SPRING 2015 lifeM A G A Z I N E

VISIT CHAMPIONSCENTRE.COM

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON

WEEKLY SERVICE TIMES AND

OUR EVENT CALENDAR.

BELLEVUE 425.289.1878

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16

Champion Life Magazine

purposes to equip

people to live successful

Christian lives.

ABOUT US

Are you fixing your flaws, or exploring YOUR POTENTIAL?" –unknown

FEAT

URES

8 NORTHWEST IS BEST BY THE STUDENT MINISTRIES TEAM

1 6 ONE SIDE WINS BY JODI CAMERON

2 2 WE > ME BY KEVIN GERALD

I N T H E K N O W

6 Team Spotlight

1 1 Real Life Application From April Carter

1 2 Champions Foundation Update

1 9 Real Life Application From Oneka McClellan

I N E V E R Y I S S U E

3 LET’S TALK

4 YOU TO US

14 CHAMPION FINDS

26 REAL LIFE CHAMPIONS

28 K. WISE

22

168

WEWE

SPRING / 15 | 1

EXECUTIVE PUBLISHERS

Kevin Gerald & Sheila Gerald

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Jodi Cameron

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER Carissa Dwyer, Paula McFadden

MARKETING DIRECTOR Jen Mueller

ART DIRECTOR Heather Stajgr, Passio Creative

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Carissa Dwyer, Kim Ludwick,

Paula McFadden, Yolanda Perry, Andy MacDonald, Judi Shackett

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHY Scotty Augkhopinee, Andy Mueller

CONTRIBUTING GRAPHIC DESIGN Venessa Koehn, Mickey Elliott

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Kevin Gerald, Jodi Cameron, April Carter,

Carissa Dwyer, Stefani James, Oneka McClellan, Paula McFadden

DISTRIBUTION Kim Ludwick

PRODUCER Champion Life Magazine is produced by Kevin Gerald

Communications (KGC). KGC is a department of Champions

Centre in Tacoma | Bellevue, WA, a non-profit organization.

TO SUBSCRIBE

championscentre.com/magazine

Phone: (toll-free) 888-935-6914

TO SPONSOR If you are a business who would like to partner with

our magazine through distribution or sponsorship, please contact

us at: 253.475.6454 x361.

QUESTIONS / COMMENTS / IDEAS Let us know. We welcome your

feedback. Please write us at: championlife@championscentre.com

MAIL

Champion Life Editorial

1819 E. 72nd St.

Tacoma, WA 98404

Produced by Champions Centre Publishing © 2015. All Rights

Reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without expressed

written permission is prohibited and a violation of applicable laws.

2015 copyright.

Printed by Cascade Print Media

WE LOVE

hearing from YOU

share your story at championscentre.com

P.S. Tell us your story at championlife@championscentre.com.

WHEN SHEILA AND I made the decision to leave behind the life we had always known in St. Louis and move to the Pacific Northwest—it wasn’t easy. We made our way across the country to follow where God was leading us, and we are so glad that we did. The reality is some of the greatest things you can do in life are scary.

There are a few times throughout our lives where we find ourselves at a crossroads, knowing our decision could change not only our season of life but also the trajectory of our lives. We can bombard ourselves with questions like where should I go to college? Who should I marry? When and how many kids should I have? What will retirement look like?

I think we can agree that these are pretty major decisions; however, the greatest and most important decision you could ever make in life is the decision to be a Christ follower. The best risk you can take is to step out and explore all that God is calling you to do.

Maybe you’ve been apprehensive or nervous to go against the grain, but rest assured that you’re in good company. There are plenty of stories in the Bible of people who took big risks for God.

Noah built the ark even when there had never been rain (clearly he didn’t live in Seattle), Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were actually thrown into a fiery furnace when they refused to bow down to an idol, and Mary was

bold enough to risk being disowned by her family and friends when the angel of the Lord told her she was going to become pregnant even though she was a virgin.

In all of those cases, they understood what the Psalmist meant when he said, “Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.”

It’s always worth the perceived risk when you have the opportunity to go where the Lord is leading you. Any role of serving that brings you closer to God is better than a life of ease.

We’ve been in the Northwest for 30 years now, and the Lord has blessed us immeasurably. Stepping out of our comfort zone was the best decision we could’ve made. Just in the last year, our church saw 1,636 hands raised to accept Christ, 353 people went public with their faith when they were baptized, 121,615 dollars was given to help people in need lo-cally and globally, and 141,782 hours of time was spent serving by our amazing volunteers.

There’s no way to really know how things would’ve worked out had we not been brave enough to leave . . . but one thing I know for sure—I’m glad we did.

We hope you enjoy this issue of Champion Life Magazine as we en-courage you to explore new possibili-ties spiritually and geographically.

let's talk

SPRING / 15 | 3

Restructuring our family's life to include more God and more WE in 2015. Getting CONNECTED! @katechatterton

You have a story, and we want to hear it!What is God doing in your life through the ministry of Champions Centre?

