Largest Christian Newspaper in America • goodnewsfl.org • April 2024 • Volume 26, Issue 1
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We like to celebrate. Whether a birthday, a graduation, a marriage or a job promotion. Life is a long game if you’re lucky, and small or large victories, while traveling a long and winding road, are important means of motivation. So a curious question: Do we learn more from success or failure? Harvard Business Review: “We argue that success can breed failure by hindering learning at both the individual and the organizational level. We all know that learning from failure is one of the most important capacities for people and companies to develop.” So take heart all our brave and loved ministries. I’ve long maintained that we learn from mistakes and move on; don’t let it paralyze you. But, do you learn and move on, or do you recoil in retreat, feeling “what’s the use?” willing to fail and leave it right there? We plan for success but must also prepare to learn from setbacks, and that’s what I call the winner within. We know He wants you to get up and try harder, work smarter. “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matthew 25:21). Forbes Magazine: “Dealing with setbacks, obstacles, and failures is such a common human condition that we have courses on building resilience and on learning from our mistakes. There are many quotes from famous athletes, businesspeople, writers and other professionals about how they experienced numerous rejections yet learned from these disappointments, and eventually became successful. For example, Henry Ford said, “failure is simply the opportunity to begin again; this time more intelligently.” One of the more quotable quotes is by the basketball legend, Michael Jordan who said, “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games, and 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again. That is why I succeed.” Hill Street Blues, the wildly successful TV Show broadcast in the 1980’s, Actor Sergeant Phil Esterhaus's (Michael Conrad) peered into the camera lenses after giving out daily assignments and ended each morning’s roll call with the catchphrase, “Let’s be careful out there.” “Let’s be careful out there” is to be alert, be curious, always. The Good News likes to celebrate Him, The Good News also likes to celebrate you. We do life together; therefore, we celebrate together: milestones and anniversaries, realizing many challenges and disappointments take place, and it was loyalty and perseverance that kept things moving forward for His Glory. That’s important to remember: For His Glory. We generally use our pages, our covers, to celebrate, and this month we are thrilled to Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, and particularly the 10th Anniversary of Senior Pastor Doug Sauder. I encourage everyone to read this month’s cover feature by GN Editor Shelly Pond beginning on pages 18 - 21. The back story? This has been a Good News work in progress for many years, waiting for a milestone anniversary to bring it to our readers. Seemingly a cast of thousands span those forty years and has most likely touched the lives, either directly or indirectly, of most everyone in Southern Florida with outreaches around the globe. We hope you enjoy what God is doing through the glorious efforts in our churches and ministries, and I’ve said many times: we are honored to be part of the cheerleading squad to bring our partners and readers extraordinary efforts, well and faithfully executed. -Les PUBLISHER 6 APRIL 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition South Florida Edition • Good News • April 2024 • Volume 26, Issue 1 Advertising: We reach over 110,000 readers each month. 80,000 in print and 30,000 via our online digital edition. Placing an ad in our publication is affordable and effective to help grow your business. Call us today! Distribution: Available in more than 800 locations throughout South Florida. To become a free distribution point for the newspaper, please contact Shelly. The Good News is published by Good News Media Group, LLC, Reproduction in whole or part strictly forbidden without the consent of the publisher. Copyright 2024. All rights reserved. Good News Media Group, LLC. PO Box 670368, Coral Springs, FL 33067 954-564-5378 • www.goodnewsfl.org Publisher: Leslie J. Feldman [email protected] Editor: Shelly Pond [email protected] Advertising & Marketing: Robert “Buddy” Helland Jr. V.P. Sr. Marketing Manager [email protected] Art Director: Milton McPherson [email protected] Associate Art Director: Joseph Sammaritano [email protected] Social Media Manager: Ariel Feldman [email protected] Editorial Assistant: Eric Solomon [email protected] Cover Photography: Justus Martin [email protected] Leslie J. Feldman PERSPECTIVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 My Echo Chamber – by Stephan N. Tchividjian IN THE WORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Hope of the Resurrection – by Franklin Graham MARRIAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Pain Pursues Pleasure – by Lisa May YOU ASK WHY? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Let us go farther– by Dr. Tommy Boland HEART AND SOUL . . . . . . . . . . . .16 A Milestone of Servant Leadership at Palm Beach Atlantic University – by Dr. Debra Schwinn COVER STORY . . . . . . . . . . . .18 - 21 Pastor Doug Sauder: A Decade of Collaborative Leadership Leads Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale into its 40th Year – by Shelly Pond FOSTER CARE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 True Impact Happens Through Connection – by Kevin Enders THE CODE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Life is About Relationships – by Dr. O.S. Hawkins SUMMER CAMP GUIDE . .25 - 32 PARENTING . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34 How to Motivate a Child to Do Their Best – by Dr. Bob Barnes and Torrey Roberts LEGAL Q&A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 What to Do If You Owe Taxes: Don’t Panic. Do Act – by William “Bill” C. Davell and Tanya Bower GOOD NEWS WANTS TO KNOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 40 What is the strangest or most exotic thing you’ve ever eaten, and where were you at the time? WE GET LETTERS . . . . . . . . . . . . .42 COMMUNITY NEWS . . . . .44 - 50 CALENDAR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51 CLASSIFIEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52 - 55 Celebrate On The Cover Doug Sauder, lead pastor at Calvery Chapel Fort Lauderdale, prays with guests during an alter call at the close of church service. Having been installed as lead pastor 10 years ago, Pastor Doug Sauder’s collaborative leadership has fostered uncommon unity within South Florida’s church community and is strategically leading the megachurch into it’s 40th year. Read the full article on pages 18 – 21. Photo courtesy: Calvary Chapel CONTENTS Good News • April • Volume 26 Issue 1
