Garden Church

In the midst of this chaotic year, we pray that Faith's story of financial hardship brings you hope. That it would remind you that God can use any situation to deepen your relationship with Him and create beauty from ashes. This video is part of an ongoing series that highlights the abundant stories of God's goodness and faithfulness in the Garden Church community.

In a time where our country seems more divided and hostile than ever before, it is important to be reminded that our primary identity doesn’t come from our political affiliation, but from Jesus. But what does this mean as we engage the world around us? How do we make sense of all that is going on right now? How do we deal with the disappointments we are inevitably going to face? If you have questions like these, join us for an online webinar as we engage in a discussio...n on God, Politics, and the Church with Pastor Bill Dogterom and Pastor Darren Rouanzoin. Click the link to register: https://bit.ly/2HmScI8 See more

While this talk on Politics and the Kingdom of God was given 4 years ago, it continues to be relevant in our cultural moment. As followers of Jesus, we don't look to our politicians and leaders to fix the world and produce the Kingdom of God. Instead, we place our hope in God to fully reestablish it. And as we wait, we must remember to engage in the election process in ways that reflect His character and glorify Him.

We are mere weeks away from Election Day and we must realize the call we have as followers of Jesus is that of honor, not contempt. The temptation is to "cancel" others, to put them in a box, to relegate them as less-than, but this is not the way of Jesus. This toxic tendency advances Satan’s agenda, not Jesus. We must realize that no matter what ideology a certain group of people supports, we are still to treat them as fellow image bearers of God. @darrenr

Garden Outdoor Gathering 9am

When creation tries to do life without its Creator, things don't go so well. If we aren't constantly plugging back into our power source, we live life on empty and the results show as much. @darrenr

In a nutshell, being on mission means embodying the sacrificial love that Jesus has extended so graciously to us. In John 13:34, we see that it's BY this love Jesus says the outside world will know that we are his followers.

Prior to COVID, it had become easy for 21st century American church goers to become comfortable and complacent. But as @darrenr brilliantly points out from the MSG translation of Matthew 9, Jesus didn't come to coddle the insiders in a Sunday experience. He came for the outsiders. Our role as his followers is to join forces with him in an intimate personal relationship, as we strive to live out the Great Commission. ... This new season provides an opportunity to renew our discipleship to Jesus and to take him up on the call to be missional within our local city context. See more

In 1 Timothy 2, we see that God "desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth". So the call in Matthew 28:19 applies to all of us. As willing vessels, our mission is to reflect the radical love of Jesus to all the nations around the world.

While individual spiritual formation is critical and the Enneagram can be helpful as a tool, they do not replace the call to live a missional life. Rather, the two go hand in hand. We must view our mission through the lens of what God might want to do first, not solely through the giftings we can identify within ourselves. If we're not careful, too often taking a personality test or identifying a gift can cause us to disqualify ourselves for the other purposes that... God wants to use us for. Living a life of faith means stepping out of your comfort zone at times and recognizing that while giftings might be a part of your call, God quite literally might also use you in ways you least expected. See more

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of one of our Garden Church family members, John Kemmler. John passed away yesterday after a lengthy fight with COVID-19. We are all devastated. John was an amazing husband, father, and friend. He was always willing to help and you’d often see him on our parking team directing cars, greeting people with his warm smile, and giving the kids high fives. He was a good man and we are going to miss him terribly. Our peace comes ...from knowing that John is with Jesus, healed and well. His wife, Maria, and their three children are in need of prayer and support right now. Click the link here: https://gf.me/u/ypx2jp to support the Kemmler family.

On Sunday, Bill talked about God's promises for those who endure. For many of us, this prompts the question of what those promises actually are. We pray this brings hope for you to persevere and renew your perspective in the midst of what you're facing in this season. @ Long Beach, California