Serving is Hard!

By Gary Keith, Lead Pastor

Recently a person posed a question to all of his friends on Facebook. He asked “What makes it hard for you to serve other people?”

They gave some great answers, including:

“Serving is hard when it doesn’t fit into my schedule or plan. Like when I want to go for a walk or take a long bath, but my aging parent needs me to sort their meds, run an errand, or simply be with them.” 

“It’s hard when their need seems endless. I don’t want to risk helping
because I may get sucked in. Being swallowed up in the serving and
not getting to be the me I think I am or should be.” 

“There is such limited energy left after a demanding workday, meeting our basic responsibilities (whether with young kids or in the corporate world). How do you balance the need for rest and self-care with serving others?”

But my favorite answer was this one: “What makes it hard to serve others? Others.” How true! Serving is not something that comes naturally, but that’s okay because as Christians we have someone to follow and lead the way – Jesus. Most of us are familiar with Jesus’ words in Mark where He says, “I did not come to be served but to serve and give my life as a ransom for many.” There it is. As we follow Jesus, serving others becomes a supernatural practice He calls us to join Him in.

“What makes it hard to serve others? Others.”

Recently we held training for the 12 people who have taken a bold step of faith to serve. The training was for our new Open Table ministry. They each gave up six hours one Saturday to learn all they could about serving someone else. And what was so encouraging when the training was over was their
response. “Let’s get moving,” they said. “I’m ready to serve,” they said. Truly they are modeling the heart of Jesus.

In the very near future these 12 people will lead the way as they meet with a person in poverty weekly for a year. The goal is to build a lifelong relationship. And when this relationship unfolds they will be involved in helping this person achieve their own personal life plan.

In some ways I think these 12 are pioneers. They have a heart that beats for the things God’s heart beats for, and I couldn’t be more proud or excited for them and for our church.

LBF is not a place to come and consume the things you need. No, it is a place where together we serve one another in a multitude of ways to help us all see Jesus and grow in Jesus. If you’re not serving you’re missing out. And LBF is not all it could be without you serving. We have many places to start – just send me an email and we’ll help you start serving just like Jesus. Remember our value – every member a minister (one who serves)!

Summer is the Perfect Time to Check Out Life Kids Children’s Ministry

By Laurie Baiz, Director of Life Kids Children’s Ministry

Have you ever thought about getting involved in Children’s Ministry, but the commitment just seemed too long? Or maybe the thought has crossed your mind, but the responsibility of teaching the kids made you second guess yourself. Well, I am here to tell you that the summer session is the perfect time to get your feet wet and try it out. 

We have positions for all three services, for infants through 6^th grade. This ministry offers an array of different positions that can utilize many different skills. These positions include Classroom Leaders that teach the lessons, Floaters that handle the attendance and administrative side of things, Junior Helpers (7^th grade and up), Storytellers that share the Bible story with the kids in an interactive way, and Media Techs that run the slides for worship and story time. These positions also offer different types of serving schedules. Leaders, Floaters, and Junior Helpers can serve every week or 2-weeks-on/2-weeks-off. And the Storytellers and Media Techs serve once a month, but for both the 9:15 & 10:45 services. 

The session is only 16 weeks and we provide all of the training, supplies, curriculum, and encouragement. You just need to provide the energy, love for the kids, love for Jesus, and the fun. So come on by our table on the patio between Sunday services and see what great opportunities are
waiting for you! I can’t wait to see you there and share all of the exciting ways to serve in Life Kids Children’s Ministry. You can also email me.

Salon (& Smiles) in the Park

By Kirsten Grubb 

Pacific Lifeline is extremely grateful for those who served our families through the Salon in the Park event on May 11. To those who spent hours planning and serving, may God bless you for your investment of time, energy, and love. The food was delicious, the activities for the kids were a blast, and the haircuts and manicures were so appreciated! The families felt loved, and many expressed a desire to start attending LBF.

• One mom told me that the only time she gets her hair cut is at LBF’s Salon in the Park. 
• A mom and her son wanted to come so badly that they took a taxi to LBF. When the event ended, the two of them started walking toward Euclid Ave., heading for south Upland. Don’t worry, I gave them a ride home. 
• As I took one of the resident families back to the shelter, the mom said that this was her best Mother’s Day ever. She said she felt so loved and blessed. 

Thank you, LBF, for reaching out and ministering to Pacific Lifeline’s families. Learn more about Pacific Lifeline.

Youth Serving

By Matt Sasso, Pastor of Student Ministries 

In December, some of our jr. high and high school students got an opportunity to serve our local library. It was a great day. Seeing our students serving and witnessing the thankfulness of the people that worked there was very rewarding. While we were there, the students moved boxes, reorganized shelves, and dusted. Simple things, but ones that made a great impression on the people that worked there.

