Love Thru Listening

I recently attended an inspiring conference at our church called "Love Through Listening," led by our friend and church member Chris Willis. About 125 people joined, and the response was overwhelmingly positive! The conference focused on active listening as an act of love, grounded in biblical principles like James 1:19-20 and 1 Corinthians 13. Chris emphasized that listening with a servant mindset reflects the call to prioritize others above ourselves (Philippians 2:3-4, 1 Corinthians 10:24, Matthew 20:26-27), and is essential, especially when someone is struggling. 

I wish our whole church could have attended the event! Chris did a phenomenal job, and the food was worth raving about.

I’m excited to share some key takeaways with you, hoping they spark meaningful conversations among us:

Key Concepts

1. Emotional Dynamics: As rationality increases, emotionality decreases, and vice versa. Effective listening helps balance these dynamics.

2. The 80/20 Rule: To make others feel understood, we should listen 80% of the time and speak only 20%. This aligns with the biblical principle of viewing others as more important than ourselves.

3. Behavioral Change Stairway Model:

• Begin with active listening.

• Practice empathy to understand the speaker fully.

• Build rapport, which fosters godly influence.

• This influence can lead to positive behavioral change as the speaker seeks to follow God.

The MORE PIES Acronym: Eight Active Listening Skills
Chris introduced the MORE PIES acronym to outline eight key active listening skills:

1. M – Minimal Encouragers

• Use brief words (1-3), gestures, or facial expressions to show you’re listening without interrupting.

• Examples: “Mm-hmm,” nodding, or a smile.

• Use sparingly to maintain the 80/20 rule and avoid interrupting the speaker.

• Caution: Avoid affirming negative or dangerous behavior (e.g., don’t say “I see” to statements like “I’m worthless and better off dead”).

2. O – Open-Ended Questions

• Ask questions that invite detailed responses rather than yes/no or one-word answers.

• Chris shared the TEDS acronym for conversation starters:

• Tell: “Tell me about…”

• Explain: “Explain ___ (in more detail)”

• Describe: “Describe ___” or “Describe how you felt…”

• Show: “Show me what ___ was like.” or "Show me how ___ ..."

• Instead of “Are you okay?” or "Can you...", use a TEDS question!

• These encourage the speaker to share more.

3. R – Reflecting (Mirroring)

• Repeat key words or short phrases (1-4 words) the speaker used to show interest and invite further explanation.

• Example: If they say, “I’m so frustrated with work,” you might reflect, “Frustrated with work?”

• Caution: Don’t reflect harmful or immoral ideas to avoid unintended affirmation.

4. E – Emotional Labels

• Identify and name the emotions you hear in the speaker’s words.

• Be specific (e.g., “furious” instead of “mad,” “betrayed” instead of “hurt”).

• If mistaken, the speaker will correct you, which encourages further dialogue.

• For children, use simpler, general emotional terms due to their limited vocabulary.

5. P – Paraphrasing

• Restate the speaker’s words in your own, focusing on their most recent sentence or paragraph.

• This shows you’re processing their message and encourages them to continue.

• Example: If they say, “I’m overwhelmed with school,” you might paraphrase, “It sounds like school is feeling really intense for you.”

6. I – I-Statements

• Use statements like “I feel [emotion] when you [action] because [reason].”

• These can be positive or negative (require rapport first).

• Stick to one emotion and use positive I-statements when possible.

• Avoid negative I-statements until emotions have settled and rapport has been built.

• Example: “I feel encouraged when you share your thoughts because it helps me understand you better.”

7. E – Effective Pauses

• Allow silence to give the speaker space to process and continue talking.

• If they seem uneasy, reassure them: “I’m here; I just wanted to give you space to share.”

• Pauses let moments settle, often leading to deeper reflection or revelations for the speaker.

• Silence is powerful, as people naturally want to fill conversational gaps.

8. S – Summary

• Recap the main points of the entire conversation to show understanding.

• Begin with, “So, if I’m understanding you right…” and highlight key themes.

• This helps clarify and ensures the speaker feels heard.

Final Thoughts

The conference emphasized that active listening is a biblical act of love that prioritizes others, fosters understanding, and can lead to transformative change. By applying the MORE PIES skills and TEDS conversation starters, we can listen effectively, build rapport, and reflect God’s love in our conversations.
These skills have already helped me listen with more intention, and I’m eager to practice them in our conversations. If our church hosts another event like this, I hope you’ll join me and spread the word about how transformative it was. I was deeply blessed, and my hope is that good content like this would not only be available in our community but that it would change it for the better.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Jack

Not Mine

I have a confession: I really like to be in control. Like really, really. I like knowing all the details, having a say in things, and ultimately being able to shape how they go. In my mind, if everything happens exactly how I imagine, it will be perfect. It’s why, if a book or movie doesn’t have a happy ending that I like, it upsets me.

Control itself isn’t bad — self-control is a fruit of the Spirit. But when that desire for control turns into trying to control others or circumstances, things get dicey.

This has been a tough struggle for me lately. Over the weekend, my family met up in Nebraska for a zoo day. I was so pumped. But quickly, my excitement turned to anxiety when things didn’t go exactly how I planned. I couldn’t keep track of all 11 people all the time, and I lost the little façade of control I thought I had. At one point, my mom turned to me and said, “It’s okay, there’s no point in worrying about the things you can’t control.” And my immediate thought was, “But I can control it, so there’s a lot to worry about.”

If you can’t relate to that, maybe this will sound familiar. Recently, I had two hard and uncomfortable conversations with people I deeply love. In both, I was vulnerable and shared something that had been weighing heavily on me. After the first conversation, I felt like I lost control once that person shared what I said with someone else, something I didn’t want. In the second, I was completely convinced the person would respond one way, but they went completely off-script.

Obviously, my control issues show up in a million other places, but this isn’t just a confessional.

