Sunday Splash!

Today's Sunday Splash is being written on Monday as I traveled after church yesterday to Tampa FL to spend a few day's with my side of the family! It's great to see my mother, Jeanne, sister's Theresa, Darla and brother Brad again! We had a great time just catching up! Mom and Brad flew down to FL to visit for Christmas and like most Hoosier's they were bumming the Indianapolis Colts loss yesterday!

Yesterday's service at Sunset Chapel was terrific! I thought I saw Johnny Cash in the service! Actually it was Pastor Kevin dressed in black!Pastor Kevin is a great communicator of God's Word. Thanks for preaching in such a way that God's plans and purposes for our lives are revealed. He motivated us to accept the challenge of stepping towards the uncertainties of the future firmly grasping God's hand! I wrote this statement he made at the top of my notes yesterday "As you reach up towards God, He reaches down to you. Reach up! He will not let you go!" God is prepared to do something great in your life and in our church! Let's step into 2010 with Him!!!

Our growth as a church will consistently be linked to friends inviting friends. But we must also find additional creative ways to let people in Miami know that we exist. Let's use every means possible (personal invitations, invite cards, website, facebook, email, etc.) to invite people to Sunset Chapel. Among our guests yesterday I was thrilled to met Lacy (who is in law school at UM) and Marcus (who has a dream of playing professional baseball in the big leagues), two twenty somethings who came with their parents yesterday to visit. I love when God brings new people to our church and He makes it possible to connect with them!

As we prepare to start a new year of ministry here in Miami we want Sunset Chapel to become a greater life-giving church. We exist to give people life in Jesus Christ. No matter who people are when they come through our doors, we as a ministry team desire God to move on their behalf and for them to find life in Christ by the time they walk back out into the parking lot.

When I arrived here six month's ago, I never could have imagined what an adventure it would be. I'm so thankful for the many people of Sunset Chapel, your faith, your generosity, your growth, and your willingness to allow me to be human (flaws and all). I get to pastor the most incredible church in Miami! Some might call me insane, but I really believe that 2010 is going to be a terrific year for us!

Just a couple of final thoughts, keep in mind that this Wednesdays Prayer Service is cancelled. Take the opportunity to create several more family moments and memories! We will resume our regular schedule on Wednesday, January 6, 2010.

Also keep in mind that all contributions must be in our office by 5:00 PM Thursday, December 31, 2009 to receive contribution credit for 2009. Any funds received after this deadline will be credited in 2010. This will enable us to close our books and get contribution statements to you in a timely manner. If you have any questions, please call Frances Watkins at 305-271-4094 ext. 102. Thank you for supporting the ministries of Sunset Chapel!!

A growing number of people at Sunset Chapel are also taking advantage of online giving. In a day and time when checks are becoming more and more obsolete and many are taking advantage of paying their bills online...it's a great way to stay faithful in your giving. Simply click the link provided on the home page of our church website sunsetchapel.com to get started. You can use this service to give online, manage recurring contributions, and see your giving history. It's safe, easy and secure. If you would like to be set up with recurring giving, email Frances Watkins at fwatkins@sunsetchapel.com and she will get you everything you need.

New Series..Divine Mentors

As I near the completion of almost 28 years of full-time ministry, I've spoken with numerous people who lament the foolish choices, countless heartaches, destructive habits and wrecked lives that have placed them squarely on the path of regret.

Many of my best lifetime friends are found in the Bible. Allow me for four weeks to introduce you to some of my closest ones. They are all remarkable individuals, who although they no longer walk on earth... still speak, still encourage and still instruct.

We will examine the lives and experiences of Enoch, whose life of excellence we should all strive to model. Samson, a remarkable man whose rise and fall to disgrace is recorded in scripture so we can learn valuable insights. Joseph, the youth whose dreams came true! His commitment in the face of adversity offers us all hope. Then we will look at Nehemiah whose story merits a closer look. His "Call to The Wall" will be an encouragement to each of us to rebuild and strengthen the walls of decency, morality and righteous living.

