So much is changing for our family above ground. The winds of change are strong. (Continued on page 2)

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1 Mike Foster Lead Pastor Ron E. Jones Pastor of Community Lonnie Harris Pastor of Outreach Mike Maslin Pastor of Student Ministries In the midst of transition, our family has talked a lot about our roots. We ve said things like we have deep roots in Western New York. We recognize and appreciate our strong foundations in the region where I grew up and where we have served for the past thirteen years. But our roots are deeper than that or, should I say, shallower? Jonathan Ford Minister of Worship & Arts jonathan-ford@forcey.org 2130 East Randolph Road Silver Spring, MD (office) forcey-office@forcey.org CONNECT WITH US ONLINE WEBSITE FACEBOOK forceyconnects TWITTER ForceyConnects I ve wanted to see Giant Sequoias ever since I did a report on them in fifth grade. I haven t made it out West yet, but I remain fascinated by these monster redwoods. The trees can be 300 feet tall and can weigh 500 tons! But what most amazes me is their root system. Unlike other trees that anchor deep into the earth, Sequoia roots are just 6 to 12 feet deep (I think I ve had weeds in my yard with deeper roots than that!). Yet, Sequoias withstand the strongest of winds and storms. Their secret? Their roots, though shallow, are interlocking and interdependent! Giant Sequoias are rooted in each other, and they hold each other up! In this way, they remind us of how God designed the Body of Christ! God tells us that in Christ the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord and that we are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit (Ephesians 2:21-22). We are meant to grow together. And our roots are ultimately not in a place, but in a people! NEED PRAYER? You may fill out one of the prayer cards in the pews or go online So much is changing for our family above ground. The winds of change are strong (Continued on page 2)

2 and real. But, below ground our roots are the same, and are stronger than anything happening above. And they are stronger because they have long been intertwined with the rest of the Body including the Forcey family! We are so thankful for the foundation God has given us in Western New York, but our roots are ultimately in Christ and His people! This is what enables us to continue growing stronger in the midst of transition. And this is how I envision our Forcey family growing in years to come not just standing close together above ground, but locking together below! And imagine when we do! How tall will we stand (the highest Sequoia is 311 feet!)? How long will we endure (the oldest redwood is 3,500 years!)? And how many people in the world who see us will be amazed like a fifth grader studying Sequoias and know there is an awesome God?! ~ Mike Foster, Lead Pastor SOUL WINNING - EVANGELISM Behold, I say unto you, lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest (John 4:35b). Soul winners should always be alert for opportunities to witness. Often a casual conversation can become a divine appointment to present the gospel to a needy heart. Recently, while sowing the seed of the gospel at a local hospital, a Forcey member took advantage of just such an opportunity. As the Forcey member was preparing to exit the hospital late on a Sunday evening, she stopped to chat with the young female security guard stationed by the main entrance. Since there was still a few minutes before the guard was to lock the front doors to the hospital and leave her post, the Forcey member decided to redeem the time by inquiring about her assurance of going to heaven. When the security guard responded that she was not sure, the Forcey member began to share with her the gospel. The security guard listened attentively to the message of salvation by grace and, with evident sincerity, called upon the Lord Jesus to save her soul. After the security guard received Christ as her Savior, the Forcey member gave her some Bible study material and reviewed with her the truth that those saved by the Lord Jesus are eternally secure in His salvation. As the Forcey member departed the hospital precisely at closing time, she rejoiced that she had redeemed the time by witnessing to this young lady and leading her to Christ. ~ Ralph Zimmerman, Evangelism Ministry

3 ALL MINISTRY LEADERS & WORKERS Workshop Saturday, September 8 8:00 - noon Our topic, the 3D Gospel, will be taught in the Fall by Pastor Mike Foster. The 3D Gospel brings to our awareness the cultures of Scripture and our world. In today s globalized world, Christians can be encouraged that God has given us a three-dimensional gospel which applies to the heart of every culture! Learn how the Bible speaks to cultures of guilt, shame, and fear, and enhance your ministry to people of all the backgrounds represented in our region! Remember that this is an all hands-on-deck event so we need everyone who is working with our babies thru adults. PROPOSED WORKSHOP SCHEDULE 8:00 a.m. Doors Open and Prayer 8:30 a.m. Light breakfast served See you in September! 9:00 a.m. Welcome / Worship / Teaching / Break-out Sessions / Prayer Noon Ministry teams are encouraged to connect over lunch

