...eyes outward

You've just been kissed! New Strategic Plan.

2012-02-06T08:48:00.004-05:00

This weekend we will be launching Kiss Dayton, an outreach to our educators, teachers, principals, and other professional people who care for our kids in the education arena.

We as a church are shifting our resources to begin to reach out to the kids in need in our school systems. Last week, during a staff outreach, one team went to Fairborn Elementary and Fairborn Wright. When they asked the principals, 'What is the greatest need?' both schools mentioned kids who are in families that are breaking down and breaking up. We then found out that there are 15 families who are homeless who are sending kids to the schools.

So we are developing strategy to reach the kids at risk within our school systems.

Level 1.

We will continue to serve the schools in practical ways. This includes, teacher appreciation gifts and kindness, backpacks, shoes and socks, cleaning the school grounds, painting, providing school supplies and Adopt A Family and Christmas Free Store at Christmas. We will also be seeking to develop a traveling free clothing store. At the current time we are helping 100 kids each week with take home weekend meal backpacks.

This spring we will focus on the school systems with Big Spring Clean helping the schools take care of needed upgrades, cleaning, painting and general landscape projects.

Good deeds creates good will, that opens hearts to the good news. Rusaw.

Level 2.

We will develop consistent relational help for teachers, coaches and kids. We will be hosting a Vineyard Educators meeting, for all educators who attend the Vineyard, Tuesday, February 21 7pm in the Lodge. We will be seeking to find people who have a passion for building relationships with teachers and kids, who will commit to taking steps to be a consistent source of help and encouragement to a specific school. Relationship is key to step into long term assistance and care for the children in our schools. We will be developing programs to best serve kids at risk. We already have key people who have developed educational seminars and talks on the issue of Bullying.The Dayton Campus has opened a Computer Lab to help kids with their homework and to help develop computer skills. The kids who come are from various schools in the area.

Level 3.

We will be seeking to develop and to partner with other agencies toward long term help for families at risk. The needs are great. At the current time we are committed to long term short term help by providing meals, food, clothing and encouragement.

However, in the future we will be seeking to step in to help family units... in order to help the family unit step out of poverty. (Poverty is more then dollars and cents, it includes poor relationship within the family unit, educational needs, resource location allocation needs etc..)

This is why we are going to be kissing Dayton the week of February 11th - 17th.

We want to encourage every person who attends the Vineyard to write a personal,

kind note to encourage an educator within their area of Dayton.

Your note of encouragement means more than you know.

Our Family Life Team is already encouraging kids and parents to write a note to their teachers.

We will also be delivering cupcakes to the schools Tuesday 14th, Valentines Day, at 10:30am. If you'd like to help deliver the cupcakes, please contact Elom at edossa@daytonvineyard.com. We'll provide the map and instructions.

Here is a link to an article I wrote for Serve Others. How to Serve a School.

Food... yet more than food.

2012-01-30T10:06:00.007-05:00

This picture taken Saturday when we served over 300 people.

For the past two years we have been serving the less-served of the Dayton area, partnering with The Hope Foundation. We supply bags, warehouse, storage area, truck and ministry partners. It's a great partnership.

Every Tuesday a few guys head down to The Food Bank and load the truck with tons of food. On Wednesday at 5:30pm, we pack hundreds of bags of groceries that will go to Fairborn, Jamestown, Ceaderville, Huber Heights, Beavercreek or Dayton.

At each location every family registers and receives 2 bags of groceries, plus 1 bag of protein, (5lbs sometimes 10lbs, we receive steak, chicken, roast, pork loin etc.) often veggies and fruit.

On the first and third Saturdays we meet at 10am(some vols come at 9am to help set the day) load the truck, and drive to our location to meet the people and to distribute the food. On the fourth Saturday we meet at the Dayton Campus at 9am and distribute the food.

At this time of writing The Hope Foundation is the largest food distributor in the Montgomery County and Green County.

What we offer is more than food. We offer:

Hope - People who have nothing need hope. Our commitment to long term, short term help brings hope to the people in need.

There are two camps, one camp says, 'Short team help is a waste of time, only long term help will truly meet the need.' The other camp says, Long term help takes too long and only helps a few people. We believe we need both, a commitment to long term short term help, and a commitment toward long term investment. We need both to help bring people out of poverty.

Jesus stated, 'The poor you will have with you always.'

This means we can serve the less served with a little, or with a lot. Both are more than good enough. Your little you give to serve others, is much more than those who do nothing or give nothing.

One man challenged me, he said that Christians were all hypocrites(internally I agreed, all are, me included) and that they did nothing to help the real needs like feeding the hungry, or helping kids in poverty or meeting medical needs. In the conversation I stated what I was doing to help to meet some needs. I can't meet all the needs but I could meet some in Jesus name.

My wife and I had adopted Quiche Indian kids in Guatemala for over 20 years, we served helping the poor with food and clothing, and we helped send medical supplies to Haiti. I then asked him what he was doing to meet the needs of the poor? Seems he was doing nothing.

Not to be smug, well maybe I was, but I did think, 'I like what I am doing better than what you are not doing.' We continued our conversation I discovered he had been burnt by some 'Christians' who weren't very Christ-like and was pretty jaded. Been there?

Often we discover we arrive at just the right time. One man with tears in his eyes asked, 'I heard you were cutting back and not coming to Dayton anymore?' I assured him that we were gonna be here for as long as possible. He then replied, 'I don't know what I'd do without your help.' He was one of those innocent ones who needed hope and reassurance.

