1

STORIES OFTRANSFORMATION

Celebrating God’s work in 2015 and looking ahead to 2016

2

SUNDAY STORIES

MISSION STORIES

WORSHIP STORIES

FORMATION STORIES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

6 1611 22

3

2015 Stories of Transformation © Church of the Resurrection, Illinois. • Editor, Designer: Bethany McLellan • Contributing Writers: Meghan Robins, Devon Phillips, Matt Woodley, Kaitlyn Wallett • Copyediting: Anna Robbins • Photos: Michael Johnson, Ryn Manby, Devon Phillips, Kaitlyn Wallett

Church of the Resurrection • 935 W. Union Ave • Wheaton, IL 60187 • www.churchrez.org

GENEROSITYSTORIES

UPPER MIDWEST STORIES

2016VISION

TABLE OF CONTENTS

30 34 38

4

A LETTER FROM OUR BISHOPBeloved Resurrection,What a glorious year of ministry we have had togeth-er! Over the course of the last 12 months, God has moved in powerful ways at Resurrection:

• Dozens of people returned to the Lord or com-mitted to following Jesus for the first time, and 30 people were newly baptized or renewed their baptismal vows (p. 6, 21)

• We welcomed thousands through our doors for the first-ever Holy Week held entirely in our own building (p. 11)

• We prayed together all hours of day and night, especially as part of our All Night Easter Vigil and Prayer40 initiative (p. 15)

• We gave more generously than ever before to

5

our Good Friday Gift, supporting the work of the Lord in Jos, Nigeria (p. 23)

• We sent out Fr. Trevor and Bonnie McMaken and 30 of our own to plant City of Light Angli-can in Aurora, IL (p. 34)

• Hundreds of Christians from diverse ethnic and denominational backgrounds joined us for our Revive Conference, igniting new global and re-gional partnerships and addressing important is-sues of racial reconciliation and the persecuted church (p. 36)

• Finally, we launched a new vision to Equip Ev-eryone for Transformation, and we stretched ourselves to give sacrificially through our Moved by Jesus generosity initiative (p. 30)

A LETTER FROM OUR BISHOPI am so thankful for your partnership and sacrifice in making these things a reality. We want to continue to be a church family that opens our doors to those who are far from God and to those who are hurting and in need. Your financial generosity supports our ministry of Equipping Everyone for Transformation.

I look forward to another incredible year of minis-try together as we work to bring Jesus’s transform-ing presence to Wheaton and throughout the upper Midwest.

With love,

Bishop Stewart Ruch III

6

I was first introduced to Resurrection through an in-vitation to a healing prayer service. That night, I was

moved to tears as my heart was changed, and for the first time, I experienced a freedom and deep connection in my relationship with the Lord.

The next Sunday, I was eager to return and introduce my husband to Resurrection. I remember thinking: There is such a strong and overwhelming presence of the Holy Spirit here. It brought healing for my soul.

As a guest, I thought Resurrection was unique because people showed me a genuineness and desire for real per-sonal relationships. Through a healing prayer group, I understood that people here would meet me wherever I was on my spiritual journey and accept me for who I am, while also encouraging me to take the next step in my relationship with God. This experience put to rest any doubts of my ability to serve, and gave me the confidence and desire to get involved.

Shortly after becoming a member, I was invited to serve on the RezKids Summer Team as a Shepherd. I joined the team to connect with the church and its families. I also wanted to be an example for my sons, serving others and worshiping together in the 3s classroom. I thought it was important for my spiritual growth to do more than just attend church on Sundays. As a Regis-tered Nurse, I also have joined the Medical Team.

In the fall, my husband and I began praying and seeking guidance over our Moved by Jesus commitment. During that time, the Lord unexpectedly and generously pro-vided. Our car needed $603 in repairs. The morning we were to pick up the car, we found $604 on top of our fridge—just $1 over the car repair bill. We were shocked and so grateful that God eased this specific burden. The Lord showed us that he sees our needs and can provide in the most unexpected ways, if we trust him.