PERSPECTIVE 8 APRIL 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition One of my favorite scenes from the hit movie, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” which debuted in the year 2000, is when the Grinch speaks with his echo. The scene opens with the Grinch speaking to his dog Max and reassuring himself that he is just fine being alone with his thoughts and doesn’t need anyone. He then proceeds to speak with his echo. Grinch: How are you? Echo: How are you, are you, you, you? Grinch: I asked you first! Echo: I asked you first, you first, first, first! Grinch: [sarcastically] Oh right, that's really mature, saying exactly what I say! Echo: Really mature, mature saying exactly what I say, I say, I say, say! Grinch: [thinks for a second] I'm an idiot! Echo: YOU'RE AN IDIOT, YOU'RE AN IDIOT, YOU'RE AN IDIOT, AN IDIOT, AN IDIOT, IDIOT! Grinch: [gruffly whispering] All right, fine. I'm not talking to you anymore. In fact, I'm going to whisper, so that by the time my voice reverberates off the walls and it gets back to me, I won't be able to hear it. [covers his ears] Echo: [after a brief silence] YOU'RE AN IDIOT, YOU'RE AN IDIOT, YOU'RE AN IDIOT, AN IDIOT, AN IDIOT, IDIOT! I chuckle every time I see that scene because of its obvious humor but also because I think it’s a reflection of the conversations I often have with myself. The term, “echo chamber” is used often today, referencing the notion that the only people we speak with or surround ourselves with are people who mimic our own words and/or ideas. Therefore, we intentionally or unintentionally are surrounded with ideas, words, perspectives and opinions that we agree with and/or accept. Those that have different ideas are easily cancelled and dismissed. I laugh at the scene in the movie because though we believe we are hearing the Grinch’s echo in the dialogue, the “echo” eventually reveals its own opinion, no longer mimicking The Grinch. Am I living in an echo chamber? I wonder how much of my life is in an echo chamber. I think about the fact that most of the people that I engage with are very similar to me in so many ways. We generally share the same values, perspectives, lifestyle, habits, routines and forms of entertainment. I live in a world where many of the people I engage with are getting their information from similar sources such as the same books, television shows, news feeds, podcasts and influencers. Therefore, I ask myself if I am living in that “echo chamber” that is being talked about? How comfortable am I with diversity? How intentional am I about seeking out diverse people, ideas, perspectives, worldviews, cultures etc.? I know that I have been in situations where my viewpoint, lifestyle and faith were a minority, and honestly, I didn’t like it; I felt out of place and uncomfortable. I believe that it’s in my nature to want to be comfortable and in familiar territory, which usually makes me feel good about myself, like I am on the “winning” side. I tend to shut down, isolate or grow distant if I find myself in unfamiliar waters, quick to scurry back to my familiar world. Perhaps that’s ok and I am overthinking this, or is there something that God is nudging me on? Did Jesus live in an echo chamber? I know that when I find myself being provoked, meaning that my perspective is being challenged, it’s important to respond according to my primary calling, that of a follower of Jesus. Therefore, I study His response and rhythm in such situations. Did Jesus live in an “echo chamber”? I start by looking at who Jesus surrounded Himself with. I don’t want to oversimplify, but I see generally four groups of people. The first was His Heavenly family (God the Father and the angels), second was His earthly family and friends (his biological family, the disciples and close friends), third there were the crowds that followed Him (the masses, those He healed, those in the audience) and lastly there were His adversaries (some of the religious leaders, Roman culture and doubters). Looking at how He engaged with such diverse groups triggers my curiosity. I am intrigued by the intentionality of Jesus’ desire to seek diversity in all that He did. Jesus welcomed diversity, engaged with diversity, sought out diversity and yet walked the line of never compromising His beliefs and tenets but also never having to compromise His calling, to reflect The Father. My primary calling as a follow of Christ is to represent Him, in all that I do… to mimic Him. I am His ambassador. For example, the disciples that Jesus intentionally selected were very diverse. He invited political players from both sides of the isle, entrepreneurs, introverts, extroverts, activists and passivists, wealthy and not so wealthy, married and single, and the occasional con artist. I can only imagine the conversations around the fire while eating Tilapia and pita bread on the shores of Galilee. Therefore, in a season of such division, angst, anger, violence, deception and immorality, I find myself being challenged as a Christian to be more intentional, more curious and more effective in my primary calling. I must seek out civil conversations with people that vote differently than I, live differently than I, think differently than I and believe differently than I. I need to learn to be more curious. I sometimes engage for the purpose to convince rather than engage for the purpose of listening. I realize that when I speak less, listen more and temper my emotions, I learn much and do a much better job mimicking Jesus. My testimony is much more reflective of the Fruit of the Spirit and much less the fruit of Stephan. So, I am challenged to move out of my cave and spend less time listening to my echo and much more time listening to the very people He has placed into my life. I don’t want to be an idiot living in a cave listening to my own voice, God’s called me to so much more than that… that…that…that. Stephan N. Tchividjian is the CEO and co-founder of the National Christian Foundation South Florida. Visit southflorida.ncfgiving.com to learn more. - Stephan Tchividjian - CEO and Co-Founder, National Christian Foundation South Florida My Echo Chamber
