SunHills May Update

  • Dan Haakenson
  • May 3, 2012
MISSION HIGHLIGHT

The week before Easter, a team of 52 people, led by Mat Craig, went to Ensenada to serve a small Mexican church, Bethel Iglesia Evangelica.   It was a great week – both in terms of what they were able to accomplish in Mexico, as well as in the spiritual growth and unity of our team.  This is our fourth year working alongside this same church and each year our relationships with Pastor Maria and her church family grow stronger.  While our team was there, they did substantial construction and concrete work in preparation for plans to add on to the building.  They also provided a sports ministry, a weeklong VBS for the children, and a visit to the men’s prison.  And thanks to your financial support, we were able to give this church $2,400 to help pay for their church expansion.  It was an amazing trip and we thank you for your prayers and support.

We are also excited to tell you that two of our young adults have the opportunity to serve in other areas of the world and will be heading off on mission trips in the next couple weeks.  Cameron Demetre is leaving later in May for Tanzania with ELI and will be there for 6 months.  Anneleise Graf is going to India for 3 weeks in July with the SEED Group.   While there she will be able to connect with the kids that we support in Hosamane.  (For more information about the Hosamane Project, click on the Outreach tab above.) 

We look forward to hearing from them about how God is working around the world.  They will both be at SunHills and available to answer questions or give you more information on Sunday, May 20.  Please keep them in your prayers in the weeks ahead.  If you would like to contact either of them directly, their emails are as follows:    Cameron Demetre, and Anneleise Graf, . 

STUDENT MINISTRY

Mat Craig has been serving as our Director of Middle School Ministry for the past year and a half.  He has plans to attend college in the fall so he will be leaving the SunHills staff in mid-May.  His last night leading Wednesday night youth group will be May 9.  We’re thankful for his love for students and his investment in them for the past 18 months.  And while his time on staff is coming to an end, he will still be part of SunHills and actively involved with the students this summer, including going to Hume. 

Luke Aubrey, a junior at Moody Bible Institute, will be interning in Student Ministry this summer under the direction of Erich Grunder.  This internship is a part of his degree requirement from Moody.  We look forward to having him here working with our students.

Lastly, Hume Lake Camp is coming up in July.  Many of our students are willing to work to raise money to reduce the cost of Hume.  If you have a job to be done and would like to help support our students, please contact Erich Grunder, for more information.

FINANCES

Thank you for your consistent and generous giving. This is an act of worship and it also directly facilitates the ministries of loving God, loving people, and living the mission (both on our campus and beyond).  So thanks for your partnership in this way!

As we move into the summer months, we just want to keep you up to date about our finances.  While not far off target, our April giving was slightly lower than previous months.  It’s important to keep our giving on track to keep our ministries moving forward fully resourced.  Again, thanks for your prayerful and faithful participation.

BAPTISM

Don’t forget we have ONE SERVICE this Sunday, May 6, at 10 am.  This is our baptism service – fifteen from our church family want to make public professions of their faith.  Please join us for this joyful time and plan to stay for an all-church celebration BBQ immediately following the service.

UPCOMING SUNDAYS

We are coming to the end of our Galatians series this month.  It has been good to really delve into this book and our understanding of what it means to be free in Christ.  Here is a preview of upcoming Sundays:

  • May 13 – Where’s the Fruit?  (Gal 5:16-26)
  • May 20 – What are you Sowing?  (Gal 6:1-10)
  • May 27 – Where’s your Boast?  (Gal 6:11-18)
KIDMIN

SummerBlast, our annual VBS event for kids, is coming up June 25-29 and we’ve already begun preparations.  It takes a large group of people to make this event happen and there are lots of ways to be a part of it.  Contact Jill Vogel () for more information about how you can be involved here or as part of our Sunday Children’s Ministry.

"If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit" (Gal. 5:25)

- dan