As God has changed me and drawn me into a closer relationship with him during my time at Resurrection, making this commitment was a powerful outward ex-pression of my decision to trust and follow God.

—Emilie Grischow

S U N DAY STO R I E S

7

BY THE NUMBERS

baptisms and renewals

new members

cups of coffee & tea served on sunday

average sunday attendance

3068

175

1,016

8

9

10

11

Even after Resurrection moved into our new building in 2012, we continued to hold our Easter Vigil service in Edman Chapel, due to space concerns. But in 2015, Worship Pastor Steve Williamson began dreaming about ways we could hold Holy Week entirely within our own building.

“Holy Week is intended to be a pilgrimage,” Steve explained. “We were moved by the idea of God’s people gathering to-gether in one continuous place for Holy Week. Holy Week is the only time in the whole church calendar where you walk in ‘real time’ with the Lord from Palm Sunday to Eas-ter Sunday. We believed that liturgical link would be deeply strengthened by worshiping in the same space all week.”

In order to realize this dream, we needed to adjust the Easter Vigil. We created a highly invitational Afternoon Vigil service where the Salvation History readings were presented in ar-tistic fullness. Then we proceeded to hold our first-ever All Night Vigil, with ten hours of teaching and meditation fo-cused on those ten readings. On Easter morning we held our first-ever sunrise service, where Christ’s resurrection was ac-claimed and we celebrated with baptisms and confirmations.

By removing the physical work involved with shifting all of our equipment and people off-site, we opened up space for prayer and worship on a new level throughout Holy Week. During the All Night Vigil, we were even able to equip and release twenty young worship leaders and preachers to lead in each of the ten hours of the vigil.

Pastor Steve shared about how Holy Week 2015 changed us as a church: “During Holy Week, we welcome the most first-time visitors of any time in the whole year. This last year, every single one of those new people visited us in our own space. We were able to welcome them into our own home. That was dramatic; it meant that the spirit of hospitality was central to our Holy Week. More than ever before, our services drove toward an invitation to Christ. And at the same time, the All Night Vigil gave us a stronger opportunity to live into the Salvation History and prepare for the acclamation. I will never forget the first time I heard “Christ is Risen!” shouted in our own sanctuary at sunrise. Holy Week is always special, but 2015 was monumental for our community.”

WORSHIP STORIES

REIMAGINING HOLY WEEK

12

When invited to serve as an actor in last year’s Afternoon Easter Vigil, I jumped at the opportunity because I hoped to both deepen my friendships within Resurrection and connect emotionally with the heroes of Salvation History. But during rehearsals, I struggled to portray Abraham’s obedience to God’s command. Authentic connection with Abraham’s emotions and reasoning seemed out of reach. Would I resort to merely pretending to be on an emotional roller-coaster?

As I became immersed in Abraham’s story, the Holy Spirit enabled me to imagine some of what it might have felt like to trust God fully while loving Isaac deeply. In the months since Easter Vigil, I’ve found myself able to feel genuine thankfulness for the suffering that sometimes accompanies obedience. When I’m united with Christ in his sufferings, he provides me with power to walk in newness of life.

My prayer is that as artists serve in the Easter Vigil, we will all feed more deeply on him in our hearts “by faith and with thanksgiving.”

—Neal Roys

AN ARTIST’S TESTIMONY

13

LOVING GODWITH OUR ART

During Holy Week, 325 people on our Worship Teams worked to bring 10 ser-vices to life. Resurrection artists—musi-cians, actors, painters, designers, cos-tumers, technicians—labored for months to bring to life the good and beautiful story of Christ’s passion and our shared Salvation History.

