Meet Andrea Engvall

Name: Andrea Engvall
Volunteer Role: Small Group Leader 6th grade girls
Environment: Inner Change
Where did you grow up? Fresno, graduated from Chico State, lived in Seattle but moved home to Fresno and stayed.
Family? My husband John and I have two kids: Sven (11) and Erika (10). They are truly blessings!
What’s your favorite ice cream flavor? Mint & Chip
What was the first concert you went to? REO Speedwagon or The Cars, I guess that really dates me.
How and when did you get involved serving in Family Life? I started serving in Family Life in Spring of 2008 after Carole Blomgren from my Community Group invited me to shadow her. At first I was a bit nervous, now I love it and the girls!
What’s your favorite thing about serving in Family Life? Honoring and serving God. Helping my girls grow in their faith with the Lord. Building a trusting relationship that encourages expression of faith and provides a safety net when needed in challenging times.
Could you tell us about one moment when you were serving you’ll always remember? When one of my girls told me I was her BFF.
What’s your favorite message or series from “big church?” Too tough to answer, the teacher appears when the student is ready. Seems I need a lot of “teaching”, I must have a “ready” sign on my heart!
What’s your favorite Bible verse or Bible story? Right now …. Phillippains 4:4-7. “Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The Fine Line

The Fine Line Extended Version (HD) from josh franer on Vimeo.

This is a video I found on Anne Jackson's blog this morning.  It is about a new book coming out called "The Fine Line" by Kary Oberbrunner.  This looks really interesting to me...I may add it to my list. : )  What do you think?

Technorati tags: fine, line, book, anne, jackson, christianity, church

No Greater Love

Just wanted to give  some love to one of my new favorite artists, Casey Darnell.  Read what he has to say about this powerful song that God gave him.  Pretty AWEsome!

Embedded Video

Technorati tags: casey, darnell, artist, song, God

WINS

We have some great WINS to celebrate this week in Highway 14 and INNERchange!

 

1. I met with our Classroom Facilitators before services yesterday, and introduced a new Sunday morning checklist.  I hoped this would be a helpful tool to remind them of their Sunday morning responsibilities.  They do so much that it can be hard to remember everything!  Anyway, I noticed that Nick Smith was doing a great job fulfilling these tasks.  He was very welcoming to families and kids as they walked through the door!  Great job Nick!  All of our Classroom Facilitators are AWESOME.  Be sure to thank them for what they do.
2. We are working hard to do a better job of bridging the gap between INNERchange and Turnpike (jr. high).  One way to do this better is to introduce the kids to our Student Ministries Director, Micah FosterI, a couple times each year.  Yesterday, Micah was the host in INNERchange and we received some feedback that the kids loved it!  You could also tell they were very engaged and responsive. 
3. Russ Lee’s fifth grade boys group went to Compass Pizza together on Saturday.  Russ said they had a great time, and he already has some ideas about their next outing.  These outings are making a HUGE difference.  The connections you can make with your kids outside of Sunday morning will impact the time you have with them on Sunday morning in a great way!  If you havn’t done an outing yet, try it…I will help you plan it!
4. Jill Hanson told me a great story about a little girl (2 or 3 years old) who was hanging around the Family Life Center one week and didn’t want to leave.  Jill finally asked what was wrong, and she said that she really wanted to meet the band (meaning the students who play for Turnpike and Catalyst).  Jill took the little girl to meet the band, and they all got down on their knees to meet the little girl.  She was thrilled!  It’s so great for these kids to be looking up to students who are serving! 
5. I have been getting requests for more stationary.  Thanks for taking the time to send cards to your kids!  Way to go!
6. The small group leaders have been a great help to me in keeping good records of our small groups!  I am getting lots of feedback about kids who need to be added, changed, and dropped.  This tells me that you really know your kids!  Thank you for investing, and keeping me informed.
7. Donna Cooper was gone this weekend, and Large Group still went great, minus a few technical difficulties.  Thank you to Mike Feist and Russ Lee for stepping up to take on some extra tech. responsibilities!  Our large group leaders did a great job.  We are blessed to have you!
8. We ended our canned food drive on Sunday.  I havn’t counted how many cans we collected, but WOW…there are two big piles on our stages!  I have more in the office too.  Our INNERchange kids especially took this ministry project seriously.  Thanks for promoting this in your small groups!

