Dear New Hope,

I love Steve’s story. Steve is a member at New Hope and is madly in love with Jesus. But, back in the 1970’s, he was not following Christ. And his story of coming to know the Lord is a fascinating glimpse at the importance of sowing seeds, even when it seems people aren’t listening. Listen to his story from his own words:

“I was raised Christian Science so had a respect for God and Jesus but didn’t see a need for a personal savior. From 1969-1972 I taught choir outside of Cincinnati, Ohio. 5 high students would always invite me to church or just share that Jesus is Lord. I politely declined. They happened to be the best singers in the choir. Jesus Christ Superstar was just out and I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. They came as a group to inform me that they could not participate in singing any of the music from that show because it was blasphemy. Of course I excused them from singing it. One rehearsal they stood up and sang “BLAS-PH-EMY” to the chorus of JE-SUS CHRIST. I was amused. They told me privately why it was blasphemous but I had other ideas. One of the singers asked me to play on a Christian album with her and her mother. I obliged and all the way over and back from the recording session they witnessed to me. All of these events were firm in my memory but looking back it was like the parable of the sower; good seed was sown but it was dormant until March 1975.

Christmas of 1974 found me leading a musical group called Newfound Spirit (not spiritual at all) and in Detroit. My wife, Sara, had received Jesus as Lord and Savior months earlier but couldn’t really share with me. Her request was that I read the New Testament as a book and not like Christian Science which teaches some scripture but with the needed explanation of their book Keys to the Scriptures.

I began to see Jesus in a different way. In March, our next door neighbor invited us to an Assembly of God Church in Charlevoix to hear a singer/evangelist. We accepted the invitation to go and I responded immediately at the end of the service by giving my life to Jesus as Lord and Savior. We were at the same church for 24 years before moving to Traverse City to become an elementary principal at Living God Christian School in 1999.”

Seed-sowers. 5 high school teens. A wife. A next door neighbor. And finally a surrender to Christ at a church assembly. This is why we must all sow seeds. Some will reject. Some will accept, but then fall away. Others, like Steve, will embrace the word with joy, and will bear remarkable fruit in their lives for the sake of Jesus Christ. Who is your Steve? Where do you need to sow seed for the Lord?

Mark 4 is all about sowing seed. I look forward to seeing you this Sunday.

You are loved,

Craig Trierweiler

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Traverse City Campus

5100 Bethesda Ct.
Sunday 8am and 10am

Bellaire Campus

Bellaire Theater
112 N Bridge St
Sunday 10am

The name Truth & Training reflects the passion of AWANA to teach 3rd & 4th grade boys and girls the truth of God’s Word and to train them to follow Christ in their daily lives. Our goal is that today’s kids will become tomorrow’s church leaders. TNT uses scripture memory, exciting worship, and Bible-based teaching to equip the kids of today to be the leaders of the future.

We love our sparks group! Kindergarten through 2nd graders will have the opportunity to be with qualified, trained teachers that both love the Word of God and your kids. Each week Sparks will have the opportunity to recite and memorize scripture, sing praises of worship, learn from the weekly Bible lesson, and play some wild games. Every moment of AWANA is fused with the same message: You matter to us and to God!

Cubbies is built on two premises:

Young children can and should receive spiritual training, and Home is the primary place for spiritual training. Our 4 year olds program helps you train up your children and gives you tools for Home! Awana is fun with a purpose – to reach and teach kids for Jesus Christ. Games, puppets, crafts, awards, and more - Wednesdays are where fun and learning go hand in hand.

KidZone University: Ages 12-13

These kids are taught more than just an understanding of the Bible. They are taught to see the application in scripture, and to use it to defend their faith! An “apologetic” approach to the Bible shows kids evangelism, service, and a deepening of their personal faith.

KidZone Varsity: Ages 9-11

KidZone Varsity’s focus is to move beyond understanding, and into application. Once kids can understand scripture, they can take steps to apply it to their everyday lives at home, at school, and in the world.

KidZone J.V.: Ages 6-8

J.V. is a time when the stories of scripture are pulled together. Kids are taught by many different teachers, but their goal is all the same: to help kids see Christ in the story of scripture from Genesis through Revelation.

KidZone Junior: Ages 3-5

Children need a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Our aim is to introduce and expand a child’s perception of who Jesus is. We use music, crafts, and Bible stories to show why we desire to serve and follow Him.

Early Childhood: Ages birth-2

Children are uniquely created by God and greatly valued by Him. We welcome your children into our nurseries with open arms. Our Goal is to care for them in a safe and loving manner so they may know God loves them all the time.

Sowing Seed – Steve’s Story

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