But Holy Week isn’t the only time when our artists serve. Every Sunday is a cre-ative offering on the part of our Worship Teams. 107 adults, youth, and children participate in our weekly choirs, and 52 musicians serve on our Sunday music teams. Our 25-person Communica-tions Team is writing, designing, coding, and editing content every day—the bul-letin that you hold every Sunday is a la-bor of love created by at least 10 different people in a given week!

Photos, from top to bottom: 1. Gwennie Merrick and Caleb Iler dance as Adam and Eve in the Easter Vigil. 2. The Chancel Choir sings on Easter Sunday. 3. Charis McIntyre paints scenes for The Story of Creation. 4. Caleb Lindgren sings in an original composition for the Red Sea reading.

14

AFTERNOON EASTER VIGIL

ASH WEDNESDAY

I’m so thankful for how the Lord met me at the cross during the response time at the All Night Vigil. I brought my sin up to the cross, and as I pictured the blood and water flowing from the Lord’s side, I felt the sprinkling of Holy Water. I’m thankful to the Lord for meeting me so powerfully, beautifully, and gently. As always with this kind of soul work, I know the story is “to be continued,” but I trust that the Lord is bringing this work of healing to completion.

—Mark Peterson

I’m so delighted by the new way in which my children received from the changes to Holy Week this year. I noticed a pronounced difference in how my children participated in these services. They were soaking it up like sponges, they went up for prayer, they received—they were full and joyful.

—Jennifer Spacek

631 1,846

SPECIAL SERVICES ATTENDANCE

15

One of our core values is prayer, and for years we have committed ourselves to building our church on prayer and fasting. Though there are many ongoing prayer min-istries at Resurrection, every so often we enter into a time of intensely focused intercession. During Prayer40, our most recent initiative, we prayed continuously for forty days in Resurrection’s All Saints Chapel. We echoed the Matthew 9 call of Resurrection’s next season, asking that “...the Lord of the harvest would send forth laborers into his harvest.”

Over the course of Prayer40, 236 different people signed up to participate by praying for at least one hour in our chapel. About 850 hours of prayer were cov-ered. As Resurrection transitions into this new season of equipping everyone for transformation, Prayer40 served to draw people into the transformative presence of Christ, and to prepare our community to “send forth laborers into his harvest.”

PRAYER40

CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

CHRISTMAS EVE

695 810

The Holy Spirit has been moving me into a deeper relationship with God and with his people. During Prayer40, I sensed God calling me to form deeper relationships with his people in this church. Then came the announcement of RezGroups, and I knew God was calling me to get involved. I have committed to being an apprentice leader. I look forward to the work he will do in my life, our group, and the church during these next two years.

—Steve

16

New Name is an outreach to women in the adult entertainment industry. We offer legal, employment, and housing help; we offer

the love of Jesus; we offer friendship. I helped start Resurrection’s chapter in March 2015, and it is now one of 14 in the Chicagoland area. Our team has two methods of outreach . First, we set up a monthly call center, reaching out to women advertised online. Second, we visit four locations in Carol Stream twice per month. These locations have advertised online for adult services, and we are pretty certain that there is at least labor trafficking happening at each location.

The women we meet at these locations are Chinese. Most do not have control over their paperwork or transportation, and they have very little interaction with the outside world. I’m not very good with chit-chat, so every time we go on outreach or work the call center, I think, “Lord, this is not my gifting,” but then I’m reminded, “This is not your work. You’re just supposed to be the one I work through.”

We met Miss L. several months ago, and every time we visit her with a translator, she shares a little bit more about her life. She is facing a five-year separa-tion from her daughter as she works to pay for her daughter’s high school education back in China. She wants to go home but knows that if she tries to leave, she will lose her job, and she will not be able to sup-port her daughter. When she told us this story she had tears in her eyes, and I timidly asked if we could pray with her. She said yes, and we all held hands and prayed for Jesus to comfort Miss L. and to show her his love.

In 2016, we hope to grow our team so that we can run a second call center and add another outreach route. We would also like to have a separate prayer meeting each month.