Relationship - Each month, that we serve we build relationships with the people we serve. Most of the people who come to serve as ministry partners consistently know the people they serve by name. They know what the person has asked prayed for, and have a connection with the family. It's refreshing to hear serving people talk to a person by name. 'Hey, Joe how's it going.'

A Listening Ear- Listening to a persons story encourages the heart more than we understand. Everyone has a story. But not everyone has someone who wants to hear the story. Listening shows respect, gives honor and establishes a sense of self worth. Listening also shouts, I care for you.

When we first opened the Thursday breakfast I was talking to one of the men. When we were finished, I held out my hand to shake his and said, 'Thanks for the conversation.' He gripped my hand and said, 'No sir, thank you for listening, it means more to me than you will ever know.'

God Space - We believe that when we go He is with us in a tangible way. As we set up, and begin to serve we invite God's presence to be among us. Often when we talk to people we discover they too are aware of His manifest goodness. When prayer is offered we repeatedly hear stories of how God has met their needs. Whether it be for healing, relationship restoration, jobs, etc.. They can point back to the day the prayer was prayed, up to the time the prayer was answered.

A few months ago a wife was concerned about her marriage. It had been rocky and she asked for a specific restoration of her relationship with her husband. A couple of months of further prayer continued. She then recently reported that she and her husband had just renewed their vows and they are once again connected.

What can you do?

If live in the Dayton area you too can come and offer hope to the less-served of our community. Just show up on Wed night 5:30pm to help pack, or on the Saturdays 1st and 3rd at 10am Beavercreek 4051 Indian Ripple Rd. and on the 4th Saturday 9am Dayton Campus 1222 N. Main St.

Wednesday morning is the time we set up all the food to be bagged. Pop in at 10 am at the Joseph Project Food Pantry 4051 Indian Ripple Rd to help set up tables and to set up the food and count the bags.

If you don't live in Dayton... Why not begin from where you are with what you have? Your little, or your a lot will make a difference.

Martin Luther King

2012-01-17T19:03:00.007-05:00

This year was the 8th year we have served the marchers on MLK day. We chose to hand out hundreds of hand warmers. It was a 35 degree day with a wind of about 10 miles and hour. As always it is a pleasure to meet so many intelligent, caring, sharp people of all races. The people we met were passionate about the change over the last 30 or so years. Yet we can all say we have land to possess, and personal prejudices to lay down.

Elom and Pattie

part of the team

coffee to get warm

Me, recently I realized that I have a tendency to 'profile' people... put them in my box, or jump to my opinion concerning who they are, why they are who they are, and how they got to be where they are.

I'm asking for a change of heart.

Usually, after talking at length with a person my 'profiling' proves to be in error. Here's an example: Someone came to me recently urgently wanting to be Baptized, I replied, 'Well, we will be having a baptism in March. The person then stated, 'I need to be baptized before Jesus returns!' My profiling, locked the person into a person who was unstable, after all Jesus most probably won't return until after March.

Then the person stated, 'I have cancer.' humm! Now I have a different perspective, more illumination, my profiling box was broken. They were no longer in my box labeled as an unstable person, but the reality, they were a desperate person.

The truth, I was the unstable person. So, I admit I need to be more open hearted less judemental.

The highlight of the outreach was meeting one 82 year old lady. She was a hoot. We laughed as she told us stories of her life and how she raised her kids who were now a doctor and an architect. She laughed as she told us 'We have come a long way, she then dropped the punch line with a twinkle in her eye, my daughter works in a an office... and now... she's over 20 white people. Times have sure changed.'

The night before the march, Pattie and I watched the documentary of the assassination of MLK and the story of James Earl Ray. Quite a contrast of belief systems and destiny. Again, I was moved by Martin's last talk the night before the his tragic end.

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Your Karma Is Leaking

2012-01-11T09:40:00.004-05:00

Thinking about modeling, and being an example... It's really who I am before the Lord first, and then man. It's about how one conducts his life in both arenas.

It's more about internals than externals. Believe it or not it's more about our attitude than our actions. Our actions, to some extent reflect our attitudes.(you can't judge a book by it's cover, but as you read a book you discover hidden treasures). Our words (more realistically what's mixed with our words, sarcasm, boredom, impatience, frustration, anger) reveal our hearts.

But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart. Jesus

Ideally, internal grace, love and mercy will be reflected by our words and our actions, if we are truly people of grace, love and mercy. The truth: We reflect are who we really are.

If we are angry, we will leak _____________. If we are discontent, we will leak _________________. If we are frustrated, we will leak ______________. If we have a competitive spirit. we will leak ________________. If we are proud and self centered, we will leak ____________________.

If we are positive, we will leak ___________. If we are loving, we will leak __________. If we are graceful, we will leak _______________. If we are merciful, we will leak _______________. If we are forgiving, we will leak ___________________.

I think this is why Phil 2 was written... Paul writing says, Let this attitude be in you... He goes on to describe the attitude (humility) and how the action of the attitude should be revealed.

Truly understanding grace, should make us more graceful and reflect to others gracefulness. Truly understanding the love and mercy of God should cause us to be in awe of who He is and reflect to others what we have gracefully received.

Paul wrote,
So I strive always to keep my conscience clear before God and man.

Now this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that (how) we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in our relations with you, with integrity and godly sincerity. We have done so, relying not on worldly wisdom but on God’s grace.

Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.

Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

Out of the interior life of the leader flows a certain kind of aura, ethos and culture. I call this the leadership “leak.” It is the leak from the leader and leadership team that creates what we call ethos or organizational culture. What is going on inside us automatically flows out.

Ron Martoia, Morph! The Texture of Leadership for Tomorrow’s Church

I read the book Morph! a few years ago... I do know all leaders leak. They leak good things, and they leak bad things. The leaders goal should be to consistently leak good things, and to create a positive, uplifting, inclusive atmosphere / environment where encouragement and faith can dwell.

The challenge of every leader is to slow down... to evaluate ourselves honestly... to take a risk and ask our self the questions, What am I really leaking? Do I build up? or Do I tear down? Am I positive? or Am I negative? Am I patient? or Am I impatient? Am I full of grace? or Do I lack grace? Am I engaged? or Am I unengaged? Being self aware is a good place to start.

A good prayer to pray... Lord show me what am I leaking?

Sometimes I am aware, other times I'm not aware. This is why I need a good wife, honest friends(ask a friend, what am I leaking?) and time before the Lord.

I like Paul's list of positive leaks... It's called the fruit of the Spirit.

The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Mercy

2012-01-06T10:24:00.000-05:00

“Grace is what God gives us when we don't deserve it, and mercy is when God doesn't give us what we do deserve”

John Wesley taught that people must be Christians in both word and deed, which were to express the love of God. He believed that Christians must grow in God's grace, which first prepares us for belief, then accepts us when we respond to God in faith, and sustains us as we do good works and participate in God's mission.

'And, First, with regard to works of mercy. "Take heed,"that you do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: Otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven."

-- Although this only is named, yet is every work of charity included, every thing which we give, or speak, or do, whereby our neighbour may be profited; whereby another man may receive any advantage, either in his body or soul. The feeding the hungry, the clothing the naked, the entertaining or assisting the stranger, the visiting those that are sick or in prison, the comforting the afflicted, the instructing the ignorant, the reproving the wicked, the exhorting and encouraging the well-doer; and if there be any other work of mercy, it is equally included in this direction.'

“Heaven have mercy on us all - Presbyterians and Pagans alike - for we are all somehow dreadfully cracked about the head, and sadly need mending”
Herman Melville

“Teach me to feel another's woe,To hide the fault I see,That mercy I to others show,That mercy show to me.”
Alexander Pope

“The quality of mercy is not strained; It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath. It is twice blessed- It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes.”
William Shakespeare

“I would lose my way again, be led hopelessly astray again, just so I can pray again...For the mercy in you.”
Sabian Depeche Mode

“The very contradictions in my life are in some ways signs of God's mercy to me.”
Thomas Merton

It worked! Making Christmas Dreams Come True 2011.

2011-12-23T07:39:00.003-05:00

This years approach to the Christmas season has been a huge success. Almost 150 families have been adopted by our caring Vineyard people. Our free store has been amazing and we have had our biggest year ever at Wrap it up with over 250 wrappers wrapping.

It is clear to us that people like having options, and simple steps to help them make a difference in someones life. So our focus on reaching our community was clearly presented. (see last blog entry)

135 Adopt a Family Bags went to 5 elementary schools. The families adopted were selected by the school counselors who have had a connection with the parents and children. When the parents came to pick up the presents and clothing for their kids most were surprised and elated by the care taken by the Vineyard people to ensure their child's wish list was provided.

School Counselor's and teachers for our local school system selected the children for adoption and gave tickets to families in need for our free store.

Our free store was a huge success. Hundreds of presents were purchased and delivered. The store was open one Saturday and every evening during the week leading up to Christmas. We wanted to ensure people had options. If they worked Saturday, they would have had to make a decision to loose pay or shop for their family. The evenings allowed the family their best option.

Every family was greeted at the door and given a guide to help them navigate the store. At the entrance to the store we provided parent escorts for the parents. The escorts guided the parents to the age and gender present area, help carry presents (some parents had 8 children, each child received 2 presents), and most importantly listen with care.

After the parents shopped they were directed to the wrapping station to have their presents wrapped. If any children came with the parent we directed the children to the kidz zone where they could make a craft and pick up a present for their parent.

One of the highlights: We were able to give gifts to 24 kids from seven families who are in hiding in safe houses for battered women. The case workers popped in to pick up gifts and to deliver the presents to the children.

We are able to do all we do because our generous Vineyard people give, and serve beyond and above the norm, Making Christmas Dreams Come True for many.

Making Christmas Dreams Come True 2011

2011-11-29T08:45:00.000-05:00

Over the last 7 years we focused on touching the urban area of Dayton with a Christmas party that touched over 9,000 people. This year we are seeking to be more strategic in our approach and have decided to reach out to the families who are most at risk in our local school systems.

This Christmas season we’ll remember God’s gift to us by giving and serving others. We’ll come together as the body of Christ to reach out to our communities, friends, family and co-workers.

We have large outreach events that are only achieved when we join together. We'll make sure that hundreds of kids in need receive gifts through our Making Christmas Dreams Come True Store. We'll wrap presents for free at Fairfield Commons Mall at Wrap It Up! Adopt a Family for Christmas--the local schools have given us the names of at-risk students and their families for us to "adopt". Presents due back by December 15th. We'll deliver dozens of Krispy Kreme donuts during our Christmas Eve Donut Experience. Finally, we have some Do It Yourself ideas thrown in for your family or small group.

Clearly, in the midst of the holiday madness, you have your own shopping and schedules and family needs, so no one is expected to do everything. We would, however, encourage you to do something and to ponder what the season is really all about. Ask the question, How can we re-orient ourselves and our families as we look forward to Christmas 2011?

