Photo Credit: Adam Tarwacki

Dear Church Family,

If you were able to join us for services this past weekend or you saw my emails from last week, you know that Mark Beeson has been recovering from a mild stroke in Italy, where he and Sheila were leading a New Testament Church tour with several from Granger Community Church (GCC).

Here’s the great news: Mark was released from the hospital today! In fact, his echocardiogram was clear today; his heart is strong. Mark and Sheila will be returning home this Wednesday! Travel arrangements are under way now.

He will need to engage rehab to correct the double vision he is experiencing as he continues to gain full strength and get fully acclimated. Mark is confident, as we all are, that our great Physician will bring complete recovery.

Together, we’re thanking God for His hand on Mark over the past week. We’re grateful that the tour group of GCC friends arrived home safely yesterday! We’re celebrating God’s response to our prayers for Mark and Sheila!

I knew you’d want to know as soon as we knew – spread the word! God is sovereign and the Beesons are coming home!

-Mark Waltz Executive Pastor

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Dear Church Family,

Mark and Sheila will be back with us soon—and we’d love your help welcoming them home! Read on…

Yesterday I was able to inform you of the mild stroke Mark Beeson suffered on Tuesday of this week, while leading a group from Granger Community Church on a tour of the early days of the New Testament Church.

The good news continues. While Mark is still challenged with double vision, he is strong and—as you can imagine—ready to be home! Mark has undergone an additional MRI since Thursday’s update, and all is clear. Your prayers matter!

Because of one final test, which cannot be scheduled until Monday, the Beeson’s return is delayed until mid-week. You might be comforted to know that Mark’s brother and sister-in-law will be joining them soon, so they won’t be alone.

Now, here’s where you come in. This weekend at all services on each campus, we’re inviting you to stop by a camera after the service you attend to offer a greeting to Mark and Sheila. Our whiz-bang video team will put it all together and present a DVD for them to watch as they settle back at home in a few days.

Until we gather this weekend, keep praying. Pray for the medical team caring for Mark. Pray for our friends who’ve been touring Italy, as they return Sunday. Pray for Mark and Sheila as they make their way back to the states in a few days.

And be in service this weekend to be part of sending a special video message to the Beesons! We’ll continue with week five in our Christian Atheist series, discovering the good life in the Ten Commandments. Together, we’ll each take our next step toward Christ.

Mark Waltz, Executive Pastor, Granger Community Church

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:3-6

Continue reading →

Photo Credit: Dustin Maust

Dear Church Family,

Mark and Sheila will be back with us soon—and we’d love your help welcoming them home! Read on…

Yesterday I was able to inform you of the mild stroke Mark Beeson suffered on Tuesday of this week, while leading a group from Granger Community Church on a tour of the early days of the New Testament Church.

The good news continues. While Mark is still challenged with double vision, he is strong and—as you can imagine—ready to be home! Mark has undergone an additional MRI since Thursday’s update, and all is clear. Your prayers matter!

Because of one final test, which cannot be scheduled until Monday, the Beeson’s return is delayed until mid-week. You might be comforted to know that Mark’s brother and sister-in-law will be joining them soon, so they won’t be alone.

Now, here’s where you come in. This weekend at all services on each campus, we’re inviting you to stop by a camera after the service you attend to offer a greeting to Mark and Sheila. Our whiz-bang video team will put it all together and present a DVD for them to watch as they settle back at home in a few days.

Until we gather this weekend, keep praying. Pray for the medical team caring for Mark. Pray for our friends who’ve been touring Italy, as they return Sunday. Pray for Mark and Sheila as they make their way back to the states in a few days.

And be in service this weekend to be part of sending a special video message to the Beesons! We’ll continue with week five in our Christian Atheist series, discovering the good life in the Ten Commandments. Together, we’ll each take our next step toward Christ.

Mark Waltz, Executive Pastor, Granger Community Church

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  Philippians 1:3-6

Continue reading →

Dear Church Family,

I want you to know that this past week Mark and Sheila Beeson have been in Italy, leading a group from Granger Community Church on a tour of the early days of the New Testament Church. 

On Tuesday, while finishing up a tour of the Vatican, Mark experienced impaired vision and began seeing double. Our good friend Dr. Jim Blechl is on the trip, so he immediately did some basic tests for a possible stroke and got Mark to the hospital for tests and treatment. Those tests revealed that Mark suffered a mild stroke.

But there is some good news.

The good news is that Mark continues to improve and although he is still dealing with double vision, this appears to be the only after-effect of this mild stroke. Once home, he’ll benefit from vision rehab. But get this: Dr. Tom Morton–a GCC founding member who is also with Mark in Italy–has 25 years of experience doing vision rehab exactly of this nature. God is good. He’s been watching over Mark every step in this unforeseen journey. 

