Highlights from the FamilyJuly 2016 | Edition 11

+ DEACON BIOLEA KERKSTRAThis June marked two anniversaries for Wayne and me: 41 years of marriage, and 41 years at Sunshine! All 3 of our children have grown up in this church. They have married, and it is our great joy to watch them and their spouses grow in a personal relationship with the Lord. I grew up on a small farm in Iowa but moved to this area when I was 10. My mother was my spiritual mentor, but I really learned and grew more in my faith as a young mom and wife in the Women’s Bible Study here at Sunshine. I work full time as a nurse in a busy pediatric office, and got to go on 8 amazing medical mission trips to Mexico. I enjoy reading, crafts, sewing & camping. I’m looking forward to seeing how we will be able to put hands and feet on our faith in the upcoming seasons.

+ ELDER BIOWAYNE KERKSTRAI have been married to my dear wife, Lea, for almost 41 years and have been attending Sunshine all of that time. We have three children who are all married. I was raised in Byron Center, and lived there until Lea and I married. I have been a meat cutter, photographer, probation officer, and am now a care provider for Pine Rest’s Child and Adolescent Unit. I enjoy reading, gardening, and playing

with our 3 grandsons. We love how Sunshine has been like a family to us, encouraging and supporting us through good times and tough times. I look forward to giving back to Sunshine and serving others as an Elder.

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Sunshinecommunity church

After being here three years, I have a deep and sincere appreciation for this congregation, its people, its gifts, and its God-given calling. I am honored to be more than just a pastor here – I feel a part of this church family and am excited to invest my time, treasure, and talents as a member, as well.

It is my prayer that this Fall will be a ministry season unlike any other, and that God will open up amazing doors before us, especially in places we have been feeling stuck. I long to see successful outreach perpetrated by the entire church as an intergenerational team. I pray that God will give us the hearts of our friends, neighbors, and family in an amazing harvest for heaven. Please join me in these prayers!

This is a truly exciting time in the history of our congregation.

GET TO KNOW LEADERSHIP

I am excited to see how the Lord is leading us for-ward in Spiritual Formation. We are working hard to fulfill our vision to equip parents for ministry to their own children. It may seem like a simple notion, but if God has blessed a couple with kids, He also gives them the responsibility to raise those children in his ways, and to teach them His truths. At vision-casting events this month, you will hear

more about how the church will equip parents with the resources they need to fulfill this joy-packed responsibility. We cannot live the life of faith alone; we need each other to spur us on toward faithfulness and as partners in praise of our Living God!

As we seek to do more and more ministry together across the generations, we need to prayerfully ask God how He is calling each one of us to make new relationships, encourage others, and build communi-ty in our body. We worship together, serve together, prayer together, sing together… all for God’s glory!

- Pastor Cody

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” ~ John 15:4

One of the tasks the deacons perform is maintaining

“The Well.” The Well is where we connect the congregation with a person in need of a service or physical item like an appliance, handyman service, etc. The deacons will accept certain donated items and keep them until a

request is received.

PRAYER FOCUS

ADULT MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS

How’s the temperature of your prayer life?*Red hot with passion? *Lukewarm with indifference or obligation? *Cold with no life?

Want to move up a notch on the temperature gauge?

With over 90 kids signed up, over $900.00 raised for talking Bibles through World Missions, and a crazy ending with leaders getting pied in the face, then jumping down a humungous waterslide, there was no way to NOT have fun! Thanks to all the leaders who stepped up to serve. Now, we’re in “curriculum mode.” We’re getting to know our new, family-focused D6 curriculum, crafting it to fit our church, and gearing up for the Fall. Don’t forget, Movie Night at the Pond is happening July 22nd!

- Henry Muller

Every night we could count on more than 18 students from middle school and high school to be leading the charge to share the gospel through song, Bible stories, crafts, games, and yes, maybe a little bit of dancing! Everyone seemed to be in their element, using the gifts that God had given to them, and it was amazing to witness how the Holy Spirit used each one’s contribution to bring glory to God! We owe the students at Sunshine a great big “thank you” for being willing to step out of their comfort zones to teach kids from Sunshine and from our community about the tremendous love that God has for each one of them. They helped proclaim and show that Jesus is the only way to salvation! Thank you, Students of Sunshine! What a blessing you are to us all!

- Pastor Cody

During VBS week when the children were on a Deep Sea Discovery, one particular highlight for me throughout the course of the week was seeing the youth of Sunshine so highly invested in leadership.

STUDENT MINISTRIES

CHILDREN’S

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What fun we had at Vacation Bible School last month!

