Rob Ketterling

THIS WEEKEND = ANGRY BIRDS, CUTTING EDGE TECH AND A GREAT SERVICE

This weekend we are showing the Angry Birds video, releasing a cutting edge technology for the church to use and having great services as we start the series, "Is there and App for That?" It's a ground breaking day and seriously, you don't want to miss it! If you have a smart phone, you'll be able to take advantage of our new technology so be sure to bring it to church. Just don't text or surf the net while the service is going on!

THIS WEEKEND

I have a question for you and it might just be rhetorical, (Do you have to call that one in advance? Not sure.) why is it that the week after Easter is notorious for being one of the smallest weeks of the year when it comes to attendance? It's boggled my mind as I watch us set a record every year at Easter and then the week after, almost look like a ghost town in comparison. I know, ghost town is a huge over reach but I used it anyhow, it feels really low.

I have my theory and maybe it's 'wrong but it's just a theory. I think the average church member attends church only 2x a month. Now I'm in no way condoning this but it is my observation in the 20+ years I've been a pastor. It seems like no matter how hard the church tries, it has to compete (And doesn't always win.) with Sports, Hobbies, Travel, Cabins etc. and when people focus on Easter, the next week looks like a "Let's take this one off weekend." Maybe it's wrong but I have a hunch that it's like that, so here's my suggestion.

1) Determine to be as regular as you can. (3x a month for starters) 

2) Give yourself a job at church so you have to get there or else we surely will miss you. People counting on you is a good thing!

3) Use the sermons on the website as a supplement, not a replacement.

4) Don't break the habit of coming to church. Once you break it, you give yourself permission to stay away. (Heb 10:25)

5) Make friends at church. It's a proven fact that if you have friends at church, you are much more likely to attend on a regular basis, stay in the church longer and enjoy the experience more. So join a life group and make some friends!

6) Pretend every week is Easter!

RIVER VALLEY AT THE FARIBAULT BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY EXPO

Just thought I'd share part of my philosophy of why we do things like the Business and Community EXPO. I believe when the community asks the church to be a part of it, we should! We are part of the community and I think we need to get outside our walls and make a difference. Too many churches stay inside, don't play with the neighbors and never make an impact. Sadly, most people in our communities don't even know we're there but I believe that when we're invited to participate in community events, we should!

Well done to our Faribault Campus, way to represent well!

BAREFOOT SPORT SHOES

I just purchased a pair of barefoot sport shoes and used them for the first time this morning and they were really different! Now don't let me mislead you, I'm not a big runner guy but I woke up early, had a pair of these shoes to try out so I went for it. Now here I am hours later and the pain is shooting through my legs! I know the guide says it will take a while for your muscles to respond but I'm feeling really old right now! Thankfully there's Advil!

While I was running I was getting some weird looks but trust me, these shoes are gaining in popularity and they're pretty comfortable. While you're walking, they feel great, running is another thing as they are made to make it feel like you're barefoot while still having protection for your sole. So after a few more weeks, I'll make my decision if I'm going to keep running or not but as for now, thanks once again to the inventors of Advil!

WE'RE LOOKING FOR A HERO

I'm watching all of the coverage as Donald Trump is flirting with a run at the Presidency and I can't believe that we live in a country where Jesse Ventura can be Governor, Al Franken can be a Senator, and Donald Trump could be President. We live in an age of celebrity and if you're willing to put up with the scrutiny, you might become the President of the United States! I'm just observing President Obama's rise to power and you have to admit, he had very little experience, we knew little about him and yet, a celebrity was made and elected. Anything, and I mean anything is possible!

So what do we need in a President? We might be looking for a hero but what we really need is a great leader. This country needs a President that will lead us through our problems, toward great solutions and protect the liberties and freedoms we enjoy. We really don't need a Democrat or a Republican celebrity as our President, we need a great leader and hopefully our country will elect some in the future.

As we think about this President, be sure to lift him up in prayer today and ask God to give him wisdom and the ability to lead our country in the right direction. We are instructed to do that so let's lift him up!

