HALLOWEENies & BOOgers

•October 2, 2009 • 1 Comment

Halloweenies & Boogers Web Flyer

It’s that time of year again… Time to grill up some HALLOWEENies & BOOgers!

Inspired by one of my mentors back in TX (Brent Bowen), HALLOWEENies & BOOgers is a chance to have some fun on Halloween with my family, meet & bless the neighborhood around me, and be a light for Christ in our community at the same time. For the past 5 year’s, my family and I have been celebrating Halloween by hosting this event on Halloween night- and it’s been a ton of fun to put on! Now we get the opportunity to do it here in Fresno!

Here’s how we roll… First, we invite all the neighbors around us to come on by for some free food on Halloween night (using the invite above). Over the past few years we’ve averaged over 300 trick-or-treaters, cooking up just as many burgers and hot dogs. Meanwhile we’re showing “The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown” on our garage door (see below) & passing out bushels of candy.

In addition to just being a ton of fun, this event really hits on a few other levels as well…

  1. Gives us an opportunity to meet TONS of neighbors we would have never otherwise have met & establish a connection with them (opening doors for dinners, birthday parties, & other individual or neighborhood gatherings…)
  2. Allows me to BOTH take my kids Trick-or-Treating AND hand out candy at the same time
  3. Involves my whole family in blessing others in our own community
  4. Rather than taking the church (i.e.- my family and I) out of my community on the one night of the year the whole world is walking my street and coming to my door- it keeps us in our own neighborhood and allows us to make a missional investment right where we live

I’m not hating on Trunk-or-Treats or Church Fall Festivals (I’ve seen some churches really do an amazing job utilizing these venues to bless families & kids in the city)- but for my family and I, this has just been one unique opportunity for us to redeem one of the most festive nights of the year. Here’s some pics from last year…

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So there’s just another idea for your arsenal, if you’re interested. If you happen to live in a neighborhood that isn’t very active for this kind of thing, you’re welcome to come help out at the Sumlin household this Halloween!

Posted in Miscellaneous

David Robinson’s Hall of Fame Speech

•September 18, 2009 • Leave a Comment

It always encourages me to see people who are in great places of influence, to use that influence to bring glory back to God. David Robinson is no exception.

However, I do find it interesting that right at the exact moment he starts to talk about Jesus, ESPN throws up a bunch of sound and logos on the screen… interesting timing… :)

Posted in Miscellaneous

Fun Halloween / Fall Festival Event Ideas…

•September 11, 2009 • 1 Comment

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As I do every year, here’s some fun event ideas for the upcoming holiday season, starting with Halloween & Fall Festivals… This year, I’m listing ideas for my new context: The Greater Fresno, Ca Area. (For those in Denton, TX – feel free to look at previous year’s posts for ideas). These are great ideas for family outings, date nights, or roommate/friend opportunities…

Thanksgiving & Christmas posts coming soon!

Posted in Miscellaneous

News Story on The Well/Cross Merge…

•August 25, 2009 • Leave a Comment

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Thought this was interesting… the local news paper here in Fresno just did a brief write up on the merge that’s about to take place between The Cross Church & The Well’s Fig Garden Campus…

http://www.fresnobee.com/1110/story/1610313.html?storylink=mirelated

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Cross Church and The Well prepare to merge

Published online on Friday, Aug. 21, 2009
By Ron Orozco / The Fresno Bee

A church merger is drawing a lot of interest in the area’s faith community. Beginning Sept. 13, The Cross Church will begin holding Sunday morning services with The Well Community Church’s satellite congregation that has been holding services and other activities Sunday evenings at The Cross Church. The merged congregation will be known as The Well Fig Garden, under pastor Shea Sumlin.

“They’ve rented from us for seven years, so we know them,” says The Cross Church’s pastor, the Rev. Sam Freshwater. “It’s time to get married.” It’s refreshing to see churches helping each other. The Cross Church has deep roots. It was organized by German immigrants from Russia in 1892 in southeast Fresno. Although the church thrived in the 1960s with 2,200 members, it has fallen on hard times with just 130 people. That happens. Adult members die off and their children move on.

The Well is a success story. It began as a college ministry at Northwest Church under Brad Bell in 1998. Then, he turned it into a fledgling congregation in February 2002. Its first home was the rented sanctuary of The Cross Church. The Well has grown to more than 2,000 members, mainly those in their 20s and 30s. They have worshipped at the church’s main venue on East Nees Avenue since August 2007. Satellite venues were also added at Sunnyside High School and Maple Creek Elementary School.

The merger doesn’t affect The Well’s other sites. But it allows The Well to make deeper connections with neighbors near The Cross Church — and that pleases one of the church’s longtime members, Sharon Crabtree, 66. “It helps sometimes for young eyes to see new vision,” she says. “You can get stagnant in what you’re doing.” Freshwater says, “We see it as a God-given opportunity to reach the Fig Garden area. I’m not an evangelist. My heart is for the lost.” The merger, he adds, is “one that has a great facility and one that has fresh eyes in ways to reach people.”

Before the merger is complete, The Cross Church will hold special events to celebrate its history. A legacy service will be held 9 a.m. Aug. 30 at the church, 4545 N. Palm Ave. Former members are invited to attend. A luncheon featuring German foods and videos will be at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 6 at the church’s fellowship hall. Reservations should be made. Details: (559) 222-3700.

Posted in Miscellaneous

How Not To Go Broke In College

•August 14, 2009 • Leave a Comment

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Here’s an article from some friends over at “associatedegree.org”… They list 100 ways to think smart (financially) while in college. With school cranking up all across America in the next couple of weeks, it makes for a pretty good read.

CLICK HERE for the article.

Posted in College Life

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