J U N E — A U G U S T 2 0 1 3
We exist to bring glory to God by calling all people into an abundant life with Jesus Christ
unwilling to let go for
the sake of someone
else trying something
new. When we work
with our kids, they
never get to try
something because
we have to do it for them. So they never own a new truth, learn a
new skill or get that sense of personal accomplishment.
Spiritually, if I share my faith with someone, I never let them
wrestle with God’s Word because we have to spend all of our
time unpacking it for them. They can’t hear or see Jesus because
we are too busy preaching at them.
The coming summer months mean more time with friends,
acquaintances and family. Maybe we could put the lesson of the
rockets to work in our interactions with others this summer.
Let’s take time to help our kids learn new things. These not only
include the skills and hobbies of life, but also the spiritual truths
that they need to grapple with. The same could be said for others
around us. Family members, friends and co-workers are all
opportunities to put Jesus in front of someone.
But if I hear the grandpa’s correctly, they don’t put an emphasis
on preaching, on monologues or winning debates. No, the stakes
are much higher than that. When we facilitate a discussion with
others, our goal is to help them to not only see how things work
but to also own those truths for themselves.
So instead of preaching, ask questions. Instead of long
presentations, introduce truths from God’s Word. Instead of
knocking down every mistake, gently nudge back toward the
truth of God.
Whether it is our kids building a rocket or our friend grasping
God’s grace, the joy of leading them to a new discovery is
exhilarating. When they own that new truth, they will grasp it for
life.
As we move through the summer, may we be a family and a
church that is lovingly, graciously and patiently leading others to
discover all that God has for them.
By Pastor Mike Sindelar
Our “astronomer in residence”, Ron Schmit, tells the story of a
recent class he presented on model rocketry. Ron explained that
one side of the room was made up of fathers and their children
hard at work building a rocket. The other side of the room seemed
to be where the grandpa’s sat with their grandchildren.
As Ron observed the class, he noticed that the dads would build
the rockets while explaining to their kids just exactly how it should
be done. “See how I am gluing this tail fin on?” or “now watch me
do this” were the operating instructions for the dads. After all, a
model rocket is too important to let the kids practice on.
The grandpa’s, on the other hand, were giving different
instructions. They were much more hands-off with their approach.
They sat behind their grandchildren and offered up advice on how
they should build their own rockets. The outcome of the rocket
was less important than giving the kids the opportunity to own
the work.
If you are like me, you learn better if you can get in there and mess
with something. Whether it’s building a rocket, learning a new
hobby or sharing my faith with someone, I seem to learn much
more when I can ‘build it myself.’ The process may be messy along
the way. There may be unnecessary mistakes made. But, at the
end of the day, the process and the outcome help us to know and
own our new field of knowledge.
The ultimate illustration of this is our Lord Jesus handing over the
future church to his disciples. Like a grandfather looking over the
shoulder of a grandchild, so Jesus left the work of the church,
under His leading, to his disciples.
Two questions come to mind. The first has to do with the fact that
we can be very reluctant to try new things. We won’t share our
faith because their might be a question we can’t answer. We won’t
take on a new ministry role because we might not do it as well as
someone else does. Bottom line is that we are too afraid to mess
something up to actually try it. So obstacles are never faced. Faith
is never shared. Memories are never made. Rockets never get
built. Are you willing to take a risk, to step out in faith?
The second question is that of giving something up. Like the dad
who just can’t trust his kid with the model rocket, so we are
P A G E 2
Yes, It is Rocket Science!
P A G E 3
Team Valley Free Calling ALL runners! First timers, veterans, adults, youth and kids. You are invited to join Team
Valley Free in the SayHey5K in Chaska, June 29th. There is a discount for pre-registering as a
group and registration includes race fee, pre-race meal, post-race meal, a tech shirt (limited
number), live music and more! Check out the event details at www.sayhey5k.com. Contact
Team Captain Karee Koepp, 952-873-2738 for more information or to join the team.