Along with your family or small group (or both), consider making your own outward-focused calendar by selecting some of the planned outreach events, and then fill in the blanks with some personal touches.

Perhaps you’ll write encouraging notes to someone in your life. Maybe this is the year you prayerfully invite some friends, neighbors, relatives or coworkers to the Christmas services so they can hear the Good News in a fresh way—and spark the spiritual conversation you’ve been hoping for.

How you can help

Make Christmas Dreams Come True this year.

Volunteer at The Making Christmas Dreams Come True Store

Saturday, December 17th 9am to 5pm, and the evenings 6pm to 9pm the week of December 19th, in the Family Life Center you can help welcome our guests, or bring snacks, or wrap presents, or serve coffee, or help people find gifts, or offer prayer for their needs. You can also, help kids create crafts for their parents.

Purchase Christmas Presents (This is now the greatest need.)

Purchase kid-friendly presents for our Making Christmas Dreams Come True Store. Parents will come to our shop located in the Family Life Center and choose presents for their kids. We’ll need hundreds of presents, all shapes and sizes by December 15th.

Adopt a Family(this is completed thanks to all who chose a family.) Please return gifts in black bags labeled with family name and code by December 15th.

Wrap presents at the Fairfield Commons Mall

Beginning Friday December 9th through December 23rd we will be serving our community by wrapping presents for free. Monday - Thursday 12pm - 2pm and 6pm - 9pm. Friday - Sunday 12pm - 9pm. Sign up for a time slot at the Wrap It Up! tables located near the giving trees.

Invite a friend, family member, co-worker to our Christmas Services

Use our special invitation and invite people you know to our Christmas services. Invitations will be provided at our info centers.

Christmas Eve Travelers Service

Wednesday, December 21, 7pm, Beavercreek Campus

Christmas Eve:

Saturday, December 24th 6pm and 8pm Beavercreek Campus

Saturday, December 24, 6pm, Dayton Campus

Christmas Day:
10am, Beavercreek Campus and Dayton Campus

Christmas Eve Donut Experience!

Pick up a dozen Krispy Kreme donuts on your way out after our Christmas Eve services. Drop off the donuts as you head home. Go to an emergency room, a fire station, a fast food drive-through, or any place where people are working on Christmas Eve.

Just Do It!

This is do-it-yourself, creative outreach. During the Christmas holidays seek to serve others by being friendly and noticing need. Go out of your way to serve others in your sphere of influence. Show a little love to a neighbor, push grocery carts back, go to a local business with goodies, pay for the person behind you at the drive-through, or leave a gift for the people who serve you in the community.

Turkeys giving away turkeys recap.

2011-11-21T11:22:00.003-05:00

Church gives away 500 Thanksgiving dinners

Volunteers surprise families with meal deliveries.

By Mark Gokavi, Staff Writer 12:05 AM Sunday, November 20, 2011
BEAVERCREEK — About 500 families got a knock on the door Saturday morning and received a free Thanksgiving dinner.

The Vineyard Church of Dayton and Beavercreek packed and delivered that many meals to families in Fairborn, Xenia, Huber Heights and Centerville as part of their “Turkeys Giving Away Turkeys” initiative.

Organizer Steve Bowen said nearly hundreds of volunteers put together packages including a frozen turkey, corn, green beans, yams, cranberry sauce, potatoes, macaroni and cheese, stuffing, rolls and more.

“To see the look on somebody’s face when you show up with a complete dinner and they didn’t know where their food was going to come from, it’s hard to believe,” said Scott Sliver, one of the pastors at The Vineyard.

The Vineyard also delivered regular groceries to families in need in Huber Heights, which is a program they help other groups with each month.

“The face of the poor is changing around town,” Sliver said. “It’s really hit the middle class pretty hard.”

We had a blast serving those in need by giving away the 550 turkey dinners. Stories are now coming in where people were surprised, encouraged and in some cases moved to tears. God space was created by a simple act of kindness which led to listening, dialogue and then genuine care expressed by hugs and prayer.

One mom and daughter had just moved in the day before they were going out the door to sell some items to enable them to purchase needed items for Thanksgiving day. They were more than surprised when they saw the dinner offered for free.

One of our team members was so moved by what he saw in one apartment that it caused him to run back to the truck to pick up a boxed dinner for a lady who only had icecubes in her fridge. He spent a lot of time caring for her by listening to her story.

Another family had just delivered their turkey and went back to the truck to grab a dinner for another person in need. When they arrived there were no more dinners, so they responded by going to Kroger and purchasing a full dinner for a grateful family.

Several families who went were not aware that there were people in such need within their community. They were surprised, glad they could help, and at the same time upset by what they saw. They also came away from their experience personally grateful and thankful.

I often pose the question, How can you know, unless you go? Answer, you can't.

Going, seeing, serving and praying for others is really the only way to receive a personal ah-ha moment. These moments often are the catalyst that sparks personal involvement, lifestyle change and thankful gratitude.

Someone asked me, How do you do this week in and week out. It must affect you? I answer, Jesus said the poor you will have with you always, so I understand whatever I do in a small way, or in a great way, is good enough. I can't possibly meet every need, but I can meet and pray for some. Going also keeps me grounded and personally grateful for all I have received... like the ability to pay my bills, to have heat, to have running water, to have clothing, to have a family that is somewhat normal, and to have some great relationships.