I WANT TO GO!

Yesterday Becca was in Mainstream Boutique talking to the owner about Easter services and how much they enjoyed them. Marie, (the owner) was sharing how much she loved the service and watching people walk over the bridge to go public with their faith. All the while Becca was saying how much fun it was to see it not only once, but 5 times this past weekend! They were sharing different stories and then a lady in the store wanted to know what was so good! They shared that it was church this past weekend and the lady said after hearing their praise, "I want to go!" It's not every day that you're shopping and hear someone saying such great things about a church that it makes you want to go but it did yesterday!

THANK YOU FOR A GREAT EASTER

I'm sitting in my office now and I'm still amazed at the way that Easter weekend went. We had so many people that worked so hard to make the weekend work and I want to say thank you for the hard work and sacrifice. It was worth it! You were amazing and I was so impressed with everyone from the parking lot attendants to the band to the kids workers, seriously, well done!

We had over 200 decisions for Christ and it was so much fun to see people walking across the bridges! It also was a joyful moment when those that decided to follow Jesus in the last year also joined those that decided that day. Lots of tears of joy in our services!

In addition to all of the people that followed Jesus, we had 2100 more people than Easter of last year at River Valley! Let me just brag on two of our campuses that were given to us that were almost going to close down. Minnetrista was only 12 people when we got it less than a year ago and yesterday it was filled with 231 people! Faribault was down to 40 when we got it, and yesterday, we had 654 people worshipping Jesus! Wow, I love what God is doing in our church and I'm so glad for all those that helped make it happen last weekend. Lives were changed for eternity!

COULD 8 AM WORK FOR YOU?!

I'm getting really excited for this weekend's celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus and the sermon called The Bridge, It's going to be great! I'm believing that the church will be full at all of our campuses and that we weill see hundreds of people make a decision for Jesus! Be sure to invite someone to church and if you are able to make it to Sunday 8AM service (An Apple Valley, Easter only event with an 8AM service!) please consider that option. It will help you beat everyone else to brunch and guarantee that you have plenty of room!

HOLY WEEK

This week is known as Holy Week as it leads up to Resurrection morning and although all weeks are equally "holy" I'm encouraging you to make the most of this week leading up to the weekend that we celebrate Jesus conquering death, hell and the grave! Take time to serve in one of our Servolution outreaches, read your Bible and focus on the time leading up to Jesus paying the price on the cross, make it a priority to be at our Good Friday services and for sure, be here to celebrate this weekend!

It's going to be a really busy week with all sorts of things we need to get done, but enjoy the week and give some extra time to the things of God. Be sure to invite someone to come with you to church this weekend and let's celebrate all God has done. The Bridge sermon will be preached at all campuses and Apple Valley is adding an extra service at 8AM, if that's your home campus consider that service option as well!

WELCOME KIRK GRAHAM

We are very excited to introduce Kirk Graham to our Apple Valley campus as our newest worship leader! Kirk comes to us from The Oaks Fellowship in Dallas and is being welcomed back to Minnesota by many in his family and his girlfriend Kaylee. Along with them, we're glad he moved back to the north and accepted the position! (I'm also really glad he knows what it's like to live in MN with a 2 inch snow storm hitting us last night!)

Kirk leads worship like a skilled veteran even though he's only 21 and I love the energy he will bring to the team. He, along with Pastor Ryan will be rotating between the Apple Valley campus and the Savage campus for the majority of weekends. Pastor Tim will be moving into a role on the worship leadership that will involve service and video production and more of the creative parts of the services and youth worship at Savage. We're very excited as well, that he accepted this position on our team. He will remain at our Savage campus on Sundays and be a part of the worship team but the main leading will be done mostly by Ryan and Kirk.

Over the next few weeks Kirk will be leading at both the Apple Valley campus and the Savage campus so be sure to welcome him when you see him and Kaylee in worship. It's great to have talented godly people like Kirk and Kaylee join our team!