"The Other End Of The Spear" at Cypress Church on Thursday May 9th

Every summer members of the Cypress Church congregation travel to the jungles of Ecuador to minister to remote residents. This coming Thursday, May 9, 2013 from 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm the church will be hosting a special evening with a Waorani warrior who is visiting our area.

Many have heard the account of the five missionaries in Ecuador who were killed back in the late 1950's while seeking to reach out to the notorious Waorani (aka Waodani) warriors of the Amazonian Rain Forest. The life and conversion of these ruthless people has been well recorded by Life Magazine, anthropologists, documentaries, the writings of Elisabeth Elliot, Rachel Saint and others, and through the movie "End of the Spear" by Steve Saint. However the story has not been told by the warriors themselves...until now!

In the recently released book "Gentle Savage Still Seeking The End of The Spear," Menkaye, Kemo, and Dyowe (three of the killers of the missionaries) tell their story, how they came to believe in Christ and how they are still seeking to serve Him today. It is quite an eye-opening book with never-been-told insights, what really took place on the beach in Ecuador in 1956, and their incredible faith that is encouraging many people in Ecuador and around the world.

On Thursday May 9th Cypress Church has the privilege to host an evening with one to the translators of this book, who also happens to be the grandson of Menkaye. Gilberto along with missionary Chet Williams (One of Cypress Church's missionaries) will share about the book and give insights on what is happening today with the Waorani people.

The public is invited to attend this meaningful and inspiring evening. The event will be held from 7:00 pm until 9:00 pm at the Cypress Church main campus located at 6143 Ball Road just east of Valley View in Cypress. Sunday worship services are held at 9 and 10:30 am. Additional information is available by calling (714) 952-3001 or visit http://www.cypresschurch.net/

Photo Caption: Waorani warrior “Gilberto” and missionary Chet Williams from the jungles of Ecuador will share their inspiring stories on Thursday, May 9th at Cypress Church.

Cypress Church - 6143 Ball Rd. - Cypress, CA 90630 - Phone: (714) 952-3001 - www.cypresschurch.net

Cypress Church Rummage Sale on April 27 Supports World Missions

Discover new treasures and share some of your “white elephants” with friends and neighbors while you support a worthy cause at the same time. Cypress Church will be holding their annual Rummage Sale on Saturday, April 27th from 8:00 am until 2:00 pm. The proceeds from the sale will go to support mission teams travelling to New Orleans, Ecuador, and Mexico this coming summer.

Christians have the privilege and duty of sharing God’s love with others. Cypress Church takes this responsibility to heart in a big way. During December 2012 a team of Cypress High School and Cypress College students travelled to America’s Center in St. Louis Missouri for the five day Urban Missions Conference. The team learned how critical global issues like human trafficking, environmental degradation, poverty and divisions between peoples affect all of us. They got connected to tangible ways that enable them to take part in God's work of bringing reconciliation and healing to our broken world through his Son, Jesus Christ.

During this upcoming summer the Ecuador team will travel through miles of jungle to bring the life changing message of Jesus to the village of Zancudo and other indigenous people in South America.

In July, a team of 20 students and adults from Cypress Church will travel to New Orleans to serve with the Urban Impact organization. They will play key roles in staffing a summer program for youth in the housing projects of New Orleans. The team helps teach Bible lessons and sports fundamentals to disadvantaged children in partnership with Castle Rock Church.

There is also a team going to Mexico to help with building projects and with VBS (Vacation Bible School). What a busy summer for people at Cypress Church as they strive to effectively love on people locally, at the church and in the immediate community, as well as abroad.

The Rummage Sale at Cypress Church on April 27th will be instrumental in funding these mission activities. Community residents are invited to donate clothing, furniture (no entertainment units, though!), books, electronic equipment, jewelry, kitchen utensils and other household items. Donations will be received on Thursday, April 25th from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm and also on Friday, April 26th from 12 noon until 9:00 pm.

The Cypress Church campus is located at 6143 Ball Road, just east of Valley View. Information about the Missions Rummage Sale is available from Susan Peterson at (562) 867-5223 or email: susan@funplaces.com. Cypress Church offers two worship services every Sunday, at 9 am and 10:30 am, plus a plethora of programs for kids and adults of all ages and stages of life. Information about activities of interest to the community is available at (714) 952-3001 or on the church web site located at: http://www.cypresschurch.net/

Photo Caption: Cypress Church students and adults travel through miles of jungle to bring the message of Jesus to the Waodani tribe in Ecuador.

