MARCH 2019

NOTE FROM PASTOR MARK
As lead pastor, Pastor Mark leads the church within the boundaries set by the BOG.

“For everything there is a season,” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). This time of year is always a great reminder of how change is normal, change is healthy, and sometimes change can be unpredictable and difficult. As the days get longer and the last gasps of winter disappear behind the blossoming plants and trees, it is great to learn how to embrace and celebrate change but also grieve necessary endings. Just today I had a conversation with a church that was coming to a necessary end. They talked about celebrating what God had done over many years of ministry but also grieving what was being lost. Why type of season are you in? Is Spring a reminder of new life? Are you in a time of grieving during a season of loss? Or maybe you are in a season of dormancy, waiting, hoping for the shoots of new life to appear.  Whatever season you are in, remember, God is faithful and he is at work.

PRAYER
We want to pray eagerly as prayer is first about a relationship with God and second transforming our world.

We kicked off the new prayer ministry with a night of worship and prayer on March 8th and a missions prayer night during Global Encounters. Our next gathering will be Friday, April 5th from 7pm-8:15pm in the cafe for an evening of prayer and seeking the Lord. On Sunday mornings, the prayer room next to the sanctuary is open for anyone who would like to pray during the service. We have also started sending email and text updates for those who want to receive prayer requests from our church body. Email Joella with your name and email address or phone number if you would like to be added to the list.
 
Joella Liddle – [email protected]
Eric Liddle - [email protected]
 
 
WORSHIP
We want to worship in all we do as we are designed to worship God as a way of life.

The worship and A/V team do a great job with providing a distraction-free environment for this local body of believers to worship together.  If you want to be a part of this integral upfront and behind-the-scenes service, contact Hector Ayerdiz or Matthew Sutton.
 
Hector Ayerdiz, Worship Director – [email protected]
Matthew Sutton, A/V Team Leader – [email protected]
 
MISSIONS TEAM 
The Missions Team helps launch us on mission.

Justice was a theme of our spring Global Encounters missions emphasis.  On March 17, Jeff Pankratz, a district missionary with Justice Ventures International gave a powerful picture of what is happening in places like India, Nepal, and China.  That evening, at the mission trip fundraiser, "Justice for Kids," Mark Epperson of Remember Nhu described another way God is using His people to push back injustice.  Thank you to all who participated in this fundraiser, which put our team $3500 closer to getting to Cambodia this summer!  On March 18, we had a cultural immersion experience at the Cambodian Buddhist Temple with Dr. Sovan Tun, and on March 19, another experience at Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church with Fr. Peter Zarynow.  On March 20, Eric Liddle led a prayer time for missions.  Check out the statements under Explorers Children's Ministry and Vision Youth Ministry to see the ways they participated in Global Encounters.  Thank you to all who used these opportunities to have your hearts shaped even more after God's heart for the nations!  And thank you for your prayers and generous giving toward the DAC missions fund, through which we are a part of God's work all over the globe.
 
In addition to our regular monthly bagged breakfasts for the men's emergency shelter on March 17, we prepared and served a hot meal on March 31.  If you haven't yet participated in one of these hot meals on site, they are a unique opportunity to have your eyes opened to the realities of our neighbors right around the corner.  Keep an eye out for the next opportunity coming up in June.
 
Jen Ashby and Melanie Neely are hard at work planning the Spring Carnival for April 20, 10am - 1pm.  This is our single largest outreach event of the year, and has grown to the point that last year we counted 998 people on campus.  Some of those people have been back to the farmer's market or to DAC on a Sunday morning.  God is at work blessing this community through DAC and using simple things to do significant things.  As of this writing, we are in need of 10 more volunteers, many more cookies, and feet to pound the pavement to distribute door hangers for the carnival/ Easter Sunday/ farmers market.  Check this out:  https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0d4baaa929a5fd0-spring1
 
Preparations are underway for the opening of the Derwood Farmers Market on April 27, 9am - 1pm.  Each week someone from our leader/floater team will be there to direct volunteers.  Those leaders/floaters are Pastor Mark, Jen Ashby, Luz Ragland, Eric Zetterberg, and Evan Homan.  Clint Musser, who was our volunteer coordinator last year, is passing the baton to Luke Wong.  Luke is ready to schedule you to serve, and he can be contacted at [email protected].  Luke will schedule three people for the early shift (8-11am) and three people for the afternoon shift (11am - 1pm) each Saturday.  Consider volunteering at a frequency of about once a month.  If you are curious about the market, or you are already "in," plan to stay for a brief volunteer meeting on Sunday, April 14 following the second worship gathering.
 