PLEASE WRITE US AT:championlife@championscentre.com

MAIL:Champion Life Editorial1819 E. 72nd St.Tacoma, WA 98404

Learn how to control your tongue.  Just because you feel something, you don’t have to say it. @kevingerald #championscentre #TBH

#thereismore @cdunayski

"The boundaries our heart creates, create the boundaries for our life." Great word from @KevinGerald @ChampionsCentre #ThereIsMore@courtneyatc24

you to us

Everyday is a gift from God and what we do with it is our gift back to God! @championscentre #thereismore @keithbakerLXVI

Here is what you have been sharing about Champions Centre on social media each week. Join the conversation #thereismore @championscentre.

4 | CHAMPION LIFE MAGAZINE

CASCADECHRISTIAN.ORG

Cascade Christian Schools is

offering a 10% tuition discount

to all active Champions Centre

families attending our CCS

Tacoma Campus for the

2015-2016 school year.

WE DO LIFE TOGETHER

FACEBOOKchampionscentre

TWITTER@championscentre

INSTAGRAMchampionscentre

WEBSITEchampionscentre.com

& LET’S CONNECT!

WEB

APP

department highlight STUDENT MINISTRIES

BY STEF JAMES

ONE BIG NIGHT—as a Student and Young Adult ministry, our team focuses a lot of our attention for this service, which occurs every five to six weeks. When we meet other pastors, many times they will ask what our high school student and young adult program looks like, and we explain that we rally our students for One Big Night and we connect them to City groups. A City Group is a group of students who meet once a week in a home,

coffee shop, or school to participate in a devotional or cur-riculum. Most of the time, however, we have to explain what a One Big Night is.

One of our Student Pastors, Jonathan Yadon, has a great perspective on these events, and we asked him to share the vision of a One Big Night.

Jonathan stated, “ The heartbeat of One Big Night is John 3:30 where John the Baptist says, ‘He must become greater

THE HEARTBEAT OF ONE BIG NIGHT IS JOHN 3:30 WHERE JOHN THE BAPTIST SAYS, ‘HE MUST BECOME GREATER I MUST BECOME LESS.’

I must become less.’ A movement of hundreds of young people encountering and lifting up the Name of Jesus, these nights are designed to empower, equip, and release this generation to greatly impact their world. Ranging from school outreaches, Bible studies, and City Groups, we gather together to connect, have fun, and grow in our faith. We are on a mission to empower young leaders to be bold in their faith, change our homes, our schools, our workplaces, and our cities. I encourage everyone to attend a One Big Night, get trained to participate in or lead a City Group, and be sent to impact those around you.”

Our team also asked one of our student leaders, Kiss’Swanna Curtis, to share the impact One Big Night has had on her life.

Kiss’Swanna stated, “Attending Champions Centre and actually making it a priority to get involved has impacted my life so greatly. Just being in an environment where everyone is so positive and encouraging you to succeed, allowed me to finally see that I had an influence and that it was time for me to start using it. I realized that it was no longer about me, but it was about bringing people to know

6 | CHAMPION LIFE MAGAZINE

STUDENT MINISTRIES department highlight

the amazing God I serve and all that He is capable to do in our lives. Since One Big Nights have started, I have been challenged in a way that I never felt I could be chal-lenged. One Big Nights have reminded me that there is potential in our city, God wants to do so much, and that it starts in us as youth. I have started a club at my school called The Break-fast Club as an outward expression to share my faith with people at my school that may not know God. Champi-ons Centre has made it so easy for me to bring people to church by providing buses that pick students up at their

schools so that they can come to One Big Nights, and by providing us with the curriculum materials that we need

to start a group, we can come together on our own as well. I am so thankful that my family chose to be a part of Cham-pions Centre, and I definitely wouldn't be the young women that I am today if it wasn't for our amazing church.”

ONE BIG NIGHTS HAVE REMINDED ME THAT THERE IS POTENTIAL IN OUR CITY, GOD WANTS TO DO SO MUCH, AND THAT IT STARTS IN US AS YOUTH.

Students,What really matters?

Come find out this summer. Grow in your relationship with God. Create memories that last a lifetime. Make an impact in our generation.

SUMMER INTERNSHIPJUNE 23–AUGUST 12

Ages 9–11 and 15–18

Think about it. Pray about it. Do it. Email info@championscentre.com for more information.

STEF JAMES

Stefanie James is the Student Ministries Director at Champions Centre. She is passionate about building up the kids and students of this now generation.

SPRING / 15 | 7

By Student Ministries Team

IS BESTThe Pacific Northwest holds some the most beautiful and unique terrain in our nation.

Although it’s most commonly known for the Seattle rain, environmentally conscience

Oregonians, and Idaho spuds, there’s much more to be discovered. The rare splendor

of the Pacific Northwest holds an unsurpassed amount of extraordinary beauty.