A Ministry Not to be Taken “Lightly”

By Jeff Taylor, Pastor of Worship 

Think about it, when you go into a library (that’s that place you used to have to go to do research before Google and Wikipedia), there is something about that environment that naturally prepares your mind to take in information, to study, and above all else, to be quiet. Likewise, as you walk through the gates of Disneyland, immediately your imagination and wonder kicks in and your emotions and mind are ready for a great time with family or friends.

This idea of environment playing a role in preparing our mind and heart is certainly true in a worship setting as well. And whether it is through music, stage props, or lighting, an environment plays a role in preparing our hearts to worship, consider the things of God, and respond to what He is doing. One of the ministries here at LBF where there is a great need (and opportunity!) is with lighting for our weekend services. We have some great equipment that allows us to create some great environments to coincide with the message of the music and sermons: lights that dim for more personal reflection, colored lights that add warmth and character to the stage. But these lights don’t turn themselves on and off. We need people for that. This is where you come in! Certainly it would be easy to just turn the house lights on and leave them that way through the music and message. Yet it has been scientifically studied and proven that we respond to our environment, which means there is the potential to create a setting more conducive to personal reflection, and focused worship than a gym with fluorescent ceiling lights. Similarly, this belief is why we have a sound system rather than just having someone come out and sing or speak ambiently.

We need volunteers that are willing to be up in the Media Loft (that’s what’s behind those windows above the doors at the back of the Worship Center), using the light board to control the lights in the Worship Center and on the stage during our weekend services. “I don’t know how to operate a light board,” you say? Well, we have people to train you, and even a DVD that we have created to show you how it all works. We will work around your schedule and use you when you say you are available. If you are a behind-the-scenes-type of person, willing to learn, and desire to make a difference here at LBF, then this may be the ministry for you.

This is a desperate need right now as we currently have only one volunteer. We need at least two more! Please consider finding out more about this really cool opportunity to make a big difference in the life of our church. To get more info or to volunteer, please email Jeff Taylor at jeff@lbfchurch.com. Or write it on your K.I.T. card next Sunday!

Thank you for your prayerful consideration in getting involved with this ministry at LBF.

We still need 15 volunteers to help at Harvest Party

We still have 15 open spots for volunteers to help make Harvest Party a smashing success! Sign up now!

Neighbor Clean Up Day - Love in Action

Thanks to all who came out to serve last Sunday as we practiced Love in Action. We had a fantastic turn out of at least 50 adults and 25 kids from LBF and residents of  San Antonio Heights.

The lot looks a hundred times improved as we trimmed, chopped, cut, swept, etc. Thanks to all and specifically:

• the team of guys that dedicated their time to compacting the waste inside the Burtecc waste container. I cant believe how much stuff we got into that container!  
• to the families that involved your kids
• to those who ferried trimmings from one side of the parking lot to the other - via old Albertsons Shopping carts!
• to the team of guys who fed us hot dogs and chips
• to the people who ran to the store to get more hotdogs due to an amazing turn out of people!
• to LBF's Kids Ministry who brought over 20+ kids to help trim and sweep!
• to Rob Vance and Noel Norton - our go-to foreman guys.
• Thanks to Safety-Dan, where-ever he may be.
• to SAH community - for helping to spread the word within the community and for participating with us! 

 photos by Tira Young

Thank You for Making Pacific Lifeline Mothers Feel Special

Thank you for all who participated in LBF’s Outward Bound project for Pacific Lifeline on Saturday, May 8 – the Mini-Makeovers (and more!) for Moms. What a blessing you all were to the families – they were all so thrilled.

Here is an email I got from one of the families who attended. I am sure she speaks for everyone!

Yesterday was amazing. Please tell whoever sponsored the event that they really made us feel great. It was like a little family reunion also. I love those girls and I am so blessed to have made lifetime friends from the time that I lived at Pacific Lifeline and also through grad group. God bless you and Happy Mothers Day!

Also, from one of Pacific Lifeline’s staff members:

Saturday was a huge success! Everybody really enjoyed themselves!

As a member of LBF and a staff member of Pacific Lifeline, let me just say that it warmed my heart to see all of you working together, using your God-given gifts to serve…and it also warmed my heart to see moms, who have gone through so much, get pampered and have such beautiful smiles on their faces! What a wonderful Mother’s Day give you gave!

God bless you abundantly for the time, energy, and love you gave to Pacific Lifeline families.

Blessings,

Kirsten Grubb

Reflections: July 28-29, 2007

This week's "Reflection" by Russ Parker, LBF Business Administrator

This past weekend more than 150 of our church members and attenders took part in Serve Day. LBF provided leadership for seven projects that blessed our community and served people and ministry in need. What a huge success it was! From washing cars to painting houses to checking blood pressure, there were lots of ways to get involved on Serve Day.




I personally have heard numerous stories from the day...stories about how blessed we were to serve and show Christ's love, and stories of how amazingly that love was accepted. 

Did you participate in Serve Day? We want to hear about your experiences as we celebrate the ways God moved on July 28th.