the well monthly

September 28, 2008 at 10:27 pm · Filed under the well monthly

STORY OF THE MONTH

Last Tuesday late afternoon I was able to attend a “Chamber Connection” for any business owners and those that wanted to promote themselves to others in the community. I didn’t know anyone in the room as I approached the podium. I just felt Holy Spirit led as I held nothing back. I let everyone know I was a passionate follower of Jesus Christ and was starting a different kind of church that would be meeting in the local movie theater. I could sense eyebrows raising as this young shaved head guy spoke unshamedly of The Well.

Afterwards I spoke with several people. One guy named Steve asked me question after question. He couldn’t believe that his relationship with Christ wasn’t determined by his church attendance or the way he dressed. I could sense that there was freedom in our conversation and perhaps he felt liberated of years of legalism!

WINS TO CELEBRATE

door 2 door)

26                    Team Gathering @ 10am-12pm

28                    CRU Gathering RSU @ 7pm

Comments

team minutes

September 28, 2008 at 7:57 pm · Filed under minutes

Team Well Gathering

09.28.08

“On this team you won’t make a difference, YOU WILL BE THE DIFFERENCE”

WELL BEING

Personal needs

1. Prissi – the work week

2. Brett – got food poisoning last night and needs healing

3. Davey – renewal out of the funk from this past week

4. Ricky - complete focus on “the one or two” God puts in his path this week

5. Amy – displine in planning so won’t get so stressed

The Well needs

1. Start-up budget – friends, churches, and family will commit to partner financially, itineration opps

2. Players on Team Well - many we’ve talked to would answer a call to serve alongside us

3. Comissioning service with partnering church on oct 12 – that God would open the flood gates financially

4. Every name on “the wall” that God would give us opps to serve them and show Christ’s authentic love

WELL TOLD

Davy – shared about the older handicapped man that he helped in town last week
Brad – shared about his neighbor, as well as client he is working with
Amy – mentioned friends she’s spoke to about The Well, as well as picking up trash at the lake during a jog
Prissi - spoke about a lady that she has been reaching out too at work
Ricky – shared about the elderly lady he helped at the post office, as well as older man while doing inspections

WELL PLAYED

The Player of the Week was Prissi Klepczyk for volunteering to touch our kids lives a few weeks ago in a very small bedroom. Ricky thanked Prissi for being involved and her support from the very beginning stages of The Well and how it will never be forgotten!

WELL UPDATED

□ Church Community Builder – this will be our church software program

□ Big Brother & Big Sisters – Amy has an opportunity to serve on the board

□ Leadership Rogers County & Citizens Academy – In the past week Ricky has been able to make 40 new

contacts

□ Website Production / First Touch Pieces - Our graphic designer will completing our site within the next two

weeks, as well as providing us with 2500 promo materials and 2500 survey cards to pass out to our friends.

□ T-shirts – these should be in by end of the week so we can begin wearing as we serve together in the community

□ October Missions offering – we will begin designating each month $ toward a cause
□ Financial report : we’ve currently raised close to $25,000 / still waiting on our tax exempt app to go through

□ Affiliation in November with the OK District

WELL TIMED

OCTOBER

4 Dickens Bike Ride @ 1pm

5 T3 Triathlon @ 8am

Team Gathering “Shape” @ 10am-12pm

7 CRU Gathering RSU @ 7pm

10 Homecoming Parade @ 4pm

11 Wood Manor @ 9am

12 Commissing Service @ 1030am

Team Gathering “Boot Camp” @ 5pm-7pm

14 CRU Gathering RSU @ 7pm

17-18 Guys Camping Venture

19 Team Gathering “SOAP” @ 10am-12pm

BnB Theater Space Usage / Prayer @ 4pm

Team Movie Night @ BNB – TBA

21 CRU Gathering RSU @ 7pm

24 Halloween Extravaganza (pumpkins) @ 6pm

25 Free Garage Sale @ Springbrook – TBA

26 Team Gathering @ 10am-12pm

28 CRU Gathering RSU @ 7pm

WELL CHOSEN

Players Present

Prissi Klepcvyk – Kids leader / Planning

Davy Rumsey – Wood Manor / RSU / Worship

Brad Robinson – Systems Development

Michelle Brogdon – Admin Assistant

Amy Van Pay – Worship / Kids

WELL TAUGHT

Ricky shared on the topic of “It’s About One”

Ricky reminded the team why are we doing Sunday Feb 22? A life will be changed forever, generations effected, families, businesses, marriages. He encouraged to narrow our vision a bit more: serving our community with the authentic love of Christ one person at a time.

He stated that “Each day I believe there will be one, or two, maybe three people he puts in my path – and that’s why I lived that day”. Ricky reminded everyone that we will always spend time celebrating stories of how we are building relationships with unchurched people during the week. It reinforces our mission and answers the why question for everything else we do. We went on to discover how we can all specifically come up with a relational network and better keep track of the names on “the wall”.

