elder letters
Elder Message ~ November 2009
"In ALL things, give thanks..."
The Thanksgiving of 1996 was the darkest Thanksgiving in the history of the Johnson family. Terry and I sat by the bedside of Tim, our six year old son, as we ate Thanksgiving dinner served by the nurses at Stanford's Children Hospital. Tim was too sick to eat anything as his small body was being pumped full of chemo drugs to fight the aggressive Leukemia cancer which was racing to kill him. No holidays or vacations in the treatment schedule could be afforded in this struggle between life and death. The doctors informed us it would be a two-year battle using an arsenal of chemo and radiation treatments. Our tears flowed freely as the doctors told us they must amputate Tim's left arm to save his life. Our family, friends, and church community all carried our grief and sorrows that Thanksgiving season.
Two years of treatment passed and Tim's battered body slowly returned to good health.
One day, I saw the sparkle return to Tim's eye when he said, "You know, I am ALMOST GLAD that I got sick because so many GOOD THINGS have happened!"
From the mouth of a child comes the wisdom of God.
"Create in me, a thankful heart, oh God."
Rob Johnson
Elder Message ~ October 2009
January 1965 I left my home in Phoenix, Arizona and drove to the University of California at Berkeley. Although I had no idea of its political climate, I quickly learned that I was outside of the political norm - I either had to either hide convictions or defend my convictions.
When became a Christian at Berkeley in January 1967, I learned quickly that I was outside of the religious norm. I either had to either hide my Christianity or learn to defend my faith.
I learned that Daniel was a young adult exiled to Babylon. Although he was outside the political and religious norm for Babylon, he refused to conform to the foreign culture. As a result God honored his convictions and in the end he was healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food. I adopted Daniel 1:8 as my life verse.
1 Peter 3:15b states, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." This is good guidance as we go about our daily lives regardless of whether we are in the "norm" of our communities.
Rick Hill
Elder message ~ September 2009
I am extremely excited about Santa Cruz Bible Church’s 8 week Small Group launch!
In my 16 years here at the church, I can honestly say that my most significant growth has always come through small groups.
For my first 3 or 4 years at the church I always avoided small groups. I would sit in the pews and think I was getting “enough” from the pulpit on Sundays.
While I certainly was learning a lot, I can’t honestly say that I was turning that new knowledge into growth.
It wasn’t until I finally accepted Steve Clifford’s invitation to join his men’s group that I experienced the amazing change and transformation that a small group can bring.
For the first time I was receiving personal accountability, a biblical perspective from people who knew me, and the prayer support of other believers from our church body.
Before I became part of a small group, I would “run” everything I had learned by one source: me, myself, and I.
After joining the group, I could bounce what I had learned off of the other 4 guys in the group, and also hear their perspective on the scriptures as well as the teaching we had all been exposed to.
Because they knew me and cared for me, they could offer valuable insight that helped turn my new found knowledge into actual transformation.
I was actually becoming more and more of the person I wanted to be—all because of the accountability and prayers of my small group.
I would like to encourage everyone at SCBC to get involved in a small group this fall. If I can be of service in any way or if you have any questions about being in a small group—PLEASE do not hesitate to get in touch!
You can reach me at tomfrankl@earthlink.net
I hope to see you in a small group soon!
Tom Frankl
Past letters
August 1, 2009
Recently a friend emailed me and next to his signature at the end was this Old Testament verse in Isaiah. "Those who have never been told about Him will see, and those who have never heard of Him will understand." Isaiah 52:15
This promise is repeated again in Romans 15:21 by the Apostle Paul as a reminder to all of us there is a day coming when everyone will understand and acknowledge Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Until that day arrives, you and I have a call upon our lives to take every opportunity God gives us and to make Him known to those that we come in contact with. As a church body, our desire for SCBC is to be a place where people are introduced to Jesus. From there they can begin a life long journey of growing in His love and experiencing the peace that only comes through a relationship with the Savior.
There is no question that we are living in trying times of economic uncertainty as well as civil unrest around the world. We don’t have to look farther than our own neighborhood to meet people that are hurting and looking for answers to life’s problems. They are in desperate need of peace. At SCBC we serve the One who said…”I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” John 16:33.
On behalf of the elders of SCBC, we hope that you are tapping into the peace that Jesus offers us each day of our life. How are you doing with trusting in Him with your worries, your anxieties and your finances? If you are not already doing so…let me encourage you to begin each day this month of August to spend some quiet time each morning to thank God for His everlasting love for you. Thank Him for the peace and eternal security He gives you because of what Jesus did on the cross. As you ponder all that He has done for you, ask Him to challenge you to take a step away from what is comfortable to live more obediently for Him. He may even lead you to talk with a neighbor or friend about the greatest gift mankind has ever received…eternal life through Jesus.
In His service,
Dan Pierson
July 2009
There is exciting news we want to share with the SCBC church family. We're launching a new church!
It was not in our original plans to launch a church separate from SCBC, but it has become apparent that both SCBC and Elevation will grow and flourish more if Elevation is launched as a new church plant. The Elders have invited Elevation to launch, and the Elevation leadership is fully and excitedly in agreement. This is a positive and powerful plan for even more effective ministry since most new believers are being won in new church plants. We believe this decision is a kingdom win orchestrated by God.