Together we will highlight their raw unedited stories. The Bible records it all, their good parts as well as the bad. Why are their stories and those of numerous others found in the scriptures? They are recorded for our instruction so we don't reproduce the same mistakes and we can gain some much needed insight and wisdom from them.

The "Divine Mentors" we will focus upon together will assist you in keeping your faith in balance, your walk with God fresh, you'll learn to avoid huge mistakes and save yourself from hurtful consequences. As we exhale these excellent lessons I am convinced we will personally receive spiritual strength, direction and hope so that whenever we face life's most difficult and frightening challenges we will be able to come out on top! Come join us on this journey at Sunset Chapel beginning Sunday January 10, 2010.

Merry Christmas!

During your Christmas Day celebrations Shari and I hope that you are able to discover new ways to capture memories, celebrate family traditions and show your loved ones how much they matter to you! We are delighted to have our son Randall home with us, but greatly miss Calvin during this holiday season.

We are also grateful for the gift of friendship that so many have extended to us! We sense the love and kindness of so many who surround our lives at this time. They have been willing to invest, invite and sacrifice to make renewal possible at Sunset Chapel. We have come to realize that friendship is way more valuable in this life than stuff or things, because Christ uses people to carry out His plans and purposes. There is no way we could have accomplished anything without their contributions, involvement and support. They are all closely linked to the spiritual transformation that is taking place at Sunset Chapel.

This is an incredibly thrilling time for Sunset Chapel and I am so excited at how God has rallied all of us together as we further advance His vision throughout Miami! The opportunities we have as a church in front of us are unprecedented. What we have seen in just six months so far is just a taste. God sees our city brimming with possibility! He loves to birth new dreams, fresh vision, and greater hope for what's ahead for His Church!

The fact that 2009 is almost complete is absolutely insane! Time has just flown by since our move to Miami in June. I can't wait to see all the lives that will be impacted by SC in 2010! Our family loves you all, we are praying for you constantly, and we are deeply humbled to lead such exceptional people!

We hope you are having an incredible Christmas Day with family and friends today!

Russ, Shari, Calvin, and Randall

Sunday Splash! 11.28.09

* Today was like no other at Sunset Chapel. From the very outset we could tangibly feel the presence of God throughout our facility! It was apparent that the Lord was preparing us for something HUGE!

* He forced us to recognize that we all have blind spots in our lives. As our lives seem to shift into higher gears with each passing day... to say that the pace of our lives is out of control, is to idolize our own endeavors above God's desires for our lives. There are many believer's who are allowing their responsibilities (cares of this life) to choke out God's Word to the point that they are no longer obeying what it says. God uses our everyday challenges to refine us, strengthen us and help us grow. For some the journey has been difficult.

* Many individuals spoke with me concerning today's message, that it was meant for them personally. With several indicating they were experiencing a "faded passion" in their lives, wondering if God really cared for them, if He actually knew what was taking place in their lives. As we become mindful of God's bigger picture and what He wants to do in our lives..it turns out that He has known what He was doing all along!

* Today's message "Where is the Touch of the Lord" is critical to every Christ follower who desires to be renewed and refreshed! For years the devil has entangled churches and led them astray with grand distractions and diversions. Causing God's people to forget His Word, to no longer seek Him consistently and wholeheartedly. They go their own way..and expect God to meet them there! For many God has become an inconvenience in their lives. To obey Him and to submit their lives means they will have to change, they would have to begin doing good, be kind, extend compassion to others... that doesn't fit into their present day lifestyles and schedules. So they allow themselves to become cold, distant..half-dead. 'The Touch of God" is missing from their lives.

* What God did around our altars today was astounding! People surrendered their hearts and entire lives to God and crossed the line towards faith and obedience to Him! Seeing people who are far from God come near to Him... NEVER EVER gets old!