“We each carried out our servant assignment. I planted the seed. Apollos watered the plants, but god made you grow. It’s not the one who plants or the one who waters who is at the center of this process but God who makes things grow. Planting and watering are menial servant jobs, what makes them worth doing is the God we are serving.” 1 cor 3:5-9 exerps

Look at your day – who’s the one on your list? Pick one everyday to make a difference in them! Who can you pray for, encourage, pastor, pursue, invest, or love? Who can I pray for, encourage, pastor, pursue, invest how can we give ourselves away?

“we want to live well, but our foremost efforts should be to help others live well” 1 cor 10:24

The kids were taught the story of Gideon and used play doh for the object lesson. They also worshipped to a Hillsong video.

WELL LISTED

The team wrote 51 new names on “the list”. We then placed hands on the wall and we soaked these names in prayer.

WELL CONNECTED

The team dismissed and had lunch at Arby’s. Everyone was invited to the Tulsa Fair.

Comments (1)

team minutes

September 14, 2008 at 9:54 pm · Filed under minutes

Team Well Gathering

09.14.08

“on this team you won’t make a difference, you will be the difference”

WELL BEING

We started the morning off eating cinammon rolls and splitting up into a band of brothers & sisters. The guys gathered together for prayer on the back deck, while the girls stayed inside to keep warm & dry. We then gathered as one for worship. We then took an offering in the City of Claremore water bottle.

Personal needs

1. Andy – work week

2. Brett – job

3. Davey – filling a little under the weather

4. Ricky – remained focus & not get bogged down with other stuff

5. Michelle – health

6. Amy – trusting in God to lead us into the unknown

The Well needs

1. start-up budget – grant partners

2. players on Team Well

3. meeting with A/G section tomorrow

4. road trip to Dallas to check out sound equipment

5. comissioning service with partnering church on oct 12

WELL TOLD

Brett shared story about his grandpa at age 80 going to church for first time
Davy told story about James Bond and visiting Wood Manor this past week
Michelle shared about experience at hair salon with young girl
Morgan told about getting to know her neighbor
Amy shared about Mom’s club
Ricky talked about the message he left for our City Manager and the girl he got to talk to at Wood Manor

WELL PLAYED

The Player of the Week was Davey Rumsey for all his volunteering at Wood Manor & help with worship

WELL UPDATED

1. Ricky encouraged everyone to continue to look on the blog site for information as a team

2. Everyone filled out the rest of our paperwork & finished signing partnership forms

WELL TIMED

Sept 15 Meeting with Executive Presbytery

Sept 20-21 Guys Road Trip to Dallas / Girls Recon in Tulsa

Sept 28 Well Gathering “Relational Network”

Oct 4-5 Dickens Ride / T3 Triathlon (serving opp)

Oct 5 Well Gathering “The Well Bootcamp”

Oct 12 Commissioning Service @ Claremore A/G

Nov 1 Special Olympics – (serving opp)

Nov 23 Gateway Fellowship Itinerating

Every Sun Team Well Gathering @ Van Pay’s 10am-12pm

Every Tues CRU Gathering @ RSU 7pm

WELL CHOSEN

Players Present

Brett Brumbaugh

Prissi Klepcvyk

Davy Rumsey

Brad Robinson

Morgan

Michelle Brogdon

Andy Brogdon

Amy Van Pay

Ricky Van Pay

WELL TAUGHT

Ricky shared about “Giving Ourselves Away”. We listened to the U2 Song and pondered on the lyrics. He commented that our primary focus is not so much starting a new church as it is to serve our community.
Everyone read different quotes about servanthood and several read passages of scripture (Mark 10:44-45; Luke 6:37-38; Acts 1)
We reviewed the main content of the book: Externally Focused Church
Main question asked, “If a church building caught on fire and burned, who would grieve? Those that attended on the inside or those in the neighborhoods nearby?
We then brainstormed ideas about how we could serve together as a team & ideas to serve individually during the week

The kids were taught the story about Peter, James, & John throwing their nets out and catching all the fish.

WELL LISTED

The team wrote 287 new names on “the list”. Everyone then placed hands on the wall and we soaked these names in prayer.

WELL CONNECTED

The team dismissed and had lunch at Goldie’s. The cool part is our waitress happened to already be a name on the wall.

Comments (1)

the well minutes

September 8, 2008 at 2:44 am · Filed under minutes

Team Well Gathering

09.07.08

“on this team you won’t make a difference, you will be the difference”

WELL BUILT

Crowd breaker: i-favorites

WELL POINT

Connect with players on Team Well, celebrate wins, share stories, pray, hand out binders

WELL BEING

Ricky reminded everyone that this team will be like family and will become a small band of brothers and sisters that will have each other’s backs in prayer

Personal needs

1. Brad – step brother

2. Brett – cousin in prison & long-distance relationship

3. A majority of the team filling the spiritual attacks from getting on the team

The Well needs

1. start-up budget – grant partners

2. players on Team Well

3. meeting with A/G section

WELL DONE

Ricky told a story of meeting a new friend named Chris while jogging, shared how several rsu students are interested in serving at The Well. He reminded the team how much of a priority RSU will be as a church.
Davy suggested opening a facebook & myspace page for The Well.

