40th & Faithful
“Belonging to the Family”
OPEN
So, on a happy, peaceful, summer day, my kids set the house on fire. Yep, they did that. Five fire trucks and a
command officers truck lined the small street where we lived. My temper was flaring and I was just trying to be
thankful that it was just exterior damage to the house. As I am inspecting the damage, I turned to see Duska, f
rom the church, walking up the driveway. She looked like a glowing angel. She was full of power, peace and grace.
I started to cry. I needed just one person to care about me in that moment. She put her arms around me and
said "family takes care of family". It was in that powerful moment that I knew I would never walk away from the
Vineyard, just like I could never walk away from God. Show De’s picture here
command officers truck lined the small street where we lived. My temper was flaring and I was just trying to be
thankful that it was just exterior damage to the house. As I am inspecting the damage, I turned to see Duska, f
rom the church, walking up the driveway. She looked like a glowing angel. She was full of power, peace and grace.
I started to cry. I needed just one person to care about me in that moment. She put her arms around me and
said "family takes care of family". It was in that powerful moment that I knew I would never walk away from the
Vineyard, just like I could never walk away from God. Show De’s picture here
This is just part of De Urban’s journey and I am so excited to share more of her story throughout the morning.
You see just like De’s story and many other people in our “tribe”, it all began because of a deep desire, in one
couple’s heart to start a family of their own. A family to love, nurture, have fun with, support and do life with.
Little did they know that their desire for a biological family would be the beginning of a dream that God had for
their community. He wanted to birth a church--a tribe--that through the power of the Holy Spirit could change
Central Illinois and the world.
couple’s heart to start a family of their own. A family to love, nurture, have fun with, support and do life with.
Little did they know that their desire for a biological family would be the beginning of a dream that God had for
their community. He wanted to birth a church--a tribe--that through the power of the Holy Spirit could change
Central Illinois and the world.
So, why is it important that we understand our history? How has it affected the very foundations of our church
and how does this affect our future moving forward? Each church God births has a given assignment, a given
DNA, from the Father to live out a destiny. We’ve been through a process to figure out what our exact assignment
is and that’s how we discovered our core values of Supernatural, Tribe, Excellence, and Missional Leadership
within The Vineyard of Central Illinois. You see A value is simply a guiding principle that helps shape our culture.
These values, aren’t ‘ours’ as much as they are the Father’s. And as a church we get to live out our lives
partnering with the Father to see these values lived out in our own lives and in our community. These values
help us focus on who we are and what unique value we hold in the communities we live in.
and how does this affect our future moving forward? Each church God births has a given assignment, a given
DNA, from the Father to live out a destiny. We’ve been through a process to figure out what our exact assignment
is and that’s how we discovered our core values of Supernatural, Tribe, Excellence, and Missional Leadership
within The Vineyard of Central Illinois. You see A value is simply a guiding principle that helps shape our culture.
These values, aren’t ‘ours’ as much as they are the Father’s. And as a church we get to live out our lives
partnering with the Father to see these values lived out in our own lives and in our community. These values
help us focus on who we are and what unique value we hold in the communities we live in.
During the month of May, we are celebrating the faithfulness of God over the last 40 years, looking forward to
the future, while looking at the foundations of our church. We’re looking at the values that have guided and
directed us all these years. Last week Di shared on how faithfulness produces fruitfulness in our lives and how
we can and should expect the miraculous power of God to break into our lives. Today we want to talk about the
value of tribe. “Tribe” is foundational in our church because we believe that we are meant to be a family on a
journey who does life and ministry together. We GET to do it together! And our belief in the Vineyard is that
“Everyone gets to play.” As a tribe, we are committed to one another. The word commit is a verb…and by
definition in the english language a verb is a word of action. The Webster’s dictionary describes it as this:
to obligate or pledge oneself
the future, while looking at the foundations of our church. We’re looking at the values that have guided and
directed us all these years. Last week Di shared on how faithfulness produces fruitfulness in our lives and how
we can and should expect the miraculous power of God to break into our lives. Today we want to talk about the
value of tribe. “Tribe” is foundational in our church because we believe that we are meant to be a family on a
journey who does life and ministry together. We GET to do it together! And our belief in the Vineyard is that
“Everyone gets to play.” As a tribe, we are committed to one another. The word commit is a verb…and by
definition in the english language a verb is a word of action. The Webster’s dictionary describes it as this:
to obligate or pledge oneself
There are so many reasons not to want to commit to the tribe,
1. we don’t have time (I am to busy, I have so much already on my own plate)
2. we have been hurt by the church (As a leader and pastor of this church, I am sorry!
