Better Together

I Grew up at Emmanuel Faith

Have you seen the recent FaceBook Groups that are titled, “I grew up in…”? Wherever that place may be, people share memories about how particular locations have impacted their lives. I’m guessing many of you could join me in the “I grew up at Emmanuel Faith Group”. Here are some of my memories and reflections growing up at Emmanuel Faith.

I grew up as the grandchild of a 1939 Emmanuel Faith Charter Member. I watched my grandpa change out locks on doors around the church campus and helped my grandma stuff bulletins on Saturday mornings.

I grew up as the great-niece of Dr. Nielsen, affectionately known as Dr. Willie, who was the first woman to graduate from Westmont College. After completing her Doctoral Degree, she worked as a School Principal in Poway during the week, but her real passion was teaching young women the Bible on Sundays.

I grew up as the daughter of choir members who also served in Children’s Ministries. I sat alongside my dad, as my mom taught the Bible to him, the other male and female Sunday School leaders, and a bunch of 5th & 6th grade students.

I grew up being encouraged and challenged to memorize Scripture by Sally Goswick and Richard Williams (and I have a beanie to prove it!)

I grew up learning about God’s personal love for me from Francie Overstreet, Joe Serrano, John Shell, Lois Calac and so many more, never questioning whether the truth being shared was more significant if it came from a man or a woman, because I knew in my heart that the authority with which they spoke was from God and not themselves.

I grew up worshipping the Lord in song led by Penny Nielsen (Aunt Penny to me), Bette Duncan, Carol Seely, and Tim Mayfield. The words impacted my soul speaking truth that I still recall today.

I grew up listening to stories told by Corky Hook and Sheryl Silzer about the work that God was doing in the hearts of people all around the world. And I sat in awe in a church in Juchitan, Mexico as a group of Zapotec Indians listened intently to Virginia Embrey preach the Bible in their native tongue.

I was challenged by Greg Lane on the dunes in Baja to always remember “Christ in me”. I was trained by Dave Ruscetta how to teach the Bible. And I was taught by Dennis Keating that “when you teach, keep ringing the bell”.

I am grateful beyond words for these men and women, and so many more who taught me about God’s character, introduced me to the compassionate and personal love of Jesus, and helped me understand the power of the Holy Spirit. I grew up in an amazing place called Emmanuel Faith, and I’m still growing.

In my years serving as Women’s Director I experienced the joy of leading women in multiple capacities but I also started to ask if God was calling me to more. I began to study and explore Scripture, and as I did so, I started to discover that God called both men and women to preach and lead. I was challenged to consider what it meant to be a pastor and realized that was the work that I was already doing.

I’ve been asked by some how my parents would feel about the changes that are occurring at Emmanuel Faith regarding Women in Church Leadership. My mom and dad were learners and avid students of God’s Word. I am confident that they too would be growing in their understanding of Scripture and would be proud of me for stepping into God’s calling even amidst the challenges.

I’ve heard it said that I’ve been forced into this change. Nothing could be further from the truth. I am grateful for our Board of Elders that have done the hard work of spending hours in prayer and study with the goal of being obedient to God and humbly honoring his commands.

I am so grateful to have grown up at Emmanuel Faith… and I’m not done growing.

Lynette Fuson
Care & Counseling Director

by Lynette Fuson

The Potluck

I had a friend in seminary named Tung Do who used to love organizing potlucks amongst the student body; he called them a potlove! Some of us love potlucks. There’s something fun about bringing your favorite dish to share, loading up your plate with an assortment of home-cooked goodness, and finding something surprising and delectable to taste. Others? You avoid them like the plague, because, let’s be honest, potlucks are unpredictable. You could end up with a perfect plate or with a combination of peanut butter-stuffed jalapeño poppers, jello casserole, and a questionable mystery dish someone “just threw together.” It’s nothing like a catered meal, where professionals prepare a perfectly planned menu, ensuring everything pairs together just right.

I’d suggest that the church in Corinth was more like a potluck than a catered banquet. Paul paints this picture in 1 Corinthians 14:26 writing, “What then, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each one has a hymn, a lesson, a revelation, a tongue, or an interpretation. Let all things be done for building up.” When the church gathered, it wasn’t just a few professionals leading worship while everyone else watched. No, each person brought something to contribute - a song, a teaching, a revelation, an encouragement, a tongue, and an interpretation. Everyone present was a participant. The expectation wasn’t to show up and consume but to contribute to the building up of the body.