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10 APRIL 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition IN THE WORD It was my privilege to be in Israel recently to film a special Easter message from Jerusalem, where our Lord was crucified. Standing in front of Joseph of Arimathea’s rock-hewn tomb, I gave the Gospel invitation to trust in the risen Savior whom God raised from the dead so that all who believe in Him can receive the gift of eternal life. In our troubled world, where there is so much confusion, chaos and calamity, the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is our only sure and certain hope. Every other hope is vain, every other hope is futile, every other hope falls far short of meeting our deepest and most pressing needs. At Easter, we celebrated His resurrection, but can you imagine the overwhelming despair Jesus’ followers felt 2,000 years ago, after His brutal death on the cross? How hopeless they must have felt — until the dawn of His resurrection! Maybe you’re feeling some of that hopelessness. You don’t know what to do, and your life is a mess. It just seems like it’s not worth living. Well, I want you to know that there is hope, and that hope is found in Jesus Christ, God’s Son, who took your sins to the cross. Christ came for a purpose, and that was to save us from our sins. Jesus Christ came on a rescue mission to take our sins and to shed His blood, to die on the cross. He was buried for our sins. And on the third day, God raised His Son to life. And if you’re willing to accept this truth and surrender your life to the Lord, He will change you, cleanse you, forgive you and give you a new beginning. This is the hope of Easter. Jesus is not dead. He’s alive! You can go all over the world and find great philosophers and so-called religious leaders. And you can go to their tombs and visit their graves and see their bones. But you can’t find the bones of the Lord Jesus Christ, because there aren’t any. His tomb is empty! He’s alive, and He will come into the hearts of all who are willing to confess their sin, turn from it in repentance and believe on His Name. Because of the resurrection power of our Lord, believers can be certain that their sins are eternally forgiven. God, the just Judge, has carried out the penalty for sin—death—on His own sinless Son so that we can be reconciled to Him through believing on and receiving the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior. God’s wrath against sin was poured out at Calvary so that sinful man can stand before a Holy God without condemnation or fear. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1). “And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!” (1 Corinthians 15:17). Because of the resurrection of Christ, those of us who are in Christ can be assured that we too will be raised one day. “But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). That means that you and I are guaranteed to be raised from the grave, since Christ was the first, the prototype of all believers of every age to come. In fact, the Scripture says that when we were born again, God “raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). Amazingly, somehow, we are now in union with the risen Christ. He is our very life. “For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:3). Because Christ has been raised from the dead, you can be sure you will one day see your saved loved ones who have already passed into His presence. Writing to the Thessalonians, who were concerned about what happened to the souls of their loved ones, the Apostle Paul wrote: “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14). Because Christ has been raised from the dead, we can be sure that He will return one day soon, and His believers will have glorified bodies to go along with their redeemed souls. “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself” (Philippians 3:20-21). We don’t know what that will look like, just as a full grown plant doesn’t look like the seed from which it came, but it will be more amazing than we can possibly imagine. When our resurrected Lord does return, He will not come as a suffering Savior, but as King of kings; not as a lamb, but as the Lion of Judah, to pour out His wrath on those who have rejected and scorned Him, and to welcome all whose names have been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. There will be a new Heaven and a new Earth, with no death, no tears, no pain, no sin. And most wonderfully, we have our Risen Lord’s mighty presence day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute. He is with us always (Matthew 28:20). He is interceding for us when we don’t even know how to pray (Hebrews 7:25). He is our Advocate before the Heavenly Father when we sin (1 John 2:1). Christ is risen! Praise His Name! ©2024 BGEA Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New King James Version. Decision magazine, March 2024; ©2024 Billy Graham Evangelistic Association; used by permission, all rights reserved. - Franklin Graham - President and CEO Samaritan’s Purse and Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Franklin Graham: The Hope of the Resurrection You can’t find the bones of the Lord Jesus Christ, because there aren’t any. His tomb is empty! He’s alive. —Franklin Graham. ” “
