As you know, I am extremely passionate about middle school and high school students.  I invested myself into students for ten years before I felt God calling me to start a church.  At Relevant, we don’t believe students are the “next generation”…we believe they are THIS GENERATION to carry on God’s mission.  For that reason, we are trying to do everything we can to help spiritually transform students, so they glocally transform the world! 

Below is a link that shares some of what God is doing in and through the Relevant Student Ministry.  I am so excited when I watch this.  I am excited to see how God is using the Relevant student ministry to help transform students.  I am excited to see how God is transforming the adult leaders by investing into students.  I am excited to see how God is using my brother to lead the ministry.  http://vimeo.com/41579627

Pastor Ronnie

Yesterday was our Summer Transformation Service.  We do these services 3 times a year to celebrate what we care most about…TRANSFORMATION.  One of the ways celebrate transformation is through baptism.  I had the awesome honor of baptizing another 14 people.  That means we have baptized 24 people since the beginning of 2012. 

The following are the 14 people who were baptized yesterday to publicly proclaim their faith in Jesus:
• Nicholas Schlott
• Jordan Cullen
• Rebecca Belcher
• Elsie Uleman
• Sophie Uleman
• Zac Williams
• Hallie Paulson
• Jesse Paulson
• Julia Rutledge
• Kim McNamera
• Halley Miller
• Traci Mock
• Steve Dean
• Emma Pietrocini

It is a humbling thing to be a part of work that only God can do.  I am grateful that God is choosing to do transforming work in people’s lives through Relevant.

Pastor Ronnie

We consider everyone who calls Relevant their home church to be a member of Relevant; however, our members don’t drive the mission. They might just show up on Sunday occasionally, but they aren’t invested. Staff, on the other hand, are members who take on the leadership responsibility of driving the mission forward, by moving from being a consumer to being an investor with their passions, strengths, resources, and relationships.  Staff are the people of Relevant that function as a true “body” by sharing common beliefs, mission, and commitments.  Staff is something big to commit to, something transformational to commit to, something life-changing to dedicate to.  Staff live the mission deeper and they get to celebrate it, feel it, and experience it deeper than members…because they DID IT, they made it happen, they worked for it, they sweat, they gave, they bled TOGETHER!

This Sunday, 2e will be commissioning 11 new Staff who just completed the 10 week Staff Orientation. 

• Ellie Boomer
• Steve Dean
• Sara Frank
• Krystal Ford
• Julianne Harm
• Dan Henery
• Jeff Henery
• Jennifer Marion
• Scott Marion
• Hallie Paulson
• Karry Whitten

I am so humbled that these people have taken on the leadership responsibility of driving the mission forward, and can’t wait to see the transforming work that God does in and through them…TOGETHER!

Pastor Ronnie

Camp Rivercrest (located near Fremont) is a camp owned by the Mid-America District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance; the denomination that Relevant is affiliated with.  Today, we got this press release from them. 

We are busy planning and preparing for this year’s summer ministry to the youth in our district. A huge part of the process is hiring the right staff to fill the needed positions to make camp successful. We are writing to ask for your help in finding young men to be counselors at camp this summer. This is a very important position that involves spiritually building into the lives of campers and having fun in the process. If you know of any young men 19 years or older who would be gifted to serve in a great summer ministry this year that would be great. If you have an information board at your church, please post the position details. We are also looking for a few more program staff this summer particularly one with lifeguard certification. Details regarding these positions are listed below. Please be in prayer for campers who attend this summer. Also, please pray for the staff and the speakers who will minister to the campers. We pray many will come to know the Lord, and that all will leave camp with renewed love and desire to serve the Lord.  If you have any questions please contact me, Jon Classen.

Position Details for Camp Rivercrest Summer Employment

Time of employment: June 3rd  – July 28th

Compensation: $200 per week

Note: must be 19 or older to apply

Apply online at www.camprivercrest.org follow the employment link on the right side of the page

Male Ministry Counselor: The male summer ministry team is responsible to lead a group of campers including building friendships, one-on-one interaction, and activity leadership.

