…for the rest of us

So, who are you?

My name is Heather - i like people, coffee, prayer, other countries and people with accents.

How and where do i start? Before EastLake I was not following God, I did my own thing lived by my own rules, but knew i would never be happy until I gave my life back to God. Now, what that looked like I had no idea. EastLake was this church with these crazy  people who just loved me. And they loved me for who I was, not for who i thought i was supposed to be. It was weird really!

With all the people in my life, I would do things to let them down and they again still loved me. I think it was that atmosphere of acceptance that allowed my heart to open up to God and this challenge of faith. From then on it has been an exciting journey of learning about God, people, places, who I am and what I am supposed to do with this crazy thing called life.

EastLake was the beginning for me and I have never looked back.

Everything. The people, the coffee, the launch team, the school, the music, ALL OF IT!  I am just excited to see how God is going to move.

So, who are you?

I am originally from So CA, near Disneyland. Music and Movies are my thing. My next favorite things to do is to play guitar and surf; not at the same time of course. I love hangin’ with friends. I pretty much love doing anything outside: running, bicycling, swimming, laying by the pool, etc

What was your EastLake experience like in Seattle?

Eastlake Seattle has shown me that service/volunteering is greatly important in my personal growth. I grew up in church where it was all about me and what I would get out of it. But ECC showed me that it’s about creating more room for new people. Giving of yourself and your time on Sunday and participating in Growth Groups (small groups) fufills God’s plan for your life.

What are you looking forward to most about launching EastLake here?

I am looking forward to starting another church where the atmosphere is “Come as you are” and meeting new people. I am really looking forward to Growth Groups in Lawrence. I love hangin’ with friends and doing cool activities so GG’s and friends are what it’s all about

Over the next couple weeks I am stepping aside so everyone can meet the crazy people on the initial launch team. It’s awesome to have people with different perspectives following what God is doing! We’ll kick it off with Tiffany.

So, who are you?

I am…a wife, a soon to be mama to a baby boy, a shoe-a-holic, a dog lover, a bread-eater, a non-runner, a high heel wearing chic who loves to decorate and watch reality tv.

What was your EastLake experience like in Seattle?

God has used EastLake to turn me back on to church. It was the fact that EastLake was missing something…the religious BS, the pomp and circumstance, the insincerity. It is such an honest, real, low shame place to be. I could relate to the pastor. I liked the sarcastic, passionate, rebelious, honest way about him. It was like me. I finally fit in somewhere. So, you mean I can just be me and not have all my crap together to be a part of God’s church? Thank God, the answer was yes.

What are you looking forward to most about launching EastLake here?

I’m most excited about creating a place where people can comfortably come to check out God regardless of what they did last year, last month, last night, or even this morning. We’re all messed up and God knows that. Eastlake was a place where I felt accepted, flaws and all. I just want more people to experience it.

1. The first service on October 11. All the preparation and planning and training can only show you so much of what it will be like. I absolutely can’t wait for everyone to experience the first Sunday service, no matter how messy it may be for a first run.

2. The Lawrence “church for the rest of us.” Certainly we’re following in the footsteps of churches that are effective and we aren’t being original, but Lawrence has different people! I can’t wait to see the different personalities “be” the church for the rest of us in Lawrence.

3. The first baptism. I would be lying to you if I said I wouldn’t get emotional at our first worship night when we dunk the first person who decided to follow Jesus because God was working through EastLake.

4. The first season of Growth Groups. It probably won’t launch until next summer, but groups are so awesome and allow us to grow larger and smaller at the same time. Groups are really where the church happens and where everyone will meet great new friends for life.

5. That first loud overdrive chord. OK, this is a more visceral anticipation. But I can’t wait for the loudness of the band - and the fact that we’ll have so much fun worshipping God that we can rock out on a Sunday.