REACHING
THREE DIFFERENT
GENERATIONS
GEN2GEN
 |
|
 |
An exciting modern worship
with a full
high energy
praise band |
A beautiful classic
worship service
with hymns, piano,
organ and the
Celebration Choir |
A brand spankin’ new community
with an interactive service targeting young adults, families
and college students |
Demographics, they're a Changin'
Pastor Bill Taylor
For well over a decade, we have had a lot more older adults than younger ones at ODC. Part of our “Gen-2-Gen” strategy has attempted to correct that by birthing two younger communities – Great Room (targeting our youngest adults) and Journey (targeting middle age adults).
That birthing is happening as we speak/write. And you can see the evidence of the younger trend already. For instance, the Easter attendance in the three communities split like this:
*Classic 290
*Journey 283
*Great Room 108
That means the two younger communities’ total attendance was 57% of the total. Since Great Room and Journey will probably keep growing the most, we expect this trend to continue. So much for unhealthy demographics.
More evidence of our younger trend is seen in our nursery and other children’s classes, as well as the evidence of more babies to come as a lot of young wives are “showing” us. Staff and former staff have led the way:
*Bill and Mindy Magsig had baby boy Luke in February.
*Then Randy and Hayley Beck presented Lily-Kate to friends and church family in March.
*“Nearly staff” Matt and Nikki Kirstine produced Lucy in March, also
More are on the way!
 And just in the nick of time, we are redecorating the Early Childhood facility, Building 4. Our Next workday is Saturday, March 29.
Let’s thank the Lord for the appearance of a lot more young adults and young children at ODC! And, congratulations to Pastors’ Josh and Nathan that the Great Room has been brought into existence.
Anyway you slice it we are growing and whether you’re young or young at heart we have a service for you. Feel free to try them all! It is our goal that, no matter what service you attend, you will meet with the Lord and deepen your relationship with Him.
Great Room - Now Playing
Pastor Joshua Kirstine
 The Great Room Community has begun and our heart language is already resinating with many new young adults who are finding a home here at ODC.
On Palm Sunday we opened our doors for the first time and had 88 people come and participate. On the following Sunday, Easter Sunday, we had 108 people join us to Celebrate our Risen Lord.
The buzz has been Great! Here is what some people are saying:
“Last weekend was phenomenal. This is going to be great. I’m so happy, so glad to be a part of this movement. See you there.”
“It was so cool to see Nathan and the band cut loose.”
“I am not a church goer but I have been looking for a place where I can meet other young adults and get some help in my life, I think i found it.”
“Your message introduced me to a bigger understanding of all that God was doing leading up to and on Palm Sunday, I cant wait for more.”
“Now, this is church!”
“I am so excited... the coffee house is so cool, I love the look and feel of the room, there are a bunch of new people here... even the bulletin really looks awesome!”
Great Room leaders are continuing to build the infrastructure needed to help people connect and grow.
Pastor Joshua is teaching a 5 week series in April called, “Divine Invitation: Welcome to the Story of God!”
Please continue to be prayerful and intentional about inviting and spreading the word about this much needed ministry for the young adults of Kern County and beyond.
Windows on the World
Putting Hands and Feet On Love
 What does love look like? If you really tried to answer that question I bet some kind of image came to your mind that involved something physical like hands, arms or feet. Or, maybe it was the picture of a heart or mind or a hug that gave a face to the feeling and sentiment of “love.”
Children-To-Love is a ministry that keeps breaking barriers about the ways that question can be answered, and the sort of images that put a face on it. How do you translate the care that Jesus talks about in Matthew 25 when he says, “caring for the least of them is doing it unto Me?"
Some Creative Answers from CTL:
*Sponsoring an event, “Breaking the Barriers,” in Bucharest given by challenged young people to raise awareness of the value of each person, able and disabled.
*Caring for Shanti, orphaned by the death of her HIV/AIDS mother and father, through the CTL-India Children’s Center. It is estimated that India has over 5.1 million of its population living with HIV/AIDS.
*Providing training classes for parents of children with autism and other disabilities (the first ever in Romania) at the request of and in cooperation with the Romanian government.
*Seeing improved health and awareness of some 60 children (plus 10 elderly widows) who rely on the CTL Children’s Center in India for nutritious meals, medical care, clothing and nurture.
*Cutting edge rehab processes with some of the children in rehab hospitals in Romania.
A great letter from John Penrose, Executive Director of CTL, to the CTL Board of Directors in the U.S. gives some wonderful insights to creative answers to the love question. He is in Bucharest this week to work with the Romanian staff and reporting about one Saturday morning, he writes:
“The staff (all Romanian nationals) cares deeply for the children and this is shown over and over as they go the extra step. Working at CTL is no longer a job for these folks – but truly a ministry – PTL. There is so much to tell…A little girl at rehab spoke her first word yesterday. A year ago she was confined to a bed and couldn’t walk or talk! AMAZING. On this Saturday morning, some of the staff has come in to give extra tutoring help to kids in Romanian, math and English. Six girls at the Pro-Vita partnership (pro-life) are learning about personal sexual boundaries and behavior. There are 10 families involved in parenting classes…and much more.”
Now, what does love look like in your life? Think about it and act on the results.
Gloria Marshall,
Chair for Mission’s at ODC
Financereport
Connie Farmer, Business Administrator
Finances Jan - Feb 2008
| |
2008 YTD |
% |
2008 YTD Budget |
2007 Actual |
| Income |
$ 144,294.06 |
(67%) |
$214,661.94 |
$ 147,064.19 |
| Expenses |
$ 184,712.38 |
(94%) |
$ 95,741.04 |
$ 166,727.54 |
| Gain/(Loss) |
($ 40,418.32) |
|
($ 18,919.90) |
($ 19,663.35) |
|
showed up to help out. Much progress was made and the volunteers were well fed thanks to the efforts of Steve and Nancy Annis’ small group which came on board to support the workday by feeding the volunteers. 
paint and new bathroom stalls; and that doesn’t include all the cleaning, scraping, wiring and plumbing that took place. 
In order to finish the remodel on Building #4, Pastor Mike is asking for another workday. Basically he is taking the April workday and moving it up to March 29. So, that means there will be no workday in April.