Program Ministry staff: The program ministry staff is responsible for the facilitation and safety of the mini bike area, paintball area, high ropes, climbing wall, swimming pool and other program areas and activities. (Lifeguard certified preferred, but not required.) 

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Jon Classen

Camp Director

2840 county rd 13

Fremont NE 68025

office 402-628-6465

cell 402-317-0938

email jclassen@camprivercrest.org

I have shared many times with you that the vision for whatever facility we are going to have in the future is – “Elkhorn Community Center.” The ECC would be a building that is used to serve the families and city of Elkhorn 24/7/365.  I don’t know when this will happen, or how it will happen.  All I know is the vision we believe God has given us, and that we want to do everything possible to take steps toward that today. 

Over the next few months we are going to launch into an intentional action plan to help take a step toward this vision.  I wanted to share a snap shot of this action plan with you, and ask you to really be in prayer over this.  Over the next three months we want to answer the following 3 questions…

1. What are the needs in/of Elkhorn the ECC can/should meet?  (we are going to be doing a city wide campaign to discover this)

2. How do we start meeting those needs RIGHT NOW even better w/o a building?

3. Based on the needs we discover and our own visions for ECC, how much land and how big of building do we really believe we need to purchase when the opportunity presents itself?

Our goal is to have all these questions answered by August 1st.    By answer these questions, I hope to be able to get the entire Relevant community behind this…which is very important to me.  By answer these questions, I hope we will continue to be mission driven instead of building driving…which is very important to me.  I don’t know when ECC will happen, but I do know God wants us to help transform our city.  We are working hard every day to do that. 

Pastor Ronnie

This is a great week for the Church.  A week…

…we get to reflect on and remember what Jesus did for us that we could not do for ourselves. 

…we get to praise God for His relentless love for us. 

…we get to celebrate the penalty and power of sin being broken in our lives, so that we could be reunited with our God! 

Obviously, the climax of this week for Christ followers is Easter Sunday.  Not only because of what we get to reflect on, remember, praise God for, and celebrate; but because of the potential life transforming influence we can have in people’s lives who have not put their faith in Jesus.  This is the one Sunday every year the people we are all trying to influence may be willing to attend a  worship service, and maybe for the first time be open to the life transforming message of Jesus. 

I want to challenge you this week with a few of things:

·         First, spend time this week reflecting on, remembering, praising God for, and celebrating what happened this week almost 2000 years ago.  Spend time doing this by yourself, with your spouses, with your kids, with those whom you have authentic connections with from Relevant.  Read the passages of what happened during this week 2000 years ago throughout this week – Matthew 21-28, Mark 14-16, Luke 22-24, John 12-21

·         Second, don’t miss out on the influence possibilities this week.  Pray for those you are investing in.  Invite them this Sunday if it helps in your investment. 

·         Finally, pray for the Easter services this Sunday at 9:15am and 11am.  Pray that the people there on Sunday will be transformed.  Pray that God speaks the words He wants to speak!  

Pastor Ronnie

As we explored the element of gratitude this past Sunday, we discovered that “the more time we spend thanking God, the more of God we experience.” 

How do you spend your time when life doesn’t turn how how you intended, planned, or dreamed?  Complaining?  Asking God, why?  Trying to manufacture peace, happiness, joy?  It’s no wonder many of us don’t experience the life transformining presence of Jesus.  The way we experience His presence in the midst of our circumstances is to be thankful in all circumstances (Colossians 3:15). 

I closed the sermon with a challenge to be thankful in EVERTHING for one full week.  So, how’s it going for you so far?  Do you see how hard it is?  Do you see how much time you spend complaining, asking “Why God”, or trying to manufacture peace through pills, drugs, relationships, etc.?  Are you starting to see why maybe you aren’t experiencing the peace of God? 

