 Hope Free Church
Our vision is to be a church whose passion for God gives rise to a heart for the lost and is
demonstrated by our love for one another.
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October is Pastor Appreciation Month
with Sunday, October 11 being
Pastor Appreciation Day
Please take time to pray for the Pastoral Staff, Pastor Bob, Pastor Brad, Pastor Ken and Pastor Andy.
A note or word of encouragement would be a blessing to each one of them.
Thank you for showing them your appreciation!! |
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Membership Class
A membership class will be offered Saturday, October 3. If you are interested in learning more about Hope and pursuing membership at Hope this class is for you!! We will meet at 8:00 am and end by noon. Please contact the church office 815.623.6545 to register.
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Thank You
Dear Hope Free Family, The Lord gives us our greatest blessings in trials. Thank you so much for all your prayers and encouragement. Blessings, Rich & Rosemary Stensland
The family of Charlotte Raedeke wishes to express hearty thanks for all the outpouring of love and kindness shown at the end of her life. We feel genuinely humbled and loved by these acts. Thank you also for the beautiful plant from the church family.
Dear Hope Free Family, Thanks you for the beautiful flowers and thoughtful cards, calls and prayers following Wes's knee surgery. Audrey & Wes Retzlaff |
Music Ministry
Teen Choir begins
Sunday, Oct 4
5 to 6 pm
You Can Still Join - just show up!!
Celebration Choir
every Thursday 6:45 pm
Teen Choir
every Sunday 5 pm
Celebration Band
Thursday, Oct. 1 & 29 at 8:20 pm
Christmas Musical Orchestra
Monday Oct 19 at 6:45 pm
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Moms In Touch prayer groups have begun!!
MIT's mission is to impact children and schools for Christ by gathering moms to pray. We have a group for Hononegah, Kinnikinnick, Rockton, and Prairie Hill. Moms gather to pray for the students, administration, and teachers for their school. Please contact Cathie Dobson (815.624.2973) or Vera Juhlin (815.623.7761) for more information.
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White Cross Update
Sharon Vinson & Connie Ruden, Coordinators We keep hearing of needs throughout the world and in nearby cities. Lately we responded to a need at Rockford Rescue Mission. Hope Free had sponsored Room #6 at least 6 years ago, and we were contacted by RRM to replenish some of the soft items. Therefore, the Mission Committee and White Cross combined efforts to replace pillows, towels, washcloths, shower curtain/liner, and two machine-quilted bedspreads. The room looks SOOOO much better now.
Won't you help us help others? Our upcoming workdays are Tuesday, October 6, and Saturday, Oct. 17, from 8-12 in Drake Hall. Do plan to join us. We'll be tying quilts, cutting out dresses for the dress kits, cutting materials for receiving blankets and quilt tops, etc. Just bring your scissors and come enjoy some fellowship with other willing workers for Jesus.
Our needs this month include:
Blankets & mattress pads for inside of quilts (watch the last garage sales of the season)
Lightweight flannel for receiving blankets (1 yd = 1 blanket)
Rickrack, bias tape, thread, small scissors, pins & needles to include in the dress kits (watch for the 50% off sales at JoAnn's)
Campbell's labels for education for local schools
Gallon storage bags (ziploc style) for dress kits and layettes
Sheets, sheets, & more sheets for quilt backs (flat, any color)
We look forward to seeing many workers make a difference in God's kingdom as we try to supply for the needs of those in Congo, Tanzania, Bosnia, Romania, Mongolia, and more. We continue to deliver items to local ministries as the need arises. | |
Life at Full Throttle a 9 week Sermon Series
from
I Corinthians
beginning
Sunday, September 27
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Mens Retreat 2009
 October 23-24
Featuring:
Dr. Dan Erickson of People Matter Ministries
Cost: $60.00
($30.00 for high school and college students)
Register in Narthex on Sunday mornings OR call church at 815.623.6545
People Matter Ministries
People Matter Ministries was founded in 2002 by ministry veterans Dan and Cathy Erickson. Dan, with nearly four decades of church and parachurch leadership experience, and his wife, Cathy, decided to pursue their dream of helping people realize and actualize their full potential in Christ. Based in Lee's Summit, Mo., Dan travels the nation sharing a visionary, biblical and application-oriented message that is awakening individuals, churches and organizations to God's unique calling on their lives. He is also a regular speaker at his home church, where he serves on the pastoral board, and in the ministry of Teaching God's Infinite Wisdom (TGIW).
Click Here for Video clip with more information regarding the ministry and Dr. Erickson:
Session 1
Breaking Free to Your "Greater Yes!"
Your potential and destiny are defined and determined by God, not by your condition.