—Jen Underwood, New Name Leader

MISSION STORIES

NEW NAME

17

“

64

15

8

number of gift bags assembled in Advent to minister to New Name women

average number of women we meet with on outreach each week

number of women who we talk with at our call centers

“I think, ‘Lord, this is not my gifting,’ but then I’m

reminded, ‘This is not your work. You are just supposed

to be the one I work through.’”

18

ALPHA

Pastor Matt Woodley hoped for at least one small group. He was thrilled when the Lord brought 21 people to participate, from all dif-ferent spiritual walks. Some had grown up around the church but had lots of questions; others had never stepped foot in a church.

In September 2015, we launched our first complete Alpha class. This class is designed to provide a safe, engag-ing place for people to ask questions about life, God, and the church. Al-pha starts with dinner, followed by a talk. After the talk, small groups of about 10 people break out for 45 minutes of open discussion.

19

Throughout ten weeks of con-versation, food, and prayer, there were participants who recommit-ted their lives to Christ, some who remained undecided, and others who chose Christ for the first time. Overall, participants found a safe space to be honest about their journeys.

Originally, the next Alpha class was not scheduled to begin until April. However, the fall 2015 class was so impactful that we immediately added a January class. There are currently 30 people participating.

20

AN ALPHA STORYMy journey to Resurrection is a story of uncer-tainty, a willingness to try new things, and an un-expected path to Christ. It started with a friendly conversation at a baseball game. Jack, the grandfa-ther of my son’s teammate, shared his experience of coming to Jesus and invited me to come with his wife Angie to Church of the Resurrection. I was intrigued. Though I never had any type of religious upbringing, I had been searching for something bigger in my life.

After attending a few Sunday services, I was sur-prised to find how comfortable I felt —even though everything was new and a bit confusing. I thought taking Alpha would help by giving me the context I was missing, though I worried the sessions would be too “religious.” On the first night, I was sur-prised by the friendliness of the group, the spread of great food, and how much I related to the video talk. After a momentary bout of fear about going into a small group, I walked through a door that has lead me on a wonderful journey.

Because of Alpha, I realized Jesus had been knock-ing, almost incessantly, at the door of my heart for a long time. As a result of great teaching, thoughtful discussions, and a supportive environment, I have finally opened the door to Christ.

I now have a developing relationship with God and with friends who have supported me through tough times, including a job loss I experienced during Al-pha. I never expected that attending a class would bring me so much love and joy.

—Kristen Lydon

21

22

FROM CAMBODIA:

GLOBAL MISSIONIn May of last year, Bishop Stewart, Pastor Matt Woodley, and Madeleine Ruch visited one of our key global partners—the Diocese of Singapore. This spiritually vibrant movement also oversees the Deanery of Cambodia. This trip was generously funded by a partnership of Singapore (Bp. Stewart), our dio-cese (Madeleine) and Resurrection (Matt). From 1973-1977, a Marxist movement called the Khmer Rogue (“Red Cam-bodians”) decimated this already-impoverished nation, killing one-third of its own people and wip-ing out 80-90 percent of the Christians. In its efforts to bring spiritual renewal to Cambodia, the Diocese of Singa-pore is also building a ministry center in Phnom Penh that will catalyze new churches throughout the nation.

The Church of the Resurrection mis-sion team had three goals for this trip:

First, we wanted to encourage Fr. Greg-ory and Heidi Whitaker, the couple we sent out three years ago to pastor an international Anglican congregation in

the capital city of Phnom Penh.

Second, we looked to build relationships with Anglican leaders in Sin-gapore and Cambodia. This second goal was critical to our approach to global missions: we want to establish deep friendships with global partners through the local Anglican diocese.

Finally, we wanted to investigate a key ministry called Project Khmer Hope (PKH). PKH provides voca-tional training for young adults, as well as meals and education for the children trapped in rural poverty. This holistic approach to ministry has opened exciting new doors to lead people to Christ and to offer oppor-tunities for discipleship training.