Mascot Run Volunteers
Are you full of hot air? We are looking for 6-10 volunteers to help inflate 1,000 helium-filled balloons for the Balloon Alley at the
Kid's Mascot Run on Friday, June 28. This will be a fun time of fellowship and a great way to rub shoulders with people in our
community. Balloon central will be set up at the Chaska Legion from 2-4pm. Please sign-up in the church foyer.
Valley Free Booth – Get to know your Chaska neighbors. Sign-up with a friend to
man the Valley Free booth for a couple hours. Entertain the younger crowd with a prize
wheel as you invite them to join the fun at Vacation Bible School. Share your love of
Christ and welcome the adults to join us for services on Sunday. Contact Jan Schmit for
more information or sign-up in the church foyer.
JSAW Skate Park – Jonny Nelson and the JSAW crew will once again be setting up their skate park for adventurous River City Day
patrons. We are recruiting volunteers to hang out and represent the Valley family by engaging visitors in conversation about the ministry of
JSAW and Valley Free. Contact Cory Jackson for more information or to sign-up.
Let everyone know you are part of the Valley Family! Whether you are volunteering or attending these events, we have a great
opportunity to share our faith by wearing a Valley shirt. There are several styles to
choose from, each sporting the Valley logo. Pick up an order form in the church
foyer. The deadline for the first printing is June 9th in order for shirts to be ready
for the SayHey5K. Orders for blouses, button-downs and polo shirts received after the deadline will be filled immediately, but we need at
least 12 t-shirt orders before we reprint. All orders must be prepaid – check or cash only.
The walls are painted, the carpet is laid, the chandeliers are hung. Now let’s get outta here and fill up the church! This
summer there are several opportunities to introduce ourselves to the Chaska community. Do you love our church? Do you
serve an Almighty God, a Merciful Savior, a Glorious Redeemer, that wants to draw all people to Himself? Then let your light
shine by volunteering at one of the following community events:
P A G E 4
Hello Valley Family! In last month’s Valley Views I
shared some values and goals for the summer. Now, I’ll take this opportunity to flesh out the events a little more so that you can get a better idea of what the structure of this summer will look like.
W e’re trying something new this year called “House Parties” and the students
are already excited for them! Every other Wednesday we’ll have a get-
together at the home of a different family within the congregation. Night Games,
testimonies, bonfires, worship and more will be at these parties along with a relaxed
schedule but plenty of high-energy activities mixed in! Looking for a way for your
student’s friends to get involved in youth group? This is it!
J ust a week after school ends, our Noah’s Ark trip comes as a celebration of
summer beginning and a new season of our students growing closer together.
Leaving the afternoon of the 13th, we will travel over to Wisconsin Dells and spend
the night camping in tents. Can anyone say fun around a campfire?! The next day
we’ll have the time of our lives getting to know each other better at Noah’s Ark!
After an awesome day of hanging out at America’s largest waterpark, we’ll head
back home and arrive back at Valley late the night of the 14th. Your students won’t
want to miss this!
B ack by popular demand—Camp of the Master in Ottertail, MN! This year’s
theme will be “Transformed,” focusing on the life change of us Christ-followers
that begins, matures, and is perfected by Jesus. The students who went last year go
on and on about all the memorable and fun adventures they had last year, and this
year will only produce more of the same! Canoeing, waterskiing, camp songs, night
games, delicious camp food, gross food games…these are just a few of the awesome
activities that your students will experience at Camp of the Master!
A dventure in the Northwoods awaits! Rock Ridge is a camp located in rustic Ely,
MN. This trip will be a different kind of camp experience than Camp of the
Master, focusing more on outdoor adventure skills such as canoeing, making a fire,
setting up a tent, and braving a ropes course in the trees. We’ll be staying in cabins
down by the lake, and at the end of every day we’ll clean off by gathering in the
lakeside sauna (it’s quite an experience!) Any student is welcome! Your students
don’t need to know all these skills, they just need to be willing to learn!
JUNE 12 to
AUG 21
House Parties (every other Wednesday)
JUNE 27 to
June 30
Camp of the Master
JUNE 13 & 14
Noah’s Ark
AUGUST 8-11
Rock Ridge Adventure Trip
It’s a privilege and an honor to be able to lead your students—we’ve got a one-of-a-kind group here at Valley! I really feel like this summer
will be a time where we’ll form new bonds between each other, strengthen the ones already existing, and continue to seek the Heart of
Jesus so that we continue to become more and more like Him. I’m excited to have all of you along in this adventure!