Thankfully, we have a God who understands temptation and shows us how to handle it. In a place called Gethsemane, Jesus prayed in agony because He was about to be betrayed. In Matthew, He says, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (26:36–39). Similarly, in Mark, He says, “Abba, Father! All things are possible for you. Take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, not what I will, but what you will.” (14:32–36).

I don’t think the saying, “let go and let God,” really works. It should be, “let’s go to God and let Him work.” Jesus, being God, had all the power and control, yet He didn’t run once things got painful. Instead, He went to the Father and laid His control at His feet.

Someone once told me that God doesn’t give us full control or reveal everything about the future because it wouldn’t be loving. At first, I thought that was ridiculous, but now it makes sense. When I try to control everything, I become stressed, tired, and overwhelmed, and that’s just with the things right in front of me. If I also had the knowledge and control of tomorrow, it would be unbearable.

Jesus said, “Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34).

Control feels safe, but giving it to God frees us. The irony is that control never actually helps. It drains our joy, fuels our anxiety, and convinces us we can carry a weight we were never meant to hold. Letting go isn’t giving up; it’s trusting the One who never loses control.

I now stop and ask myself:
- What area of my life do I need to surrender and pray, “not my will, but Yours”?
- Where is God inviting me to loosen my hold and trust His hands instead?

Have a great day!
Jayden Smith

Revival

Wednesday mornings around 8:30 a.m., our staff gathers for what we call a “staff check-in.” We share something we’re thankful for, something we’re praying for, and something we’re working on that week. This has become one of my favorite times each week. There are always moments of joy, joking, and laughter—but it also gives real insight into what we’re asking the Lord to help us with.

Sometimes the same answers pop up again and again. For instance, coffee somehow always makes its way onto the board under the “thankful for” category. I usually get a few smug looks when that’s written down because I’m one of the few—apparently in the world—who doesn’t really enjoy coffee. Not even a little bit.

But each week, when it comes around to my turn to share, there’s a consistent theme in my prayer request: REVIVAL. Lately, the Lord has placed a deep burden on my heart to pray for revival.

Because of the nature of my calling and ministry, much of that prayer is for revival among young people. It’s been amazing to hear stories of revival breaking out on college campuses across America, but my heart longs to see that same spark ignite in the lives of students right here in our community.

This past spring, we did a study on revival—looking closely at historic movements and what Scripture teaches about these moments. Here’s what I learned: revival starts with a repentant heart. Singular, not plural—a heart. It doesn’t begin as a movement, an organized program, or a wrecking ball of truth. Revival begins in one individual who recognizes their complete need for a God who saves—and whose only response is to repent, turn from sin, and fully surrender to Him.

Revival is worth praying for because it draws people into a right relationship with God—where sin loses its power and the sinner finds new life in Christ.

As I’ve prayed for revival, God has been doing deep work in me. I’ve realized my need for greater dependence on Him, greater surrender, and a deeper burden for my own sin. How can I expect God to bring the fire of revival around me if I’m not willing to be the first spark? How desperate am I? How desperate are you?

There would be nothing greater than to see all 1,500 seventh–twelfth grade students in Newton USD 373 schools repenting of their sins, giving their lives to Christ, and getting connected to a Bible believing church! The impact that would have on their families, our town, and even our state would be astronomical. God can do that! If He can deliver the Israelites, heal the blind, and raise people from the dead, He can save 1,500 students. In Acts 2, three thousand people were added to the Church after just one message was shared. God can still do great things!

This Friday night, October 17th, we’re hosting a 5th Quarter event for Newton High School students. We’ll offer food, fun activities, and connections to people who love them and want to share Jesus with them. We’re doing this in partnership with several other Newton churches and Christian organizations that want nothing more than to see every student come to know Christ.

Church, would you join me in praying that we make lasting connections with students during this event? And even more, would you continue praying for the young people in our community? I believe God wants to answer those prayers.

How is God sparking revival in your life—and how does He want you to advocate for those around you?

Peace and blessings,
Bryant Hart

Silly Snake Staff Story

I grew up with wonderful Bible teaching. The church I grew up in highly valued the written Word of God, and every gathering was centered around that Word being honored. I knew all the “common” Bible stories that any church kids would know. The truth is, though, that most of those stories and principles I was taught got filed away as knowledge. I knew Jesus at a young age and had some very real experiences of being very grateful for my sins being forgiven. That didn’t stop me from treating church like a “two or three times a week exercise in sitting still and being bored way longer than I wanted to” event! I mostly learn by listening, and I enjoy facts, so I still absorbed a lot of information, but that’s precisely what it was to me. 

That all changed when I was 16, when I was baptized and attended summer camp. I realized that God’s Word meant something for me every day. All those facts, principles, and timeless truths were meant to affect each thought, every action, and the overall direction of my life. Suddenly, the stories I knew made me want to bend my own story to be in line (at least with the good parts) with those stories. I had a hunger to know what God said about everything that He spoke about in His Word. I would read my Bible for hours a day with joy. I had known many of the stories, memorized verses, and had been taught what so much of it meant, but reading it with the intent for the words to change me gave me fuel I had never felt before. 

I have been reading the Bible for almost 30 years now, seeking a life change through it. I have had mentors, friends, pastors, and teachers since then who added so much insight to the excellent foundation I had. My favorite parts of the Bible currently are the Psalms and any time a character breaks out into a song during a story in the Bible. I love it all, but if I have “extra” time to read one day outside of my regular reading or studying, these are the places I will go. My lifelong favorite is the book of Ecclesiastes. I just have a nagging feeling that if I spend enough time considering its high and complex wisdom, someday a little wisdom will rub off on me!

You might think that, with all this buildup, I have a very heavy and serious point to make. We all need to learn the Bible, and being taught it at a young age should not be taken for granted; it is a wonderful gift. It should also be stated that God Himself claims the primary role of teaching us His Word (Hebrews 8:10), so if you haven’t been blessed in the same way I described above, don’t lose heart. God works to teach us all His Word, and your learning it later in life doesn’t put Him at a disadvantage. Our various testimonies do not hinder God. He is always looking for open and believing hearts. 