By the end of the trip, our team had forged a much deeper gospel partner-ship with our friends in Cambodia and Singapore. (And the team also got to taste a Southeast Asian delicacy—Durian, the “King of the Fruits.”)

By the end of the trip, Resurrection had forged

a much deeper gospel partnership with our

friends in Cambodia and Singapore.

23

LOCAL MISSION$45,7002015

2016 $47,550

CHURCH PLANTING$20,0002015

2016 $25,550

DIOCESE$75,0002015

2016 $80,500

GLOBAL MISSION$77,0682015

2016 $78,380

MISSIONS GIVINGIn 2015, 10% of our budget was allocated toward giving to missions, the diocese, and church planting. For our 2016 budget, we have increased our giving from 10% to 10.5%.

GOOD FRIDAY GIFTEvery Good Friday, Resurrection gives toward a specific Global Mission project. In 2015, our gift went to the Diocese of Jos, Nigeria.

$61,5432014

2015 $132,000

GIVINGIn 2015, we supported 30 people overseas in 10 countries.

Half of our missionaries visited us in 2015 to share about their ministries.

24

Every week, 55 people gather in the St. Grego-ry room to pray, even though they have already

prayed a cumulative 385 hours the previous week. They come because they signed up for a rigorous eight-month course called the Transformation Inten-sive. This intensive is based the Spiritual Exercises of Ignatius of Loyola, a 16th century saint.

The inspiration for the intensive came after Deacon Val McIntyre, our Pastoral Care Pastor, went through the Exercises for her own spiritual growth and was stunned by the power of the model.

The course is designed to lead participants into a deeper connection with Christ through a profound-ly experiential model of prayer. Through consistent, guided contemplation of Scripture and the use of a broad spectrum of spiritual practices laid out in a weekly curriculum, participants are equipped to con-sistently enter the transformational presence of Jesus and to take steps toward joining him in his mission.

This is the second time Deacon Val has led the course, and it is living up to its name of being a tool of in-tense transformation for those involved. Several par-ticipants from last year’s course are now leading this year’s small groups after experiencing the renewal that comes from following in this time-tested path of spiritual formation.

The intensive is a microcosm of Resurrection’s vision of equipping everyone for transformation, and it will only continue to influence the timbre of Resurrec-tion’s spirituality as more parishioners have the op-portunity to experience it. From new believers to ex-perienced Christians, it offers a simple yet profound model for developing a deeper walk with Christ.

FORMATION STORIES

TRANSFORMATION INTENSIVE

25

Before the Transformation Intensive, I’ve often felt abandoned and unlovable. Working through the Ignatian Exercises has brought me back into a kind of dialogue with God that I believed I’d never have again. Several weeks ago, I found the courage to ask God the question I’ve always been afraid to ask: “Why have all these horrible things happened?” God answered, but not with reasons. And he invited me to spend my time with him just being sad. He promised, “I’ll stay and be sad with you. You don’t ever need to be sad alone.”

—Chad Klopfenstein

I feel like Deuteronomy 31:8 summarizes what God has done for me during the Transformation Intensive so far. The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Each week when I was struggling or had a question or concern, somewhere in that week (sometimes immediately) God would answer my prayers, many times before I had even asked. I have

been blessed by his faithfulness and care.—Sandy Sticha

26

I was baptized. The water was cold. It was my birthday.

—Patrick

God has helped me through rough times.

—Emery

It was really fun to participate in the stories and the worship at RezKids. I love it here.

—Rachel

We were new to Batavia, IL last year and were looking for churches to visit. When we came to Rez, I found myself praying we would come here more often. Rez is a place where I can talk to God.

—Emily I love that I can serve on the usher team at 11 years old and that Franklin Middle School can play concerts here.

—Brennan

It was full of fun and laughter. I got to see God work through Midweek. He brought many kids here.