I wonder how often we approach church like a catered meal - coming in, taking a seat, and expecting to be served. We listen to the sermon, enjoy the worship, and then go home, treating church like a spiritual restaurant rather than a family meal. But Paul reminds us that church is a potluck. Every follower of Jesus has something to bring. That means you have something to bring - and we need that something. Maybe it’s encouragement for someone who’s struggling. Maybe it’s a testimony of God’s faithfulness. Maybe it’s a gift of teaching or service or prayer. Whatever it is, God has given it to you to build up others.

So let me ask you, are you bringing your dish to the table? Are you engaging, participating, and using the gifts God has given you for the good of the church? Because here’s the thing: when the church operates like a potluck, everyone gets fed. This Sunday, don’t just show up expecting to be served. Come ready to bring something to build up the body. You never know, what you bring might be exactly what someone else needs.

Ryan Paulson
Lead Pastor

by Ryan Paulson

Creation and Culture Converge

Why do we sometimes enforce and sometimes ignore the clear teaching of God’s Word?

Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. But I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head—it is the same as having her head shaved. For if a woman does not cover her head, she might as well have her hair cut off; but if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved, then she should cover her head. – 1 Cor 11:1-6

I’ve never been to a church that obeyed Paul’s instruction from this passage. I still see some men removing hats when it is time to pray, but I’ve preached on some occasions and in some locations wearing a hat. I don’t see women covering their heads for prayer (although I suspect I know a woman who intentionally wore hats to church because of this passage). We don't forbid men from growing their hair long, but I remember folks in the church getting bent out of shape about it when I was a kid. It seems something was lost culturally from the time of Paul’s writing to today. Paul wrote, “if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut off or her head shaved,” but today's culture doesn't find a woman with short hair, or “hair cut off” as he puts it, disgraceful.

So, I guess we just dismiss this passage as containing something cultural that has been lost to us. However, in the next section, Paul justifies his requirement based on the order of creation, not culture.

A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. It is for this reason that a woman ought to have authority over her own head, because of the angels. Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. – 1 Cor 11:7-12

Paul references the order of creation as the reason women need to cover their heads when praying and prophesying. This is the same justification he gives for why women should stay silent and not teach or have authority over men in the letter to Timothy, 1 Timothy 2:12-13, “I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be quiet. For Adam was formed first, then Eve.” In the 1 Cor 11 passage he uses more words to describe the argument than he does in 1 Timothy 2. He appeals to the order of creation as justification for women needing a public display of authority on their heads during prayer. For some reason, many of us dismiss the one Scripture passage as cultural and embrace the other as an argument from God’s forever plan. In the 1 Cor. 11 passage, Paul concludes the section with even stronger language saying women need to keep their hair long and covered.

Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice—nor do the churches of God. – 1 Cor 11:13-16

Should we repent and confess that we got it wrong all this time by not requiring women to keep long hair and wear a covering during prayer?

Pastor John Riley

by John Riley

Prophecy + Prayer = Power

The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 14:3 (NIV), “But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort.”

Every solution in the heart of God is designed with one purpose and outcome in mind—to unveil His glory and bring the lost home. Our part of the mission is to “Pursue love, and desire spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” (1 Corinthians 14:1 NKJV)

To prophesy is to speak for Christ, to speak forth Christ, and to speak Christ into others to encourage, edify, admonish, and exhort for the building up of the church.

Prayer is a conversation between a son or a daughter and their Father. Prayer often seeks answers. When prayer is combined with prophecy, these types of conversations produce solutions. The strategies of the Father’s heart aligned with His Word are given and then spoken into the core of a situation. This combination sets off a supernatural chain of events directly affecting the natural world and overturning impossibilities.

Prophecy is the intention of the Lord upon a matter; it is the answer of the Father’s heart spoken into a problem ahead of time. When this prophetic solution is released from your mouth, at the same time offered up in prayer to the Father, it is so overpowering to the enemy that it not only destroys his current plans, it disrupts his plans.

For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged.
(1 Corinthians 14:31 NKJV)

If we can all have intimate conversations with the Lord, all prophesy to build up the church, destroy the enemy’s plans, and help bring the lost home, pretty powerful wouldn’t you say?

Deb Hill
EFCC Staff

by Deb Hill

Distraction or Focus?