WELL PLAYED

The Player of the Week was Michelle Brogdon for all her countless hours helping mail out the proposal packets

WELL TOLD

Ricky shared the greatest miracle God has granted thus far in this endeavor – an unexpected financial blessing.
Davy said he wasn’t expecting that and that he’s in this more than ever!
Ricky challenged everyone to be prepared each week to share stories of those that they have initiated relationships with and ways they have personally served people

WELL UPDATED

Prissi has a colored printer she wants to donate for office purposes
Ricky informed everyone that

· a website is being developed and will be finished in a few weeks

· in the next few weeks the team will go over to the theater to look at space usage

· we have an opportunity to purchase some sound equipment

· Amy is currently organizing the kids area and we need to be praying for a kids leader

WELL TIMED

Sept 14 Well Gathering to discuss “Serving ideas & relational network”

Sept 15 Meeting with Executive Presbytery

Sept 21 Well Gathering “The Well Boot Camp”

Oct 4 Dickens Ride – serving opportunity

Oct 5 C3 Triathlon – serving opportunity

Nov 1 Special Olympics – serving opportunity

Nov 23 Gateway Fellowship Itinerating

Every Sun Team Well Gathering @ Van Pay’s 10am-12pm

Every Tues CRU Gathering @ RSU 7pm

WELL ASKED

Prissi said she had a wonderful time at Wood Manor several weeks ago serving the elderly hot dogs. The best part was being able to bring her boys with her and watching them have an opportunity to serve.

WELL CHOSEN

Ricky went over team expectations & partnership. The team signed a commitment for 6 months and was encouraged to play a role and not sit the bench.

Players Present

Brett Brumbaugh

Prissi Klepcvyk

Davy Rumsey

Brad Robinson

Michelle Brogdon

Andy Brogdon

Amy Van Pay

Ricky Van Pay

WELL TAUGHT

Ricky read a verse in Matthew in which Jesus commissions his disciples to go out two by two “don’t worry about doing a fundraising campaign, don’t worry about all the equipment, you are the equipment!”.
He shared that it doesn’t matter how many are on the team right now and how much money we’ve raised – at this point God has all he needs to make this endeavor go forth. It is his team and his church!
Ricky cast the vision that Claremore doesn’t need another church, but it needs something different. It needs an externally focused church and our vision will and always will be to serve our community with the authentic love of Christ.
He told the illustration of a Thomas Kincade puzzle in how no one likes putting together the “sky” pieces but they are a must to the bigger picture. We must go through the process of affiliation and the list of legal issues to become a church. We don’t have too but God will honor us as we submit to our elders. Our primary focus will not be the “doing church” nearly as much as the “being the church”.

The kids were taught the story of Balaam from Numbers 22. They re-enacted the story by learning the importance of obeying God and they made donkey puppets as a sticky factor.

WELL LISTED

The team wrote 51 new names on “the list” – which will be left on the Van Pay’s living room wall for the next six months. We will commit these names to prayer and hope to one day lead them into a relationship with Christ.

WELL CONNECTED

Ricky encouraged everyone to stay connected by checking emails regularly and reading blogs posted on the team blog: www.thewellclaremore.com

Everyone was encouraged to bring binders & Bibles next week and read Acts 1

We ended by taking up our first team offering

Comments

the well monthly

August 26, 2008 at 3:20 am · Filed under the well monthly

STORY OF THE MONTH

This past week as rain came down I digested my spiritual breakfast by reading Romans 11. My favorite verse is 13: “Behind and underneath all this there is a holy, God-planted, God-tended root. If the primary root of the tree is holy there’s bound to be some holy root”

It made me think of our endeavor of The Well. From the very beginning nearly a year ago my prayer is that God would orchestrate every step and that he would receive all the glory. My desire is that we would not plant a weed that grows quickly but without much foundation and when swayed by the winds it blows over or can easily be yanked out. When a seedling oak is only a year old, a child can tear it out by the roots, but once it’s had some time to become firmly established, even a hurricane can’t knock it down. My desire is that we would plant on oak tree that takes longer to grow but the roots are strong and deep. It will happen one relationship at a time, kind of like Chris:

I’ve jogged by this certain house several times near my neighborhood to see this guy sitting on his porch. A few days ago I felt a check in my spirit to go talk to him. I decided to take the plunge and introduced myself. We briefly met and chatted about how he recently moved from Mississippi. His little girls came out looking like my boys after eating spaghetti. Immediately my heart went out to this family. As I jogged away I immediately lifted him up in prayer and long for the day as it approaches to invite them to a gathering in which people will welcome them open-armed and a safe place for his girls to play next to my boys and learn about Jesus. He and his family deserve that opportunity!

WINS TO CELEBRATE

Themed TnT Nights

Over the past several months we’ve developed many relationships with people. We decided to start linking them up with each other. Amy sent out evites and we held theme nights every Tuesday and Thursday night such as: couples with olders kids, couples with young kids, couples with no kids, college/single.  This month we took in a Driller’s game, card night, and a carnival night.