We would love to see the HS mend this in your heart and we love to pray with you at
the end of the service for this very thing)
We would love to see the HS mend this in your heart and we love to pray with you at
the end of the service for this very thing)
3. we are consumers (We just want to come get what we need for the week and go)
BUT the Father's heart-beat for us as believers is to find a family. He wants us to make family a priority, because
it is worth investing in. A family we can belong to, a family we can grow and thrive in, a family that loves us in
good and bad times and a family that we can come as we are. So why “Tribe”? Why do we church this way?
it is worth investing in. A family we can belong to, a family we can grow and thrive in, a family that loves us in
good and bad times and a family that we can come as we are. So why “Tribe”? Why do we church this way?
Church is meant to be a community of people, with the revelation of who Jesus is, who gather together to
do life inside a building and outside a building. We get to belong to a family where we can connect and grow
so we can go as the church to our schools, work and neighborhoods. - We want to Change the World with Jesus.
do life inside a building and outside a building. We get to belong to a family where we can connect and grow
so we can go as the church to our schools, work and neighborhoods. - We want to Change the World with Jesus.
So lets Pray
So, what does this family look like…what does that picture look like in your mind right now? For some of us the
word family might bring up past feelings of hurt and for others of you it might bring up memories of laughter
and fun times together.
word family might bring up past feelings of hurt and for others of you it might bring up memories of laughter
and fun times together.
*Talk briefly about my family and our family dynamic.
Whatever your feeling of family is I want to unpack for you today how the Vineyard does “tribe”. You see we all
have a different way of being called into the “tribe” and each of our stories are unique to the Kingdom and that
is what makes it so fun.
have a different way of being called into the “tribe” and each of our stories are unique to the Kingdom and that
is what makes it so fun.
First, we get to do this together and you get to be who God made you to be
So now let me introduce my friend De…
“I wanted to be a police officer from a very young age. The world needed help and I wanted to do my part.
I reached my life goal of being a law enforcement officer and after 13 years on the force, a stroke that caused
me to be shocked back to life (Yes, I was dead), I decided to take a sales job, so I needed to go to Ohio for training.
Sitting on the side of a mountain admiring creation, I said out loud to what I thought was a non-existent God,
"I wish you were real, I wish you were here and I wish you would tell me what to do". God showed up. He spoke
audibly and said " I am real, I am here, quit that job". When the creator of the universe starts talking, you learn
to start walking. I quit that job, found a church and started my Christian walk.” God then moved me to Urbana IL.
He sent me to the corner of Lincoln and Bradley where there was a tiny house on the corner that had a food
pantry. That was my first encounter with the faith of the Vineyard Movement. I started serving in the pantry
with Paula Barickman, who is still there. As I reflect over the last 30 years of my life, it is full of so much hope,
growth and transitions.
I reached my life goal of being a law enforcement officer and after 13 years on the force, a stroke that caused
me to be shocked back to life (Yes, I was dead), I decided to take a sales job, so I needed to go to Ohio for training.
Sitting on the side of a mountain admiring creation, I said out loud to what I thought was a non-existent God,
"I wish you were real, I wish you were here and I wish you would tell me what to do". God showed up. He spoke
audibly and said " I am real, I am here, quit that job". When the creator of the universe starts talking, you learn
to start walking. I quit that job, found a church and started my Christian walk.” God then moved me to Urbana IL.
He sent me to the corner of Lincoln and Bradley where there was a tiny house on the corner that had a food
pantry. That was my first encounter with the faith of the Vineyard Movement. I started serving in the pantry
with Paula Barickman, who is still there. As I reflect over the last 30 years of my life, it is full of so much hope,
growth and transitions.
De knew that God had spoken and that she needed to find a church to start her journey…she needed to partner
with a community of believers that could help her grow in her new faith. God wants us to grow personally
and relationally. However, we often think, “I can do this by myself”, but God knew that we need others to grow
and push us on in our faith (Hebrews 12:1). God wants you to have a family you can grow up together with.
Paul in Romans 12 writes about how we can relate to one another in our family:
with a community of believers that could help her grow in her new faith. God wants us to grow personally
and relationally. However, we often think, “I can do this by myself”, but God knew that we need others to grow
and push us on in our faith (Hebrews 12:1). God wants you to have a family you can grow up together with.
Paul in Romans 12 writes about how we can relate to one another in our family:
Romans 12:4-6 The Message (MSG)
4-6 In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body
as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people.
Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off
toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these
excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what
we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to
be something we aren’t.
as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people.
Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off
toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these
excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what
we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to
be something we aren’t.
Paul uses the concept of the human body to teach how we should live and work together. Just as the parts of
the body function under the direction of the brain, we are to work together as believers. We are many parts put
together, where there is unity but not uniformity. You see we are not going to look like each other, but we can
still function as one. Paul outlines that each of us have been given gifts and talents that we are to steward and
to use to bless those around us, and we as the church need to stop comparing ourselves to each other. The
Father made us different gifts so we can build up the church. Our gifts alone cannot do the work the Father
has called us too! I know personally that I am thankful for people whose gifts are completely different than
mine. I am a detail person who excels in the gift of administration, Adam is not...he is a big picture guy who
can see where we need to head, so together we make a pretty good team. Why? Because, my strengths balance
his weaknesses and his strengths balance my weaknesses. But it just doesn’t stop with us...we LOVE to surround
ourselves with people that fill in our weakness with their strengths and honor them because it is about Kingdom
and NOT competition. See this is what makes us a “Tribe”, even though Adam and I are married we still honor
each other and others in our church family who make us who we are.
Second, we’re all part of the same story:
**De continues…
“You know the hardest part for me is the way people think they have been hurt by the "church". They are out
there alone, thinking that no one in the church understands them. Sure, in 30 years there have been battles and
trials. Even I have had moments that I was hurt by someone's actions. Never once did I look at my leadership
and blame them. In fact, God calls on us to pray diligently for our leadership. I love and honor everyone that
puts on the mantle to lead the masses. They take bold risks and are held to high standards. I am proud to call
myself a "vineyard-ite" and will stay with my family (Urbana, Bloomington, Sullivan, where ever they are) till my
days are done. “
there alone, thinking that no one in the church understands them. Sure, in 30 years there have been battles and
trials. Even I have had moments that I was hurt by someone's actions. Never once did I look at my leadership
and blame them. In fact, God calls on us to pray diligently for our leadership. I love and honor everyone that
puts on the mantle to lead the masses. They take bold risks and are held to high standards. I am proud to call
myself a "vineyard-ite" and will stay with my family (Urbana, Bloomington, Sullivan, where ever they are) till my
days are done. “
So how do we interact with those who don’t understand our story? You see we are all part of the same story,
but most of us have learned how to be “PC” when talking with others, you know…. We want to be kind when
speaking and avoiding conversations that will hurt their feelings and we may even “appear” to take an actual
interest in them, but it is all surface level. This can be a recipe for how people can be hurt by the church and
then not want to commit, they don’t feel like we are genuine in who we are. We as the “church” need to be
able to have hard, transparent conversations, because that is when people see we are just like them and walls
can be broken down. The Father calls us to be REAL and have a sincere love that goes far beyond being polite.
Let’s pick back up in Romans 12:9:13 -
but most of us have learned how to be “PC” when talking with others, you know…. We want to be kind when
speaking and avoiding conversations that will hurt their feelings and we may even “appear” to take an actual
interest in them, but it is all surface level. This can be a recipe for how people can be hurt by the church and
then not want to commit, they don’t feel like we are genuine in who we are. We as the “church” need to be
able to have hard, transparent conversations, because that is when people see we are just like them and walls
can be broken down. The Father calls us to be REAL and have a sincere love that goes far beyond being polite.
Let’s pick back up in Romans 12:9:13 -
Romans 12:9-13 The Message (MSG)
9-10 Love from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear
life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
life to good. Be good friends who love deeply; practice playing second fiddle.
11-13 Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully
expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
Sincere, real love requires effort and honor. Love from the center of who you are...A much beloved son or
daughter of the King. It means helping others grow in their identity as Sons and Daughters and then bringing
them along in our journey of faith, even though we are still growing too. We have the opportunity to speak
destiny, righteousness, grace and purpose into others, because when we are living out of who the Father made
us to be and it changes everything. We begin to realize that we are all in this together and that your story is their
story and their story is your story, your Kingdom victories are their Kingdom victories and so on. As sons and
daughters of the King we honor one another because we have all been created in God’s image. And that means
that sometimes we might have to take a back seat to what is going on in our lives, so that we can be a friend
that loves deeply (as The Message states)...and not just ask the question, “How are you today?” and walk away
not paying attention to the need of the other’s in front of us. We need to be expectant of an answer back.