MARRIAGE 12 APRIL 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition We all have emotional needs, and when our emotional needs are met, we feel loved. When our needs go unmet, we feel pain. When we feel pain, we pursue pleasure, and often our pursuit of pleasure takes us to places that ultimately bring us back to pain. Question: If you’re hungry and you eat rat poison, will you still be hungry? Answer: No, your stomach is full whether with rat poison or steak. You experience a sense of pleasure because of the chemical dopamine. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter released in the brain, giving us a sense of pleasure. So, if you eat rat poison because you’re hungry and your stomach is full, dopamine is released even though the rat poison will kill you. The same is true in other scenarios. We need and want our sexual desires met. Sexual desires can be met with my spouse, or I can go to another form of rat poison such as pornography and still experience the sense of pleasure that dopamine provides. Dopamine has no morality. So, the question begs: What relational needs give me pleasure, and where do I go (poison) when those needs aren’t met? Is it gambling, alcohol, food, sexual addiction, drugs, or my smartphone and computer? Everyone has a threshold of pain. The point to remember is “Pain Always Pursues Pleasure.” When our needs are unmet, we feel pain; when our needs are met, we feel loved. The goal is to guard your heart, spouse and marriage by being INTENTIONAL about meeting the relational needs of your spouse. Meet the need Some will say that they should meet their own needs or only God can meet all of our needs. Still, if we explore the Scriptures, we’ll discover that He often instructs and chooses to involve others in fulfilling our physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual needs. Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus,” but, in verse 14, Paul says, ”Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles.” Renowned psychologist with Intimate Life Ministries, David Ferguson, has outlined ten primary emotional needs noted in the Scriptures. • Acceptance – Receiving another person willingly and unconditionally, especially when the other’s behavior has been imperfect; being willing to continue loving another despite offenses. “Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, to bring praise to God” (Romans 15:7). • Affection – Expressing care and closeness through physical touch, carefully respecting the other person’s boundaries; saying “I love you.” “Greet one another with a holy kiss” (Romans 16:16). “And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them” (Mark 10:16). • Appreciation – Expressing thanks, praise, or commendation. Recognizing accomplishment or effort. “I praise you for remembering me in everything and holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you” (I Corinthians 11:2). • Approval – (Blessing) Building up or affirming another; affirming both the fact of and the importance of a relationship. “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what helps build others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29). • Attention – Conveying appropriate interest, concern and care; taking thought of another; entering another’s “world. “ “There should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other” (I Corinthians 12:2). • Comfort – Responding to a hurting person with words, feelings and touch; to hurt with and for another’s grief or pain. “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15). “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles to comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we receive from God” (II Corinthians 1:3-4). • Encouragement – Urging another to persist and persevere toward a goal, stimulating toward love and good deeds. “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as you are doing” (I Thessalonians 5:11). • Respect – Valuing and regarding another highly; treating another as important; honoring another. “For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him” (Romans 12:10). • Security – (Peace) Harmony in relationships; freedom from fear or threat of harm. “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position.[a] Do not be conceited” (Romans 12:16). • Support – Coming alongside and gently helping with a problem or struggle; providing appropriate assistance. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). We all experience all of the above needs at some point, but generally we have 23 needs that are priority needs. I encourage you to evaluate and assess your top three needs and then ask your spouse to do the same. Share your priority needs, and then share how you’d like those needs to be met. For example, a need for support might be fulfilled by asking for help with the dishes. A need for affection might be: hold my hand when we’re in public. Remember, when our needs are met, we feel loved. If you have a story to share or questions to ask, or if you're interested in participating in one of our classes, please email [email protected] or visit our website, LivetheLifeSoFlo.org. Need a weekly refresh of what you can do to enhance your marriage and family relationships? Enroll in our Marriage and Family Monday Minute. - Lisa May - Executive Director, Live the Life South Florida Pain Pursues Pleasure
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14 APRIL 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition YOU ASK WHY Let Us Go Farther! “Immediately he made his disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, to Bethsaida, while he dismissed the crowd. And after he had taken leave of them, he went up on the mountain to pray. And when evening came, the boat was out on the sea, and he was alone on the land. And he saw that they were making headway painfully, for the wind was against them. And about the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. He meant to pass by them, but when they saw him walking on the sea they thought it was a ghost, and cried out, for they all saw him and were terrified. But immediately he spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’ And he got into the boat with them, and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded . . .” (Mark 6:45-52 ESV). He meant to pass by them My focus in this passage is on verse 48, which I highlighted above: “He meant to pass by them.” The notes in the superb ESV Study Bible point out that Jesus’ desire to “pass by