Be thankful today.  Be thankful for the food you have, for the joy of living, for the breath that is in you, for the kids you have been blessed with, for the wife you get to come home to, for the car you get to drive, for the job you get to have.  Whatever it is…just be thankful!  It will powerfully transform your life

“When you arise in the morning give thanks for the food and for the joy of living.  If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault likes only in yourself” (from “Act of Valor”).

Pastor Ronnie

Jesus wants to transform our whole lives.  For that to happen we need to position our whole lives before Him in a way that invites Him into our whole lives.   So many times we make our “spiritual life” a category.  Jesus doesn’t want to transform a part of our lives.  He wants to transform our whole lives.  Our spiritual life, is our entire life. 

At Relevant, we have always said that being transformed and living a transforming life involves 3 core elements:
• #1 Growing in an Interactive Relationship with Jesus: Jesus desires to transform WHO we are to be like Him. Continual transformation is a result of a constantly growing interactive relationship with Jesus
• #2 Developing Authentic Connections within the church: Our lives cannot be transformed in isolation, because God did not create us to live this life alone. Continual transformation is a result of being connected in authentic relationships within the church
• #3 Being an Influence in Glocal Culture: Continual transformation is a result of—and will result in—BEING the church that transforms glocal (global + local) culture. At Relevant, we want to be the best at developing transforming people who transform other people, because we believe transformed people transform people 

Whole life transformation happens when we keep focused on these three core elements, and figure out how to position our lives before Jesus in each of these three every day.  This past Sunday we gave everyone a tool to help them do that.  The “T-LIFE Focus Assessment” (TLIFE Focus Assessment) helps you assess where you are at in each area (the questions are not holistic, but will help you start thinking about where you currently are at in each area).  It also challenges you to think about what one step you can take in each area to position yourself before Jesus today.

I challenge you to do this frequently.  The more we assess where we currently are, and determine simple steps to take toward Jesus, the more He will transform our entire lives. 

Pastor Ronnie

Yesterday at our Sunday service we introduced the essential element of “Hustle.”  I wanted to follow up with a couple quick thoughts to help you grasp and incorporate this element into your life. 

For review, we said that positioning ourselves before God requires hustling (working with all your heart) at the work God has given you to do.  The real question, then, is what is the God-given work has given you to do?  He has provided you with a career to live out your calling.  Your career is not your calling, but an environment to live out your calling.  Your true calling is to bring glory to God by accomplish His work.  His work is to transform the world by transforming people.  What brings Him glory is people being influenced through you.  Your God-given work is for people to be transformed/influenced through you, for Him.  For that reason, God has called you to hustle - to work your butt off with passion, urgency, determination, and dedication at your place of work.  Why?  Because no one will ever be influenced by a sluggard!

The point I want to bring a little more clarity to is how you live and sustain hustle at your place of work.  In order to hustle everyday, you must feel engaged.  The only way you will feel engaged is when you have an opportunity to do what you like to do everyday.  If you do not have the opportunity to do what you like to do, are talented to do, and passionate to do everyday, you will be disengaged.  If you are disengaged, you will not work with hustle.  If you do not work with hustle, you cannot live out your God-given work.  However, if you find a rhythm everyday to do what you like to do, you will be more joy filled.  Positive emotion/joy is contagious.  People will want to be around you.  As people want to be around you, you now have the opportunity to influence them and truly live out your God-given work. 

A great book to further your understanding on this is called “Well Being” by Tom Rath (Gallup Press).  I challenge you to pick up a copy of this book to discover more about Career Well Being (http://www.amazon.com/Wellbeing-Essential-Elements-Tom-Rath/dp/1595620400/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1329171648&sr=8-1). 

Pastor Ronnie

There is a God who would gladly speak if only we would carve out enough space from the noise to hear. 

God is near, and He is relational.  He wants to speak to the innermost places of our soul.  The problem with not hearing him has a lot more to do with us, than with Him.  He speaks loudest to our souls in whispers…we can’t hear His whispers without silence…and we can’t have silence without creating a space away from the noise.  Our lives are so full of noise.

