Elevation North has News for YOU!

TODAY I WITNESSED THRONGS OF PEOPLE. In the middle of the night, we got ready to head to the airport to take our grandson for his flight back to Michigan. Parting truly is such sweet sorrow … last bits of early morning conversation in the darkness as we drove, holding hands and praying for him, and lots of hugs and “I love yous” … until he was out of sight and on his way! Backtrack to the throngs now. My husband had walked with Dylan to his boarding gate, and I had to remain back at the security area and wait for him to return. And so I sat there praying … and people watching. I was amazed at the throngs of milling people, already in full-paced motion and it was not yet even 5 a.m.! Where in the world were all these people coming from and going at such an early hour? My heart leaped with spiritual vision – and I really wanted to know how many were truly free as they moved through the throngs. I really wanted to know how many were lost and bound up with all the blows that life has dealt to them. I really wanted to know how many were hurting and felt so all alone – even in the midst of the throngs. And I just wanted all of them to know that Someone actually cares. Genuinely. A part of me wanted to find a master loudspeaker that would encompass all of the airport – every terminal … and give them the Good News that Jesus knows them by name and loves them and wants them to be free! I wanted them to know that they could form a line and come to a certain place where their lives would be forever changed, and they could feel every chain drop off and claim their new freedom. I wanted them to know that just as the precious blood of countless soldiers have bought our nation’s freedom – so the precious shed blood of Jesus on Calvary so long ago bought their freedom. I wanted them to know that on bended knee they would find the strength to stand strong and come through with flying colors, so to speak. I wanted them to know that whatever “soul baggage” they walked into that international airport carrying … they could leave it all behind. Never to have to drag it around again. Never to have to be reminded again of all the junk that life throws in our direction. Not having to be stuck in despair or fear – ever again. More than the destination on their ticket, I wanted them to see a new destination awaiting them, one unlike any place they’ve ever seen or been. The tender for this ticket is not American Express or Visa or MasterCard, or even Discover … it’s far too costly for us to pay. That’s why it’s free to us. Yet it cost Jesus His very life and His precious blood, a price great enough to gift every living man, woman, and child with freedom in Christ and a forever life in Heaven! Our part? Just to say … “yes”. Yes, be my Savior and my Lord. Take my life and use it however it best pleases You! And in that moment we see those outstretched nail-scarred hands holding the ticket that will secure our mansion in Heaven. Our name is written boldly on it, and there’s no expiration date … it’s good for ALL of Eternity! Wow! People in the airport, do you hear? Do you understand? Don’t you want to leave your scars and rejection behind? Your shackles of sin that torment you day and night? Your failures and your emptiness? Your absence of purpose? Your misguided direction? Your lack of joy? People in the marketplace, I ask you the same questions. People in the church, I ask you the same questions, as well. Who would opt for a life that is hindered and enslaved? Who would choose a life filled with negativity? Who would purposely settle for the deception and lies and sadness that never seems to go away? Yet, out of those throngs of people that I saw … I’m sure that many more live in bondage than live in freedom! And that’s heartbreaking. What are we, as believers, here for? What is the church here for? We need to be jumping on board God’s daily plan to seek and save the lost … we need to be hunting down that microphone … we need to be boldly sharing Christ and offering the life-solutions that He brings for all of us! The throngs remain before my face, and my heart screams, “I don’t want to go to Heaven without all of you! I want to take you WITH me!” Head bowed with the magnitude of such a prayer, I humbly ask, “God, WHAT do you want me to DO?” Show me, please SHOW me! I want to know. I need to KNOW! Time is short and we … you and me, we need to make every minute count! We need to be on a continual, everlasting mission to take as many people to Heaven with us as we can. We need to be about the Father’s business: filling Heaven with the throngs. We need to be engaged in the spiritual strategy of leaving hell as empty as we can. Let’s put on our spiritual armor and start marching. Let’s win the throngs … one person at a time. All we have to do is open our mouth with the confidence that we win the final battle of all time … our God will do the rest! He will bring the freedom they are longing for!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- COMMUNING WITH GOD was truly precious as we took time to remember all He did for us on the cross … and still does, every day. As a church family, we were so blessed as well, by the gift of the new Communion table that one of our families had hand-made for our church! May God bless you, we pray!
- OUR SPECIAL BIRTHDAY WISHES go out to LaFawn who will be celebrating on July 8th! May you be blessed to overflowing this coming year!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, JULY 3RD: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, celebrating America and the freedoms we hold so dear, paid for with an extreme price … and celebrating the freedom that comes from knowing Christ and remembering the extreme price He paid for us! Remember the new sermon series that Pastor Doug will be starting on “Two Words to Change the World” … we will be digging into scriptures from Joshua 10 this week - and into history along with God’s Word over the next several weeks. Don’t miss a single week – and plan to bring some people with you!
- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION – A time for our church family as we grow stronger together in Christ!
- MONDAY, JULY 4TH: HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY … enjoy celebrating our nation’s freedoms with family and friends!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 10TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with Part 2 of the sermon series, “Two Words to Change the World”. Pastor Doug will be preaching from the book of Job … will you accept the challenge to see what God has in mind for His children in this day and age?
- KINGDOM CONNECTION – Be a participator in the life of our church and be encouraged by this time of fellowship and spiritual nurturing!
- ADDITIONAL MINISTRIES & EVENTS are just around the corner … make a list of who you can invite!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- THERE IS NO GREATER THRILL than witnessing the hand of God at work – and being called to be a part of that work! Over and over we see God manifesting His answers on our behalf! This week we especially think of several in our church family who are experiencing deep trials and would love for you to pray for and with them over these unspoken requests. Let’s continue to pray for Johnny and Cherry, for Jimmy, for Julia, for Wayne, for the Landons’ in their upcoming move, for Larry w/his upcoming surgery, for Lundstroms, for Seykoras’, for our nation, our leaders, our military, & for God’s leading us to the place of His perfect choice for us to house Elevation North!

- REMEMBER . . . “The value of a person is not measured on an applause meter; it is measured in the heart and mind of God.” ~ John Fischer

