Collection Dates: May 6, 13 & 20th – on Sunday’s ONLY!

The Food Need:
We are collecting non-perishable food items only. You can drop off the food items at the collection point in the front of the church building.

The Clothing Need:
The primary clothing need is for Girls & Boys ages 5-18 yrs old. These kids are in the before & after school program at the Coachella Valley Housing Authority. These are the same kids & families we help at Christmas time during our Christmas Giving Project. These kids have younger brothers and sisters & parents that are in need of clothing too. So if you have any good clean clothing we will take it too. Drop off items at the collection point at the front of the church building.

PLEASE wash and clean all clothing before bringing them. Let’s sow our best into these families!

Volunteers are needed too!
If you would like to help us during the outreach please sign up at the information kiosk, call online or email roxyr@championlifechurch.com.

Volunteer & Event Dates:
We will be having a prep work night on Thursday night, May 24th at 6:30pm in the café.

Then on Friday May 25th at 12:30pm we will meet at the Café to load up, drive to the site and set up for a start time of 2:30pm.

Fred Young Labor Center
47155 VAN BUREN ST
INDIO, CA 92201

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR ORIENTATION

Mark your calendar with these upcoming dates for Men’s Breakfast:

May 19
June 16
July 21

In the fitness club industry, Neil is a legend. Over the last forty years, he has made millions of dollars, lost it all, and gained it back again. But more importantly, he has found peace and true fulfillment in the process. Now author of the newly released book, “Strawberry Fields Forever”, Neil tells how he built the business, lost it and how he got it all back. Besides his success in the fitness industry, Neil is a business consultant, international conference speaker and philanthropist.  He also oversees a training program for business people at The City Church.

Tickets may be purchased online HERE or at the bookstore in the lobby for $25. Tickets will be sold at the door for $30.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

 Recently as Pastor was sharing with the congregation about Timothy Training he said it’s like spending time with Jesus.  There was laughter – and it does sound funny to say, but it’s true.  That IS what Timothy Training is like.  It’s “Pastor unplugged” – an invaluable and rare opportunity to sit and listen, have dialogue and ask questions about this life with God and what it means to be a disciple of Christ.  Taking this class and being able to do that has given me insight and understanding into things I know I wouldn’t have gained otherwise.  Another aspect  that affected me and changed my life, are the exercises of writing out and sharing our various personal testimonies.  Doing this created a great time of reflection of God’s hand and goodness in my life.  I loved this part of it. It refreshed those things in my mind.  Then, practicing and learning how to refine those points to where we can get up and share them is a powerful, powerful thing. It built up my confidence level, and as a result, I’ve been empowered to do a much better job at using those testimonies for the greater purpose for which they were created:  To share Christ with the lost.  To have our stories ready, and be able to quickly and easily share them when opportunity comes, with boldness and confidence.  Not only does this change my life, but it has the power to change the lives of those I’ll get to share them with, and after all, isn’t that what it’s all about?

            I could be all of these examples or I could be 2 or 3 of them. I could just have a good attitude because no one likes a bad attitude, I could love because hate is a strong word and who wants to hate or be hated? I could complain about doing things I’m asked to do or do wordly things or have a heart for God and his people and follow him. These are all things I “could” do, but should I or would I do them? I’m capable, but the answer is Yes and No, or MAYBE?

            Before I got saved…again, I was following my peers’ examples in high school, like not doing my homework, not going to school, partying, doing things I knew I shouldn’t have been doing, but I was choosing to follow those examples. At the end of the day no one else chose, I did, sure my friends and peers had some say in it, but it was me that chose. These examples I followed didn’t get me very far or very good grades and didn’t really make me happy either. But I continued to follow them over and over again. And me following these negative examples got other people to follow me because we thought we we’re cool. I would dress cute and talk like I owned it all so that other people would follow me, some people did, but it didn’t last long. And  really I was just putting on a front. I came to the relization that living like this wasn’t right or fun because I knew better and I got tired of it.

            I’ve always had a big heart and love to love, but I wasn’t really setting examples for anyone. I didn’t feel like I should or ever would. I’ve always know about god, but never reached out to someone and talk to them about him and set the example to lead people to him. I was always taught not to complain because complaining makes things worse and I sound ugly when I complain and whine. So as I started coming back to God and to church and started internship, and being a leader for the kids and teens, I figured out that I should set a positive attitude, a loving heart, a heart to share god, the way I talk shouldn’t be what I say, but how I say it. I should set an example of serving cheerfuly and humbly, because kids and RevChurch look up to the leaders and want the same so they can be examples to their familys and friends. If I don’t show love or have a positive attitude others will think they don’t have to either. So, I want to and will make a difference in our church by setting good, loving complainless examples, but not only in church, but to the valley, to my co-workers, to my friends, even a stranger at the mall. What could happen if I set these examples? Lives can and will be changed and saved and brighter and these lifes can have hope and faith. So many different things can and will happen to the people I see and reach out to, but it’s my job to set examples not to follow me, but to follow God and everything he has planned and what amazing things he is waiting to do. I’m following him and what he has put in my heart and life and I’ve never been happier,thankful,grateful and appreciative for everything he is and everything he will continue to do.