—A.J. When our friend Dr. Foster died, people helped my family.

—Elizabeth

My shepherd Lauren helped me grow closer to God.

—Julia

While I was at church, I felt I was able to worship.

—Anna Belle

I have made new friends, and they have helped me.

—Lan

We asked our RezKids, “How was your past year at Resurrection?” This is what they had to say.

REZKIDS & REZYOUTH

27

A major highlight for our students this year was the All Night Vigil. Students came with a hunger to meet the Lord, as they do every Easter. But unlike Vigils in the past, the All Night Vigil was a place of quiet reflection, as well as Spirit-filled worship. Students were blessed as they met the Lord in the quiet of the late hours as the word was read amidst meditative worship and spontaneous prayer. One of our most sig-nificant meetings as a Youth Group was when our students gathered to talk about what God had done in their

lives during Holy Week. Student after student shared that God has met them in a unique, life-altering way during our first-ever Holy Week held entirely in our building. One of our students emailed me after that meeting: Today, after our Holy Week debrief at youth group, I read this verse: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, sing-ing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankful-

ness in your hearts to God. (Col 3:16).” I thought, that is exactly what we were do-ing last Wednesday night!”

—Youth Pastor Lane Young

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly...

Youth Pastor Lane Young shares his favorite moment with RezYouth in 2015.

28

REZ GROUPS

RezGroups in Pilot Stage: 14Pilot RezGroup Leaders: 24

Pilot RezGroup Apprentices: 15RezGroups Launching in Fall 2016: 35-40

Adult formation is a significant focus for 2016. As we grow larger, we are learning how to grow smaller, so that every member of Resurrection has access to per-sonal, relational formation, and pastoral care. We be-gan piloting our first small group model in Fall 2015: RezGroups. This pilot year has allowed the Forma-tion Team to establish scalable structures of leader-ship support, to explore opportunities for prayer and evangelism, and to fine-tune this new model. Pilot RezGroup leaders are receiving direct pastoral guid-ance in leadership cohorts. Meanwhile, those appren-tices are being mentored by their group leaders to launch new groups of their own in Fall 2016.

Already during the pilot year, we’ve seen a diversity of ministries flourishing. Groups have released teach-ers, cared for each other through illness and new ba-bies, welcomed non-Christians into community, and grown together in prayer.

Our prayer is that RezGroups will equip everyone for transformation in their lives, their families, and their communities. I am so excited to launch RezGroups for the entire church in Fall 2016.

—Formation Pastor Amy Patton

29

We prayed with 1,730 people through our prayer ministries.

30

GENEROSITY STORIES

Total Committed Goal: $5.6 MillionTotal First Fruits Offering: $704,000

New Givers: 44Total Givers: 882

Equipping for transformationplanting for revival

BY

In October 2015, we began a two-year journey of generosity called Moved by Jesus. Together as a church, Resurrec-tion committed to give more than ever before in order to launch a new vision: Equipping Everyone for Transformation.

31

Total Committed Goal: $5.6 MillionTotal First Fruits Offering: $704,000

New Givers in 2015: 203 Total Givers in 2015: 1,201

Budgeted giving: $2,178,391 Actual giving: $2,172,548

2015 GIVING AT A GLANCE

I have attended this church for nearly six years now, and had never given before. When the Moved by Jesus initiative began, I knew it was time to begin giving. While I’ve served on multiple teams and have tried to give back in other ways, I felt like 2015 was when God really started to ask that I trust him with my money and start giving. God’s provision is amazing, and even in my first two months of giving, I have already seen that in tremendous ways.

I don’t think it was a coincidence that I started attending Res-urrection soon after my mother passed away. I remember my first Sunday: there was Easter. I was amazed at the sense of joy around a holiday that until that point had felt a little forced. I kept attending, and started to find friends and connect. After a while, I started serving on some teams.