By Cory Jackson
P A G E 5
NATALIE WISELY Taylor University, Upland, IN
MAJORS: Political Science and International Studies
MINOR: History PLANS FOR FALL: American University, Washington DC—pursuing a Masters in
International Peace and Conflict Resolution
DANIEL WEBER Northwestern University, Evanston, IL
PLANS FOR FALL: Northwestern University
Feinberg School of Medicine Chicago, IL
JARED & NICCI CARPENTIER Crown College, St. Bonifacius, MN
DEGREES: Jared—Biblical and Theological Studies
and is employed by Vertical Endeavors
Nicci—Psychology and is employed by Mt. Olivet Rolling Acres
Graduate School is in their future
KATIE WISELY HIGH SCHOOL:
Southwest Christian High School
PLANS FOR FALL:
AVEDA Institute,
Minneapolis
DAVID BARTHOLOW
HIGH SCHOOL:
Chaska High School
PLANS FOR FALL:
Minnesota State University
Psychology
JESSICA NKHATA HIGH SCHOOL:
Mound Westonka High School
PLANS FOR FALL:
University of Minnesota
ABIGAIL SCHMITT HIGH SCHOOL:
Main Street School of Performing Arts, Hopkins
PLANS FOR FALL: St. Cloud State
Health Sciences & Dance Therapy
R E V E L AT I O N PLAIN AND SIMPLE
The Book of Revelation
fills most people with
fear or confusion...or
both! So many
interpretations, so many
opinions. Can we hope to
understand the message of
this book?
To further our understanding of
Revelation, Valley Free is hosting a free
seminar on June 23rd, but asked Jon
MacKinney, seminar presenter and
former Valley pastor, for a sneak peek of
what we can expect.
Describe the goal and
direction of the seminar. The goal of the seminar is to provide an
overview of the Book of Revelation in
such a way as to encourage us to believe
we can read and understand this book.
I have always considered
Revelation to be too difficult
to understand. Is it possible
for the average person to
understand the message of
Revelation? Absolutely!! The book was written to
average people, and God wants us to
understand it. Some of us will learn a
new word in this seminar: "Perspicuity"
How did you become
interested in the message of
the book of Revelation? After avoiding Revelation for 25 years, I
finally preached it because it was the only
New Testament book I had not preached
through in our church here in Chandler, AZ.
What a discovery for me!! I had believed,
like many people, that the book was "too
confusing." Was I ever wrong!
Is the book of Revelation
relevant for us today? Do you
think our world is living in or
approaching the end of the
age described in prophecy? Whether we are approaching the end
times, or they are thousands of years away,
the message of Revelation is incredibly
practical and relevant. There is a liar in the
world who seeks to destroy the wonderful
work of God. He is working now, he has
worked in the past, and he will continue to
deceive until God chains him up. We need
to recognize his lies in contrast to God's
truth expressed in Jesus Christ.
REVELATION
PLAIN AND SIMPLE
June 23—5:00-9:00 p.m
A Seminar by pastor, author and presenter, Jon MacKinney
Pastor Jon MacKinney is a graduate of Wheaton College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has pastored Evangelical Free Churches in the towns of Wolverton and Chaska in Minnesota. He currently pastors Chandler Bible Church in Chandler, Arizona. Jon has taught Bible courses in Russia, Hungary, and Mongolia, and has traveled in other countries doing construction for missions work. Jon and his wife Jan have three children and three grandchildren. Pastor MacKinney will be speaking during the Worship Service on June 23, and will present the Revelation Seminar from 5:00-9:00 that evening.
P A G E 4
One of the things we will learn in the
seminar is the clearest sign that the "end
times" have begun. I have no doubt that,
here in America at least, we are heading
with increasing speed in that direction.