Equipment Donation

Amy went and picked up a sound board and amplifier – given to us by the Worship Pastor of our partnering church!

Fellow Church Planters

Amy and I were able to have dinner recently with a neighboring church planter – Darren Rice. He has recently started a new church in Verdegris and we are looking forward to a long-term relationship of prayer and encouragement as we are on the same team reaching our community!

LOGO & WEBSITE

A friend and graphic designer, Drew Witt, has finalized our logo for The Well and is currently working on our website that will be completed this coming month. He has been incredible to help us until we can nail down a graphic designer of our own.

SERVING CLAREMORE



Manor Nursing Home

It was an absolute highlight for me this past Saturday to invite some of the Well team and partner with some RSU students to grill and serve over 150 hotdogs for the elderly of Wood Manor.  I had one of 76 year old friends Frank request saurcraut on his dog and another man asked if I could grill some brats – he hadn’t had one in over two years!

CRU LUNCHEON

Last Wednesday we had the honor of opening our home all afternoon to a dozen RSU students. It was the core group for CRU (campus crusade for christ). Amy expressed her gift of hospitality by baking up 6 dozen oatmeal raisin cookies, which I didn’t eat one by chance. It was a blast hearing these students pray, strategize, and plan to serve the campus this semester.  I was humbled that they would ask me to be a guest speaker in a couple of weeks. We will partner with them and help them reach their campus as we continue to lay the foundation for Chi Alpha. I love being around hillcats!

COALITION LUNCHEON

This past Thursday I was able to attend the Rogers County Coalition meeting during lunch. It was pretty cool to represent the only church present – especially since we are still underground. It is a pleasure to be getting to know these committed servants in our community. Some of these people have the biggest hearts of anyone I know and love to be surrounded by others that are so committed to make a difference in our county.

“you can do no great things only small things with great love not how much you do but how much love you put into doing it” Mother Teresa

PRAYER NEEDS

Finances

Over the next eights months we are needing to raise over $75,000 for start up expenses. Pray that God would begin opening up the hearts of Pastors, churches, businesses, family, and friends that would partner with us in raising the funds needed to begin The Well. Amy and I are going to begin attempting to itinerate at other churches to help raise this budget as soon as the district approves. We are sending out over 200 partnering packets to churches & over 200 partnering letters this week to friends and family. We’ve raised $4,000 so far and are in need of over $70,000 just in start-up costs

We are challenging our team to begin tithing as well as anyone that feels led to begin supporting us monthly to send checks payable to:

The Well / P.O. Box 266 / Claremore OK 74018

If you are wanting tax reduction send to our partnering church and designate The Well:

Claremore Assembly of God / 2100 W. Blue Starr Dr / Claremore OK 74017

Well Team Chemistry

First weekly team gathering is on Sept 7th. Pray that the team won’t just make a difference but that they will be the difference! I want to specifically thank Michelle Brogdon and Amy for spending countless hours over the past two Sundays putting together all the packets to be mailed out. I also want to thank Brad Robinson for all the hours he spent calling and emailing churches as we have finalized our system for follow up.

Patience: Upcoming meeting with the OK District to finalize our affiliation process

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Aug 27 thru Sept 2 - Van Pay Louisville Vacation

Sept 6 - Chili Festival (chili contest & parking volunteers)

Sept 7 - Launch Service in Tulsa / Well Team Gathering

Sept 9 - CRU Gathering at RSU

Sept 14 - Well Team Gathering

Sept 15 – A/G Sectional Window

Sept 16 – CRU Gathering at RSU

Sept 18 -  Government Academy with City

Sept 19 – Rogers County Ldshp Council Mtg

Sept 21 – Well Team Gathering

Sept 23 – CRU Gathering at RSU

Sept 25 – Government Academy with City

Sept 27 – Reunion Barbecue w/ former students

Sept 28 – Well Team Gathering

Sept 30 – CRU Gathering at RSU

Comments

the well minutes

August 13, 2008 at 3:09 am · Filed under minutes

Purpose

Connect with potential players of the well team, share updates, q n a, prayer

Present

Brett Brumbaugh

Amy Van Pay

Ricky Van Pay

Prayer

Personal needs

1. Brett – work / upcoming marriage

2. Amy – family / the boys

3. Ricky – injury free during training

The Well needs

Ministry Plan: mail out to friends/family/churches (two scheduled services, 3 pending)
Non-profit ideas
Community favor
Team commitment

Wins to Celebrate

Email from Mayor Brant Shallenburger

Daily Progress / Magazine Article

Check for $900

Equipment Donation from church

Calendar

Aug 13 CRU (campus crusade for Christ) leadership meeting

Aug 19 Executive Presbytery meets to stamp approval (pastor owens, steve pike call)

Aug 23 Wood Manor hot dog grill out

Sept 5-6 Chili Festival

Sept 7 begin gathering weekly as a team (survey will be sent out time/place)