Northwest

8 | CHAMPION LIFE MAGAZINE

RATTLESNAKE LEDGENorth Bend, Washington

Rattlesnake Ledge is a busy trail through the forest with views of the Cedar River watershed, Mount Si, Mount Washington, Rattlesnake Lake, and Chester Morse Lake. As soon as you arrive, you witness the majestic view of Rattlesnake Ledge's sheer rock face across Rattlesnake Lake. At first glance, it’s hard to believe that you will be at the top of Ridge at the end of your hike, but rest assured, it is a much easier than it first appears. Rattlesnake is a four-mile trail round trip for all skill levels and is accessible year round.

IS BESTHERE ARE A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE FAMILY FRIENDLY DESTINATIONS:

SNOQUALMIE FALLSSnoqualmie, Washington

Snoqualmie Falls is one of Washington State’s most popular scenic attractions. The famous 270 foot waterfall can be viewed from the upper bridge. From the Snoqualmie Falls viewpoints to the lower falls viewpoint, each site is family as well as pet-friendly and ends with impressive views of a Washington icon. It is an excellent introduction to the region for new hikers and is full of historical cultural significance. The trail is 1.2 mile round trip, accessible year round, and is primarily used for hiking and walking.

Northwest

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ONEONTA GORGEMt. Hood National Forest, Oregon

If you’re looking for a fun hike to get to a gorgeous waterfall, you may want to check out Oneonta Gorge, which is within the Columbia River Gorge. It’s a short, lush, secluded hike, wading through a river surrounded by stunning cliffs on either side. The one mile journey to the falls begins at Oneonta Gorge Trailhead and ends Lower Oneonta Falls. We suggest going in the summer when it’s warm as the water gets cold, and you will get wet.

MULTNOMAH FALLSBridal Veil, Oregon

Multnomah Falls is fed by rainwater, an underground spring, and snow melt, creating a 620 foot awe-inspiring waterfall year round. From the parking area, it’s only a five minute walk to the base of the falls. For a closer view, walk a few hundred feet up the paved trail to Benson Bridge, which spans the falls at the first tier. Standing on the bridge, you have a perfect view of the top tier of the waterfall, as well as an incredible vantage point over the 69 foot drop below. This is a gorgeous and easy spot to visit with the whole family.

10 | CHAMPION LIFE MAGAZINE

JUMP CREEKSands, Idaho

Jump Creek is a popular for hiking and horseback riding with waterfalls, creeks, deep rocky canyons, and wild mustangs. It originates in Sands Basin from year-around springs with a beautiful canyon with colorful rock walls towering hundreds of feet tall in its line banks. Jump Creek has a recreation area that is day use only. Hiking trails range from a quarter mile to 10 miles. Jump Creek offers a large variety of trail options for various degrees of hikers. It is normally open from March until October.

TABLE ROCKBoise, Idaho

Table Rock is part of the extreme Southwestern portion of the Boise Mountains. The hike offers grand views of the Boise skyline, foothills, and the valley. Table Rock is a relatively rounded hill but has an attractive flat summit with small caves and cliffs below. Table Rock is one of the easiest hikes to get to in the Boise area and one of the most scenic. A hike or bike ride up to the top of this rock outcropping provides views of the entire city of Boise. The trail is a 6.5 miles trail round trip and is accessible year round.

These are just a few of the incredible options we have in the great Pacific Northwest. It is such a beautiful place for families to enjoy outdoor activities together. We hope you are able to get out and start exploring all that the Pacific Northwest has to offer.

I READ AN AFRICAN PROVERB THAT SAID, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Going alone has been my preference longer than I’d like to admit. I have preferred running my own race on my own. Going together means adjusting to various personalities, compromising my preference, and dealing with potential drama. It also means being exposed to betrayal, misunder-standing and pain. Running fast and blazing trails sounds much more exciting.

If I am alone, then I can hide my struggle. I can look like I have it all together and feel like I’m in control. I can avoid the confrontations and truth about my mess, but if you run alone long enough, eventually you get tired. I was tired and desperately needed people in my life not just to correct me but to encourage me. I needed some-one to look me in my face and tell me to keep going and don’t quit. We were never meant to do life alone.

BY APRIL CARTER

April Carter and her husband, Micahn, pastor

Together Church in Yakima, Washington. They both have

a calling on their lives to take risks with risky people by giving unending second

chances and grace.

Ecclesiastes 4:12 says, “By yourself, you’re unprotected. With a friend, you can face the worst. Can you round up a third? A three-stranded rope isn’t easily snapped.”

When a zebra travels alone, he is more susceptible to being attacked and conquered, but when a zebra travels in a herd, a lion will avoid them or wait for one to get disconnected from the group. When the stripes get together, it ap-pears that there is one giant zebra. When we get together, we are stronger, and we are not easily broken. We can face impossible situations and conquer more together. I still have a tendency to want to go alone. I sometimes fear that I will be disappointed or worse, be a disappoint-ment to someone else. I have to renew my mind and remind myself that I am no good on my own. I need people, and people need me. Yes, hurts and disappointments will come, but I would rather go through them with messy people like myself than go through life alone.

SPRING / 15 | 11

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED, “There has to be more to life than what I’m doing. Am I living the life God has planned for me?” Did today contain the same schedule of events that it did yesterday? It’s so easy to walk through each day with our eyes on ourselves, doing what we need to do to get by.

