Midweek Check-in (Aug. 12, 2026)

Good afternoon, church family!

The school year begins this week and let me tell you how it will start for 371 students: they won’t have to worry about where they’ll get a backpack and school supplies this year.

You, church family, made that happen. You donated supplies. You donated additional funds to purchase more supplies (and additional snacks for the classrooms!). Then you donated your time and energy.

This past Sunday the church stuck around after the morning worship service and filled 371 backpacks with school supplies that will go directly to students in need. Then, after each backpack was filled, the best work of all began.

Each full backpack was carried to the altar at the front of the sanctuary and prayed over. We asked the Lord that the recipient of that specific backpack and those school supplies would be blessed and enjoy an environment of learning this school year. Then we dropped a card in the backpack with a simple message: “I prayed for you today.”

Then we did it again. And again. And again.

Thank you so much to those of you who participated and made sure each backpack was ready for a kid who needs it.

As a pastor, I love being a part of a church that blesses the surrounding community.

As a father, it was such a joy to walk with my 4-year-old as she took this assignment seriously. I just held the bags while she dutifully filled them with the right amount of school supplies. She even led the prayer at the altar and drew a heart on the card.

On Monday morning a great team of volunteers delivered those backpacks to three area schools.

We don’t do this event (and others) to feel good about ourselves. We do it for two reasons: First, the need is great, and we want to be a part of the solution to the brokenness of this world. Second, God calls us to do good things. So we do good things.

“We are God’s accomplishment, created in Christ Jesus to do good things. God planned for these good things to be the way that we live our lives.”

-Ephesians 2:10

Well done, church family! Now let’s keep praying for the students and educators as they enter a new school year.

Your pastor,

Billy Byler

MEN’S BREAKFAST: All men are invited to a breakfast this Saturday (Aug. 15) at 7:30 a.m. at the church. We’ll hear from a special guest speaker and enjoy biscuits and gravy, pancakes and scrambled eggs! Bring your appetite and bring a friend!

BED-BUILDING EVENT: Here’s another way we can be a blessing to the surrounding community: Last night 391 kids in Sedgwick County went to sleep without a bed of their own. We want to do something about that. Join us on Saturday, Sept. 5 when we’ll meet in our parking lot to build beds for kids in Wichita who don’t have a bed of their own. Breakfast starts at 8 a.m. and lunch will be provided when we’re done. We’ll have all the plans and tools necessary to get the job done. We just need people willing to help! All ages and ability levels are welcome.

BAPTISM SUNDAY: Our next Baptism Sunday is on September 20. If you would like to learn more about baptism or sign up to be baptized, please contact Pastor Billy.

CHURCH ANNOUNCEMENT: This past Sunday we shared with the congregation that Pastor Nate Boone submitted his letter of resignation as worship pastor at Woodland Lakes Community Church. Pastor Nate and his wife, Jessica, have served this church faithfully for the past six years, and God is calling them to a new ministry assignment. We are excited for this next chapter in Pastor Nate’s ministry, but we will miss them greatly. Thankfully, we do have time to say goodbye. Pastor Nate and Jessica will be with us through the month of August, and we will send them off with a farewell reception on their last Sunday, Aug. 30, after the morning worship service. In the coming weeks we’ll share more details about the reception and our plans for the worship leader position moving forward. For now please be in prayer for Pastor Nate and Jessica as they prepare for this new ministry and for our church as we seek a new worship leader. Thank you!

PRAYER: I’d like to know how I can best pray for you. We have a way to submit prayer requests online anytime day or night, which will help me join you in prayer.

JUST FOR FUN: Hey, you read Pastor Billy's midweek check-in all the way to the end! As a reward, check out these crazy stories I came across recently:

·       Do you like hotdogs? Would you eat a $100 hotdog that’s covered in caviar and 24-karat edible gold flakes?

·       How good are you at mowing the lawn? Prove your skill with this lawn mowing test.

·       A police officer dressed up as shrubbery caught 74 people texting while driving in just six hours.