Our young adults have been growing and are planning many things for the coming months. More than 24 young adults have signed up to participate in our UGo Alaska missions trip to Kotzebue, Alaska! We are greatly anticipating this trip. Plans are being set up to do work projects, have a VBS sports camp for kids, and minister to youth through evening rallies. We are very expectant about what God will do in Kotzebue this summer! Please pray for us as we raise the funds necessary for this trip and as we seek to be the hands of feet of Jesus to the young and old in Kotzebue!

One last exciting happening at the UG is the development of childcare, enabling young parents to attend our UG service on Thursday nights.
We feel the development of this ministry will enable us to reach even more young people and young families in our community! God is doing great things! ~ Pastor Josh

The emphasis of LFTL is the distribution of God’s Word through the whole world. Whether in the form of gospel tracts or websites, the vision behind LFTL is printing and packaging of Bibles in all the languages of the world. On Sunday, May 6, you will have the opportunity to become a faith promise contributor to LFLT throughout the year.

In addition to our teams doing very well at State Finals, Evangel had four quizzers who were among the five individual high scorers: Rylan Sago was fifth, Eric Bender was third, Kaden Sago was second, and Joshua Sipes was first individual high scorer with 1070 points. Congratulations to all the quizzers who competed at the State Finals. Everyone did a great job representing Evangel! ~ Bobbi Loven

Underground Church is going to be a quarterly event where we will dig deeper in the Bible. In March
we studied the purpose of the Old Testament. At our next Underground Church on June 29, we will study
the life of Christ from the four Gospels. It is going to be another great night of learning, prayer, worship, and fellowship.

Underground Worship was another “underground” event that we launched in April. If tools are needed to dig deep, then worship is one of those tools that deepens our relationship with Jesus. Some might ask, “How does worship deepen my faith?” The answer is that worship demands expression. The nature of worship is to declare God’s “worth-ship.” But without opening our heart and mouth, worship doesn’t happen. Of course, there are many ways to worship God beside singing and prayer, yet every expression of worship is something we do as a way of honoring God for who He is and what He has done. And when we allow ourselves times of uninterrupted worship, our heart for God is given room to expand and grow. It’s pretty hard to deepen your heart for Jesus in five minutes. Instead, the human heart requires regular uninterrupted times for Jesus to do the work of shaping and transforming us.

Finally, this month we will have our first Underground Experience on Sunday, May 20, at 6:00 PM. This event will include both Bible teaching and worship, however, the emphasis is going to be on the Person and work of the Holy Spirit deep inside of our lives. Underground Church will stretch our understanding of the Bible, Underground Worship will develop our heart and adoration of Jesus, and Underground Experience is going to provide opportunities to be deeply impacted by the ministry
of the Holy Spirit. The deep, mature Christian life is built on the Word of God, the worship of God, and the Spirit of God. Each contributes uniquely to developing us into fully devoted followers of Jesus.

In preparation for Underground Experience, let me whet your appetite with the following information about what the ministry of the Holy Spirit is all about. The Bible refers to the Holy Spirit in a variety of ways, such as Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Empowerer, just to name a few. In my opinion, the single summarizing verse that clarifies the impact of the Holy Spirit is
Acts 1:8 where Jesus said, “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you to be My witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.”

I am looking forward to our very first Underground Experience! Pastor Scott will lead our segments of worship, which will be interspersed with short segments of teaching from Pastors Terry, Josh, and myself. Also, at the same time we are having our Underground Experience, Pastor Aaron will have an Underground Experience — kids version! There is so much about the Holy Spirit that we are excited to begin teaching! And, how awesome it is going to be to see the Holy Spirit fill, heal, empower, and impart spiritual gifts to those who come hungry and ready for a genuine Underground Experience.

In preparation for our first Underground Experience, the Holy Spirit has laid Acts 4:31 on my heart.

“After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.”

It’s our vision that God will use every Underground event to “shake” us, “fill” us, and make us “bold” for Jesus. So, put Sunday, May 20, on your calendar. It will be an “experience” you’ll not want to miss! ~ Pastor Doug

A Group Baby Dedication (multiple families) will take place on Sunday, May 13, during the 10:00 AM and 11:30 AM Current services.

If you would like to have your baby dedicated on Sunday, May 13, please go to www.goevangel.org/babydedication, and watch the three-part video. Sign up on the website or at the Information Center for the service you want to participate in. The sign up deadline is Monday, May 7.

