Cheyenne Egg Drop

28 02 2008

Hey Element Church! Well, I think it’s officially official that the Egg Drop is BACK ON! We talked to the school district today AND to the helicopter company. The helicopter company is thoroughly excited to be on board. They ARE doing the event ABSOLUTELY FREE! They will be offering rides for $30 a piece AND they are so excited about the event that they committed to be our helicopter provider every year! HOLY COW! Talk about roller coaster rides. The School District has been great to work with and are set for the event to take place on their property. So, on Saturday, March 15th at 10 AM (gates open at 9:45) the First Annual Cheyenne Egg Drop will take place. If you are an Elementer and want to be a part of the event sign up at the e:connect table on Sunday morning. If you cannot serve at the event, but would be able to provide some prizes, that would be AWESOME! We’d love to give away some very cool stuff. Element is providing one Nintendo Wii and a video ipod to give away. We are also going to give away some helicopter rides and Easter baskets filled with goodies. If you’d like to add to that list with something to give away (that isn’t sitting in your basement), please let us know. Can’t wait to serve through this event.

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Element Church, church life, church planting, updates

Introducing…

28 02 2008

Hey Elementers! Just wanted to introduce you to the newest employee at Element Church. With the rapid growth God has blessed us with, the increased office work became too much for one person to handle. Therefore, we felt it was time to bring on someone to take over the receptionist duties in the office, as well as some office tasks that would free up Terri to continue doing a great job in her role as office manager. We felt God directed us to one of our own Elementers and she agreed to take the job. I’d like to introduce to you Pam Rapp. Pam serves at Element every Sunday on the e:team as our sound technician for the main worship service. She is doing a fantastic job already and we hope she enjoys us as much as we have enjoyed having her. Thanks Pam for joining the team. You’re doing a GREAT job!

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Element Church, staff, updates

Cheyenne Egg Drop Almost Became Soup

27 02 2008

Get it? Egg Drop Soup? Ok, not funny I know. Hey Element Church! What a ride it’s been in our office the past two weeks. A little insane, even for my crazy taste. My personality typically is, if something isn’t chaotic, let’s change it to make it so. The past two weeks have needed none of my messing with stuff. With the rapid growth, three services, and a major outreach event it’s done it all on it’s own. We were on a roller coaster with a building situation thinking we’d found something then crash and burn. Thinking we’d found something then crash and burn. Then we get confirmation on doing this SWEET event called the Cheyenne Egg Drop, where we drop thousands of eggs from a helicopter in the sky before our Easter egg hunt. We had talked to the helicopter company 2 months ago and they had agreed to do it. We had petitioned for a place to do it here in town but felt it just wasn’t going to work. Then on Thursday, we find out we’d been given a place. CHAOS ENSUED as we in the office try to pull together a 15,000 egg Easter event, with a helicopter drop, prizes, games, supplies, etc. all completed before Sunday. WE DID IT! And then loop # 30 in our roller coaster ride hit on Monday afternoon when the helicopter place backed out. YES, after a couple months of feeling great about it, they all the sudden got cold feet. PANIC set in as we realized a mailer was getting ready to go out to roughly 7,000 homes, 15,000 eggs were on their way (pre-stuffed), and 48 volunteers had already signed up. An event cancel was in progress. Tuesday morning Adam said “We should just call some other companies”. I said “Dude, it’s too late in the game.” Well, my employee didn’t listen to me, AND I’M GLAD! Adam got a return call last night (Tuesday) from a company out of Denver. The dude is going to do it, AND POSSIBLY DO IT FOR FREE! WHAT? Yeah, he was SO excited to help us out. He’s a helicopter instructor and loves doing community events like this. As of yesterday, he said if we would allow him to charge for rides at the event, he’d come up and drop the eggs for free. CRAZY. So then today, IT WAS BACK ON! We’re still waiting on final word from the chopper CO. but it seems as of now we’re ready to roll. The mailing house is awaiting our word to send the invites out. We’ve ordered a TON of invite cards for you Elementers to take and use around town. Anyway, PRAY that if God wants us to get this done, it’ll get done. It’s going to be such a FUN event, I hope we can pull it off. Our new statement around here lately has been “That’s how we roll!” And chaos, seems to be how we roll!

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Element Church, Outreach, church life, church planting, updates

Element Gives Back

26 02 2008

Hey Element Church! Hope you all haven’t forgotten about checking out Element Gives Back! I can’t wait to do that again, and we WILL do it again! It will be a complete surprise but it will be done! There is a new story on there that came up a few days ago. Check it out. I got some CRAZY news on the Egg Drop for tomorrow, but I need to get in bed!


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Categories : Element Church, Element Gives Back

Cheyenne Egg Drop

25 02 2008

Hey Element Church! We are extremely excited about this outreach event that is being planned. If you read this today I encourage you to begin praying for God to help us in a few key areas.

