFrank Minier’Emilee MoekeGeorge MooreRobin Reynolds

5-12 Barb CarlsonAnthony DuranKelly Powers

5-13 Maud HeidemanTabitha StantonKati Wittenmyer

5-14 Lakeshia BortzElsa DoornbosCharlie MitchellTheresa Robinson

5-16 Lena BlackallTorri CheadleKendra DenholmSimeon Harwood

5-17 Kelly GrotendiekLauren KlepadloBill LoyselleElla Nolan

5-18 Jana BumpRiley Minier’Patricia RobinsonBrent Sturtevant

5-19 Tina BickesCraig CheadleAverilyn MathersMandi Richards

5-20 Caroline HeykaJonah HissongChris KeiserJoshua RathburnCasey RikerHud RobinsonJoy Walter

5-21 Faye Jean Brown Bearss5-22 Declain Vining

Naomi Walter5-24 Levi Bradley

Abigail CarlisleJake LarsonSteve LewisCameron Robinson

5-25 Jessica BergAshleigh BradleyAlex Carlson

5-25 Dorothy JensenRusty KaatzJoshua KlevornCaleb LoeSpring Micham

5-26 Samson BaughPuddy FairbanksGretchen Goebel

5-27 Wayne EverestBarb RobinsonGregg SmithJessica Venohr

5-28 Mark CaseRob DunnebackHenry HofbauerKari RobelJade SpurgeonSue SydowTerry VanNorman

5-29 Taylor LewisSarah LongcoreMike NullTravis RoseNancy SandoTaylor Turner

5-30 Mike ClarkBrittany JonesAndrew FilaDavid LaPointeJackie ProvostJacob Robinson

5-31 Jasmine DavisDoug HoesliLinda KadlecCandace LeeFrank LeistAvery LowePierce Minier’Karen ReynoldsNeil Shawn

Wednesday Night Dinner & Classes EndingWednesday, May 16 will be the last night ofWalloon Lake Campus Family Meals and Classesoffered until next Fall.

Kids: Get Ready!A Luau Extravaganza will be held for the WalloonLake Campus KidConnection kids on our lastnight, Wednesday, May 16. So, kids, get yourshades ready and fip-flops on for a fun-packednight! See you then!

Community Small Group Leaders MeetingAll Small Group Community Small Group Leadersare encouraged to join us on Sunday, May 20 at12:15pm for a luncheon in the Walloon LakeCampus multi-purpose room. Pastor Jeff will alsogive a ministry update.

Softball Anyone?We are organizing teams for this year’s leagues socome on out and join the fun! Practice has alreadybegun but always eager to have a few more play-ers. Games begin in mid-May on Friday orSaturday nights. You must be atleast 14 years oldto play. Come on out and cheer for the team! Formore information contact Ron Schrock (231) 459-5697; Don Bump (231) 330-6023 or RobDunneback (231) 439-3995.

Baby Dedication Sign-up in the foyer to dedicate your baby or childduring one of Walloon Lake Campus’ morningservices on Father's Day, June 17. There is arequired meeting on Sunday, June 10 at 9am.

Attention Graduates!If you (or your high school child) is graduating thisJune make sure their name gets added to the grow-ing list of graduates in the foyer. We will be honor-ing them on Graduation Sunday, June 3 during theWalloon Lake Campus 9am service only.

Day Camp Coming Soon!Walloon Lake Campus June 25-29 @ 9am-3pm

It’s that great time of year again…DAY CAMP!Our theme this year is camping in the great out-doors. Come uncover five of God’s promises to us,play outdoor team games, create cool crafts, watchthe Bible come alive through drama, and get yourhands on nature. Day Camp is for children goinginto 1st grade through going into 6th grade. It willrun from 9:00am to 3:00pm June 25th – June 29th.A $20 donation is suggested per child. A lot goesinto preparing for this week and it couldn’t beaccomplished without many volunteers. If you’dlike to help with your time, talents, supplies, orwould just like more info call Emily Lyon (231)587-9699. I can’t wait to track down the truths ofGod’s word with you!

