Dear Family and Friends,
Well the heat is cooling to a comfortable mid- 90’s and school will be starting this month. We will see our oldest Gabriella off to kindergarten and we pray that she will be a light in her school even at her tender age. Also pray for Josiah, as he will miss his sister as she starts school.
Last month we had a Church Picnic at Fusion. We had a blessed time of fellowship as well as worshipping in a local park. We had great food, great music and a great message. We also closed our day with homemade ice cream. We continue to look for ways to live our faith out in public.
We are focusing on infusing the vision that God has given us into our people. We view our gatherings as a place for community growth and development so that we can be scattered out again. Everyone that comes to Fusion is a missionary to his or her families and jobs. We want to partner with Jesus to build in faith, hope and love all over the city of Chico. We believe that God has big plans for Fusion.
Please send me your prayer requests I do pray for those as I receive them. As the economy continues to struggle we know that are supporters are struggling so we ask that you prayerfully consider increasing your support or supporting us for the first time. We are willing to do what it takes to make the ministry in Chico happen and we can’t do that without your faithful support!
If you would like to commit support to us you may do so by contacting the Converge office at (209) 830-6222 or going online at www.sunergeo.org/donate.html. Thank you all for your prayers and support. We couldn’t do this without you! If you are currently supporting us and have not yet sent in your support for August please do so at this time. Thank you!
Blessings!
Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes
Email: pastor.jdr@gmail.com
Church Website: www.fusionchico.com
Monday, August 2, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
July 2010 Rhodes Family Church Planting Update
Dear Family and Friends,
We have great news!!! Elizabeth is pregnant with our third child due in December! All of us are very excited!
The summer is finally here in Chico. The last of the rain fell the first week of June and now the heat is on! This is our second summer here and we love it. There is plenty of sun and plenty of ways to say cool. The kids love swimming at the gym and wading in the creek.
This summer we have been blessed to see people get more involved at Fusion. More people have gotten involved with the Children’s ministry and we have more people getting involved with outreach ideas. The folks that are brainstorming ideas for outreach understand our vision and are really excited about seeing us grow in numbers and together. The congregation has gotten really good at inviting new people as well. Also we are seeing more people get involved with serving at the Jesus Center. We are encouraged for the future of Fusion and Chico. Continue to pray that we follow God’s vision for his church.
Jeremy enjoys being Chaplin of the Chico Fire Department. He has a uniform and travels around to different stations visiting the men and women that serve the community. He has slid down a fire pole and already been to scene. He has been able to build a good relationship with all the firefighters. Please pray for this ministry.
Please send me your prayer requests I do pray for those as I receive them. As the economy continues to struggle we know that are supporters are struggling as well and as a result we have a lost a couple so we ask that you prayerfully consider increasing your support or supporting us for the first time. We are willing to do what it takes to make the ministry in Chico happen and we can’t do that without your faithful support!
Please note: If you are not receiving this newsletter in email form and would prefer to do so please give me your email address so that we can save money on postage.
If you would like to commit support to us you may do so by contacting the Converge office at (209) 830-6222 or going online at www.sunergeo.org/donate.html. Thank you all for your prayers and support. We couldn’t do this without you! If you are currently supporting us and have not yet sent in your support for July please do so at this time. Thank you!
Blessings!
Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes
Church Website: www.fusionchico.com
We have great news!!! Elizabeth is pregnant with our third child due in December! All of us are very excited!
The summer is finally here in Chico. The last of the rain fell the first week of June and now the heat is on! This is our second summer here and we love it. There is plenty of sun and plenty of ways to say cool. The kids love swimming at the gym and wading in the creek.
This summer we have been blessed to see people get more involved at Fusion. More people have gotten involved with the Children’s ministry and we have more people getting involved with outreach ideas. The folks that are brainstorming ideas for outreach understand our vision and are really excited about seeing us grow in numbers and together. The congregation has gotten really good at inviting new people as well. Also we are seeing more people get involved with serving at the Jesus Center. We are encouraged for the future of Fusion and Chico. Continue to pray that we follow God’s vision for his church.
Jeremy enjoys being Chaplin of the Chico Fire Department. He has a uniform and travels around to different stations visiting the men and women that serve the community. He has slid down a fire pole and already been to scene. He has been able to build a good relationship with all the firefighters. Please pray for this ministry.
Please send me your prayer requests I do pray for those as I receive them. As the economy continues to struggle we know that are supporters are struggling as well and as a result we have a lost a couple so we ask that you prayerfully consider increasing your support or supporting us for the first time. We are willing to do what it takes to make the ministry in Chico happen and we can’t do that without your faithful support!