* Once again I observed several new faces in the crowd! I love it! Keep spreading the word about Sunset Chapel and what God is doing here in Miami! I am so grateful and blessed to serve as the Lead Pastor of such a wonderful church that keeps investing and inviting!!

* Let me encourage you to make an eternal difference in someones life this week! In the weeks that lead up to Christmas, many of us relax. We spend time with family, share memories, smiles and lots of laughter. Some will even quietly reflect on what this time of year was meant for..loving each other and remembering the joy of Christ's birth! May I remind you that you will lock eyes with people who matter to God! Invite them to our weekend services and to the activities that we will be offering during this holiday season. Every heart we come into contact with can become a new Bethlehem where God's Son can be birthed!

more Thanksgiving Dinner Pics!

Our 2009 All Church Thanksgiving Dinner!

Sunday Splash!

* We experienced a tremendous day at Sunset Chapel!
* I heard so many positive comments about the spirit of joy, happiness and expectancy that currently exists at SC!
* There were so many who stepped up this weekend to make today such a wonderful success! Those of you who gave tons of time to make our all church Thanksgiving dinner such a delightful experience let me say THANK YOU!! Thank you for loving God and His church. Your example inspires me to become a better servant!
* To our SC staff and ministry leadership team..you guys are the most amazing group I have ever been around. Shari and I love you all, we are inspired by you and so proud to call you our friends!!
* Our worship was terrific and I really loved the chorus 'Here I am to Worship" and little Alyssa Flores singing with the adult vocalists! She was an absolute joy to listen to!
* There were so many new faces in our service today. I really get excited seeing all these new guests come and discover what God is doing here at Sunset Chapel!
* We are having so much fun at Sunset Chapel, it was great having the opportunity to fellowship and interact with so many people today.
* I am wishing it was next Sunday already!!!! Can't wait to worship with everyone again real soon! Check out some of today's pics from today's Thanksgiving Sunday highlights!!

WaterMark Baptism

Sunday Splash!

*Today was an incredible and unforgettable experience at Sunset Chapel!
*God is allowing SC to be a part of His Spirit's Outpouring!
*There were so many new faces at Sunset Chapel today. That never gets old!!!
*Seeing today's "Watermark" participants just adds fuel to my passion for seeing others living far from God come to know Him!
*I am looking forward to the future and witnessing God at work in many more people's lives, leading them through breakthroughs and blessings!
*We celebrated as 21 individuals took a next step in their relationship with God and spontaneously responded to today's challenge to become baptized!!
*An added bonus was that two young men accepted Christ into their hearts during today's altar call.
*I want to encourage each person who was baptized today to remain bold and to continue moving forward in their relationship with God.
*Let me give a big shout out to both Sarah Levy and Samuel Alers for helping us create some really awesome videos that we used during today's celebration service!
*We took a lot of pictures and made several short testimony videos today and we will post many of these on facebook, our church website and here on my blog!
*I also want to thank Pastor Kevin Mohammed and Luis Teijeiro for assisting me with today's baptisms. It's an honor to serve together with you guy's!!
*We also took time today to recognize the top three teams in our recent 3 on 3 basketball tournament. These guys hustled and outplayed their competition to take top honors!
*This outreach into our community was a huge success because of the tremendous number of volunteers who assisted Andrew Mangaroo in helping us host this event at SC! Our volunteers are the absolute best!!!
*Thanks to all for helping us build another bridge into our community!
*I really love the fun and the sense of community that is taking place at Sunset Chapel right now!
*BTW the meal served today for the ballplayers and volunteers was "finger licking good"! Special thanks to Russ and Julee Barbour our BBQ specialists!!

Message from Pastor Russ

WaterMark Message from Pastor Russ from russell debord on Vimeo.

WaterMark Experience!

Water Baptism is one of the most meaningful events in a person's spiritual journey.