I would like to highlight a truth, but through a new observation I made, which, honestly, is a pretty silly and hilarious moment in the Bible. Recently, Jack referenced Exodus 4 in one of his sermons. As a diligent Bible student, I strive to read the verses surrounding any passage someone uses in a sermon—reading the entire chapter (or larger section) around a few referenced verses is called examining the context. It is always beneficial to consider the broader context to gain a clearer understanding of why something is said or why someone does something. 

In Exodus 4, God instructs Moses to use the staff he had used as a shepherd to perform a miracle, proving to the people of Israel that God had indeed brought Moses back to them from another country to lead them out of their slavery in Egypt. This was a huge deal, and a slave rebellion on this level needed to be God’s idea, or it probably would have ended very badly for the Israelites. In Exodus 4, God tells Moses to throw down the staff he had, and God turns it into a snake… and in Exodus 4:3, we read that when that miraculous transition happened and Moses saw his staff turn into a snake, it says “he ran from it!” I have probably read this account or heard it read dozens of times, and I did not remember that Moses got scared and ran away from the snake that God turned his own staff into. It’s silly, mildly hilarious to think about, and so typical of us as people! 

There are two things you can ponder about this story told by a staff person at GCC, about a silly observation of a staff turning into a snake. First, as I began to move past just storing the facts of Bible stories, I started looking for ways to live differently. That is an essential step in our development as we learn to follow Jesus. As I have continued to grow, I have really started to look at what the details say about our hearts as men and women. We should never use our experience to interpret something in the Bible, but recognizing similarities in our life experiences with characters in the Bible can help inform us as we look at people's reactions to situations in the Bible. I get startled when I see a big snake up close, and seeing Moses do that reminds me that even though his life is immortalized in the pages of scripture, he also had weaknesses, hopes, dreams, and momentary lapses in trust in God, just like I do. It helps me to think deeply about my relationship with God when I wrestle with that minute detail in the story. Did Moses run from the snake because of the simple flight response we can all feel when started by an animal we didn’t expect to see? Was Moses’ response a more profound and darker lack of trust in God? Shouldn’t he have felt at peace? God was literally telling him that He would do miracles to prove to the Israelites that God Himself had sent Moses to set them free. We later see Moses doubt God’s ability to speak through Him, leading God to call Moses’ brother Aaron to be the primary speaker of God’s message to the people. How often do I fall into these same silly but possibly unbelieving mindsets when I know God wants me to do something?

Second, God can give you lots of chuckles, deep insights, or new perspectives on Him or how people react to Him if you keep reading, listening to, and studying your Bible. There are little nuggets to be had that you haven’t seen yet, and if you let them open your heart to what God wants you to see, it can bring you nearer to Him! Many movies would have us see Moses as a somber, almost terrifyingly powerful leader who led God’s people out of the servitude of the greatest ruler of the day. He did that… but don’t forget that he also hiked up his robes and did a little dance in the desert when he saw a snake. God wants you to stay plugged into His word so that whatever you read in it, whether it's silly or serious, it will bring you closer to Him.

Thanks for Reading,
Pastor Will

When God Rejects our Worship

Noah and I read scripture together often. The last time we were ready to start a new book, he picked Amos.  And no, I couldn’t remember any details about Amos.  Just a few nights ago, we read chapter 5, which includes this in verse 23, “Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen”.  God is speaking to Israel through Amos, telling them that He takes no delight in their gatherings, in their offerings, or in their singing.  This sounds harsh.  Can you imagine God speaking to us, telling us that he hates our Sunday morning gatherings?  Or that He doesn’t want to hear our singing or receive our offerings?  Why would God reject worship, or not be pleased when people are gathered in His name?

One of the clues is in the next verse, “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.”  God doesn’t want hypocrisy.  He doesn’t want lip service. If we are neglecting the love of people, neglecting issues of justice, and not pursuing righteousness, God will not delight in our gathered worship.  Earlier in chapter 5, Amos writes, “Seek good, and not evil…Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate.”  He talks about his people taking bribes, turning away the needy, and afflicting the righteous.  God delights in the worship of His gathered church on Sunday morning, when they are worshipping him throughout the week.  He delights in our sacrifices when we are sacrificing for others.  When there is a lack of obedience and a love for evil, and then we pay lip service to God, it does not bring Him joy.

I think the second clue in God rejecting worship from His people is a closer look at the offerings being brought to Him.  In verse 22, God says he doesn’t accept their burnt offerings, grain offerings, or peace offerings.  Do you notice a particular offering missing?  The sin offering is missing.  Let me suggest that God doesn’t delight in our worship when we don’t grieve our sin.  When we can’t admit that we need grace, and when we don’t acknowledge our sin before the Lord, I think our songs just become noise to Him.

So, worship the Lord throughout the week by pursuing righteousness and justice, and by confessing your sin to Him.  Then, let’s gather on Sundays to worship the Lord together!  May the Lord delight in our gatherings, and be enthroned upon our praises! 

See you Sunday!
Pastor Kyle

Something is Stirring

I know I'm not the only one who feels it. You've seen it. You've heard it. People in our country are expressing a renewed passion for truth, dialogue, and even God.

More people are going to church, praying, and taking an interest in what is going on in the public square.

But like all things, this moment is only temporary. So let's not waste it!