What do we need to know and do to find our God-given potential and destiny? Many of the critical issues facing our society, families, marriages and churches can be traced back to men and women trying to break free from sin, past, pain or addiction instead of seeking to break through to a "Greater Yes!"
Session 2
You Really are His Best
God sees you as you will become.
Understanding our value as God's best gives us the power to say "no" to the lesser yeses and "yes" to the things that move us toward our God-given potential and destiny. To do that, we need to understand both the myths and facts about our true value and significance.
Session 3
Unpacking Your Lunch
God has and will prepare you for what He conceives in you.
Our Ability + Our Availability = Our Potential. God has given each of us a lunch (Luke 6). Our lunch is made up of our time, talent, treasure and touch. God will prepare us for what He conceives in us. He wants to do miracles through us.
Session 4
Leaving a Legacy
God wants you to live your life in such a way that it echoes in eternity.
In John 13 Christ illustrates the kind of people we need to become if we want to see our "Greater Yes!" deployed in our world. If we want to leave a legacy, we have to be willing to lay aside our pride, position, power and worldly success. Discover what it means to be truly great.
Also this year:
Euchre card tournament on Friday night after Friday night's session.  After Friday night's session and discussion groups are done, stay and hang out for a fun and relaxing Euchre card tournament. It is easy to learn, fast paced and lots of fun. Pizza will be on hand so sign up so we know how much to order.
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SMALL GROUPS
If you have not yet signed up for a small group and are interested in joining one, they are starting up this month.
Join us as we examine "10 Keys for Unlocking the Bible" which will prepare us for sharing the hope we have in a non-threatening way with those who are far from God, searching, unchurched, etc. This DVD series has been used by hundreds of churches nationwide to introduce those who do not know much about the Bible, to the God of the Bible. Do you want to take advantage of this opportunity to take the message of hope beyond the walls of our church? Sign up today by contacting Pastor Brad.
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 Senior Saints Luncheon
October 13, 2009
12 NOON.
The Seniors meet again on the second Tuesday of the month for a delicious meal prepared by our amazing volunteers for a donation of $4.00. Pastor Ken is going to share a devotional about "Harvest - the spiritual fruit that comes from plowing, fertilizing, planting and cultivating." The question is "Which activity are YOU engaged in to bring about the desired result?" Glenda Linneman will be back to present her musical program. Seniors from Hope are encouraged to attend and bring along some friends, or to come and make friends with those who attend from the stateline area. {HINT: It's a golden opportunity to plant seeds of relationships that will result in a spiritual harvest.} Please call Betty Alexander (815-623-2336) to make your reservation by Friday, October 9th.
 Career Support Ministry Monday mornings at 8:30 am. Pastor Ken meets with people from Hope and the community who are looking for work and are unemployed or underemployed to encourage, network, and develop skills necessary to finding a job. We share insights about how to find job openings and work together to help people get their resumé in good form. We pray for the week ahead and the potential interviews and contacts attendees have. If you have been laid off, you are welcome to come. We meet in the Fireside Room. We have an empty chair and a cup of coffee waiting for you!
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Missions Update
Words Ministry Focus  Since 1991 we have been involved in pioneer church planting work in rural Paraguay, an area resistant to the gospel, where only about 1% of the population is Evangelical. In the early years Brad spent most of his time evangelizing and making friends in the community.
Eventually, we started bible studies in our home. As the group grew we slowly, bit by bit, built a church. Next to evangelism our focus has been on discipleship and teaching the bible. In recent years Brad dedicates more time to Bible schools, camps and conferences and is starting a leadership training program for the churches of Paraguay. Presently he and several men in Asuncion are working on a DVD Bible school. The goal is to take quality bible training to where the leaders live. These courses are in a simple Spanish and also in Guarani, the language of the people.
During this July we have our Bible students here helping us in a variety of ministry activities. We will be doing evangelism, showing films, and working with youth.
We have five children: Meredith-20, Ashley-19, Cristian-16, Anania-14, and Micah-13. Meredith is studying in Oklahoma to be a clinical laboratory technician. Ashley is at Clearwater Christian College in Florida and would like to be a missionary.
Brenda home schools as well as teaches a women's bible study and discipleship class for young teenage girls. She and the other women organize activities for the church and fund raisers to help those in need. At the moment we as a church are raising funds to help Dr. Celia. She was operated on a month ago for cancer of the esophagus. She is still in intensive care and is slowly recuperating.
