2.23.2015

Meet The Team Monday

I've started a new blog post series that runs every Monday and introduces a new team member that serves at Timber Ridge in a leadership role. 


This week's Meet The Team Monday participant is Sara Sanderson. Sara is a Tarleton Student and currently serves in our intern program. While she serves in various areas, her focus in on our college ministry. Sara has been on the Timber Ridge team since August of 2014. Here's a part of Sara's story.


If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
French fries...or ice cream...definitely ice cream!

Describe what you do at Timber Ridge in your own words:
At Timber Ridge I am a College Ministry Intern. I get to work with awesome people on a daily basis and learn the ins and outs of how a church is run. For the college ministry side of things, I help to organize, plan and coordinate events to reach out to the students at TSU and Ranger College. I also serve on the worship team and lead a college LifeGroup.

What do you like best about your role at Timber Ridge?
I love that I get to work with such an amazing group of people and have an opportunity to have a big reach on campus.

What do you do for fun?
I love spending time hanging out with my friends, going to rodeos and taking pictures.

What's something you learned in the past year?
In the past year I have learned the value of good friends and the importance of asking for help when you need it.

What has God been teaching you recently?
God has been teaching me to love and look at everyone as He does. He has taught me the importance of the relationships He brings into our lives and to know that each relationship has a reason, a season and a purpose.

Tell us about when you committed your life to Jesus?
I grew up going to church but did not know what it meant to have a relationship with God until my junior year in high school. My friend, now my soon-to-be sister-in-law, took me to a church that is nontraditional and opened my eyes to a whole new world of “church.” At Christ Community Church I learned what it meant to have a relationship with God and how to begin that relationship. After attending the church sporadically for a few months I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior. I was baptized last April at Timber Ridge and my life has been radically changed! God has definitely moved mountains in my life.

If you were stranded on a deserted island & could only have 3 things, what 3 things would you want?
Three things… Toothpaste/toothbrush (who wants nasty teeth!), iPod (I can’t go long without my music!), food (I wouldn’t last long without it!).

If you could have one talent or ability that you don't possess what would it be and why?
I would love to be able to draw. I love art and painting and all that creative stuff but I am just not the best with it.

Nothing would make me happier than spending a day......
Hiking with no one other than God.

You can find out more about Sara & connect via social media by clicking here.

2.16.2015

Meet The Team Monday

I've started a new blog post series that runs every Monday and introduces a new team member that serves at Timber Ridge in a leadership role. 

This week's Meet The Team Monday participant is Tyler Gilbert. Tyler is a Senior at Tarleton State University and currently serves in our intern program, specifically with our kids and students ministries. Tyler has been serving and volunteering at Timber Ridge since just a few months after the church launched in the fall of 2011. Here are some interesting facts about Tyler.

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? 
The one meal in Texas that would be worth fighting over… beef fajitas. 

What is your favorite restaurant in Stephenville?
My favorite restaurant in Stephenville would have to be Don Nico’s. 

What is your favorite Bible Verse? My favorite bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you, “Declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This verse is my favorite, because it reminds me that God always has a plan for me no matter the circumstance I am going through in my life.

Describe what you do at Timber Ridge in your own words: I am a ministry intern.  That means you can find me doing all kinds of jobs. Although my area of emphasis where God has blessed me with a gift to serve is in Timber Ridge Kids. On a Sunday morning typically during the 10 o clock service you will find me in Kids Ridge, then during the 1130 service you will see me greeting and ushering. Then on a Sunday night you will find me with the youth leading a small group.

What's your favorite hobby?
My favorite hobby is watching football. I love to watch any level of football and any team. I love the game and what it teaches young men about life. In case you didn’t know my favorite college football team is none other than the Oklahoma Sooners! My favorite pro team is the Dallas Cowboys!

What's something you learned in the past year?
Something I have learned in the past year, that it is ok to fail as long as you learn from that failure and don’t let it happen again. Basically it is being teachable being able to learn from those who have been in a similar circumstance before you. 

What has God been teaching you recently?
How to have better self control. Over the past few months, God has helped me kick some terrible habits that I have had since I was in high school.