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

WE’VE BEEN EVERYWHERE, MAN! “We’ve been everywhere, man” … wasn’t that a popular song some years ago?! Well, this week, it became our theme song! We were SO excited to head out on the road for a few days … because it meant bringing our 15-year old grandson back with us to stay for a little over a week! We’ve never had the joy of having a grandchild stay with us before … so we were like two little children anticipating a special present all wrapped up and waiting to be opened! We met our son, Dana and his wife, Stacey, in Chicago – as they were flying from there to Europe for their 20th anniversary cruise. Dylan would be coming home with us … and we could hardly wait! It was so great seeing them, as we hadn’t been together for over a year! During the course of the evening, the four of us left the hotel to run an errand in their car, while Dylan went up to the room. Barely down the street, we realized there was some bad weather going on. Thanks to internet on the cell phone, we discovered there was a tornado in the area we were staying in. Dana was driving aggressively through the toppled street barricades, as if on an obstacle course. The wind was strong, rain was pelting, it was dark, and we weren’t sure but that the car wouldn’t be hit by some moving object. Stacey, following her intuition, reasoned that we should turn around and get back to the hotel as soon as possible. At that moment, Dana’s phone rang and Dylan was letting us know that the power was out at the hotel. Everything was dark. Upon our return, we had to take the outer stairs at the Hyatt to get back to our room – since the elevators were out of order. Again, the cell phones provided a bit of light so we could see where we were going. The generators would not cooperate … and so we spent all night in the dark. When early morning came, we had to pull the window covering open to get ready by the bit of daylight that provided a shadowy reflection in the mirror. Taking to the road, we drove home through cloudy skies and rain. The next day, we hit the road again to attend a ministry board meeting a few hours away. Talking with some friends and sharing some health news they are facing, our hearts just wanted to “fix” it all … the diagnosis, the upcoming surgery, the temporary change in both schedules and lifestyle. We could understand the dilemma, the pull of heartstrings, the desire to continue to pour their hearts into ministry while the necessity to pull back for recovery screams loud and clear. Lord, why are the decisions never easy? Life can get so very complicated. If it was just for you that you were making the decision for, it would be so simple. We want always to do what is best for our family, and yet this strong call to bring hope and life-changes to people through the message of Christ compels us to keep going, even when it seems irrational. Darkness seems to overshadow the decision born out of deep struggle. I’m so glad that God knows our hearts, and will always come through for us … revealing what His perfect will is in each life event. And when He does, there comes that unwavering peace. Suddenly, it’s all clear. We get to take a glimpse at the big picture … God has something so much greater in store than we ever could have visualized. It may come through totally different venues and methods than we originally anticipated – but it will be even better … far better! Sometimes retreating for a bit gives God opportunity to renew and replenish and re-fire us beyond what we’ve previously experienced! We thought we were strong before, passionate and purposed … but watch out, world! What God has done, no man or devil can thwart! Friends, we just want to encourage you that God WILL bring you to the right decision. Of all the voices and advice coming your way, may you hear God’s voice booming louder and clearer than all the rest! You are truly His chosen vessels, and He is just doing some re-shaping of the clay right now. What may seem like a weakness in the body or at the least, an inconvenience for ministry schedules – I believe are pottery tools in His nail-scarred hands, and you are getting detailed hands-on attention right now. May you be gifted with oneness in spirit, and harmony in your guided decision – that God might be lifted up and glorified! How I thank God that He always comes through for us … how He always knows the desire of our hearts! As a postscript to our grandson’s visit, I had specifically prayed before he ever came, that we would be able to bless him, impact him in godly ways, and touch his life with our love and care. And you know what? The very first evening back home, we spent hours just talking and sharing our hearts about things of God. We talked about heaven and hell, about our faith and so many experiences, and how others have made a real difference in our lives. God … you answered even before we asked! Of all the fun things we’ve been able to do together … this chat will be my highlight! Thank you, Dylan … we love you so much! (And for all of you listening in on these family and friend experiences, we hope they will remind you to “keep on” in the storms and the darkness … for His light will always shine bright enough to light your next step!)

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- GOD ALWAYS KNOWS how to brighten our lives, and His Holy Spirit truly enlightened our hearts through the powerful message Pastor Doug shared with the congregation on Father’s Day last Sunday! How we praise God for His presence in our midst!
- A SPECIAL WELCOME to Dennis and Betty who worshipped with us for the first time on Sunday; you truly encouraged us, and we pray that you were blessed, as well! We look forward to having you join us again!
- WE WELCOME our grandson, Dylan, who is with us at Elevation North today! Thank you for coming … and may God be with you as you travel home this week!
- LOVING BIRTHDAY WISHES to Pastor Doug as he celebrates this Tuesday on June 28th! May your life be filled with as much joy as you bring to the lives of all who know you! We all thank God for you!!! You are loved!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 26TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP with a message that draws us into sweet communion with our Lord as we participate in Communion, remembering what Christ did for us on Calvary!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JULY 3RD: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, celebrating our nation and the freedom that Christ came to give! We are so excited to begin the new sermon series on “Two Words to Change the World” – as we take a look at scriptures to help us become believers who WILL change our world as God empowers us! Don’t miss a Sunday!!!
- SUMMER & AUTUMN ministry schedules will be printed and ready for you next Sunday … mark the events on your calendars and plan to be active participants in the life of Elevation North!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- WHAT A JOY IT IS to see God at work so personally in our lives and in our church! How we praise Him for His incredible touch in Ernie’s life this past week; and we continue to lift up those who need God’s healing touch, others who need financial provision, those who have unspoken requests, and for wisdom and completed miracles for the new church home for Elevation North! Let’s bind our hearts together, in Jesus’ Name and for His glory!

- REMEMBER . . . God is saying to you, “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in every way and (that your body) may keep well, even as (I know) your soul keeps well and prospers.” 3 John 2, (Amplified Bible)


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

I REMEMBER. There we were, dad and daughter, walking across the farm yard hand in hand at the end of a long day. The sky sparkled brilliantly with stars that lit up the summer night. The heat of the day had been cooled by the light evening breeze and my dad’s brow was no longer wet with sweat. His face was relaxed. He had given the day his best. Now at dusk and deepening darkness, this was his family time. Having finished the last of the chores, we were heading to the house to mom and the other kids. But these moments were magical to a young girl who absolutely adored her dad! All was peaceful, and this father walking beside her was the epitome of peacefulness. Dad knew I was learning about the stars and constellations and planets in school … so he offered to take time to stop and help me find them in the vastness of the night skies. We gazed upward and marveled at God’s creation, knowing that He had hung every star in place, right where they hung as we saw them. Taking that time with me might have seemed like a small thing to my dad … but it meant everything to me that night as a young girl. You see, I’ve never forgotten! With Father’s Day upon us, it’s such a natural thing to reminisce about our dads … and memories come rushing in without effort. This week an old hymn has been frequently on my mind … in years past it was perhaps the most sung hymn at church on Father’s Day. The words have gotten loud enough for me to catch the songwriter’s message in a way I’ve never quite understood before. Have a listen: “Faith of our fathers! Living still, in spite of dungeon, fire and sword: O how our hearts beat high with joy – When e’er we hear that glorious word! Faith of our fathers, holy faith! We will be true to thee till death!” I thought about my dad and my husband’s dad … both now in Heaven in the presence of the Lord – and how their strong faith impacted us. Yes, their faith is living still! Then, I thought of godly men of past generations, even back to the patriarchs of the Old Testament and the apostles and other trail-blazers of faith in the New Testament. Back to the old hymn … it is still so timely. The next verses talk about “our fathers who were chained in prisons dark,” and yet who “were still in heart and conscience free.” And then, we are written about: “How sweet would be their children’s fate, if they like them could die for Thee!” Did you get that? Oh, that whatever fate we face for our God would be considered “sweet” by us, and that we would remember. Remembering the faith of our fathers, that we would boldly say, “We will be true to Thee till death!” I love how the old song goes on to embrace the fate of others and our opportunity to make a difference in their eternal destination: “Faith of our fathers! We will strive to win all nations unto Thee, And through the truth that comes from God, Mankind shall then be truly free!” And lastly, the songwriter did not forget to remind us how to live our faith out every day … “Faith of our fathers! We will love both friend and foe in all our strife: And preach Thee, too, as love knows how, by kindly words and virtuous life.” You see, when we’re singing and worshipping, the message is meant to impact us - as well as to deliver honor and praise to our God! That song really carries a spiritual punch, doesn’t it? Go ahead, read it over again … this time more slowly and with great focus. That will lead you right into God’s Hall of Faith Famers that you can read about in Hebrews chapter 11. There’s a long list there … yes, imperfect men, but nonetheless, men who captured God’s heart with their faith in Him. He remembered. And He wanted us to remember. So he had their names inscribed on scrolls to be forever preserved for us to be challenged and encouraged by. God starts at the beginning and their names roll on down through the generations. Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Gideon, David, Samuel … and on and on. At the end of the chapter, God records what their acts of faith accomplished – nothing short of miraculous and huge feats – all because of their faith! And then God lets us know how we are connected to them … “Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours.” And though these “pioneers blazed the way”, like it says in the first part of the next chapter, we’re told to “keep our eyes on Jesus, and to study how He did it”. He’s THE Role Model: “because He never lost sight of where He was headed – that exhilarating finish in and with God – He could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever.” Knowing all that - “will shoot adrenaline into our souls.” The faith of our fathers lives on – and so shall ours live on. What will a future songwriter have to say about OUR faith? What I do know about the fathers who are closest to me … my husband and our three sons, my two dads gone on before, and brothers and friends … the writer will be able to write that they witnessed in you a living faith that you walked out every day as you pointed others to the joy of knowing Christ. Your faith is as real as the air you breathe, and while you’ve had to climb out of valleys as well as reach for the mountain peaks in life, your hands are always firmly in His, and your faith carries you through as you lead your families by example! Happy Father’s Day! I love all of you!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WHAT GREAT FUN it was to make last Sunday “all about our children!” … and of course, we all loved being a part of their celebration! How we thank God for our children and our youth ~ they truly are the future of our church and our great nation! Let’s remember to be constant in our prayers for God’s hand to be upon them always!
- SPECIAL ANNIVERSARY WISHES are in order for Merv and Kathy Hendrickson on June 21st! May God’s love abound in your lives and in your marriage, we pray!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 19TH: 10:00 A.M. - HAPPY FATHER’S DAY to all our dads … as we honor them AND our Father in Heaven as we celebrate with WORSHIP & PRAISE in God’s House today! We pray that Pastor Doug’s message will be a blessing and encouragement to every dad in church! And enjoy the rest of the day with your family, dads!!!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 26TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with Pastor D beginning a new series called, “Two Words To Change The World,” using a variety of scriptures from both the Old and the New Testaments. Call your friends who do not attend church anywhere, and invite them to come with you … you won’t want to miss any of these powerful messages!
- NEW PRINTED SCHEDULES will be out soon for a Women of Faith meeting; a Dad/Son event in July; a summer picnic in the park in August; a Progressive Dinner in September; Women of Faith Conference in October; a Harvest Festival in November; Caroling to shut-ins in December, along with a cookie exchange for the gals, and a special Christmas Eve service/program … and more, like concerts, rallies, hymn sing, and seminars! Jump on board for the rest of the year and let God use the gifts He has given you to bless the body of Christ as we reach out to others!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- BEING CONNECTED to so many who need God’s touch (that’s ALL of us!) … aren’t you glad that we are connected to God through praise and prayer and His Word? On our hearts are Cierra, Justin, Johnny and Cherry, Ernie and Audry, Wayne, Sean, and God’s perfect will concerning a permanent home for Elevation North! He is so ABLE!!! Pray daily, praise often every day, and expect miracles, in Jesus’ Name!