            Titus 2:7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.

This spoke to me because when I set the example of good works I should let my integrity show, not because I have to, but because it should in general.

1Timothy 4:12 Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.

When I read this I felt like it was meant for me, because sometimes I feel like I get talked to a certain way or treated a certain way because I’m young, but my age shouldn’t matter.There is no certain age to reach out to someone or impact someone’s life.

 Also it spoke to me saying be an example in life, love, faith and purity, I can’t be a good example with one or the other, I need all of them. What’s life without love? I’d say a dark loney life. Or what’s life without faith? I think it’d be a life of fear. Who would want to follow someone that doesn’t love one another or someone that is full of fear with no faith. I would like to follow an example that has strong faith, faith in God.

            When I was fifteen I made the decision to get baptized. The night before my baptism I stayed the night at a friend’s house. I had told my mom that I would stop by in the morning before church to pick up my bible and a towel. When I got to the house to pick up my things my mom had so nicely put them in a bag on the porch. I needed to grab a couple more things so without hesitation I went inside. As I approached my bedroom which was on the left I glanced to the right where my mom and dad’s bedroom was, only to find my mom in bed with another man. Yep, I caught them in the act. The shock didn’t give me time to cry. I grabbed my things and ran out of the house as if I had just seen a ghost. Though I was too angry to have my mom at my baptism I did not let the traumatic experience stop me and got baptized that morning.

            As a result of my mother’s infidelity my parents split up and then were soon divorced. This all transpired in June so I stayed with my dad for the summer. I was extremely angry, hurt, and bitter towards my mom and Bill (“the other man”). He was my brother’s baseball coach for crying out loud. I remember thinking to myself that my situation was something you saw in a movie, but it was my reality.

            In the fall I had to move back with my mom because her house was closer to my school. It was much easier to be angry and upset from a distance. When I had to be around her and Bill all the anger, hurt, and bitterness brought out some “ugly” behavior in me. For the next four months I don’t think one nice word came out of my mouth towards those two. I was violently angry at home, throwing things at the walls when I would argue with my mom. I ran away to friend’s houses several times. I justified my behavior because I was the one who was hurt. Yes I totally played the victim card. People at church would bring up forgiveness trying to help me through the hurt. I thought to myself “yeah right!” I didn’t think she deserved my forgiveness. Little did I know that I was the one suffering from harboring unforgiveness.

            Things changed drastically changed when I went to a winter retreat with my youth group. The last night of the retreat when all of us girls were tucked into our beds in our cabin we had a great discussion with our youth pastor. I will never forget the verses she told us. James 1:2-4 which says, Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let Perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. I sat up and loudly said “What? You know what I’m going through yet you’re telling me the bible is saying to be joyful?” As we dialogued about this until 3am I finally understood what it meant and my heart started to soften after being so hard for so many months.

            When we returned home from the retreat I posted this scripture by my bed so I could constantly be reminded. I then fell to my knees and cried out to God. I had an amazing encounter with him in that moment. During that encounter I had revelation of all the good that had been taking place in the midst of the trial. God also told me to forgive my mom and Bill. It was not easy but I did it. I not only confessed it to God but I told them both face to face. Now we didn’t become one big happy family in that moment but I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders and I was able to feel happiness, which I hadn’t felt in months.

There is nothing more freeing than forgiveness. Pastor Tammy says, “Unforgiveness is like drinking poison waiting for the other person to die.” I know from experience that this is true. Don’t let unforgiveness rob you of the freedom that God has for you. Also remember James 1:2-4. It’s been 15 years and that scripture is still my all time favorite!

     The possibilities to change lives with one song is endless. I believe there is healing in how we use our gifts to play music and sing. We sing in obedience to the Holy Spirit guiding us in what notes to sing and play. In doing so, we are used as a transformation tool in people’s lives. To be used as a transformation tool in people’s lives, obedience is the key word.

     Joshua 6;10 “Do not shout; do not even talk,” Joshua commanded. “Not a single word from any of you until I tell you to shout. Then shout!” In the word that Joshua received from God to take Jericho, He told them not to shout until the last day and time around the city. It took obedience from the people walking around the city to receive what God had promised them. I think that this is also how we need to treat our worshipping God through our music. I feel that we need to have a unity and a trust in each other that we know where God is taking our congregation.

     When Joshua told them not to shout or even speak a single word until he told them to, he was relaying the importance of obedience to God in that moment. There are times in music that can mold the environment around us when used properly and in obedience to the Holy Spirit. 

     Language barriers can also be breached and pushed through within music. Music is a universal language. Everybody can be witnessed to through song, no matter the language barrier put in front of you. I have personally witnessed playing music for people that don’t speak english that still are moved by the emotion portrayed through sound. Deaf can also feel vibrations of sound from a song to be brought into God’s presence. There is no limit to what you can do with one song. 

     More than anything, I feel that with one song, the love of Jesus Christ can be poured out into people’s hearts. The kingdom of heaven can be built with one song! God’s heart can become our heart with one song. Through our obedience in Christ, we are able to use our gifts as effective as possible to move our congregation forward in our relationship with God.