Because they like us have a unique contribution to the tribe and they MATTER.
I love how The Message translates verses 11-13...Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. It is saying
get refilled by the HS, don't let your tank run low, so that you can be ready to give out. Don’t quit when times
get hard (this is important for us as a young tribe), but pray harder and seek his Kingdom for breakthrough.
Lastly, don’t shy away from having a culture of invitation, we have so much to give away as sons and daughters.
This is our heritage!
get refilled by the HS, don't let your tank run low, so that you can be ready to give out. Don’t quit when times
get hard (this is important for us as a young tribe), but pray harder and seek his Kingdom for breakthrough.
Lastly, don’t shy away from having a culture of invitation, we have so much to give away as sons and daughters.
This is our heritage!
Third, You Belong to the family:
De adds…
“You see I have no blood relatives in Bloomington or Urbana IL. I have one Aunt in Champaign and where my
blood relatives are, I have no idea. In the worlds view, I am completely alone. In the Vineyard Lens, there are
literally thousands of family members. They belong to me and I belong to them. Dan Putman decided to
name me Grandma De and that stuck. One night, one of our Kingdom kids ran up to me and said "Grandma De!
I know why they call you that! It's because your OLD". I will laugh all my days over that one.”
blood relatives are, I have no idea. In the worlds view, I am completely alone. In the Vineyard Lens, there are
literally thousands of family members. They belong to me and I belong to them. Dan Putman decided to
name me Grandma De and that stuck. One night, one of our Kingdom kids ran up to me and said "Grandma De!
I know why they call you that! It's because your OLD". I will laugh all my days over that one.”
In the worlds eyes she would be considered completely alone…. but she’s not!
We are all born into an earthly family, since this is how God intended us to grow up. However, all our earthly
families look different, some of us might be tight knit and some of us might be distant, whatever your family
dynamic is God’s plan for our spiritual lives involves family and even then, it can still be messy! Paul writes in
Ephesians 1:5,
families look different, some of us might be tight knit and some of us might be distant, whatever your family
dynamic is God’s plan for our spiritual lives involves family and even then, it can still be messy! Paul writes in
Ephesians 1:5,
Ephesians 1:5 New Living Translation (NLT)
5 God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.
This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
God’s plan is that we all have a family, then be adopted into His family and then grow up spiritually in a l
ocal church. If this is the plan, why is it so often pushed aside? A lot of people say they want community,
but when it comes to putting action to the words, they fall short. Our culture is a convenience culture and
commitment is scary, let’s be honest. We want everything fast and easy,
ocal church. If this is the plan, why is it so often pushed aside? A lot of people say they want community,
but when it comes to putting action to the words, they fall short. Our culture is a convenience culture and
commitment is scary, let’s be honest. We want everything fast and easy,
1. online dating sites- put in your statistics and find your perfect match
2. online shopping- Amazon Prime anyone?, Yes I want that 2 day shipping!
3. Online grocery store pick up conveniences - As a mom of 5 who is always on the go,
this was the best invention yet. Thank you!
this was the best invention yet. Thank you!
and the list could go on and on, but reality is that it takes time to develop and grow relationships and it can be
tiring. I have 4 siblings and we all grew up separately from one another, (my brother is 19 years older than me
and my closet sister is 8 years older than me), and because we lived with my parents at different times, it has
taken us time to develop our relationships as siblings even though we are from the same family, in fact we are
still learning about each other.
tiring. I have 4 siblings and we all grew up separately from one another, (my brother is 19 years older than me
and my closet sister is 8 years older than me), and because we lived with my parents at different times, it has
taken us time to develop our relationships as siblings even though we are from the same family, in fact we are
still learning about each other.
As De continues she shares with me a pivotal part of her journey…
“The hardest part was when my Mother had her first heart attack and I was home bound with her.
About 3 months in, some ladies from the church realized I was missing. (This was before cell phones,
instant messaging and hashtags. We used landlines and drove to people’s houses.) They decided that I
needed help and they promptly arranged monthly tea parties, I guess this would be considered a small group
today. Those were some great tea parties. After my Mother passed away, I could finally attend church regularly
again. I was sitting in service on a Saturday Night and Happy was preaching about destiny. I had lost mine.
He said, "If you don't know where you belong, come talk to me." I walked up to him later that evening, tearful
and admitted I no longer knew who I was, where I belonged or what to do. I had lost all hope and purpose.
I had completely lost my identity. He took me by the hand and marched me up to Adam Waters and said he
to Adam "put her to work". I'm forever grateful to Hap, for that event started the best journey of my life.”
