“Coming to Two Cities was a big change and I realized that God was always with me whether I believe it or not. That he would always be by my side and that he loved me no matter what.” – Madison McKenna, Baptism, Nov 2017
Archives For #WeAreTwoCities
It’s been one year since we launched Two Cities Church into every week Sunday services. We had been networking, fundraising, and praying for what seemed like forever. It took us 6 years of waiting, praying, seeking, listening, learning and dreaming, plus two years of ground work, to get to our launch day. We were filled with expectation, curiosity, and nerves on that day. I remember being a ball of nerves. I don’t get nervous, but on that day I was. We launched with a vision message that we called #WeAreTwoCities. One year later, we took a look back and celebrated what God has done. [You can listen to that here or on our iPhone app.]
These photos were from our One Year Anniversary after party. See more Photo Booth pictures from our One Year Anniversary here.
After one year, a lot of heartache, ups and downs, changes in our team, changes in the faces that volunteer and attend and more… I continue to say, “It’s Worth it.” It being church planting that is FOR our community and the people in our community. But here’s the thing, it’s worth it because Jesus said with his actions, “You are worth it.” When he spoke to people the religious leaders avoided and he forgave people who didn’t deserve forgiveness and he taught and healed and loved… he communicated that each person, each individual is worth it all. And ultimately, when he died a gruesome and embarrassing death, he did that to pay for the sins of each “worth it” person. You and me.
When I say, “It’s worth it” — it’s worth it because of the stories depicted in the video below, and many more untold stories that have arisen within our community at Two Cities Church.
I know I’m right where God wants me and I can’t wait to see what he does in and through Two Cities Church in our second year.
It’s Worth It. Part 1
It’s Worth it. Part 2
It’s Worth it. Part 3
It’s Worth it. Part 4
It’s Worth it. Part 5
Broadcast:
A couple of weeks ago I woke up to a Facebook message from someone that I don’t hear from often. There’s a transcript of the conversation:
Friend: Do you need anything?
Me: What do you mean?
Friend: Money?
Let me stop your right there from reading the rest of the conversation. I mean, who wakes up to someone asking them if they need money? That doesn’t happen in real life, right? Well, it did and it happened to me. Ok, keep going…
Me: Well, we are trying to raise 50k to upgrade our elementary environments, invest in chronically hungry kids in Fresno, and hire a second staff member.
I was thinking he was talking about the church, since we’re trying to raise money for our end-of-year giving campaign and expand the work of the church. He responds…
Friend: Nice! Well, I woke up feeling like I needed to give you $300?
Me: Well, I woke up to a crying child and so that brightens the day! LoL
Friend: Haha I should be out of work by 4
Me: Ok, you can also do it through text. Just type WATC to (559) 745-7009. It will ask you to register a card and then you can text in the amount (300) and it will deduct if rom your account.
Friend: I think it’s cash for you
At this point I was shocked. I thought, “So, you mean to tell me you feel like God is telling you to give me $300 cash, personally… for me? Not for the church?”
Have you ever had an experience like that? No? I wouldn’t expect you to.
Here’s the thing, I met up with him in the Target parking lot. I’m sure it looked like a drug deal to onlookers because we both got out of our cars and he shook my hand with a wad of cash in it and gave me a hug.
I said, “Did God tell you what I was going to do with he cash?”
“No.” He replied.
I thanked him, we chatted and he left.
Imagine the burden to do what is the right thing with this $300. In my family, we have everything budgeted out. We have specific amounts that go to specific categories. We do not frivolously buy anything. We weigh it out because we want to be good stewards of the money God entrusts to us… but for some reason, this $300 weighed extra heavy on us to do the right thing. The problem was, we didn’t know what the right thing was.
So for three days, we prayed about it and one verse kept coming to my mind:
“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much…”
Luke 16:10 NIV
At the end of those three days, I reached a decision. We were going to give it to the end-of-year campaign at Two Cities Church.
Not even five minutes after I made that decision I got a text from a church planter in Rohnert Park, CA.
