by Erin Claassen

Game shows, good food, good friends, and LOVE!  What could be better?  Well, wrap it all into one evening and you’ve got the Valentine’s Dinner.

This well-attended event took place February 13th in the main sanctuary at NCAC.  Put on by the Social Team, the Valentine’s Dinner was a big hit. Ryan Wildauer emceed the event, which included two games: The Newly-Oldly Wed Game and Name That Tune.

Toni Godman, who attended the event with her husband, Gary, said, “The Valentines Dinner was FUN and obviously many hours of love labor were put into the preparation. My favorite part overall was Ryan’s antics with the music challenges – although the Newlywed Game was a great idea too.  The green beans and potatoes were wonderful; the cake and cheesecake were fabulous.”

The Valentine’s dinner wasn’t just for married couples and sweethearts.  Lina Patterson, a member of the College/Young Adults group was excited to attend.  “I think that the best part of the evening was seeing the example of marriage in our church and the way that couples should be is awesome. It was a blessing to hear stories around the table and seeing the Lord in each one of the couple’s lives. Today we need to see that more and more, and to pass it on to our children as a blessing from the Lord, and keep marriage sacred as it should be.”

Work in the kitchen was done by a wonderful staff of volunteers.

Students from the high school youth group volunteered as servers for the evening.  High school junior Calvin Abshier, when asked why he decided to help out at the Valentine’s Dinner responded, “Because I like to serve whenever I can and enjoy spending time with my friends.”  He also added that while serving the meal he picked up some tips on marriage: “Your wife’s haircut ALWAYS looks good no matter what. And pay attention to what kind of shoes she’s wearing cause you never know when you’re gonna be quizzed on it.”

When asked, many of the attendees said they’d love to have more events like this at NCAC.  While the games were hilarious and the food was delicious, according to Kaja Ramsey, “The best part of the evening was getting to know the people at our table better.”  So be sure to pay attention for upcoming events put on by the Social Team.  You won’t regret it!

by Barbara DeCofano

Meet Juliet Helow, born in Henrietta, OK. Shortly   afterwards, her family moved to Pontiac, MI, then to Chicago. Juliet completed high school there and won a two-year scholarship to an art school with a painting of the Madonna. Juliet also sang as a Coloratura Soprano in many local musicals and radio stations. Unfortunately, an injury to her throat made it impossible to continue her career.

During WWII, her family moved to Inglewood, CA where Juliet worked as a riveter and driller working on the famous B-25 and P-51 aircraft. An allergy to aluminum dust caused  another job change to  the May Co. in Los Angeles.

On a trip to Boston in 1945, Juliet met and married her husband of 56 years, Frank, who just returned from the war in Europe. The couple returned to Inglewood where Juliet became a beautician.

They have six girls (including one set of twins) plus one son. Juliet had been told that she could probably sing again if she gave her voice a rest. Her reply was that raising seven children didn’t allow for such a luxury.

It was on a trip to Chico to visit friends that they     decided to move the family North. Juliet became a caterer and also operated a coffee shop in Chico. She was also an interior decorator, which led to a job with Montgomery Ward.

Her husband, Frank, worked for Sierra Pacific for many years. Upon    retirement they moved to Cottonwood. After his death, Juliet moved to Anderson, where she shares her home with daughter Nancy.

Juliet was raised as a Christian; baptized in the Greek Orthodox Church and re-baptized at NCAC, June, 2008. Juliet enjoys the books of Ruth and John. Psalm 23 is also a favorite. She belongs to Harvesters, where her catering skills are put to good use.

With her quick wit, lilting laugh and godly heart she brings much joy to others.

by Barbara DeCofano

Pam Mimaki was born and raised in Whittier, CA. Jerry Todd in Peoria, IL, but they met in San Jose while    attending Navigator’s   Bible Studies and have been married for 32 years. They are the parents of son, Greg  and daughter, Becky (husband Troy) and grandparents of 18 month old Emma.

Pam was involved in her parents’ Flower Farm in Whittier and worked for Pacific Telephone in San Jose. In Illinois, Jerry worked on a farm, worked at IL Bell Telephone and attended Illinois University. He served in the Army in Vietnam and worked in California as a bank manager.

Family brought them to Happy Valley in 1987 and came to NCAC in 1992. Pam worked at Simpson College several years and presently works at       Maxwell Insurance and Financial Services. Jerry is with U.S. Lending.

