January 24, 2016
"Stay Together"
Dr. Larry Parsley, Senior Pastor
NEXT STEP LUNCHEON
THIS SUNDAY!
 
At VRBC, we want to be helpful to you as you take the next step in your journey with Jesus. One of the ways we do this is to invite you to a Next Step Luncheon where you'll meet our staff, get to know us as a church, and hear about lots of ways you can connect at VRBC to take steps forward with Christ. 
 
A Next Step Luncheon will be held this Sunday after the worship service. We will meet upstairs in the student auditorium. Lunch is complimentary, and children's ministry is provided for ages birth through fifth grade.  
 
Please contact Teresa Brundige at  tbrundige@vrbc.net or 972-304-8722 to let us know you are coming so we can be sure to reserve a meal and childcare for you, however walk-ins are always welcome. We hope to see you there!
 IF:COPPELL
FEBRUARY 5 AND 6--CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
 
VRBC Women's Ministry invites all women to join us for IF:COPPELL on Friday and Saturday, February 5 and 6. IF:Gathering's vision is to gather, equip, and unleash women to live out their calling.

At this year's dynamic event, we will talk about what would happen IF we lived like Jesus? What IF we went deeper in your relationship with Him? What IF one weekend of focused time spent with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and with other Christian women from around the globe could greatly impact your life and change the world? Come and see what can happen!

Take some time out of your busy schedule to be with Jesus and with other women in our community to strengthen the most important relationship in your life. Visit vrbc.net/events to register. For more information or questions, email Brenda Swinton at BDSwinton@brimldry.com.

T-SHIRT SALES
IF: t-shirts will be available for purchase at the IF: table located in the church lobby before and after the worship service this Sunday morning. Cost is $15. Proceeds will benefit International Justice Mission (IJM), a global organization that protects the poor from violence throughout the developing world and is this year's IF: charitable beneficiary.
re|engage
MONDAYS AT 7 PM
FINAL NEWCOMER OPPORTUNITY: JANUARY 25 

re|engage is for all married couples who want to reignite, reconnect, or resurrect their marriages. It is a marriage enrichment program which examines God's design for marriage and applies principles from the Bible to guide couples towards growth in their relationship with each other.

re|engage meets Monday evenings from 7:00-8:45 pm. On January 25, we will have a final Newcomer's meeting that will give you an idea of how re|engage works. The course will then move into its curriculum stage February 1 and finish by Memorial Day. Every marriage can benefit from this ministry. We encourage you to come Monday and check it out! 

Click here to watch a short video about re|engage. Questions? Please contact Karen McCord, Susan Rutledge, or Gary Dixon at marriage@vrbc.net. Please also let us know if you will need childcare.
TRAVEL-SIZE TOILETRIES NEEDED

VRBC's Cool Choir Club will be assembling toiletry kits for Cornerstone Baptist Church at their Spring Musical Kick-Off Party next week. The following travel-size toiletries are needed:

Body wash or
small bar soap		Shampoo
Deodorant
Toothbrush 
Toothpaste

Washcloth (used OK)

Click here to sign up to let us know what items you can bring. Donations can be made through Friday, January 29.  Collection bins are located inside the north and south entrances of the church for your convenience. Thanks!
"EVERY NATION IN ONE LOCATION"
RESPONSE TO GLOBAL REFUGEE CRISIS
JANUARY 31 AT 12 NOON 

Do you, like many of us, have questions or uncertainty about what your response should be to the global refugee crisis? If you have questions about the refugee situation at home or abroad, or an interest in learning about ministering to refugees on our mission trip to Germany in July, come hear guest speaker Andrew Allen talk about the largest humanitarian crisis in history impacting both Europe and the U.S.

Andrew serves on the front lines in Europe and the DFW area, leading and pioneering strategic discipleship initiatives among Syrian and Arabic-speaking refugee families. He has personally walked with refugee families on their journey to seek asylum in Europe, even carrying their young children when the parents were no longer physically able to do so. 

Please join us on Sunday, January 31, from 12:00-12:30 pm in the seminar room and learn why Germany is now the most strategic location in Europe to reach refugee families and how we can respond in a biblical, Christ-centered manner to participate in God's redemptive story. Presentation will be limited to approximately thirty minutes to not interfere with attendees' lunch plans.
POVERTY SIMULATION: PLUNGE2POVERTY
APRIL 1-3
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION UNTIL JANUARY 31 

As we serve the poor and homeless in our community and around the world, we want do it with compassion and respect and in a way that provides dignity and empowers those we serve. In order to better understand those we seek to help, we offer Plunge2Poverty, a weekend poverty simulation for high school students and adults. Although a weekend simulation pales in comparison to the difficulties faced by those who are poor or homeless, it can be an effective tool for us as we grow in serving others.