Vision

Serving our community with the authentic love of Christ

Community Partnerships (red cross/vol for youth/rcy/wood manor/big bro’s/hab for humanity/rsu public relations/coalition/young profs/rc gov’t academy/rc ldshp council)

Strategy

1. Location in a theater

2. Launch Team of 50 (warfare)

3. $75,000 budget

4. Relational Network of 1500

5. Equipment

5 G Expectations (gatherings, groups, gifts, giving, growth)

The Power of One: Ricky talked about God using David a little shepherd boy to cause a giant to fall and ignite a whole army

Comments

the well monthly

August 1, 2008 at 5:11 am · Filed under the well monthly

STORY OF THE MONTH

For the past several months I have been apart of the Claremore weekly bike ride. I met a lady named Joy, who is a writer for the Daily Progress. She interviewed me several weeks ago about doing an article focusing entirely on my ironman training. She called me today to let me know that her supervisor doesn’t want to just use this for a paper article. Claremore is going to be publishing a first ever full-color magazine starting in September to reach out to a more progressive audience. They are wanting to cover all sorts of topics but are wanting to highlight a story regarding fitness.

She told me that they chose my story! She wanted information about my part-time personal training at the rec center, amy’s triathlon experience, my surgery, and wants to help promote a pastor starting a new church! She’s going to talk about The Well! She informed me that this magazine would be of cost in the future, but the first issue will be free and will be mailed out to the community!! This is God’s favor and he continues to orchestrate every step of the way! I praise him for opening doors that we can never open ourselves. They are going to post several pictures of my family as well! Free advertising already!!

WINS TO CELEBRATE

Gathering Location I signed the contract on our rental agreement with B n B theater. It is ours! i can’t wait to have gatherings in a movie theater! i truly believe it is a neutral place for those that don’t feel comfortable in a traditional church setting. it is in a great location next to our brand new shopping area. everyone in town knows where the theater is – love it!

PNO (young couples will not be forgotten)

A few weeks ago we once again invited any couples that we know to drop their kids off for a parent night out. We ordered pizza, played wiffle ball in the backyard, and it was our pleasure to meet a need amongst friends!

Themed TnT Nights

Over the past several months we’ve developed many relationships with people. We decided to start linking them up with each other. Amy sent out evites and we held theme nights every Tuesday and Thursday night such as: couples with olders kids, couples with young kids, couples with no kids, college/single. It has been a blast seeing our friends come together and become new friends with each other! It has been even more of an honor to serve them in our home and allow Amy to flow in her area of hospitality and cooking! Lets just say cornhole has been a huge hit and is creating a buzz in Springbrook neighborhood

Finances

1. A close friend and soldier in Iraq sent us our $894 deposit for The Well website.

2. A former personal training client and good friend called to tell me he would be supporting us $500 monthly

3. We received a suprise check last week for nearly $500 from someone wanting to support with their tithes

4. We were able to attend a creative funds forum in Dallas a few weeks ago and are currently researching some non-profit ideas to raise some financial support for the future. I believe God is wanting me to use my personal training certification, weight loss story, and triathlon experience in some way or another.

Equipment Donation

One of our team players, Michelle Brogdon, was able to send out quite a few emails and make some calls to some clients from portablechurch. This is a very expensive company that sets up sound equipment for churches without permanent facilities. Michelle linked up with a church out of state that is moving into a facility in two months and is wanting to donate some equipment to us. We need to continue to pray that others will do the same as this is huge in the area of finances. I have to give it up to Michelle for volunteering time on Mondays to help us administratively!

One of my close friends and running partners Matt donated several speakers to us as well!

SERVING CLAREMORE

Wood Manor Nursing Home (the elderly will not be forgotten)

Earlier this month Davy Rumsey showed his servant’s heart as he delivered a pizza for James Bond’s birthday. Last week I brought the Camster (my 3 year old) and he received tons of hugs and candy. I still think he believes that it is better to receive than give – still working on that! Today I was able to spend over 30 minutes with James as he showed me his photo album of his past. Perhaps these elderly people will never attend The Well, but we will continue to serve them with an authentic love with no strings attached!

Rogers County Youth Shelter (the youth will not be forgotten)

This past week I got to hang out with three teenage guys at the shelter. I absolutely loved teaching these young pups how to play some pool. Yeah right! Many of these young guys are sent there because of trouble or neglect. It makes me feel like a Youth Pastor again. It was an honor for Amy and I to have dinner with the RCY Services Director, Herb McSpadden, and his wife and share our story. He’s got a serving heart and I’m looking forward to years of partnering together to believe in the potential of youth.

Postman Delivery

A few days ago on a very hot summer day, my wife Amy left some water bottles out by our mailbox. She received a thank you note from our postman a few hours later. When she told me about this the other night it reminded me of what we are all about – serving our community with the authentic love of Christ – one person at a time!

PRAYER NEEDS

FAMILY

We finally re-roofed our house. The boys and I spent a week camping in our backyard with our new tent! Amy continues to cook meals for our theme nights. Cale eats all the left-overs! We are extremely busy, but our family is doing very well. We need continued prayer that we would have wisdom in our family time and that I don’t neglect my greatest ministry – THEM!