- REMEMBER … “The love of the Father is like a sudden rain shower that will pour forth when you least expect it, catching you up into wonder and praise.” ~ Richard J. Foster


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

CHILDREN! What an incredible gift from God they are … straight from His hands to our hearts! We love them all the days of our lives, having discovered upon their arrival a new passion birthed within us that was before unknown. It’s an unmatched, unrivaled passion that enriches every experience our children bring to us. They make us smile, they make us laugh! Sometimes they make us cry and they can break our hearts. They amaze us and they delight us! Sometimes they drive us crazy and we’re not sure just what to do with them. They drive us to our knees in prayer … either for the joy of thanking God for them and claiming His blessings and favor for them – or because we’re at our wits end and know that the needed answers we’re desperate for lie only in the power of Almighty God. They make us ever so proud of them and they bless us more than they can ever know. From their cutest antics as toddlers to their wisest insight as adults, they are never far from their parents’ thoughts. They enrich us, stretch us, challenge us, grow us, and fulfill us. Because of their presence in our lives we seek to be more like Jesus, so that as they follow us, they can follow the example of Christ in us. From the wondrous moment we first gaze upon their pure, fresh, baby faces – so perfect and so beautiful, we’re enraptured with these tiny ones who have been placed in our care. We fall in love with them … we hold them, kiss them, cradle and cuddle them, feed them, watch over them, clothe them, change them … and then do it a seeming million times over. But that’s alright, because we just cannot get enough of these precious little creations. With each passing day, they change and grow just a little, but come 365 days later, here they are a little person running all over the place – discovering life through wide open eyes and showing pure excitement at each corner they turn! Flip the calendar pages a mere 18 times, and they’ve wiggled out of the childhood cocoon in many stages. They now emerge as a confident young adult ready to take the world on and spread their wings enroute to their future. Those precious years, no matter how much you cherish them and clasp every moment close to your heart … they race by at lightning speed! In a few blinks of the eye, suddenly your own children have children of their own. Your heart melts all over again when you hear a soft, little voice forming the words, “Grampa” and “Gramma”! I really think God outdid Himself when He created children and grandchildren … they are a gift like none other! It is such a privilege to lift them in prayer every single day – sometimes several times a day. I love praying God’s Word over them; and I love claiming God’s anointing and divine favor in their lives. What great value our children and grandchildren have; I hope they know that! They are loved by God and given fresh power from the Father above for each new day. One of the scripture verses I pray over them is from Ephesians 2:10, “Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus.” What better understanding could we wish for our children? So many times, my mind recalls ways that our sons ministered to us during their childhood and early adulthood, with truly profound wisdom beyond their years. I hear their voices yet, and I am ministered to all over again as I remember. They spoke affirmations, they spoke boldly, and they spoke God’s Word back into our lives … and they still do. Years later, enter their wives … and a sweet joining of ministry from each of them to us. Some of that is being manifested now to the third generation – we see God revealing Himself to our grandchildren, using them and working through them, even the very young ones. Our hearts overflow with gratitude to God! Our prayer is always that God’s Spirit will fall on them, and that they will be ever so aware of His deep, abiding presence. Our prayer is that all of us will always be available as willing vessels for God to use in any way He chooses. We believe God’s Word – that in these last days, our children and grandchildren will be used of God greater than ever before. And just what does God’s Word say about this? “ … this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.’” (Acts 2:16b, 17, 18, NIV) How interesting, the footnote for those verses reminds us that God Spirit is poured out on everyone, regardless of their age or their gender or their rank. What a privilege for our families that God has promised to give us and our children and our grandchildren His Spirit and His power, for His glory! How exciting to be used of God together as a family! Look out world … here come the Joneses empowered by the Spirit of God! And your family can give the same shout!!! To our sons and daughters and grandchildren … we love you more than we can tell you; and we are so thrilled to be a team – serving God together … today, tomorrow, and into eternity! HAPPY CHILDREN’S DAY!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WHAT A SPECIAL SURPRISE to be honored by our church family this past Sunday with a beautiful, delicious 40th Anniversary cake! Thank you to all of you for your love and prayers and special wishes and gifts! You truly make us feel loved! We had an incredible celebration! God’s blessings to all of you!
- OUR DEEP APPRECIATION goes out to the family who donated a custom made Communion table for our church; it will be a blessing to us each time we “partake and remember Jesus and what He did for us!” Thank you for such a meaningful gift to our church family!
- OUR GRATITUDE goes out to our Power Point team who blesses us each Sunday as we worship: Isaac, Rogelio, and Tina! May God bless you for sharing your time and talents with us!
- BELATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY WISHES to Aleana on her 5th birthday; she celebrated on June 7th! May God bless you with a very special year, Aleana!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 12TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, honoring our kids for CHILDREN’S SUNDAY … with a part of the service focused on their songs, along with a story and a Bible lesson just for them! Come and be a part of this fun, uplifting time – and practice childlike faith along with our little ones!
- KIDZ/TEEN TIME following the service – with lunch at McDonald’s and swimming at the Serengetti Park at the Holiday Inn! Please bring your own money for lunch, and the church will provide the tickets for swimming! What a fun afternoon … invite your friends today!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 19TH: FATHER’S DAY! How awesome to come together to honor our dads on this Lord’s Day! Pastor Doug will be preaching a special message for our dads that also points to our Father in heaven! Don’t miss it! (Guys, a special celebration is in the works for you – watch for details!)
- COMING SOON: WOMEN OF FAITH planning meeting; MEN’S EVENT; SUMMER PICNIC; SPECIAL MINISTRY OUTREACHES; and A NEW LOCATION in the works! Be in prayer for the life of our church!!!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- WE SEE GOD AT WORK each week in so many ways, and yet there are always new opportunities for being on our knees in prayer! This week, let’s continue to hold each other up, praying for the needs we are aware of, and for others that are unspoken. Let’s also be in prayer for Johnny in his Bible Study program, for Wayne as he recovers from neck surgery, and for Lundstroms and Seykoras as they serve God here and abroad! Great is our Lord!