“Brothers & sisters in Christ, We want to thank you

all for how you’ve been ministering in our lives through-

out this year. From the moment we were first picked

up by our drivers we were amazed at how loved and

welcomed we felt. We actually went to Sunshine by

accident (we were trying to go to another church and

got the times mixed up- oops!), but now we can see

that this is definitely the church God had prepared

for us. Thank you for always investing in us, even when

we were inconsistent. Your outreach efforts meant so

much to us! A special thank you to Henry, our driv-

ers, and our wonderful adoptive families. You all did an

amazing job of showing God’s love to a group of home-

sick, worn-down college students.

- Calvin College Students

“Thank you for your generosity and kindness in lending us the 2 Bible studies

from your library this past season! I praise the Lord for you and the ministry

there at Sunshine! Glory and praise the Lord in all things! These studies have

transformed our progress of going THRU!” Blessings,

- Kelly M.

“A special thank-you to all the volunteers who participated in the Legacy Confer-

ence. So many people told us how much they appreciated the friendly, helpful

volunteers and the warm welcome that was given to both the participants and

speakers!”

- Legacy Conference staff

+ SHUT–INSPatricia BrownEugenia OzingaHenrietta Billings

+ MILITARY PERSONNELNate BlankerEric & Rebecca BolBrent HolbrookEric MastNathan & Jessica MastPhillip MastKevin Yerke

Notes from you...

+ STAFF BIOKIM OLENZUK

I am blessed to be the wife of Bill, and to be the mother of Jehricole, McKenna & Gabe. We have attended Sunshine for over 15 years! I enjoy cooking, trips to the library, antique shopping, hosting parties, working in my garden, camping, and watching hockey games in cold ice rinks. Recently, I sense God further fostering my desire to practice hospitality at home and at work. I see Him en-couraging me and my family to live life more simply, to allow more generous investment of time/talents/resources in others. I consider it a privilege to be able to serve the congregation and guests of Sunshine. I receive the most joy and blessing when working alongside our amazing staff and vol-unteers to honor Jesus and bless others!

GET TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER

Worship & Technical Arts could use your help!

Explore using your gifts in Sunday morning worship. Opportunities include mu-sicans, sound operators, stage techs, set builders and designers, media pro-duction, drama, etc. - Nolan Cocke

+ Contact ncocke@sunshinechurch.org

MISSIONS HIGHLIGHTS

“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit...” ~ Matthew 28:19

Sunshine also had our second annual Missionary Meet & Greet after the service in the concourse. This was a bazaar/marketplace style set up – with each represented Missionary/Ministry having a booth. Some ministries were represented by a family member or friend who shared their stories with videos, pictures, and other information as to how God was using their ministry to further the Kingdom. It was an excit-ing celebration and exciting to hear how God is moving! We are so honored to serve the church and the Missions and Outreach Council by supporting and encouraging these amazing servants of Christ as they do their work.

- Sunshine Missions Implementation Team

Sunshine Church celebrated Missions Sunday on May 22nd. Missionaries and their families joined us, as we celebrated the work that God is doing through each of their ministries.

Prince Warriors by Priscilla Shirer

If You Can Keep It by Eric Metaxas

Baby Wren and the Great Gift by Sally Lloyd-Jones

Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper

NEW IN THE LIBRARY

OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE

To get involved, visit our website www.sunshinechurch.org and login to

Sunshinecommunity church

+ NURSERY & SUNDAY SCHOOL

Help minister to and care for the youngest of our congregation!+ Contact Henry Muller at 364-4242x130, or hmuller@sunshinechurch.org

+ SUNSHINE BEVERAGE BARS

If you can give a friendly smile and enjoy serving others, please join us on the coffee bar team! Commit to help once a month or be on our sub list.+ Contact Kim Olenzuk at 364-4242, or kolenzuk@sunshinechurch.org

+ WELCOME MINISTRIESDo you enjoy greeting people and helping them feel welcomed and valued? Then we would love to have you join us on the Welcome Ministry Team!+ Contact kolenzuk@sunshinechurch.org

+ LIBRARY ASSISTANTSVolunteers needed after worship on Sundays once per month.+ Contact Sue Rhoda at 364-4242x113, or srhoda@sunshinechurch.org

+ FACILITIESThere are a wide variety of tasks with which volunteers can assist, both inside and outside our minis-try center, as well as on the Sunday safety team.+ Contact Jeff Yakes at 364-4242x123, or jyakes@sunshinechurch.org

Thank you for letting us share. Stay tuned

for fresh Highlights in September!

Miracles from Heaven DVD