Friend: I just saw something on your Facebook about year-end-giving… did you receive our cashiers check? We mailed it.
I had just been thinking about how we need to be faithful with every little gift and God will entrust us with more. That’s exactly what was happening. Now I realize that they had already sent the check and we would’ve received it either way, but I believe God withheld the information until we made the decision he knew we would make.
Later that day I went to the box and do you know what was in that box? A check for Two Cities Church from Discovery Church in Rohnert Park for $1,000. That’s right one-thousand dollars.
Want to see God do miraculous things in your financial life? Don’t squeeze every penny for yourself. Be generous and willing to share. (1 Timothy 6:18) In fact, when it comes to giving, it’s the only thing God actually says to test him on.
“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it.”
Malachi 3:10
You have an opportunity to invest in something amazing, the local church. If you do, I think God might do something miraculous in your own life. Be a part of something amazing. Be a part of funding the church so that we can expand our efforts, reach more people, and feed more hungry kids in the name of Jesus Christ.
How?
4 Simple Ways You Can Give to Our “WeAreTwoCities” end-of-year campaign:
- Send a check to Two Cities Church
1865 Herndon Ave K304
Clovis, Ca 93612 - Send a Text
“WATC” to 559.745-7009 and then the amount you’d like to give. Here’s a little video to show you how easy it is.
https://vimeo.com/111665925 - Give Online by clicking here
- In Service
Drop a check or cash into our offering bucket during a service
Your gifts are tax-deductible and you’ll receive a giving receipt in January.
Thank you for being a part of something amazing, the local church, which is the hope of the world.
Broadcast:
Our Guest Services Director, at Two Cities Church, has had the highest turn-over since we began this venture and it’s good. First it was Chris Loach. Chris knew the model of ministry and what a Guest Services team should look like within that. The problem with Chris Loach is that he’s just too talented and capable of doing too many things. We quickly moved him into other roles after he got the team set up. Then we asked Chris Hansen to take over the spot. Chris Hansen had spent some time volunteering on the Guest Services team at The Village Church in Dallas, TX. He excitedly and willingly took on the role. He brought a different perspective and was able to help us create a better, more welcoming, set up in our lobby. Chris Hansen just moved back to Texas for a new job. We already miss Chris H. and his wife, Lisa. As various volunteer staff helped me brainstorm on who we could challenge to this position, one name kept surfacing… I give you Brian Weber. 
I asked Brian to share a little about himself by filling out a brief survey. Here’s what he said:
- What’s your full name and age?
Brian Kenneth Weber, 34 (35 on Halloween!)
- What’s your full-time job?
Director of Customer Solutions – Decade Software; I leave a team that develops custom solutions for automating data management within regulatory agencies.
- Tell us a little about your family.
Wife of almost one year, Michelle. She is the glue in our family and provides a calming effect to all of us! We have a son, Braden, 7-years-old who is in love with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and showing his sister hot to do everything. Camryn, 4.5-years-old, is in love with her dolls making her older brother THINK he is showing her how to do things. She is wise neon dyer years. Both love reading in the Bible and asking great questions bout God. Finally, Michelle and I are expecting a baby boy due in October. We couldn’t be more blessed.
- What’s your favorite things about Two Cities Church?
Two Cities is a church for any person, God-seeking, God-loving, God-questioning. There isn’t any judgement at Two Cities, just come hang out and we can learn from each other.
- Why did you accept the invitation to be on our volunteer staff team?
I accepted the invitation to be the Director of Guest Services because I believe in the direction of Two Cities and I can’t wait to contribute to its growth.
- What are your hopes and dreams for the future of Two Cities?
I want Two Cities to fulfill God’s plan for our church. The size, revenue, or funding is not as important as impacting people’s lives as we can provide an outlet to build a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. I can’t wait to experience the ride!
We are excited to have Brian on the volunteer staff team and can’t wait to see what he brings to the Guest Services Director position. You can watch Brian and Michelle’s #WeAreTwoCities video here. You can read about our Volunteer Staff team here.