Pam received Christ at the age of five. She began learning of God’s love, building her faith and trust in Him.  Eventually, she led her three sisters and parents to Jesus. Pam’s favorite verse is John 3:16. Jerry received Christ in 1968, followed by his brother and his parents. He likes Acts 9 and Isaiah 58:11.

Jerry serves as an NCAC Deacon and with Pam has taught many Bible Studies to Jr. High, High School, College and Adult students. They are Marriage Mentors and recently were part of the Sunday Bible School Class, “Good Sense Finances,” where Pam became well known for her “Mommy Moments,” great advice on parenting.

This busy couple’s hobbies are cooking together and canning their home-grown fruits. Pam enjoys reading, photography, water colors and gardening. Jerry likes skeet shooting, bird hunting, fishing and riding his motorcycle.

Most of all, their care and support of the many students they have taught and mentored displays their joy in Go

By Sally Dallagiacomo

On January 3, 2010 Neighborhood Church embarked on a six-week study of The Prodigal God by Timothy Keller. The book is about Jesus’ three parables in Luke 15, with most of the emphasis on the well-known parable  “The Prodigal Son.”

Each Sunday for six weeks, Brad taught on Luke 15 and all small groups were encouraged to participate in a group study during the week. If you haven’t read the book, we encourage you to, your eyes will be opened and you will be blessed!

We first learned  that the word “prodigal” does not mean wayward but means “recklessly extravagant”, or “having spent everything.” Brad pointed out that this is a story Jesus used to teach. While we should bring in cultural, historical and theological elements to properly understand the story, we should be careful to not add or subtract anything to the story itself through speculation or conjecture.

As we worked through the study guide many things were brought to light about the elder brother. This was not just a story about a younger brother who took his inheritance and squandered it recklessly. It was also about an elder brother who did everything right, and yet both brothers were alienated from God.

Luke tells that there were two groups of people who had come to listen to Jesus. First there were the “tax collectors and sinners” who represented the younger brother, those who did everything wrong. The second group of listeners were the “Pharisees and the teachers of the Law” who represented the elder brother, those who did everything right.  The tax collectors and sinners flocked to hear Jesus. The Pharisees and teachers grumbled that Jesus would dare to show grace to these people.

So to whom is Jesus’ teaching directed? It is primarily to the second group, the Scribes and Pharisees. It is in response to their attitude that Jesus begins to tell the parable.

The parable of the two sons takes an extended look at the soul of the elder brother, and climaxes with a powerful plea for him to change his heart. The targets of this story are not “wayward sinners,” but religious people who do everything the Bible requires yet lack a heart for God.

Jesus is pleading not so much with immoral outsiders as with moral insiders. He wants to show them (us) their blindness, narrowness, and self-righteousness, and how these things are destroying both their (our) own souls and the lives of the people around them (us).

The crucial point here is that, in general, religiously observant people were offended by Jesus, but those estranged from religious and moral observance were intrigued and attracted to him.  The outcast is the one who connects with Jesus and the elder brother type does not.

Jesus says: “The humble are in and the proud are out” (see Luke 18:14). The people who confess they aren’t particularly good or open-minded are moving toward God, because the prerequisite for receiving the grace of God is to know you need it.

The people who think they are just fine are actually moving away from God. Being an elder-brother/ Pharisee is a more spiritually desperate condition.

It is only when you see that you are really striving to be your own Savior and Lord—lying beneath both your sins and your moral goodness—that you finally come to the verge of understanding the truth of the Gospel and becoming a Christian.  When you realize that the antidote to being bad is not just being good, you are on the brink.

If you follow through it will change everything—how you relate to God, self, others, the world, your work, your sins, and your virtue.  It’s called the new birth because it’s so radical.

This, however, only brings us to the brink of Jesus message, not to its heart.

By putting a flawed elder brother in the story, Jesus is inviting us to imagine and yearn for a true one.  And we have him (Jesus!).

Think of the kind of brother we need. We need one who does not just go to the next country to find us but who will come all the way from heaven to earth.

Either as elder brothers or as younger brothers we have rebelled against the Father. We deserve alienation, and rejection.  The point of the parable is that forgiveness always involves a price—someone has to pay. Our true elder brother paid our debt on the cross in our place.

There, Jesus was stripped naked of his robe and dignity so we could be clothed with dignity and standing we don’t deserve. On the cross Jesus was treated as an outcast so we could be brought into God’s family freely by grace. There, Jesus drank the cup of eternal justice so that we might have the cup of the Father’s joy. There was no other way for the heavenly Father to bring us in, except at the expense of our true elder brother.

