NLC Connect - July 29, 2026
connect with God's Word
On Sunday, we gathered as a church family to worship, learn from God's Word, and celebrate His goodness. From the sermon to our children's classes, every part of the morning was an opportunity to grow in faith!
connect your calendar
WEDNESDAY, JULY 29:
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Group - Room 113
THURSDAY, JULY 30:
10:30 a.m. - Memorial Service
6:00 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY small groups - Education Center
FRIDAY, JULY 31:
3-5 p.m. - Parenting Network Resource Fair - Delgado Park (NLC interns participating)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 2:
9:30 a.m. - CONNECTING POINT - Patio
5:00 p.m. - Youth Group - Community Room/Gym
TUESDAY, AUG. 4:
6:30 p.m. - Healing Room Prayer Ministry - Library
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 5:
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Group - Room 113
THURSDAY, AUG. 6:
DUSD Meetings - Family Center
6:00 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY small groups - Education Center
SUNDAY, AUGUST 9:
9:30 a.m. - Connecting Point - Patio
TUESDAY, AUG. 11:
10:00 a.m. - Summer LIFT Women's Bible Study - Room 114/115 (end of series)
6:30 p.m. - Healing Room Prayer Ministry - Library
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Group - Room 113
THURSDAY, JULY 30:
10:30 a.m. - Memorial Service
6:00 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY small groups - Education Center
FRIDAY, JULY 31:
3-5 p.m. - Parenting Network Resource Fair - Delgado Park (NLC interns participating)
SUNDAY, AUGUST 2:
9:30 a.m. - CONNECTING POINT - Patio
- Come meet and encourage others over coffee and snacks
- Communion
- Donations welcome for Sharing Hands Pantry and Deacon Care Fund
5:00 p.m. - Youth Group - Community Room/Gym
TUESDAY, AUG. 4:
6:30 p.m. - Healing Room Prayer Ministry - Library
WEDNESDAY, AUG. 5:
6:30 p.m. - Prayer Group - Room 113
THURSDAY, AUG. 6:
DUSD Meetings - Family Center
6:00 p.m. - CELEBRATE RECOVERY small groups - Education Center
SUNDAY, AUGUST 9:
9:30 a.m. - Connecting Point - Patio
- Come meet and encourage others over coffee and pastries
- Women's Retreat deposits due today
- Baptism
- Kids' Promotion Day (new classes next Sunday, depending on age/grade)
TUESDAY, AUG. 11:
10:00 a.m. - Summer LIFT Women's Bible Study - Room 114/115 (end of series)
6:30 p.m. - Healing Room Prayer Ministry - Library
connect through giving
Offerings Received last week (7/26): ……... $6,089
Offerings Received this year to date: .…. $307,757
Budget to date: …………………...........…...….. $379,256
Needed weekly to meet budget: ……..….. $22,369
Offerings Received this year to date: .…. $307,757
Budget to date: …………………...........…...….. $379,256
Needed weekly to meet budget: ……..….. $22,369
connect to God through prayer
- Pray for people traveling for ministry: Ken and Martha Sawatzky returning home from Vietnam and Thailand.
- Continue praying for Evelyn Romero, Norma Froese, Manuel and Karen Madrid, and Kristel Salazar's nephew Matthew and her friend's stepdad Roger, who is home on hospice.
- Pray for Tessa Fiscus and her family as she undergoes chemo; for Eugene Enns as he battles an additional type of cancer, and for others dealing with long-term health issues.
- Also remember: Mae Ewert, Marilyn Chappell and other residents in Palm Village Healthcare, Harold Kruger and others in Sierra View, and Mary Salazar.
- Pray for family and friends of Bob Martin as his memorial service will be held at NLC on Thursday, July 30, at 10:30 AM.
- Please pray for Joshua Aquino serving on a fire crew during this fire season. Ask God to protect him, give him strength and wisdom as he serves.
- Pray for those who are seeking employment.
- Pray for the undocumented in our community and those facing food insecurity and financial challenges.
- Pray for our missionaries: Pablo & Maricela Chavez (Peru), Cecil & Tracy Ramos (Thailand), Jonathan & Joanna Gutierrez (Portugal), and Johnny & Denise Esposito (Cambodia).
- Pray for peace as violence and war affect so many families and children around the world.
- Pray for events on the calendar and people connecting with God and each other.
Connect to Board of Trustees
My name is Amelia Villarreal, an intern for NLC, and one of the greatest blessings of serving at New Life Community Church is getting the opportunity to learn from the faithful men and women who have helped shape our church for generations. Recently, I had the privilege of sitting down with Ron Brown, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, to hear about his journey of serving the Lord and the heart behind his leadership.