Days turn into weeks and weeks into months, we know where this is going. God has written your story, but do you

know how your story fits into the greatest story of all—His story?

I have always felt there was more to life than what I had lived so far.

Before I started volunteer-ing, I was the person who tended to look the other way as I passed a homeless person on the street, giving something occasionally but not much eye contact or interaction. My first experience in outreach through Champions Foundation was to go out in small teams and invite homeless individuals to join us for something to eat and to provide them with the opportunity to gather needed items.

I honestly felt a bit scared and nervous at the idea of having to go up and talk to homeless people not knowing what to say or how they would react.

However, volunteering changed my perspective. I saw through the circumstance of homelessness to a person, a real person that was maybe down on their luck, overcoming a mistake, or looking for a new beginning.

Sometimes volunteering in new territories may seem a little unfamiliar or intimidating but if we focus on adding value, those fears quickly disappear, and we can find a place of strength. If we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change. Getting out of our own routine and stepping into a role of helping others keeps our perspective in check. Together, we can accomplish so much more in our city.

How many times have you heard, “Find something you are passionate about and see what you can do with it!” This is one of the reasons I am where I am today. We are so blessed to have Champions Foundation and a leader like Pastor Sheila. Her heart for helping others discover their passion and acting upon it is amazing.

Champions Foundation provides an opportunity for us to get out of ourselves and reach out to others. What stories

“IF WE CHANGE THE WAY WE LOOK AT THINGS, THE THINGS WE LOOK AT CHANGE.”

CHAMPIONS FOUNDATION UPDATE BY CHRISTY RUPERT

EXPLORE YOUR PURPOSE

12 | CHAMPION LIFE MAGAZINE

Champions Foundation is a non-profit organization. Our mission is to inspire faith, hope, compassion and

education through collaborative partnerships in our community and worldwide.

Web championsfoundation.comEmail info@championsfoundation.com

Phone 253.475.6454 Ext. 108

“FOR IT IS GOD WHO WORKS IN YOU TO WILL AND TO ACT IN ORDER TO FULFILL HIS GOOD PURPOSE.”

–Philippians 2:13

tug at your heart? A child in Foster Care going through the system, never feeling like they are a part of a family? Serving at YouthCare and seeing how many teens are there for Thanksgiving without a family tradition to belong to? The severe conditions and loneliness of a homeless person on the

streets? A young boy or girl that has been coerced into the sex trade?

You may or may not realize what God is calling you to do. I was there and still am on the journey. I will tell you that God will put the right people in your life when you step on the path He has made for you. It’s like a

confirmation that you’re heading the right direction.

Take the first step. Bring your ideas, your passions, and your willingness to spread the love of Christ to others in our community. Visit championsfoundation.org to find an opportunity near you. Let's explore new territory together.

CHAMPIONS FOUNDATION ASKS YOU . . . WHAT COULD YOU DO IN 2?What could you do in two hours—once a month that would change a life, impact a community, and bring about change in the world we live in.

Visit us online or email us at getinvolved@championsfoundation.org to find out the different opportunities where you can be an impact in our local community. Again, ask yourself . . . What could you do in two? Two seconds can change a life. Two minutes can change your life. Two hours can change your community.

CHAMPIONS FOUNDATION

UPDATE

Christy is a volunteer for Champions Foundation.

SPRING / 15 | 13

CHAMPION FINDS

WE>MEDoes every “Me” matter to God? Is the “Me” more valu-

able or the “We?” In this two part series, Kevin discusses

what the Bible teaches about being an individual while

being a part of the greater community.

STRONGER Have you ever wondered what it takes to get to a new

level of strength in your relationship? Stronger relation-

ships, being positive, and having faith is achieved by

embracing the Table of Truth not ignoring it. Learn how

to stay strong and stay connected by choosing to be

honest through this four part series.

LOCAL253.475.6454 ext. 361

TOLL FREE888.935.6914

ONLINEkevingerald.tv

14 | CHAMPION LIFE MAGAZINE

LIVING A LIFE OF GROWTH & PROGRESS We are not meant to stay where we are. We are de-

signed to grow. This two part series will challenge you

to rise above mediocrity and into the life you are meant

to live. No matter where you are at, open your mind to

the possibilities in front of you. It’s not just about doing

something. It’s about doing the things that will cause

you to grow!

RESOURCE YOURSELF AT KEVINGERALD.TVGo online to find a wealth of resources, including free videos from Kevin Gerald and MP3s of messages.

CHAMPION FINDS

COMING SOON... Kevin Gerald has a new book releasing this fall. If you

would like to be on the Street Team for this book, send

us an email at kgc@championscentre.com. By being a

part of helping us get the word out about this life-

changing book, you get free stuff and exclusive access

to book related materials.

SPRING / 15 | 15

one

wins

one

wins

By Jodi Cameron

16 | CHAMPION LIFE MAGAZINE

wins wins

Tug-of-War. We played several rounds that summer at youth camp. Without fail, the team who won the round was a team that approached the rope with strength and unity. Life does not always present itself as an easy game like tug-of-war, but there is something we can learn from this pastime, which can be traced to artwork from a 4,000 year old tomb in Egypt.