A few years later, after experiencing a couple of Vigils, I decided I was going to fully participate in Lent. I was surprised at how much saying “Alleluia!” mattered to me after 40 days of repen-tance and fasting. Easter Sunday suddenly meant so much more than pastels and tulips.

It is probably important to note that Easter almost always comes close to the day that my mother died. God had his hand in this, I think. It is his way of reminding me, year after year, that through incredible loss and pain, he brings so much more joy, hope, and celebration. I can’t begin to say how thankful I am that Resurrec-tion was part of that continual transformation. Every time I walk through the doors at Resurrection, I feel like I am coming home.

—Josiah Ostoich

From a New Giver

FOR ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL DETAIL, VISIT CHURCHREZ.ORG/VESTRY

32

33

“GIVE ME YOUR SILVER. I AM YOUR

SAFETY NET.” Gee and Betty Meneses had been Church of the Resurrection members for about a year before the Moved by Jesus generosity initiative launched. They are leaders involved in several prayer, worship, and formation ministries at Resurrection.

As the Moved by Jesus sermon series at Resurrection pro-gressed, Betty began to feel the Holy Spirit prompt her to question, “What lie is hindering my spiritual growth?” After wrestling with the question in prayer, Betty real-ized that she was reluctant to part with her possessions, because she feared, “I might need that.” Betty began to earnestly pray to receive wholehearted trust in the Lord, and to be open-handed with his gifts.

Meanwhile, Gee, Betty’s husband, was away on a busi-ness trip in Oklahoma. In his hotel room one night, Gee began to pray, “Lord, what can I give for your kingdom work?” He distinctly heard the Lord reply: “Give me your silver. I am your safety net.” Gee knew exactly what that meant. Years before, he and Betty had invested in silver, as a “safety net.” Gee felt that the Lord was calling them to give this silver to Church of the Resurrection for the Moved by Jesus generosity initiative, and to solely rely on Christ as their future security.

Gee apprehensively picked up the phone to call his wife, not positive Betty would agree that it would be wise to give away their financial cushion. After he explained what the Lord had spoken in response to his prayer, Betty not only agreed to the gift, but was thrilled that the Lord had prepared her to take this next step of faith!

“Every day, Gee and I pray from Psalm 91:We dwell in the shelter of the Most High. We abide in the shadow of the Almighty. We say of the Lord: ‘You are our refuge and our for-tress—our God in whom we trust.’” says Betty. “We are so glad for opportunity to have our faith stretched and to sow into the ministry of Resurrection, a church we have come to love dearly over this last year.”

34

DIOCESAN STORIES

They had the joy of celebrating their first baptism togeth-er on the Feast of Epiphany, only three months into their weekly services.

A constant theme at City of Light is how the Lord is con-tinuously making it a true home to many, through the wor-ship, community, and love for the city of Aurora. Congre-gant Casey Solgos reflects, “in these early fertile moments, seeds are being planted—in my heart, in my family, in my church, and in my community—that I know will burst forth with vibrant, life-giving fruit that is sure to draw all men and women from all nations as they desire to taste and see that the Lord is good.”

The city of Aurora is the second most populous in the state of Illinois, and last year Church of the Resurrection added to its ranks the members of City of Light Anglican Church, our newest church plant. After years of discernment, plan-ning, and prayer, Fr. Trevor and Bonnie McMaken led a launch team of 54 members in starting first monthly, then weekly services in Aurora.

Since their monthly launch in June, City of Light has lived into their desire to help their neighbors “find a new day in Jesus” by hosting consistent outreach events. These events have included a large block party, a 21 Days of Prayer ini-tiative that included prayer walks around the city, a large Grand Opening festival, and a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service—all with a staff of only four!