- REMEMBER . . . “When we appeal to God as a helpless infant, He picks us up in His gentle hands and cradles us in His powerful arms … We have nothing to lose by leaving it up to Him.” ~ Vincent F.Collins


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

WE THANK GOD … FOR YET ANOTHER BLESSING!!! For 40 years of marriage (on this Sunday, June 5th!) … our God has paved the way! Up lots of mountains and through lots of valleys (we could write a book!) – He’s never left us alone on the path! He’s walked ahead of us into unmarked, unknown-to-us territory … leading the way and clearing the path, as our Guide and Trail-blazer. He’s walked beside us through 14,600 new days, not a one alike, over hundreds and thousands of miles in lots of different places, as our Friend and Companion. He’s walked behind us, flanking us on the rear, watching for the enemy and protecting us from dangers of every kind (He didn’t have to be in front to see what might cause us to trip and fall or be harmed – He can see right through us!), what a Defender and Battlefield Commando He has been! Most of all He has been our God, our Father. He has been closer than a brother, as Jesus, God’s Son. He has been present in every aspect of our lives as the Holy Spirit, revealing more than we can put into mere words. Can you tell how much we love Him? Can you tell how much we need Him? Can you tell how much we depend on Him? And never once has He let us down! While our boat has been rocked nearly to the point of despair during many a storm in our lives … God has been with us in every single storm! We could talk for hours of the miracles He has worked in our family’s lives! How very faithful He has been! God has led us every step of the way through nearly 40 years of ministry in six churches … two of them accounting for nearly 30 of those years! God has held the two of us close to each other, through a precious, close relationship that has weathered its own storms. Yet, in spite of our own human weaknesses, He has kept us true to Him and to each other. Today, I can truly say, “Honey, I love you more than I did forty years ago on our wedding day … in fact, I love you more today than I loved you yesterday!” Together we’ve experienced God at work in our lives in divine, supernatural ways. Our lives have always been dramatic, filled with extreme, over-the-top happenings. A friend once said, “Your lives are definitely not boring. Whenever something happens, it’s always dramatic and almost unbelievable!” I guess we’d have to agree. (Hang in there with us, and maybe someday you’ll get to read that book! You won’t be able to put it down!) God held us close when our baby grandson nearly died in a military hospital. He held us close when our son was in the bombing in Saudi Arabia, and we didn’t know we nearly 8 hours if he was dead or alive. He held us close when our son’s fingers were nearly severed in an accident with a power tool. He held us close when we felt totally displaced in ministry, once being homeless and totally at the mercy of friends and family … and again, finally having our first home ever but with job and salary being stripped away without warning. He held us close when our children went through deep struggles and we knew God would be the only answer. He held us close and healed and provided and comforted. He embraced us and nurtured and taught us as a Father does. He carved away in us so much of what hasn’t looked like Him – and hopefully we are now a clearer reflection of Him. But He’s still working on us, carving away yet more in order to bring about a better likeness of Him. He held us close when the miracles and joys came, when the fun and laughter decorated our lives, when the blessings rained down. You see, in our 40 years of marriage, we cannot pen a love story without writing about Him. Who we are as a couple is all about Him; what we share that is so wonderful, is all because of Him! How I thank God for the gift of an incredible man who is a precious, devoted, loving husband! Honey, I am so blessed in countless ways each new day by your love and your life! I love seeing how God uses you to touch others. I love seeing how He anoints your gifts to make a difference in the lives of so many people. I love how you depend on God for the strength you need as you work so hard. I love it that while your heart is longing to return to full-time ministry, you faithfully care for scores of tenants … repairing and painting and cleaning, mowing and trimming and landscaping … even cleaning toilets. There you have it. My husband truly has a servant’s heart … he’ll do whatever it takes to make something work. And in this unique chapter of our lives, he’s doing things that he never thought he was called to do. Yet he does it, and he does it well, as unto the Lord! Doug, you are amazing! I love seeing you sit with the Bible in your lap as you read and study and taste of God’s Word. I love hearing you preach with passion and power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. I love seeing you get down on your knees to be eye-level with the little ones in church; I love seeing you get crazy with the youth; I love seeing you share your heart with singles, couples, and families; and I love seeing you stand at the hospital bedside of the elderly as they breathe their last breath and are ushered into the presence of the Lord. I love it that you care about people’s souls … whether rich or poor, powerful or down-and-out, fashionable or wearing rags. It’s their heart that matters to you, and for that reason and a million more … I love you with all my heart! You can count on me standing with you and loving you for as many more years as God gives us together, honey! Happy 40th Anniversary to the love of my life!!!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- EXCITING TIMES ARE UPON US … not just on the stage of the world as we see Christ’s return approaching … but also here at Elevation North! God is bringing in a supernatural financial harvest as we see our new location approaching – He is laying all the groundwork in ways far beyond what we can even imagine! We are accepting His leading by faith – detours and all! What a sweet time we experienced in God’s presence this past Sunday!
- A SPECIAL WELCOME to Kristen as we joined us for praise and worship on Sunday for the first time; we pray that you were blessed and uplifted and that you will come again soon! May God bless you!
- LOVING ANNIVERSARY WISHES are sent to our son, Dana and his wife, Stacey, as they celebrate their 20th Anniversary on Tuesday, June 7th! May you experience God’s continued blessing and favor upon your lives and the love you share!!! We love you both so very much!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, JUNE 5TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with a message from Pastor Doug that will have you following along in your Bibles … titled, “Following Christ in Baptism.” See what God’s Word has to say, and join in on the joyful singing and warm fellowship! Exalt the Lord with us as we seek to draw closer to Him!
- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION TIME … don’t miss out on this rich family time as a body of believers!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 12TH: 10:00 A.M. – CHILDREN’S SUNDAY with the service being planned especially for our kids … but aren’t we all a kid at heart? Be in prayer even now about who your child can invite, or who you would like to bring (age 3 through 5th grade), to be a part of a great time in God’s House, with McDonald’s lunch to follow, and swimming after that! We will be announcing the final details this Sunday!
- MORE TO COME: FATHER’S DAY SERVICE, WOMEN OF FAITH PLANNING, SUMMER PICNIC, SPECIAL MINISTRY OUTREACHES, and so much more! Be a part by helping coordinate these events!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- GOD IS DEFINITELY ON HIS THRONE! God is continuing to answer prayer in so many ways: Julia is doing much better, as is her brother who was in need of the liver transplant; Sean received a great report from the specialist following his brain surgery; and Shirley is making great improvement with her knee replacement! This week we have the privilege of praying for Tina’s mom who has leakage in a heart valve and may need surgery later; for Julia’s daughter, Tammy, with liver problems and possible diabetes; for Stacey’s dad, Mark, with a lesion on his kidney; and for several unspoken requests; as well as our upcoming re-location as a church in this community! May God’s perfect will be accomplished in all these things, that He might be glorified!

- REMEMBER . . . “There’s a song that says, ‘The longer I serve Him, the sweeter He grows’. We hope you feel like that in your walk with God! It just keeps getting better and better!”


