Each quarter we aim to provide an update regarding the financials at Common Ground. We do so in a spirit of good stewardship as we recognize our responsibility to communicate how your gifts to God are being distributed as well as our need. CG ended 2009 with giving exceeding budget by $12,897. We were encouraged by this and are thankful for how God continues to provide for our church through the faithfulness of His people.

 

As of March 30, 2010, tithes and offerings are below 2010 need by ~10% ($32,000). Because of this, we want to take this opportunity to encourage you toward a pattern of faithful giving and remind you how your tithes and offerings are distributed across the various ministry areas. Below you’ll see a graphic that shows how ministry expenses are distributed this year. We continue to believe your gifts to God through Common Ground are best devoted to these areas and we invite you to participate in this mission through regular giving. Contributions can be made each Sunday in the offering box or mailed to the church office using any institution that supports online banking.

 

For more information about this update or the 2010 budget, please contact Nate.

Looking for something to rekindle your marriage? In need of some marital help? Family Life’s Weekend to Remember Conference is coming to Indianapolis June 4 through 6. This marriage conference has been attended by many of our staff and elders and is strongly recommended for all married and engaged couples. Whether you are looking for deeper purpose for your life together or facing challenges you’re just not sure you’re strong enough to overcome, this conference is designed to restore your vision of what it looks like to pursue a marriage that works.

 

Kyle and Katie were married for only eight months and decided to attend the Weekend to Remember. The conference certainly lived up to its name. As a young couple, they were beginning to fall into some pitfalls of new marriages—poor communication, lack of forgiveness, conditional love.

 

God used the conference to provide Kyle and Katie with helpful tools to envision and live into a marriage He designed for them--better communication, a design for oneness, conflict resolution, and sharing intimacy. Through the Weekend to Remember, God gave them the opportunity to build a lasting legacy of a God-filled marriage.

 

Register online by clicking here. Click on “join my group” and enter cground as your group name. An early bird discount rate of $129 per couple is available through April 26 (after April 26, the rate raises to $178 per couple) if you enter INVITE as your promo code. For more information, please email Kyle and Katie Bieda.

Imagine for a moment a world where kids are connected with one another; where they are practicing acts of compassion; where they are learning sound character values, practicing fitness and developing life-skills.

 

Addressing children’s needs in a single neighborhood is a daunting challenge. Finding a strategy to impact the lives of children in cities, towns, villages and islands in every country of the world would seem impossible. Yet in the last ten years a concept called KidsGames has spread from its start in Cairo, Egypt in 2000 to 175 countries, including the U.S. Through KidsGames, children around the world are being impacted.

 

On Sunday, June 13, the 2010 Indianapolis KidsGames will host their opening ceremonies at Conseco Fieldhouse in conjunction with the Indianapolis Fever game. Hundreds of children will parade across the floor with their host site flags enjoying the roar of applause from volunteers and family. Then, the KidsGames torch will arrive to light the cauldron signaling the start of Indianapolis KidsGames 2010. The children will be treated to a meal, t-shirt and carnival games in addition to watching the Fever play.

 

From Monday, June 14 through Thursday, June 17, children will gather at their host sites to participate in daily programming. At Common Ground, each day will kickoff with worship followed by activities with either a sports or arts focus. After lunch, the children will be engaged in hands-on Bible lessons and exploration.

 

On Friday, June 18, 2010, our participants will spend their morning engaged in acts of compassion as part of the Million Hours project. It is the desire of the global KidsGames community to provide over a million hours of service. The hours of service will be tracked and accumulated with the hours of service provided by other KidsGames sites from around the world to help children understand that they are part of the global community of compassion. That afternoon will bring the closing ceremony where friends and family will be invited to participate in the fun and adventure that is KidsGames.

 

Sounds like a busy week – doesn’t it? We sure hope so! It is the goal of Common Ground KidsGames to serve 125 children this summer, while Indianapolis KidsGames hopes to serve over 1000 kids. Do you know kids who would like to participate? Click here for registration information.

 

Would you like to help make KidsGames 2010 a success? Please let us know how – “KidsGames – I Can Help!”

In Issue 40, we introduced you to The Well, a Campus Crusade meeting held at our Midtown location (4550 N. Illinois Street). The Well is a place for college students to drink deeply of God’s Word – a place to step away from their studies and to intentionally seek Him. Like any other freshman, it took Bethany a bit to find her bearings. Below is her story…

 

As a freshman this year, I had a few anxieties about what college would be like, as most freshmen do. One thing that I was particularly nervous about was finding a place where I could connect with other Christians and learn from God’s Word, in order to continue strengthening my relationship with Him.

 

I had heard about Campus Crusade, but wasn’t sure what all it entailed. However, God knew exactly what He was doing when I went to the first Well meeting. He provided me with a great group of Christians to fellowship with, and going to The Well on Thursday nights is something that I look forward to each week. The worship is awesome, and I always learn so much from the speakers. The Well has been such a blessing to me, and it is definitely something that helps get me through the week.

 

To learn more about The Well, please contact Mark Schuitema.

Over the past year, Common Ground has had the privilege of being led to Tijuana Christian Mission, an orphanage and battered women's ministry based in Tijuana, Mexico. Through a series of visits to their other campus in Rosarito--the City of Refuge--we have been able to see God working through their ministry in an exceptional way.

 

In the midst of witnessing the spiritual and emotional work that they are doing, God revealed to us a way that we can make a valuable contribution to the physical presence of the City of Refuge. Common Ground is in the process of planning a rainwater and erosion control solution that will help prevent the foundations of the buildings on the orphanage's campus from being washed away. From June 12-19 we will be sending a team down to Tijuana to implement our plans, and we would like to invite you to join us for a portion of that time as participants in this family vision trip.

 

The City of Refuge is a place that is perfect for people of all ages, which makes it an ideal location for a family vision trip. There will be plenty of manual labor, time to play with the kids, and opportunities to bask in the healing power of God as we witness the ways that He is bringing hope and healing to the wounds that this world has inflicted. For full trip details, including cost and registration, please visit our website. Have additional questions, send us an email.

Intro to Common Ground

Intro to Common Ground is an opportunity for those who are new to Common Ground to learn about the vision, values and story of our community. The next gathering is Tuesday, May 4 at 6 pm. Attendance is limited and a light dinner and childcare are provided. To learn more about this gathering, including future dates and registration, please follow this link.

 

Nehemiah Night

Our next monthly prayer gathering, known as Nehemiah Night, is on Wednesday, May 5 at 6:30 pm at Midtown. Please join us as we engage in prayer and conversation about what God is doing among us and seek to grow relationships across our house church network. Volunteers are needed to provide limited childcare during Nehemiah Night. To sign up for your month(s) to serve, please click here. 

 

To learn more, please see the article above.