Ron and his wife, Judy Brown, have faithfully called New Life Community home for more than 50 years. Throughout those decades, Ron has served in a variety of leadership roles, including Children's Ministries, Stewardship, Christian Education, and many other areas of ministry. For nearly 40 years, he has answered God's call to serve wherever the Lord has led him.
Professionally, Ron spent his career as an accountant, giving him years of experience managing finances. Looking back, it's easy to see how God was preparing him long before he ever became Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
As Chairman, Ron helps oversee the church's financial and administrative responsibilities while working closely with the elders. While the elders shepherd the spiritual life of our church, the trustees care for the practical and administrative needs that allow ministry to flourish. Ron explained that the two leadership groups regularly seek one another's wisdom, pray through important decisions together, and work in unity for the good of our church."We've got a great leadership team," Ron shared. "That's working very well."
One of the most memorable moments from our conversation came when I asked Ron what led him to say "yes" to becoming Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Although Ron now leads Unity Meetings, prepares meeting agendas, and moderates church business meetings, he admitted that accepting the position of Chairman wasn't easy. In fact, when he was first asked to serve, one Bible story immediately came to mind: Matthew 14:22-33. Ron reflected on the moment when Peter saw Jesus walking on the water during the storm. Peter wanted to go to Jesus, but stepping out of the boat meant trusting God in the middle of uncertainty. Ron confessed that he felt much the same way.
"I didn't feel ready," he shared. Like Peter, everything inside him wanted to stay in the safety of the boat. The responsibility felt overwhelming, and he knew he couldn't do it in his own strength. But God continued to call him, and Ron chose to trust Him. Instead of focusing on the waves, he chose to fix his eyes on the One who was calling him. That moment became one of the defining lessons of his leadership. "It's His church," Ron said. "It's not my church."
Those simple words show the way that Ron approaches every responsibility. Whether leading meetings, making difficult decisions, or planning for the future, he continually points back to Christ as the true Leader of our church.
As we continued talking, Ron reflected on several significant moments that the Board of Trustees has navigated over the years, including the decision to return worship services to the sanctuary and conversations surrounding the church's fencing project. These weren't merely business decisions; they were opportunities for our leadership team to seek God's wisdom together.
Rather than taking credit, Ron repeatedly emphasized that God worked through the entire leadership team. "God used leadership," he said. "The team, not me."
He also shared that there are always future challenges to consider: future leaders, future finances, and future ministry. But he finds peace knowing those things are ultimately in God's hands.
One of my favorite moments during the interview happened when Ron's longtime friend, John Regier, joined our conversation. Together, they began reminiscing about where their ministry journeys first started. Long before Ron was leading meetings or serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, he and John were simply two young adults willing to help wherever they were needed. Their first ministry together was Jet Cadets. The two laughed as they remembered helping children memorize Scripture, sing songs, earn awards, and grow in their faith. They recalled buses bringing neighborhood children to church, special award trips, and the excitement of watching young lives shaped by God's Word. Listening to them share those memories, it was obvious those years still held a special place in their hearts.
It was a beautiful reminder that faithful leadership often begins in the smallest acts of service. More than 50 years later, those memories still bring smiles to their faces.
Ron's story didn't start in the boardroom. It started by investing in children, serving alongside friends, and simply saying "yes" wherever God called.
When I asked Ron what has kept him serving year after year, despite the responsibilities and challenges, his answer came without hesitation.
"The call."
For Ron, serving has never been about recognition or position. It has always been about faithfully answering God's invitation, one step at a time.
He also made sure to express how grateful he is to serve alongside Pastor Brad and his wife, sharing that working with them has been a true blessing. Ron spoke warmly about the unity within our leadership and how thankful he is for the way God has brought people together to serve New Life Community with one heart and one purpose.
Before ending our conversation, I asked Ron what he would say to someone who feels God stirring their heart to serve but isn't sure where to begin. His answer was simple. "Get started." He explained that not every ministry will be where God ultimately calls you to stay, but you'll never discover the gifts He has given you unless you're willing to take that first step. Looking back over his own life from Jet Cadets to Children's Ministries, to Stewardship, and now serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, it all began with one simple "yes."
Leaving our conversation, I couldn't help but think back to the Bible passage Ron shared about Peter stepping out of the boat in Matthew 14:22-33.
God wasn't looking for someone who had every answer. He was looking for someone willing to trust Him. For more than 40 years, Ron Brown has continued stepping out in faith, following wherever the Lord leads. His story is a beautiful reminder that faithful service isn't built on confidence in ourselves; it's built on confidence in the One who calls us.