them” was NOT so that the disciples would fail to see Him; if that had been His intent, He simply would have stayed farther away from their boat. No, He meant for the disciples to see Him pass by, walking on the water, thus giving indisputable evidence of His deity. Not long before, Jesus had exercised His sovereign control over the elements by stilling a furious storm on the Sea of Galilee with just three words: “Peace! Be still!” And the disciples, who mere moments before had been terrified of the storm, were now even more afraid of the One who had ordered the waves to be still! They said to each other, “Who then is this, that even wind and sea obey him?” (Mark 4:35-41). When Jesus was planning to “pass by them” in Mark 6:48, he was going to answer their anxious question. He was going to give them vivid, unforgettable evidence that Jesus Christ is Lord of all, the One described in Job 9:8 and 11 -- “He alone stretches out the heavens and treads on the waves of the sea. . . . When he passes me, I cannot see him; when he goes by, I cannot perceive him.” The disciples couldn’t perceive it. They saw Jesus treading on the waves of the sea, but they thought He was a ghost, and they were terrified. And yet how gracious is our Lord? “Immediately,” we read, “he spoke to them and said, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.’” As soon as He sensed that His friends were in fear, He spoke kindly to them. The living Word, who had spoken sun, moon, and stars into existence, the One who “fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark” (Job 36:32), laid aside all the splendor of heaven to come to earth and die for you and for me. He looks at us with love and compassion and says, “Take heart. Do not be afraid. Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Have you taken Him up on His gracious offer? He would have gone farther I have one last thought, which may at first seem unrelated; it is the account of the resurrected Jesus joining the two dejected disciples on the road to Emmaus and holding what must have been the most awesome Bible study ever: “Beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (Luke 24:27 NKJV), But then in the very next verse we read, “They drew near to the village where they were going, and He indicated that He would have gone farther” (Luke 24:28 NKJV, emphasis added). How often do you and I behave just like the disciples in the boat and on the road? Jesus wanted to show the disciples in the boat His glory, but they recoiled in fear, so He met them at their point of need . . . and they missed something spectacular. Jesus indicated to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus that He would have gone farther; He would have shown them even deeper revelations in the Scriptures, but they wanted to stop and rest and eat. And so, as we know, He graciously went in to eat with them and opened their eyes to see Who He really was . . . then He vanished. “They said to one another, ‘Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?’” (Luke 24:32 NKJV). How often does Jesus want to show me His glory . . . but I’m afraid of what the cost of discipleship may be? How often does He want to take me deeper into the Scriptures . . . but I hit the snooze button and miss precious time with Him in the Word and in prayer? Or perhaps I close up my Bible and settle back on the couch to have a snack and watch TV? Jesus has given us His Spirit to reveal Himself to us. He said in John 16:1415, “All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.” He has indicated to us that He is willing to go farther. Are we willing to go with Him? Or are we still sleeping and resting, like the disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane? Do we really want to see His glory? Or are we unwilling to expend the effort it might take to go farther with Him? Are we reluctant to let go of the things of this world? Are we fearful of what people might think or say about us? Please, Lord, may that not be said of us! I pray that You will create a hunger in me and in everyone reading these words to go farther with You . . . to heed the exhortation of Hosea 6:3 – “Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth.” This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN! - Dr. Tommy Boland - Pastor, Cross Community Church
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HEART AND SOUL 16 APRIL 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition This April, Palm Beach Atlantic University (PBA) marks a pivotal moment in our institution's history – the achievement of four million service hours through our distinguished Workship program. It would seem almost as if it were by divine design that we mark this milestone in the same month we celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Week across the U.S.—how symbolic! The concept of Workship Founded in 1968 by Dr. Jess Moody and his wife, Doris, Workship has been a pillar of our curricula at PBA, connecting the act of worship with the commitment to serve. The program mandates each undergraduate to dedicate at least 45 hours annually to volunteer efforts, fostering an environment where giving back is not an option but a way of life, with many of our students surpassing the annual requirements. Our students have and continue to touch lives locally and globally, even after leaving PBA. From tutoring young learners and aiding hurricane recovery efforts to engaging with inner-city youth, meal packing and supporting healthcare initiatives, they have led the way in service that has allowed us to collaborate with over 200 organizations across Palm Beach County and beyond. As we reflect on this legacy, we are humbled and blessed to know that the ethos of servant leadership has been embedded in the hearts of our students — shaping them into compassionate leaders. We recently honored Bailey Hughes, a PBA alumna who graduated in 2013 and epitomizes the transformative power of Workship. After graduating, Hughes got married, and she and her husband found themselves drawn to foster care and adoption. Soon after obtaining their foster care license, their house became a revolving door of sorts. Over five years, they fostered 23 children – four of whom they adopted. Her