Plunge2Poverty will take place April 1-3 in South Dallas, primarily at ministry locations of Cornerstone Baptist Church.  Registration cost, which covers food, supplies and t-shirt expenses, is $40 until January 31, then $50 through March.

For more details and to register, visit vrbc.net/poverty-simulation.
COMMUNITY BIBLE STUDY (CBS)
TUESDAYS AT 7 PM 

CBS continues its in-depth study of the Gospel of Matthew on Tuesdays from 7:00-8:30 pm at VRBC. Newcomers are very welcome to attend! Study will conclude May 3.

CBS classes are held in about 700 cities throughout the United States and over 80 countries internationally. Building unity in the midst of diversity, CBS concentrates on the essentials of the Christian faith, not on denominational differences, understanding that Christians can hold differing views on matters that are not essential to salvation.

To register for CBS,  click here. You can learn more about CBS on its website, communitybiblestudy.org.
WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY: A SEASON OF JOY
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS AT 7 PM 

Ladies, even if you've not yet attended, now is the perfect time to join our study of Philippians, LAUGH AGAIN: Experience Outrageous Joy, by Dr. Charles Swindoll. This in-depth, seven-week study covers Chapters 3 and 4 of Paul's letter of joy and meets Wednesday evenings from 7:00-8:30 pm in the seminar room. 

Come for a time of enriching fellowship in the study of God's Word! Phyllis Jones will leads us in group study, and there will be small group discussions at the tables, as well as joint prayer and times of praise. Even if you can't be there every week, you will still be blessed by this study.
 
Preregistration is not required. Contact Teresa Brundige at tbrundige@vrbc.net or 972-304-8722 for more information about the study or to purchase a $10 workbook.
PARK FRIDAY
FRIDAY AT  9:30 AM

Preschoolers and their parents are invited to come and play this Friday, January 22, from 9:30-10:30 am at the McDonald's near the church at 
813 S. MacArthur Boulevard, Coppell (southwest corner of 
Belt Line & MacArthur).

Have you seen any visitors at VRBC who might enjoy Park Fridays? Invite them and introduce them to other moms and dads with preschoolers! This is a great way to get them connected with other families in the church.

Park Fridays is a ministry at VRBC for preschoolers and their parents. We meet at different parks in and around the Coppell area on the second and fourth Fridays of each month, following the school district calendar. For more information or to suggest places to play, please email Johanna Hewlett at johanna.hewlett@verizon.net.



VRBC CARE NETWORK

 

Do you have a prayer request or care ministry need (e.g., illness, death in the family, marital struggle, etc.) you'd like the staff to know about?  Email the pastor on call confidentially at care@vrbc.net. 




CORNERSTONE SERVING OPPORTUNITIES

We have several opportunities each month to serve alongside Cornerstone Baptist Church, our sister church in South Dallas:


MISSIONARY SPOTLIGHT: THE BEJAR FAMILY

The Bejars host North American churches on mission trips in Peru to experience the transforming power of evangelism and discipleship alongside national church members. They are currently focused on training and equipping pastors and leaders in Peru, Ecuador, and Cuba. They also train young people for missions through a three-year training program. 

The Bejars ask for prayer for their health, strength, and obtaining Cuba religious visas. At VRBC, the Bejars are partnered with the Williford ABF. Click here to watch a short video from the Bejars.
MISSION TRIP OPPORTUNITIES

GERMANY:  JULY 22-30, 2016
Share God's story and demonstrate God's love to refugees in Germany. They need the hope that only Christ can give. We will equip you to maximize your ministry to these families. Experience God in extraordinary ways through worship, through God's Word, and by demonstrating God's love.

The trip departs July 22 and returns July 30, 2016. Cost will be approximately $3,000 per person.  This trip is family-friendly. To inquire about children less than ten years old or for more information, contact Claudia Adame at Claudia.Adame@e3partners.org or 214-440-1140.  Click here for a detailed flyer about the trip. Click here to register.

RIO GRANDE VALLEY AND INDONESIA
Plans are underway for a mission trip to the Rio Grande Valley in March, as well as a trip to Indonesia in October 2016. To learn more about these trips, visit vrbc.net/mission-trips.

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE 
Funding assistance is available for international mission trips. Click here, then scroll down to the bottom of the page for more information and the application to request financial assistance.  Please note the deadlines to apply. 

 
Check out VR Kids events:  vrbc.net/ministries/vrkids/
Stay up-to-date on all things Refuge: 
Find an Adult Bible Fellowship class:  vrbc.net/ministries/abf/

 

Through January 17, 2016
Worship Service
 Actual
Budget
Difference		 $998,771
 $1,095,000
             ($96,229)		 
 819