District Affiliation / Claremore A/G Partnership

Earlier this month our partnering church, Claremore Assembly of God, brought us into a board meeting and ask us questions about The Well. They decided to support us monthly and are currently looking at a date to schedule us for a commissioning service.

I was also able to have lunch with my former Pastor (of Claremore A/G), Curtis Owens who is presently the executive presbyter of our district, and he is 100% supportive and gave me great advice in the months ahead. This probably doesn’t mean much too many of you, but in the long run I believe God will honor our submissive heart and willingness to partner with others.

Friends

Please continue to lift up the 300 plus names of people in our community that are apart of our contact list. Each one represents a soul. God has called us to pursue them and make it hard for them to go to hell. If they are going there, they have to come through us and we are not going to let them get there. God’s called us to love them more then they love themselves.

Finances

Over the next eights months we are needing to raise over $75,000 for start up expenses. Pray that God would begin opening up the hearts of Pastors, churches, businesses, family, and friends that would partner with us in raising the funds needed to begin The Well. Amy and I are going to begin attempting to itinerate at other churches to help raise this budget as soon as the district approves.

We are challenging our team to begin tithing as well as anyone that feels led to begin supporting us monthly to send checks payable to The Well. We’ve opened a business account at 1st bank and have obtained a EIN number. We are currently working toward getting a 5013c and hope to obtain this once affiliated with the A/G.

The Well / P.O. Box 266 / Claremore OK 74017

Well Team

Although I got replies of quite a few being out of town this past past gathering - it turned out being the 30 and unders. Everyone that showed up was different than last month. We spent time eating, talking triathlon, team building, praying, worshipping, casting vision, and talking about our roles. We currently have several team players that are serving in the following:

Michelle Brogdon – administrative support

Brad Robinson – follow up / assimilation research & systems development

Mark Peaden – RSU campus ministry / set-up & tear-down

Amy Van Pay – worship band & musicians recruitment

Davy Rumsey – serving at wood manor / rsu campus ministry / band

Last week amy and I were able have lunch with one of my closest all-time friends from bible college. They are currently praying about being apart of what god is doing in claremore oklahoma. We need to pray for them and other friends that are currently seeking god’s plans for their involvement in The Well.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” Margaret mead

Personal

1. Passion – for the name of Jesus and for the unchurched in my community

2. Patience – in waiting for the affiliation process

3. Favor – with everyone i meet in the community and with god

4. Wisdom – in time management and in every daily decision

5. Injury-Free Training – endurance as i tackle my hardest training sessions, recovery during my taper weeks, and to go into Louisville ready to cross the finish line

ANSWERED PRAYER

1. Theater location and incredible favor

2. Financial blessings

3. Favor with Claremore A/G board

4. Well Team additions

5. Equipment Donation

Advisory Council

As many of you know I called upon many close friends to help me come up with a modesto manifesto to guard areas of financial, sexual, relational, family, and spiritual integrity. You can click on the link below to view:

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

Aug 6 - Interview w/ Scott Bruegman from Red Rocks

Aug 7 - Meeting w/ David Merriman from State Farm

Aug 9 - Spin Your Wheels Century Ride in Bethany

Aug 10 - Well Informational / Strategic Gathering

Aug 13 – CRU (campus crusade for christ) Leadership Meeting

Aug 16 – Springbrook Block Party

Aug 20 – RSU Big Tent Day

Aug 23 – Wood Manor Cookout

Aug 26 – 2 - Van Pay family vacation to Kentucky

Aug 31 – Ironman Louisville

Comments (1)

well minutes

July 15, 2008 at 4:49 pm · Filed under minutes

Meeting Date: July 13

Meeting Time: 5:00

Venue: Pizza Time Buffet

Present:

Prissi Klepchek

Ricky & Amy Van Pay

Andy & Michelle Brogdon

Brad Robinson

Mark Peaden

Davy Rumsey

Rachel Mueller

Lindsey Tatum (watching the kids)

Opening: spent time eating together and then followed it up with team building:

animal kindom: grab a stuffed animal and tell us what personality you are most like
favorite popcorn: everyone throwing out answers to some of their favorites
the sheet: everyone had to get on a sheet and work together to turn it over without getting off

Tonight’s Purpose: Connect with each other, share updates, and have time of q n a

Wins to Celebrate

1. Ricky shared how one of our friends that is serving in Iraq sent a check to cover the deposit for our website

2. We shared how much favor we received from Claremore A/G board and the approval process

3. Ricky also shared how much favor we received from the B n B theater for a location

OUR CALENDAR

Aug 10 – a well social gathering

Sept – begin meeting weekly as a team to launch The Well in February 09

Q & A

Brad asked, “where are we in the overall process with getting district approved?”

Brad also asked, “what is the current situation with the theater location?”