Please note: If you are not receiving this newsletter in email form and would prefer to do so please give me your email address so that we can save money on postage.
If you would like to commit support to us you may do so by contacting the Converge office at (209) 830-6222 or going online at www.sunergeo.org/donate.html. Thank you all for your prayers and support. We couldn’t do this without you! If you are currently supporting us and have not yet sent in your support for July please do so at this time. Thank you!
Blessings!
Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes
Church Website: www.fusionchico.com
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
June 2010 Rhodes Family Church Planting Update
Dear Family and Friends,
We had another baptism in May. A young lady came to faith in Jesus Christ and was baptized. While serving at the Jesus Center Jeremy was able to have a spiritual conversation with her and at the end she wanted to accept Christ. She was then baptized on May 16th. We have been so blessed to see God at work in the ministry here in Chico.
On May 30th we had a service project at the Boys and Girls Club. We did not have a message or music but rather worshiped through our hard work. The Boys and Girls Club were blown away by the good work that we did. It was great to work along side the people who have invested in Fusion and made it their Church home. Serving the community is a big part of our vision and the way that we can make it a priority is by doing it on Sunday morning. I was touched by the wiliness of our people to serve in the name of Jesus Christ.
Jeremy has also been made the Chaplin of the Chico Fire Department. He has been taken around to all the Fire Stations to meet the men and women whom he will be ministering. Jeremy is available for their professional and personal needs as well as on call for times that he is needed on scene. This is a great opportunity to meet a number of people who need Jesus in their lives. Please pray for this ministry.
Please send me your prayer requests I do pray for those as I receive them.
Please also continue to pray for our financial support. We are making ends meet, but the money we have in our reserve is slowly going down as we wait for the additional commitments of support that we need. If you would like to commit support to us you may do so by contacting the Converge office at (209) 830-6222 or going online at www.sunergeo.org/donate.html. Thank you all for your prayers and support. We couldn’t do this without you! If you are currently supporting us and have not yet sent in your support for May please do so at this time. Thank you!
Blessings!
Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes
Sunday, May 30, 2010
5th Sunday Serve-a-clean-tastic
My wife told me that I need to think of a name for this part of our ministry. This is my working title...
Here I sit on a Sunday morning usually I would be finishing up work on the message, but this morning there is none. I think that this is harder for me than anyone else. I love to bring God's word every Sunday, it is my passion so a Sunday like this is hard for me in preparation. Why is there no message or music today? TODAY WE SERVE!
We as fusion take the 5th Sunday of the month and devote it to serving at the Boys and Girls Club (our regular meeting place). Why? Vision. This is one of the distinctives of our vision and a passion of my heart. Matthew 20:26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Most of all we serve in response to Jesus. We serve because he served. We desire to live like Jesus and live the call that God gave us in the moment he saved us. So this Sunday is the beginning of a significant piece of our Church. Why are we doing it on Sunday? Because is insures that this is a priority. This is our way of loving the place we meet at in a tangible way.
So here I sit thinking of what could be... will what we are doing change the world? I do not know. Will the Boys and Girls Club be clean? A part of it. Will Jesus be lifted up through our service? YES!
We gather to serve today. Should it be such a strange idea?
Here I sit on a Sunday morning usually I would be finishing up work on the message, but this morning there is none. I think that this is harder for me than anyone else. I love to bring God's word every Sunday, it is my passion so a Sunday like this is hard for me in preparation. Why is there no message or music today? TODAY WE SERVE!
We as fusion take the 5th Sunday of the month and devote it to serving at the Boys and Girls Club (our regular meeting place). Why? Vision. This is one of the distinctives of our vision and a passion of my heart. Matthew 20:26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Most of all we serve in response to Jesus. We serve because he served. We desire to live like Jesus and live the call that God gave us in the moment he saved us. So this Sunday is the beginning of a significant piece of our Church. Why are we doing it on Sunday? Because is insures that this is a priority. This is our way of loving the place we meet at in a tangible way.
So here I sit thinking of what could be... will what we are doing change the world? I do not know. Will the Boys and Girls Club be clean? A part of it. Will Jesus be lifted up through our service? YES!
We gather to serve today. Should it be such a strange idea?
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
a kind word...
I have found out lately what a kind word can mean to a hurting person. The value of speaking and being a person of peace is amazing and so simple. It all starts with how you view people around you.
I recently was told by a young lady that one day while she was working she was having a rough day, everything was coming apart around her and she was in a fog. She said that the sound of my voice, the kindness in my demeanor and the gentle words of encouragement I gave her helped her out immensely. Nothing profound, nothing from my training just kindness. Although she saw me, I cannot help but think that the voice that she heard that brought peace was that of Jesus Christ. Sometimes Jesus works in and through us as we do the routine of our day. Sometimes the most gentle of words can change a person's day and that is of eternal value because every person has eternal value.