Ron and his wife, Judy Brown, have faithfully called New Life Community home for more than 50 years. Throughout those decades, Ron has served in a variety of leadership roles, including Children's Ministries, Stewardship, Christian Education, and many other areas of ministry. For nearly 40 years, he has answered God's call to serve wherever the Lord has led him.
Professionally, Ron spent his career as an accountant, giving him years of experience managing finances. Looking back, it's easy to see how God was preparing him long before he ever became Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
As Chairman, Ron helps oversee the church's financial and administrative responsibilities while working closely with the elders. While the elders shepherd the spiritual life of our church, the trustees care for the practical and administrative needs that allow ministry to flourish. Ron explained that the two leadership groups regularly seek one another's wisdom, pray through important decisions together, and work in unity for the good of our church."We've got a great leadership team," Ron shared. "That's working very well."
One of the most memorable moments from our conversation came when I asked Ron what led him to say "yes" to becoming Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
Although Ron now leads Unity Meetings, prepares meeting agendas, and moderates church business meetings, he admitted that accepting the position of Chairman wasn't easy. In fact, when he was first asked to serve, one Bible story immediately came to mind: Matthew 14:22-33. Ron reflected on the moment when Peter saw Jesus walking on the water during the storm. Peter wanted to go to Jesus, but stepping out of the boat meant trusting God in the middle of uncertainty. Ron confessed that he felt much the same way.
"I didn't feel ready," he shared. Like Peter, everything inside him wanted to stay in the safety of the boat. The responsibility felt overwhelming, and he knew he couldn't do it in his own strength. But God continued to call him, and Ron chose to trust Him. Instead of focusing on the waves, he chose to fix his eyes on the One who was calling him. That moment became one of the defining lessons of his leadership. "It's His church," Ron said. "It's not my church."
Those simple words show the way that Ron approaches every responsibility. Whether leading meetings, making difficult decisions, or planning for the future, he continually points back to Christ as the true Leader of our church.
As we continued talking, Ron reflected on several significant moments that the Board of Trustees has navigated over the years, including the decision to return worship services to the sanctuary and conversations surrounding the church's fencing project. These weren't merely business decisions; they were opportunities for our leadership team to seek God's wisdom together.
Rather than taking credit, Ron repeatedly emphasized that God worked through the entire leadership team. "God used leadership," he said. "The team, not me."
He also shared that there are always future challenges to consider: future leaders, future finances, and future ministry. But he finds peace knowing those things are ultimately in God's hands.
One of my favorite moments during the interview happened when Ron's longtime friend, John Regier, joined our conversation. Together, they began reminiscing about where their ministry journeys first started. Long before Ron was leading meetings or serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, he and John were simply two young adults willing to help wherever they were needed. Their first ministry together was Jet Cadets. The two laughed as they remembered helping children memorize Scripture, sing songs, earn awards, and grow in their faith. They recalled buses bringing neighborhood children to church, special award trips, and the excitement of watching young lives shaped by God's Word. Listening to them share those memories, it was obvious those years still held a special place in their hearts.
It was a beautiful reminder that faithful leadership often begins in the smallest acts of service. More than 50 years later, those memories still bring smiles to their faces.
Ron's story didn't start in the boardroom. It started by investing in children, serving alongside friends, and simply saying "yes" wherever God called.
When I asked Ron what has kept him serving year after year, despite the responsibilities and challenges, his answer came without hesitation.
"The call."
For Ron, serving has never been about recognition or position. It has always been about faithfully answering God's invitation, one step at a time.
He also made sure to express how grateful he is to serve alongside Pastor Brad and his wife, sharing that working with them has been a true blessing. Ron spoke warmly about the unity within our leadership and how thankful he is for the way God has brought people together to serve New Life Community with one heart and one purpose.
Before ending our conversation, I asked Ron what he would say to someone who feels God stirring their heart to serve but isn't sure where to begin. His answer was simple. "Get started." He explained that not every ministry will be where God ultimately calls you to stay, but you'll never discover the gifts He has given you unless you're willing to take that first step. Looking back over his own life from Jet Cadets to Children's Ministries, to Stewardship, and now serving as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, it all began with one simple "yes."
Leaving our conversation, I couldn't help but think back to the Bible passage Ron shared about Peter stepping out of the boat in Matthew 14:22-33.
God wasn't looking for someone who had every answer. He was looking for someone willing to trust Him. For more than 40 years, Ron Brown has continued stepping out in faith, following wherever the Lord leads. His story is a beautiful reminder that faithful service isn't built on confidence in ourselves; it's built on confidence in the One who calls us.
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