This is a link to the video we showed this past Sunday at our Worship Gathering.  As you watch this again, crank up the volume on your computer.  Be ANNOYED by the noise, and rest in the silence.  After you watch it ask yourself, “do I have a rhythm of space in my life?”  If not, what is your plan?  Will you put together a rhythm of space throughout the course of everyday to be silent, and get away from the noise.  God always has been, and always will be, a communicating who would gladly speak if only we carved out enough space from the noise to hear!

http://vimeo.com/35541582 

Pastor Ronnie

On Sunday we started a new series called, “Elements”.  Throughout this series we are going to discover some essential elements needed to position our whole lives before Jesus in a way that invites Him into our whole lives, so he can transform our whole lives. 

The first essential element we discovered about was Rhythm.  Without rhythm we cannot experience the kind of life God wants for us, but with it we have a chance to experience a life that only He can give.  People with rhythm have something different in them that allows them to endure what life throws at them. 

So, what about you?  Do you have rhythm in your life?  Do you have rhythm with your work, play, quiet? 

This week I challenge you to get alone with a journal and pen, and to ask God (that’s praying, by the way) the following questions.  Don’t rush this time.  If you feel like you hear something (that may be God) write it down.  Here are the questions to ask…

1. In what areas of my life am I out of rhythm? 

2. When in my life has God uniquely broke through to me…that I sensed Him…that He was real? 

3. If Ecclesiastes 3:1-12 is true, what does that mean for me today?

Now…what will you do?  That’s the real question.

Pastor Ronnie

We truly believe the nation that God has called us to engage long term to help influence and transform is Burma.  Burma is a hurting country that has been in a civil war for over 60 years.   This has caused many Karen people to flee their homeland as refugees.  Many Karen refugees have ended up in Omaha, and we have been working with them here, as we have been praying for their country. 

Well, there has been some huge developments in Burma recently.  God may be doing some awesome things.  If these things continue down the path they are on, the county could be wide open for groups like ours that want to help rebuild, restore, and TRANSFORM the country. 

A quick scan of the following articles will give you an overview of some of these developments -

http://edition.cnn.com/2012/01/13/world/asia/myanmar-cease-fire/index.html?c=&page=0

Please continue to pray for Burma!

Pastor Ronnie

Yesterday we had our 2012 Spring Transformation Service at Relevant.  We do these services three times a year to praise Jesus for what He cares about the most, for what only He can do, and for what He has chosen to do through Relevant…TRANSFORMATION.  That is all we care about.  That is why we exist. 

One of the ways we celebrate transformation at these services is through baptism.  Yesterday we were able to baptize another 10 people.�
• Kate Gusse
• Josh Gusse
• Ellie Jaeke
• Chris Smith
• David Jorgenson
• Julie Jorgenson
• Patrick Mscarello
• Micki Schwerdtfeger
• Jake Uleman
• Cheryl Koepke

Please be in prayer for these people this week and ask God to continue to do transforming things in and through them.

Our Christmas Eve services were so fun.  We were reminded that our worship is the only gift we can give Jesus, and the only gift He wants from us. 

What’s the only worship you can give Jesus, and that He wants from you?  You!  You are the gift.  Not on one day of the year, but every day.  He wants and deserves our adoration, reverence, trust, hope, dependence, reliance, and all of our heart. 

Our life of worship starts with faith in Jesus!  It was so awesome to watch the spiritual journey of Traci, and how she came to discover this truth.  You can watch her story again: http://vimeo.com/33990123

The final question remains for all of us now: Have you given Jesus the only gift he wants from you?  Have you given him you?

Pastor Ronnie

Christmas Eve Service is one of my favorite services of the year.  There is nothing better than a bunch of people coming together to sing Christmas Carols in red and green sweaters with Santa Claus embroidered on the front.  Seriously, I love this service.  I love it because of who we come together for, Jesus; and what we come together for, to celebrate His birthday. 

