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Issue: 3
| December 15, 2014 |
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Palmwood Church is On Social Media!
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Want to connect with Palmwood Church? Check us out on Facebook at Palmwood Church and also on Twitter at @PalmwoodChurch
We'd Love to Hear From You!
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Merry Christmas from Palmwood Church! Here is our latest update. We so appreciate your partnership with us. |
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Celebrating the Savior's Birth!
Christmas Florida Style
 There are no flurries or sub-zero temperatures, but Christmas has come to Central Florida just the same! And the Palmwood Team has been enjoying it with a parade (Santa arrived on the back of a Fire Engine), sledding with snow trucked in from up North, a Christmas Village and show by an illusionist with a powerful testimony of God's power, and spending an evening at St. Luke's Lutheran here in Oviedo where we were treated to a free Christmas Concert by their orchestra and experienced a real-life tour of Bethlehem.
Our homes are now decorated for Christmas, and family plans are being made. We pray that you will all have a wonder-filled Christmas along with us this year as we celebrate King Jesus' birth -- and the awesome gift He has given our team to love the people of this region on His behalf, introduce them to his grace and salvation, and to disciple them to live for Him!
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An Update on the Ministry
God Goes Before Us!
- Contacts and Divine Appointments! It seems like every day the members of our team are experiencing the amazing grace of God as He brings new people across our paths for ministry. Many of these folks are expressing genuine interest in Palmwood Church and her vision. And we now have two new families who are joining us for our first weekly Life Group!
- Life Groups Begin! Our first weekly Life Group has begun with a study of Neil Anderson's The Bondage Breaker. We're excited to meet together at the Olson's home with some new folks, and also by web conference with our team members who have yet to arrive in Florida.
- Worship Begins in January! We had planned to begin holding Sunday worship together in December, but John's kidney stone changed our plans. We are now planning to begin after the first of the year. Please join us in praying for this exciting step and that the Lord will bring us someone gifted musically who can help lead us in praise and worship.
- Jobs! Your prayers are being heard about our jobs - Michael Brinkley was hired as a manager for Mattress Firm and will begin his training soon. Ultimately, we're praying that he will be placed in one of the stores we have in Oviedo or our side of Orlando. And Lauren Kimball is close to securing a tutoring job that God literally dropped in her lap at a local elementary school. We're praying that all of her certification paperwork goes through quickly with no problems. Keep praying for John Kimball as he seeks a supplemental income that will provide Health Insurance benefits for his family.
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Covenant Intercessors Needed
Committed Prayer Warriors for This Kingdom Work
 There are many things our core team and our ministry need as we launch this new work in Central Florida, but the single greatest need is true, daily intercessory prayer. We know that many of you are praying for us regularly. That said, we are seeking a few folks who will sign a covenant with us annually to pray strategically for our team and ministry every single day. For those who make such a covenant, we will provide several confidential prayer updates every week so you know how best to pray. What's more, we'll also covenant to pray for you!
Are you interested in becoming such a partner? Contact John Kimball for more information at office@palmwoodchurch.com or (321) 348-0020.
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Meet the Team
Steve and Diane Olson
Steve Olson is a "natural" as he leads our Connections Ministry. Everywhere Steve goes he meets people and strikes up a genuine conversation that nearly always includes their church experience. It's been amazing to see how many Divine appointments Steve has had for the Lord's ministry through Palmwood Church.
Diane Olson guides our Compassion Ministries. With a heart for service and blessing, Diane is the perfect choice for this critical aspect of our mission to the Oviedo area. We have an early Compassion Ministry partnership already and plans for expanding the ministry in 2015.
Greetings from Central Florida!
Diane and I have been very busy since our arrival in Florida on September 17th. We closed on our new Florida home and started right away with "personalizing" the space with much cleaning and paint. The "sunshine state" was liquid sunshine the first two weeks with rain every day. This helped keep us on task with the needed inside work. Our furnishings sent through a moving company took a very long time to arrive, but God is faithful and met all our needs... like having and empty house to paint which is much easier. 
Quiet time has a whole new meaning for Diane and I since the Brinkley's and their 4 boys have arrived! We are enjoying the way God is growing each of us as we live together in community, praising God. Everyone is starting to settle into a routine including Denise teaching home school in the former artist studio in the back of our home.
We have come to know the neighbors already... and the Brinkley boys have a playmate just two doors away. Our new home is only ¼ mile from the University of Central Florida campus so there are LOTS of college students in the area businesses. We are in the older minority but hoping the vibrant life around us will keep us young.
We are hoping each one of you will at some time in the future visit us to see how God is working in this place... we do have an unused guest bedroom with a separate bathroom we are keeping for those who just "drop in".
Blessings & Shalom -- Steve and Diane
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John Kimball's Health
An Update on Our Lead Pastor
 Many of you have been inquiring as to how John is doing after getting his first ever kidney stone only a couple of weeks after moving to Oviedo. They believe the attack was spurred on by dehydration and the stone was rather large (5mm). The situation required surgery and a stent was installed to help reduce the swelling in his kidney.
At the writing of this newsletter (12/15), John is heading to the hospital for his follow-up surgery to remove both the stent and (hopefully) the stone. Your prayers are appreciated. He is expected to be feeling nearly 100% by Christmas and can then get back to the business of leading the Palmwood Church Team! |
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Our Vision
Palmwood Church's Heart for Our Area
The Vision of Palmwood Church is to impact Oviedo and its surrounding communities through:
- Restoration - Living so that we restore trust in the local Church, its leaders and its people
- Transformation - Impacting the lives around us with the love, grace and truth of Jesus so that we all become more like Him together
- Hospitality - Welcoming people into our Church, our groups and our homes so they experience a real sense of belonging and community
- Multiplication - Reproducing this vision through our own lives, through the people we touch, and ultimately throughout the community at large
Palmwood Church: Loving God Extravagantly. Loving People with Humility. Mentoring Others to Do the Same.
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Thanks for your prayers and support. Please share this update with others by clicking on the "Forward Email" link below.
We would love to hear from you! Email us at office@palmwoodchurch.com. Sincerely, John Kimball
Palmwood Church |
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