 Have a wonderful week!

 

Technorati tags: INNERchange, Highway14, small, group, leaders, Micah, Foster, Family, Life, food, drive

Opportunities...You have them, so use them

Every month, at least once a month, I get this hand written letter in my box at work.  It's from a man named Bernie.  He is awaiting deportation to Mexico in prison, and has been for many months now.  His family is in the U.S., and he is seperated from them because of some paperwork mix ups (to the best of my knowledge).  Most people would look at his situation and only see hoplessness.  Bernie however sees something else.  He sees opportunity. For the past month, I keep hearing God speak to me in various ways to use every opportunity He gives me to be a light in this world...to make a difference.  Bernie has learned this lesson well.  In his letter last month he says

"It's easy to complain about my situation, lately the phones don't work, they have changed our schedule, we are locked down more often and longer amounts of time, they've been having plumbing problems so they turn the water off and we never know when it will be turned on again.  I've learned that through everything you have to find the positive in the situation and be patient, patient, patient...If you look hard enough you will find the blessing even in the harshest of times.  Sometimes we don't see them and certainly don't feel blessed, but they are there.  Like after they turn the water off for a couple of days, you sure feel blessed when that water comes on."

Maybe God needs to turn my water off, so that I can appreciate life more, and the opportunities that are right in front of me.  Bernie is leading a bible study that is growing every week.  He wrote once that

"God works in mysterious ways and in mysterious places.  Even in a prison cell or in a make shift chapel in the middle of the desert in a federal prison.  God will manifest himself if you open up your heart and surrender all unto Him."

Technorati tags: bernie, salado, prison, opportunity, god

When my husband is sick, the world stops

I saw this video on Ragamuffin Soul's blog.  I think he and Micah Foster have something in common.  I told Micah last night after he was finally feeling better that I wasn't sure he loved me anymore these past few days. He barely spoke...it was aweful. haha.  Glad he's feeling better now.  I am understanding why the  mood change now after this video.  I had no idea sickness was so much worse for guys! : )  Love you babe.

Embedded Video

Technorati tags: micah, foster, sick, ragamuffin, soul, video, husband

Weekly WINS

Here are some WINS I heard about this past week in Highway 14 and INNERchange.

 

1. Our first graders are planning an outing to Pump It Up. Jan Coon told me that her grandson Skylar was chanting “Pump it up!” Pump it up!” after church last week.  Jan said that Skylar is very excited about going to Pump It Up with his leader Janelle!
2. Russ Lee’s 5^th grade boys group helped serve a spaghetti dinner to our marathon runners on Saturday night!  What a great idea and way to serve the community together as a small group!  Way to go 5^th grade boys!
3. We have some very dedicated Coaches and Classroom Facilitators in INNERchange and Highway 14!  We couldn’t set up during the week, so we did it all on Sunday morning.  Thank you so much to Dawn Wheaton, Darbee Whipple, Rocky Whipple and Blake Stephens for coming early to help get all of our rooms set up in time for service!  You are all such willing servants, and saved me from getting here in the middle of the night to get it all done. Haha
4. Our kids have collected a TON of cans for the Thanksgiving Boxes we will be giving out as a New Harvest Church family!  I was amazed at what I saw on Sunday, and we still have one more Sunday to collect. : )
5. Joanie Crass found me after first service, and told me that Sydney, her first grade daughter, accepted Christ that morning!  Because of a conversation Sydney had with her brother, Jordon, she started asking her parents some questions.  Daron was able to lead her in the prayer to accept Jesus.  What a great father, daughter moment, and definitely a reason to CELEBRATE!

 Have a great week!  It seems that I have been reminded over and over again this past month to make the most of every opportunity God has given me.  I encourage you to do the same.  Your ministry doesn’t end on Sunday morning.  Look for ways this week that God can use you to impact someone else’s life in big ways and small.  : )

 

Technorati tags: wins, highway14, innerchange, new, harvest, church, two, cities, marathon, small, group, jesus

Fee Concert...Still on my Mind

Here is a little clip of what this awesome worship experience was like.  Steve Fee not only led us in some amazing worship, but God spoke through him.  Watch this clip.

Embedded Video

Technorati tags: steve, fee, worship, god