PLANTINGCITY OF LIGHT

35

1/10/16First Baptism

54Total number of people on Launch

Team (30 adults, 24 children)

6/28/15Launch Service:

Warehouse Church

93Launch Sunday Attendance

(69 adults, 24 children)

68Average Weekly Attendance

(50 adults, 18 children)

10/18/15First Weekly Service:

Hill Elementary School

36

THE REVIVECONFERENCE

In October, Resurrection hosted the Re-vive Conference, welcoming hundreds of Christians from throughout the Upper Midwest Diocese and around the globe.

Revive focused on equipping everyone to bring transformation to our communities by strengthening and starting Spirit-filled churches. Special guests from Iran, Nige-ria, and Kenya came to teach and to share. Main worship sessions were led in turn by the brand new City of Light worship team, an African American partner church, and a Hispanic diocesan church. We were blessed by the teachings of Bishop Stew-art, Mama Katherine, Canon William Bea-sley, and special guest Archbishop Eliud Wabukala, the Primate of Kenya and chair-man of GAFCON.

The Spirit of the Lord descended on Res-urrection as we worshiped, taught, and met gladly with one another. The Lord used this conference to open up the min-istry of racial reconciliation and to kindle regional and global partnerships. We look forward to incorporating our Revive expe-riences throughout this next year of minis-try, and we are eager to be together again for Revive 2016.

37

During the Revive Conference, I was deeply encouraged by the movement of the Holy Spirit toward racial reconciliation and connection among us. It seems like the Lord is moving Resur-rection to look outward and ex-pand our ministry to vulnerable people in our midst.

—Johanna Swank

Praise God for what he has been doing in our community over these past few days—what a blessing to hear and learn from our global and local brothers and sisters, and to share togeth-er the movement of the Holy Spirit.

—David and Christy Vosburg

Speaking at a mission conference in Chicago earlier this month, I was delighted by the strength and fruitfulness of the global relation-ships being formed through GAFCON. We met at the Anglican Church of North America’s (ACNA) Church of the Resurrection, which has bought a huge disused factory and built it into a beautiful church.

Despite many challenges, this congregation is truly a church of the resurrection! It is a wonderful demonstration of the joy, vision and spiritual vitality so typical of the ACNA. [It is a] new wineskin in North America.

—Archbishop Eliud Wabukala in a letter to GAFCON

38

2016 VISION & BUDGET PRIORITIES

Equipping The Next GenerationWe are working to create systems of apprenticeship across all levels of ministry. We are focusing on raising up and equipping newer and younger leaders in all areas of the church.

Highlights:• Raising up younger staff to take more responsibility in light of senior leaders taking their next steps • Sending out the McMakens to plant City of Light • Freeing up senior leaders to invest time in younger leaders • The Ruchs and the Millers both meeting with cohorts to dis-cern possible church plants and other ministry leadership

39

Investing in Adult FormationWe are strengthening adult formation through the launch of RezGroups and growing staff support.

Highlights:Adding a part-time Adult Formation Director • Increasing Deacon Brett Crull to full-time, to support Formation

Growing Our GivingWe increased our overall giving from 10% to 10.5%. Our total giving increased from $213,000 in 2015 to $232,000 for 2016.

Highlights:Local Mission increased $45,700 to $47,550 • Global Mission increased $77,068 to $78,380 • Diocese Tithe in-creased $75,000 to $80,500 • Church Planting increased $20,000 to $25,500

Moving to an “Equipping” BudgetWe accomplished our major goal of remaining at the same level of spending and not inflating our budget.

Highlights:Adjusting our budget to better match current giving pro-jections • Analyzing our budget in light of our new vision, looking at every dollar to make sure that everything is tru-ly going toward “equipping everyone for transformation”

40

Partner with us in Equipping Everyone for Transformation! We would love to talk with you about how you can invest in what God is doing at Church of the Resurrection. With God’s help, we are equipping everyone for transformation and helping to lead a revival of Word and Sacrament infused by the Holy Spirit. Please consider making a gift at churchrez.org/give or connecting with Dan Easley (dan@churchrez.org), our Generosity and Finance Pastor, to find out more.