online - everettfamilychurch.org | mail - 2413 98th ST SE, Everett, WA, 98208 | phone - 425 387-1975

Dear EFC,

Everett Family Church is completing its fifth year of ministry and preparing for a new year of being Jesus with skin in our spheres of influence. The season in which our church was birthed holds much significance for me. It came after a winter season in my own life and signified a time of new life. Over these past five years there have been further winter seasons that have been proceeded by spring. This April is our church’s anniversary and will be a season of new life and things as the Community Pastors explore the year ahead for our church.

Over these past two and a half years there has been a fresh work and outpouring of the Holy Spirit in my life and in many people at EFC. I assess it as the real deal. The fruit it has produced and the holy living it has produced in me and others speaks for itself. Jesus is here! It’s for real! This evidence of God’s work humbles me and fills me with awe! But something has concerned me in recent months. I see the number of unreached, hopeless people in our spheres of influence and I am puzzled. What is keeping them from experiencing this same thing in their own lives? Why aren’t they being exposed to the “real deal” of Christ’s transforming power? If God is really at work here, why aren’t others finding the forgiveness, refreshment, hope, and purpose that Jesus is granting to those in our church family? Is it because God is hindering people from finding Him? Is He keeping these people away? Or is it something else? Are we hindering people from coming and experiencing the presence of God at Everett Family Church?

I have concluded that the answer is found in the latter. It is what we are doing, or not doing, as the case may be. It’s not God’s fault for Peter writes in the Scriptures that God desires for no one to perish. Jesus established His church to be the people of God who are the salt of the world and a light on a hill. We, the church of Jesus, are to be God’s avenue of blessing to all people!

Please be in prayer for the Community Pastors as we discuss and seek direction from God in this sixth year. Pray that we will be humble to hear and courageous in our decision making. I have the hope that when we look back in twelve months we will see that the “real deal” so many of us have experienced will have impacted more people that we could have ever imagined!

For His Glory, Pastor Mike

E F C F O C U S M A R C H 2 0 1 2

Family Gathering InvitationYou’re invited to our Family Gathering where the EFC Community Groups gather to know Christ through the Holy Spirit’s ministry. All ages are welcome to the family worship time and preschool childcare is provided for little ones. Following our family worship there is a breakout t ime for e lementar y -age children and middle schoolers.

We are continuing in our study of the Bible book of Genesis as we meet the source of all things!

dates? Saturday, March 3 Saturday, March 10 Saturday, March 17 * note… Community Groups, Friday, March 23 * note… Men’s retreat, Fri-Sun, Mar 30-Apr 1times? 4:30pm, Prayer time - all are invited 5:00pm, Family worship 6:00pm, Sermon & age-level breakouts 7:00pm, Fellowship & refreshmentswhere? 11329 23rd Dr. SE, Everett, WA 98208

U P C O M I N G R E T R E A T SMen’s Retreat, March 30 - April 1All men are invited to Lake Retreat as Pastor Jim Wright presen t s ano ther power fu l challenge for men. There is pre-retreat homework so sign-up ASAP! Contact Pastor Mike to sign-up. The cost is $80/person. EXTRAS - $20 for paintball and bring some snacks to share! A $25 deposit required to hold your place.

Women’s Retreat, April 20 - 22All women are invited to gather for a weekend of fellowship, prayer, and growth in their relationship with Jesus Christ. The retreat will be happening in a vacation home on Whidbey Island. Space is limited to 12 total so contact Pascale, Jenn, or Janine and turn in your $25 deposit to reserve your place.

30 Hour Famine is April 27-28th. It's a great time of fun where students do a 30 hour fast

to raise money, to learn self control, and learn to identify with those who often go to bed hungry. Please email or call Max if you

plan to attend.

online - everettfamilychurch.org | mail - 2413 98th ST SE, Everett, WA, 98208 | phone - 425 387-1975

New Horizons Food Service: Another great month serving the homeless teens in Seattle! Thank you to Mike and Nimai Lee, Saul Cuddy, Jeff Warren, and the whole Wright family who served dinner on February 13th.

Mission Trip Planning: We are meeting every week of the Family Gathering in preparation for the upcoming misison trip. The location has not yet been determined but there are several viable opportunities. We are seeking God through prayer and opening ourselves to what the Lord has to do in us before we are ready to go!

The Lord’s Table: “The women of Joy have been meeting weekly for the Lord's Table Bible Study. The study is proving challenging and eye opening to many. We have definitely set out, asking the Lord to lead each step, on a journey to freedom from sinful eating habits seeking to transform our lives by renewing our minds when it comes to how we think about food. Many of us have been trapped in addictions to food, some of us have medicated pain with food, most have never wanted to call their habit of overeating sin, and others desire to become more desciplined in their eating habits. We have been learning about our need to go to God with our heart issues and to let him fill up those empty places instead of trying to fill the emptiness with food. We are holding each other accountable and trying to encourage each other daily to keep going on a journey that sometimes feels hopeless or impossible as our eating habits have been such a powerful stronghold in our lives for so long.  We are learning to feast on Christ because only He can truly satisfy our deepest needs. We want to be free to enjoy food, give glory to God for the good foods we get to eat, but eating in a way that Glorifies our Father in heaven.” - from Donna Cuddy

Blizzard Camp 2012: We have posted the camp pictures and video online for everyone to view. The dates for Blizzard camp next year have also been determined - January 25-27, 2013.

F E B R U A R Y R E W I N D

E F C M a n a g e m e n t T e a mDan Bell, Janine Ripley, & Mike Wright

.......................Monthly operating budget $5,500

................Total Joy Box gifts in February $5,440.......Total Community Ministry distribution $8,308

.................Total EFC spending this month $1,596

Everett Family Church is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization. Tax Identification # 71-1025722

February 26 - March 3TUE Praxis Youth (6:30pm), Prayer (7-8pm)THU Management Team meeting (12pm)SAT Men’s Delta Force Study (6am) Church Prayer (4:30pm) Family Gathering (5pm)

March 4 - 10TUE Praxis Youth (6:30pm), Prayer (7-8pm)SAT Church Prayer (4:30pm) Family Gathering (5pm)

March 11 - 17MON New Horizons (6pm)TUE Praxis Youth (6:30pm), Prayer (7-8pm)SAT Church Prayer (4:30pm) Family Gathering (5pm)

March 18 - 24TUE Praxis Youth (6:30pm), Prayer (7-8pm)FRI Community Groups (6:30pm)

March 25 - 31TUE Praxis Youth (6:30pm), Prayer (7-8pm)SAT Men’s Retreat (Friday to Sunday)U

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A Word from Pastor MaxMarch will be a great month for students at Praxis. Praxis Yo u t h M i n i s t r y m e e t s Tuesdays at 6:30pm where we play games, get to know each other, and look to the Bible for wisdom, guidance, and truth. We are going to b e g i n o u r s e r i e s investigating the Story of Jesus through the book of John! It's a powerful story that is both incredibly simple yet deeply profound- and one of the most beloved books in the Bible. I've been at EFC for almost 4 months now and I've been incredibly impressed with our students. God has some huge things in store for our students and I am so excited to be along for the journey. Already I have seen students open to what God is doing- I cannot tell you the blessing it was to attend Blizzard Camp and see so many of the youth step up and answer the call to leadership God has placed on their lives. I saw youth take the initiative to help lead discussions, be transparent during serious moments, and engage in gentle leadership. We have a ton of young leaders who can have a HUGE impact on the Kingdom of God. 

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at 509/607-6023 or max@everettfamilychurch.org.

"So, whether you eat or drink, or

whatever you do, do all to the glory of God"-

1 Cor. 10:31