When I had the blessing of being invited to train children’s workers overseas about God’s love for children and how to teach them, I was given some specific instruction on cultural differences. I was to wear long skirts at least to mid-calf, no tops without sleeves, never put my Bible on the floor and never sit on the floor along with a few other things. While in Middle Eastern countries and Eastern European ones, this became part of my practice. I could have ignored the instructions but it would have caused distraction from what God had called me to do. I was reminded of this time as we discussed the passage I Corinthians 11:1-16.

The writing team meets about 10 days before the sermon is preached, reads the scripture reference, prays, and seeks God’s message in it. To be honest, this was a passage that was mystifying in many ways to all of us. How could this relate to us in our day, in our culture? In our perplexity, Donielle Winter drew us to look at the preceding scripture of I Corinthians 10:23-24, 31-32:

“Everything is permissible” – but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible” – but not everything is constructive. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.”

“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble…”

It is always good in Biblical study to look at context and these passages coming before Chapter 11 helped clarify what was to come. As Paul was willing to give up his rights for the sake of others and the glory of God, he then instructed on what had been distractions during worship in the Corinthian church. It is not a contradiction when understood through submission to what is ‘beneficial’ to others and for the glory of God.

As we reflect on the sermon, let us also ponder the following questions:

How might God be calling you and me to be less focused on our freedom and rights, and to focus on His glory and kingdom?

How is God calling me to think differently in living for the benefit of others? How is God calling me to live for His glory as I go about my everyday life?

“...whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

I Corinthians 10:31

Francie Overstreet
EFCC Member

by Francie Overstreet

It’s All About The Mission

When Jesus stood on a mountainside with his disciples, his command was simple and clear: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). However, many of us have heard that command so many times that we no longer hear it. It’s helpful to identify what Jesus didn’t say. He didn’t tell them to establish a religious system. He didn’t instruct them to build buildings, create programs, or even host worship services. Jesus’ mission for them was to become and make disciples.

Every time we gather together as the church, we participate in the mission Jesus set in motion 2,000 years ago. The mission was given before the church was created and it exists to move the mission forward. The church exists because of the mission Jesus gave his disciples on that Galilean hillside. Without it, there would be no reason for us to gather. Christopher J.H. Wright stated this poignantly and provocatively when he wrote, “It is not so much the case that God has a mission for his church in the world, as that God has a church for his mission in the world. Mission was not made for the church; the church was made for mission – God’s mission.” This is important because it shifts how we think about our purpose.

The church doesn’t own the mission; the mission owns the church. Every sermon we preach, every song we sing, every small group that meets - these are not ends in themselves. They’re tools to equip us to step into God’s mission. Because of the way the church has grown and developed over the last 2,000 years, it can be easy to think that church services are the mission of the church… but they are not. Discipleship is still the mission and we gather together so we can “stir one another up to love and good deed” (Heb. 10:24), and so that we can be “built up” (1 Cor. 14:26). But it’s all about living out the mission.

As I consider this truth, it means the mission is not just the responsibility of pastors, missionaries, or church leaders… and it means the mission happens everywhere, not just at church. It’s your mission. It’s my mission. It’s our mission to make disciples - as we are going, wherever we are going. This might look like having a meaningful conversation with a coworker, mentoring someone, or loving your family in a way that reflects Christ. Jesus didn’t call us to be spectators; he called us to be participants. The Great Commission isn’t a task we check off a list - it’s a way of life. It’s the privilege of joining God in his work to restore a broken world.

Take some time today and prayerfully ask God to help you live out this mission as you go about your normal day.

Pastor Ryan Paulson

by Ryan Paulson

Unity in the Why

Put yourselves in the shoes of the early church. You are gathered to celebrate the harvest with people from all over (Acts 2:1-6). While you all are together there are still divisions because of region, language, or even beliefs. Then something that had been predicted hundreds of years before happens (Joel 2:28-32). You start understanding what people are saying in other languages as they make fun of you and your friends for having too much wine (Acts 2:13). Everything in a moment changed while you were together with everyone, something new happened- you became united!

This major moment in history has left a lasting impression on our lives today. The gathering of people united by beliefs and language and that unity that came from the Holy Spirit helped change the world for God’s plan. The mission Jesus gives becomes a unifying factor that changes how we do things. It allows people from different backgrounds a common goal and common understanding so we can fulfill the commission given to all believers.

We cannot fulfill the Great Commission without being united in our mission. We are called as God’s children, as followers of Jesus, marked and empowered by the Holy Spirit to teach, train, and guide others into being disciples of Jesus. This mission should become the most important commission in our life. We see this happen when Peter shared about Jesus (Acts 2) and Luke recorded the unity that the early church experienced and was known by (Acts 2:42-47). As I read Acts 2 I am convicted, because I ask myself, are we united on a mission today? I read Mathew 28:16-20 and ask am I or are we fulfilling the commission Jesus gave us?