What is the meaning of Baptism?
*It illustrates Christ's burial and resurrection.
*Christ died for our sins...He was buried...and He rose again! (I Corinthians 15:3-4)
*For when you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and in Baptism you were also raised with Christ! (Colossians 2:12)
*It illustrates your new life as a Christian.
*When someone becomes a Christian, he or she becomes a brand new person on the inside. The old life has passed away and a new life has begun!

Who should be Baptized?
*All believers as soon as they have accepted Christ
*Those who believed...were baptized...that day! (Acts 2:41)
*There is no reason to delay!
*As soon as you have decided to receive Christ into your life, you can and should be baptized.

When does this occur?
The 2009 "Watermark" Baptism Experience will take place this coming Sunday, November 15th.

Can I be baptized with my spouse, child, or their family members?
Yes! If more than one member of your family is being baptized, we will have you come into the pool together to be baptized.

What should I wear?
Plan to wear your bathing suit or shorts with a t-shirt into the pool (we will provide you with a free t-shirt you can keep) once everyone has been baptized you will have access to the bathrooms in the 300 building to change into your dry clothes. Oh yeah, don't forget to bring a dry towel!

Who will baptize me?
In addition to being baptized by one of our Pastors and Leaders, we also welcome you to invite someone who has played a significant role in your decision to accept Christ and be baptized (friend, family member, parent, teacher, etc.) into the water to help baptize you!

Can I invite people to attend the baptism if they don't belong to Sunset Chapel?
Absolutely! We encourage you to invite your friends, family, co-workers, classmates, etc...to be a part of this special day! And don't forget to bring a camera so you can have someone take a photo during your baptism.

What if I have more questions about baptism?
Then don't miss the Sunday 10:30 AM service as I teach an entire message on this important subject and offer vital information and guidance! We want to make sure that each person clearly understands the meaning and significance of baptism.

I pray that many will take the plunge this Sunday and acknowledge Christ in their lives. It will be one of the most phenomenal experiences of your life!

Is there someone you could invite to church this weekend who could use this experience? Your invitation could initiate one of the most important days of someones life. We will have numerous baptism kits (shirts, shorts, towels) prepared for those who want to spontaneously participate this weekend. This will be a BIG DAY at Sunset Chapel!

Offering Celebration Time at SC

God Loves A Cheerful Giver from russell debord on Vimeo.

Sunday Splash!

*Today was so much fun!
*Our worship was vertical and enthusiastic from beginning to end. Thanks Douglas Flores for preparing us for God's Word today! It was good to have our son, Calvin DeBord visiting with us from Nashville TN. He joined our worship team and helped take our praise and worship to a whole new level!
*We had a handful of new visitors in the service today! It was great getting acquainted with Lynn and Sherrie Edwards. We found out we have somethings in common. I am always grateful that God puts the right people in our path!
*We concluded our series "The Blessed Life" today. This teaching series has had a huge impact on us as a church that is in the midst of rebuilding our focus and doing all we can to reach people who are far from God. This has been a substantial four week video teaching series!
*If you missed today's service then you missed the highlight moment of the day! our celebration offering dance was over the top! I saw so many bright smiles and heard so much unbridled laughter! It's a special moment I will never forget! Thanks to Pastor Kevin for putting this together for us! We will try to post a video later showing the "special moves" of Armando, Andrew, Emilo, George, Louis, Samuel, and all the rest of our usher team!
*I am so looking forward to preaching next weekend! I have taken advantage of this time to plan, pray and prepare for the holiday season that is fast approaching! It's going to be a great final two month's of 2009!
*I made several important announcements this morning. First, we will be hosting Convoy of Hope's "One Day Challenge" on Sunday November 8. It will give each SC attender the opportunity to make a difference in the life of someone else who has encountered a devastating struggle in their lives. This very important ministry provides disaster relief to millions of people who have an earthquake, hurricane, or a tsunami. Everyone is asked to participate in this worth while ministry. We will provide you with more information in the coming days!
*Also announced today that we will host two Thanksgiving events. Everyone is invited to join us on November 22 for an all church Thanksgiving Dinner immediately after the morning service. We will also host a very unique Candlelight/Communion service on Wednesday November 25. This will be an activity for the whole family!!
*Don't miss the most important service of the week this Wednesday at 7 pm!! Our mid- week Prayer Service is the best thing happening in Miami! Nudge a friend and join with us as we connect with God and lift up the prayer requests that are submitted to the church! You will be glad you came!!

The Most Important Meeting!

A substantial number of people have begun to make our Wednesday Prayer Service a meaningful practice to attend. Prayer is a priority here at Sunset Chapel. It has become the most important service of the week. SC is experiencing prayer bathed growth in numerous ministry areas.

We initially walked between our rows of seats and prayed throughout the sanctuary that all who enter and exit would experience the power and the work of God in their lives. We are convinced that what we are experiencing in our weekend services is a direct result of God's involvement and guidance in all that we do.

If we are to effectively reach individuals who are far from God in the Miami area, then prayer is non-negotiable to us. We firmly believe that a church that doesn't fervently and intentional pray will not see God move in it's midst. We have come to believe that prayer is essential to our future success as a church.

Our prayer service is intentionally designed to engage each person in attendance. Without exception, time is purposely set aside for people who attend to be prayed for. Also the needs of others that have been submitted to us are taken into the Lord's presence.

The following isn't an exhaustive list by no means,but here are some benefits of having a consistent prayer life:
*Prayer reminds us of our mission as a church
*Prayer reminds us of our dependence on God
*Prayer keeps us from becoming powerless
*Prayer refreshes our hearts and spirits
*Prayer produces results for the Kingdom of God
*Prayer removes all forms of despair, fear, and worry
*Prayer bonds us together as the Body of Christ
*Prayer creates clear focus
*Prayer creates the still moments necessary to listen to God's voice without distractions or disruptions
*Prayer produces passion to become productive for God's purposes
*Vigorous prayer withstands the insidious attacks from Satan
*Prayer produces contentment and stability in a persons life

(Feel free to add to this list by leaving your comments for others to see and become encouraged)

Sunset Chapel moves forward towards it's God-purposed future on it's knees!!! There's always room for more knee buddies to join us every Wednesday at 7 PM.

Sunday Splash!

*Church today was good.
*Attendance was down significantly this weekend. Not sure why??
*There was an astonishing response to the altar call at the end of praise and worship this morning.
*I truly believe that God was doing a precious work in many hearts.
*Today we continued the teaching on "The Blessed Life" series.
*We learned so many outstanding principles concerning Biblical stewardship.
*Tithing is a key to opening the blessings of God.
*Tithing is "returning" what already belongs to God.
*Tithing is ultimately a heart issue.
*Giving actually begins at 11%.
*We learned that something must be blessed before it can multiply. It must be given to the Lord first.
*We also learned that only what is given away can multiply.
* I am not sure we realize how much we really learned today.
*I made several significant announcements this morning..We are looking for individuals to get involved in this years Christmas presentation "The Gospel According to Scrooge". We need volunteers to assist us with constructing and decorating background sets, sound and lighting, nursery workers, and there are just a few additional non-speaking parts still available too! If you are interested please contact Jimmy Diaz at 305.904.4040. Also announced today that we will have our next "Water Baptism" at Sunset Chapel on Sunday November 15!!!! This will be a memorable day for many as they publicly proclaim Christ as their Lord and Savior! To participate in the baptism service please contact the church office at 305.271.4094.
*As you pray this week..pray that God will use our church to impact thousands of lives in our city for Jesus!
*Also, pray about WHO GOD WANTS YOU TO BRING WITH YOU THIS COMING WEEKEND!!!! (Seriously..people will come to church if you just invite them!)