S.H.A.P.E. from Evangel Assembly of God on Vimeo.

A young German university student of Jewish descent finished his Ph.D. dissertation and submitted it to a university. It came back with these words scrawled across it by his professor: “This thesis is irrelevant and fanciful.” But, rather than being devastated, he took his dissertation to another university, where it was accepted. From there he became one of the world’s greatest scientists. His name? Albert Einstein.

A mother in Ohio once received a visit from the local schoolmaster of the village school. He told her that her son really had no great mental ability and suggested that she put him to work on the farm — he would never benefit from his intellect. The mother rejected the negative evaluation of her son and decided to home-schooled him. Later in adulthood he would write: “When everyone else is quitting on a problem, that is the time to begin.” And true to this perspective, he would invent the telephone, the incandescent lamp, and the electric train. Society also owes its gratitude to this man because he established over 1,300 patented inventions. His name? Thomas Edison.

Many years ago, a young man in Scotland felt God calling him to pastoral ministry so he enrolled in seminary. He was assigned to preach his very first sermon in a small country church near the seminary. However, when he stood up to deliver his sermon, he promptly forgot his Bible text. In great humiliation he fled from the pulpit crying out, “I am a total failure. I will never preach again.” And it’s true; he never did become a pastor. Instead, he became one of history’s most celebrated missionaries. His name? David Livingston.

But in all of history, we can think of no one else whose background gave absolutely no hint of eventual greatness other than Jesus. He was born to peasant parents in a borrowed manger located in an unfamiliar town (Luke 2:4). He was completely rejected by those in the town of his upbringing (John 1:46). He was thought to be mentally unstable by members of his own family (Mark 3:21). He was accused of immoral behavior (Matthew 9:11). It was said that He was possessed by the devil (John 8:48). He suffered the humiliation of being betrayed with a kiss (Mark 14:45). And though interrogated with accusations He
could have easily rebuked, He remained silent (Matthew 26:63). He was scourged nearly to death (Mark 15:15). He was
stripped of His clothing, which soldiers gambled over (Matthew 27:35). He suffered the indignity of having a crown of thorns thrust onto His head (John 19:2). He suffered the searing pain of spikes driven through His hands and feet (Luke 24:20).
Finally, He died . . . alone (John 19:30).

Hundreds of years earlier, Isaiah described the pitiful situation: “There was nothing attractive about Him, nothing to cause us to take a second look. He was looked down on and passed over, a man who suffered, who knew pain firsthand. One look at Him and people turned away. We looked down on Him, thought He was scum.” (Isaiah 53:2-3)

However, what seemed pitiful actually produced something powerful! Isaiah continued: “But the fact is, it was our pains he carried — our disfigurements, all the things wrong with us. We thought he brought it on himself, that God was punishing Him for His own failures. But it was our sins that did that to Him, that ripped and tore and crushed Him — our sins! He took the punishment, and that made us whole. Through His bruises we get healed.” (Isaiah 53:4-5)

As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, be reminded that what may seem weak and inconsequential in the beginning does not have to stay that way. History is filled with people who overcame great challenges, but none as powerfully as Jesus. Invite His Spirit to empower you to live far beyond every limitation, for “greater is He who is in us.” (1 John 4:4) ~ Pastor Doug

Our Sunshine Pals volunteer team is the best! It includes an experienced coordinator, Suzanne Reed; an experienced pal trainer, Lisa Loven; and a team of pals and junior pals. Week after week, we hear about how excited the kids are to see them. Ironically, many of the pals were timid to be a part of the program because of their lack of experience with special need. But after just a Sunday or two, they realized that it’s not about how much you know, it’s about the relationship you build with each child and the time you invest in them.

God has truly used this ministry to bless many kids at Evangel. One little boy in the program loves his pals and the time he spends with them so much that his mother uses going to church as an incentive to be good during school each day. Another little boy was not so sure he wanted to have a pal with him all the time, but after only a week, he started asking which day was the day he gets to be with his pal. What great testimonies, and that’s only two examples!

Our goal for this year is to be able to reach ten more kids through Sunshine Pals. Since starting the program in January, we have already had two more families interested in the program; now we need the pals! All it takes is a heart to bless families in our community and a love for people. So if you haven’t found your place to serve at Evangel, we know where you would fit right in and where you can radiate the love of Jesus! ~ Amy Strawn

On April 20-21, 60 students and 10 coaches will travel to Minot for the state Fine Arts Festival and will compete in the categories they have been working on. When the students return on Sunday, April 22, they will present their entries to the congregation at our annual Fine Arts Dessert Theater at The Element.