How do you learn to serve? By serving.
How to you learn to love? By loving.
How do you learn to care? By going and seeing with your heart.
How do you learn to pray? By praying.

What we do is not rocket science by any means, it's just faith that works through love.

Turkeys Giving Away Turkeys. / Donut Blitz Fairfield Commons Mall.

2011-11-03T07:41:00.006-05:00

Turkeys Giving Away Turkeys.

A few of years ago we adjusted the outreach in order to involve more people, create a safer environment (morning instead of after dark), create less stress (we were creating exact maps from hours of phone calls) and to create a greater sense of team (over 300 people showed up for instructions and to do the outreach last year).

here's what we have discovered:

people want to make a difference....last year over 400 boxes went out the first two weekends in November.

people like simple...people grab a box as they leave a weekend service. The box has the instructions placed inside the box to help guide people as they purchase the food items.

people enjoy the sense of togetherness...We encourage participation: families packing the box together, or joining with friends, or joining as a small group to fill the box.

This year we will be kicking off with a worship set and breaking up into small groups for prayer...then introducing team leaders, and receiving instructions and maps.

some people like to participate but don't want to go on the outreach...that's ok, participating at any level is appreciated. The 'no go but want to serve people' will bring their filled boxes at 9am instead of 10am and placed into trucks. Last year 150 turkey boxes arrived at 9am.

people like the fact that we go to the areas we have consistently served in the past...we will be dividing up into three huge teams, caravan to the location in order to reach out to 5 low income apartments in Huber Heights, Fairborn, Beavercreek, Xenia, and Centerville.

people like the adventure...

we go to homes unannounced offer the Thanksgiving meal and offer prayer. When we leave the home we place a small noticeable, sticker on the door notifying the rest of the team that the stickered door is a home we have served.

people who serve begin to see life through an outward focused lens...One family went to a home and offered the Thanksgiving dinner. The single mom invited the family inside to place the dinner on her table. The family noticed...all she had in her apartment was the table. Their perspective changed. Their hearts were softened through the experience and began to view life through a different lens.

Going, serving, praying = caring for others ...an outward focused life.

Packing Box Instructions
Thanks so much for helping to make Thanksgiving possible for the less-served of our community!

This year’s date for Turkeys Giving Away Turkeys is Saturday, November 19th.

We will meet at Beavercreek Campus at 10am and join team leaders to head out to the different locations: Huber Heights, Fairborn, Centerville, Xenia.

How to participate: Join together as family, friends, or a small group to fill up the box with items listed below.

Turkey’s Giving Away Turkey’s List.
2 Cans Corn

2 Cans Green Beans

1 Large Can Yams \

1 Can Cranberry Sauce

1 Box Au Gratin Potatoes

1 Box Brownies

2 Boxes Mac and Cheese

1 Dinner Bag Rolls

1 Box Stuffing Mix
1 FROZEN Turkey

Optional:
1 Pie
Fresh Veggies
Roasting Pan
Fun Stuff

Important Instructions:

Drop off Point Upper Turn Area New Building

If you are going on the outreach... Please leave your dinner box in your car show up at the Vineyard by 10am.

If you only want to participate by filling a turkey dinner box and not go on the outreach...Please drop the filled box off at the Vineyard by 9am.

Donuts Blitz Fairfield Commons Mall.

We are the official greeters for Black Friday at Fairfield Commons Mall. This fast paced outreach begins at 5:30am and lasts until about 7:30am. We greet the early morning shoppers offering Boston Stoker Coffee, and Krispy Kreme Donuts. It's simple and family friendly. We also distribute donuts to the workers at the Mall.

Meet @ Lower Sears Entrance.

Consistency in Action.

2011-09-23T10:37:00.004-05:00

Click WDTN logo for news report video

Our local news station showed up this week when we were serving 264 families in need. We go out 3 times every month to different locations dotted around the community. The Dayton Vineyard partner's with the Food Bank, The Hope Foundation and others who serve the less served of our community. The Vineyard provides a warehouse to store the food, to sort the food, bags to pack the food, a truck to pick up the food and to deliver the food to the people. We provide volunteers who help us pack and load the food on the truck. Also a group of people from the Vineyard go to the distribution points dotted around the city three times a month.

We attempt to treat every person we meet with respect and seek to serve their needs by carrying the food items to their home or their car. We also offer a listening ear, encouragement and prayer.

The Joseph Project Food Pantry is our onsite food pantry that is open 5 days a week Monday - Friday 10am to 2pm. Our Community of Hope team are scheduled each day to care for the people who come to receive help.

Each month we serve over 1500 people in need throughout the area.

It's a pretty good church serving our community with God's love in a practical way.

Power of Consistency...

2011-09-23T09:36:00.001-05:00

Article in Serve Others

The Power Of Consistency by Steve Bowen

con·sist·en·cy
The steadfast adherence to the same principles, or set course, staying the course day in and day out, week in and week out and year in and year out.

I’m reminded of the movie Galaxy Quest. The captain who was usually in trouble stated, “Never surrender, never give up.”

For a decade a simple sign was on my desk which declared,”Never give up. It’s aways too soon to give up.”

Consistency doesn’t give up. It sets its course and stays true to its principles.

Consistency is the common thread woven into the life of those who are called to change their world for Jesus.

David Wilkerson living in NY was always there…going out into the community, talking with people, encouraging seekers, and taking risks.

Floyd McClung living in Amsterdam and Afghanistan was out day by day, having conversations with people along the Hippy Trail, breaking down barriers, building bridges and loving people into a relationship with Jesus.