There is question here: How do you treat the people you encounter? How do you speak and act toward people who work at coffee houses and restaurants? Do you treat them with value? Do you treat them as if the bear the image of God? Or do you treat them as means to your end, a good customer experience?
The people of the Kingdom of God are not consumers but agents of healing and change. We MUST at all times live that way and then the littlest of things will be done in the name of Jesus Christ.
I recently was told by a young lady that one day while she was working she was having a rough day, everything was coming apart around her and she was in a fog. She said that the sound of my voice, the kindness in my demeanor and the gentle words of encouragement I gave her helped her out immensely. Nothing profound, nothing from my training just kindness. Although she saw me, I cannot help but think that the voice that she heard that brought peace was that of Jesus Christ. Sometimes Jesus works in and through us as we do the routine of our day. Sometimes the most gentle of words can change a person's day and that is of eternal value because every person has eternal value.
There is question here: How do you treat the people you encounter? How do you speak and act toward people who work at coffee houses and restaurants? Do you treat them with value? Do you treat them as if the bear the image of God? Or do you treat them as means to your end, a good customer experience?
The people of the Kingdom of God are not consumers but agents of healing and change. We MUST at all times live that way and then the littlest of things will be done in the name of Jesus Christ.
Monday, May 3, 2010
May 2010 Rhodes Family Church Planting Update
Dear Family and Friends,
We baptized two people on Easter! We were blessed to celebrate our first Easter at Fusion by baptizing two members of our congregation. We know that God is working in the community of Chico and we will see many more people following Jesus and being baptized.
One of the things that has marked the ministry here in Chico is one of the first things that we did when we moved here. And that is serving the community. We have worked at the Jesus Center, Love Chico, Special Olympics and many others. This continues to be the case. We continue to serve at the Jesus Center on a regular basis. Many of the people who would not come to Church continue to join us. This has been a way to have amazing spiritual conversations while loving the homeless and hurting. Please pray that these conversations can turn into people following Jesus.
Pray with us as we take May 30th and do a service project together. We will still be meeting at Boys and Girls Club but we will gather to worship through working together rather than through music and the word. I know God will do amazing things as we love on the Boys and Girls Club in the name of Jesus.
Jeremy has also been made the Chaplin of the Chico Fire Department, which is another amazing service opportunity for Fusion. This month he will be taken around to all the stations and meet the firemen. We are very excited about the relationships that will be forged through this.
Please also continue to pray for our financial support. We are making ends meet, but the money we have in our reserve is slowly going down as we wait for the additional commitments of support that we need. If you would like to commit support to us you may do so by contacting the Converge office at (209) 830-6222 or going online at www.sunergeo.org/donate.html. Thank you all for your prayers and support. We couldn’t do this without you! If you are currently supporting us and have not yet sent in your support for May please do so at this time. Thank you!
Blessings!
Jeremy and Elizabeth Rhodes
Monday, April 5, 2010
I wrote and prayed early Easter morning
I am feeling strange today- too many distractions on Easter.
God please calm my distractions... help me focus, focus on you not anything else. You are my first love and the knowledge and relationship with you should permeate all that is done today and everyday...
numbers, finances, children's programming, set up... focus
focus on God
like the sun, may I see everything by You
may you be my worldview, my filter
the Way, Truth, Life
calm my heart
You today, tomorrow, all days.
This prayer I prayed Sunday morning during my prep time. A half hour later we arrived at our facility to find that we were locked out. The person assigned to let us in forgot to come and we scrambled to find a place for the gathering, they have since apologized for their mistake.
God still showed up as we crammed people into the place where we were scheduled to have a potluck and baptism after our gathering. I thank God for the immediate application to the prayer and the people that were baptized. Praise God that he does not dwell in buildings but in the hearts of his people.
God please calm my distractions... help me focus, focus on you not anything else. You are my first love and the knowledge and relationship with you should permeate all that is done today and everyday...
numbers, finances, children's programming, set up... focus
focus on God
like the sun, may I see everything by You
may you be my worldview, my filter
the Way, Truth, Life
calm my heart
You today, tomorrow, all days.
This prayer I prayed Sunday morning during my prep time. A half hour later we arrived at our facility to find that we were locked out. The person assigned to let us in forgot to come and we scrambled to find a place for the gathering, they have since apologized for their mistake.
God still showed up as we crammed people into the place where we were scheduled to have a potluck and baptism after our gathering. I thank God for the immediate application to the prayer and the people that were baptized. Praise God that he does not dwell in buildings but in the hearts of his people.
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