Cypress Church - 6143 Ball Rd. - Cypress, CA 90630 - Phone: (714) 952-3001 - http://www.cypresschurch.net

Pastors Plan Passion Week Programs at Cypress Church

Easter is a very special time for Christians everywhere and the Pastors and Staff at Cypress Church are planning seven worship services for the community during Easter week this year. The Easter season celebrations begin Palm Sunday which is on March 24, 2013. There will be two services at 9:00 am and 10:30 am.

Good Friday is on March 29, 2013 and there will be two worship services at 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm. The evening will focus on Christ’s journey from the Upper Room to the Cross so that we may reflect on what God did for us personally through the death of Jesus Christ. There will be live music, video presentations and other creative elements.

Easter is on March 31, 2013 and there will be three Easter Worship Services at Cypress Church at 8:30 am, 10:00 am and 11:30 am. This day will be a great celebration with modern worship and a message about Jesus and His resurrection by Pastor Mike McKay. There will be special activities for children from nursery to 6th grade each service.

Cypress Church is located at 6143 Ball Road just east of Valley View. You are invited to participate in all Easter Passion Week activities. You are also encouraged to follow Cypress Church on Facebook and Twitter. Additional information is available at (714) 952-3001. The Cypress Church website is located at: http://www.cypresschurch.net. The church email is: info@cypresschurch.net.

Photo Caption #1 (top): Cypress Church Pastor Mike McKay will share an Easter message about the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Sunday March 31 at 8:30, 10:00 and 11:30am.


Photo Caption #2: Worship Arts Pastor Nathan Baldwin (foreground) will lead the congregation in song during the seven Easter Passion Week services to be held at Cypress Church.

Cypress Church - 6143 Ball Rd. - Cypress, CA 90630 - Phone: (714) 952-3001 - http://www.cypresschurch.net/

Cypress Church Spends Sunday Serving In Local Cities

If you were planning on attending worship at Cypress Church on Sunday, February 24th and arrived at the church campus a few minutes late, you would have found the parking lot virtually vacant. You might have wondered: “Where did all the cars go?”  And the answer would have been: “East side, west side, all around the town…” for Gone Serving Sunday.

The Cypress Church congregation culminated their recent “Love Like Jesus” campaign with an entire weekend of community service. Teams of volunteers spread out to Los Alamitos, Stanton and all around the Cypress area. On Saturday the church staffed a water station at the annual “Race on the Base.”

Then, on Sunday, the congregation performed projects at the Cypress Boys and Girls Club, Arnold Cypress Park, Cedar Glen Park, Oak Knoll Park, Evergreen Park, the Tina-Pacific neighborhood and the Precious Life Shelter. "Today has created blessings that will make a difference for years to come,” stated Theresa Murphy from the Precious Life Shelter in Los Alamitos.

Church members partnered with volunteers and staff from city agencies and non-profits to paint park benches and bleachers, plant flowers, clean up trash in streets and alleys, distribute donations, wash windows, organize supplies and beautify local parks. They logged a total of 326 total service hours in just one weekend.

According to the Corporation for National and Community Service, “Volunteering and civic engagement are the cornerstone of a strong nation.”  The EJournal USA states that: “Americans volunteer not because of coercion or profit, but because they recognize a need and are willing to take responsibility for meeting that need." Pastor Mike McKay of Cypress Church has hopes that these acts of kindness will help change people’s perception of God and His Church as community residents see Christians actually living their faith.

In 2013 Cypress Church will be celebrating their 35th year of ministry in the Orange County area. The church started as a home Bible study in 1978. Now hundreds of area residents call Cypress Church their “home.” In addition to Cypress, the church also serves the communities of Buena Park, Los Alamitos, Seal Beach, La Palma, Lakewood, Anaheim, Long Beach, Stanton and the surrounding area.

Cypress Church community service teams provide volunteers to assist at the local Senior Center. They also help with the Independence Day celebration held on July 4th at the Joint Forces Training Base and the Cypress Community Festival to be held this year on July 27th at Oak Knoll Park. They also send teams of volunteers to serve the disadvantaged and needy all over the globe including Orange County, Los Angeles County, New Orleans, Mexico, India and Ecuador.

The Cypress Church main campus is located at 6143 Ball Road just east of Valley View. The public is welcome at Sunday services and Bible studies that are held at 9:00 am and 10:30 am as well as many other activities throughout each week. Good Friday services will be held on March 27 at 6:00 and 8:00 pm, Easter Sunday worship will be on March 31 at 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30 am. Information about the church is available at (714) 952-3001or online at www.cypresschurch.net.

Photo Caption #1 (top): Volunteers from Cypress Church worked together with staff from the Precious Life Shelter in Los Alamitos to plant flowers, sort clothing donations and many other activities. "Today has created blessings that will make a difference for years to come,” stated Executive Director Theresa Murphy.

