We have a brand spanking new Email Newsletter for Suncrest-East.  If you attend or are interested in staying up to date on the happenings of East campus, will you subscribe?  This is designed as the very best way to stay informed and engaged on what is going on with East Campus.  Also, we are going to have some great articles on integrating our faith with everyday life.  Don’t miss out!  If you subscribe below, you will receive the Suncrest-East Extra in your inbox every Wednesday morning. Just to be clear this is different then subscribing to this blog’s posts. The Suncrest-East Extra is something new and different.

Sign up for Suncrest-East Extra

Every time we do a direct mail campaign we always get a positive response and a not so positive response.  We typically get a few phone calls from recipients at the office explaining that they are Catholic or whatever and would NOT like to receive mailings from us.  Or we will receive a note saying basically the same thing.  And I think, who has the time to actually make a phone call or send a piece of mail back to us.  Just throw it away!  But apparently some have too much time on their hands and are offended easily.

Last week though we received a response that tops them all.  Fortunately for me but unfortunately for Cindy, she opened a package that include a couple of the postcards, a paper towel containing some fowl spelling substance and a note that said, “I don’t want any of our religious a$$ material.  Here’s some sh$$ to remind you.”  I’m not exactly sure if the substance was what the card said it was, but it smelled bad.

Someone apparently has some issues…

and is exactly who Jesus loves…

and who we are trying to reach.

A very close up video note:

Make sure to check out the SERVOLUTION page for an updated list of opportunities.

Sometimes it’s hard to know if you are making a difference.  It doesn’t matter if you are a pastor or a volunteer in a church, you want to make a difference.  I’ve been sharing some stories that newcomers to Suncrest have shared with me and wanted every volunteer and leader of Suncrest to read them to see how YOU are making  a difference.

Here’s Les and Pilar’s story:

Since attending Suncrest-East we have become closer as a family and grown spiritually as individuals.  Life experiences have been for the positive and not the negative.  We hae met many wonderful and caring members and made some great friends.  We are on our way to becoming financially at peace due to classes offered.  We love being a part of the church’s family and feel truly blessed.

Recent posts have been about the impact God is using Suncrest to make in people’s lives.  Here’s Angela’s story:

I was lost for a very long time and when I found Suncrest I found HOME AGAIN.. I found a Christian family to belong to and it’s changed my life completely. Every single message Suncrest has talked about I’ve needed to hear which just blows my mind. I count down the days till Sunday because I can’t wait to be in Church. I LOVE to Worship the Lord so the music choice is awesome. The craving I’ve had for God and the light that shines through me I owe all to Suncrest.. I was baptized through Suncrest & have been Reborn..THANK YOU!!

If you click HERE you can see Angela’s baptism!

I’ve been sharing what others have shared with about how God has used Suncrest to impact their lives.  You can check out all the posts HERE.  Here’s what Dinah said:

OH… What Suncrest has meant to me. I had been going from Church to Church for some time and one day I got this post card in the mail from Suncrest.. normally I would have thrown it out with me junk mail but for a month I held on to it. Finally I decided to try it.. the other Churches had great buildings… and loads of people. I always felt like a lost sheep..checking my time to see if it was time to leave.   I went in and came out…no one even knew I was there.  I have to say that I adore the people at Suncrest, I have yet to check my time and see if the sermon is about over and I feel fulfilled when I leave. The sermons are interesting and real, they speak to your heart and soul. I know that I have found a home in Suncrest and I thank God for that little post card. My daughter and I will be at Suncrest for years to come.

A side note on Dinah’s story:  When she came for the first time, I notice Gail immediately welcomed her and invited her to sit right beside her and her husband.  I don’t think we can miss the coorelation between Dinah finding a home at Suncrest and Gail’s welcoming action!  Way to go!

This Sunday we are having a special Suncrest-East showing of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs right after church.  This is an opportunity for us to reach out to friends and family and invite them this Sunday to Suncrest AND a movie.  Tickets are only $2 so you can’t beat that!  Go ahead and get some for your family and then get a few extra for some friends or your kids’ friends or strangers on the street.

I’ve created a special Paypal button below so you can purchase your tickets now before we sell out and then pick up the tickets on Sunday.  It all starts at 9:30 this Sunday!

And here’s a sneak peak at the movie!

I want to share over the next few days stories of how God has been working through Suncrest in newcomers’ lives. As I have reflected on the last year of Suncrest-East’s existence, these stories remind me what last year was about and what the future will always be about for our church.  I don’t post these to say, “Look how awesome we are!”  Rather, I post them because the everyday leader, volunteer and attendee does not get to hear the stories of impact like I hear them.  To that end I share these stories.  Thanks for reading.

From Maria:

One paragraph is definitely not enough to share how God has divinely set me up to come to Suncrest in order to continue the work he’s begun in me. Since I’ve come here, I have received much healing within my mind, heart, soul and yes, even body., Depression has left me(and my home) with the help of God’s word brought forth in a simple – yet, very applicable way through the messages. I believe the “next steps” Suncrest challenges me with help me to be a “doer” instead of a “hearer” and though these “next steps” can be challenging or uncomfortable, I know they are for my good and I can feel God looking down on me waiting to see if I’ll grow in my faith and make the change by his grace. For those that have come to know me, your unconditional love and compassion towards me has caused me to stay when I wanted to run. This is another thing I’ve learned…not to run anymore but stay and trust the Lord. I never knew a church where you didn’t have to take classes in order to be a part of the “team”. When asked if anyone wants to pray for people after services, my mouth and heart dropped because I’ve always longed to do so, but I always had to take “membership” classes and then was never picked to do so. I just want to thank God for the work he’s doing and continues to do and how he is blessing me to establish sound relationships, slowly but surely. And I want to thank you, Suncrest, for reaching out to Merrillville. I know I am one reason why God sent you here. One more thing, thank you for the FPU, I have really seen a great change in my life with a new mindset on how to be a better steward with God’s monies. I love the humility of our pastors and there since of humor is good medicince to our bones…Suncrest Rocks!

The best part of Suncrest-East’s celebration yesterday was the baptism of Elise.  Elise came to Suncrest just last month but she was so ready for a NEW life that the decision to be baptized came quickly.  Elise is a joy to have at Suncrest and I look forward to seeing more of God at work in her life!