If we celebrate passion but forget to make disciples, we will miss out on true revival. I like how pastor and author, Mac Lake, puts it:

"The church has a responsibility in this moment:
To disciple new believers. Walk with them, teach them, and encourage them. Don’t just celebrate their zeal—shape it.
To develop the next leaders. Give disciples opportunities to lead, but also help them shoulder responsibility with humility and wisdom.
To invest in character. Teach the disciplines of holiness, prayer, humility, and integrity. Passion may open doors, but character keeps them open.
To multiply discipleship. Just as Paul multiplied himself through leaders like Timothy, we must multiply ourselves in others, and help them not burn out or veer off but endure with strength." (maclakeonline.com) 

There is no doubt a renewed sense of courage within the church. People want to speak out for the Gospel and biblical values. If that's you, start praying.

Pray that God would do a work in your own heart. Be honest with Him about what you do, NOT what you know. Here are a few questions I bring before God each day:

- How is my one-on-one time with God? Am I committed to hearing from Him through the Scriptures? Am I taking the time to open my heart up to Him in prayer? Am I learning to rest in the Lord, not just binge on entertainment?

This is only a small sample of questions that help me discern between what I need and what I want. And boy, is it easy to mix that up! My focus can be so circumstantial sometimes, I don't even recognize that I am the one who chooses whether or not I fix my eyes on Jesus.

This spring, I am inviting a few people to join me on Sunday evenings to pray and grow together. Would you do me a favor? Join me in asking God to move within our church and community. Beg Him to reveal the condition of your own heart, and where you can share your faith.

We are the church. God gave no other plan. Let's go be the church.

Grace and peace,
Pastor Jack

My Ebenezer

Right now, life feels extra heavy. And I know it’s not just me.

I was flipping back through my prayer journal from 2019 and couldn’t help but reflect. For one, I’m no longer a teenager (praise God for that). But even more, page after page, prayer after prayer, I see how God has answered in ways I hadn’t even realized. He has never stopped helping me.

That reflection hit especially deep because of how heavy things feel today. Depression is on the rise, with an estimated 13.1% of people ages 12 and up reporting symptoms within a two-week span. That’s an 8% increase in just ten years. About 30% of U.S. adults will be diagnosed with depression at some point, and less than 40% will ever get help. The ~60% increase in depression is heartbreaking.

This isn’t just random information; it’s personal for me. I know what it’s like to sit in the heaviness. I was prescribed antidepressants before I was even in high school, and I’ve spent years in counseling. Those pages in my prayer journal remind me that even in the middle of all that, God was quietly answering and carrying me.

In 1 Samuel 7, the Israelites beg Samuel, “Don’t stop crying out to the Lord our God for us, so that he will save us from the Philistines.” Samuel prays, and God thunders against their enemies, giving them victory. After this big win, Samuel took a stone and set it upright and named it Ebenezer, which means “the stone of help.” He explains it a little bit more and says, “The LORD has helped us to this point.”

And right now, surrounded by death, defeat, corruption, discrimination, and injustice, I pause to look back. He has helped me to this point.

When I get swallowed by darkness and the lies in my own head, I pray Psalm 42 (and sometimes 43, since they go together) until I believe it:

Why, my soul, are you so dejected?
Why are you in such turmoil?
Put your hope in God, for I will still praise him,
My Savior and my God.
I am deeply depressed;
Therefore I remember you from the land of Jordan
and the peaks of Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your breakers and your billows have swept over me.
The LORD will send his faithful love by day;
his song will be with me in the night —
a prayer to the God of my life.

The news makes money off heartbreak and disaster, but we were never meant to carry all of that. As believers, we don’t have to because our God is with us and in us, whether on the mountain or in the valley.

So I pray for whatever grief or heaviness you’re carrying. I pray against fear and anxiety in the face of the violence and brokenness around us. But more than anything, I pray that when you pause and look back at your own Ebenezer, you’ll remember: God has helped you this far and He won’t stop now.

Jayden Smith

I Don’t Wanna

Let me be painfully honest with you all for a moment. As I sat down at my desk to write this staff journal, I just… didn’t want to. And I could list out all the reasons why—being busy, having other things on my plate, or just honestly preferring to do something else—but I’ll spare you the in-between details.

Some days, I simply don’t feel like doing anything I’m “supposed” to do. And honestly, I hesitate to admit that out loud. I worry what you, the onlookers, might think. But maybe that’s exactly why I need to say it—because if I’m being really real, I bet there are more than a few of you who feel the same way sometimes.

So let me be the one to say: You are not broken for feeling like this. You are not the first, and definitely not the last. You are not alone.

More often than we’d like to admit, we all have days when the things we know we ought to do are the absolute last things we want to do. Whether that’s work-related, chores, relationships—or even our spiritual life—it happens. Again, you are not alone.

But what do we do when the last thing we feel like doing is opening our Bible, praying, or praising the Lord?

For me, I have to remember the moments when I’ve seen God show up in my life. I have to get to a place—mentally, emotionally, or even physically—that reminds me of His faithfulness.

Sometimes, that looks like hopping in the driver’s seat of my little Prius, rolling the windows down, and just driving. No music. No distractions. Just me, the road, and my God.

Other times, it’s getting to a place in my prayers that realigns my heart with who God is.

Pastor Jack recently shared on a Sunday morning how, when he feels down and disconnected, he prays something along the lines of:
"I love you, Lord. I want to be with You. I want to hear from You."

That simple prayer can be like a jumpstart—a spiritual spark that draws us back to the place where God always intended us to be: close to Him in prayer, motivated to work for His glory, and ready for whatever He places in front of us next.

So let me ask you:
Are you struggling for motivation?
Are you struggling to have faith?

How might God be inviting you to take responsibility—to find that familiar place, or to seek out your own “jumpstart” in relying on Him again?

And if even that feels like too much right now—please, let someone come alongside you. Sometimes we need more than just our own cries to God. If you need encouragement, support, or simply someone to listen, we’re here. One call, one email, one tap on the shoulder at church—that’s all it takes.

Let’s be a church that truly shows up for one another.