#1 A couple months ago we started the planning on this event. A few weeks in we didn’t feel like any location in the city was going to be made available to us for use so we kind of gave up on the idea until next year. Well, Wednesday of this last week we got a call from the school district and had been given permission to use Miller Field on the corner of Pershing and Evans. That started the ball rolling VERY quickly. We new we had limited time and needed to announce our event to Elementers on Sunday. So we had just a couple days to try and pull this all together. We found out on Friday that the helicopter was available. All that being said, the first prayer request is for no unforeseen roadblocks to be in our way. Pray that with the rushed planning we haven’t missed something or don’t miss something that could hinder this event.

#2 People to join the egg drop team. We need around 50 Elementers to join the team for this event. This is by far the biggest event we’ve tried to accomplish as far as #’s of people needed. If you are an Elementer we encourage you to step up and help us serve the city on this day.

#3 WEATHER! Our first ever servant project as Element Church was supposed to be at the City Easter event last year and it got snowed out. We know the risks of scheduling an event like this in March but feel it is worth the risk and will seek God to clear the way for us with the weather.

So, if you’d join us in those three prayer requests that would be GREAT! Hope to see you at the event serving with us.


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Categories : Element Church, Serving, updates

Sunday Rumination (2-24-08)

24 02 2008

Hey Element Church! Great conclusion to Satan’s Sex Ed today. I am SO pleased with how this series turned out. I was VERY nervous heading into the series but God has done some GREAT things through it. We’ve gotten many good comments on the series and it just seems as if God really helped some people through it. It was very difficult at times to say some of the things we did but I wouldn’t take one word back. The room was tense many occasions and I felt awkward in others but all in all they were things that needed to be said. I don’t want to train myself to avoid the tough subjects. The hardest yet best thing to do is to tackle them head on. Our next three series aren’t going to be quite as controversial. Heroes starts this coming Sunday. Here are my thoughts on the day.

— Four people acknowledged that they accepted Jesus Christ today.
— Numerous people acknowledged they had prayed to God for forgiveness on some sexual sin in their life. Those two things right there are what is most important.
— 371 in church today. Both services were fairly full. First service was VERY full again. So cool to see first service filling up. I’m excited about e:coustic starting in a couple of weeks. Hopefully that will open up some seats in our other services.
— We’re getting some good response on people to join the team serving at e:coustic. If you’re an Elementer and not currently serving somewhere on Sunday morning we’d love to have you join the e:coustic team.
— Band rocked it again today. Worship was great in both services and the Spirit of God was evident in both as well.
— My body is going to be ACHING after three services. Wouldn’t have it any other way.
— We had a MAJOR announcement today. We’ve been approved (barring any unforeseen roadblocks) for our Easter outreach event. As of 4 days ago we didn’t think we had a shot at all in doing the event, then one phone call changed everything.
On Saturday, March 15th we are going to be offering one HUGE Easter event. We are doing an Easter egg hunt with a twist. The event will include several easter games for kids ages 3-12, face painting, free balloons, giveaways including a nintendo wii and a video ipod. Then the big shebang. Following the games, activities and giveaways a helicopter is going to fly in and pick up THOUSANDS of easter eggs. It will then hover over the drop zone (egg hunt area) and will drop the thousands of candy and toy filled eggs over the field. Following the drop the kids will be able to rush the field and pick up all the eggs to put in their basket.
It’s called The Cheyenne Egg Drop. We’ll be sending a mailer out to families in Cheyenne to invite them to the event. We truly hope it will be a BLAST for all who attend and a way for us to serve the people of Cheyenne with a fun Easter event. Start praying now for AWESOME weather. March can be a tricky month for weather in Wyoming. I’ll try and post some graphics on here later this week. We’ll be getting an egg drop website up too.


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Categories : Sunday Rumination, church life, church planting, updates

Overflow

22 02 2008

Hey Element Church! Random and rambling thoughts will follow this sentence. I don’t think my brain can take anymore right now. This week has been absolutely insane. I feel like their are so many projects that need attention (all of them my own doing) that I can’t put it all together. Let me tell you something. This Easter season for Element Church is going to be OFF THE CHARTS!! I know it seems we’ve had a lot of “MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT ON SUNDAY” stuff at Element Church before, but I am BUSTING AT THE SEAMS to share with you the announcement we have this week. We’ve been approved for the Easter outreach idea we had, and it is going to be an annual event that we will continue to make BIGGER and BETTER!! We’re going to need LOTS of people to be a part of the e:team for this event to pull it off, and if you are an Elementer you’ll want to be a part of it. It will be our privilege to serve the city in this way. We are launching e:coustic in a couple of weeks and we are doing a MAJOR direct mail promotion to the city inviting everyone to Element for Easter. I LOVE being able to do the stuff we do. I have a blog idea I need to put on here called “The way we roll”! I’ve been laughing all week at the way we do things. I can’t do something and “just” do it! If we’re going to do something we’re going to go all out. This outreach event is something absolutely ridiculous for us to try and pull off this late in the game, but I feel we must. Other things we’ve done and attempted (as I look back) were absurd, yet they worked. I want to continue to set the precedent and standard for our church that we will do things for other people and make ourselves get outside of our theater no matter how much and how far it stretches us physically or financially. Outreach and Servant Evangelism is one of our essential ministries and part of our DNA, so we will continue to look for and come up with ideas to serve those around us. Random ramblings over. Hope to see you at Element Church on Sunday. If you can’t make it, make sure and watch the blog for our exciting announcement!