About 3 months in, some ladies from the church realized I was missing. (This was before cell phones,
instant messaging and hashtags. We used landlines and drove to people’s houses.) They decided that I
needed help and they promptly arranged monthly tea parties, I guess this would be considered a small group
today. Those were some great tea parties. After my Mother passed away, I could finally attend church regularly
again. I was sitting in service on a Saturday Night and Happy was preaching about destiny. I had lost mine.
He said, "If you don't know where you belong, come talk to me." I walked up to him later that evening, tearful
and admitted I no longer knew who I was, where I belonged or what to do. I had lost all hope and purpose.
I had completely lost my identity. He took me by the hand and marched me up to Adam Waters and said he
to Adam "put her to work". I'm forever grateful to Hap, for that event started the best journey of my life.”
Today we have people getting baptized into our family. We get to celebrate with them as they go down into
the water as an old creation and then come back up as a new creation in Jesus. We get to celebrate in their
victory and story because it’s our victory and story to as a family. And just like in a family we get to encourage
them in their journey and growth.
the water as an old creation and then come back up as a new creation in Jesus. We get to celebrate in their
victory and story because it’s our victory and story to as a family. And just like in a family we get to encourage
them in their journey and growth.
Finally, We’re a family on a journey
Everything you ever want to learn about a family on a journey, you can learn from Littlefoot and his diverse
herd of friends. As a mom of 5 kids who love dinosaurs, I have spent a lot of time watching The Land Before
Time movies. In the movie Journey of the Brave, Littlefoot finds out his dad has gone missing from the herd
and so he decides to take it upon himself to go find him, turn your attention to the screens and watch this clip
with me…
herd of friends. As a mom of 5 kids who love dinosaurs, I have spent a lot of time watching The Land Before
Time movies. In the movie Journey of the Brave, Littlefoot finds out his dad has gone missing from the herd
and so he decides to take it upon himself to go find him, turn your attention to the screens and watch this clip
with me…
MOVIE CLIP HERE:
The thing I love about these movies is that Little Foot’s family is not just made up of long necks like him, it is
made up of variety of dinosaurs who do life together in a herd and they don’t let anyone do anything alone.
As Little Foot set out on his journey alone and scared to find his dad, his friends decided to join the search
with him. They wouldn’t let him do it alone and they had some adventure on the way. Just like Littlefoot and
his friends, we are on this journey together and we won’t let you do it alone. Our lives all look different and
we come from different backgrounds, but that is what makes us a unique tribe who is perusing the things of t
he Kingdom together. Family journeys aren’t always free of bumps, (you saw Littlefoot and his friends have a
moment of peace and then some turbulent water with a fall,but right back into peace) we know there will be
some adventures on the way, so if we want tribe to work we must stay connected to the Holy Spirit and then
we can live in relationship with one another, because we are filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
made up of variety of dinosaurs who do life together in a herd and they don’t let anyone do anything alone.
As Little Foot set out on his journey alone and scared to find his dad, his friends decided to join the search
with him. They wouldn’t let him do it alone and they had some adventure on the way. Just like Littlefoot and
his friends, we are on this journey together and we won’t let you do it alone. Our lives all look different and
we come from different backgrounds, but that is what makes us a unique tribe who is perusing the things of t
he Kingdom together. Family journeys aren’t always free of bumps, (you saw Littlefoot and his friends have a
moment of peace and then some turbulent water with a fall,but right back into peace) we know there will be
some adventures on the way, so if we want tribe to work we must stay connected to the Holy Spirit and then
we can live in relationship with one another, because we are filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit.
We gather and grow so we can go “Change the World with Jesus”. As we partner with the Holy Spirit we
get to see God’s fruit produced in our lives (Galatians 5) and the lives of others we are on this journey with.
And when the Father’s fruit is being produced in our lives we can live the way Paul finishes out Romans 12,
get to see God’s fruit produced in our lives (Galatians 5) and the lives of others we are on this journey with.
And when the Father’s fruit is being produced in our lives we can live the way Paul finishes out Romans 12,
Romans 12:14-16 The Message (MSG)
14-16 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when
they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up.
Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.
they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up.
Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.
I love how the language in The Message shows us how live a life with each other inside and outside the
church walls.
church walls.
Remember we get to
1. do this together and be who the Father made us to be without fear
2. Share in each others stories and victories
3. Include others in our growing family
4. go on this journey together
THIS IS HOW WE TRIBE!
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