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

ON DIVINE ASSIGNMENT! I think that’s how all of us at Elevation North are feeling right now. We know that God has given us a divine mandate for the existence and ministry of our church. But the timing of making a move to a facility that will offer us the capability of reaching so many more people is definitely being orchestrated by God’s hand, without a doubt. For so long we have searched for a building that would offer us classrooms and additional space for increased ministry, to no avail. The doors were always closed or the cost was not even feasible to consider for a church our size. It hasn’t been for a lack of faith – we’re all about stepping out in faith and believing and acting. But God’s people must be sure they are being led by God when they make a decision that ultimately affects His Kingdom work – and not just chasing whims and wishes. We never want to put God’s work at risk – or tarnish His Name and His reputation. And at the same time, we don’t want to hold back and lag behind what He planning to accomplish through us! We’ve prayed, actively searched, and prayed some more, all the while actively pursuing every open door. Finally, one door has stayed open. And in faith, together we are walking through that door into this next chapter of God’s destiny for us. Only the final documents remain to be signed by both parties … and we will be ready to make our move! How we’ve been praying that God’s will in all of this would be done on earth, even as it is in Heaven! We want nothing less than His perfect will for Elevation North and for each of us! We are seeing things being manifested right before our eyes! Giving to God’s work is being increased greatly – from within the church and without. And some of this giving “from without” was in the works just prior to all of this coming into existence. Who could have known? Not us. Not them. But GOD KNEW! And He was stirring things up inside of His people here in our church and all over the country, for this moment in time. Do we still have a ways to go? Yes, oh yes! While there is still the matter of obtaining funds for chairs to sit on and tables to use … the sign on the front of the building to let people know we are there – and who we are … already He is sending in finances and volunteers that this might come to pass! Talk about our faith being boosted up to yet another level … what an amazing God we love and serve! Already there is an individual who has committed to purchasing all the paint and supplies, and another individual has offered to do all the painting. Someone else who lives hundreds of miles away called us on the very same day that we had hand-delivered our proposal to the owner (they had no knowledge of this timing) and told us that God was leading them to send us the $800 tithe from their bonus at work … to purchase a piano or keyboard for Elevation North since we’ve been using a borrowed one all this time – and what a blessing that has been to us! Now we can return that one, and we will be blessed with our own. One family is planning to provide needed items for the little ones in the nursery; someone else has already kicked off the fund with $100 for new chairs! A young couple surprised us with the news and a check, saying that they were renewing their pastoral support to us – and shortly after, God laid on our hearts to significantly increase our giving – in faith that He will provide all that He asks us to do! Do you see the divine thread running through all of these commitments … connecting it all together for the glory of God? What a privilege for all of us to get on board this divine assignment and give for the sake of reaching people for Christ – for eternity! What better investment could we ever make that will reap eternal dividends, than to give faithfully and joyfully as our God leads us! To be completely open and honest, this has not come without some moments of human apprehension and questions like, “Can we really do this? Will enough finances come in to sustain the increased obligations?” Yet, we’ve never wavered in realizing that it is not US that will do this … it will be Christ IN us and THROUGH us as He provides! And we have no doubt that if we are to move forward to the next chapter of this ministry journey, this is the time to take the leap of faith and allow God to be God. Romans 4:17 talks about “God calling things that are not as though they were.” Read that again and let it sink in. Read the next few verses about Abraham. I believe God is calling us as well, to “not waver concerning the promise of God, but to be strengthened in our faith and give glory to God, being fully persuaded that God has power to do what He has promised.” The Message Bible explains it this way: that God with a word made something out of nothing. And about Abraham: “When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do but on what God said he would do.” The Bible says, “And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples.” What is Elevation North’s “AND SO?” What will God make of us? Get ready and get on board for what God has in His mind to do with us and through us! Let’s be a people of faith and action, giving our all for the sake of our God and His work on this earth! And stay tuned … for what’s just ahead!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD! What a precious time we had last Sunday as we joined together to thank God for His faithfulness and His miraculous work in our midst! What a wondrous God we serve … and how we long to draw closer to Him than ever with each passing day! May He continue to give us God-opportunities to bless His Name!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, MAY 29TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with a very special Memorial Day service being planned for the Lord’s Day! Pastor Doug’s message on “Memories”, the songs, and partaking of Communion will all point us to remembering what God has done for us – as well as our loved ones and those who protect our freedoms.
- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION TIME … enjoying the fellowship of our brothers and sisters in Christ, bringing encouragement and support to each other!
- MONDAY, MEMORIAL DAY – Enjoy the day with your family and friends – as we remember!
- SATURDAY, JUNE 4TH: YOUTH MOVIE MATINEE – see Pastor Doug for details! Invite your friends!
- NEXT SUNDAY, JUNE 5TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with Pastor Doug preaching a message on “Following Christ in Baptism” … if you’d like to know more about this outward expression of our inward experience with Christ, don’t miss this sermon from the Word of God!
- SUNDAY, JUNE 12TH: CHILDREN’S SUNDAY w/ lunch at McDonald’s & swimming after/age 3 through 5th grade!
- COMING SOON … FATHER’S DAY SERVICE, WOMEN OF FAITH PLANNING, SUMMER PICNIC, SPECIAL MINISTRY OUTREACHES, and lots more!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- HOPE AND TRUST go hand in hand with PRAYER – we ask, we believe, we expect! Hebrews 11:1 tells us, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for; the evidence of things not seen.” With this knowledge, let’s trust for God’s hand to be upon Justin as he leaves for an overseas military tour of duty, for Johnny & Cherry, Sean, Julia, Shirley, and for our entire church family! May our missionaries and evangelists experience extra strength and anointing as they serve so faithfully, and may each of us be engaged in sharing Christ wherever each day takes us!

- REMEMBER . . . “God puts each fresh morning, each new chance of life, into our hands as a gift to see what we will do with it. Praise God for all that is past. Trust Him for all that is to come.”


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

SPIRIT OF EXPECTANCY! I think that’s how we pray at Elevation North! And I believe it’s the only way to pray … meaning, if we pray without expecting God to answer, then why even pray? If we pray without asking for God’s will to be done in our lives and in our circumstances here on earth today – even as it is done in Heaven, then why pray? If we pray without fully believing that God will absolutely bring to pass what is best for us, then why pray? This past Sunday morning, we called one of our teen boys to the front of the church, and invited our church family to join us in special, fervent prayer. Sean was facing brain surgery on Wednesday; an intricate, tedious surgery – not without risk. He was looking at 10-12 hours in surgery and recovery, with an amazingly gifted surgeon and her skilled team of medical professionals. So, there we stood and united our hearts in prayer, believing God for an incredibly successful surgery to come! We asked God to be with Sean, present with him in the surgical room, guiding the hands and minds of those who would be performing surgery on Sean’s brain. We asked for divine skill and wisdom for them – above and beyond their own. And as we prayed, we sensed the presence and anointing of the Lord! Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday passed, and then before Wednesday morning daylight dawned, we were on our way to the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis. The staff hovered around, busily checking Sean in, paying attention to every detail as the necessary preparations were made for this unique surgery. A medical condition known as “dystonia”, short circuits the messages that Sean’s brain sends to his arms and legs, especially on the one side of his body. And the surgery they had initially done some time ago, left the implanted wires fractured inside his body due to his rapid growth rate these past few years. So the messages were no longer getting sent properly or efficiently, thus his body was not responding like it should. That’s where this surgery came in – a reconnection of wires to a newly placed device that would help transmit the messages and new batteries in the device! But think about how incredible a surgery like this is … a large portion of the scalp has to be laid back through a carefully shaped incision so that the necessary work can be done on the brain with wires being strategically placed and connected to the device in the upper chest area. To those of us not skilled in this medical arena, we can hardly imagine how this could be done! And yet, it is so amazing, the extent of knowledge that God has given to surgeons and physicians – especially in this critical setting. There is no room for error. A fine line divides a successful procedure and one with even a tiny mistake. The end result could be night and day difference in the brain’s ability to function properly. So, here was Sean, fifteen years old, being taken to the surgical room for anesthesia. My husband had already prayed with him and for him in the pre-surgery room; the number of people allowed in his room was kept to a strict limit of one at a time – plus mom and dad. And then he was on his way. The tedious, intricate process began. Sean’s parents, friends, and the two of us kept vigil in a nearby waiting area … continuing to pray off and on all morning, into the long afternoon that was now drawing into the evening. The hours passed slowly. Other families filled the area, waiting for their loved ones who were also in surgery. We soon crossed paths with another believer – and what a great conversation we had talking about God and how He is at work in our lives and in our churches! What an encouragement and breath of fresh air in the midst of all that waiting! How awesome it is to connect with other believers, and within moments of meeting, you feel as if you’ve known them all your life! That connection is the Holy Spirit living in them and in us – and it draws us together, making us truly brothers and sisters in Christ! Ten hours, and the waiting was getting to be grueling. A few complications in recovery sent all of us to fervent prayer. Eleven hours passed … and finally more than twelve hours since we had seen Sean in the morning, we were allowed in his ICU room. He was awake and bandaged, and he said he felt “like he’d been run over by a truck.” But he looked pretty great for feeling that way! And the next thing he purposefully said very slowly was, “The last thing I remember before I passed out was … I saw Jesus!” All of us in that room with him were teary and filled with an overwhelming praise to our God who sent Jesus to Sean to reassure him that He was with him! I have no doubt but that Sean will never, ever forget seeing Jesus in those last moments of consciousness before the anesthesia put him to sleep. What a gift of peace, sweet peace … a peace none of us can explain! But with God’s divine touch and skilled physicians, Sean was on his way home about 16 hours after he shared with us in the ICU room following surgery and recovery! We prayed … we expected … and God ministered as only HE can! Wondrously, supernaturally! And now our hearts praise Him and exalt Him and we lift Him up with overflowing thanksgiving! And we add, “Sean, God has some really special plans in store for you! May you pursue Him with all of your heart – all your life long!”