While Mark remains in the hospital as of today, we’re praying he’ll be able to fly home with Sheila and the rest of the group on Sunday as scheduled. 

Mark and Sheila covet your prayers for them and for their family. They feel God’s presence; they are aware of our love and intercession.

We can’t wait to gather together as a church family and do what we do every weekend—celebrate Jesus and take another step towards Him together.

-Mark Waltz, Executive Pastor

 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. – Jesus, John 14:27

Copyright © 2015 Granger Community Church, All rights reserved. 

Continue reading →

Dear Church Family,

I want you to know that this past week Mark and Sheila Beeson have been in Italy, leading a group from Granger Community Church on a tour of the early days of the New Testament Church. 

On Tuesday, while finishing up a tour of the Vatican, Mark experienced impaired vision and began seeing double. Our good friend Dr. Jim Blechl is on the trip, so he immediately did some basic tests for a possible stroke and got Mark to the hospital for tests and treatment. Those tests revealed that Mark suffered a mild stroke.

But there is some good news.

The good news is that Mark continues to improve and although he is still dealing with double vision, this appears to be the only after-effect of this mild stroke. Once home, he’ll benefit from vision rehab. But get this: Dr. Tom Morton–a GCC founding member who is also with Mark in Italy–has 25 years of experience doing vision rehab exactly of this nature. God is good. He’s been watching over Mark every step in this unforeseen journey. 

While Mark remains in the hospital as of today, we’re praying he’ll be able to fly home with Sheila and the rest of the group on Sunday as scheduled. 

Mark and Sheila covet your prayers for them and for their family. They feel God’s presence; they are aware of our love and intercession.

We can’t wait to gather together as a church family and do what we do every weekend—celebrate Jesus and take another step towards Him together.

-Mark Waltz, Executive Pastor

 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. – Jesus, John 14:27

Copyright © 2015 Granger Community Church, All rights reserved. 

Continue reading →

I receive multiple invitations each year to consult and train off-site with
other churches and conferences. I love partnering with other ministries who
want to improve their serve in embracing and connecting new people with
Christ and our local churches. My door is wide open – let’s talk!

However, my first responsibility is to my local church – Granger Community
Church – where I serve as executive pastor. Because Granger is my priority,
I must limit the number of invitations I accept to travel off-site. So the
window of opportunity to partner is limited.

That said, 2015 is just about maxed out. I’m stoked about some fresh
initiatives at GCC that are requiring my focus, time and energy! So, I am
opening a minimum number of opportunities… Continue reading →

I receive multiple invitations each year to consult and train off-site with
other churches and conferences. I love partnering with other ministries who
want to improve their serve in embracing and connecting new people with
Christ and our local churches. My door is wide open – let’s talk!

However, my first responsibility is to my local church – Granger Community
Church – where I serve as executive pastor. Because Granger is my priority,
I must limit the number of invitations I accept to travel off-site. So the
window of opportunity to partner is limited.

That said, 2015 is just about maxed out. I’m stoked about some fresh
initiatives at GCC that are requiring my focus, time and energy! So, I am
opening a minimum number of opportunities… Continue reading →

Today nearly a thousand of us gathered at the cross at Granger Community
Church. Worldwide, millions of Christ-followers will gather sometime today
around His cross. For centuries the cross has been a central icon for
worship. It has also been one of the most popular pieces of jewelry in the
world, worn by everyone from the Pope to pop stars. In 21st century America
it is a symbol, a charm, a relic with diverse, if any, meaning.

In its day, actually in it’s darkest night, it meant death. Brutal,
painful, humiliating death.

 So, today we paused to remember. And then life went on.

Between Good Friday service and Easter our lives go one. The mall is open.
The Krispy Kreme hot light is on. A bunch of us will eat dinner out. We’ll
go home tonight and turn the TV on. Between now and Easter, we’ll  Continue reading →

Today nearly a thousand of us gathered at the cross at Granger Community
Church. Worldwide, millions of Christ-followers will gather sometime today
around His cross. For centuries the cross has been a central icon for
worship. It has also been one of the most popular pieces of jewelry in the
world, worn by everyone from the Pope to pop stars. In 21st century America
it is a symbol, a charm, a relic with diverse, if any, meaning.

In its day, actually in it’s darkest night, it meant death. Brutal,
painful, humiliating death.

 So, today we paused to remember. And then life went on.

Between Good Friday service and Easter our lives go one. The mall is open.
The Krispy Kreme hot light is on. A bunch of us will eat dinner out. We’ll
go home tonight and turn the TV on. Between now and Easter, we’ll  Continue reading →

Not everyone wants to have their hand shaken. Churched people want
handshakes (unless there’s a flu epidemic, then no one wants a handshake);
people new to your church may only want a courteous “hello.”  Read the body
language of your guests to determine… Continue reading →