Photo Caption #2: The Cypress Boys and Girls Club staff partnered with volunteers from Cypress Church and a local Boy Scout Troop to organize supplies, wash windows and clean up the grounds around the club.

Photo Caption #3: The Marino Family and many other volunteers from Cypress Church assisted the Cypress Recreations and Community Services Department with cleanup and painting at several area parks.

Photo Caption #4: During their “Gone Serving” weekend, members of the Cypress Church congregation staffed a water station at the annual “Race on the Base” in Los Alamitos.


Cypress Church - 6143 Ball Rd. - Cypress, CA 90630 - Phone: (714) 952-3001 - http://www.cypresschurch.net/

Blood Drive At Cypress Church On March 17 Will Support World Missions

Cypress Church is sponsoring a blood drive from 9am to 3pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013. The event is a fund raiser for world mission teams that will be going to Mexico, Ecuador, India, New Orleans and other parts of the globe this summer.

The church is partnering with “Blood For Missions,” a Southern California based organization that supports mission activities all over the planet. “Blood For Missions” partners with churches, high schools, universities, and businesses. For each person who donates blood at a “Blood For Missions” blood drive, $20 will be given to the charity of the host organization's choice.

When you give blood, a charity you support benefits. Not only that, you help keep Southern California hospitals supplied with the blood they need to save lives.

The next local area blood drive will be held on March 17 from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Cypress Church campus located at 6143 Ball Road in Cypress, CA just east of Valley View. The community is invited to participate in this event and also welcome to attend worship services each Sunday at 9:00 am and 10:30 am. More information is available online at www.cypresschurch.net/ or you may call (714) 952-3001.

Photo Caption: Cypress Church will sponsor a blood drive on Sunday, March 17 to raise funds for mission trips to India, Mexico, Ecuador and New Orleans.

Cypress Church - 6143 Ball Rd. - Cypress, CA 90630 - Phone: (714) 952-3001 - http://www.cypresschurch.net/

New Cypress Church Youth Leader Has High Hopes for Local Students

When parents ask, “How do I motivate my teenager?” they usually mean, “How do I get my kids to do what I want? How do I encourage her to have some balance in her life? What do I do to get him off his computer, get outside, or do just about anything except sitting around doing nothing?” Cypress Church has answers to these big questions with their Student Ministries program.

Pastor Stan Markowski, the new leader of youth groups at Cypress Church, has some great activities planned for local students. “This next six months are going to be exciting,” said Stan, “…because our “Love Like Jesus” campaign is an opportunity for our students to understand what the core of Christianity is all about and discover how to serve others. We will have a talent show in April and a high Sierra camping experience in June.”

Stan grew up in Long Beach California and has lived in the Southern California area most of his life. He attended Biola University where he received a B.A. in Biblical Studies. He then went to Talbot Theological Seminary where he graduated with an M.A. in Systematic Theology in 2010.

After graduation Stan served in an internship position in Toledo Ohio with Westgate Chapel where he worked with junior high, high school and college students. In 2011 Stan began serving as an intern at Cypress Church with junior high and high school students. Recently he was selected to be the full time Pastor of Cypress Church Student Ministries.

The next major event on the horizon for Cypress Church Student Ministries is “Cypress’ Got Talent.” This dinner and variety show is an annual tradition that features singing, dancing, comedy sketches, skits and instrumental performances by scores of local teens. The event will be held on Tuesday April 2, 2013 starting at 6:30 pm at Cypress Church.

This summer Stan and his staff plan to lead a group of more than 60 students on a week long outing in the Sierras at Hume Lake Christian Camps. Reservations are now being accepted for this exciting experience.

Cypress Church youth groups meet weekly on Tuesday evenings and also hold many special events. All Junior High and High School students are welcome to join in the fun. Junior High students meet at 6:30 pm and the High School group starts their meeting at 7:00 pm. Service activities include helping feed the homeless along with the Cypress Church Knights of the Holy Grill.

Stan has high hopes for our local teens. His desire is to “…provide a place where students can encounter God and grow in their relationship with him.” The Cypress Church campus is located at 6143 Ball Road just east of Valley View. Sunday worship and Bible study is at 9:00 am and 10:30 am. Information about Cypress Church Student Ministries is available by calling (714) 952-3001 or email: stan@cypresschurch.net. The church website is located at www.cypresschurch.net.

Photo Caption: Stan Markowski, the new Pastor of Student Ministries, invites local Junior High and High School students to share their talent with others on Tuesday, April 2 at Cypress Church.