journey from a curious newcomer to PBA from Iowa to a devoted advocate for foster care and adoption underscores the profound personal and societal impact of engaging in meaningful service, which she learned at PBA. Cash Lambert is a 2014 alumnus who, after volunteering through Workship with a group called Surfers for Autism, learned about the therapeutic approach of surfing for children with special needs. Honing what he has learned, Cash is now an established author. In 2019, he wrote his first book, "Waves of Healing," which was published internationally. Cash recently wrote a sequel to that book on the therapeutic benefits for a wide range of people. A culture of servant leadership What is also impactful is that our students don’t wait until they leave PBA to practice servant leadership. This is reflected in the remarkable efforts of AnnaMae and Claire Predtechenskis. AnnaMae and Claire, nursing students at PBA, are providing care and sanctuary for a non-verbal and autistic young woman from Israel who needed a safe haven from war, illustrate the boundless potential of servant leadership to cross borders and change lives. These stories, and countless others, demonstrate the impact that each of us can have on our community. These are critical principles that we emulate for our students, who are the future leaders of our community and the world. Even as we celebrate this significant achievement, it is crucial to remember that our work does not end here. The essence of servant leadership, as exemplified by Jesus Christ, calls us to continually seek ways to respond to the needs around us with empathy, action and humility. This commitment to doing more is what drives PBA forward. As we mark this milestone, we renew our dedication to fostering a culture of service that transcends the boundaries of our university and reaches into the heart of humanity. Our journey of service is an ongoing testament to our faith, a reflection of our values and a bridge to a future where every member of the PBA community is a beacon of hope and a catalyst for positive change. Together, we can embody the change we wish to see in the world. To celebrate this milestone of Workship reaching 4 million hours served, please join us for a special chapel service on Wednesday, April 10 at 11 a.m. at Family Church Downtown. We would love to see you there. Dr. Debra A. Schwinn, a physician, researcher and innovator, is president of Palm Beach Atlantic University. (www.pba.edu) - Dr. Debra A. Schwinn - Palm Beach Atlantic University President A Milestone of Servant Leadership at Palm Beach Atlantic University PBA student Jabari Aljoe carries a box during a Workship meal packing event in Lake Worth Beach on September 16, 2023.
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COVER STORY 18 APRIL 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Pastor Doug Sauder A Decade of Collaborative Leadership Leads Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale into its 40th Year Shelly Pond Good News Editor Described as a strong, humble, collaborative leader and gifted communicator by his peers, Doug Sauder, lead pastor of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, appears gentle as a dove when he addresses one of Florida’s largest congregations on the weekends, but those who know him best portray a fierce competitor on the basketball court and a man of deep courage when it comes to fighting for the vulnerable. While these traits may seem contradictory, Sauder explained, “One of my favorite verses is Matthew 11:12, ‘From the days of John the Baptist till now, the Kingdom of God has been forcefully advancing.’ This describes the holy ambition to be part of God’s kingdom that is not for the faint of heart. It’s an invitation to take all of that God-given passion toward building something hard in the Kingdom of God, but don’t make it about you and don’t make it about winning the way you think winning looks.” Sauder first came on staff at Calvary Chapel in 2000 and was installed as lead pastor at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale during a difficult time of transition in 2014 after the founding pastor resigned due to moral failure. Since then, he has served as a stabilizing force at Calvary and taken an active role in Church United, a movement of over 200 churches in South Florida uniting for the sake of mission. Now approaching its 40th year of ministry as a church, Calvary Chapel is growing again under Sauder’s leadership with an average of over 18,000 in weekly attendance at 10 regional campuses as well as online and virtual reality services. Located on a 72-acre property on Cypress Creek Road in Fort Lauderdale, the church is also home to Calvary Christian Academy (CCA), now the largest Christian day school in the United States, and supports multiple ministries, serving the needs of vulnerable populations such as kids in crisis (4KIDS), at-risk mothers and children (EMA), those experiencing homelessness (Hope South Florida), those battling addiction (Calvary House), the prison population (Lifestyles) and more. They have helped plant four independent churches in our community over the past 10 years (Solus Church, The Exchange Church, Brookstone Community Church and Calvary Chapel North Miami). Globally, they have also established 43 international church plants, in addition to supporting 80 missionaries with ongoing global missions and ministries in 26 countries. Uncommon unity However, Pastor Doug said, “As I reflect on the past ten years, one of my favorite things has been the level of connection that has happened in our city, and I think it came out of the brokenness … it really brought us all together. A decade of uncommon unity and fruitfulness came out of brokenness, and to me that’s the best part of the story.” Having initially reached out to Pastor Doug to offer him support ten years ago, Todd Mullins, lead pastor at Christ Fellowship, said, “When you consider how he had to step into that situation to lead people and keep their eyes focused on Jesus, focused on the hope of Christ alone, not on a man, that takes both courage and compassion. And when I think about it, his leadership wasn't just for Calvary Pastor Doug Sauder addresses guests during an alter call. Credit: Calvary Chapel
