Hey everyone! Welcome to Planting the Grove, the second part of our "The Grove" message series with Pastor Chris Lodriguss!

In this message, Pastor Chris lays out the vision God has given him and his wife for the ministry, continuing from last week's message. If you missed part one, definitely go back and check it out to get the full picture!

To briefly recap, based on Isaiah 61, God is anointing us to preach good news and bring restoration, so we can become "oaks of righteousness" for His glory. These "oak trees"—us, who surrender to God—are then meant to rebuild ruined cities by impacting the lives of people around us, our families, communities, and cities!

This week, Pastor Chris gets "granular" and reveals five core values that will guide our church moving forward. He shares a personal story about a "camp rule" from his dad ("It's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it") that became a life rule for him, illustrating how values become ingrained habits. These values are meant to become habitual for us as a ministry, just like Paul ministered instinctually.

Here are the five core values for The Grove:

• Engage: This means being intentional and authentic in how we call near and invite God and others into our lives. Nothing great or meaningful happens by accident, so let's connect on purpose and be genuine.
• Encourage: This value is all about care and growth. We are called to meet people where they are (like helping someone with a flat tire), showing them care, but not leaving them there. Instead, we help them grow and improve, just as a loving parent helps a child learn to walk.
• Empower: This is about helping people step into their purpose and calling. It involves first guiding people through freedom (so their gifts don't cause damage if their heart isn't right) and then giving them opportunity to use their gifts for God's kingdom.
• Expect: This value combines supernatural faith and accountability. We expect God to keep His word, and we expect people to keep theirs. We believe God's power is still moving and impacts lives today!
• Enjoy: We are encouraged to celebrate and honor the journey. Finding joy in what we do, even in mundane tasks, strengthens our connection and commitment, just as a parent finds joy in caring for their children.

Pastor Chris encourages everyone to identify one or two of these values that resonate most with them and look for ways to live them out, recognizing that the Holy Spirit will work through us.

To help put these values into action, the church is moving to two services on Sunday, September 21st (9 AM and 10:45 AM) to make room for more people! If you're looking to get involved and "sow" into the ministry, especially in Kids Church or security, your help is greatly needed! Come to the Tab Team meeting on Sunday, September 7th, immediately after church, to learn more and get connected.

By living out these values, we will become a "grove of oak trees that rebuilds desolate cities" because the solution to our community's problems is in this room, as Jesus is here!