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : church life, church planting, updates

Devotional Thoughts…

21 02 2008

I just started Daniel today in my morning devotions. LOVE the Old Testament and I’m excited about preaching some KILLER OT stuff through our Heroes series. One of my favorite stories in the OT is Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. When I read the story today a line jumped out at me that never really had before. It should really be the theme to our lives. It’s not flashy or anything, just stood out.

In Daniel 3:12 King Nebuchadnezzar had ordered everyone to bow down to this towering image he had made when they heard the instruments sound. The instruments sounded and all bowed, except some of the Kings men came running to the King and in this verse said “But there are some Jews…” I want that said of me that if the WHOLE WORLD goes against God “But there was one man…” “But there was this church…” “But there was this family…” Jesus kind of spoke of this in Matthew 15 when he said “What good is it if you gain the whole world yet forfeit your soul”. The young men from Judah could have bowed down with everyone else “But there were some Jews…”

THEN one of the GREATEST verses in all of Scripture I got to read today. Inspires me every time I read it. The King is thrown into a fit of rage because they wouldn’t bow down. He told them they had one more chance or he’d throw them in the fire and said “then what god will be able to save you?” My boys answer in Daniel 3:16-18 with some of the greatest words of trust, courage and POWER in the Scripture. “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. (HERE IT COMES) But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your majesty, that we will NEVER serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” In Pastor Jeff words they said BRING IT KING! HA. I love it.

I want a “but even if…” faith. That REGARDLESS of what happens in my life, in our church or in this world, I will not bow down to ANYTHING but Jesus Christ and HIM alone! Do you want a “but even if…” faith?

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : discipleship, faith, personal

Three services, a building and a school walked into a church…

19 02 2008

Sounds like the beginning of some weird joke doesn’t it? Well, it’s the life and times of Element Church. Howdy all you Elementers out there! It’s been a wild ride for the last four months. October 7th seems like an eternity ago yet it’s been 4 months and some change (Pun intended). My how things have changed. God has saw fit to bless us with some very fast growth. With that comes the growing pains that you would imagine. To no avail we have sought out some use of school district property, mainly the East High School fine arts auditorium. At this point, that door seems to be closed. MANY other temporary/portable locations have been shut as well. We’ve actually looked at two different buildings for purchase, one which has consumed our last two days around the office. Both buildings we could purchase at $1 million dollars but both would need some extensive remodel to make it “church”. Even Element Church. The one thing that I feel peace about, is three services. I really feel like this is our option for the time being. I know God has something out there for us and HE will bring it to us. God directed me to two Bible passages I read a while back in Exodus and the notes I marked in my Bible concerning it. Here and Here are links to read them if you want. Exodus 13:17-18 and Exodus 15:22-27.

In the first one God basically doesn’t let them take the “easier” route to the promise land because they weren’t ready for a battle with the Philistines. Instead He led them in the “roundabout” way they left Egypt and they were like an army ready for battle. I want Element Church to be an army ready for battle.

In the second passage they came to a place called Marah where there was water to drink after having none for three days. The water was bitter and it ticked the people off. They CRIED OUT in complaint about their current situation. When they continued on, they came to the oasis of Elim where they found 12 fresh springs and 70 palm trees. If they would have just waited, GOD HAD WHAT WAS BEST COMING TO THEM! I really felt God reminded me of those passages. God could open up something tomorrow for us if He wants, and we will continue to exhaust ALL possible options, but it doesn’t mean it’s bad for us. It could just mean we’re taking the “roundabout” way. It could mean God is sparing us from a “battle” we’re not ready to fight. It could mean that HIS BEST for us is at the next oasis.

Where are you at in your life? Perhaps God is taking YOU through the roundabout way. Sparing you from a battle. Or has your best at the next oasis.

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Element Church, church life, church planting, updates

e:coustic service

18 02 2008

Hey Element Church! Just thought I’d share we’ve had a few people join the e:team for our new 9:45 AM worship service, BUT WE NEED MORE! If you’d like to become a part of an awesome team of people who are connecting others with LIFE every week please let us know. We have lots of opportunities to join the 9:45 team. Please email our office if you are interested in joining our team.

Following Christ,

Jeff


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Categories : Element Church, updates, volunteers

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