Worship / Vision

Amy & Davey led two songs as we gave praise to Christ and connected with him
Ricky shared the story of Gideon and how God received all the credit – same way right now with The Well. He also spoke on the vision and where we are going from here.
Michelle commented how excited she is and how she has been praying for a new church to start that she could be apart of.

CLOSING PRAYER: butcher paper w/ markers (wrote down friends far from god)

Dessert: Several went over to the Van Pay’s for cookies and more time of questions and sharing

Comments

a well social gathering

July 6, 2008 at 11:49 pm · Filed under well gathering

Purpose A social gathering to connect with those on the team & those that are interested

Venue 1650 N Lynn Riggs Blvd

(next store to dollar general north side of town) 343.8880

Date | July 13

Time | 500-700

buffet cost = $4.99 per person (w/drink $6.96)(salad bar is optional for same price)

445pm | kid drop off at Van Pay’s - 836 W. 24^th St N (call if you need directions should pull up on internet)

715pm | kid pick up

715pm | coffee & dessert at Van Pay’s

(optional for anyone wanting to ask more questions, get to know others, or simply want to hang out)

Comments

the well monthly

July 2, 2008 at 6:29 am · Filed under the well monthly

STORY OF THE MONTH

Team Well

I still remember back in August sitting in my living room telling Amy, “Alright it’s you and me when do you want to meet to begin praying & strategizing”. It was so exciting but yet so overwhelming. I’ll admit that the hardest part and most suprising has been putting together a team. Satan has tried to remind me how easy it came as a Student Pastor to recruit adult leaders and now as a Church Planter at times I have felt like I have been failing. Nevertheless I’ve persevered and prayed and kept praying.

Back in December God woke me up in the middle of the night and had me write a dream list of people to do this with. I’ve been praying for those names ever since. I began emailing, calling, and praying non stop for those people to jump aboard something incredible that God is going to do here in Claremore. It has been a long process. Yesterday has made much of that worth it. I learned one of the most important lessons thus far in this endeavor.

I asked someone several months ago to join the team. I’ve sent emails to no avail. I felt like I was doing everything I possibly could. I beat myself up saying, “Ricky you’re not loving them enough, you’re not pursuing them enough, you’re not praying enough, you’re not……..” I came into the house yesterday and received an email from this person saying, “I’m still contemplating my decision”. I wanted to respond but I didn’t. I left to go on a bike ride and left it in God’s hands. I expressed my frustration and told God, “You said you would speak to hearts long before I would. What’s going on? I can’t do anything more than what I have.” I got home and saw another email saying, “I’m in….. what do i need to do to help? when’s the next meeting?” After I wiped tears from my eyes I praised Christ! I called that individual today and asked what brough them to that decision. They said, “It didn’t have anything to do with you. I just felt like there’s a change coming. I felt like a train is boarding and about to take off and I don’t want to miss out.”

I learned this: “God wants to use me to speak into ears, but he is ultimately going to speak to hearts“. I can’t make anyone join the team. It’s not my responsibility. My job is to simply obey and keep doing what I’m doing. I’m going to keep lifting up the name of Christ and when I do – he said out of that he would draw all men unto him!

HUGE WINS TO CELEBRATE

PNO (young couples will not be forgotten)

One of the major needs we’ve noticed as we’ve talked with young couples is the need for a date night. Many don’t have relatives nearby or have finances to hire a babysitter. Do we ever know that need with two little boys. We decided to host a pno “parent night out” last week. We made a list of many of our friends that have kids and invited them to drop their kids off for 5 hours. We turned our house into a full fledge daycare center.

After the pizza was gone, the cookies were put away, bags of chips were out of sight, corn hole was put up, kiddie pool emptied, puzzles put back together, and toys put away – the look of appreciation from our friends after they spent an evening loving their spouse made it all worth the short amount of hell we experienced – no just kidding – the kids were great! One unchurched couple emailed me the next day saying, “we never let anyone watch our boys but they didn’t stop talking about how much fun they’ve had – we knew we could drop them off because we trust you”. What a compliment! I hope people will say that after they after they pick their kids up from kids church.

Chi Alpha (college students will not be forgotten)

After meeting last month with a regional rep for Campus Crusade for Christ and meeting with our state director for Chi Alpha I’ve made a decision to support CRU (Campus Crusade) but take the reigns of leadership and begin laying a foundation for Chi Alpha on the RSU campus. My vision is to lay a strong foundation this year and hopefully pass the baton onto a couple that will partner with Amy and I. I was able to speak with the RSU President and he asked me to also consider being the Campus Chaplain. I can’t express how big this is in the long term! God is truly opening up doors and orchestrating our presence on this campus.

SERVING CLAREMORE

Wood Manor Nursing Home (the elderly will not be forgotten)

Last thursday I was able to spend time with a young man i’m truly beginning to love in Davey. He’s got a huge heart and has a passion to be used in worship and at rsu as he enters his first year. I love having transparent conversations that cause me to be challenged and grow in my walk with christ! Davey was introduced to james bond and jerry springer this afternoon as we spent time loving the forgotten elderly of wood manor. I’m looking forward to planning a hotdog grillout with some of our team in the future.