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- STEPPING OUT IN FAITH is exactly what God enabled us to do last Sunday – in our worship of Him … and in our decision to pursue a new location that will provide not only sanctuary space, but classrooms, and fellowship space so that our church family can continue to grow and meet the needs of God’s people! We step out boldly, yet aware of the greater commitment that we are making to minister within and without! God, we are trusting YOU to help us, and to enable US to do OUR part! All for YOUR glory!!!
- SPECIAL BIRTHDAY HUGS are sent to our little grandson, Miles, who will be celebrating his 3rd birthday on Monday, May 23rd! May Jesus bless you, Miles … thanks for all the ways you make us smile!!! HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to Harold and LaFawn who are celebrating this Sunday, May 22nd! And special birthday wishes are being sent to Melony on May 26th! May God bless all of you with His love and joy!!!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, MAY 22ND: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with Pastor Doug continuing in Hebrews chapter 12, this week focusing on the second half and the “Warning Against Refusing God”. You’ll definitely want to dig deeper in God’s Word as this message is preached! Bring your Bibles and follow along!
- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION TIME ... in a world that is so disconnected, join in on the fellowship and encouragement that keeps us all connected in Christ!
- NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 29TH: 10:00 A.M. – PRAISE & WORSHIP, with a special Memorial Day message honoring those who have gone on before – the patriarchs of the faith, our loved ones – friends and family, and those who have fought for and secured our freedom in this land. May we never forget the impact others have had in our lives!
- THERE ARE NEW THINGS JUST AROUND THE CORNER … so watch for a print-out of events and ministries to come, including the WOMEN OF FAITH conference in October; plan now to be saving for your tickets & hotel!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- ONLY THE LIVING GOD can do what we’ve experienced and witnessed this past week! Miracles and blessings from His hand to us! Thanks be to God! Let’s continue to lift up Sean, Shirley, Hazel and her sister’s family in their recent loss, Johnny & Cherry, Julia, Cierra as she begins her summer with her family, Justin as he prepares for his overseas military tour of duty, Landon’s as they prepare to move, and for our entire church family!

- REMEMBER . . . “From the dawn of time, your Father has known you and loved you!” ~ Bruce Wilkinson


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

ARE YOUR EARS AWAKE? LISTEN. Those are words taken right from my Message Bible as I was reading the Word this morning in the first several chapters of the book of Revelation. With all that’s going topsy-turvy in our world these days, I could hardly put it down. The relevancy of the long-ago written message seemed even more urgent and timely for today. I had to run to work early this morning for a short cash-office shift on my day off, and as I was driving home I could see that the sunshine and high temps of yesterday were but a memory and today’s skies were painted by a brush dipped in drab grays with a touch of blended white. The forlorn look was dotted with clouds that looked a bit angry and upset as they twirled and churned following a downpour from the sky’s watering can. But … my eyes were drawn to the one and only bright spot in the entire atmosphere. There was a circle of light that was piercing through the morning dinginess and no matter where I looked as I drove, my eyes kept coming back to the light. Of course, I could have easily chosen to focus on the 99 percent of gray in the sky … but because of the Light living in me, I was naturally drawn to the light of the sun. It seemed as if God was saying, “Run to the Light, My Light! Follow the Son, My Son!” You see, there is no darkness so thick that the sun cannot peek through. And there is no Darkness so impossible to penetrate that the Son cannot burst through with His brilliant Light. Light always trumps darkness. In the end times, though, we have been warned that people will be blinded and will pursue their evil ways. They will love darkness rather than light. And if we, the church, are not careful and discerning, we will also become blinded to what God wants us to see. And we will become hard of hearing in the spiritual realm. Why else would God say more than once to us in the first part of Revelation, “Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.” That’s not just a suggestion – it’s an instruction. Christians: those of you who call yourselves by Christ’s Name, are you listening? Are we really listening as we stand on the global threshold of the last days about ready to be ushered into Heaven and the holy presence of the Living God? There is so much that we need to know, so much we need to be wise about. There is so much we need to be doing – as we are about our Father’s business. Our lives need to be marked with an unprecedented urgency to reach the lost – because as real and wonderful as Heaven is … Hell is just as real and even more horrendously awful than we can ever imagine. What is God trying to get across to us in the first part of this book that records His message to the seven churches? Can we be nonchalant about our faith? Can we leave the preaching of the message of Christ’s soon return to someone else? Can we choose to not invite others to make the choice that can gift them with Heaven and spare them from Hell? If we choose to have a heart like our Father’s – then the answer on all three counts is a resounding “NO!” In these chapters God tells us who He is … the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the God who is, the God who was, and the God who is about to come. The God who is Alive! Forever! He tells us He sees what we’ve done, all our hard work, and how we’ve kept on and didn’t quit. Yet He sees how some have lost their first love – Him! And He tells us to turn back to Him and not to fear anything, including anything we will suffer. He warns us to stay on guard and not quit – even if the cost is our life. He reminds us of the Crown of Life that He has awaiting those of us who hang in there believing! And again He tells us to LISTEN. To listen to the Spirit blowing through the churches. He’s aware that we live under the constant shadow of Satan’s evil, and yet we continue on claiming our power in the Name of Jesus and never denying that precious Name. He sees. He knows. He understands what we’re going through here on this earth in 2011. While He sees our love and faith and service and persistence, He also sees what we do for appearance only, and ulterior motives will only bring His disappointment and wrath to us. God doesn’t mince words when it comes to what He expects of us as His children. He tells us, “Up on your feet!” And He calls us back to Himself, to a life energized with participation and action that will bring His Kingdom to this earth. If we stand true and prove our worth, then this is what Jesus promises to us, “Conquerors will march in the victory parade, their names indelible in the Book of Life. I’ll lead them up and present them by name to my Father and His Angels.” Wow, what a moment in eternity … being presented by our name … to the King of Kings and His Angels! He even says that He will make us ”a pillar in the sanctuary of God, a permanent position of honor. Then I’ll write names on you, the pillars: the Name of my God, the Name of God’s City – the new Jerusalem coming down out of Heaven – and my new Name.” Can you believe it?! I have no tattoos on my present body – but God is going to write on my glorified body … even His new Name! What an honor to bear the inscription of His Names on my very body! To that goal, may we ever keep our ears awake and be listening! May we listen to the Spirit blowing through the churches! Precious Holy Spirit … blow through Elevation North! We’re listening!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- LIVING IN THE POWER OF THE LIVING GOD … that’s what we experience each Lord’s Day at Elevation North! He has so much to offer us, His children … so it’s just natural that when we come together to worship and honor Him that we reach out in faith believing and take everything that He says He has for us! We were thrilled to bless our moms with a special message and beautiful roses on Mother’s Day ~ we appreciate each one of you so much!
- BIRTHDAY WISHES are sent to Mitch who celebrates on May 12th; and to Isaac who will be celebrating his birthday on May 17th! We so appreciate all you do for Elevation North, Isaac! May God bless both of you young men and continually shape you into warriors for Him!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, MAY 15TH: 10:00 A.M. - WORSHIP & PRAISE – to our God on high! Come with your hearts prepared for an awesome time in His presence, setting all else aside and focusing on Who He is, hungry and thirsty for MORE of Him! Pastor Doug will be preaching a powerful message straight from God’s Word, and you won’t want to miss it! Your hearts will be encouraged and uplifted as we sing the songs of faith and bow before Him in prayer! Plan now to invite someone to come to church with you – this may be their day of invitation to come to Christ and begin a new life in Him!
- 11:15 A.M. – SPECIAL VISIONARY CHURCH MEETING to pursue the building opportunity we have – with prayer and planning. We will be sharing financial details of our present treasury status, as well as financial obligations for the building, all couched in the desire that God’s will might be done for Elevation North here on earth as it is done in Heaven!
- NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 22ND: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE / 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION TIME
- WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE in October – remember to be inviting family and friends to this special event!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- WHAT A PRIVILEGE to be sons and daughters of God, to pray for each other, to believe in faith for the answers! This week, let’s intercede in prayer for Sean, one of our teenagers who will be having brain surgery on the 18th. We are trusting God for a safe and successful surgery with miraculous results, all for His glory! Pray also for Hazel whose sister passed away this week, for comfort for her and all the family. Continue in prayer for all of the other known needs – as well as many unspoken. God KNOWS THEM ALL, and He loves it when we ask of Him! And we will exalt Him and give Him the glory!!!

