Rocky Fork Fellowship | September 2015 | Campaign Newsletter II

Join a Campaign Team Today!
 (See pgs. 5 & 6)

Inside this Issue: Message from Mark pgs. 1 & 4

Who are these people? pg. 2

Information Meetings pg. 2

Help Wanted pgs. 5 & 6

Message from Mark Dear Rocky Fork family, We are well underway with our campaign here at Rocky Fork to establish a permanent church building and accommodate those who are yet to come. Our church has experienced tremendous growth over the past few years as God continues to bless our ministry efforts. There are still questions and unknowns but I am convinced that if we continue to seek God first, consider the needs of others second, and have our hearts fully surrendered to Him, answers will come and God will continue to use Rocky Fork to impact Hallsville and the surrounding communities. As we move into this campaign season, our focus is on fostering community and spiritual growth both within and outside of our church body. Our top priority over the next few months is clarifying how a permanent church building affects our church’s vision and how each of us play a crucial role in achieving the vision God has called us to at Rocky Fork Fellowship. I know there will be questions as the campaign process continues to unfold and I believe the best and easiest way to get your questions answered is by being in the middle of everything that is going on. (continued on page 4)

r Praye l o ti na Devo

Prayer Team to Create 30-Day Campaign Prayer Devotion Book (See pg. 3)

Who are these people? There are many reasons at this point in history to begin a building campaign at Rocky Fork Fellowship. Our desire to fulfill God’s plans by taking the next step to expand the Kingdom in the Hallsville/Columbia area has been in the making for years. We are currently limited in our ministry expansion efforts at RFF because we have limited access to ministry space large enough to accommodate our church body throughout the week. God continues to bring us people who desire to grow spiritually in His word and connect within a purposeful community of faith. This brings us to the most important reason to move forward with our building campaign, which is represented by the faceless icons shown in this silhouette. These individuals represent sixty-four percent of our community that have minimal or no relationship with a church body, individuals who have yet to experience life with Jesus Christ. It may be one of the construction workers that will help build our new church facility or a new family that recently moved to our area. Could it be your neighbor or the person you sit across from every day at work? It may even be a loved one in your family who has yet to find a place where they can connect and grow in their faith. Our church body is called to make disciples by transforming lives through Jesus Christ. It is our calling to reach the lost and grow Christian community. As a church, we desire to become the fruitful congregation that God asks us to be. To do this, we must practice intentional hospitality, dynamic worship, faith development, making disciples and generous giving. These intentional acts of faith will enable us to engage our congregation and build our new church home, grow our ministries and ultimately fulfill our call to the Great Commission.

Wanna know what’s goin’ on? Buildin’ Information meetins’ start next month! Best be there.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Our Campaign Media Team and Prayer Team have been working hard over the past few weeks developing a campaign theme and prayer. On September 13th, the Omega Leadership Team came together for a final vote on the perfect campaign theme and prayer. We’re excited to announce that the campaign theme will be “Putting Down Roots: Growing God’s Kingdom & Branching Out.”

Prayer Devotional The Prayer Team will be accepting prayer devotions from individuals to be included in our 30 day campaign devotional leading up to Commitment Sunday on December 13th. Please reach out to one of our campaign team members for more information. You won’t want to miss being included in this publication; the 30 day devotional is one of the most treasured parts of the campaign for many individuals!

Penny Drive The children of Rocky Fork Fellowship will begin collecting coins to donate to the building campaign. Please begin collecting your loose change. Make this a fun activity with your children. Be sure to take the time to help explain the purpose behind making a difference in growing God’s Kingdom.

Campaign Prayer “And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22

God, You are Holy, Awesome, creator and Sustainer of all things. Your name is higher than any other. Give us wisdom as we take our next steps in building Your kingdom. We ask that You open doors, soften hearts, and speak into the lives of people effected by this project, both now and in the years to come. May Your kingdom be built, one disciple at a time. May You be glorified in everything we do. Amen. Stay tuned in. The Children and Youth Team will soon be announcing their upcoming campaign events!

Home Information Meetings (HIM) to begin Mid-October The Diplomat Team will be manning sign-up tables on Sunday mornings for our campaign Home Information Meetings (HIM) that will start next month. We will have twelve meetings that will begin mid-October and go through the end of November. Childcare will be provided at five of the twelve meetings. Each meeting will be limited to 25 people. During these meetings, Mark and our campaign leadership team will present the future vision of Rocky Fork Fellowship and explain how our new building will impact our future church vision. The meeting agenda for each of our campaign Home Meetings will be the same as we share the next phase in the life of Rocky Fork Fellowship. At that time, everyone will have the opportunity to ask questions and see the long awaited renderings of our future church facility! We are asking everyone to participate by attending one of the twelve information meetings. No one will ask for money or campaign commitments at any of these meetings. Sign up on Sunday for the meeting of your choice or simply go to the church website www.rff.church and sign up there!