We arrived in Paraguay shortly after a military Coup disposed of the dictator Strossner. Our town is the center to many other smaller towns. In the 18 years that we have been here we have seen much change. We now have a paved road and that began to bring people, businesses and everything else. The town has grown tremendously and the opportunity for ministry is endless. |
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 Youth Ministries
Pastor Andy Wallman
It's getting exciting in our "Upper Room" as we look forward to this whole school year and into summer 2010! Currently, we're examining what worship is and isn't, how other worldviews, religions and cults stack up to a Biblical worldview and we're just having a great time meeting for fellowship in Jesus' Name! Look back with us on a great summer by finding us on the Travel Channel - that's right! Chris Noble, Andy Wallman and a bunch of our youth are on the Travel Channel - Extreme Terror Rides! Check it out! Look ahead with us as we pray toward a possible Valentine Dessert Buffet (the 14th is on a Sunday this year!), Our 2 months of Holiness (JAN/FEB) and our Spring Sermon Series, "God's Road Signs". Please continue to pray for our teachers (Jack & Debbie Moore, Bruce Peterson and Trisha Knaul) and our youth leaders (Doug Juhlin, Tim Knaul, Ed Moreland, Joel Fuller, Bev Pomering, Kelly Bogdonas and Rebecca Myer - and I've probably forgotten a few helpers alongside those who desire to help us!) Thanks be to God for the gifts we can share in ministry!
SYATP! What a great opportunity we had to pray for the Roscoe area in public! "Go Jesus" and "way to follow students". Thanks to parents who prioritized this event for their students and made sure they were there!
Here's a quick run-down of where we'll be meeting the next several weeks:
Junior High
Sep 27th - Neir's Home - 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Oct 4th - Welch's Home - 3:00pm to 5:00pm (Teens could still come to Narrow Road if you want after this)
Oct 11th - McKenzie's Home - 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Oct 18th - Special Speaker at Hope - Times TBD
Oct 25th - Platzbecker's Home - 3:00pm to 5:00pm
Oct 30th - AVP - Alien vs Predator (@ Hope) - Times TBD
Senior High
Sep 27th - @ Hope - 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Oct 4th - Worship Night with Narrow Road at Hope - 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Oct 11th - Dobson's Home - 6:00pm to 10:00pm
Oct 18th - Laurie Higgins - Times TBD
Oct 25th - Platzbecker's Home - 6:00pm to 9:00pm
Oct 31st - AVP - Alien vs Predator (@ Hope) - 5:00pm to 11:00pm
Nov 1st - Hundt's Home - 6:00pm to 9:00pm
OCTOBER:
18 Su pm: all students and parents (families) invited to a great session with Laurie Higgins of the Illinois Family Institute (hosted at Hope Church). Details will be with a sign-up in the foyer.
30 AvP: middle school. Hope Church Building, 5 pm - 10 pm. This is one you'll want to invite your friends to. It's received our choice "better than Halloween" award!
Same night, High School has been invited out to join Roscoe United Methodist Church youth group for a bonfire at Hilltop Ministry Center! Contact Pastor Jeff for details.
31 AvP: high school. Same as 30th only we'll go until 11 pm. Go to Life Church's Harvest festival for a while then walk over to our gig - it'll be fun!
Contact Andy if you can help us set up Thursday (29th), Fri. (30th) or tear down Sa. (late!) pastorandy@hefc.net or cell: 507-202-2422
NOVEMBER
Code Blue Rally (WVW) NOV options - 07 Carbondale, 20 Peoria, 21 Moline, 22 Rockford
20 (Fri.) APOLOGETIX concert in Rockford - anyone want to go?
21 (Sat.) Thanksgiving Special: a great night of live music, prayer, sharing and good food. Please consider how we could possibly make this a family/youth night and make it sort of "mega" potluck!
22 (Su.) All students in Rockford for the WVW "Code Blue Rally". Go online or click on the link at our blog: freewaynews@blogspot.com or crossroadsnews@blogspot.com for details! We will need some drivers for this one!
LOOKING AHEAD
DECEMBER
06 - Possible Christmas Special - Teens
19 - TEEN Caroling?? TBA
JANUARY
15-18 - Possible "Holiness" weekend at Cascade? As always, the students like to do over-nighters, all-nighters and generally just some crazy stuff - most of which will not happen without adult supervision. We're looking at a possible date over Christmas break. Please contact Andy or Ed if you can help!
LOOKING AHEAD to summer 2010 - Creation Museum? BUMP? Challenge 2010 in Ohio? (we'll see - keep praying for us!)
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Sunday School We praise God that our fall Sunday School classes are well under way and that He has provided many wonderful teachers for our kids. Please pray for the teachers but don't forget to pray for yourselves too because faith really does begin at home. 
Worship for Kids
The AWANA clubs will be holding a family game night on November 13th. Please mark your calendars and watch for details coming home from club.
Halloweenis just around the corner but it's not to late to order evangelistic tracts to pass out with your candy. Sign up in the narthex or contact the church office. There is a cost of $2.50 for 25 tracts. Let's take the opportunity to change what Satan means for evil into an opportunity for many to hear the gospel.