Now imagine that there are two forces in our lives that are pulling in opposite directions. One direction is pulling you closer to God and a next-level relationship with Him, and the other pull takes you in the complete opposite direction.

One of the most powerful things we can do as individuals to feed the force that draws us closer to God is to gather together with other believers consistently.

Let’s take a look at the Bible and what it has to say about the importance of coming together:

So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re present-able inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps His word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:22-25)

WHY DOES COMMUNITY MATTER? Something powerful happens when we come together often with God’s people at a local church—not just any local church—but a church that we are planted in, involved with, and invested in. When we come together and “spur one another on” as the writer puts it, we’re able to keep each other on track, encourage when encourage-ment is needed, and challenge thought processes when it’s needed. When we come together as The Church, it ben-efits us individually, but it also creates a place for people

The air was dry on a hot summer day in

Washington what feels now like a lifetime ago. The dirt patches in the

sparse green grass created mini dust storms

around our feet as we dug in. We took another

step backwards nearly in unison. There were about

ten or twelve of us in a single file line. A thick

rope held us together as each of us held tightly

hoping that we had more strength together then the other dozen or so facing us towing the

other end of the rope.

SPRING / 15 | 17

who don’t know Christ to be welcomed into a community of people who do know Him so that they too can come to know Him.

In my life, I’ve seen examples over and over of either side of the tug-of-war winning and the ripple effects it creates in first the individual, then the family, and sometimes the legacy of that family. When the force that is pulling away from God wins, it is only a matter of time before that person or that family faces self-destruction. Sometimes it happens quickly and brashly, and other times it is more of an under-current of discontentment, isolation, or emptiness.

And yet, when a person and/or family stays committed to the church where God calls them and they don’t “avoid worshiping together,” God’s ultimate plan for their life and legacy has fertile soil to plant in and flourish.

So how do we win the tug-of-war of our time, energy, and ultimately our soul? Let’s break down Hebrews 10 and see what we find.

So let’s do itI love that it starts out with decisive action. Taking action goes beyond good intentions.

Full of beliefAnother translation says—full assurance of faith. It’s more than just altruism that drives this in us. It is con-necting our faith belief with our intention and then also to our action where the genuine God connection happens for people.

Confident that we’re presentable inside and out

Most of us learn as kids to wash up for dinner, but being presentable for God is less about outward appearance of

dress, hairstyles, and whether or not you have a tattoo. It’s found in the simple act of asking God to forgive us of our sins. For me, this is a daily habit. I’m not perfect, which means I make a lot of mistakes, and making myself presentable to God starts with a healthy dose of saying, “Hey God, so I messed up today. Help me get it right next time.”

Keep a firm grip on GOD’S PROMISES

The God we serve is true to His Word. If He says it, we can believe in what He says. God’s promises and their outcomes may not always be what we envision or arrive in the timing that we expect, but, who am I to put God in a human Jodi-sized-thinking box? I didn’t create the entire universe with my words or put life into humanity with one breath. God did. His promises are real, and it’s up to us to find out what they are through the Bible and hold on to them for ourselves, our families, our com-munity. and this generation.

How inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out

In order to encourage each other or help the people around us out, we need to actually be engaged with people. It’s hard to encourage someone else or lend a helping hand if we isolate ourselves. Plus, when we do good works together (as another translation of this writing reads) with other people, we can do so much more together than we could do apart. Our impact on our communities and this generation can exponen-tially increase when we come together under a cause. My challenge for you is to consider what can you do today to encourage someone or how can you partner

God can work in us in a way that transforms us through the community of the local church.

5.

4.

3.

2.

1.

18 | CHAMPION LIFE MAGAZINE

ONE OF MY FAVORITE SCRIPTURES is found in Psalm 142 when David says, "I cry out loudly to God, loudly I plead with God for mercy. I spill out all my complaints before him, and spell out my troubles in detail . . .I cry out, God, call out: ‘You’re my last chance, my only hope for life!’ Oh listen, please listen; I’ve never been this low. Rescue me from those who are hunting me down; I’m no match for them. Get me out of this dungeon so I can thank you in public. Your people will form a circle around me and you’ll bring me showers of blessing!” (Psalm 142:1–7 MSG).

When David was penning these words, he was referring to one of his darkest hours—literally and figuratively. He was in a cave, and caves are dark, damp, and dreary. You can't see the next step in front of you, and you can only imagine the situation that David was in.

He had felt betrayed by King Saul and was in a cave hiding to save his life. In that desperate moment even then, David knew he needed relationships to surround him, to form a circle around him. He knew that was key to helping him feel protected, safe, and not alone.

Picture that circle in your mind. It's powerful imagery.

What about forming a circle around other women? What women in your community, office, and family who need you to form a circle around them? I remember recently a new couple to our church walked through complications during the delivery of their baby. After the reports from doctors, this couple could have gone into a dark cave. Instead of bringing their new baby girl home, they had to keep her in the hospital for months without getting to ever hold her.

