Over the past month, you may have noticed that some of the members of our Church Leadership Council (CLC) have been leading in our Sunday morning worship services by reading Scripture and offering prayer as a call to worship. Though not all of our Leadership Council members would say that they love public speaking, they have intentionally been “pushed” up front in order that our church family may know the names and faces of the CLC members who are glad to be approached with prayer needs, for Scriptural guidance, or with any questions or concerns that may arise. The calling of the Leadership Council is to “shepherd the flock of God” (1 Pt. 5) and in order to do this well, the shepherds and the flock must know one another.

In addition to knowing who the Leadership Council members are, it’s also important to have a general understanding of what the council does. Each Leadership Council member agrees to one two-year term, renewable for a second term, which allows council members to serve four years before a one-year break is required. We have two scheduled meetings each month where we pray for our church and then cover an agenda that is typically prepared by the team chairman (Denny Foor) and myself. The first meeting of the month is our oversight meeting, which is geared to managing the current events of the church. Council members serve as liaisons to our five ministry teams (Christian Ed., Finance, Local Outreach, Missions, and Worship), and give updates from the ministries of each of these teams. Other agenda items at oversight meetings consist of financial oversight, giving input to staff, and problem solving when ministry needs, conflicts, or opportunities arise.

The second meeting of each month is our foresight meeting. The foresight meeting has

a limited agenda focused on working for the future health of First United. Generally, multiple foresight meetings are concentrated on the same topic in order to slowly chip away at a big picture issue (i.e. core values, membership covenant, Deep and Wide project, church governance structure). Foresight meetings involve collaborative thinking, whiteboard drawing, evaluation of ideas and sometimes teaching on a particular topic. At our next foresight meeting, we’ll be going over information about the three major forms of church government, including specific info about elder-led congregationalism. Such a meeting may sound boring, but the truth is that I almost always leave our foresight meetings energized, thankful, and excited about God’s work here at First U.

On behalf of the Leadership Council, I ask for your prayers. We count it a privilege to lead First United, under the authority of Jesus the Chief Shepherd, but we know that we need much help in leading well and also that we will one day give an account for how we lead (cf. Ezk. 34, Heb. 13:17). Please pray for us in the following ways: • That we will each increase in pastoral wisdom (i.e. How to apply the Bible to life circumstances)• For growth in personal holiness and knowledge of God• For clear vision for the future that is truly of God, not our own desires• For discernment to prioritize time and energy in order to meet needs, urgent needs, and long-term needs• For daily renewal by the Holy Spirit so that leading remains joyfulThank you for being a prayerful church family!Fi

rst U

New

s Pastor Andy’s Letter • Spotlight on Church Leadership Council

First United News • Milestones • Attendance • Church CalendarMay 2013Andy Huette, Sr. Pastor Brett Monge, Youth Director Grant Stauter, Pastor Apprentice 407 W Seventh Street, PO Box 280, Gridley, IL 61744 309-747-2299 www.1stu.org

Dear Church Family,

April at First U

May Church Calendar1 Monthly Prayer Meeting 7:15 - 8:00 pm

5 Guatemala team meeting 11:30 am Fellowship Hall

8 EPG Baccalaureate 8:00 pm Family Center

10-11Men’sMinistry-Roofingproject8:00 am

11 Mother-Daughter Coffee 9:00 - 11:00 am

26 Last day of Sunday School before summer break One Another Meal 11:30 Family Center

Youth GroupsJr. High Sunday at 5:00 pm (will break for summer after May 5)Sr. High Wednesday at 7:30 pm

Sunday Worship ServicesMorning Worship 9 am-10 amJ.A.M. (ages 3 - PreK) 9 am-10 am every SundayChildren’s Church (grades K-3) 9 am-10 am 1st & 3rd SundaySunday School 10:30 am - 11:15 am

In April, the Missions Team finished lesson 4 of the mission curriculum for Pre-K through 5th grades.

Thank you for your generous giving on Sender Sunday. Each team member will personally pay $450 and would have paid any additional amount needed to meet the total cost. The offering taken in April elimi-nates the need for another fundraiser.

The Guatemala team served the April 28One Another meal.

Sincerely,Andy

See inside for the names and pictures of those serving on Church Leadership Council

Our Core Values Open Bibles One Another Beautiful Feet Spiritual Growth Authentic Worship2 3

Attendance & Offering4/7 286 $ 9,2754/14 282 $ 6,833 4/21 280 $10,040*4/28 300 $ 6,337

May MilestonesBirthdays

1 Teron Fairchild4 Steve Liggett5 Susan Buchanan5 Stacy Ludy6 John Krone8 Cory Cooper8 Max Foor11 Sydney Butikofer11 Todd Palmer15 Brady Sanders19 Collin Buchanan19 Marcia Mool20 Addison Benedict21 Linda Hartzler21 Noah Ludy23 Scott Edwards23 Grant Stauter24 Ian Hall25 Tony Palmer25 Calvin Riggs26 Micah Meiss27 Brad Neal28 Jaykob Kiefer28 Jessica Kiefer29 Logan Mallory31 Mattie Buchanan31 Duane Guth

Anniversaries04 Kathy & Tom Hany15 Trent & Erin Kaupp16 John & Pat McKey18 Melvin & Ruth Grace25 Chris & Julie Blair27 Michael & Janet Rosenberger28 Todd & Jennifer Morrison31 Ron & Marcia Mool

New Birth in April18 Colton Paul Kelly Brent & Traci, parents

Sunday School Attend Offering Kids Fed4/7 120 $ 32.08 64 4/14 134 $ 31.38 434/21 118 $ 39.06 784/28 138 $ 10.02 20

Spotlight on . . . Church Leadership Council

These seven individuals serve on First United’s Church Leadership Council (CLC).