I also love this service because many people, who will not normally attend a church service, will attend this one.  I realize that many of them will come out of religious obligation, but they will come.  Jesus told us where two are three are gathered in His presence, His Spirit is there as well.  Wherever God’s Spirit is, He is working to transform hearts and lives.  That means, God can get a hold of people’s hearts at this service and begin to transform them, even though they aren’t expecting it! 

For that reason, I challenge every person at Relevant to begin to pray for the people they are investing in.  Pray for them as you invite them to the Christmas Eve Service.  Pray that if this service will help them on their spiritual journey, they come.  Pray that as they come to the service, God does an amazing work in their hearts. 

This year we are doing two Christmas Eve Services – 4pm and 5:30pm.  I can’t wait!

Pastor Ronnie

A couple weeks ago we introduced the “Take Out Experience” challenge to everyone at Relevant.  If you missed the past couple of Sundays, let me explain…

Most of us could be considered “rich” due to the fact that we have more than we need.  The way many of us approach gift-giving at Christmas definitely falls under the category of “extra”.  So here’s the challenge: budget the amount you’re planning to spend on Christmas gifts. Then, give away a percentage of that budget.  

Here are the general Guidelines:
1. Do not give in addition to budget, give out of budget.
2. Do not take from your regular tithe.
3. Do not give this money to Relevant.
4. This is not a fundraiser. This is about blessing others.
5. Share your story of what you are doing for the “Take Out Experience” by sending us an email at takeout@relevantcommunity.org
6. Fill out the gift sticker and bring it to Sunday Service (extra gift stickers are by the Take Out Box at the Sunday Service): “TO” is what you did with the money. “FROM” is you or your family’s name.

Here are some examples of ways to give to help you get going:
1. Take co-workers out to lunch
2. Help a single mom buy gifts for her kids
3. Pay to have your friend’s car fixed
4. Leave a huge tip
5. Buy groceries for a neighbor
6. Give to charity
7. Buy toys or food for the Culture Investment Serving Opps (for more info – http://www.relevantcommunity.org/events.aspx)
8. Pay for a date for a stressed out couple you know. And maybe offer to babysit

This is an awesome opportunity to be a blessing in someone’s life this Christmas.  Not by spending more money, just by reallocating some of the money you were already going to spend.  I really hope that everyone at Relevant accepts this challenge.  For more info on the “Take Out Experience”, go to http://www.relevantcommunity.org/takeout/

Pastor Ronnie

On September 25^th I gave a sermon entitled, “Committed to Relationships.”  I believe the content of that sermon is so valuable for every person who is a part of Relevant, that I want to reiterate some of the main points from that sermon again. 

You need Authentic Connections of TOGETHERNESS w/ others.  You will agree or disagree with that statement depending on where at on your spiritual journey, and what your experience with relationships has been; however, I know this to be true because God said He designed us for them – “It is not good for man to be alone” (Genesis 2). 

By authentic connections of togetherness, I mean relationships of accountability, belonging, care, dependency, love, support, care, lifting up, walking side by side, doing life with, always being there for one another, trust, giving hope, fun, companionship, etc.  So, who are the ppl you have this type of togetherness with? Chances are, not too many. 

I am currently seeing a really cool thing at Relevant.  More and more people are desiring authentic connections of togetherness with others.  It is exciting to see because it shows that we are being transformed more into God’s image.  But there is a huge disconnect.  We desire them, but most of us are not experiencing them; therefore, many of us are asking if these types of relationships are really possible.  

Yes!  It’s possible, but not as probable.  What I mean is that even though most of us desire these types of relationships, we get to a certain point in our relationships and STOP.  We remain acquaintances.  The possibility of authentic connections of togetherness only becomes a probable reality if we choose to break through this barrier.  This will not happen by accident.  It will require intentionality.    