We decided as a group of women from our church to buy a bunch of baby blankets and hand write scriptures all over the blankets. It wasn't anything fancy, but that simple act by a group of women made this family feel like a circle was formed around them.

Now this sweet baby is home being held by two parents who are eternally grateful that a group of women many who they hadn't met would pray and dare to believe for healing and to bless them with blankets to remind them that even in their darkest moments they weren't alone.

I pray as you read this story God illuminates your eyes to show you who to gather to form a circle around the women in your world who are in their own "caves" needing to know they aren't alone.

Oneka McClellan and her husband, Earl, served on staff at Shoreline Austin for eleven years before being launched to start Shoreline Dallas. She

has been graced with an ability to connect and engage with

people as she continues to help build God’s House both locally

and globally.

REAl Life ApplicationBy Oneka McClellan

DAVID KNEW HE NEEDED RELATIONSHIPS TO SURROUND HIM, TO FORM A CIRCLE AROUND HIM. HE KNEW THAT WAS KEY TO HELPING HIM FEEL PROTECTED, SAFE, AND NOT ALONE.

SPRING / 15 | 19

with someone to do a random act of kindness? Let’s see how creative you can get.

Continue worshiping togetherThis one is so vital. If we want the tug-of-war results that lead us closer to God, this one matters so much. Don’t even think that I say it just to get butts in seats for a church service. For the individual who makes church a priority and finds ways to be part of the community of that church, points one through five begin to take care of themselves in some ways . . . I know I find myself being encouraged. I have more opportunities to serve alongside others. I start seeing more of God’s promises and how to apply them to my life, which continues to affirm my faith. I find my life to be set on track weekly—and daily—because of the people who sur-round me.

The question remains is whether we come together at the expense of isolating ourselves from people who don’t believe? I sincerely hope not. God can work in us in a way that transforms us through the community of the local church, and He can also work through us in a way that helps us transform the community outside the local church. When it comes to which side we want to see win the tug-of-war in our lives, I hope that we do what needs to be done in order for the side that is pulling us closer to God and a next-level relationship with Him wins.

God’s PromisesHere’s a few of God’s promises to get you started:

God Promises:Help In Overcoming Temptation.

1 Corinthians 10:13

To Supply All Our Needs.

Philippians 4:19

Eternal Life.

1 John 2:25

To Do the Impossible.

Luke 18:27

To Forgive Us.

1 John 1:9

Deliverance from Fear and Protection.

Psalm 91:4-6

Peace.

Isaiah 26:3

Wisdom.

James 1:5

To Do:• Look up these verses in a couple

different versions (NIV, NKJV, Message) or use a tool like YouVersion or Biblegateway.com to look them up online.

• Commit to memorizing one of these verses each month for the rest of the year.

6.

Jodi CameronExecutive Director of Ministries, Jodi Cameron, and her husband Ryan are Champions Centre Bellevue Campus pastors.

20 | CHAMPION LIFE MAGAZINE

WEWE

22 | CHAMPION LIFE MAGAZINE

hen we are in a mindset of explora-tion, we think we have to be fully reliant on ourselves and focus on

what we need to do in order to survive.

Standing in the quiet of our surround-ings, we can feel completely alone.

The reality is we are never alone—even if we climb to the tallest peak.

We have a God who never leaves us, never forsakes us, and who has created us to do life with others. More so than just finding our match in marriage, we are meant to live in community. The Apostle Paul reminds us of this in Romans 12:5 where he writes, “In Christ, WE, who are many, form one body and each member belongs to all the others.”

Imagine if Jesus had taken a ME attitude and decided to isolate Himself and forget why God sent Him to walk this earth in the first place. The body of Christ would not exist as we know it. The WE would be in a very different situ-ation today. So why is it that it’s so easy for many of us to disconnect from the community? Why has church become negotiable when it’s the very thing that could save you and your children and your children’s children?

When we focus on the ME, we limit the potential for God to work in our lives. Think about for a second how much time and energy each of us spends at work or school, watching television, or waiting for someone to like our

WE HAVE A GOD WHO NEVER LEAVES US, NEVER FORSAKES US, AND WHO HAS CREATED US TO DO LIFE WITH OTHERS.

latest post on social media. Now think of if you were to replace some of that time with being in church every weekend, volunteering and serving in His House as well as in the community, and attending or even hosting a small group. Consider the differences between those two lives.

This is the truth: WE are a community that God thinks of as His people committed to His purpose. In I Peter 2:9–10, the author writes, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God.”

WE take a huge step in our spiri-tual maturity when WE start to think beyond the ME to the WE. When WE start to understand that God not only loves ME. God Loves WE. God designed ME to live in the WE. God’s plan for ME is connected to His plan for WE.