Rotary Club Meeting

My friend Herb from rogers county youth shelter called me up to go to a rotary club luncheon this afternoon. I really enjoyed my time with herb and i got to meet some very influential people in our community. these really are good guys and i hope to serve in anyway i can!

COMMUNITY NETWORKING

This month I was able to sit down with five key people. I am truly loving getting out there and meeting people from all different areas of our community. My desire is to continue to meet with atleast one new person long after we launch The Well. It is truly allowing me to keep a pulse on how people view the church. One spent 10 minutes going off about how churches just want money. Another told me the future changes community to Claremore. One told me how he wishes he could be apart of a church that serves. Another guy told me he grew up in the A/G and left it years ago. My favorite was the one who said, “I am so tired of the Six Flags over Jesus churches. Why don’t they take some of that money and give back. I would start tithing if I knew the church was actually doing something in the community”. I love it – straight up honesty.

Tony Mullenger – Insurance Agent & a City Council Member
Herb McSpadden – Rogers County Youth Services
Cassie Sowers – City Marketing
Wren Baker – RSU Athletic Director & Basketball Coach
Troy Powell – City Manager

FAMILY

Saturday the 14th the house was full as we celebrated amy’s 30th birthday. Although we absolutely loved having our house filled with neighbors, friends, and family – it was exhausting. When everyone left we were so tired. I felt bad for amy because she worked so hard to be hospitable for everyone and watch kids etc. We learned a lesson – from here on out – we’re heading out to eat for birthdays.

This past month i was able to meet with an awesome guy with a/g financial and get material for Amy and I to work through our will. Most couples our age probably don’t do this – but I just don’t want time to get away without making it a priority before it gets off our radar. The man I met with was our superintendent’s cousin and his son helps lead worship at Newspring Church in South Carolina.

We currently are using Monday nights as a family night and all day Friday as a family day.

PRAYER NEEDS

District Affiliation / Claremore A/G Partnership

Next Wednesday we will be meeting with the church board from Claremore Assembly to discuss our partnership. They will then make their decision on how much they will support us monthly and for how long. Sometime in the next month or so they are going to bring us before the church and give us a “missionary window” to share our vision.

The district will then bring us into OKC to meet with the presbytery for the final stamp of approval to become an official affiliated Assemblies of God church in Oklahoma.

Friends

Finances

The Well / P.O. Box 266 / Claremore OK 74017

Well Team

We currently have 14 people committed to serve with us on our launch team. We are praying that God would speak to atleast 36 others before September rolls around. Why? Most statistics tell us that most churches don’t make it and can’t function after their public launch because of a lack of volunteers. We want to be ready and can’t do it alone.

We specifically are looking for people to take advantage of the opportunity to be a Kids Pastor.

Location

Due to the process of the district – we have not been given the green light to pursue a meeting location. We are praying about several possibilities:

movie theater
elementary school
performing arts center
rsu student center

Partnering

Pray that God would continue to give us favor. I met with two different committees several weeks ago to better our community. I also got to be apart of the Rogers County Coalition luncheon. This is a non-profit hub where they all come together to attempt to meet the needs of the community. I was heart broken as I looked around and didn’t see any churches represented there. We are strongly considering a program called Respite once the Well goes public that will help parents with handicap children. I am currently working alongside Red Cross to learn more about disaster relief and am also lining something up with Habitat for Humanity.

Obviously I cannot do all of these things alone. Pray that favor will come so once The Well is underway people within our church will begin serving all over the community in areas that I’ve been able to link arms with.

Personal

Over the next two months I will be entering into the busiest season of my life. I still hold a full-time job and am doing all of the above whenever I am not working. Last August I signed up for an Ironman in Kentucky which involved a tremendous amount of training. Please pray that God will give me the strength, endurance, and stamina to make it through. Pray specifically for wisdom in my time management and continued passion for the name of Christ.

ANSWERED PRAYER

Advisory Council

I’ve recently called very close friends and family to keep me accountable in all areas of my life. I’ve decided to create a Modesto Manifesto. This is something that Billy Graham formed as an evangelist to set up personal boundaries. I’m currently working through these. Apart from weekly phone meetings with a church planting coach, I’ve also asked area Pastors to be apart of a team that I can call or email to give me advice or direction as a young minister. So far this team consists of:

Bob Brock (former associate pastor / mentor from church in ft worth)

Dave Mewbourne (Pastor of Claremore A/G)

Rodney Fouts (Northchurch in OKC)

Scottie Titsworth (Pastor of Trinity Baptist – Claremore)

Glen Schaeffar (Pastor of DestinyLife Church – Claremore)

Ray Crawford (First United Methodist – Claremore)

Chi Alpha

The Well Team coming together one by one

UPCOMING SCHEDULE

July 1 - After Ember Band (playing at King of Clubs)

July 3 – Meeting with Mitch Louderback (Manager of Rec Center)

July 4 – Claremore Community Fireworks Display at the Lake (volunteer clean-up)