"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water.
Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, since He who promised is faithful."
— Hebrews 10:22-23 (CSB)

Peace and blessings,
Pastor Bryant

Faith, Mountains, and Mustard Seeds

I hope to share a simple, concise, yet important thought with you. Part of Matthew 17:20 contains these words of Jesus, “For truly I tell you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.” Just to be 100% up front, I am going to pull this verse a little out of its primary context. I’m not going to use it to talk about Jesus’ disciples’ ministry at a specific time and place when they were driving demons out of people.

There have been many observations made about mustard seeds and the word picture Jesus uses to highlight something about our faith. I want to draw out something adjacent to that. Jesus highlights that at times our faith is small. That’s true, and if you’ve walked with Jesus for more than 24 hours, you’ve probably felt like your faith was small, too. But notice this, Jesus isn’t worried about the disciples having small faith in this passage, and He isn’t worried about your faith or mine being small at times, either.

One of the truths revealed in Jesus’ statement is simple but profound. Something we spend a lifetime grasping if we truly commit our lives to Him: the size of our faith matters so little compared to who our faith is in.

Whether we trust God in a way that feels big or in a way that feels tiny compared to our circumstances, our trust and our faith are not the determining factor in the outcome. Mountains don’t often need to be moved, at least I haven’t heard many reports of it happening! But Jesus’ words to His closest followers remind us that our strength is small, and that our smallness has nothing to do with the outcomes in our lives.

Now contrast Matthew 17:20 with Psalm 77:16-19, which says:
“The water saw you, God. The water saw you; it trembled. Even the depths shook. The clouds poured down water; the storm clouds thundered; your arrows flashed back and forth. The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind; lightning lit up the world. The earth shook and quaked. Your way went through the sea, your path through the vast water, but your footprints were unseen.”

Psalm 77 is written in the context of God parting the Red Sea for Moses and the people. And here’s the contrast: no matter the context, and no matter how tiny our faith may be, when God moves, He moves huge! Our joy, our hope, and even our faith cannot rest on our own evaluation of how big our faith feels. We have to constantly remember who our faith is in. We must look past our own judgments, our own understanding, and our own feelings about ourselves, and look straight at God. When we do, we see how little it matters what size our faith is, because everything changes when we focus on who our faith is in.

Even if the only change we see is our own hearts resting exactly where they’re meant to, secure in a God bigger than any faith we could ever muster(d)!

Pastor Will

The Lord Will Provide

Last school year, we started singing a new song at youth group. It was really well received and seemed to resonate with the students.  The song is “The Lord Will Provide,” and it’s based on part of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount.  The youth led it in "big church" in May on youth Sunday, and we had so many people asking about the song that we decided to add it to our Sunday morning repertoire.  We started singing it in June, and I haven’t had the opportunity to write a staff journal about it until now.

            When we sing “The Lord Will Provide,” we declare to one another that God provides for our needs.  We encourage each other not to worry about things, but to trust in the one who faithfully supplies.  The song uses Jesus’ words about the flowers and the birds of the air, who do not worry or stress about their needs, because God cares for them.  And how much more God cares for us!

            The song continues by using Jesus’ words when he said, “Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be given to you as well.”  When we sing this song to one another, we encourage one another not to seek the treasures and riches of the world, but to seek the things of eternal value.  When we seek to glorify God in all that we do, when we concern ourselves with the things God is concerned with, He takes care of our needs. 

            As we sing this song on Sunday, I don’t know what your needs might be.  I don’t know what you might be anxious about.  But I know that God is faithful to provide.  He owns everything.  It’s all his.  Everything we need, God already has it.  So, my prayer is that singing this song will remind us of how great a provider the Lord is.  I pray that anxiety would fade, that worry would cease, and we would rest in knowing, “every single time the Lord will provide”!

See you Sunday!

Pastor Kyle

Sprang a Leak

I almost got through the summer without a landscaping hassle…almost. August had other plans. 

As I mowed my lawn, I noticed my feet squishing and slipping in mud. 
“Is this a low spot?”
“Is one of my sprinkler heads busted?”
“Maybe this will dry up by tomorrow if I just ignore it…” 

Not likely.

Turns out, one of my irrigation control valves sprang a leak and was continuously pumping H2O in the dirt. 

Of course, that’s why we put in a sprinkler system in the first place—to water the grass.

However, this wasn’t how it was designed to work. It’s not meant to all pour out in one spot.

That only makes a mess.

It reminds me of my own calendar and focus. If I pour all my attention into one area while neglecting others, I don’t stimulate growth and foster beauty—I create imbalance.

When I am not paying attention to all that God has given me to cultivate, I find myself slinging mud and creating ruts in what could be a beautiful attraction that inspires my neighbors.

Maybe you can relate.

I’m glad that I noticed the water pooling up in my yard. It alerted me to a problem that couldn’t be ignored.

And that may be the very thing we should pray for.

Pray along with me that God will identify the leaks that need your attention. You don’t have to be afraid of what He exposes because He will be with you every step of the way.

We don’t have to fix everything ourselves. (You think I replaced that valve all by myself?)

Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30, CSB)

Thank God that He is a good shepherd who will never leave us. 
Thank God that He is a comforter who will teach and guide us.
Thank God that He is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and mercy.

Praise God!

Grace and Peace,
Pastor Jack

Knead for Faith

I know I am young, but man, do I miss when I was younger. Trusting God was my strong suit. I had questions, of course, but I believed He had something good in store for me. Then came this last summer.

I went into last summer thinking God would give me rest, joy, and, if I was lucky, a tan. Instead, He handed me 800 daily servings of bread, a side of hives, and a crash course in what it means to trust His goodness.

During my internship, the bakery was my summer assignment. After a spiritually exhausting spring, I thought God would give me a “good summer.”  I pictured early mornings, warm bread, maybe some peaceful music. Instead, it was baking for 800 people, something for breakfast, lunch, two items for dinner, plus a snack, every single day.