Deep & Wide updateFor the past several months the Deep and

Wide team has been making improvements at First United. We were able to add 80 ad-ditional seats to the sanctuary by moving pews closer to the stage and removing the back wall. This allows us to maintain one service with the additional seating capacity.

We also added a new plat-form for the sound area and new audio equipment to im-prove our internet broadcast.

The biggest change in the project was remodeling the foyer and fellowship hall. The existing foyer was a bit small for our grow-ing congregation and it was difficult to ma-neuver through the foyer after service. The open concept allows more room to fellow-ship and improved traffic flow. The foyer and fellowship hall received new paint, car-pet, lighting and furnishings.

The entire project cost for the build-

ing improvements and furnishings totaled $60,958.62*.

We had several volunteers assist with the project. The men’s group helped install a 28’ steel beam that weighted 1000 lbs! We

were all relieved after the beam was set. Finance assisted with moving the pews and relocat-ing the food pantry. The food pantry remained in service and worked around the construc-

tion. Other volunteers helped with painting, cleaning, replac-ing drywall and carpet removal. Thanks to all the volunteers who

helped us save several thousands of dollars on the project.

The Deep and Wide team consisted of Steve Barnhart, Jeff Benedict, Andy Huette, John Mckey, Bev Nelson and David Zeller. —Jeff Benedict

*We are waiting on delivery of more furniture.

Meet First U’s Newest Missionary . . . Jake Foor

That was then.

This is now.

2013 Team ChairsThe following people are leading in team ministry:Christian Education (CE):Katie AlbrittonSunday School Superin-tendent: Lori HardmanChurch Leadership Council (CLC): Denny FoorFinance: Mark LudyLittle Lambs:Abby Huette, ChairStacy Ludy, DirectorLocal Outreach (LO): Tiffney PalmerMissions: Keri HanyWorship: Bev Nelson

Steve Barnhart Denny Foor, Chair Al Hany Andy Huette

John Krone Matt Wenger Dave Zeller

Many of us watched Jake grow up. Now we have the privilege of send-ing him out as a missionary with Next Worldwide based in Dallas, Texas. Next Worldwide “exists to make and multiply disciples of the next generation via the vehicles of church planting missions and mis-sional leadership training.” Their website is www.nextworldwide.org.

Jake will be responsible for plan-ning, coordinating, and leading short-term mission trips for high school and college students. He will be training students in evangelism and how to share their faith while partnering with pastors and church plants around the world.

“My call to work in missions be-gan with a hint of desire when I took Perspectives with my dad and my

brother. I then went to the Desiring God Conference that had a focus on missions, which began to kindle the small fire that God was setting inside my heart. Finally, this past summer I went to the IT Project in L.A. At this summer project, which focused entirely on world missions, God did a complete overhaul in my heart and gave me a passion to reach the lost people of the world. Several friends from the staff this past summer pointed me towards Next World-wide. I fell in love with what Next Worldwide does and the strategy involved in getting these students to have a global vision.”

If you would like to contact Jake, you can call him at 309.275.2951 or email him at jake.foor@nextworld-wide.org

Nicaragua-Bound: Mandy PoppenJune 16 - November 2

Mandy Poppen, daughter of Dave and Peggy Poppen grew up in the Apostolic Christian Church but also attended First U’s Youth Group dur-ing her four years in high school. It was at a First U youth conference where she committed her life to Christ and became saved.

In May, Mandy graduates from Bradley’s nursing program. Since high school, it has been her goal to speak Spanish and become bilin-gual. She has a heart for Hispanics and wants to use Spanish so that she can converse and pray with Span-ish-speaking patients.

She first visited Nicaragua on a mission trip during her freshman

year in college. She now plans to return to serve and become more fluent in Spanish before beginning her nursing career. Mandy will leave on June 16 and return November 2. While there, she will work alongside a missionary as an intern in campus ministry. She will lead evangelism efforts, a women’s college Bible study, outreach events and com-munity service projects. Mandy will also work for 1-1/2 months with a missionary pediatrician. She will be doing nursing assessments, giving shots and first aid care.

We will commission Mandy and pray for her during our June 9 Sun-day worship service.

First United is SendingFirst U’s Missions Team is sending two of our own into the mission field. Jake Foor is com-

mitting to a three-year term as a career missionary; Mandy Poppen will spend 4-1/2 months serving in Nicaragua. We encourage you to meet them, and if led, help them in their work. You may also direct questions to a Missions team member: Chuck Albritton, Dan Dixon, Keri Hany, Kansas Krone, Karen Neal, and Katie Zeller.

“I love Jesus’ command in Mark 16 that says ‘go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to all creation.’ I get inspired and stirred on by this commission, and I hope to fulfill this command by going to Nicaragua and committing to share the good news of the Gos-pel with students on the campus and members of the community.”

Beginning this summer, Coffee Fellowship will be served in both the Fellow-ship Hall and Family Center.

*Sender Sunday for Guatemala team