The Hub Magazine Issue 4

An Update on Beyond Belief

by Mark Ashton

A NEW IDENTITY Identical Twins Discover Who They Are in Christ CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH

View the CCC Calendar of Events on the last page FEBRUARY–MARCH / 2018 / ISSUE 4

S U N D AY MORNING SERVICES 404 S 108 Ave / Omaha 68154 402.330.3360 / cccomaha.org TRADITIONS 8:30 AM / Gym Timeless hymns and songs of faith led by a spirited choir and orchestra TRADITIONS 10 AM / Chapel A smaller, more intimate version of the Traditions service led by Steve Yost and the Traditions team ACCESS 10 & 11:30 AM / Gym Engaging band-led worship evokes a reflective, powerful worship experience in a relaxed atmosphere ONLINE 8:30, 10 & 11:30 AM cccomaha.tv The 8:30 AM Traditions service and the 10 & 11:30 AM Access services are streamed live online every Sunday

FEBRUARY–MARCH / 2018 / ISSUE 4

Publisher | CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH Editor | JONATHAN NORTON Art Director | JONATHAN NORTON Copy Editor | RACHEL BEBEE and JOE JENSEN Graphic Designer | MARIE DUFOUR Contributing Writers: Jonathan Norton, Alex Ehly, Mark Ashton, Craig Walter Contributing Photographers: Kristin Polking Photography, Jessica Logue, Scott Webb, Felix Russell-Saw, Cagatay Orhan, Ian Willsey THE HUB MAGAZINE 404 S 108 Ave | Omaha, NE 68154 402.330.3360 | hub@cccomaha.org cccomaha.org/hub | cccomaha.org

The Hub Magazine is published every two months

by Christ Community Church. The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher.

Copyright 2018 Christ Community Church.

All rights reserved.

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Well hello there! You now hold in your hands the all-new smaller version of The Hub Magazine. Our vision for The Hub has not changed—we still desire for this magazine to be a place where God’s mission for the church and the people he has called to fulfill that mission converge, where events and programs are the tools and resources for

real life transformation. But the magazine itself has gone through a little overhaul.

You can expect the same quality storytelling and everything you need to know about what’s going on at CCC, but now with publications appearing more frequently.

We hope you enjoy the new Hub Magazine! §

THE HUB MAGAZINE / CCCOMAHA.ORG

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A NEW IDENTITY

Identical Twins Discover Who They Are in Christ

by Alex Ehly 5

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

T

hree words: Who am I? These words play on a continuous loop as the background track in the life of a middle school student. Perceived answers to that question come from all different directions: school, social media, movies, relationships, entertainment, and other activities. As Christ Community Church's Student Ministry, we believe the answer to the question, “Who am I?” can only be found in knowing Whose you are: a beloved child of the God who created you and is crazy about you.

As students begin to discover that their identity is found in Jesus and they make decisions to trust in him, we celebrate that! We also realize that such a big decision is always a culmination of scores of small decisions along the way. For many students at CCC, the first and most critical decisions are made by their parents. When a parent makes a decision to introduce their kids to Jesus at an early age and get them plugged into the church community, the chance of that student knowing Jesus dramatically increases.

Sophie and Annie with their brothers •

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For Annie and Sophie DelSenno, their journey to knowing Jesus began at an early age. A mom and dad who made church a priority and brothers who modeled their faith led the sisters to place their faith in Jesus.

As the girls became more familiar with the Bible in elementary school, they began to understand the relationship that Jesus was inviting them into. Sophie shared, “I have known about Jesus and God all my life, and from an early age I would go to Sunday school and learn Bible stories. I knew that Jesus died on the cross and rose again.”

In addition to the weekly church programming, special church events can also impact how a student understands the gospel. “At Summer U, I realized that a relationship with God is life-changing, and it was. That happened when I was in third grade.

When I was about ten or eleven, I began to own my faith and take it seriously,” shared Sophie.

As students begin to own their faith and make decisions to place their trust in Jesus, we challenge them to take steps of going public with their new identity. One of those first steps is to follow the model of Jesus through public baptism. Seeing students make a courageous public statement about their identity in Christ is always incredible.

Going public together with this new identity was a great experience for Annie and Sophie, who are identical twins. Annie said, “Getting baptized with Sophie was special because it was a special moment in our walk of faith. I got to be baptized with my twin sister and best friend by my side.” The girls were able to choose who baptized them—their older brother Josh and their Journey Group leader Erin. “I requested my brother Josh because he has been a huge role model to me and I look up to him so much, as well as my

journey group leader Erin. I look up to them both—they have helped me grow closer to Jesus,” Sophie stated.

