To start things off I would like to say that you are reading this story with out starting at the beginning. Have you ever done that before? Just jumped right to the good stuff. There are plenty of great and marvelous things that have happened in the last 27 chapters of my life. Rest assured I didn’t jut show up here as a 28 year old man. I’m gonna try to recap that early years and spend some significant time writing the rest of my story. But, for these purposes , for these events we are going to start at Chapter 28.
So as of right now (age 28, hence the start in chapter 28) I am a husband, a father, and a pastor. I love God and I love people. Currently I have been given the task of starting a new church campus in the East Valley of Southern California. The church I work for is Sunrise Church www.sunrisechurch.org Right now they have 3 campuses (Rialto,* Wrightwood, and Ontario)(* Lots of chapters to come about Rialto, that is where I grew up). We are going to be the 4th campus and I thought it would be a good idea to record the stories of how this whole thing got started. I hope to be able to look back over the years and see how God is doing mighty things in me and through me.
This is my story. This is our story. This is HIS story.
It says starting at chapter 28, where is chapter 1? I would like to know more about Doug and the churchs background. I attended yesterday. My previous church that I loved dearly was Click here: Welcome to Calvary Chapel Corona and starter there when is was young. Before that I was a part of Chuch Smith’s early days. Since moving to Banning I have visited many churchs and never went back. I will be coming back to Sunrise for a second look but I would like more info. I don’t have a website.
Hey Joanne!
Thanks for visiting us yesterday. It was nice meeting you before service and I am glad you are gonna come back and give us a second look. To get a good glimpse of the church I wold click on the “About” link on our website, but let me give you a brief rundown on here as well.
Our dream at Sunrise Church is to welcome people from all ethnicities, backgrounds, and age groups. As such, by God’s grace we will be a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-generational church that reaches people for Christ. We will proclaim the good news locally, and in the regions beyond. We will expand our ministry by planting extension churches and reaching those communities for Christ.
Multi-Ethnic
The Bible teaches God does not discriminate between people of different ethnicities. He welcomes them all into His family as they believe in His Son the Lord Jesus. He also commands His people not to discriminate. As much as possible, the church should resemble heaven. There we find souls “from every nation, tribe, people and language” (Rev. 7:9).
Multi-Cultural
Culture can be defined as “the customary beliefs, social forms, and traits of a particular group.” Sunrise Church does not believe that God excludes anyone because of his or her cultural background. His people should also welcome and be enriched by people from different backgrounds.
Multi-Generational
In recent years, we’ve witnessed some “generational divides.” But the Bible instructs us not to divide but to appreciate one another even though we may represent different age groups (see Tit. 2:1-8). Sunrise Church brings people together while recognizing each group’s needs.
Multi-Site
In obedience to the Great Commission, Sunrise Church has reached out beyond its own community in order to establish Bible teaching churches that reproduce themselves. As God leads us, we will expand our church to other locations in order to reach those people for Christ.
This is a little bit about us and there is a lot more online
I would love to send you some copies of our beliefs and some more literature about our church if you would like just send me your email
dstory@sunrisechurch.org
Thanks again for visiting and I look forward to seeing you again on Sunday.
Doug
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