- REMEMBER . . . “Hope is like the sun, which, as we journey toward it, casts the shadow of our burden behind us.” ~ Samuel Smiles


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

MOTHERS! Is there any other word that evokes such images and feelings of beauty and love and devotion? Is there any other word that draws from us such a depth of undying gratitude for her unwavering faithfulness and untiring dedication to her cherished role? She’s like the Energizer Bunny … she just goes and goes and goes. She never stops. Once a mother, there is never a time when you are not a mother. Someone has said, “The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new.” (Rajneesh) And from that moment on, she embraces her new God-given role in life … and she pours herself into the lives of her children … from their very first cry – to her very last breath! There is never a single moment when she no longer looks at things through a mother’s eyes – or when she no longer responds with a mother’s heart. She can be a hundred years old, and her children can be eighty … but she’ll still be their mom, and they’ll forever be “her kids”! And what a bond is cemented between a mother and her children. Each stage, each chapter, each happening … every hour, every day, every memory ~ all gets stitched together to create the on-going job of being a mom. It’s a job that can boast of on-the-job training, surprises and unexpected adventures, lack of boredom, and delightful blessings at the most-needed moments! A woman named Mildred B. Vermont once stated, “Being a full-time mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my field, since the payment is pure love.” And did she ever get it right! Do you know the “pure love payments” I treasure the most? It’s when without saying it first, my sons tell me, “I love you, Mom!” It’s when our sons call us, and they ask me, “Mom, will you pray with me about this?” When they ask me to pray, it’s the highest form of love they can give me. Mt heart jumps for joy at being invited to participate in such a great privilege – that of praying for our children – and with them! I hope they NEVER stop asking! And then, when the answers come – we get to share in the celebration of praising our Almighty God for His wondrous works! I believe that moms who live out Christ before her children can give them both roots and wings. She can lay their steady foundation by leading them to know Christ early in their lives, and upon that unwavering personal faith, they can build and put wings to their own God-given dreams. If only every mom could grasp how far-reaching her influence really is. Do you think George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s mothers ever comprehended just how far-reaching their motherly influence would be when they were teaching and training those normal, sometimes naughty little boys? I’m sure the last thing to come to their mind was that George or Abraham who they just spanked – or kissed good-night, would someday serve as President of the United States of America and help birth the destiny of this great nation. But every morning as they awakened and lived out their lives and their beliefs so consistently all day long, their sons were being shaped and gifts and talents were being nurtured. Every scripture they had read to them before they could read themselves … every prayer they heard prayed by their moms from little boy to grown-up man …made a significant difference in their personal lives and who they became as leaders of this incredible nation. Look at your own children. The greatest successes you see being achieved in their lives, can in great part be pointed back to the times you’ve been on your knees – to the promises in God’s Word that you’ve claimed on their behalf – to the late-night prayers, the day-time prayers, and the many, any-time prayers that rolled from your lips and ascended heavenward. I fully believe that God takes those “mother prayers” and mixes them with the God-given gifts of our children and their own passions and dreams – their own initiative and drive … and turns it all into amazing results in every facet of their lives! So a heartfelt thanks to our own godly moms who have faithfully taught us through the years and still teach us … to our sons who have given me the precious privilege of both teaching them and learning from them … and to our daughters-in-love who are so ably and wonderfully teaching our grandchildren! We thank God for each of you ~ and we love you all! Happy Mother’s Day!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WE ARE LIVING IN EXCITING TIMES … and some of the most exciting experiences are being together in the presence of the Lord on Sunday mornings in His House! We thank God for each of you who are so faithful to Him and to our fellowship together at Elevation North. Together we can do everything He has called us to do in this community! It was exciting to go and look at a possible facility for our church, so please continue to pray with us that God will show us clearly what His perfect plan is! We want nothing less than what HE wants!
- FUN BIRTHDAY WISHES go out to AJ, who will be celebrating his 7th birthday on May 10th; God bless you, AJ!!!
- A BIG THANK YOU to the adults and youth who volunteered their time and efforts to help clean the yards of some senior citizens in the Medford Community on Saturday morning! We know your hard work was appreciated!
- RE: FUEL YOUTH enjoyed a fun outing to the Grand Slam Recreational Center in the Cities with Pastor D following the yard work!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, MAY 8TH: SPECIAL MOTHER’S DAY WISHES are shared with all of our mothers … how we thank God for each of you! May you enjoy this day as we honor you and lift you up in prayer!
- 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE – with a special message for our moms! This is a great time to invite a friend or family to come with you and experience the Word of God, worship from the heart, and warm, genuine fellowship!
- 11:15 A.M. – KINGDOM CONNECTION TIME – your opportunity to reach out to others and make a difference in someone’s life!
- NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 15TH: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP & PRAISE
- 11:15 A.M. – SHORT MEETING following worship to discuss more details of the building we are looking at for Elevation North. We desire your prayers and your input!
- WOMEN OF FAITH CONFERENCE – to be held in October in St. Paul … if you can help us reach our first goal of 20 of the 50 tickets in the next few weeks, each person will receive a free Women of Faith CD! See Debbie for more details!
- WATCH FOR SUMMER MINISTRIES/EVENTS that are being planned now - more information to come!