The DelSenno twins were baptized September 10, 2017, at a huge all-church baptism party called Baptism on the Green. Over a thousand people showed up to witness Annie, Sophie, and over 100 other people get baptized. “Before I was baptized I was really nervous but also super excited, because I knew everyone would be cheering me on and that my friends and family were supporting me. When I came out of the water and everyone was cheering, I felt overjoyed because I knew at that moment my life would not be the same again.”

Since their baptisms, it has been a joy to witness God at work through Annie and Sophie in the midst of a difficult season in life.

Annie has sensed that her trust in Jesus is making an impact in her life. “My trust in Jesus has really

helped me in tough times. If ever I am going through a tough time or am struggling, I always pray and lift all my worries to God, like it says in Philippians 4:6. Jesus has helped me through lots of hard things. He shows me that I am not alone and I have him and other people that will help me get through it,” she said.

Annie shared how she has become more sensitive to hearing from God: “I notice that I hear God more and I feel him leading me. I read my Bible more often and have grown a deeper relationship with him. I also notice that he puts me in uncomfortable situations and teaches me so much out of every situation.”

As the background track continues to loop, both girls are continuing to discover that the answer to the question, “Who am I?” can only be found by knowing Whose you are. § Alex Ehly is the Middle School Pastor at Christ Community Church.

THE HUB MAGAZINE / CCCOMAHA.ORG

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A GATHERING FOR WOMEN

February 23–24

Register online at cccomaha.org/thrive

KE YNOTE SPE AKER

René Clark reneclark.com

Thrive is a gathering for women of all ages to come together, grow in community, worship, and connect more deeply with God. Hear from a powerful speaker, engage in interactive workshops, enjoy great meals, meet new friends through small group discussion, and have fun as you grow. Tickets are available for $49 at cccomaha.org/thrive.

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A CITYWIDE CELEBRATION AT BAXTER ARENA February 25 Doors open at 5 PM Program will be from 6–7:30 PM Featuring great speakers & live music!

Pick up a free ticket at the CCC Info Center.

This event is open to the public, so invite a friend and come help us celebrate!

THE HUB MAGAZINE / CCCOMAHA.ORG

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A N U P DAT E O N

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by Mark Ashton

LIVING A LIFE BEYOND BELIEF God invites us into so much more than the typical American lifestyle can deliver.

He invites us into a mysterious, dynamic relationship that profoundly intersects with his spiritual reality. He commissions us to draw close to Jesus as we study him, learn from him, and become like him. Through this amazing union with God himself, he sends us out to change the world by his strength and power.

When I think about this union with God, it is beyond belief. For Jesus, life in all its fullness never stopped with merely having the right beliefs. It's about knowing God in an amazingly personal, life-giving relationship! And if that wasn't enough, God wants to do supernatural things through us to accomplish his purposes on this planet. That concept itself is beyond belief!

THE HUB MAGAZINE / CCCOMAHA.ORG

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CCCOMAHA.INFO The weekly program is now on your phone! This brand-new website is an all-in-one central hub for everything happening at CCC.

Follow us on social

cccomaha

THE HUB MAGAZINE / CCCOMAHA.ORG

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by Craig Walter

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** Freeze Your Face Off / Grades 6–8 No High School Journey Groups / Each grade level has their own event No Middle School Journey Groups Second Saturday Serve for Valentine's Day / 10 AM–12 PM Village One / Contact ericc@cccomaha.org

* Baby Dedications / Sign up at cccomaha.org/baby

Annual Meeting / 6 PM / Chapel

** Thrive / A Gathering For Women / 2.23–2.24 $49 / Register at cccomaha.org/thrive ** Within Reach Citywide Celebration / 6–7:30 PM (Doors open at 5 PM) / Baxter Arena / Free tickets are available at the CCC Info Center Visit cccomaha.org/events for additional up-to-date information, to register or sign up for an event, or to purchase tickets for ticketed events. *Preregistration is required for these events

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**Ticketed events

* Couch-O-Rama / High School Ministry / 1–6 PM $20 / Register at cccomaha.org/hsm

* Middle School Missions Experience / Grades 6–8 8 AM–8 PM / Register at cccomaha.org/msm

Within Reach Sermon Series begins

Second Saturday Serve / 10 AM–12 PM Village One / Contact ericc@cccomaha.org

No Kids Clubs

** Dad-N-Me / Ages 3–6 / 9:30 AM–12 PM Register at cccomaha.org/events

Good Friday Service / 6 PM / Gym

Easter Egg Hunt Serve Day / 9 AM–1 PM Mission Church / Contact ericc@cccomaha.org

Easter Services at CCC / 3.31 & 4.1 / easteratccc.com THE HUB MAGAZINE / CCCOMAHA.ORG

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E A S T E R AT C C C 3.31 & 4.1

e a s t e r at c c c .c o m