r t g s , d r - - s - d e e , w n e y COVER STORY 19 APRIL 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition Chapel, it was for the body of Christ… It's remarkable that under his leadership Calvary Chapel has been used to reach across denominational lines, to reach across socioeconomic lines, beyond racial lines, beyond political lines to unite the Church of Jesus Christ… And this impacts our community because where there's unity the Lord commands a blessing.” Pastor Bill Mitchell, of Boca Raton Community Church, agreed. “I think what Doug and Suzanne brought to the setting was a raised bar of character – that’s saying your family matters, your personal integrity matters, how you treat people matters - and his ability, with his humility, to build coalitions or collegial settings is one of his greatest strengths.” A heart for vulnerable children Before being appointed lead pastor, Sauder helped form 4KIDS in 2000 leading the organization as president until 2014 while also serving as family pastor. As a former educator, youth pastor and foster parent, he is a passionate advocate for kids in crisis. He and Suzanne Sauder, his wife of 31 years, have four sons. Their first son, Jordan, passed away due to a genetic disorder at nine months old. They welcomed Jackson through private adoption, had a biological son, Kaden, and ultimately adopted their youngest son, Kennedy, through foster care. Affectionately calling them his “sons of thunder,” Pastor Doug is quick to say, “We are so blessed to have them! “Foster care and adoption is the greatest way that I see how God loves me. Ephesians 1 says God adopted me. It was His pleasure and His will, which means he wanted to adopt me, and it brought him great joy. In living and being a foster or adoptive parent, you get a window into the heart of God, so it’s not just a verse you read, it’s an experience you have with your family and with God. So my DNA is always driven that way. So if we could only do one thing at Calvary, we’re going to help vulnerable children.” Getting to know Doug Sauder through 4KIDS, Tom Hendriske, lead pastor at Rio Vista Church, said he knew Doug was the right man to lead Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale. “I saw his humility, his integrity, his faith - he is a tremendous communicator - but his greatest gift is the gift of leadership. Perhaps from his experience at 4KIDS, Doug understood that to really capture the foster care issue for Jesus, we need more than Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, we need the church in South Florida, and so he came to the lead pastor position with the mindset of “we're better together,” and he's done a beautiful job.” Robey Barnes, lead pastor at CityRev Church in Pembroke Pines, said “God has used Doug's leadership, and others, in a key way to shift the landscape of the South Florida Church. When he stepped in, there was a season of real brokenness, hurt and concern in the Church across South Florida. Doug stepped into a very difficult space and brought true godly strength, humility and wisdom that not only stabilized an essential church in our region, but then leveraged that platform to bring unity among churches in South Florida… And Suzanne can't be left out of the equation because she has been a warrior fighting alongside her husband for the Kingdom of God, for truth and for justice.” Katy Mills, executive director of communications and engagement at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, said, “I met Doug in his 30ies, so he was ready to run into the mess of anything God called him to run towards with a fierce conviction, and one of our favorite sayings in ministry here has been, ‘the revolution is still on!’ I still see that in him every day, even in very hard situations or challenging moments. There’s still this commitment to the mission that’s unwavering, so I think he hasn’t changed that much.” However, the role has not come without challenges. Asked how taking on the role of lead pastor has impacted him and his family, Sauder said, “I think in leadership and life the burden and the blessing go up in weight together. We’ve gotten to see incredible blessings. That part is exhilarating. When I get home on Sunday, my wife asks what was your favorite part of the weekend, and it’s always [during the altar call] when people come forward with tears in their eyes and you know their whole life is going to change. I get to watch life change in a scope I hadn’t seen before. In the same way the burden also increases - the burden of decisions, the burden of brokenness. There is so much at Calvary with the school, the church, and Calvary House. On a weekly basis you’re dealing with death, divorce, overdose and all the disappointments and burdens and pressures. They also go Calvary Chapel’s 72-acre Fort Lauderdale campus, located at 2401 W. Cypress Creek Rd. Credit: Calvary Chapel (Contunued on page 20)
COVER STORY 20 APRIL 2024 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition up exponentially, so you have to learn to carry that weight, and I don’t think anyone is prepared for it… so we feel the burden, and we try to release it to God and have our team carry it with us.” Suzanne Sauder, agreed that as the lead pastor’s wife, she didn't expect the burdens to be so great, “but I think the biggest surprise was that still the joy outweighs the burden, and I'm so thankful for that.” And when it comes to her husband, Suzanne describes Doug as an oak tree, saying, “he's not shaken or uprooted easily, and that has really helped.” Rest and refreshment Because of the pressure on pastors, burnout tends to be high. It can also have a detrimental effect on their marriages and family, so Calvary Chapel has instituted a policy that would allow pastors and ministry leaders to take a sabbatical after seven years or more as a time of rest and refreshment determined on a case-by-case basis. Pastor Doug and Suzanne took a sabbatical during the three months of summer last year, and Sauder said it helped him “get his awe back,” specifically the awe of Creation and the awe of God’s sovereignty in his life. Sauder acknowledged the move as a preventative measure. “We know what we