For Not From

Our Life Groups are right in the middle of the FLE Series!  I hope that your group is growing as they venture through this study. 
Any church that does a financial series, such as the FLE, runs the risk of being accused of just wanting more money.  "They just want us to give more..." can be a common statement.  I thought Charlie put it best a few weeks ago when he said, "We want something for you not from you!"
Wow!  How true!
We want our FCC family to experience several things:
1. Financial Freedom - Get out from under the burden of debt and living paycheck to paycheck
2. The Blessing of Giving - I don't care who you are, when you give, it feels good.  Whether you're giving your time, effort, or money, it feels good when you help someone.
3. Restored Marriages - Money is still the number one topic couple fight over and divorce over.  If we can help couples figure out their finances, we can save some marriages.
4. Partnering in the work of God - There are a lot of good causes out there (United Way, cancer research, aids foundation, etc.)  But there is none more important than the cause of Christ.  When we give to God in our tithe's and offerings, we're giving toward reaching lost souls.  We want our people to experience what it's like to be a partner in the Kingdom not just to be an onlooker.

Do we want your money?  Yes!  We want you to give to the work of God's Kingdom.  When God's people give to His standard, out of worship, amazing things happen and lives are changed!

Rockin the FLE!

The FLE Life Group Series launched yesterday!  Other groups will be launching throughout the week.  Challenge your groups to take action with their finances and take advantage of this series.  It can change their life, their marriage, and their future.

• If someone in your group still doesn't have their materials, we have them available at the church office daily or at the Welcome Center Wednesday night.
• Sunday onsite groups will meet both Sundays of Spring Break
• Wednesday onsite groups will not meet Wednesday, Mar. 16th due to Spring Break.  Our final Wednesday FLE will be April 20th.

Great things are happening around FCC.  Thank you for being a leader among God's people.  Continue to set the course.  Many look up to you!

FLE LIFE Groups

The Financial Learning Experience Life Group Series begins next week!  (FLELGS...)
ALL Life Groups will be going through this series together.
Sunday morning onsite groups will meet in the worship center to view the video.  We will start the video at 10am sharp, so let your group know to be there on time.  After the video we will then break into our groups throughout the facility in your normal spot.

Wednesday evening onsite groups will also view the video together.  We're still nailing down a location.  We will start the video at 6:40.

Home groups, you get to do it however and whenever you want!

Group materials will be available again this Wednesday.  Sorry that we ran out...
The materials consist of a book and study guide and cost $15.  As a leader you will need a leader notebook.  If you have not picked yours up, stop by the church and pick one up.  It contains the group materials, plus the DVD set, and some training materials.

Be sure to take time to check out the IWBNIN website and all the tools that they offer.  Joe and his team have many tools to help you and your group get a handle on your finances.  You as a leader need to be familiar with them so that you can help your group use them.

This series has the potential to change lives, strengthen marriages, and help people find financial freedom.  It takes you as a leader to make that happen!
Let me know if you have any questions.

mt

Financial Learning Experience (Updated)

You've been hearing me talk about the Financial Learning Experience (FLE) for the past few months.  It's quickly approaching so we need to get information out to you so you know what is up.  So, here's the skinny...  There are two parts to FLE, the FLE EVENT and the FLE SERIES.

1. THE FLE EVENT: Wednesday, Feb. 23rd
FLE Leaders Workshop: Wednesday, Feb. 23rd from noon to 5pm Joe Sangl will meet with all leaders.  This is free financial training!  We'll provide lunch for all who attend.
To register for the FLE Leader Workshop and lunch go here:
FLE Leader Workshop Registration

The FLE Event:  The event then takes place from 6:00 to 8:00 and is open to the entire church and community, so invite your group, you friends and your family for free financial training.  There will be full children and youth programming.  There will be food served from 5:30 to 6:00.  All those attending who are not in a group will then be invited to join a group for the FLE series.
To register for the the Event go here:
FLE Event Registration

2. THE FLE SERIES: The series will begin the week of March 6th and last for 6 weeks.
All Life Groups will go through the FLE Series together.  Classes will not be required to do the series since most people who are in a class also attend a Life Group.  This is one of those times we talk about when all Life Groups align.  All leaders will receive the group materials at the FLE Event.  Participant materials will be available at the event as well for $15.  Sessions will include a brief video followed by a discussion from the study guide.  On-site groups will watch the video together then break up to meet in individual groups.

FLE Website: http://iwasbrokenowimnot.com/

We're excited to see what God does through this FLE experience.
We're asking you to pray for God to do great things!
We hope to see many get their finances in order during these trying times.
We hope to see many who are not connected in groups to get plugged in and stay plugged in beyond the FLE series.

mt

And that's where groups come in...

Our services at FCC are amazing!  It is often that I'm brought to tears as I lift up praise to our God among His people.  Our services are indeed attractional and our services are indeed affective.  I can't appreciate Tim and his teams enough for their effort to bring us before the throne of God each week.  But how much greater of an impact can we have on our communities if we attracted the lost not with our worship services, but with our lives.  Click on the following link and read on:

If we build it...

And this is where groups come in...  Groups are to be about building Christ followers who make an impact in this world.  As leaders, that needs to be our vision.  Leading those in our Classes and Life Groups to be transformed into the likeness of Christ.  It's not about education, it's about transformation.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not at all saying we need to change our services, I'm saying we need to change our lives...
How will you build Christ into the hearts of your group this week?

Did You Know... Check In Roster

Did you know that you can print your own group check-in roster from your group site?  Ya, I know, I just made your day!
Here are the steps:

1. Go to the group site
2. Login
3. Click on your group name to go to your group roster page
4. Toward the bottom of the page click on "Group Reports"
5. Select "Check In Roster"
6. You can then add the dates that your group will be meeting 
7. You can include information such as emails and phone so that you can be sure to have everyone's info
8. Scroll to the bottom and select "Run Report"
9. You then print it!

This is especially helpful if you have a larger Group.  If your group members give you new information such as emails and phone numbers, be sure to update their information on your page by clicking on their name then clicking on their name again on the next screen.  Be sure it is accurate!

Thanks Leaders and attendance keepers!  We're off to a great start!
As always, if you have any questions, let me know.

mt

Challenge to Change

We are about to embark once again into a new season of Groups here at FCC!  We have more groups than ever, which means we have more room than ever.  So, if you've still got room in your group, go recruit.  Tell those in your group to go invite others to join you.  The unchurched are more likely to come to your group than they are to church! 
Did you know that from the Group Site Main Menu you can see the list of all FCC members who are not in a group?  Go check it out. Here are the steps:
1. Login
2. Go to "Main Menu"
3. Go to "View/export people not in a group"
4. Go to "People not in a group (online report)"
It will then generate the list.  You can then scroll through the list and find people that you know and invite them to join your group!  We'll close Life Groups in 2 weeks, so get your group filled up quick!
You, as leaders, are the only ones that can access this information.

I'm excited as we move into this New Year and New Season.  Challenge your group to walk with Jesus daily.  I believe that where there is a Challenged Life there is potential for a Changed Life.

mt

Here's a good article I want to pass on to you:
What's Next?