It wasn’t the summer I expected, and honestly, not the summer I wanted. The work was constant, the heat relentless, and my body didn’t handle it well. Every shift, I found myself whispering the same prayer: “God, I don’t even know if You’re listening, but I need You so much right now.” I clung to Psalm 40:1-2:

“I waited patiently for the Lord, and He turned to me and heard my cry for help. He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure.”

But even while praying, I often felt like I was sinking instead of standing. And then mid-summer, the hives came. From my neck to my feet, my skin burned in the bakery heat. I kept asking God why this was my season, but His Word reminded me He had not abandoned me.

I wish I could say the hives went away, the baking got easier, and my summer turned around. It didn’t. Later, Psalm 66 reminded me that God tests and refines His people, and that He brings them out to abundance.

If you had told me at the start of last summer that I’d end it still tired, with hives, and without the “happy” summer, I would’ve cried. Now, I see it differently. God didn’t give me the summer I wanted; He gave me the one I needed to see that His goodness is not a mood, a season, or a circumstance. It’s His nature.

God was and is still good, even when the summer felt long and the prayers felt unanswered. Psalm 66 ends by saying, “Blessed be God! He has not turned away my prayer or turned His faithful love from me.” And maybe that’s the point; learning to trust not in the life I think I deserve, but in the God who knows exactly what I need.

Have the best day!
Jayden Smith

Practice Makes Disciples

I’ve recently decided I want to torture myself pretty much every day for the next couple of months. And by torture myself, what I really mean is start practicing for a marathon. Why would I put myself through so much pain and agony, both physically and mentally, you ask… Well, I don’t really have a good answer for you. I actually don’t like running at all. ESPECIALLY if chasing a ball is not involved. Last time I checked there is no such thing as a “marathon ball” as with the foot, base, and basket varieties. I think my biggest driving factor is just that I want to be able to say that I did it. I completed a marathon. But even in the torture, I think God might have a bigger reason or lesson for me in it right now. 

I use the words “practice for a marathon” specifically because “training” feels insufficient. Maybe this is a made-up thing in my head, but training to me infers lifting weights, stretching, and doing box jumps. All good things, just not the actual thing, running a marathon. Practicing, in my mind, signifies you are actually attempting the task at hand in hopes that one day you will complete the actual task with perfection or great success. I don’t know if I’m making much sense, but I’ll try to differentiate the difference greater, by sharing what God has been convicting me of more recently.

Going to church, hearing God’s word preached, attending a small group or Sunday school, these all feel like training to me. All things that God wants us to do to build up our faith, to strengthen our relationship with God, and with other believers. But actually sharing about Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection with someone who needs to hear it is practice. That ultimately is what God wants us to do as the Church. That is His end goal in mind for us to live it AND share it.

I want to get better at sharing my faith daily. I want to be able to say at the end of my life, I did it, I faithfully shared the gospel with lost people in need of saving. But I'm not going to get any better at it by just reading my bible. Like a man who only ever trains his arms, he will become top-heavy and topple. I’ve been convinced that I just need to do it. Be bold, have courage, and practice sharing the message and hope of Jesus Christ. Our success is in our obedience to share. Not in the perfection of our words or the acceptance of salvation. God does the heart change, and at times, He will let me be a part of that. But if not, I still need to faithfully practice. I still need to do it. 

How, where, and when is God convicting you to practice sharing the gospel? 

Blessings,
Bryant Hart

Airplanes and Airports

I want to put out a huge thanks to everyone who supported the Botswana trip through giving and prayer! Without the elders, Reach Global, and so many of you, we could not have made this trip a reality.

Church planting is God’s plan to reach lost people. In places where there are multiple churches preaching the Gospel and God’s Word, like Newton, Kansas, it might be hard to really connect with that truth. In places like rural Botswana, it is a stark reality that could not be more true! The classic statistic in Church Planting that still rings true in Newton is that if everyone in Newton were a believer, then there would not be enough seats in all the churches for them to come on a Sunday morning. That means we could have more church plants in Newton, and that would be a good thing. But in places like northern Botswana, churches are few and far between, and the situation is Biblical in proportions.

Much like Paul and his church planting travels in the book of Acts, the work in northern Botswana is just beginning. To be clear, there are churches there, and the Gospel is not new to everyone. However, most churches mix the Gospel and the Bible with other ideas. Whether they mix in familiar practices like voodoo (cursing neighbors or enemies) or they use the Gospel to raise money for their own interests (like TV evangelists). That means that churches based only on the Gospel and the Word of God are few and far between. 

That is why the work of church planting, especially in Botswana, is so essential. The church planters there have a hard road they are walking. That is why the trip that our team, Brian and Marilyn Bisbee, Seth and Sarah Hershberger, Brett and Jess Warkentine, Steph and I felt the burden to sit in planes/airports for more than 40 hrs voluntarily. 

There were two parts to our trip, both aimed at encouraging the church planting pastors and the churches they serve. For the first part, Steve Adriansen from the FEC (the group of churches our church is a part of), Steph, and I led a Soul Care Retreat for the pastors and their wives. A Soul Care Retreat was focused on spending time thinking about Jesus and how much He loves us and wants us to love one another. The goal was to refresh and fill up the church planters so that they could keep giving to the communities they serve. We have to be filled up before we can pour out. The rest of the team cooked all the meals and made sure everything was ready for the retreat each day. If you have not heard any of their stories of cooking meals in an understocked kitchen with unreliable access to ingredients, then you need to track one of them down and get ready to laugh! The team was awesome and they made such good connections with the church planter and their wives that by the end we were drawing them in to help with the Soul Care Retreat. 