#1 You develop authentic connections of togetherness by being…TOGETHER – eating, praying, learning, watching football, hanging out, playing golf, going out for coffee, etc.  If you are going to develop authentic connections of togetherness you need to be together with others, a lot.  The only thing Relevant can do to help you in this is Small Groups.  After that…it is up to you!

#2 You develop authentic connections of togetherness by intentionally investing in others.  Most of us wait for people to pursue us.  You can’t wait!  You must take action.  A great question to ask yourself today is, WHO ARE YOU INTENTIONALLY INVESTING IN TO DEVELOP AUTHENTIC CONNECTIONS? Who are you calling to have coffee with, inviting over for dinner, serving, meeting the needs of, etc.?      

These two actions steps can radically change your relationships.  So, let me close with two final questions.  First, who are the people you can potentially develop authentic connections of togetherness with?  Second, what will you do?  If you are already coming up with a bunch of excuses, that is OK, but you are choosing to “go it alone.”  Let’s not go it alone!  Don’t wait for relationships to happen to you.  They won’t happen by accident.  Be the person who takes the step to invest…today!      

Pastor Ronnie

I wanted to share a really cool story with you.

About 11 months ago I met for my first premarital counseling session with a couple named Matt and Stephanie.  Stephanie was attending Relevant because of an invite from her sister, and had put her faith in Jesus since becoming part of Relevant; but, Matt had yet to attend a Sunday service.  At this first meeting Matt told me that he had never really been to church, was not sure that God even existed, and for sure didn’t believe that Jesus was the Son of God.  Before the end of our time together I told Matt that my only goal before he got married was that he put his faith in Jesus.  He looked at me like I was crazy. 

To my surprise, Matt and Stephanie agreed to attend our 12 week couple’s small group in the Spring.  The first week Matt showed up it looked like he was going to have an anxiety attack (he had never been in a setting like this before).  Through the small group we talked about God’s design for marriage.  Matt had an opportunity to hear the message of Jesus and be with other couples who loved Jesus.  Matt also started attending Relevant’s Sunday service.  We wrapped up our small group in April.  At the last small group Matt told the group he still wasn’t sure about the whole Jesus thing, but that he was definitely more open to it because he had come to the point to believing that God does exist. 

I spent a lot of time in prayer (and so did many others) leading up to my last premarital counseling session was them in July.  Toward the end of the session I asked Matt where he was currently on his spiritual journey, and he told me that he had come to the place believing Jesus was the Son of God, and that He died for his sins.  Before our time was over, Matt had put his faith in Jesus – asking Jesus to be the forgiver of his sins, and leader of his life.  AMAZING!

I performed Matt and Stephanie’s wedding in August, and had the honor to baptize both of them in September.  It was so cool talking with Matt before he got baptized and him telling me, “if you would have told me a year ago that I would be doing this, I would have told you that you were crazy!”

God works powerfully to transform lives! 

Pastor Ronnie

Today I am posting the final of 6 papers I had to complete for my ordination through the Christian and Missionary Alliance. I hope this final paper is helpful for you in your own personal growth and understanding.

So…here is paper #6 on “Completing Christ’s Mission” - completing-christs-mission-paper

Pastor Ronnie

On Sunday, September 11th, we had an Anniversary Service to celebrate Relevant’s 2 year anniversary.  The primary thing we celebrated at this service was the spiritual transformation that has taken place in people’s lives over the past year at Relevant. One of the ways we celebrated this is through baptism.  We baptized 9 people. It was such an awesome time. I love baptizing people more than anything.

The following are the names of the 9 people who made the publicly declared their faith in Jesus through baptism at that service. Please give God praise for working in these people’s lives, and for transforming them.  Also, please pray for their protection from the evil-one. I know they are going to come under attack after making the public demonstration of their faith through baptism…
* Kevin Smith
* Brooke McCoy
* Gretchen Baker
* Emily Cole
* Renee Johnson
* Robert Frank
* Matt Stelzer
* Stephanie Stelzer�
* Jake Williams

Pastor Ronnie