Billy Graham really didn’t ever change… His message was simple, direct to the point month by month year by year. “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.”

Loren Cunningham mobilized the youth of many generations into their world encouraging young people to pray, to go, to believe, to serve, and to care.

Steve Sjogren learned the art of serving his community by going, doing and serving. He lives out his values by serving others with small acts of kindness consistently.

Mike Pilivochi and Soul Survivor in the U.K. serve, worship and share the good news, impacting thousands in Manchester, and London with Soul in the City.

How do you know when serving is beginning to impact a community?
1. People you serve begin to define your church in a positive manner.
Hint: we are all already defined by our community, both positively and negatively.
The good news, we have a major part to play in creating a positive image.

If you want to know how your community defines your church go out into your community and ask.
A sample question: When you hear the name of our church (say name of church) what comes to your mind?

A few years ago living in Florida I went out into our community. I asked. I found out we were known as the church that no longer existed. We were the church that had a nasty in-house disagreement and had split and died.

Slowly, but surely the tide turned. The church is now know as a major caring force and is respected in the community with 5 satellite locations. How did they change? They began to identify who they were and who they were call to be. They also discovered their mission and began pursue their mission and to serve others.

Oh, you’re that pretty good church that serves the community!
A couple of years ago I lost my phone. I went to my phone provider with an old phone to activate. When I went to the desk I was asked, “What business name is your phone under?” I said, “the Dayton Vineyard.” The lady standing next to me exclaimed: “Oh you’re that pretty good church that serves the community! I’ve heard about what you guys do.” I asked, “What have your heard?’ she then related examples of the positive things she and others have heard and seen us do. Humbly, but joyfully I replied, “Yep that’s us, we’re just pretty good.” I walked away encouraged. I thought, it really does work. What you sow is you reap.

How does happen? It’s simple, hard work. Years of hard work sowing, caring, praying, going, being out there in season and out of season.

We are consistent. Our consistency has given us favor and redefined ‘church’ to much of our community. Often people come to see what a pretty good church looks and feels like. Many become Christ followers as they hear our message and and observe our lifestyle.

2. You will discover you have favor with your community.
We know we need God’s favor to be upon our lives and upon what we do. So we seek to humble ourselves and ask Jesus to place His favor upon us as a church. He is the one who builds His Church. He is the only one who can bring the increase. He is the only one who opens doors and gives us favor with the people in our community. He is the one who gives us favor with mayors, school systems, park departments, and people of influence.

God’s favor is what empowered Daniel, Esther, Joseph and Jesus to impact the people within their sphere of influence. In fact the early church‘had the favor of all the people’ and Jesus ‘grew in favor with God and man.’

How do you gain favor with God and man?

You ask Jesus for His unmerited favor to increase upon you and your church.

You serve where you are, with what you have, while you can.
God honors faithfulness. As you faithfully serve others your heart will most probably lean toward loving what God loves. Having his heart for your community will also increase His favor upon your actions bringing you favor with the people you serve.

You learn to serve others with the attitude of Christ. (see Philippians Chapter 2.) The chapter defines true humility, embracing genuine love, developing a serving attitude, and serving others with a servant heart.

How do you learn to love like Jesus loves? By serving others.

In season and out of season…consistency is the key.
It’s consistently showering your community with good deeds done with the love Jesus gives. It’s living consistently with the favor and grace that God provides. It’s being out in the community in which we live, day in, day out. It’s being wise. It’s how you act toward every person who talks to you about the hope you have within you.

Paul sums it up this way…
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 NIV

No great secret why serving churches are energized, thriving, and growing. It’s simple: Someone is praying. Someone is serving. Someone is loving. Someone is caring. Someone is going out into the community and sharing Gods love… consistently.

Buzz about Buzz

2011-09-04T12:06:00.002-05:00

Taking 4th of July Water Outreach to Infinity and Beyond

Externally Focused Network Article.

What’s the problem?

The Vineyard Church has a strong desire to reach their city for Christ. Many of the people that they want to reach simply have no interest in coming to a church, no matter how awesome they can make a Sunday morning service become. The attractional church model just isn’t quite cutting it. To reach the unreached of Dayton, The Vineyard Church has to take Jesus outside of their four walls to the streets.

What’s a solution?

In preparation for July 4th, 2011, The Vineyard Church developed a buzz to move them forward in their summer water outreach to the Dayton community. They purchased different well-known full sized characters – including Buzz Lightyear, the Hulk, and Justin Bieber. These characters were placed in different locations around the building as an encouragement for people to drop off cases of water. Each week, the characters were moved to different drop off locations to keep things interesting.

Each person was encouraged to give according to what they were able to. One guy dropped off 35 cases of water. Others brought one or two, while some just gave cash. The water piles continued to mount up until over 7,000 bottles of water had been gathered. Many people spent hours sticking labels on the water. A few people helped load the truck, which included packing the barrels and a holding bin with water bottles and 80 large bags of ice.

However, all of this wouldn’t have meant anything without those that scattered across Dayton on July 4th to distribute the water bottles to nearly 5000 people at 3 different firework shows. In addition to handing out the free bottles of water, the members of Vineyard Church spent time loving on, talking to, and praying for the people of their community, demonstrating Christ’s love in both word and deed.

Though this outreach has affected many people, one story stands out in particular. A few years ago a guy was walking with his family to the Delco 4th of July celebrations. A teen handed him a bottle of water. The man read the label and stopped walking and shouted to the teen who gave him the bottle, “What kind of church are you?” The teen replied, “The kind of church that gives water away for free.” Her reply really lodged into the man’s heart. 12 months later he brought his family to check out the church that gives water away for free. They are now serving members.