Jen Ashby – [email protected]  
 
EXPLORERS CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
A place for children to explore God’s world and Word and to make friends.

Our Explorers Children's ministry had an exciting month of focus on missions led by Trudy Schwarz, Joella Liddle, Bonnie Wissink, and others!  This included a parade of flags in our March 17 worship services, a time with missionary Sarah Zuber on March 17, a missionary movie night during "Justice for Kids" on March 17, and a "Knee Mail" kids prayer event on March 20.  Thank you to all who pour into our kids and point them toward Jesus and His mission!
 
Bethany Clemmons - [email protected]
 
VISION YOUTH MINISTRY
A place to meet Jesus, continue to know Jesus & be encouraged to share Jesus.

The month of March started our latest study on the Holy Spirit as the students and leaders dive into knowing Jesus more. These Wednesday evening discussions have been guided by Francis Chan’s video sessions, “Forgotten God.”  All these videos can be found on RightNow Media. On March 20th, international workers, Stephen Zuber & Chialin Yu, visited Vision Youth as part of DAC’s Global Encounters week.  The students got to hear more about their stories and how God called them into missions. At the end of the month, student’s headed to LIFE 2019 did another childcare event to help raise funds for the trip.  Check out the website for the upcoming fundraisers.
 
Our students at Vision Youth have an eagerness to know Jesus, and Vision leaders have the great responsibility to display Jesus to them. Come and be an encouragement to our students once a week as they face the daily pressures from school, social media, etc.  Contact Tim Allen.
 
Tim Allen – [email protected]
 
SMALL GROUPS
Our primary venue for making friends, inviting God's transformation through Scripture and prayer, and living on mission together. 

We are praying that God uses our groups to help people make friends, become more like Jesus, and live on mission.  Huge thanks to all our small group leaders, hosts, and coaches who make this ministry possible!
 
Jen Ashby – [email protected]
 
CONNECTIONS TEAM
We desire authentic community and want to create space for transparency and real relationships.

Whether you’re a regular attender or first-time guest, you always want to feel warmly welcomed. And knowing you are welcomed is the first step towards cultivating authentic community. If you enjoy inviting friends to your own home and meeting new people, consider joining this great team by contacting Wendy Geraci.
 
Wendy Geraci – [email protected]
 
BUILDINGS & GROUNDS
God has given us a great location and property. We strive to be good stewards of these gifts.

When God created the world, he brought order to the “formless and empty” earth.  As humans, God then gave us the same task when he told us to “subdue” the earth. (Genesis 1) The B&G team does just that as they care for this property that God gifted DAC. If you enjoy working with your hands and seeing projects to completion, contact Mark Neely about joining the team. Also, mark your calendars for a Church Work Day on April 13.
 
Mark Neely - [email protected]

We continue to pursue apprenticing people in all areas of ministry. We desire to be a multiplying church, and to do this we must form a multiplying mindset of training and releasing more people into ministry. If you are not currently serving, we would love to help you discover your giftedness and where God would like to place you. Check out this page on our website.
 
STAFF
The staff manages ministry teams and meets weekly.

The staff continues to meet on a regular basis for prayer and planning. Currently, we are also going through a series on RightNow Media from The Center for Faith, Sexuality & Gender by Preston Sprinkle called, “Grace//Truth.”
 
ELDERS
The Elders shepherd and give spiritual oversight to DAC and meet on a monthly basis.  

There is a great group of Elders who are serving and praying for you faithfully. Currently good conversations are being had around the areas of membership and pastoral care. If you ever would like prayer for any reason, we would love to pray for you.
 
Mark Trinkl – [email protected]
 
BOARD OF GOVERNANCE (BOG)
The Board of Governance (BOG) sets boundaries for the Pastor and meets minimum quarterly.

The Board met on March 11 for our quarterly meeting to talk through culture and community and how to live launched on mission to the people that are right around us. We are also continuing conversation around a name change and praying for God’s leading.
 
Chairman Mark Trinkl – [email protected]
Vice-Chairman Evan Homan – [email protected]

Prayer Night – April 5, 7pm-8:15pm
DC Auto Show, Guys Doing Stuff – April 6
Church Work Day – April 13, 8am-1PM
World Changers – April 13, 9am-4pm
Farmers Market Volunteer Meeting – April 14, 11:45am-12:15pm
 Car Wash, LIFE Fundraiser  – April 14
Good Friday Service – April 19, 7pm-8pm
Spring Carnival – April 20, 10am-1pm
Easter Sunday – April 21
District Youth Retreat – April 26-28
Derwood Farmers Market Launch – April 27, 9am-1pm