The second part of our trip was actually visiting three of the churches represented by the pastors in the retreat. One of the churches was 5 hours away, so we couldn’t visit that one in the time we had. Pure joy! Those are the only words that fit when you get to visit other believers who love Jesus but who express that in their own unique context. Heaven will be full of believers from all ages and all nations, and getting to taste a little bit of that on this side of eternity is pure joy! It was all joy to be with our brothers and sisters in the faith, but their situations are not without great difficulties. Some of the churches don’t even have out houses for restrooms yet. They are all battling against other compelling forces in their communities. Our church friends in Botswana only give out the Gospel, the Word of God, and the Love of Jesus. Other groups give out promises of wealth, status, and easily bought spiritual power. It is hard to convince neighbors and friends to join you in a church that is unwilling to promise anything but a good relationship with God. We are choosing the slow and steady way to build these church families, but it is the way that will last. 

Please keep praying with us for our church planting couple that we support at GCC. Ace and Letty Morentwa and their 3 young girls would be so glad to know that they have a church family in Kansas praying for the work they have committed their lives to. Stay tuned for an upcoming date when the Botswana team will share a full report on the trip. 

Blessings,

Pastor Will

Know Your Testimony

For those of you who do not know me, I am not normally on staff at Grace, but I have had the blessing to help with children’s ministry this summer.  My full-time position is being the choir and guitar teacher at Newton High School.  My family and I have been attending Grace for the past 7 years since we moved here for our teaching positions. You have probably seen me on stage helping to lead worship, and I am blessed to have my husband, daughter, and son on the worship teams here at Grace. I have also been on the Reach Local Committee for the past few years.

I was challenged to write a staff journal during the summer, and I have decided to share my testimony with the church.  I was challenged to write out my testimony during a women’s Bible study, and it was very helpful for me to put my journey into words.  I would encourage everyone to write their testimony to be able to share and defend their faith at any moment! 1 Peter 3:15 “but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you.”

I was raised in a “mormonish” church. It was the RLDS church based in Independence, MO. The church has since changed names, but still believes in the Book of Mormon. My family had been part of the church back when Joseph Smith was in Independence, MO.  We even have documents that show my great great-great-grandfather pictured next to Joseph Smith and Brigham Young. I was baptised into the church when I was 8, just like every child who grew up in the church. I did believe in Jesus at a very early age and had a very strong faith in the church. 

My oldest brother, Spencer, was 10 years older than me, and he had gone to college to study biology. He had become agnostic, but during his studies, he came to the realization that there had to be a creator when he looked at the complexity of creation. He also met and married my sister-in-law, Jennifer. She was a very strong Christian who helped him in his journey to find Christ.  Spencer was my mentor and spent a year studying the scriptures and telling me the truth about the Mormon church.  He never gave up, and he never stopped praying for me.

I remember the exact moment that my brain and heart realized that Joseph Smith was a false prophet. I now realize it was the Holy Spirit lifting the veil so I could know the truth. I was sitting on the couch with my brother, and he was showing me a prophecy Joseph Smith had made that did not come true. 

My brother baptised me and I have been on the journey of sanctification ever since.  He continued to disciple me as I grew in my faith, and most of my immediate family also left the “mormonish” church and became Christians.  I am so thankful that God gave me a person in my life who shared the gospel and the truth and did not give up.  My challenge to you is to be that person for someone else. Choose a person, and pray for them without ceasing and share your testimony with them.  You may not see the fruit, but you can plant the seed.

Grace and Peace,

Amy Ives

Be the Church

When I gave my life to Christ, I felt a drive to truly learn as much as I could and I found myself asking so many questions to mentors in my life. I started to develop my relationship with Jesus through reading my Bible, praying, and watching a lot of sermons online about how Jesus wants us to live. That led me to look deeply into the Gospel of Matthew. In Matthew chapter 28, after Jesus had resurrected, He told His disciples, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20

The Great Commission always stood out to me, but when I first read it, I wondered how to make disciples? Well after talking to some wise men I learned that you have to be a disciple in order to make disciples. That shifted my focus. I began to prioritize becoming a true disciple of Christ: a journey that never really ends. It’s a daily process of refining ourselves and deepening our relationship with Jesus. For me, that looks like regular prayer, reading God’s Word, and having intentional conversations with other believers I admire. Through those practices, I’ve felt more equipped to go and make disciples myself. I think everyone who is a follower of Jesus should make disciples and work on becoming a disciple. 

Just like a football team huddles before a play to strategize and encourage one another, church is the moment we gather as a team to get equipped and refocused. The Super Bowl is what happens Monday through Saturday. That’s when we go out into the world and make an impact. No matter what your week looks like, every person you encounter is an opportunity to reflect Christ through your words and actions. So here’s the challenge: don’t just go to church, go and be the Church. Live it out. Make disciples.

- Kainan Wade

The Longing of the Lord's Heart

I was driving home from Wichita the other day when a song came on. A song I’ve heard many times before, but the words really hit me that night, and suddenly, I’m crying. DUDE, I am on the highway at night and I cannot see! Would my dumb emotions go away? I need to get home. The chorus comes on again, BAM, more tears. What is this song that has my eyes burning on the I-135? It’s a song by the Rend Collective called “Better Than I Ever Thought”.

The song talks about how much He is desperate for us to come home. The exact words are “Never thought you were desperate for me to come home. Never thought you would wait with the porch light on.” What a beautiful way to think about it. He is our Father. Sometimes I forget how alike He is to our earthly parents, waiting for us to get home safely when we are out. 

Last March, the Lord allowed me to experience the longing He has for His lost children. The overwhelming pain He endures waiting for us. Let me tell you, there were a lot more tears and snot than what I experienced on the highway that day. In Luke chapter 15:3-7, Jesus talks about the 99 sheep and the one that went astray. “I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” He really is desperate for us to come home. 

He places people in the lives of the lost; you’re one of them. The Lord placed you in the life of that one co-worker or that person you were in the elevator with 3 times in a row. You are called to make disciples. Matthew 28:19-20 says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” As I’m sure you have experienced, this is not as easy as one would hope. A great place to start is prayer, praying over them in your head or out loud. Prayer has so much power, YOU have so much power that you have been given by the Holy Spirit. Use it. 