Marks message continued from page 1

I would encourage you to give a small amount of your time as an investment to your church by joining one of the seven campaign teams. It is not too late to be a part of this exciting moment in our church history. Our media team worked diligently together to come up with our campaign theme. Three campaign themes were presented to the campaign Omega leadership team on Sunday, September 13. “Putting Down Roots” won by a very large margin of votes! In October, we will be having several small question and answer meetings that will last through November. A schedule with the dates and meeting locations will be announced in our next newsletter. It is important for everyone who calls Rocky Fork Fellowship their church home to pick one meeting and join us as we discern God's vision and will for our church. Finally, I believe that all of us can take a very active role in the church through one daily activity. That activity is prayer! We believe that prayer is crucial in our spiritual growth, our relationship with God, and in discerning His will for us. Without God we can do nothing of lasting value. Please lift up your church, the leadership, and all the campaign team volunteers each day asking God to lead and guide this process. Pray that we will have open hearts and minds to listen and respond faithfully to God's plans for our church. We serve a risen Savior and there are thousands of people around us that have yet to discover this truth. We have an opportunity to change this. The investment we make in the building project will have a beginning and an end, but our investment in His people and those who have yet to know Him…will last for eternity!

Mark Butrum Senior Minister

Help Wanted Our all volunteer building campaign teams met for the first time this month and began their work on our campaign. We encourage everyone to take an active roll during our campaign season by joining a campaign team today. You will be glad you did!

Prayer Team: Scott Rice - Team Leader Emily Stephens–Team Co-Leader This group will plan prayer opportunities (24 hour prayer vigil, prayer walk, 30 day prayer devotion, etc.) to help involve everyone in the church by praying for God’s will to be done for our campaign and ultimately our church mission. Prayer Team Members include: JoVeta Deimeke, Tarina Auidan, Shannon Smith, Amanda Ferguson, June Gini, Marceil Flatt, April Sweezer, Jeff Bexten, Cheryl Bexten, Michael Gray, Danee Gray, Shauncey Moyers, Melanie Stinson, Tim Sweezer, Sharry Krouch, Garry Long, and Cheryl Long. Children and Youth Team: Charlie Henry–Team Leader

Jeff Hartman–Team Co-Leader

Teaching stewardship to our children and youth is an important process in spiritual development. The Children and Youth Team will focus on ways to bridge generation gaps and involve our young people in the campaign process. Children & Youth Team Members include: Heather McCain, Mike Berendzen, Sierra Price, Amber Crane, Theresa Thomas, Matt Thomas, Jacob Warren, Cody Adams, Jennifer Wood, Ariel Adams, Tim Stevens, Gina Henry, Earl Williamson, Patty Williamson, Eddie Ridgway, Chris Seeley, Jerry Putting, Lisa Putting, Jimmy Skrocki, and Amanda Koontz. Celebration Team: Justin Anderson-Team Leader Bonnie Oberhaus–Team Co-Leader This team will plan and manage the information gatherings as well as our celebration events during the campaign. This group of people are planners and gatherers… otherwise known as “the party people!” Celebration Team Members include: Stephenie Oncken, Ron Sheets, Teresa Long, Jessica Anderson, Sandy Briggs, Bill Oberhaus, Craig James, Jeff Bexten, DeAun Robertson, Heather McCain, Greg Oetting, Farley Burke, George Cummings, Lisa Calhoun, Rod Calhoun, Rebekah Cross, Brad Stinson, Cindy Craig, Dustin Berry, Sarah Berry, Garry Long, and Cheryl Long.

Media Team: Jeff McNeeley-Team Leader

Kurt Smith-Team Co-Leader

Members of this group will develop our campaign logo and theme. They will assist with social media activities, website and Facebook updates, event poster placement, and other communication pieces to keep us informed of the myriad of activities during our campaign season. Media Team Members include: Dominic Thompson, Kendal Ward, Luke Woutzke, John Adams, Natalie McNeeley, Stephanie Mitchell, James Cross, Becky Cross, Troy Woutzke, Kendra Martin, Nick Putting, Quinn Ferguson, Eric Anderson, Aidan Anderson, Tammy Wheelehan, and Katherine Butrum. Diplomat Team: Deanna Herwald-Team Leader

Gayla Adams–Team Co-Leader

The members of this team will be asked to use their organization skills as they update our church data base and organize our attendance at our campaign information meetings! This team collects all of the questions and answers shared at one of twelve information meetings held during the campaign. Diplomat Team Members include: Camille Pippenger, Stephen McLane, Bethany Keith, Marceil Flatt, Ashley Bland, Jessica Anderson, Crystal Oetting, Erin Woodward, Jami Verga, June Gini, Nancee Moreau, Cheryl Bexten, and Vicki Phillippe. Appreciation Team: Theresa Marley-Team Leader

Shawn Oberhaus–Team Co-Leader

This team will develop appropriate ways to thank those who make a pledge and/or volunteer during the campaign. Team Members include: Sherry Grace, Tammy King, Christina Stevens, LaDonna McLane, Beth Monroe, Terri Hilt, Ashley Berendzen, Melanie Stinson, Jennifer Kemna, Joan Burke, Madeline Robertson, Amanda Jones, Eileen Perry, Jennifer Fleeman, Rebecca Cummings, Danielle Dyer, Matt Dyer, and Kristi Phillippe. Administrative Team: Deb James-Team Leader Todd Burke– Team Co-Leader The Administrative Team is comprised of individuals that proof printed campaign pieces before they go to publication. Some team members will be tasked with administrative copy, fold, stuff and mail duties of campaign materials. Others members of the team will participate as “campaign team meeting managers” keeping the different campaign teams on time and on task! Team Members include: Angie Brown, Juna Wilt, David Webb, Sandy Briggs, Janet Mountjoy, Corri Proctor, Nancy Traylor, Regina Roe, Richard Roe, Steve Moreau, Ronda Jolly, Sonda Ridgeway, Kerri Anderson, Jodi Alexander, Jan Russell, and Kellie Austene.