Want to do something like this?

Do you have people? Do you have access to bottled water? If so, you are a prime candidate for this kind of outreach. Also, don’t be afraid to make it fun for your congregation by purchasing life-sized characters to mark the drop-off locations for water, soda, or whatever else you want to give away during your outreach.

The Vineyard Church Website: http://daytonvineyard.com/cms/
Story Originally From Steve Bowen’s Blog: http://eyesoutward.com/

Super Saturday Free Flea Market A Success.

2011-08-29T07:50:00.000-05:00

We had a great day on Saturday. During the week we gathered all the items, sorted the items into groups and prepped for the day.

Saturday our people arrived at 8am to receive instructions. We then moved all the stuff out into the parking lot. Each item had a designated space. By 9:30am all areas were sorted, placed on tables or on in their area, the grill was cooking, and kidz zone was ready. At 10am we opened the area by removing the caution tape and people began to shop.

People were amazed that everything was free. Each person received what they needed from furniture, to clothing. The atmosphere was buzzing and people were genuinely touched by our kindness.

A lot of people were puzzled and pondered why we would invest the time and energy to give all we had received away for free. When asked, we simply answered, "We just wanted to show you God's love in a practical way."

We cleaned up and were out by 1pm. We did have some clothing left so took the clothing to Hanna's Treasure Chest and Goodwill. Goodwill in turn give us clothing vouchers to give to people in need who come to our food pantry.

Super Saturday Free Flea Market

2011-08-22T07:42:00.002-05:00

go to www.thejosephproject.net for info

Backpacks Going to Schools!

2011-08-17T15:17:00.000-05:00

All 400 backpacks left the building in just 2 weekends. They began to return and we are funneling the backpacks to the school systems.

Kettering Schools have many low income families and people just struggling to get by. This year we contacted the school counselor. She in turn contacted all the other elementary school counselors to gather numbers. Today, we sorted and delivered 100 backpacks. It was great to see the Principal energized and smiling as she received the goods.

In our conversation we talked about a teacher appreciation early afternoon. She has given us a date and we will be serving the teachers in mid September. When I mentioned we'd like to serve the teachers to let them know they were appreciated she mentioned, "No one has ever done this for us before."

To read my a rant... please read this post. Teachers Rule

We will be heading up to Fairborn bringing backpacks and shoes in the next week. It's been a great time of caring for our community!

Back to School! This means Backpacks.

2011-07-20T17:01:00.001-05:00

It's that time of year.

Each year we adopt a school. We seek to invest in the school in our area that has the greatest need. Fairborn Elementary is a school with 1700 pupils many with great need. The school at one time was the largest elementary school in Ohio. Many of the students come from low income families. The teachers are over worked as is their facilities team.

So this year landscaped the school. One of their biggest needs last year: helping kids get on the bus and off the bus safely so we spent a few hours painting letters on the parking lot where the kids are dropped off and picked up. A simple project that cost literally nothing but made a huge difference. Smiling teachers and kids and safe kids accomplished.

As the new term begins we also seek to meet practical needs of the students by furnishing filled back packs. This year we added shoes and socks to the list.

Here's how it works. I purchase back packs bulk rate for $5.75 and then sell to Vineyard people for $5. (Why $5 it's just enough to remind people they have a backpack.) By the first weekend of sale most of the 400 backpacks are purchased. The others sale within 3 weekends.

The people then take the backpacks home, fill them up and return. Families like to purchase the items together and allow the kids to help fill the bags. Often when the packs are returned the kids are the ones who carry the bags in and drop off the pack at our backpack drop off zone. We create a visible drop off zone so people can see the pile grow. 400 backpacks is a pretty sizable mound.

Here is the list:

Back To School Bash:

We will be helping Fairborn Elementary School this year.

What to do:

Purchase Backpack at Info Center.

Fill Backpack with supply list and other fun items.

Return Backpack to Vineyard by August 15th.

Supplies List:

2 – 2 Pocket Folders

1 – 3 Ring Binder

1 – Large Box Kleenex

2 – Glue Sticks

1 – Bottle of Glue

1 – Pair of Scissors (blunt edge, round tip)

1 – Pack Pencils

1 – Large Eraser

1 – Pack Crayons (at least 24)

1 – Pack Colored Pencils

1 – Pack Markers

2 – Spiral Notebooks (Wide Ruled)

1 – Composition Notebook

2 – Packs Wide Ruled Loose Leaf Paper

1 – Pack Dry Erase Markers

1 - Post-Its

1 pair of Shoes, think elementary school. grades 1-8

1 pair of Socks, think kids girls or boys.

Last year most purchased packs of socks as well as shoes.

Last year when I called the school I asked for the best drop off time. When I mentioned we had a few hundred bags the principal responded by shouting to the rest of the office staff...'The Vineyard collected hundreds of bags for the kids!'

I found out the open house date. We delivered the backpacks, shoes and socks mid morning of the open house.

It's always a blast! The outreach is just one of the many outward focused projects we complete each year.

The effect... We are known by our community as a Church that cares and serves others. Caring for our community creates good will that opens hearts to the good news.

I don't know about you, but I like attending a church that seeks to make a difference. I also think I'd know which church I'd like to attend if I was looking for one.

So, if you are a Vineyardite why not join the fun.

Outward Focused Values 2 Practice.