Love Jesus, Love Others, Serve The WorldOpportunities To Bless And Be Blessed

WALLOON LAKE CAMPUS

DAY CAMP!

May 2012May 2012

Page 9 Walloon Lake Community Church Newsletter Walloon Lake Community Church Newsletter

April has been a great month in youth ministryhere at the Walloon Lake campus. The YoungAdults finished the Truth Project, which is a videoseries on the Christian worldview. They are begin-ning to prepare lessons to teach at the YouthCenter. 567 just finished with a short series onTestimonies. The students heard from each of theirleaders about how God has worked in their livesand several of the students worked through theirown stories. It is awesome to see young livesimpacted by the work of the Word and the HolySpirit. This past weekend there were 27 studentsand 10 leaders from both campuses of 8-11 stu-dents that went to Chicago for the Dare-2-Shareconference. For nearly every student that camewith us the Gospel “clicked” and students under-stood in a fresh way what God is calling them todo, which is to share Jesus with their friends.Nearly the whole weekend there were students whowere texting and calling their non-Christian friendsto tell them about the love of Christ. This was anawesome weekend to see students go all-out forJesus. At the end of April the 567 ministry will begoing to the Believe Conference. Please be inprayer for the group that God might do mightythings in and through us.

A REMINDER to all parents who have students in theyouth ministry that there is a short parents meetingin room 101 on May 6th in-between the two morn-ing services. Please be quick in coming to hearabout the plans for summer and to ask a few ques-tions on how God will move among our youth dur-ing the next several months.

Thanks for your prayer and support of God’s workin the lives of young people.

In 2 Kings 4:2, Elisha asks a woman, "What doyou have in your house?" The woman said she hadnothing - then adds, "Except this little oil."Certainly it was nothing significant to her, giventhe circumstances she was facing. But God usedher "nothing, except this little" and literally savedthe life of a child.

And so I ask you...what do you have in yourhouse? Do you have an extra room? More impor-tantly, do you have the love that God can take anduse to save the life (physically or spiritually) of achild? If so, I ask that you prayerfully consider foster care.

Is it difficult? Yes, parenting ANY child can be dif-ficult. Will foster kids confuse you and sometimesdisappoint you? Yes, as will your OWN child. Willit be difficult when the foster kids leave yourhouse? Yes, just as it will break your heart whenyour own child leaves home some day. Can youreally make a difference? YES! Our 19-month-oldfoster child will fold his hands when we pray at thedinner table. Last night, as soon as the prayer start-ed, he repeated yelled out, "Amen! Amen!" withthe biggest smile on his face. In that moment, I sawwhat a difference we can truly make, and I won-dered, will I see this sweet little angel face in heav-en one day? Amen, Lord!

May is National Foster Care month. To find outmore about becoming a foster parent, please con-tact me, Hillary Briolat at (231) 487-0654, anyother of the numerous foster parents in the church,or Child and Family Services of NorthwestMichigan at 347-4463.

Youth NewsYouth Groups On The Move!•Pastor Jason Loewen

This boils down to six or maybe seven possible newsongs each year. That's not many, which is one ofthe reasons we're so picky. I've actually looked atover new 2000 songs before finding one to recom-mend to the team!

You can help!

When you recommend a song, we need to know thesong's real name and who performed the versionthat you like. The best way to suggest a song is toemail a note to me [email protected] Please pick the bestof the best - a long list of songs just isn't practicalfor us to work through. Always include your name.It’s helpful if you're willing to share with me whythis song is significant for you.

Please graciously realize that only a very, very, veryfew of the songs we consider are actually selected.Songs that I suggested have been turned down bythe group process! And even with this extensivemethod, sometimes we introduce a song that justdoesn't work. But because the process involves spir-itually mature people with a variety of musical pref-erences, our track record has been pretty good.