Broadcast:
Meet Westley and Vanessa Rakis-Garabedian. We showed their story at our last service at Two Cities Church. Westley and Vanessa are a vital part of our team at Two Cities Church. They have two beautiful little girls in Waumba Land and we are so excited that they’ve jumped on board with us at Two Cities.
Enjoy their #WeAreTwoCities story to find out why they’re so excited about Two Cities. [Can’t see the video? Click here.]
Click for more #WeAreTwoCities Videos.
Broadcast:
Meet Dennis and Bev Wyman. We showed their story this past Sunday at Two Cities Church. Dennis and Bev are a vital part of our team at Two Cities Church. Bev volunteers in the Children’s Ministry check-in area and Dennis serves on our Guest Services team. In addition they are a part of our Monday evening Launch Group at my home.
Enjoy their #WeAreTwoCities story below. [Can’t see the video? Click here.]
Click for more #WeAreTwoCities Videos.
Broadcast:
Meet Donny and Amy. We showed their story this past Sunday at Two Cities Church. Donny and Amy are a vital part of our team at Two Cities Church. Amy volunteers as a small group leader for 2-year-old kids in Waumba Land and Donny serves on our Service Programming Team running our graphics for the screens.
Enjoy their #WeAreTwoCities story below. [Can’t see the video? Click here.]
“We need a church where people feel comfortable going. Two Cities is that church where anybody can come in and feel like they’re ok being there.” – Amy
“These people care, they want you to be welcome and they want you to be a part of their lives” – Donny
Click for more #WeAreTwoCities Videos.
Broadcast:
Meet Chris and Lisa Hansen. We showed their story this past Sunday at Two Cities Church. Chris and Lisa are a vital part of our team at Two Cities Church. Lisa volunteers as a small group leader for our UpStreet kids and Chris recently took on the role of Guest Services Director. They are open, honest and just trying to follow God’s direction in their lives every day.
Enjoy their #WeAreTwoCities story below. [Can’t see the video? Click here.]
“Who are you investing in?” – Chris
“Two Cities is probably the first church that I’ve been involved with where I felt really comfortable inviting somebody.” – Lisa
Chris and Lisa were looking for a place that they felt God could use them together as a couple.
Click for more #WeAreTwoCities Videos.
Broadcast:
Happy Valentine’s Day from Two Cities Church.
We love to have a great time with popular music. It’s actually one of our goals to do a popular song every week. We want to be able to connect with anybody who walks in the door right away through music. It’s part of our church-plant culture. This past Sunday was no exception, we played Gone, Gone, Gone by Phillip Phillips. Enjoy Paul Haugen and Jill Douty singing together during rehearsal before service.
You can play our entire playlist here on Spotify or download them on iTunes.
Gone, Gone, Gone – Phillip Phillips
This is Amazing Grace – Phil Wickham
Cornerstone – Hillsong Live
Say Something – A Great Big World, Christina Aguilera
Our next service is March 16 at 5pm, for details click here.
Broadcast:
Meet Brian & Michelle Weber. We showed their story this past Sunday at Two Cities Church. After I met them, I went to lunch with Brian to get to know him a little bit because he had shown interest in Two Cities. So we went to Chipotle and it was at that lunch Brian began to test me. He told me everything. I mean everything. He told me about his life, his mistakes, his sins and where he was at with his relationship with Jesus Christ. At the end he said, “So I don’t if you want someone like me to be a part of the church.” I looked at him and said, “Two Cities Church is opt-in. If you want to be involved, all you have to do is opt-in. And we’re all about leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. I’d love to have you guys on our team. It’s up to you.”
After that conversation, Brian and Michelle started coming around to our interest gatherings and information nights. They signed up to serve and now they host a launch group (pre-launch small group) in their home on Tuesdays in Clovis. Enjoy their #WeAreTwoCities story below. [Can’t see the video? Click here.]
“We were struggling to find a church that we felt was home.” – Brian Weber
Just as Two Cities was opt-in for the Webers, it’s opt-in for you too. Let’s connect.
Click for more #WeAreTwoCities Videos.
Broadcast: