Tailgate Sunday - September 19th

We're making dynamic plans for a first ever event hosted on our church campus. Make plans to join us for "Tailgate Sunday" September 19th @ 10:00AM. Activities include: co-ed flag football, our very own "thrill of the grill" cooking contest, and watch the pro game: Dolphins vs Vikings! You don't want to miss this one-of-a-kind Sunset Chapel event!

We have also invited Christian recording artist, Leanette Lopez to be with us. Singing since she was 7 and public speaking at 16, Leanette Lopez is no stranger to the platform. After years of serving on pastoral staff in Ohio, Leanette herself experienced leadership in a ministerial capacity. Ministering alongside her parents who were pastors all her life she ventured out with her ministry as a pastor and ultimately traveling world wide with her own family.

The real call of God in her life allows her capabilities to encourage any age, gender, and culture. She is fluent in both English and Spanish. Leanette has 4 recordings to date.

In the past she has worked with producer Jerroll Lehman who is connected to artists like John Mellancamp, Sandi Patti, Gaither Studio etc. With her latest album www.leanettelopezmusic.com she worked with Tim Miner www.timminermusic.comwho has worked with artists such as Steve Perry, Winans, Whitney Houston, Kirk Franklin etc.

Seasoned with experience, Bible education and a talent for singing and songwriting, this inspirational force added "author" to her repertoire. With a book already published worldwide she is currently working on more material.

Although modest about her abilities she recognizes the call of God in her life isn't coincidental but purposeful. Her life mission is to encourage people to reach their potential and destiny through her music or speaking and sometimes both.

Its going to be an epic day at Sunset Chapel, start inviting everybody you know! Click below to view Leanette Lopez video clip.

Tailgate Sunday Concert from Russell DeBord on Vimeo.

Sunday Splash!

I know it's Monday and I usually write this update on Sunday but after the service yesterday I just kind of crashed! I took the longest nap ever after I got home!

We experienced another superb day at Sunset Chapel!

The atmosphere was electric yesterday..I can't wait to see all the God reveals during this week!

Let me just say something right now about our volunteers here at SC. We have the best volunteers anywhere!! Their involvement and investment into SC continues to bring refreshment and rejuvenation into my soul each weekend!! Our usher's were absolutely AMAZING yesterday! We had so many first time guests and they were all going the extra mile to make sure everyone was able to find a seat! It was such a fantastic sight seeing the building so full! We even had people sitting up in the balcony as nearly all the seats on the main floor were taken!

I want to thank "Dorothy" a new guest yesterday who attended with her two daughters Kathy and Alanna! After she took her sun glasses off she stated "How cute I was"!! She just made my day! I love the senior adults who attend SC! I completely disregarded her daughters remark that mom had just had eye surgery! Her vision was just perfect to me!!! lol

It was also great having so many of our Sunset Christian Academy teachers, support staff, students and families in the service for our "Back To School service"!!

It was hands down my favorite services of the year thus far! Yesterday was such a fun day at Sunset Chapel!!

Our BGMC offering was insane!! Me thinks that my wife Shari and Bethany (Pastor Adam's wife) conspired to steal the victory from the boy's!! Not sure who won the contest yet, the winner's will be announced next week in Kid's Inc.

The "SHARK SONG" was a HUGE HIT yesterday!! Thanks to all the Kid's Inc. leaders, children and our "volunteered" SCA teachers (Maylen Velazquez, Lourdes Echazabal, Florelia Lengua, and our Pre School Director Pilar Martin) for introducing it to the entire church!!!

The message "God's Plans" seemed to be received well by everyone.

It was fun taking everyone back to school as I gave my "oral report". Let me give a shout out to Mrs. Terry Pimienta one of our Sunset Christian Academy teacher's for helping me with the opening skit! Man she busted my chops for chewing gum in class!

I laid out a BIBLE CHALLENGE to everyone. I encouraged them to take their Bible with them everyday to work, school, etc. for the next 30 days! Steve Pulis gave this challenge out to thousands of students at this years National Fine Arts Festival! It's a great idea!! God has given His textbook for us to learn more about Him and to apply His Word everyday in our lives! I would love to hear where you've taken and read your Bibles! Keep me posted! Add me as your facebook friend and share with me how you've taken God's Word with you!!

I made a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT yesterday at the end of the service! ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL!!! SC will be hosting our FIRST EVER "TAILGATE SUNDAY" September 19th! We will be moving our service time up to 10:00 am on that date. Some of that days activities include a concert with Leannette Lopez! She is a very talented vocalist that everyone is sure to enjoy!! Also we'll host a "THRILL OF THE GRILL" contest!! More details about that will be forthcoming! After service activities will include a co-ed flag football game and later the opportunity to come into the building and watch our hometown Dolphins whip up on the Vikings! This will be a great opportunity to invite friends to come check out Sunset Chapel and introduce them to our great church!!

Revival Services August 15-18

I am eagerly anticipating all that God has in store for us during these upcoming four incredible days with Evangelist's Rudi and Sharon Swanepoel! Sunset Chapel will come alive with God's presence! I am believing for an awakening and expecting great things to occur! Get ready friends it's about to break loose in here!!

Nothing tops the satisfaction of seeing God bless His people in a tangible ways, changing lives, shaping destinies and rescuing souls from the clutches of a defeated foe!

I am so pumped up that we get to partner this weekend with Rudi and Sharon. They are two authentic individuals whom God uses to push people towards new heights in their relationship with Him. Both demonstrate an unwavering dedication to the Lord. And they will impact your lives with their anointed and insightful messages! The revelations the Lord gives them from His Word will resonate in your heart! Each message ends with an opportunity for people to be prayed for. These WILL BECOME powerful moments in your life!

Rudi and Sharon are passionate about..

• God's Word!
• Lifting the name of Jesus higher and making His name famous!
• Reaching people who are living far from God!
• Seeing people grow in their journey with God!
• Reaching the next generation!
• Authentic praise and worship!

I know people who don't know Christ and so do you. Let's pray and ask God for help, then boldly invite everyone we know to join us so that HIS HOUSE WILL BE FULL!! Service times are as follows Sunday 10:30 am and 7:00 pm, Monday - Wednesday 7 pm nightly! Kid's Church and Nursery will be available on Sunday morning. NURSERY ONLY DURING THE EVENING SERVICES.

"WaterMark" Experience August 2010

Sunday Splash!

*Today was one of those days you never want to EVER forget!

*So much was happening behind the scenes to make this a great day of celebration!

*Let me give a HUGE shout out to the people who came early to set everything up for our "Watermark" baptism experience! You guys rock!!

*Our worship seems to have switched into high gear during the last couple of weeks! I was watching our newest band member Timothy Cromer today on the drums. Folks this dude has some mad skills!!

*Douglas Flores really brought us into the presence of God today. Most people didn't know this but he lead us in praise and worship with a heavy heart. He and his family lost a very dear Aunt and he will be with his extended family as they gather to honor this precious relative. Please keep his family in prayer this week.

*Unbelievable attendance today!! Today's total may have been our best of 2010!! I will check the final count tomorrow!

*Our 10:30 service is really starting to fill out a bit! That's an exciting step forward for us!

*Numerous guests were with us today from our summer park outreaches!

*Started the service today doing something I've never done at SC before! Jaime Diaz worked with me to create our own SC Waterboy personality! Great skit and great way to introduce today's topic! Love the creativity that Jamie brought to the message!

*One guest asked a person "Does he always speak like that"? They liked what they heard today and indicated that they would return! Cool Beans!!

*I scheduled another appointment with a different guest who wants to meet and learn more about the church! I love the connections that God is bringing to Sunset Chapel!!

*There are some awesome things ahead for Sunset Chapel on the horizon! Stay tuned!!

*I preached the second message in our current series "Extreme Thirst".

*God designed all of us with the ability to thirst.

*Today's message "Hydrate or Die" highlights Christ's offer to extend living water to everyone who will accept.

*Dehydrated hearts display symptoms such as snarling tempers, overwhelming insecurities, crushing guilt, irritability, and hopelessness to name a few. These are clear signals that something is seriously wrong in a persons life.

*What H2o can do for your physical body, Christ can do for your spiritual heart!

*Christ says in John 7:37-38 "If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. He who believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water."

*The question so many living here in Miami want answered is this..Will the taste of this living water take away the taste of the living hell they are presently in?

*The answer to that is a resounding YES!!

*Three individuals accepted that offer and made Christ Lord of their lives! That was so cool!

*After the service we all went outdoors and watched as 14 people participated in our "Watermark" baptism experience!

*Just as we were getting started heaven opened up and showered us with blessings!! Literally!! I mentioned to all the participants that they we're being kissed from heaven itself!!

*We will post some pics for you to enjoy after this post!

*Can't wait for next weekend!! Evangelists Rudi and Sharon Swanepoel from South Africa will be with us! Get ready to be blessed beyond imagination!! These are some of my favorite people to hang around with. They are the kind of people who sharpen and uplift everyone who comes into contact with them!

*I've asked everyone to keep me in prayer as I travel to Haiti this week to check out the recovery efforts that are still taking place. I will be scouting out some opportunities for SC to continue partnering with our missionaries to help this desperate country.

*In my absence Lee and Nilda Givens are going to lead our Wednesday Prayer Service. This continues to be our most important service of the week! They will be leading us in prayer for our nation, upcoming elections and next weekend's revival services! I will be looking to hear great reports from this service!!

*Have a blessed week!

Your Invited! Don't Miss Out!

This Sunday (August 8th @ 10:30 am) will be absolutely amazing! We’re inviting all our summer park event participants to visit us at Sunset Chapel for a great weekend! The summer park events were a huge success, and it was an awesome experience getting the opportunity to introduce SC to so many wonderful families in the South Miami area.

Our Kid’s Inc. ministry is all set up to host kid’s of all ages (preschool - 5th grade) for a day of thrilling excitement, prize giveaways, games and lot’s of laughter! The ultimate prize is for one child’s name to be drawn and awarded a free Nintendo Wii. We at Sunset Chapel have a deep passion to UP the level in which we’re impacting kid’s through our church.

We believe that each of the past five free events are setting in motion some things we have been dreaming about in regards to the future of Kid’s Inc. All the children will be having their own service located on our campus in the 300 building. And all adults are invited to come over to the main building and join the morning worship experience as Pastor Russ DeBord will be speaking.

At the end of the services, approximately noon, everyone will join together outside for an unforgettable Watermark baptism experience! Each participant will receive a free Watermark t-shirt!! Cotton candy, popcorn, snow cones, plus our inflatables will be available for the kids to enjoy!

Summer "Watermark" Experience!

Baptism is a very important event in the life of any new Christian. And I know that we go to great lengths to make sure the celebration is done just right!

At the beginning of the service, one of our pastors will briefly explain the meaning of baptism. each "Watermark" participant will receive a free t-shirt and a baptism certificate!

Water Baptism is one of the most meaningful events in a person's spiritual journey.The Bible clearly teaches that baptism is the next step after giving your life to Jesus. Baptism is your chance to stand up and tell the world about your personal commitment to follow Christ.

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!

Baptism doesn't make you a Christian.

• Only your faith in Christ does that.
• Baptism is like a wedding ring - it's the outward sign of the commitment you have made in your heart.

Who should be Baptized?

• All believers as soon as they have accepted Christ
• A believer is someone who has realized that their sin separated them from God. They have given up all efforts to reach God through good works or religious activity. They have concluded that Jesus Christ's death on the cross for their sins is the only thing that can bridge the gap between them and God.
• A believer is someone who had decided to trust Christ alone for their salvation. If you have come to that point in your spiritual journey, then you are ready to be baptized!
• 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.

Our next "Watermark" Baptism Experience will take place this coming Sunday, August 8th.

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 "Watermark" t-shirt you can keep) once everyone has been baptized you will have access to the restrooms in the main 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.

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!

Epic Worship

It's early and already the sun is warm. There is something sublime about fresh morning air, a new sunrise and the way the shafts of light are beginning to hit the branches on the palm trees lined just beyond our apartment balcony. Absorbing all this and taking it in makes me think about propelling my worship with God towards a new level. As I savor my first sips of morning coffee I am thinking about the recent invitation I accepted to speak at Florida City First Assembly's "Midnight Cry" event scheduled for August 27. I was asked specifically to speak about "Praise and Worship".

The opportunity we have as Christians to meet together and connect with God is nothing less than extraordinary. Yet sadly, many take both individual and corporate worship for granted. I'm really starting to zero my thoughts in on this subject. Far to often the worship service itself is crafted around agendas and human talents that have absolutely nothing to do with the activity of connecting with and honoring God. It has simply become an anemic packaged production masquerading as the "real thing".

I've been asking myself a lot of questions. When the unchurched arrive at Sunset Chapel (those who are living far from God) are they able to detect the presence of God among us? Can they see that life-change is occurring? And are they able to experience something in our mid-week and weekend gatherings that they've never seen before?

I'm afraid that far to often we are producing a new generation of church attenders who are lacking any experience or memory of an encounter with God. The result is that an emptiness exists within the "worship experience" itself. It's because of that emptiness people drift into the service at various times, rather than being prompt, filled with anticipation and expectation that God is going to show up in a HUGE way in that gathering and in the circumstances and lives of individuals. People make time for what's really important. And they just aren't capturing the importance of the worship experience to their own spiritual development.

Worship is all about seeking the tangible presence of God. It's all about discovering God's character and His expectations. It's about Him interacting with us!!

A lot of us have visited other churches. And to often in numerous ones the worship experience did little to help people meet God. If your a pastor that follows my blog posts please get this...

I believe that people are longing for a genuine relationship, one that only our God can and does offer!

When personal interaction with God is absent, you will see people drift and uncommit to attending church. People expect to find God in our gatherings. If they can't find Him here...then where can they find Him?

George Barna a noted church research expert once surveyed church attenders about how often did the church worship experience bring them into God's presence?

*27% = Always

*12% = Usually

*34% = Never

*27% = Sometimes, Rarely, or Didn't Know

Snap! This stinks! Is it possible that we are out of touch with what God desires to take place in our worship experiences for our people? It should be a simple truth. And I'm all about keeping things simple! People can come to meet with God in our gatherings. Our worship is intended to produce moments when God's presence illuminates the darkness in which we are all walking in every single day! Maybe this is an area we all need to refocus some attention to? Just a random thought.

Sunday Splash!

*Thanks Sunset Chapel for another unforgettable day!

*We had another outstanding summer crowd here at SC!!

*We reordered our service today to allow more time for praise and worship so that we could respond to the Spirit's leading! Our worship team kicked things off with lot's of great energy and a couple of new songs! The entire worship team did a fantastic job in leading us into God's presence! There was just a great response today from everyone! It was awesome watching even a few come forward during worship just to connect closer with God! I love shaking things up at times!

*During today's missions moment we introduced missionaries to Togo Africa Bernie and Brenda Smith! These are two of our fellowships best!! Don't forget to keep them in your prayers! Thanks for also investing in their efforts to raise up and train leaders in their region of ministry! If you were unable to give in the offering today you can make an online donation and they will still receive it prior to their departure back to Africa! I am always blown away by the generosity of our people here at Sunset Chapel!

*I was really excited about today's message! I really wished more people in Miami could have heard it!! The big moment was when several raised their hands and crossed the line of faith! That never ever gets old!!

*I don't know about you but I've been "thirsty" all day long!!

*I am wishing it was next Sunday already!! I really love what God is doing and I'm enjoying the momentum we are experiencing at Sunset Chapel right now! Did I mention to you that SC is my favorite place to preach!!

*Next Sunday is going to be over the top exciting! It's going to be an incredible experience as we baptize numerous people during our next "Watermark Experience"!! If you haven't been baptized yet it's time to go all in!! Each participant will receive a free "Watermark" t-shirt!!

*I heard a rumor that a fire truck of sorts will be showing up next Sunday!!

*If you know of someone who is struggling through a desert experience, be sure to invite them to attend SC with you next Sunday!

*And bring your cell phone camera with you next week. I promise that something is going to happen that you've never seen in a church service before!

*Have a blessed week!!