Author: John Smith

By Annie Notary, our new Women’s Ministry Coordinator Part of Ron’s recent sermon on prayer (January 4 sermon) has really stuck with me. He said that the reason we don’t pray is because we think we can do life on our own and we think we don’t really need Him. I tend to rely on...

By Anthony Gammage “Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous, and give thanks to his holy name!” -Psalm 97:12 Since the Outreach Festival concluded in early February, I have had a chance to evaluate the time and to hear some of the stories that have emerged from it. Something I am trying to discipline myself...

Pat is a member of New Life Church It makes no sense, humanly speaking, that I should be so blessed. My “normal American middle-class” childhood and youth ended in 7th grade when my family was transferred overseas for my dad’s work. From that time I was socially isolated and completely adrift in a world I...

By Sandy Elder Although I’ve been involved as one of the co-facilitators of the GriefShare group we have at New Life, I usually question every year whether or not I should be involved in the group. Don’t get me wrong. I really do think that our 13-week grief support group has been truly amazing. God...

By Shannon Pierce After 37 days in the hospital/rehab, my mom is finally home. This last month has taught me things that I didn’t know I needed to be taught. Mostly, that God is Good. All the time. I am thankful when God blesses me. I am usually thankful when God brings me through a...

By Joanna Fryling Sunday afternoons have often been a good time for us to extend our church fellowship by visiting Lyle, one of our church members who is a resident in a local nursing home. We always come away amazed at the difference that knowing Jesus makes in a very difficult situation. Lyle is debilitated...

By Jacob Lee Our mission, longing, prayer, and hope as a youth ministry is to encounter Jesus. He is the fountainhead of peace, the source of truth, and the promise of life. So what better way to spend the weekend than to be with him? That’s what our retreat was all about. Whether it was...

By Laurel Kehl “You get your behind home NOW!” (…although it was a stronger word she used than ‘behind’!) I’d been living in Moscow, Russia, for seven years, shepherding and caring for CRU staff in seven cities throughout the nine time zones of Russia. It’s a hostile place to live, and we were facing crisis...

We’re thankful that Ron Lutz will continue to serve as lead pastor at New Life until mid-2017. As his retirement approaches, the Session is working through the many facets of what we hope will be a successful transition from one lead pastor to another. A primary link in the chain is the Search Committee. The...

By Rob Radcliff Have you ever been caught off-guard by something unexpected? Surprised by a result opposite of what you anticipated? I certainly found this to be true over the years. When? As I gave myself to (served) others while serving Jesus. Some simple examples: Visiting my grandmother in a nursing home, expecting to find...

By Dawn Carson Marriage offers us a close personal relationship and intimacy like no other experience in life. After all, it was designed by God as an earthly model of the relationship between Christ and the Church. Then why do we hear of so many failed marriages? You may be asking if there is hope...

By Pat Daley Living for the King is New Life’s 12-week foundational disciple course centered on the grace of Jesus Christ and how it applies to every area of our lives. The next course starts on January 19, 2015. Click here for more information or to register. I was raised in a shame-based culture and...