Caleb Run 5K
Dearest Shoreline Family,
It goes without saying that this season has been a very difficult one for our family as we try to adjust to a ‘different good’ in our lives. As we approach the one-year anniversary of our son, Caleb Sterling Koke, relocating to Heaven on July 14 2009, someone suggested that we consider the idea of hosting a Caleb 5k Run to honor his life. This opportunity has certainly encouraged us and we know that an event like this will help us keep his memory and legacy alive.
We would be so honored if you would partner with us and lend your support. We invite you to join us and be a part of The Caleb 5k Run, which will be held Saturday, July 17 2010 at 8 am here at the Shoreline Church campus. This event is a certified 5k (3.2 miles) and we are anticipating 1000 participants. The cost of registration is $20.00 and will go toward making a difference in the lives of less fortunate children both locally and globally. Proceeds will benefit our local outreach, Austin Can Academy, (www.americancan.com) a school for high risk teens. We will donate $5000 to their athletic department. The remaining funds will go toward the continual building of Caleb Houses globally, which will house and support children (www.shoreline.net).
Thank you for your amazing & loyal friendship, as well as your prayers & support for our family during this very difficult season. We have felt so loved by God and by you. To learn more about this event, please visit the website at www.caleb5k.com.
All our love,
Rob & Laura Koke
Click here to visit caleb5k.com
BHADs, Big Hairy Audacious Dreams
At Shoreline Church, we believe that once you discover the beauty of the finished work of the cross, you will want to share the experience of the redemptive love that restores you to God, self, others, and creation.
In 2010 we have strategically planned to unveil God’s love to the City of Austin, surrounding communities, and the world through our Big Hairy Audacious Dreams. We call them BHADs. We believe they reflect God’s heart for hurting humanity. You may have heard us talk about them and wondered…WHAT?! Well, here they are:
• 5000 salvations for Christ
• 1000 small groups
• 500,000 volunteer hours
• $500,000 compassionate initiative
We believe heaven is real and the only way to get there is to acknowledge and receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and we refer to that as salvation.
Small groups are a way to make friends and to get words of encouragement and hope during the mountain top experiences as well as in the valleys of life.
God has placed talents inside of you and when they are expressed through volunteering, God is glorified.
Natural disasters and human suffering are all around us and we want to mobilize our financial resources to bring relief, rehabilitation and development.
This is God’s heart, so we have made it ours. Come join us as we Unveil God’s Love!
BHADs Effect Lives for Eternity
Of the last 32 years, Jerry spent 30 of them drinking. Oh, sure he came to church on Sunday. He will tell you Shoreline was his home church. But as soon as Sunday service was over, he went straight for the fridge and popped open a cold one.
In November 2007, he came home from work to find all his belongings packed up in the garage. With the words of his girlfriend, Sarah, echoing through his heart and head, “You don’t live here anymore”, he spent the next two weeks living in a hotel. Jerry was forced to take a good, long, hard look at his life and the choices he made. It’s said that people don’t change until they hit rock bottom, but for Jerry rock bottom would have been death. The thought of suicide danced in his head. But buried deep inside of the war that raged in him was a sense of hope that there was more to life.
The next Sunday morning he went to Shoreline with a different intention. He wanted to change, and knew the Jesus Pastors Rob and Laura preached about would be the change. He joined Celebrate Recovery. A few months into the program, Jerry realized he had to give back through volunteering. He started ushering and met Gilbert, Eddie and Brian - courageous men who encouraged him to his fullest potential. In serving, he found friends for life. This month Jerry was promoted to Head Usher.
Jerry will tell you the journey hasn’t been easy, but it has been filled with love, grace, and acceptance inspiring change from the inside out. On Saturday, June 12, 2010, Jerry will be marrying the love of his life. When he said “I do” to God, Sarah said “I do” to Jerry.
Click here to go to Shoreline Outreach
Loved to Love
Let’s face it…this place is big! Shoreline is a BIG CHURCH! There are 4,850 seats in our north sanctuary…whoa! When my husband and I first walked through the doors 11 years ago, I was a little overwhelmed. It’s hard to believe we’ve been here that long and honestly, it doesn’t seem that big to me anymore! We’ve gotten beautiful new carpeting this year, and I’m pretty sure the seating hasn’t changed. That must mean I’ve changed!
So, what has shifted my perspective? Well, I know a big part of shrinking Shoreline was getting involved in a small group. I mean it’s a “small” group, right? We attended Financial Peace University Sunday school, which was life changing. I’ve grown so much attending ladies Bible studies, and ever since the first church wide small group experience “40 Days of Purpose”, we’ve hosted a group. The friendships we’ve formed have transformed Shoreline from a big church into a community…a family!
I think we all want to feel like we are a part of something bigger than ourselves. We want to be connected to other people in life-giving relationships, to know that we don’t have to do this alone. We’ve built some great friendships small group settings where we can learn together, eat together, pray together, and play together.
It’s been a few months since the beautiful Heaven series wrapped up and we are ready for the next one, “Loved to Love”. This is the core of Shoreline; to unveil God’s love and to know that we are forgiven and made brand new. This Love revolutionizes our lives and the lives of those around us. You won’t want to miss it!
I’m so ready for the new study and my house is ready too! Hosting a small group provides that extra little nudge I seem to need to get my house tidied up each week. But you don’t have to have a clean house to host a group; you don’t even need a house! You can meet at Starbucks, the break room at work, or at your friend’s house! All you have to do is attend a 1-hour training, fill out at 30 second serving form, and invite your family, co-workers, friends and neighbors! How cool would it be if your neighbors became your friends!
So, go to the website and sign up. What are you waiting for? Together we can change our city by making a difference right where we are! Great things happen in small groups. We find freedom and life! We learn to care for and support each other. We grow and change, and change is good! Then, when we all come together for church on Sunday mornings, our big church is more like a small group family reunion! How fun is that?
Click here to find out more about Small Groups
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