How can the inner workings of the heart be changed from a dynamic of fear and anger to that of love, joy, and gratitude?  Here is how. You need to be moved by the sight of what it cost to bring you home. The key difference between a Pharisee and a believer in Jesus is the state of our heart and our genuine love for and desire for God.

Let’s be a church that loves all people as our brothers and sisters for it will glorify God.

by Barbara DeCofano

Shirley Weston was born and raised in the “Wild Prairie Rose” state of Iowa; moving to Van Nuys, CA in 1977. Shirley’s two sons still live in Iowa.

In Van Nuys, Shirley supervised 17 girls while working at a candy-confectionary store. One of their unique specialties was making complete replicas of a “Monopoly” board game out of chocolate that was in full color and sold for $600 each.

Shirley lived in the North State from 1980-1987 and worked at Shasta Convalescent Hospital in Redding. She moved to Flournoy, CA where she met her future husband, Charles, at church. They were married in 1990 and retired in Flourney.

Shirley became Charles’ major caregiver when he was struck with Multiple Sclerosis. Although the job was difficult and extremely heartbreaking, her relationship with the Lord was further strengthened.

Two years ago she moved to the Regency Place Apartments in Anderson and has since bought her own home. Her brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Toni Tompkins, are close by and also attend NCAC.

Raised in a Christian home, Shirley received Christ as her Savior in 1979. She is especially fond of the Psalms and says, “I could not live without our Lord; everyday He is doing something for me.” She loves attending Harvesters and works on the TALK. She is always ready to lend a helping hand where needed.

Shirley wasted no time in becoming active in the community, joining in activities at the Anderson Senior Center where she is a member of the Board of Directors. She picks up food three times weekly from the Holiday Market and delivers to the Center.

Shirley enjoys quilting,

gardening and cooking, especially baking. Her home is shared with “Powder,” a four year old “mixed” dog.

by Barbara DeCofano

With all the negative news and hero worship of the rich and famous today, it is gratifying to know there are godly young people in our church who are following the Lord. One such couple is Adam and Amanda Knight.

Adam, son of Terry and Cindy Knight, was born in Riverside and moved to Anderson when he was 14. Adam has two sisters and a brother. Amanda, daughter of Bill and Denise Mendenhall, was born in Red Bluff. She also has two sisters and a brother.

At the age of five, on the very same day, Adam and Amanda received Christ as their Savior. They met while in the College Group and have been married five years. Arielle, their daughter, is two years old. They live in Red Bluff.

Recently Adam established Knightly Computing. Amanda teaches piano and uses her sign language skills at church functions.

They teach kindergarten Sunday school and head up the Children’s Music Program where Amanda plays the piano and Adam plays the guitar.

Their future hope for Christianity complements one another. Adam prays and works for more unity within the church while Amanda prays for unity in the World and Missions. Favorite Bible verses – Adam’s is 1 Corinthians 13 and Amanda likes Romans 8:28 and Philippians 4:4.

Adam’s hobbies are yard work, working on cars and technical “gadgets.” Amanda loves music, reading and writing; having already written several short stories. “Dakardi” is their chocolate lab pup and “Monet” a love bird.

The next time the news media indicates the world is doomed, citing examples of all that is wrong with our younger generation, praise God that NCAC is raising up godly young people like these two.

The next time the news media indicates the world is doomed, citing examples of all that is wrong with our younger generation, praise God that NCAC is raising up godly young people like these two.

Adam is currently a deacon candidate. If you have any comments on his candidacy, submit them to the Elders before December 1.

by Dave and Debi Lopez

Good question isn’t it? Well, how do you answer it? Start by asking yourself if you are doing any of the following, put a check for each one that is a “yes,” and be brutally honest with yourself:

□ Not properly maintaining your vehicle.

□ Going to the store more than once per week.

□ Impulse shopping.

□ Not paying off your credit card(s) every month.

□ Living in more house than you can afford.

□ Engaging in unhealthy habits (junk food, smoking, excessive alcohol, gambling, drugs).

□ Buying coffee, sodas, water, candy, smoothies, and meals from a store/shop/restaurant more than once or twice a month.

□ Expensive hobbies.

□ Owning to many gadgets.

□ Ditto, on subscriptions.