This summer The Element is taking a missions trip to Jamaica and rural North Dakota towns where they will use their talents to minister. We are excited to see our students grow and multiply the talents that God has placed inside them. ~ Christina Parkman, FA Coordinator

Welcome to The Underground. The Underground is a monthly experience created to help you encounter God in a deeper way. Our focus is to guide you into that encounter through passionate worship, empowering experience, and deep teaching from God’s Word.

It doesn’t matter who you are, how old you are, or where you are in life: God wants to connect with you! Underground Worship is just a building with some deep music where you have the opportunity to spend time worshiping God.
Underground Worship is April 27 from 8:00-10:30 PM at The Element Student Center. Doors open at 7:30 PM.

Throughout the month of April, you can donate
towards the following needs.

Gently used jeans and sport/tennis shoes are needed in all sizes for infants, children, teens, women, and men. Donations can be placed in the container marked Project Romanian Rescue in the south foyer entrance.

The cost is $2 per pound to ship items to Romania.
Place your donations in an offering envelope and mark it PRR. Donations for shipping can be placed in the Tithes/Offering box located directly above the marked container in the south foyer entrance.

Please pray for Project Romanian Rescue and that many people will come to know Jesus as their personal Savior.

“Thank you, we are extremely grateful for your support
and prayers!” ~ Dan Mercado

God has spared their lives for His service through miraculous healings and angelic confirmation of His protection. Many people have been saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, healed, delivered, and inspired to live for the Lord. The Ericksons believe we are living in a great time of revival.

If you are “55 and Better,” join us for an inspiring evening. PrimeTime will begin with a Taco Salad Dinner, and then Mel will share his life story and what God is doing in Native American Ministry. The cost is $7; please sign up at the Information Center if you plan to attend.

Join us for our Good Friday service.
Communion will be served and music from the choir will point us toward an evening of reflection and worship of Jesus in His sacrificial death for our salvation.

Each of us desire to know God on a deeper level than a conventional church experience . . . welcome to Underground Church. Our first Underground Church is Friday, March 23, from 6:00 PM to midnight at The Element. This evening will be marked by three distinct sessions with teaching, prayer, and fellowship. Pastor Doug will focus on deep, theological teaching concerning the Old Testament, Pastor Terry will focus on a life-impacting character study on the life of David, and Pastor Josh will complete the evening with a relevant teaching on the lifesyle of faith.

Digging holes has never been a favorite pastime of mine. Over the years, there have been a number of times I have produced blisters on my hands from digging holes in the earth either to plant a tree, erect fence posts, bury a family pet, or carefully search for an underground sprinkler line. Regardless of the reason, digging holes is difficult work. However, there is an important principle about digging that we must never forget: the higher we want to grow, the deeper we need to dig. Related to our relationship with Jesus, this is “discipleship,” which simply means growing spiritually mature. Yet, for the most part, we think of discipleship more in terms of growing higher and less in terms of digging deeper. Heights are more exhilarating. Heights are where majestic birds take flight. Heights are where dreams are born. On the contrary, holes are dark. Holes are dirty, and holes are where rodents and worms live. Simply put, digging isn’t as fun as flying. Besides, it hurts my delicate hands.

So, what am I talking about? I’m talking about the challenge of spiritual growth. I don’t mean to ruin your day, but the truth is, becoming spiritually mature is more about holes than heights. Real spiritual maturity results more from digging than flying. Real evidence of real spiritual maturity comes from calluses, not feel-good experiences.

What does it mean to “dig” and grow “deeper” in spiritual maturity? This is an important question because anyone can dig a hole, but not everyone digs the hole in the right place, and not everyone digs the hole deep enough. To become spiritually mature, it’s all about digging in the right places and digging deep enough. Of course, we know that we need to dig into the Bible and prayer, but there are many who don’t know where or how to start digging.