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- IT IS SUCH A JOY to pray for others, isn’t it? This week, pray joyfully with expectation of God’s work and His results! Remember to pray for Julia, Tina, Sean, Wayne & Verla, Hazel’s sister, Megan’s grandpa, Johnny, Harold & LaFawn in their recent move, our college students finishing exams, including Cierra, Shirley’s knee recovery, several unspoken needs, for Seykora’s in Australia, for Lundstrom’s in rallies, and for our nation & world in its need of God!

- REMEMBER . . . “Among God’s best gifts to us are the people who love us!” ~ Unknown


Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie

Elevation North has News for YOU!

DID I SLIGHT YOU, JESUS? I surely didn’t mean to! I look back at the days of this week in retrospect and can recall SO many times how the longing to just sit at Your feet in complete stillness and quietness washed over me until tears welled up. It’s not that I miss YOU … I feel You with me ALL the time. Yet I miss being with You more – more than I am now at this point in my life. I find myself in so many different places, and yet You are there with me in every one of those places … without a doubt! This week saw me celebrating Your resurrection with Your people in Your House on Sunday, and then preparing a specially home-cooked Easter dinner for my husband and me and our mom. It was priceless, actually being at home long enough to do that and to actually sit down in a chair and relax and visit for awhile … and chatting with our family via cell phones as if they were right in the room with us! A taste of heaven! And You were with us! We were so very aware of You! I just didn’t get to sit down at Your feet and listen in complete silence. I was busy all day, and while I dedicated all I did to You to honor You … I longed to just curl up in Your lap and converse longer than we got to! Then Monday morning dawned and my feet hit the floor running, facing a 60-hour work week with long lists stuffed in between work and sleep. As always, I invited You to go with me, and I could tell You were sitting beside me as I drove to work. You walked alongside me as I stepped it up a notch and walked at a near-run pace up and down the aisles and in between fixtures in my department. You went and tapped on a few shoulders and put it in their hearts to come and offer to help me out now and then. I was so aware that You brought them to me that I just had to stop and thank You! You showed me Your favor – over and over and over. And again … I just had to stop and thank You! It was so clear that You were behind every accomplishment I completed … yes, I knew it was YOU! But, my body was in full fast-paced motion, and I just wanted to stop and fall at Your feet and lay my head on Your knees and have You pat me on the back reassuringly. I couldn’t, so I did the next best thing and just visualized it as if it was, and worshipped You with each racing footstep! You kept pace with me and never left me alone – not once, all week long! Then we found ourselves sitting in the hospital waiting room while mom was undergoing knee replacement surgery, and we knew You had walked in there ahead of us! You provided a doctor who loves you and serves you and prays with his patients. You provided friends who came to sit with us while we waited and that blessed our hearts so much! And we were so excited that as mom recovers and gains increased mobility through therapy, she will again be able to walk and move without excruciating pain in her knees! You were definitely there. You were guiding the doctor’s hands; and in those waiting hours - even giving us the added bonus of some rare time to sit in a chair and rest our bodies. We knew You were all throughout that hospital, in so many places at once. So many people needed You, and You did not disappoint them! You showed up and with those nail-scarred hands laid Your special touch on mom and a host of others who had also called on Your Name. You’re incredible, Jesus! Again, I did not find the time or place to pull aside from everything and experience our time in Your inner chambers, but You raced off to work with me again and told me I didn’t have to go alone. The weekend was approaching and the Mother/Daughter Tea was just about here. There were still final plans to implement, final touches to make, final preparations to undertake … and when it felt like time was running out, You ran to help. You stayed up late with me and helped me do everything that needed to be done so we could bless our ladies and remind them how loved and valued they are. You gifted us with a gal who takes this project on almost single-handedly, and then you gave us another special gal who came alongside to fill in the gap! You provided a group of women to come and share a worship concert with us, and we hadn’t even met some of them before! Now, we call them friends! You were there in every tiny detail. You were there in all the time-consuming, hands-on, actual labor – and we loved doing it for Your daughters! How You smoothed the way at every turn! You were there! It’s such a privilege and so much fun to be where You are at – and to get right in the middle of it with You, Jesus! And finally, late on Saturday night when the blog hadn’t been touched … the energy poured in because You knew I needed a refill … and You gave me words to place not just on the pages, but words to encourage the hearts of Your people. You were so present and so close, when I took a break to do laundry, I had to stop and smile at You and say thanks all over again! No, I didn’t mean to slight You, Jesus … and I still want MORE time with You in that place of personal sanctuary with just You and me … but in the meantime, You and I have been inseparable through it all. And I have a feeling You know exactly what’s in my heart. Yes, we’re both looking forward to even MORE time together, but loving the present as we take one day, one moment at a time … together!

IN A NUTSHELL . . .

- WOW! Isn’t that an appropriate word to use to describe Easter worship?! God brought His people in the doors until we filled nearly every chair we had, and then He stayed with us and accepted our worship and praise as we celebrated His resurrection! What a glorious time in the life of the church, and in our lives individually! Our time of connection and fellowship was especially sweet as we gathered to enjoy a light Easter breakfast and watch the outdoor enjoyment of the children as they searched for their Easter eggs dotted on the grassy lawn and tucked up in tree branches! We trust that all of you were as blessed as we were!
- OUR HEARTFELT THANKS & APPRECIATION to Hazel for her magnificent catering capabilities in providing the gourmet refreshments for our Mother/Daughter Tea along with everything, and we mean, everything else! All we can say is, we pray that God will pour His divine blessings and favor into your life for blessing the women of Elevation North so richly! Our special thanks to Tina and James for their constant help throughout the entire event … before, during, and after, and for working with the take-home favors, and printing programs and menus! A big thank you to my sweet husband for all his assistance in setting up and taking down – and for being a constant encouragement to us all – comedy and all! You’re the best, honey! Sonya, thank you for coming and sharing the invitation and information about the upcoming Women of Faith conference – and for being our able group leader this year! And to Heirborne … your music was anointed and precious, as were your spirits as you ministered to each one of us! You blessed us immeasurably! May God continue to bless and use you for His glory! What an unforgettable afternoon it was!
- FUN BIRTHDAY WISHES are in order for Lylia, who will be 5 on May 2nd! May Jesus bless you extra good, Lylia!

- LOOKING AHEAD . . .

- THIS SUNDAY, MAY 1ST: 10:00 A.M. – WORSHIP, PRAISE, & COMMUNION … come and participate in every part of honoring our Lord! Pastor Doug will be preaching on “The God of Second Chances” from John chapter 21.
- FOLLOWING WORSHIP, our church family will be making our way to a building that offers an opportunity for a new location for our church. Come and check it out, and let’s pray fervently for God to show us His perfect will in this important matter. We want what HE wants!
- THIS SATURDAY, MAY 7TH: 8:00 A.M. – VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY to do spring clean-up in the yards of senior citizens in Medford – we’ll start the morning with coffee and pastries and finish the project in a few hours! All youth, please call Pastor D if you need a ride! RE: FUEL YOUTH: following the yard project, we will head to the Grand Slam in the Cities for a fun time of games and good food! Let your friends know, too!
- NEXT SUNDAY, MAY 8TH: A SPECIAL MOTHER’S DAY SERVICE to honor our Moms … invite someone to come with you for this powerful message and opportunity for worship and praise to our God above! (Special hint: guys, your wives would LOVE a ticket to Women of Faith for their Mother’s Day gift this year!!! See Debbie for the details!)

- PRAYER OPPORTUNITIES . . .

- THERE IS NEVER A LACK of things to pray for & thanks be to God, He is never lacking in His ability to hear and answer our prayers! Remember your church family this week when you bring your needs before God, & remember to pray in faith believing!

- REMEMBER . . . “The reason some mothers rise above the rest is that they think and pray differently than those around them!” ~ Bruce Wilkinson

Serving Christ Joyfully . . .

Pastor Doug and Debbie