So next time you feel a prompting on your heart to reach out to someone, whether it’s a friend, family member, or even a stranger, remember the longing of the Lord’s heart. He is patiently waiting, porch light on, for His lost children to return. You are a crucial part of that homecoming, empowered by the Holy Spirit to share His desperate love and bring them home.

Blessings,

Audrey Thompson

Wasn’t a Want, But a Need

We all long to belong. God knew it from the very beginning. From the first pages of Scripture, God shows us that it is not good for us to be isolated, and throughout His Word, He calls us into community with Him and with others.

Whether it’s laughing so hard with friends I can’t breathe or having someone show up when I’m at my lowest, I’ve learned that God loves to remind me I don’t have to walk through this life by myself. One of the most unexpected and life-changing ways He taught me this was through a mentor I didn’t even know I needed until she wouldn’t stop bugging me.

SharpTop Cove is the Young Life camp where I served for 13 months. I was part of a one-year internship program where I lived, worked, and grew alongside nine other young adults. Part of the program required us to have a mentor, and that’s where Jenn enters the story.

I was given a list of women on staff or staff spouses willing to mentor us. I “mentor dated” a few, meeting with Jenn first, and honestly, she intimidated me. She radiated energy and didn’t beat around the bush. Within 15 minutes, she had me talking about my deepest struggles, and I felt overwhelmed, crossing her off my list immediately.

Over the next couple of weeks, I spent time with two other women, but I didn’t feel a connection with them. I was about to settle and pick one just to check the box. But Jenn kept calling, texting, and checking in on me. I felt bad, so I met with her again. It became clear who my mentor was.

Last year, I faced some of the hardest doubts about God and the worst beliefs about myself, but Jenn kept showing up, reminding me of God’s truth and never letting me forget who I am in Him. She made me part of her family and became one of my favorite people.

Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” God never intended for us to live alone. We are called to fight for community because it is worth it.

Though she still lives 15 hours away and I may not see her for a while, we call, text, and leave voice messages as often as we can.

I pray that everyone gets to experience life with a “Jenn”—someone who is loving, intentional, and faithful, reminding you of Jesus when you forget and standing by your side as you grow in faith. But more than that, I pray we all become that person for someone else, showing up consistently, pointing them to Jesus, and living out God’s call to love and disciple His people, one relationship at a time.

Have the best day!

Jayden Smith

Expressions in Worship Through Song

While reading Doxology and Theology with our worship interns this summer, we came across this quote, “We should be worshippers who know richly, feel deeply, and express passionately.”  Have you ever stopped to think about how God feels about our expressions when we sing to him?  Does he desire worshippers who raise their hands or keep their hands to their sides? Does he desire worshippers who stand in place or, sway back and forth, or jump up and down?

We’ve been watching some Podcasts with Sovereign Grace Music, and in one of them, Bob Kauflin suggests that it is unnatural for us to hold still when we sing to the Lord.  He pointed out that most of us talk with our hands.  He reminded us that almost everyone gets expressive when it comes to watching their favorite team play a game.  If we are expressive when we communicate in most settings, why would we not be expressive when we are singing about the greatest truths of all eternity?

Not only would it be unnatural to be expressionless with our bodies when we worship the Lord through song, it is also commanded of us in Scripture.  Psalm 134:2, Psalm 63:4, Psalm 141:2, and Psalm 143:6 are just a few places where we are encouraged to raise our hands in praise.  Psalm 149:3 and Psalm 150:4 encourage us to worship the Lord with dancing.  Over 30 places in the Psalms exhort us to shout for joy, and I’ve never seen anyone shout without using their body.  That would just look awkward.

One of the benefits that I have found in expression is that my body’s posture can help move my heart towards the right posture.  If we are singing a song of surrender, but my heart doesn’t want to surrender, when I raise my hands, my heart takes a step towards surrender.  When we are singing about the joy and freedom that Jesus Christ has brought us through his life, death, and resurrection, but I’m not resonating with the joy, if I start clapping my hands, or moving to the beat of the song, or even smiling, my heart will move towards celebrating this great salvation that Jesus has brought us.

We don’t want emotionalism, but I want the truth we sing (supported with music) to stir the affections of our hearts.  Expression (when it comes honestly from the heart that is affected by the truth in Scripture) brings glory to God.  I’m praying that we would know truth richly, feel it deeply, and express it passionately when we worship the Lord through song!  See you Sunday!

-  Pastor Kyle

When the Gospel Changed Everything

For the first nineteen years of my life, I wasn’t a believer. My parents told me early on that we do not believe in God, and that I should just try to be a “good” person. But being a “good” person felt impossible, and no matter how hard I tried, I failed. I lived a life that did not reflect Christ and I had selfish desires and wanted what was best for me. I was selfish, mean, and lost. Then one night in my dorm room a friend told me to read the Gospel of John, and I decided to read it, and that changed my life forever.

Once I became a follower of Jesus, I realized what I had been missing out on my entire life, and I was not living the life God called me to live. When I started my walk with Jesus, everything was new. I did not know how to pray, where to go to church, or the names of the books in the Bible. I knew nothing at all, and I found myself at a college that, like most of the world, was a dark place. Thankfully, I realized that the answers I needed were in Scripture and that Scripture was God's word. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Paul let it be known that Scripture came from God himself, and it is beneficial in many ways, ultimately leading us to righteousness, maturity, and service. 

When I started following Jesus, I felt relief in my life. I no longer had to think about what happened when I died, or wonder what the purpose of life was. I learned in John 3:16 “For God loved the world in this way He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” God, out of love, sent his Son to die for a believer like me who believes but still struggles with sin and temptation and lived many years away from my Lord and Savior. I now find my peace in Jesus and his love. My life has been changed because of Him, and I want to live out the mission He intends for us. To hear about what the mission is, tune in to my next staff journal.

- Kainan