For this reason, on Friday evening, March 23, we are going to launch an event called Underground Church (UC). The word “underground” describes exactly what we will be doing. At UC we’re going to give digging lessons. In other words, UC is going to be an all-out discipleship event that will NOT resemble Sunday morning services. First, the teaching is going to be deeper and longer. Second, the prayer and worship will be more personal and intense. And finally, the duration of the event will be from 6:00 PM to midnight (yes, that’s 6 hours!). The night will be broken into three segments that will include three teaching sessions, three prayer and journaling sessions, and three fellowship and food sessions, with a final live worship segment that will conclude the evening. We plan to have UC every three months. Our 2012 theme is “Understanding and Living the Word of God.” On March 23, the focus will be “The Old Testament” with the teaching sessions addressing the theological foundation of the OT, the most revered OT biography, and practical applications in living the truths of the OT. The future UC events will be taught in a similar way; we will teach through the Gospels (June 29), New Testament Letters (September 28), and End Times (December 28).

Yes, digging is more difficult than flying, but remember — it’s in holes that foundations are poured. “A man who built a house, dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built” (Luke 6:48). So, grab your shovel, find some work gloves, and be a part of our digging party!

Pastor Doug

Thank you to all who volunteered and gave of your time to our JBQ program this year. You came on Sunday nights and traveled with us to the meets, and we appreciate that so much. Bobbi Loven did a fantastic job coordinating all the traveling, practices, and all the details that make quizzing work. I also want to “shout out” to Rob Sipes who coordinated the entire JBQ District this year and did a great job! And thank you parents for taking the time to practice with your children. To excel in JBQ, it takes hard work not only at practice but also at home. Your passion for this ministry is appreciated.

On March 10, the B League will end the year with their last quiz meet at Evangel. We are so proud of you B Leaguers! The A League will be competing in the North Dakota State JBQ Festival on March 30-31 in Bismarck. Come show your support for these amazing kids!
~ Pastor Aaron

S – Spiritual Gifts: A set of special abilities that God has given you to share His love and serve others.

H – Heart: The special passions God has given you so that you can glorify Him on earth.

A – Abilities: The set of talents God gave you when you were born that He desires you to use to make an impact for Him.

P – Personality: The special way God wired you to navigate life and fulfill your unique Kingdom purpose.

E – Experiences: Those parts of your past, both positive and painful, that God intends to use in great ways.

If you have attended Evangel many years but haven’t yet discovered your unique purpose for life, we want to invite you to join us as well. If you plan to attend, sign up online at www.goevangel.org/forms or at the Information Center.

While many life-transforming events occurred in our students’ lives, such as healing and the realization of God’s calling, the most rewarding event was watching our students and leaders connect as a family. I feel that this alone is what makes our Element retreats so powerful. Yes, encountering God is the most crucial facet to any retreat, but connecting that encounter with a family of like-minded Believers takes it to an entirely different level. Thank you for supporting our students as The Element Student Ministries continues to grow and praying for us as we continue to reach our city.

~ Pastor Terry

Nursery through kindergarten care will be provided.

This is also a fun time for kids. They have a great time just being at the camp, sleeping in bunk beds, participating in dodgeball tournaments, and hanging out with their friends. ~ Pastor Aaron 

The cost is $50.
The registration deadline is Wednesday,
March 14. After that date, there is a $15 late fee. Register and pay online at goevangel.org/kids.

Baptism Promo from Evangel Assembly of God on Vimeo.

Click HERE for more information.

Come to Evangel this January to find out!

SIGN UP HERE: Coffee Talk – Wednesdays – January 2012

Christmas Eve Service
5:00 PM

Christmas Day
Two services – 9:00 & 10:30 AM
We will only have the Crossing service and the 10:30 Current service this morning.

New Year’s Eve
Communion Service
6:00-7:30 PM
This is a communion service only. All are welcome to come into the Sanctuary at any time between 6:00 and 7:30 PM to have communion and to pray with someone from the pastoral staff.

Upfront Worship
10:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Join us as we bring in the new year in worship at the Element.

New Year’s Day
Two services – 9:00 & 10:30 AM
We will only have the Crossing service and the 10:30 Current service this morning.

7:30 Saturday the 10th Refuge Chi Alpha’s Christmas party. Ugly Sweaters, pizza, games, snacks and more!

Celebrating the Season with the Choir. 7:00 pm Friday the 9th. All are welcome, bring a friend!

Wednesday, the 7th, From 6-9:30 the Element is showing How the Grinch Stole Christmas and giving away a snowboard for Christmas Movie night.

Join us this fall at Evangel for our new series: Core, what it all boils down to…

This series will look at one of the most famous passages in scripture: Matthew 22:37
Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

The series, FLOODed will take us through Psalm 23.

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name.
4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

The service begins at 10:30am.