So if there's a song that deeply impacts how youconnect with Jesus, please share it. You may beintroducing us to the next song that helps the con-gregation connect with Him, too!

We have an exciting ministry opportunity this sum-mer. EJCC is partnering with the other area church-es for a community Vacation Bible School. Thechildren will learn and discuss what it means tohave a relationship with God. They will be chal-lenged daily to apply the lessons by spending sometime the next day practicing the previous night’stopic. In the past 120-150 children have attendedthis community VBS. We’d love to have a greatshowing of adults from EJCC showing God’s lovefor kids.

The specifics are: When: July 8th - 12th

6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.Where: Lighthouse Missionary Church,

7824 Rogers Road East Jordan

What: SKY- Everything is possible with GodJesus looked at them and said, “With man this isimpossible, but not with God; all things are possi-ble with God.”(Mark 10:27).

If you are interested in volunteering, there is a CrewLeader Training on July 3rd or July 5th at 7p.m.(you need only attend one of the sessions). Pleaselet Suzanne Carlisle know if you are interested inhelping via email or leave a message or text hercell phone. 231-838-8304.

Loving OthersWhat Do You Have In Your House?•Hillary Briolat

�� East Jordan Satellite Community Opportunity •Suzanne Carlisle, East Jordan Children's Ministry Director

Imagine being a grandmother, left to raise yourgrandchildren after your own children have died.You live in a one-room grass and mud hut, yourbathroom is a pile of leaves in the back yard,you have no regular income or governmentassistance, and you have as many as 14 childrenlooking to you for care and support.

Unfortunately, that is the reality for thousands ofwomen in Uganda.Grandmothers in Ugandasingle-handedly care fortens of thousands of chil-dren orphaned by AIDS.These are courageouswomen who bury their own children and thenlook after their orphan grandchildren, calling onastonishing reserves of love and emotionalresilience. But they do so with almost no sup-port. Although African “Grannies” have learnedto be resourceful, they need help or the reality istheir hard lives will become unbearable.

Enter Trisha Ager: A mother of five kids ages11 and under (including 4-year-old twin boys)from Boyne City with a mission on her heart andrunning shoes on her feet. To raise awarenessand support for the plight of Ugandan Grannies,Trisha is running the 26.2 mile BayshoreMarathon on May 26, 2012 in Traverse City,Michigan. Every dollar she raises throughpledges and donations will go to The Way Home – An AIDS Orphan Project founded byformer Boyne City residents Russ and MarciaBaugh and their family. For only $1700, TheWay Home can build a solid structure home andouthouse for a Grannie and her grandchildren.Trisha’s goal is to raise the funds to build a

home for at least five Grannies. “It is over-whelming for me to think about how much Ihave compared to how little they have,” Trishasaid. “It takes so little money to make such ahuge difference in their lives.” To give herfundraising efforts an extra boost, any donationsmade before May 12, 2012 will be matched byan anonymous donor up to $1700.

To read more about Trisha’straining and the specificfamilies that will be receiv-ing homes, please visit herblog atwww.running4orphans.org.Donations can be made

directly to The Way Home at www.thewayhome-africa.com. Click on “Give” at the top of web-site, using the Program Designation as “The WayHome Uganda” and the Dedication as “On aMarathon Mission.” You can also make a checkout to “The Way Home” and mail it to TrishaAger, 409 Elm Street, Boyne City, MI 49712. Inthe designation box, you can write, “TrishaAger’s Marathon.”


May 2012May 2012


Serving The WorldBuilding Homes For Orphans One Step At A Time •Hillary Briolat

I hear this quite regularly. And I'm glad. It's veryhelpful for me to be aware of songs that play a significant role in how the individuals at WL, EJ,and the Youth Center connect with the Lord.

I also hear a variety of comments ranging from"more/fewer hymns," to "more/fewer new songs,"to "find something with more/less of a ______sound," to "more specials," to "rework the words tomy favorite secular song."