Can I invite my friends to the
seminar? Will it be applicable
to anyone and not only
mature Christians? Invite not only young believers, but non-
believers as well. Most people have an
interest in "the end of the world." God
has given this book to us as both a
warning and a gracious "preview" of what
people will face if they are here at the
end. And always, throughout the book,
the wonderful message of salvation
through faith in Jesus Christ is proclaimed.
I have always been
intimidated by the subject of
prophecy. Will the seminar
put this in terms I can
understand? Why should I be
concerned about the
prophecy of Revelation? Revelation is a prophetic book, and gives
us many details about our future. But it
does so in a way that makes it very
relevant to our present. We are only going
to use one chart, and it will provide an
overview of how the vision of Revelation is
progressing. We will not be setting dates
or revealing the name of the Antichrist.
The flow of the seminar is based on the
Intensifying revelation of God's righteous
character and the unrighteousness and
deceptive character of Satan.
¿Hablas español?
Are you reasonably fluent in the Spanish language? Are you frustrated because you haven’t used your Spanish language skill as much as you would like? If those questions apply to you and you would like to use your Spanish language ability in
a ministry setting, we have an opportunity for you.
Our facility is currently being used during the week by our Latino brothers and sisters of
Restoration Church. They are a wonderful family of believers. In an effort to further
establish our working relationship with them, we are seeking someone with the ability to
speak Spanish. Our desire is to enhance our communication and also to strengthen our
relationship with them.
As in any cross-cultural situation, language can be a hindrance to further relationship and
understanding. If you speak Spanish and have a heart for establishing relationships in the
language, please contact the church office and let us know of your desire to be part of
this ministry. We believe you will discover new and wonderful relationships as we
continue this ministry!
There are six values that guide our mission at Valley Free. The first value on
the list is worship. We place a high value on our worship of the Lord
being meaningful profound and engaging.
As you know, our worship team has been under the leadership of Bill Bartholow
for the last few months. Bill has graciously agreed to lead the ministry until a
permanent worship director can be placed. Our thanks go out to Bill and the
entire team as they work hard to lead us in worship week in and week out.
A search for the new worship director has been underway. We are currently in
the process of interviewing some very good candidates. As we move into June,
we are hoping to narrow down our search to one candidate.
Your prayers for the worship ministry and the selection of a director for the next
season of ministry are much appreciated! Pray for God's direction in the
selection process, for God to speak clearly to the candidates and also that our
worship at Valley Free will continue to honor the Lord and draw people into His
holy presence.
The Value of By Pastor Mike Sindelar
P A G E 7
P A G E 8
On behalf of the Valley family I would like to, once again, give a huge “Thank You” to all our Children’s Ministry volunteers. Whether you were behind the scenes or in front of the class, your efforts, time, and dedication to our children has been greatly appreciated. May God bless you for investing in the next generation of Christ-followers.
Watching God Work, Jan Schmit, CE Director
P A G E 9
Your whole church family provided this for us? That comment usually comes with a sense of appreciation for any gift or blessing that our
missionaries can provide to the people they are ministering to. Bringing people and resources into a missions setting is one of the things the
members of our short-term ministry teams do.
But they don’t provide these blessings alone. As a church family, we are very much a part of the ministry team. How are you a crucial part
of the team?
1. We place a high value on getting our church family into ministry settings in other cultures. Being part of a team and blessing
others is something we work toward.
2. We give of our resources to not only get our team there, but to bless the work of the missionary or ministry. We generously
provide for the costs associated with doing the work of ministry by our teams. For example, for the summer team going to
Romania, we will need approximately $1500 to finance the projects we will be working on. As part of our church family, you
have an opportunity to partner with our team in this giving.
3. We support our team, our missionaries and our ministries through prayer. The work of the missions team is the work of the
Kingdom of the Lord. As such, we need to actively partner with our team and the ministry in prayer support.
Missions at Valley is an opportunity for everyone and every family to fulfill what God has called us to. That is, to proclaim the gospel of Jesus
and to be a blessing to those God calls us to minister to. Join with us as we share Jesus with the world!
“Where is my support letter?”