Ready for an Invitation

A study done by LifeWay Research Group found that more than half of Americans would be willing to visit a church if invited by family members, friends or neighbors. Sixty-three percent said that they would attend a church at the recommendation of a family member, while fifty six percent said they would go with a friend or neighbor. YOUR UNCHURCHED FRIENDS ARE READY FOR AN INVITATION. Clearly relationships are important to receiving a positive response to any invitation. Just the other day in my apartment complex a young student still in high school introduced himself to me and asked me "If I died would I go to heaven?" He didn't know me and we had never met prior to this encounter. His question didn't bother me at all, especially since I already knew my answer. But is walking up to a complete stranger the best way to invite someone to church and to invite Christ into their life??? I think that it might sometimes, especially if it is God who is directing you to do so. But actually engaging someone in conversation often and getting to know them is invaluable to getting them to open their heart and mind to even consider establishing a relationship with God and a local church. I encouraged the young man and commended him for his boldness to even walk up to a complete stranger and begin a conversation. But this got me to thinking, are you engaging anyone in conversation and beginning to build a relationship that will enable you to someday invite them to church or even to ask them to consider making Christ a part of their life? I am very grateful that we don't just sporadically invite others to be our guest's at Sunset Chapel, but we are intentionally looking to establish and build genuine relationships with those who are far from God. I can't help but think that it's a good thing when more and more people are becoming involved at Sunset Chapel and we are beginning to see potentially something truly great materialize here in Miami! Keep investing and inviting those around you!

Starbucks Coffee on us!!

I am always looking for ways to connect with people and came across this one from another pastors website. If recently, you came to check out Sunset Chapel at one of our Sunday worship experiences to say "Thank You" for being our guest, I want to personally invite you to come have a Starbucks drink of your choice on us!

Tomorrow night, October 6, from 7:00-8:00 pm the staff of Sunset Chapel will be at Starbucks on 14795 South Dixie Highway (just south of The Falls Shopping Center). We invite you to drop by and say hello and have a Starbucks on us. If you would like to stay and meet the staff, we are available to answer any questions you may have about Sunset Chapel, or if you just want to stop in to get your free drink, we would love for you to stop by.

This is our way of letting you know how much we appreciate you being our guest at Sunset Chapel. If there is anything that we can do to help you please contact our office at 305.271.4094

New Series

Our next series "The Blessed Life" is all about money. A key to financial freedom isn't getting "more" from God but rather managing what He's already blessed us with! Why a teaching on money? Because marriages are torn apart by it, people lose hope because of it, and the Bible has a lot to say concerning it!! Sadly many pastors remain silent concerning this subject, others apologize whenever the topic comes up and tension seems to just build up whenever it is addressed. Jesus called His disciples to follow Him. He wanted all of them (body, mind, spirit). He expects us to give Him all of us, our best, our first- fruits and not our leftovers!! We must be careful not to let our finances crowd God out of our lives. We must keep Him first at all times and in every area of our lives.

God is an incredible giver (John 3:16) who gives indescribable gifts (II Corinthians 9:15). Some people claim they cannot afford to tithe . . . Shari and I have discovered that we cannot afford not to! I am looking forward to sharing with you some resources that have encouraged us to remain faithful to God's purposes in this area. We have seen God's provision and blessings come time and time again in our home. For those of you who give consistently and generously to the work of the Lord at Sunset Chapel . . . THANK YOU! You are assisting us in fulfilling the Great Commission here in Miami.

Many of you have stated you want to get a handle on this area of your life, but things have only continued to get worse not better. You have trapped yourself into a deeper rut by transferring credit card balances, making only minimum payments, you have become a slave to Master Card/Visa, car payments, and to a house you are struggling to afford. The only way to use credit and not get into trouble is to use it responsibly. That means you shouldn't buy things you cannot pay for. Do not let your pride keep you from attending this four week teaching series. Pride will keep you from admitting that you have a financial problem. This is the opportunity to do something about it . . . . and NO . . . . you don't have to be a Sunset Chapel member or regular attendee to learn God's principles and have your eyes open to God's promise of a life of blessing.

Highlight Pics from Week Three God's VIP series

This is the "Miami Lady Express" AAU Basketball Team - we prayed for them as they were leaving for their championship game!