Cypress Church - 6143 Ball Rd. - Cypress, CA 90630 - Phone: (714) 952-3001 - http://www.cypresschurch.net

Cypress Church Partners with Non-Profits to Recruit Volunteers

It’s no secret that local charities, non-profit groups and even government agencies have been struggling with limited resources due to the economic situation. The Bridgestone Group, a consulting team for non-profits, has stated that “Organizations are being forced to make hard choices about where to focus their resources.”

One way that these agencies can increase their level of service to the community, even within the context of a shrinking budget, is by recruiting additional volunteers. Recently Cypress Church took a big step to help other non-profits in the area by organizing a Community Ministry Fair. Representatives from eight local organizations set up displays in the church lobby and hundreds of area residents had the opportunity to discover needs and become active participants as volunteers.

Cypress Church has a rich history of volunteerism. George and Lynn Pardon, who facilitate community service efforts at the church, were the primary organizers of the Ministry Fair. They have helped coordinate volunteers for the Cypress Community Festival, the Cypress Senior Center, the Fireworks Spectacular at the Joint Forces Base, the annual Race On The Base, the Boys and Girls Club and many other local events, agencies and activities.

Participating organizations at the Community Ministry Fair included: Boys and Girls Club of Cypress, Cypress Community Festival, Cypress Recreation and Community Services, Cypress Volunteers in Policing and Emergency Response Training, Habitat for Humanity of Orange County, Illumination Foundation, Precious Life Shelter and We Care of Los Alamitos.

“It was really helpful to be able to be able to meet and talk with representatives from all the different groups in one place and time. I found out about many different ways that I can help out.” said church member Jean Koehler.

The Cypress Boys and Girls Club provides children with a safe place to grow and learn. The Cypress Community Festival is the annual birthday celebration for Cypress and is set for July 27th at Oak Knoll Park. Cypress Recreation and Parks provides programming for all types of activities and maintains all of the parks in Cypress.

The Volunteers in Policing are a team of trained citizens who assist the police with non-enforcement duties. The Emergency Response Program educates the public about disaster preparedness. Habitat for Humanity builds affordable housing for low-income families.

The mission of the Illumination Foundation is to help break the cycle of homelessness in Orange County. Precious Life Shelter supports homeless, pregnant adult women. We Care of Los Alamitos pools community resources to meet emergency needs of families and individuals.

All of these community service organizations are in need of volunteers and Cypress Church is committed to be part of the solution through their ongoing “Love Like Jesus” campaign. “When we put love into action it matters, it has positive results and effects,” says Pastor Mike McKay.

The public is encouraged to join with Cypress Church and partner with local community agencies to raise the quality of life in Cypress and the surrounding area. Those wishing to volunteer may call the church office at (714) 952-3001 or contact George Pardon by email at gpardon@sbcglobal.net.

The main campus of Cypress Church is located at 6143 Ball Road just east on Valley View in Cypress. Sunday Bible study and worship are at 9:00 am and 10:30 am. More information is available online at: www.cypresschurch.net.

Photo Caption #1 (top): Cypress Church held their Community Ministry Fair during February to recruit volunteers for local non-profits. Participants included (left to right): Mary Niven from Precious Life Shelter, Wanda Slade from the Cypress Community Festival, Ashley Krebs from Illumination Foundation, Marty Thompson from We Care of Los Alamitos, George Pardon and Lynn Pardon from Cypress Church.

Photo Caption #2: The Cypress Volunteers in Policing and Emergency Response Training were represented by Ed Spurgeon, Linda Croce and Janet Spurgeon at the Community Ministry Fair held in February 2013 at Cypress Church.

Contact information for community groups in need of volunteers:

Boys and Girls Club of Cypress - Phone: (714) 527-2697 - Web: http://www.boysandgirlsclubofcypress.com/

Cypress Community Festival - Phone: (714) 886-9749 - Web: http://www.cypressfestival.com/

Cypress Recreation and Community Services - Phone: (714) 229-6780 - Web: http://www.ci.cypress.ca.us/recreation/recreation_home.html

Cypress Volunteers in Policing - Phone: (714) 229-6625 - Web: http://www.ci.cypress.ca.us/police/community_relations/volunteers.htm

Habitat for Humanity Orange County - Phone: (714) 434-6200 - Web: http://www.habitatoc.org/

Illumination Foundation - Phone: (949) 273-0555 - Web: http://www.ifhomeless.org/

Precious Life Shelter - Phone: (562) 431-5025 - Web: http://www.preciouslifeshelter.org/

We Care of Los Alamitos - Phone: (562) 598-9790 - Web: http://www.wecarelosalamitos.org/


Cypress Church - 6143 Ball Rd. - Cypress, CA 90630 - Phone: (714) 952-3001 - http://www.cypresschurch.net