God allows us to be united in our joy and in our suffering, in good times and in bad, so we can follow him and teach others to do so as well. When we are united the world sees something different and has to decide if they want to be a part of it, but if we are divided then people will miss being part of the mission God has given. Here is the question I want you to answer, how are you united on mission with fellow believers? Or how do you apply the Great Commission in the life God has put around you? Please email me if you have any questions or want to share your answers. I believe God is giving us a chance to stand in unity with Jesus to be on a mission for the world he loves. This is why he unites us. Praying for us all.

Pastor Jeremy Johnson

by Jeremy Johnson

No Side-line Christians

“Oh, put me in Coach, I’m ready to play…today!” Can you hear the song in your head? I think of it each time I read The Great Commission “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you” (Matthew 18:19-20). As disciples called to “go”, “make” and “teach” we are both coaches and players—there are no side-line Christians—we’re all in the game.

God's heart for our participation isn’t new, we see it from the very beginning in The Creation Mandate when God speaks to both male and female, charging them to “be fruitful and multiply”, (Genesis 1:28). He’s always wanted our help in the multiplication process. The wide empowerment is seen again on the day of Pentecost when we see the Spirit of God is for every follower of Jesus. And Scripture tells us that the Spirit is the distributor and empowerer of gifts and does so as he wills (1 Corinthians 12:4; 11). It’s only fitting that God is calling all the plays…He created the game and its players, after all!

Can I admit something to you? I love playing sports, however, I don’t particularly like to sit and watch them. And the mission of making Jesus known to all nations is not a game—it’s life or death. Jesus came for all, regardless of their gender, ethnicity, or social ranking and He has called all of His disciples— in all of those spheres and in their particular gifting— to “go”, “make” and “teach.” Each of us has been created and placed with intention and purpose. Do you know that? More than that, do you live like you believe it? What gifts, talents, and skills do you have and how might they be utilized for serving and your participation in The Great Commission? If you need help figuring that out, visit: www.efcc.org/resources and click on How to Access My Spiritual Gifts. Now, can you sing it with me? “Oh, put me in Coach, I’m ready to play…today!”

Jessica Klootwyk
Discipleship Director

by Jessica Klootwyk

Doubt Doesn’t Disqualify

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. - Matthew 28:16-17

Did you hear that? Some doubted. Notice that the “some” that Matthew is referring to is some of the remaining eleven disciples. Even some of Jesus’ closest disciples doubted. Wow! That sure does make me a little better about the times that I have doubts. I mean, if the guys who lived with Jesus and literally saw the miracles with their own eyes… the ones who even saw him raised from the dead… if they had doubts, then I shouldn’t feel terrible about mine, right?

However, I think that we can take this a step further. It doesn’t matter who you are, I want you to know that your doubts don’t disqualify you for ministry. I know this because immediately after Matthew gives us this account, Jesus commissions them to “Go therefore and make disciples…” Not only that but just 10 days later, on the day of Pentecost, guess who was still there? Guess who the Holy Spirit chose to descend on and fill? Guess who still had the divine stamp of approval? All eleven disciples! Even the doubting ones. We know that because Luke makes it abundantly clear. Notice who is standing with Peter as he preaches the first Christian sermon in Acts 2:14: “But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them….” We are not told if they continued to have their doubts or not, but one thing is abundantly clear: Doubt did not disqualify them from ministry.

Here’s the good news for you and me! If doubt didn’t disqualify them, it definitely doesn’t disqualify you. Remember, in some ways, the disciples had it much easier than we do. Thomas, after he refused to believe until he touched the holes in Jesus’ hands and side in John 20:29, gets this response from Jesus when he finally sees him: “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing” (MSG). Now, here we are, 2000 years later. We can’t see with our own eyes. Of course, we are going to be more likely to doubt. But we can be assured that if doubt didn’t disqualify them, it doesn’t disqualify you and me. So, don’t let doubt discourage you. Instead, push into your doubts. Ask questions. Take them to God. He isn’t afraid of them. He isn’t going to backhand you for them. He is going to invite you into a more intimate connection with himself and challenge you to go deeper into whatever he is calling you to do. I pray that you and I will have the courage to follow.

Josh Rose
Family Pastor

by Josh Rose