At Champions Centre, we have quite a few kids, young adults, and adults who have experienced the fruit of staying plugged into the community. They have not only grown in their own relationship with Christ, but they have been able to lead others as well. I can think of one in particular who if his parents had not remained faithful

QUIET STILLNESS, FRESH AIR, TALL EVERGREEN TREES WITH MASSIVE TRUNKS, AND ROCK-FILLED PATHS IS WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE PICTURE WHEN WE THINK ABOUT EXPLORING. FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE LIVED IN THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST FOR A WHILE, WE AUTOMATICALLY THINK OF THE WILDERNESS OF MOUNT RAINIER OR THE OLYMPIC MOUNTAIN RANGE.

By Kevin Gerald

SPRING / 15 | 23

all these years and kept coming back, he would not have the inf luence he has today where he is able to inspire and encourage our youth.

In Hebrews 10:24–25, the author writes, “Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

Church is not just a place for ME to attend . . . it's a com-munity for me to belong to where we spur one another on to do good acts, to think good thoughts, to be generous, to be worshippers, to be givers.

Now what I don’t want you to take away from the idea of WE>ME that every ME doesn’t matter. I want you to see just the opposite. Every ME matters to God.

When you are aware of how much you matter to God, you can be confident in every season and cir-cumstance of life. In Psalm 139:13–16, the Psalmist writes, “For you were cre-ated in my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fear-

fully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place . . . Your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be.”

Wonderfully made.

Ordained.

You knew me before I formed.

All my days are already written in Your book.

How can we read those words and not feel an overwhelm-ing sense of God’s love for each of us individually. The care that is shown in that verse alone should be enough to prove

God’s unfailing love, and the good news is that there is an entire book filled with more verses just like that one.

Whatever situation you may be in or mountaintop you may be climbing, it might seem insurmountable and may require more strength than you currently have. However, God’s idea is to help you. He wants to give you strength to survive in the wilderness, but you have to be willing to not do it alone.

This leads to my next truth: God not only loves ME. God Loves WE.

God designed ME to live in the WE. As I said before, we are created for community and are formed for God’s fam-ily. The practical outworking of God’s plan for ME is in the context of WE. God has called each of us to serve in His Church.

The Church is where ME the consumer becomes WE the contributor.

The Church does not exist for us. Instead, WE are the Church, and WE exist for the world.

The revelation of the WE is a powerfully life-changing perspective that lifts the lid that may be limiting your life and positions you for ongoing, neverending progress and growth. I’m believing that as you sit here and read about this that you are about to get a breakthrough in your life where there’s been a lid.

You may be thinking, “Pastor, I want be a part of the WE, but I just do not know how.” My answer is simple—con-nect. There is a reason why at the end of every service we encourage individuals to not make a beeline for the door. We encourage connection in the lobby especially at our green and black tents.

We let everyone know that their next step is to attend Starting Point where we learn all about the community of Champions Centre and how to become a part.

We encourage everyone to join a team where you can serve alongside like-minded people who have a heart for God and others.

"WHEN YOU ARE AWARE OF HOW MUCH YOU MATTER TO GOD, YOU CAN BE CONFIDENT IN EVERY SEASON AND CIRCUMSTANCE."

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Lastly, we focus on being in a small group where people meet in houses and coffee shops all over the Seattle-Taco-ma area in order to build a strong community.

The reason we do all this is we know that every ME belongs in the WE. God’s plan is for every ME to be in the WE, because every ME is made better in the WE. In James 3:18, James writes, “You can develop a healthy, robust commu-nity that lives right with God and enjoy its results.”

Our goal is to be a healthy, robust community of God’s people, who honor God collectively as His people—as His

"GOD'S PLAN IS FOR EVERY ME TO BE IN THE WE, BECAUSE EVERY ME IS MADE BETTER IN THE WE"

church. We are meant to be a healthy, robust, strong, mag-netic, influencing, impacting community of God’s people.

Every single one of us is called to be a part of something greater than ourselves. Paul writes in Philippians 2:2, “make my joy com-plete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambi-tion or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”

Right there in His Word, we are reminded that the com-munity of WE is God’s hope for THEM—every single ME of this world.

If we really think about this, we can see that the ME and the WE is actually between the Him and the THEM. Jesus made us His light on this earth to reach THEM.

WE are difference makers and the life bringers. The Church was created by God to bring hope to this world and to bring eternal life to the lost, the broken, the defeated, and the completely alone.

Being fully committed to being the WE, our light shines brighter. Our message is louder. Our power is stronger. Our impact is greater. This is how WE change the world.

Kevin GeraldKnown for a ministry that imparts practical, Biblical principles that equip people to live successful Christian lives, Kevin and Sheila Gerald are the Founders and Lead Pastors of Champions Centre (Tacoma and Bellevue, Washington), one of the largest congregations in the Pacific Northwest. In leadership and life, Pastor Kevin purposes to locate and communicate wisdom, and those who know him value him for his relevant, practical approach to ministry.

SPRING / 15 | 25

REAL LIFE

Almost a year ago, I was exploring with some friends in Seattle and taking pictures

when we found ourselves on the rooftop of a building just outside the city.

Most people don’t know that I am afraid of heights, but there I was sitting more than twenty f loors up, looking over the city with my feet hanging over the edge.