People suggest songs for interesting reasons. Somefolks like a song for its sound and how that makesthem feel. Other people like a song because itspowerful words say just the right message they arelooking to communicate. Still others like a songbecause of the memories or experiences they asso-ciate with it.

How do we pick new songs?

I share the search load with my Worship ArtsLeadership Team. Several times a year we compilea list of all the potential songs that have come toour attention. Any song suggested by someone inthe congregation is included in this list, even if ithas been discarded in the past. We look at oldsongs that have not been done here, songs that havebeen significant for believers at other churches, atbrand new songs just coming out, and even atsongs written by people in the congregation.

We evaluate each song by a rating system to helpus be more objective. Although we vary the ratingsystem each time to remain fresh, it always coversthe following points:

• Is the song scripturally solid?• Do the lyrics of the song put into words something that the congregation needs to be sayingto the Lord right now?

• Do we already have a song with this message, if so, do we really need a new vehicle for it?• Is there something in the song that just grabs me and expresses my soul personally?• Will the congregation engage with this song - as a group - lyrically and stylistically or would it be better suited for an offertory?• Is the song playable by our musicians and singable by the congregation?• Is there something about the song I just can't stand?

Very few songs, including songs that I really like,survive this difficult scrutiny.

Once a song is actually selected, then the workbegins. Before we teach it to you, we have to learnit ourselves. So we dissect its parts to see whatmakes it tick. Then we reassemble it in a formatthat we can play well, even with the wide varietyof musician combinations on the platform weekly.Next we distribute the song charts to our musiciansso they begin preparing. (We continually try to bet-ter develop this part - it becomes a bit trickybecause of copyright law restrictions.)

Before we include the song in an actual worshipset, someone exposes the congregation to it duringthe offertory. We may also play a version of itbefore or after the service as background music.Then we do the song with you for the first time.We repeat the song at least once a service for thenext three weeks. So if you attend regularly, by thispoint you'll have worked with the song five weeksin a row. After giving the song a week's break (andthe congregation a break from learning a newsong), we repeat the song once more and thenincorporate it into our master song list. So that'sreally a seven-week process per new song.

Worship Arts“Hey, Have I Got A Great Song For You...”•Pastor Tim Miller

��


May 2012May 2012


1EJCC Community Small

Groups 7 PM

2Family Meal 5:30-6:15 PMFamily Classes 6:30-8 PMWorship Service 7 PM

3MOPS 10 AM

Celebrate Recovery 7-9PM

Missions Cmte Mtg 7 PM

4 5

6New Members Presented

Youth Parent Meeting

10:15 AM

7 8Food Pantry 5:00-6:15 PM

EJCC Community Small Groups 7 PM

9Family Meal 5:30-6:15 PMFamily Classes 6:30-8 PMWorship Service 7 PM

10Cozy Quilters 9 AM

Church Board Mtg 6:30 PM

Celebrate Recovery 7-9 PM

11 12Men's Ministry Breakfast

8-10 AM

13 14Newsletter Deadline

15EJCC Community Small

Groups 7 PM

16Benevolent Meeting 4PM

LAST MEAL GATHERING &CLASS UNTIL FALL Family Meal 5:30-6:15 PMFamily Classes 6:30-8 PM

Worship Service 7 PM

17Celebrate Recovery 7-9PM

18Primetime Fellowship

Potluck 6 PM in DH

19

20CSG Leadership Meeting &Luncheon 12:15PM

Youth Ministry Leader Mtg &Potluck 12:15 PM

Worship Arts Potluck 12:15PM

21 22Food Pantry 5:00-6:15 PM

EJCC Community Small

Groups 7PM

23 24Cozy Quilters 9 AM

Celebrate Recovery 7-9 PM

25 26

27 28 Memorial Day Office Closed

29 30 31Celebrate Recovery 7-9 PM

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday SaturdayMay2012

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