4 2018 MEN S ANNUAL RETREAT The annual retreat, now in its 28 th year, will be NOVEMBER 2-4 AT SKYCROFT CONFERENCE CENTER in Middletown, Maryland where the historic South Mountain overlooks the beautiful Middletown Valley. Skycroft sits on 300 acres of woodlands and meadows which provides a rich environment for recreation, relaxation and reflection. The retreat is an informal, no pressure atmosphere where men can feel comfortable and welcome. The retreat is the most highly anticipated signature event for the men of Forcey! This year our special guest speaker is our new FBC Lead Pastor Mike Foster. Our 2018 conference is entitled Banner Faith. The teaching will focus on the bar that men are all too familiar with a bar that hangs over our heads and says we don t measure up. Men feel it at work, in marriage, even in church. Men constantly feel like they don t measure up to their own standards, let alone those of others and God. Men constantly hang their heads under a bar that says we have failed that we are not good enough. But God uses a different tool. He hangs a banner over us. The banner says we re loved, accepted, and victorious. And when we see that banner, we can lift up our heads and live like the champions we really are through Christ. The retreat is for every man who wishes to grab life and squeeze every ounce out of it! It is also an event for men of every age and a great time for fathers and sons to spend quality time together! The retreat weekend includes 6 manly meals and unlimited man sized snacks! Accommodations include a room with private bath. The weekend also includes opportunities for recreational activities like golfing, hiking, basketball, fishing, paintball and ziplining. There is also an awesome ice cream social on Friday night and a cornhole tournament during the weekend. We ll also have an incredible bonfire on Saturday night! REGISTRATION STARTS AUGUST 1 and a discounted registration fee of $125 (Regular cost is $140) is being offered during the month of August. Registration will increase to $135 on September 1. Visit the men s table on Sunday morning to get more info and register. For online registration, visit Register early as we anticipate a sellout for the 15 th straight year!

5 NEW MEN S ABF CLASS! Do you sometimes feel like we in the church do not fully grasp the importance of God s kingdom in the here and now? Does it seem that Christians sometimes go about their lives with no compelling sense that understanding of and conformity with the clear teachings of Christ is of any vital importance to his or her life? We are beginning a study of The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard ( ). The book is considered by many to be Dallas magnum opus and was Christianity Today s Book of the Year for One of Dallas students wrote, Like Michelangelo s Sistine ceiling, it is a masterpiece and a wonder. The book is about being an apprentice to Jesus in His kingdom now. Dallas presents discipleship to Jesus as the very heart of the gospel. Our study will run for twenty class sessions. We meet during the second hour, 11:00 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., in room 324. Please come and bring a friend. Are you a lady looking for a bible study with a group of ladies just like you "too busy"? Then the Busy Ladies Bible Study may meet your needs. This group meets the first Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at a pre-determined host home. The evenings are a time of fellowship, Bible study and prayer. September 6 will be our next meeting after Labor Day. Believing Jesus will be our study series over the next 10-months. What does it mean to believe Jesus? Not just believe in Jesus, but actually believe what He said and shape our lives around that truth? How would that affect the choices we make? The way we see the world? The way we conduct ourselves with other Christians? In Believing Jesus, Lisa Harper answers these questions by looking at the lives of the believers in Acts and how Jesus command to spread the gospel forever shaped their lives. Today, we are faced with the same decisions the early church faced. Will we, like them, truly believe the words of Jesus and allow them to transform every part of our lives? Please contact Metta Wagner mettantony@comcast.net for more information about the group or if you wish to order a study guide.

6 The Forcey Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) still has openings for the year! MOPS, for mothers of babies to kindergarten, is a community of women who meet to laugh, cry, and embrace the journey of motherhood together. Our mission is "to encourage and equip moms of young children to realize their potential as moms, women, and leaders, in relationship with Jesus, and in partnership with the local church." Our meetings are 2nd and 4th Tuesdays from September to May at 9:30-11:30 a.m. MOPS Kids childcare program is available for children from 4 months to 5 years old. Registration fee is $100 without childcare, or $225 including childcare. Scholarships and payment plans are available upon request as we want all moms to be able to participate. Share this with your family and friends! Register at Mother s Day Out is a program for 2- and 3-years-old designed to give children a pre-school preview while giving moms (or dads) a morning off. Our teachers are loving, Christian women who have a heart for children. MDO offers learning centers, playtime, snack time, Bible stories, singing, and craft time for your child. It is a great way to help your child learn to get along with others and have fun. Our program runs Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays from September through May. We are open from 9:30am 1:30pm. Your child must be 2 (or 3) by September 1, 2018 in order to enroll. Tuition is $90 per child/per month for attending one day a week, plus a one-time $50 registration fee. Children can be enrolled for a maximum of 2 days. Applications are on the bulletin board near the gym or via by contacting the MDO Coordinator, Kristy Sievers, at mdo@forcey.org.

7 Date: Sunday, August 26, 2018 Time: Following Second Service Place: Fellowship Hall Light Lunch Will Be Provided Due to dietary restrictions, we are only providing financial provisions (gift cards) so the Foster Family may stock their pantry. **Sign-up at the Welcome Center or online at forcey.org**