Eastwind Community Church

Eastwind has a wide variet of bible studies at a variety of times and for a variety interests being offered this year. Small groups are a great way to get to know people and learn more about God's Word. Our groups are discussion-oriented and enjoyable, whether you know a lot about the Bible or virtually nothing. Please note there may be change in the schedule during the summer. Several studies take a break, or just meet monthly.

Seeker Discusssion Group Do you have questions about God and Jesus? Are just beginning to explore the existence of God and what that might mean for your life? Are you looking for a safe environment in which to explore your interest in spiritual things? Then this discussion group might be for you. It meets the second Friday of each month from 7-8:30 p.m. the home of Kevin and Amy Chen. Call 385-0298 for more information and directions.

Attention parents, a new group is starting! Please join us for a weekly play date for all children under 4 and parents in need of some adult socializing. We will be meeting Wednesdays from 10:00 - 11:00 at the church. For more information please call Susannah at 794-3944 or Renee at 376-6717.

Eastwind Prayer Team We have a prayer group that will meet on Sunday Mornings for 15-20 minutes between

the 9:00 and 10:30 services (starting Oct 2nd). This group will pray for each of the services, and for all of the ministries that will take place on that day. In addition, they will pray for upcoming events in the church, as well as the special needs of particular individuals in the congregation. Prayer is the most powerful and important ministry tool we have! If you’d like to be part of this group, please contact Mark after church, or call him at 387-0818.

Care Givers Team Are you looking for a fun way to get involved at Eastwind, make a difference in people’s lives and meet others? Join the Care Givers Team! This team offers care in the form of visits, card, meals, flowers, and practical assistance etc. for those who are in hospital, sick or have lost a loved-one. Please contact Jennifer Peer (396-2450) or Kristin Cobeaga (869-6323/kcobeaga@hotmail.com) if you have any questions.

Feeling Crafty? Join us for a church-sponsored Scrapper's Delight evening. Meet us at church on the second Monday of each month. Treats will be provided. Call Anna McHargue with questions at 426-0606.

For a lot of people, the idea of joining a small group is scary. It is really common for people to express one of the four fears listed below as a primary reason for not attending a small group.

1. Everyone there will know more about the Bible than me, and I¹ll look like an idiot. That would be intimidating if it were true, but is isn't. The truth is, that there are many people in our church who do not have a church background, or never had the opportunity to learn much about the Bible. With the exception of our In-depth Bible Study, all of our groups include people who have little to no experience with the Bible. Sure, we all learn from those who know a thing or two. But often it¹s the fresh and unbiased perspectives of the unchurched that make our discussions really enthusiastic, and challenges those who've been around the Bible for a lifetime.

2. They're going to make me read difficult Bible words out-loud, and everyone will realize that I don¹t read well. This is a real fear for a lot of people. But in our small groups, participation is always voluntary. Group leaders don't "call-on" people to read or to give answers. If no one volunteers to read a passage out-loud, the leader will read for the group.

3. It's going to be weird. In small groups, people get all touchy-feely and talk about which kind of fruit their fellow members remind them of. You all dance around the room pretending to be butterflies, and hold hands and sway while singing "kumbaya"... Wrong! No doubt there are small groups like that. But our small groups emphasize practical and relevant discussions for practical and relevant people. We believe-in and value laughter. We drop the religious jargon and talk like real people. We discuss straightforward and down to earth issues. We respect your intelligence and honor your sensibilities.

4. They're going to drag stuff out of me that I don't want to tell, and I'll probably get embarrassed and start crying. In our groups, there is no hidden agenda to get you to reveal something you¹re not ready to tell, or to get you to "confess"something you're not proud of, or reveal something that you don¹t want known. As stated above, all participation is voluntary, and exerting pressure to get someone to speak is strictly out-of-bounds. People do become close in these groups, and often people do share things of a very personal nature after they have become comfortable with each other. But such revelations are never forced, and there is no expectation that you should have to share the intimate details of your life, unless and until you are good and ready.

Do you work or live say, West of Broadway Avenue?
Do you need an excuse to get breakfast?

We are currently doing a study that brings the history of the Christian Church to life. The study is designed to meet you where you are at...no homework, no penalty if you travel, no previous experience required! We meet on Wednesday mornings at the Blue Jean Cafe at the corner of Maple Grove & Emerald. Coffee's on at 6:00 a.m, we eat at 6:30 a.m. - and are finished with the study by 7:30 a.m. Best Feature of all; first time visitors get free breakfast! To sign up or if you have questions call Jim Bean at 345-6962.

Young Married Group Get to know other young married couples at the church! Whether you're new to the church (as many of us are), or have been attending for some time, this will be a great opportunity to meet new people and make new friends. For more information contact Kevin Schultz at (208) 695-5420 or kshoe4@yahoo.com.

Our “Eastwind Series” of short courses are offered at various times throughout the year to help you make steady spiritual progress one step at a time.

Eastwind 101: Introduction To Eastwind/Eastwind Basics
An introduction to the history, mission, goals and people of Eastwind Community Church. (90 minute course/1 session) offered in January, April and September.

Eastwind 201: Finding Your Ministry
Discovering God’s teaching about Spiritual Gifts, discovering your passion,
finding a place to serve in Eastwind Community Church, and starting new
ministries. (2 hour course/1 session) offered in February, May and October.

Eastwind 301: Deepening Your Faith
Learning to devote your life more fully to Jesus Christ, to trust Him more, to
discover His will for your life, to deepen your life of prayer and personal
study. (3 hour course, 2 sessions and some independent study) offered in
March and November.

Eastwind 401: Sharing Your Faith
Learning how to lead someone to faith in Christ, relying on God to empower your efforts, developing tactfulness, respect, sensitivity and patience in your conversations about faith, and understanding and addressing the objections of non-believers. (3 hour course, 2 sessions and some independent study) offered in January, April and September (beginning in April 2006).

Joint Heirs Class 9:00 am Sundays, 7 week study staring April 6

“Make Friends Now for the Eternal Future” (Jesus, Luke 16:9)

Jon Strain (Search Boise), will teach a model of relational evangelism that is remarkably personal, up front, do-able, winsome and influential.

Imagine winsomely expressing your relationship with God as a lifestyle in your home, neighborhood, place of employment and leisure pursuits. Your style is one that wins trust and respect whereby people want to know about the role God plays in your life… and you are able to explain it in a way that wins more hearings over the long haul.

The underlying values explored in this study are fourfold:
1) Our Motive is Compassion that God has for each one.
2) Our Goal is Conversation in non-threatening ways where faith questions can be explored openly and Christ’s claims explained and experienced through His followers.
3) Our Perspective is Journey-oriented, joining God in the process He uses, understanding that He uses all kinds of people and circumstances to draw valued people to Himself.
4) Our Response is Appropriate to people’s three barriers to faith in Christ: the Emotional barrier (build loving relationships), the Intellectual barrier (honest answers to honest questions), and the Volitional Barrier (Prayer).

*This study is a direct application to the Sunday message Jon gave by this title on March 2. The workbook is a Search publication called Connexions ($12)