SCBC has supported the birthing of Elevation for the past 18 months and by the time Elevation launches, our church will have generously and sacrificially invested approximately $400,000 into this kingdom effort. This has allowed Elevation to achieve a firm foundation, to build a solid leadership team, and place an effective worship leader and a skilled teacher for the ministry. SCBC will generously support us through the remainder of 2009 through the use of the Student Center and the funding of our ministry as previously budgeted.
Under the leadership of Chuckk Gerwig and Omar Spence, the Elevation Ministry has grown in numbers and in maturity as a ministry and we see many people's lives being changed by Jesus. Seeing the fruit produced from this ministry that has eternal value has affirmed the decision for SCBC to partner with Elevation 18 months ago. We praise and thank God for His great faithfulness in these results.
The Elders along with the Elevation leadership fully agree that now is a good time to launch Elevation as their own church. So starting January 1, 2010, Elevation will launch out as its own independent church here in Santa Cruz with a vision of reaching the less reached people in less conventional ways.
The January 2010 start date will give Elevation 6 months to find a facility, build partnerships, seek funding, and accomplish all that is needed in a church plant. This 6 month period will greatly help Elevation to have a positive launch for this important work of God. Elevation will continue to meet here on the SCBC campus weekly in the months before the launch.
These are exciting days for the Elevation Ministry and SCBC and we invite you to pray for them as they take the next step in their exciting journey. The SCBC Elder Board and the SCBC church family will be looking forward to hearing all God is going to do in and through the lives of people in the Elevation Ministry. So join us in prayer as we celebrate the birthing of yet another new church from Santa Cruz Bible Church.
SCBC Elders
Spring 2009
Dear SCBC Family,
These are exciting times at Santa Cruz Bible Church. As spring arrives, there is a sense of newness in the air. And with this newness comes bold changes as we prepare our church for healthy kingdom growth in the lives of our congregation.
When reflecting on our leadership over the last few years, we have all heard statements such as these: “We have had elders, board elders, ministering elders, and the council of elders. I just don’t understand the leadership structure—I’m confused!”
As SCBC elders, our focus is on providing effective leadership while maintaining a governance structure that is not afraid to make needed changes. Our goals will always include strengthening our church to accomplish ministry, build the body, and reach the lost. With that said, we want to explain our recent change to SCBC governance.
First let’s take a short look back. SCBC has been and is now governed by elders; we believe this to be the biblical pattern for Christ’s local church. Until about four years ago SCBC was governed by one group of men called elders. That system worked well with the exception of one problem. There was little rotation and some men served for an exhausting period of time often measured in decades.
To fix this issue, the elders created two groups of men. They were the board elders and the ministering elders. The thinking was that the board elders would provide the governance and the ministering elders would be involved in ministry and be “pre-qualified” to join the board for elder rotation on and off the board. This system proved functionally difficult, and to rectify the situation, the elders reorganized to a council of elders (COE). In this system all elders were on the COE and those with specific gifts for governance served on the board. This structure proved to be even more confusing to the elders in the COE who were not on the board, as well as the SCBC staff and the congregation.
The Bible gives men the title of elder when they are qualified, appointed, and fulfilling the office as elder in local church governance. As a result, the elders have decided that our original structure is the biblical approach. Consequently SCBC will now move to a single set of elders composing the board of elders and providing governance for SCBC.
The other COE elders, although no longer having the title of “elder,” are men that deserve our honor and respect. They will continue to be involved in ministry, and they remain men of wisdom with whom the elders will seek council on critical decisions in the future of SCBC.
Also, to fix the original problem of elder rotation, the SCBC by-laws will be revised to give each elder a one-year term renewable up to 6 years. After the 6th year, a mandatory year long sabbatical will be required.
The elders want to express our appreciation for the service of those men on the COE who have served the Lord faithfully. We would also like to thank the wives of these men who have come alongside them in ministry and have been a continued blessing to our church. These men are: Steve Andrews, Fred Barnes, Dave Boschen, Pete Broesamle, Michael Hanson, Al Linder, Dick Payne, Jim Traumiller, Jim Williams, and Joe Wolfe.
Going forward, your elders are: Ted Brondos, Brian Cecy, Bill Dauphin, Tom Frankl, Rick Hill, Rob Johnson, Ron Jones, Dave Michelson, and Dan Pierson.
As we shared at the beginning of this letter, these are exciting times at our church. To quote a past chairman of our elders, Al Linder…”The best days of SCBC are ahead of us.” This is truly the heart of our staff and elders! We believe God has positioned this church to make a dramatic impact on our community. We are excited for this coming season as we strive to reach people for Christ and for our body to serve the Savior and grow in dependence on Him.
God has called us all to be in unity as we serve together and that is why we covet your prayers. We all need to fast and pray for the Lord to direct us as we lean on Him and not on our own understanding.
It is an honor as elders to work side by side with you and our staff with great expectation that God will answer our prayers. Let’s stand together as we remain obedient to Him in this kingdom effort to introduce the people of Santa Cruz to Jesus and His life changing message of eternal life.
In His service,
SCBC Elders:
Ted Brondos
Brian Cecy
Bill Dauphin
Tom Frankl
Rick Hill
Rob Johnson
Ron Jones
Dave Michelson
Dan Pierson