Members of our short-term missions teams are raising financial and prayer support for their ministries. Members are strongly
encouraged to resist paying for a trip themselves and instead, seek ministry support from their family and network of relationships
outside of the Valley family. This part of the missions trip is critical to developing an entire team of people for the ministry.
If you are part of the Valley Family, you will not receive a letter requesting support. Instead, we are encouraging everyone to give to
the teams as part of your missions giving.
If you would like to partner with team members or give to the ministry of the team, simply designate your financial gifts to the church
in the name of the team.
2013
MISSIONS
TEAMS
JULY
to Romania
NOVEMBER
to Bangladesh
P A G E 1 0
How Can I Get INVOLVED?
P A G E 1 1
V ic and I have been married for 16 years. I am “Momma” to
five beautiful, imaginative, spirited girls: Katharine (15),
Rebecca (13), Emma (11), Laura (9), Caroline (4) and two babies
waiting for us in heaven. Jack, the dog, and Earl Grey, the cat,
complete our family. We have lived for 15 years in a 100+ year old
home in Young America, about 20 minutes west of Chaska.
In August of 1996, I moved to Minnesota from New Jersey because
I had fallen in love with this wonderful man named Vic Menning.
He and I began attending Valley that fall and became members
after we were married in June of 1997. I became involved in two
ministries at Valley - the worship team and Children’s Ministry. I
have served on the worship team for 17 years and for 12 years in
Children’s Ministry.
When Vic and I started attending Valley, I just kind of volunteered
myself for the worship team. I have played the piano for 40 years
and have always been involved in music in church in some way –
singing in the choir, playing as the church pianist, accompanying
other musicians. Being part of the worship team just seemed like a
natural fit. My calling into Children’s Ministry came when I was in
college. I am the oldest of 12 children (8 boys, 4 girls) and have
always been around children. I used to ask God why I had to be
the oldest of all those kids and
when I figured out He wanted
me to be a teacher, it all made
sense. Here at Valley, I was
asked to serve in Awana and just
said yes. I volunteered to help
with VBS years ago and
eventually became the director.
When I hear voices raised in
praise, see hands lifted high and
silent tears flow, I am blessed
beyond words. I am only the vessel through which the music
flows and I am humbled that God would use my hands and voice
to help lead our Valley family into true worship of Him. Seeing
young children be introduced to Jesus, accept Him as their Savior,
and grow in their relationship with Him is the biggest blessing of
being part of Children’s Ministry. It is so very hard for me to put
into words, but it energizes me, in a way that nothing else does. I
am passionate about my areas of ministry and am willing to spend
my life for the sake of the Gospel and serve God in whatever way I
can here at Valley. YOU are welcome to join me!
Mary Lou Menning
H2O is a DVD-based, seven-week experience designed to create a safe atmosphere where people are comfortable considering the person of Jesus Christ.
This creative newly re-released tool meets an ancient need: sharing the truth of Jesus Christ through relationships and community. H2O transforms lives by feeding the mind, moving the heart, and stimulating the senses. Valley Free will be presenting this informal study at 10:30 a.m. each Sunday during the summer season. This introductory course to the Christian faith is for anyone who would like to examine and discuss the essential elements of faith in Jesus. It is for those still checking out faith and for new believers. It is also an encouraging forum for anyone who follows Christ and desires to share that faith with others. Take this opportunity to invite your friends and neighbors. Then come and join us for some great discussions!
P A G E 1 2
P A G E 1 3
10 Great Dates to Energize Your Marriage By David & Claudia Arp
Remember back to your dating days---the
excitement you felt? Now you can reclaim
that same spark, connection, and creativity
in your marriage through ten intentional,
memory-making dates. This proven
approach to relationship growth is low-key,
purposeful, effective, easy, and fun , and will
help you:
Communicate better
Process anger and resolve conflicts
Develop spiritual intimacy
Appreciate your differences
Balance busy lifestyles
And much more!
Additional 10 Great Dates books available for empty nesters and for those considering marriage. For those of you planning to take advantage of the childcare at Valley for the Summer Date Nights, check out this great book!