2011-07-05T06:31:00.011-05:00

Theory is good, practice is better.

One way I attempt to move the outward-focused value from theory into practice church wide is to create small, or large, safe on-ramps into the arena of outreach.

I've discovered people participate at different comfort levels.

For example, each week we pack groceries that will be used for our weekend outreach and for our food pantry. Some people enjoy donating food, others have the gift of giving so give cash, others like being behind the scenes and show up to organize the food for the packers, or the food pantry. Others enjoy the intense activity of packing the food and others like going, serving and praying for the people.

I see this process repeated often. People are doing their part, in their way, to ensure the community is being reached and cared for. My job is to create church wide doable opportunities.

Last, month we developed a buzz to move us forward toward our summer water outreach to our community. We purchased different well known full sized characters. We placed them in different locations in our building encouraging people to drop off cases of water. Each week we also moved the characters to different drop off locations to keep things interesting.

It was fun to see people taking pictures of their kids with Buzz and Mater. Teens taking pictures of each other with Justin, Hulk, and Ironman.

People gave at their level. One guy dropped off 35 cases of water. Others brought one or two, some just gave cash. The water piles continued to mount up until we had gathered 7,000 bottles of water. One of my friends came to our Saturday service just to drop off his case of water before he left that evening for his vacation. Many people spent hours sticking labels on the water. A few people helped load the truck, pack the barrels and a holding bin with water bottles and 80 large bags of ice.

During the 4th of July weekend we celebrated the success during the services. People joined together in small teams to reach 5,000 people at three different community firework shows.

That's how most of our outreach events happen. The challenge is then to nurture peoples faith level. We attempt to this by: offering training opportunities, offering consistent monthly / weekly outreach opportunities, having people tell their story during our weekend services to inspire and motivate others, mentioning God space stories during messages, communicating through e-news letters, communicating through face book and blogs, and having a fun staff outreach when there is a 5th Wednesday.

Keeping the value before the people is extremely important. It is hard, almost impossible to do if the Great Commission is not one of your key values of focus. The natural tendency of the human heart is to turn inward. The natural tendency of the heart of a church is also to turn inward. An outward focused leaders role is to continually create an outward focused environment and create many on-ramps out into the community.

Outward Focused Values. Part 1.

2011-06-25T15:28:00.002-05:00

Moving a group of people from a perceived outward focused value, to an actual outward focused life-style value takes practice, time, vision casting and focused attention. If I ask, 'Do you value reaching out to our community?' Most people in an outward focused / externally focused church would say yes. If I asked, 'When is the last time you personally participated and actually touched a life with the Good News in word or in deed?' The response would be varied.

Actual values are the values we embrace which guide our beliefs and and propel us toward action. So the challenge: How do we nurture people from merely mental accent, toward an outward focused life in action?

'Write the vision and make it plain.' Vision and Mission is all important. Is your vision and mission reflected by what you say, how you give, and how you live? I am convinced most mission / vision statements are not clear or memorable, nor are they doable. Think about your church. Do people know what you are about? Is action encouraged?

Valleydale is one church who attempts to clearly connect vision and mission to all who attend. Their Values are: Worship God, Connect with Others, Serve the World. Walking into their building each statement is extremely visible as are their connection kiosks. Friendly people welcome people answer questions and nudge people toward action. Having a clear, simple, visible and easy to remember value / mission statement is one step to help people move from attenders to participants. The next step is achieved by creating on-ramps so people can Worship God, Connect with Others, and Serve the World.

Cincy Vineyard, a church in Cincinnati Ohio. Emblazoned on the building is the phrase...Small things done with great love will change the world. No mistake here. Value and Mission clearly communicated. To help people connect the dots they create doable serve-other opportunities to nudge the Vineyard people toward their community.

Develop a clearly defined connections pathway. The Church of the Highlands connects discipleship with outward-focused-ness. They are intentional. It's interesting that when they establish a new site church in an area of the city, they list the site pastors name, contact info and also a key connections person name and contact info. The message being sent, 'We believe serving others is part of a disciples pathway.' Each week an opportunity is presented for people catch the vision, to grow and embrace their personal pathway.

Having such clearly defined pathway helps people move forward toward action. Also, highlighting a specialized connections person creates a touch point for every person who attends and chooses to grow.

A deeper connections happens by developing relationships through listening to a persons story, then helping the person discover their passion through training, and finally, inviting them to serve others. This process becomes creatively normative.

Create Community on ramps.
Each year I begin to think about our community. What's happening, when, where? How can we connect to what is going on in our community? Or I ask, What have we been uniquely called to do and be in our community? I plan accordingly. If our ideas match our values and our mission we move forward with action.

At our core, we are mercy driven. We are called to remember the poor and the less served of our community. Each week hundreds of people are cared for in practical ways, breakfast, groceries, and prayer.

We are also kindness driven. We want to leave the city of Dayton better than we found it. So, we look for opportunities and create opportunities to serve our community in practical ways.

We are Kingdom driven. We want the Good News of the Kingdom of God to impact the people within our sphere of influence. Creating God Space where God things can happen.

God space is a tangible space that we can create by faith. God space is an atmosphere, or an environment, where God’s presence, goodness, kindness, knowledge, and power are present to nurture faith in another human being.

So we create community on ramps, and create touch points where we intentionally go out into our community by faith. Our acts of service, or our deeds of kindness create God Space, where He can do what He does best... draw people to His Son. Our actions often enable opportunities for our words to be heard, and prayers to be prayed.