went through 10 years ago, and we don’t want to go through that again, here or with any of our campuses or leaders.” “Before I went on sabbatical I was not feeling deeply anymore. You’re going from wedding to funeral to counseling session to a critical email to people clapping, you’re the best, you’re the worst, this range of emotions. You’re absorbing all this stuff, and if you’re not careful, you can lose your way. So just being able to rest and unload all those things, that was great! We came back so ready for the next decade or however long God has for us.” For Suzanne, the sabbatical was an opportunity for them to do some hiking in the mountains, which is where she feels refreshed. And she said, “it just awakened our souls again. It was great for our marriage. It refreshed our body, soul and spirit, and rekindled our imagination. But I think the biggest thing is that we could feel again.” While Sauder said the sabbatical was not about seeking anything specific from God, rather refreshing and reconnecting as husband and wife, the message he received from God is, “You’re not in control and that’s a really good thing." Sauder said it also caused him to reflect on how he can be more of a spiritual father to people instead of just an organizational leader. Taking the lead Calvary Chapel is clearly a leader in the region, exerting a tremendous amount of resources, both people and finances, on what Sauder calls Kingdom infrastructure in the city. “We’re always asking how we can move the gospel forward with new church plants and through nonprofit ministries that focus on mercy and justice.” For example, Calvary Chapel helped form 4KIDS more than 25 years ago then watched it become an independent ministry which now has offices in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Okeechobee, Indian River, Hendry, Lee, Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties. They’ve also launched Calvary House, a year-long residential addiction recovery program, currently serving 45 men and 12 women. And they’ve recently taken an integral role at Hope South Florida, a ministry to those experiencing homelessness, which started as Shepherd’s Way in 1995 and evolved into what is now called Hope South Florida in 2010. They’ve partnered with churches in Hollywood and North Miami to bring Christian education into other areas by opening new CCA campuses. They also provide coaching for nonprofit leaders, to help raise the waterline for everyone. “We’re stewarding our people, stewarding our property and our resources, and we’re also doing our best to steward our influence,” said Sauder. The Bible calls it favor and I’ve watched churches in this city, larger churches like us, say if we’ve created it and you can use it, great! The most openhanded churches that support other churches and help others out are the ones God blesses. God’s saying, I will fill the open hand. The more you sow seeds, the more there will be an abundant harvest that will cause many people to give thanks to God. When given the opportunity, we try to do this as much as we can.” What is their current priority? Calvary’s mission is to make disciples. “The best way we can do that is to plant churches and develop leaders, so we have an emphasis in Christian education,” said Sauder. “We’re dreaming about what it would be like to have more Christian schools all throughout South Florida so more kids could be discipled. We’re not trying to take over the state or the country. We’re focused on the tricounty area. There are 7 million people in this region where we have influence, so we want to pour our time and energy into this. So our mission statement is, reaching our community, changing our world. “We use the acronym ARM. We Advocate for the vulnerable. We Raise up the next generation, and we Mobilize missional leaders. Those three things are what we’re focused on.” Advocate for the vulnerable is about getting people back on their feet. It’s Hope South Florida for the poorest families in our community, Every Mother’s Advocate (EMA) to help prevent family separation and empower moms, 4KIDS for hope, homes and healing around the foster care system, Calvary House for drug and alcohol recovery. “We also have a ministry called Lifestyles with a full-time employee that goes into the women’s jail and invites people into discipleship programs when they are released. And we’re looking for how to get other churches to come along. How do we do this together?” Raise up the next generation is Calvary Christian Academy (CCA), kids and youth ministry and college ministry. “We’re looking at college campuses, asking how we reach FAU, Broward College. How do we partner with ministries like Fellowship of Christian Athletes at the university level and with the churches that are closest to those college campuses?” said Sauder. Mobilizing Missional Leaders is getting regular people to think about how they can be trained to share the gospel with people and live a life of purpose. In keeping with that, Calvary Chapel founded Ocean’s Edge School, 18 years ago, to raise up a generation of worship leaders. It’s now turned into a residency program and will branch out in the fall to include 10-month certificate programs in both ministry leadership and worship, including song writing, performance and music production where students will be discipled well. As Calvary looks forward, Sauder said, “the thing I think about now is, as we take ground for the kingdom through church plants, Christian education and outreaches, the biggest issue we have is not property or money, it’s leaders. If you don’t have the right leaders, everything we’re building falls apart. It might look great, but if you lose your way, if you lose that white hot passion to share the gospel, it falls apart. So, my big focus for the next decade is about building people!” Calvary Christian Academy CCA plays a large role in developing the next generation of missional leaders. Opened on September 5, 2000, with 450 students in kindergarten through 6th gf 3i c o 1t Ti l p a F H i a R c F L G c t The Sauder Family - Megan, Kaden, Suzanne, Doug, Kennedy, Jackson Credit: Justus Martin Photography (Contunued from page 19)
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