We celebrated our tenth year anniversary last weekend with nearly 4,800 people attending 9 services in four locations, 369 Baptisms, and even more salvation decisions. Left at 4am Monday morning for a the Drive Conference in Atlanta Georgia, got back in time to go straight to the Pastor's Appreciation Dinner, then six services with H.B. London from Focus on the family....
I was just looking at the stats and we are averaging nearly 600 people per week more than we did in October...
God is moving, and we need to keep figuring out ways to accomodate all the people that God is allowing us an opportunity to minister too!
So here we go again, we are ready to begin to "Live Feed" the Orchard's Campus and launch new/overflow services. Beginning next week November 18-19th we will move to two services at 9:30 and 11:30am. John is even talking about quickly moving to a 7pm Saturday Evening service...
We had several people sign up this week to come down and assist us beginning next week, plan on inviting your friends and hang on for the ride....
Please be praying for Sherry Curtiss who is in having surgery tomorrow Monday Nov. 13th.
Thanks for all you do in serving our Lord, you are each a great blessing and God has wonderful plans for each of our lives. It is a very busy time, but it is the best tired you will ever experience!! ONLY GOD!!!
God Bless,
Duane
Sunday, November 12, 2006
Friday, September 08, 2006
Great Adventure
Had a wonderful opportunity to go fishing with my Dad and Christian my 15 year old son...
Sunday after church we took off for Neah Bay the furthest Northwest point of the lower 48. It had changed drastically in the 16 years since I have been there. But the fishing is still some of the best in the world, and the scenery to die for.
The first morning we went out and caught a bunch of bottom fish and were surrounded by Grey Whales spoutting off all around us. Christian asked if I would cook some of the fish when we got back to the RV. I told him I would, but after 11 hours on the boat and another hour and a half of cleaning fish and the boat out I could hardly see straight so I bailed on cooking...
Next morning we headed out (porpoises escorting us, on the bow) to Canadian waters for Halibut fishing. Again Christian asked me if I would cook some of the fish that we were catching. I figured the right thing to do was to say yes, but I gave him a qualification: "If you catch something over 10 pounds I will cook fish. Within two minutes he hooked up with what would eventually be a 67 lb Halibut bleeding all over the boat....that night we shared a meal of some of the best fish any of us had ever tasted.
I made a judgement call to keep Christian out of school for his first two days of High School... His schooling is vital but the education, sights, sounds and relationship building that happened on this trip will be something we will always have as an outstanding memory.
Redeem your time, make the most of every opportunity.
God Bless,
Duane
Sunday after church we took off for Neah Bay the furthest Northwest point of the lower 48. It had changed drastically in the 16 years since I have been there. But the fishing is still some of the best in the world, and the scenery to die for.
The first morning we went out and caught a bunch of bottom fish and were surrounded by Grey Whales spoutting off all around us. Christian asked if I would cook some of the fish when we got back to the RV. I told him I would, but after 11 hours on the boat and another hour and a half of cleaning fish and the boat out I could hardly see straight so I bailed on cooking...
Next morning we headed out (porpoises escorting us, on the bow) to Canadian waters for Halibut fishing. Again Christian asked me if I would cook some of the fish that we were catching. I figured the right thing to do was to say yes, but I gave him a qualification: "If you catch something over 10 pounds I will cook fish. Within two minutes he hooked up with what would eventually be a 67 lb Halibut bleeding all over the boat....that night we shared a meal of some of the best fish any of us had ever tasted.
I made a judgement call to keep Christian out of school for his first two days of High School... His schooling is vital but the education, sights, sounds and relationship building that happened on this trip will be something we will always have as an outstanding memory.
Redeem your time, make the most of every opportunity.
God Bless,
Duane
Friday, September 01, 2006
Orchard's Begins New School Year
So much going on and so little brain power to think about it....
God is awesome! We have our K-5th grades of New Generation Christian School coming back to the Orchard's Campus. They were all there two years ago before they joined us at the Brush Prairie Campus. The Jr High and High School will still be at Brush Prairie.
Our 10 am service is taking off and we have several new families attending that we are very excited about.
We are starting two new classes at 9am on Sunday morning September the 10th:
Rich Brosius will be teaching a bible basics class for four weeks in one of the modulars.
Dan Plotner and Duane Warren will be co teaching a spiritual gifts class in one of the modulars.
Dean Jenks is working to ensure that everyone knows about and is getting involved in Life Groups.
Ginger is training an amazing up-front team of greeters and hospitality folks.
The Carrol's are settleing in as our Worship Leaders.
Several men have approached me and we will be kicking off a monthly mens breakfast in October.
Several individuals have also asked about a united prayer effort, and we will have a prayer room that will be open in one of the modulars every Sunday morning at 9am.
Jr High is moving from Friday evenings at the campus to Wednesday's, except the first Wednesday of each month they will be with the HS and College at the Brush Prairie Campus.
Ecclesia (College Ministry) will continue meeting on Sunday evenings at the Orchard's Campus and then move to the Brush Prairie Campus the first Sunday of October.
Living Hope is looking toward building onto our Brush Prairie Campus, expand to Longview, Portland and perhaps Camas.
The Fishers Landing Team has found a potential permanent location for their satallite campus near Mill Plain and 172nd. Check out their site for further information.
God is blessing and things (as usual) are moving quickly. Things change and we stay flexible, but ultimately it is all for God's glory and He keeps showing up and drawing people to Himself.
Can't think of any place I would rather be.
Know that God loves you,
Pastor Duane
God is awesome! We have our K-5th grades of New Generation Christian School coming back to the Orchard's Campus. They were all there two years ago before they joined us at the Brush Prairie Campus. The Jr High and High School will still be at Brush Prairie.
Our 10 am service is taking off and we have several new families attending that we are very excited about.
We are starting two new classes at 9am on Sunday morning September the 10th:
Rich Brosius will be teaching a bible basics class for four weeks in one of the modulars.
Dan Plotner and Duane Warren will be co teaching a spiritual gifts class in one of the modulars.
Dean Jenks is working to ensure that everyone knows about and is getting involved in Life Groups.
Ginger is training an amazing up-front team of greeters and hospitality folks.
The Carrol's are settleing in as our Worship Leaders.
Several men have approached me and we will be kicking off a monthly mens breakfast in October.
Several individuals have also asked about a united prayer effort, and we will have a prayer room that will be open in one of the modulars every Sunday morning at 9am.
Jr High is moving from Friday evenings at the campus to Wednesday's, except the first Wednesday of each month they will be with the HS and College at the Brush Prairie Campus.
Ecclesia (College Ministry) will continue meeting on Sunday evenings at the Orchard's Campus and then move to the Brush Prairie Campus the first Sunday of October.
Living Hope is looking toward building onto our Brush Prairie Campus, expand to Longview, Portland and perhaps Camas.
The Fishers Landing Team has found a potential permanent location for their satallite campus near Mill Plain and 172nd. Check out their site for further information.
God is blessing and things (as usual) are moving quickly. Things change and we stay flexible, but ultimately it is all for God's glory and He keeps showing up and drawing people to Himself.
Can't think of any place I would rather be.
Know that God loves you,
Pastor Duane
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