□ Spending too much on gifts, especially at Christmas.

□ Have 500 channel TV service.

□ You are paying bank fees, ATM fees, overdraft fees or bounced check fees.

□ You have NO written financial goals.

□ You haven’t prepared for financial emergencies.

□ You are always trying to make a quick buck (lottery, get-rich-quick schemes, day trading).

□ You invest in things you don’t understand.

□ You ignore your finances.

If you answered “yes” to between six and nine, there is significant room for improvement.

If you answered “yes” to more than nine, then review the list again and work out a strategy to improve your score.

There could be a number of reasons as to why you do or do not do these things, but this quiz should give a good indication about whether you need to begin doing what you already know is best.

by Angie Laughlin

Why do we send our child to AWANA?

Pern and I learned that for nearly 60 years, Awana has been a leader in children’s ministry, helping churches and parents world-wide raise children and youth to know, love and serve Christ.

Awana is the only organization with fully integrated evangelism and discipleship programs for ages 2 to 18 that actively involve parents, church leaders and mentors. Each week, more than a million children and youth, 250,000 volunteers and 300-plus field staff take part in Awana in over 18,000 churches in the U.S. and internationally.

The founders of Awana derived the Awana name from the first letters of Approved Workmen Are Not Ashamed, as taken from 2 Timothy 2:15 of the Bible.

We started sending Faith to Awana about four years ago. It was a big decision for us at the time because our calendar was pretty full and the thought of adding one more thing was daunting. But we talked about it and decided that a program that encourages our kids to live for Christ should be a priority.

Awana also keeps us accountable about memorizing verses and reading the Bible. You can’t beat that!

Last spring our older daughter, Kasey, started helping in the T & T group and has been truly blessed by being part of the young girls’ lives. Kasey said, “I like helping the kids grow and see how excited they get about memorizing verses and learning about God.”

As parents, it is amazing to see them both growing in their relationship with our Heavenly Father.

If you would like to find out more about the Awana program and what they offer, go to Awana.org.

Awana meets every Wednesday from 6:00-7:45pm in the church facility. Encourage your child to bring a friend so they can learn to love Jesus too.

by Men’s Discipleship

At Neighborhood Church we are committed to discipleship. Key to our Men’s Discipleship process are the Men’s Discipleship Bible Study Groups, which are now in their fifth cycle.

These groups are made up of 6-8 men, who meet weekly for 12-14 weeks to encourage each other through God’s Word. The 4 studies offered this cycle are: A study on Romans 12-16 by Matthias Media, “Respectable Sins,” by Jerry Bridges; “Don’t Waste Your Life,” by John Piper; and “Battling Unbelief,” also by Piper.

Here’s what some of the men in a Men’s Discipleship Bible Study Group had to say when asked, “What prompts you to commit 12 to 14 weeks to study with other men?”:

“The fellowship and to see how God can use me and others to glorify His name.” (Jason Smith, now in his 4th study cycle)

“To get more into God’s teaching, to become a better man, and to form friendships with men of God.” (Wayne Knifton, now in his 4th study cycle)

“I need the Christians fellowship!!” (Mike Hopson, now in his 3rd study cycle)

“To better understand the Bible and to have

fellowship with other men.” (Gary Kimmel, now in his 3rd study cycle)

“I need to be near God. Scripture says that ‘as iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.’” (David Sottana, now in his 5th study cycle)

“To grow in my Christian walk. I want to be like Christ.” (Gary Smith, now in his 4th study cycle)

“To know God in a deeper way and to fellowship with other men in Christ.”

(Brian Snavely, now in his 5th study cycle)

“Jesus!” (Shawn

Bainbridge, now in his 3rd study cycle)

Here’s what these same men had to say when asked, “How has God become more valuable to you through this discipleship process?”:

“The character of God is being revealed more and more clearly to me, and that is supremely valuable to me.” (Jason)

“The more I find out about God, the more I value Him

as my Lord and Savior.”

(Wayne)

“As I have become more God focused, my life is more joy-filled.” (Mike)

“He has become more a part of my life.” (Gary K.)

“God blesses me every day. I am so thankful!”

(David)

“You get closer to Him. You feel His love more and more. I want to make Him famous!” (Gary S.)

“When men get together to talk about God, it causes me to grow in

holiness.” (Brian)

“He is developing in me a passion and a deep loving care for others, a passion for the lost and for spreading the Gospel.” (Shawn)