I naturally kept focusing on the idea of falling, but I wanted to get a shot of my feet dangling despite of my fear.

When I am out taking photos whether it’s on a beach, in the woods, or standing on the bridge in the middle of nowhere, I try to keep an open mind to everything that is around me. I stay focused and relaxed so that I don’t have to really think about all the tiny details.

If I am taking a picture of it, it means that I think that the moment is worth remembering.

At Champions Centre, I like taking pictures, because it’s a space that I feel comfortable.

It’s natural to me. I know how people are generally going to interact and which moments

will create the most impact.

The first time I ever took pictures for someone else was when I was asked to for a conference, I had no idea

what I was doing, but it was in those moments that I came out with some of my best work.

I have been a part of Champions Centre for most of my life. My mom remarried when I was three to a man who I call my dad, Geno. He has been the only father figure I have known and has always been there through everything. To me, he is my dad.

It was because of him that my mom and I even have a belief system at all. We started going to church regularly, so I was raised as a church kid.

If my mom had not met Geno, I can’t even tell you where I would have ended up.

A few years later in an elementary service, I raised my hand in salvation, but for me, the moment wasn’t life-altering. My one day experience had happened gradually over time. It happened from being around positive friendships and consistent exposure to the church. It was something I had been feeling for a while.

Now, I’m 21, and I have never left. I spend most of my time here, because I enjoy being a part of this place. The expectation in my family has always been church first, and I never would let them down.

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CHAMPIONSS C O T T Y A U G K H O P I N E E

I serve on the media team where I get to take photos and videos and help with audio during service, and I occasionally play drums for the worship team. There is just something about being here even during the week, seeing how much work everyone puts into one service, and experiencing the results. It is amazing.

Everything makes sense to be here, and when I am capturing these moments during the service and in the lobby and out in the parking lot, I’m thinking ahead of it all. I am thinking of the changed person.

Some of my favorite moments at church have been seeing people make decisions, especially seeing hands go up all over the auditorium.

"I LIKE TO TRY TO SEE THINGS FROM A NEW

PERSPECTIVE, WHICH IS WHY I LOVE TO EXPLORE."

No matter who we are, there is always something incredible to experience here. I choose to explore what is right in front of me.

SPRING / 15 | 27

k. wise

DON’T SETTLE FOR WHATEVER CIRCUMSTANCE YOU MAY BE IN. INSTEAD, SEE WHAT CAN HAPPEN IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO GAIN GROUND.

In the game of football when a ball gets hiked, there are three things that can happen: I can lose ground. I can main-tain ground, which ultimately means I lose ground, or I can gain ground.

When it comes to finances, all of us can learn to do more with what we have in order to gain ground in our lives. The worst thing we can do is compare ourselves to others, because what if we are trying to keep up with someone who is heading right into bankruptcy?

The reality is it’s less about where you are and more about what direction you’re headed. We have all made some financial mistakes and come from all different circumstances. Some started in a better position than others. Some have a higher income than others. Some have more debt than others.

When it comes to gaining ground financially, we have to increase our income and decrease our expenses.

Let’s focus on what we have right where we are and gain ground.

God’s plan for our lives is for us to be blessed in every way—

spiritually, emotionally, physically, and financially. Money specifically is mentioned about 2,000 times in the Bible. In the New Testament alone, money is mentioned more than heaven and hell combined.

What this tells us is that God wants us to prosper. He wants us to move forward, to advance. He wants us to succeed as long as we continue to keep Him as the main focus in all of our pursuits. With that said, here are four keys for gaining ground:

1. BELIEVE YOU CAN.No matter what your financial situation, God is able, and will help you gain ground.

2. LESS IS MORE.The wider the gap between what you bring in and what you spend is called margin. If you want to gain ground, create margin.

3. FIRST THINGS FIRST.Put God first in your finances. Make tithing a habit.

4. PRAY FOR PROGRESS.The Prayer of Jabez is a great place to start. “Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that your hand would be with me, and that you would keep me from evil, so that it would not grieve me,” (1 Chronicles 4:10).

No matter what your financial situation, God will help you to gain ground if you believe He can. His Word reminds us of this in Joshua 1:8 where it says, “Keep this Book of Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”

God's plan for our lives is for us to be blessed in every way.

BY KEVIN GERALD

28 | CHAMPION LIFE MAGAZINE

“”

TWENTY YEARS FROM NOW YOU WILL

BE MORE DISAPPOINTED BY THE THINGS

THAT YOU DON’T DO THAN BY THE

ONES YOU DID DO. SO THROW OFF THE

BOWLINES. SAIL AWAY FROM SAFE HARBOR.

CATCH THE TRADE WINDS IN YOUR SAILS.

EXPLORE. Dream. Discover. - MARK TWAIN

WEAREteamchurch

15

register now atchampionscentre.com/Teamchurch

a summer conference for everyone

Kevin & Sheila Gerald HostsRyan & Jodi CameronLouie GiglioEd YoungRich Wilkerson jrNicole ReyesLee Domingue

August 3-5