If you were stranded on a deserted island & could only have 3 things, what 3 things would you want?
An airplane, fuel and a GPS system. If I have these things then I won’t be stranded anymore. 

Nothing would make me happier than spending a day...... 
Hanging out with my family. I know I am only 22, but my family has lots of lost time due to my dad’s deployments that I wish we could make up. I do not blame him however, because he joined the military to ensure his family was provided for. It was a hard time, but I think it has made my family stronger through it. 

Want to connect with Tyler on social media? Click here to see his Facebook page.

2.09.2015

Meet The Team Monday

I'm kicking off a new blog series that will introduce a new team member from Timber Ridge every Monday here on the blog. This will give those who call Timber Ridge Church their church home a chance to get to know the different people that serve on our staff and leadership team here at TRC. These blog posts will cover full-time staff, part-time staff and volunteer staff that serve in different aspects of our church. Check it out!

Our first "Meet The Team Monday" participant is Jordan Speegle. Jordan & his wife Kaylen have been on our team from day one and we're blessed to have them and their 2 year old son Hudson on the Timber Ridge Team. Jordan serves as our Director of Life Groups.


If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be 
Mexican food... I actually would do this willingly even with other options available 

What is your favorite movie or movie quote?
Hoosiers   Coach Dale: "Five players on the floor, functioning as one single unit...team, team, team...no one more important than the other"

What is your favorite Bible Verse? 
Psalms 27:1-3

Describe what you do at Timber Ridge in your own words:
A TON of behind the scenes stuff, helping connect people with our LifeGroups

What do you like best about your role at Timber Ridge?
Getting to be on the front lines of seeing God change lives!

What songs would be included on the soundtrack of your life?
I really love old school country music... give me a little Willie, Waylon, and Merle and I'll be good.

What's something you learned in the past year?
I'm a first time parent, so I feel like I learn something new everyday. It's amazing how a little person can change the way you look at things.

If you were stranded on a deserted island & could only have 3 things, what 3 things would you want?
An endless supply of Beans and Franks Southern Pecan coffee, a cup to drink it in, and fishing pole.

Nothing would make me happier than spending a day......
Either fishing with my dad or at DKR with 100,000 burnt orange clad Longhorn fans.

You can connect with Jordan on Facebook by clicking here.

2.02.2015

Leadership Lessons From The Super Bowl


Everyone in America seems to be talking about "the call." And if you watched the Super Bowl last night, you know which call I'm referring to. The Seattle Seahawks were down by 4 points and needed a touchdown to win. With one of the best and strongest running backs in the NFL, they were a virtual lock to score. They had almost a minute on the clock, one timeout, and less than a yard to the end zone. 

And what did they decide to do? They threw it. And unless you've been living under a rock, you know the results. The Seahawks threw an interception and the New England Patriots won Super Bowl 49.

In my opinion there are two great lessons that leaders can learn from the Seahawks unfortunate fate.  Here they are:

Leadership Lessons From Super Bowl 49

#1: Play To Your Strengths. The Seahawks dominate teams with power running. Marshawn Lynch's nickname is Beast Mode. With the game on the line, they chose to run a play that went away from their strengths. And it cost them. BIG TIME. Too many times leaders and organizations try to do things they're not good at. As a leader, don't try to be something your not. Play to your strengths and you'll be more successful.

#2: Trust Your Team. Marshawn Lynch had over 100 yards rushing in the Super Bowl. Beast Mode averaged 5 yards per carry in the postseason. He consistently carried two to three Patriot defenders for extra yardage in the game. Yet with the game on the line, Pete Carroll and the Seahawks coaching staff didn't hand him the ball. As a leader, you have to trust your team to do their jobs. Train them. Equip them. Raise them up. Then release them to make an impact for your organization. Good leaders surround themselves with others who can get the job done. And then they trust their team by giving them the opportunity to succeed.

I've always loved sports because I believe the games and the competition teach us so much about life. Sometimes the lessons are fun. Sometimes they are painful. The same is true with leadership. Good leaders learn to avoid pain and loss for the organizations they lead by playing to their strengths and by trusting in their teams.