The Bible DVD Series
An epic 4-disc DVD series retelling
stories from the Scriptures for a
whole new generation. Breathtaking
in scope and scale, The Bible features
powerful performances, exotic locales
and dazzling visual effects that
breathe spectacular life into the
dramatic tales of faith and courage
from Genesis through Revelation.
How to Grow a Connected Family with Contagious Love and Faith! By Jim and Lynne Jackson
This book teaches four compelling principles that become a guide for life and relationships. These simple but pro-
found ideas will fuel authentic love and faith at home through real life stories, engaging teaching, and
reflective questions.
Be peaceful and wiser for the challenges of parenting.
Keep your love and God’s love for your children alive in their hearts.
Integrate Biblical teaching in every day life, and effectively train your children in respect, responsibility, faith,
and a sense of calling.
Discipline in ways that strengthen your children’s character and relationships.
Discipline that Connects with Your Child’s Heart By Jim and Lynne Jackson
This book will help you develop a new "lens" for effective, caring discipline with your child. "Discipline that Con-
nects" is a profound and deeply Biblical way of thinking about corrective discipline. You'll learn to:
* Prepare your heart and stay calm when your kids are not . *Think on your feet and respond with confidence
and wisdom. * Turn behavior problems into opportunities. * Help children learn to be responsible for their own
actions and truly reconcile with others. * Use creative consequences that build skills, values, and faith in your
children.
If you were unable to attend or to purchase the books during their teaching sessions at Valley, here is your opportunity to review and dive deeper into the godly parenting lessons the Jackson’s shared with us this past April.
P A G E 1 4
If I may be allowed to paraphrase the Apostle Paul, I thank God every time I think about you and
how many of you have volunteered to help with VBS. I am filled with joy because of your
partnership in this outreach to our children and the Chaska community. God has begun this good
work and will bring it to a flourishing finish.
Work is going on behind the scenes to prepare and plan for our week of VBS. Soon, a list of
supplies needed for crafts and snacks will be published, and you will have an opportunity to
participate even more by donating to Gotta Move.
Registration for VBS began on June 1. Online registration is available at www.valleyfree.org.
Registration is $15 per child or $45 for a family of three or more. There are postcards on the table
in the foyer outside the Worship Center which you can take and give to your friends and
neighbors. Let’s be bold and invite children to come and learn about Jesus!
If you have not yet signed up to help with VBS and would like to, there are still positions available
for Group Leaders. These are the special people that are responsible for a small group of children,
helping them move from place to place, and building relationships with them. If you are
interested, contact Mary Lou Menning at [email protected] or sign up online at
www.valleyfree.org.
As always, pray for the VBS team that we will have the strength to stick it out over the long haul-
not the grim strength of gritting our teeth but the glory-strength that God gives. It is the strength
that spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in helping to
build His kingdom.
By Mary Lou Menning
P A G E 1 5
Missing church services this summer? Consider
setting up an automatic giving schedule. Your
consistent support is vital to our church,
especially during summer months.
To set up a recurring contribution, visit the
e-giving page at valleyfree.org
Valley Views… moves from to
Beginning with this issue…the next issue will be published the 1st Sunday
of September.
Summer
Need a night to reconnect with each other? Valley is offering FREE childcare for kids of all ages
while you spend some quality time with your spouse. A snack will be provided.
Pre-registration is required. Sign up in the foyer.
June 11, July 16, & August 13—6-8 pm
952-448-6144
Fax: 952-448-5119
150 Engler Blvd
Chaska, MN 55318
6/2 Graduation Sunday Cory Jackson 7/21 TBD Cory Jackson
6/9 The Journey Back Pastor Mike 7/28 When God Doesn’t Make Sense
Pastor Mike
6/16 Father’s Day Pastor Mike 8/4 Romania Team Report
6/23 Revelation Seminar Pastor Jon McKinney 8/11 TBD Guest Speaker
6/30 The Eight-word Revival
Pastor Mike 8/18 TBD Guest Speaker
7/7 When God Comes to Town
Pastor Mike 8/25 Whatever Happened to Judgment Day
Pastor Mike
7/14 TBD Guest Speaker 9/1 Teen Challenge Choir
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