Trinity Family, we wanted to share with you a few christian resources about how we as a church can think and respond to the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Below are responses from 1) our EFCA President Kevin Kompelien, and 2) the EFCA Executive Director of Theology & Credentialing Greg Strand. Please use these and share.

The Supreme Court’s ruling on Roe v. Wade is a reminder of the sanctity of life. As God's Word reveals, and as Evangelical Convictions describes, every human life, from conception to the grave and beyond, was made in the image of God and therefore has intrinsic dignity and worth.


The ruling on Friday, June 24, 2022, presents EFCA churches with an opportunity to provide compassion and support for pregnant mothers and their unborn children, along with their families and the communities where they live. Sadly, ending life through abortion will continue as states create their own legislation on the matter. In light of this reality, we must display what it means to be pro-life in the era post Roe v. Wade, especially in communities where access to abortion is now limited.

As voices across our nation continue to elevate the discourse surrounding abortion, we must listen to the Lord and His heart for the unborn, women, families and all who have experienced the brokenness of abortion.  To recommit to our convictions and consider how we should respond to this ruling, reflect on these truths found in the Holy Scriptures and the EFCA’s Statement of Faith.  

To begin, the brokenness of sin should not come as a surprise, but we praise God that Jesus paid the penalty for sin through His sacrificial death. Through Him we have hope. Article 3 of the EFCA Statement of Faith grounds us in the grace of God as we respond to the issue of abortion.  


As Article 3 states, sin affects us all. Paul shares in his letter to the church in Rome, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Let us remember that all of humanity is dead in sin, "sinners by nature and by choice," and in need of redemption.

Thankfully, Paul goes on to share wonderful news in Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us,” and further in Romans 10:9, “if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Finally, in Romans 8:1, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”  

We praise God for the work of Christ and the hope of the gospel. That same hope is available to those who have experienced the brokenness of abortion. While sin separates us from God, we must remember that we all, including those who decide to terminate a pregnancy or participate by some other means, can experience freedom from condemnation and receive His unmerited favor.  

Not only should the grace of God inform how we respond to this ruling, but we must also consider our responsibility as followers of Christ as we engage with our family, friends, communities and world.

Article 8 of the EFCA Statement of Faith gives us guidance as we navigate Christian living:


Let us draw our attention to three questions based on this article.

1. Are we rooted in the Scriptures? Our devotion to the inerrant Word of God will reveal His compassionate heart for those who know intimately the brokenness of sin—particularly the taking of life through abortion. In this circumstance—and all others we ever encounter—what we learn, obey and trust in the Scriptures will help us bear witness to the gospel in word and deed.
2. Are we attuned to the Spirit’s power? Without the guidance, empowerment and indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, we will not be conformed into the image of Christ and adequately represent His Kingdom in our society. In our own strength, our efforts to stand for the sanctity of life will fail.
3. Are we fervent in prayer? We must not forget that our almighty God responds to the petitions of His people and is at work in our world. Be confident in your requests for wisdom, discernment and provision as you seek His will in your life following this ruling.

EFCA family, the sanctity of life will remain under threat from issues beyond the termination of pregnancies. Let us continue to combat the spiritual forces of evil "with God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name.” Reflect on these questions and ask how God is calling you and your church community to respond.

Moving forward, consider what it means to be truly pro-life. May we, the EFCA, as followers of Jesus and people of the Scriptures, reflect the heart of Christ for those who bear the image of God—from conception to the grave—and serve as ambassadors of His compassion and restoration in our hurting and broken world.

Pray and respond with the EFCA to that end.

With the SCOTUS decision on June 24, 2022, to overturn Roe v. Wade, when we, the body of Christ, gather in our local churches on Sunday, let’s join together in prayer, giving thanks that the sanctity of life has been affirmed and asking for wisdom to live out with convictional kindness next steps in our affirmation of life.

• We give thanks the ruling affirms God’s truth that all of life is sacred, particularly those most vulnerable human beings in the womb.

• We pray for all those who have experienced the brokenness of sin in the taking of life through abortion (approximately 63 million babies since 1973), and we pray the healing hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ will be received such that “there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”

• We pray we will continue to uphold the sanctity of life with conviction (the faith once for all entrusted to the saints regarding life) and we will engage with others with kindness (family, fellow church members, friends, neighbors, community): convictional kindness.

• We pray against the enemy and the spiritual forces of evil in this world, who seek to steal, kill and destroy life and who blind the minds of unbelievers, using the spiritual means of “God’s Word, the Spirit’s power, and fervent prayer in Christ’s name.”

• We pray God’s name will be hallowed, His kingdom will come, His will will be done, on earth as it is in heaven, and that we, His adopted sons and daughters in Christ in the church, will reflect the heart of Christ for all those who bear the image of God and serve as ambassadors of His compassion and restoration in our hurting and broken world.

Trinity Family,

During Commitment Month 2022, we have committed to being disciples and to making disciples at Trinity. Pastor Ryan challenged us to find one person and commit to spending one hour a week for six weeks with them to talk about what it means to be a disciple of God. This time is meant to be personal and real. It will stretch your faith and hopefully grow the faith of the one you are talking too. Because it is personal, we are not giving you step by step instructions on how this time should look. Instead, we are asking you to trust the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to direct your conversation. Just like Jesus sent the disciples out with just the clothes on their back, we are sending you. Trust the Holy Spirit who lives in you and the Word of God as God’s truth to guide you.

If you don’t know where to begin (which is sometimes the biggest roadblock), here are some prompts, ideas, and resources that you can use as the Lord leads. The staff of Trinity is also here if you have any questions or just need guidance. The point is, take the first step in faith and your faith to guide you!  God will never leave you nor forsake you along the way. May God richly bless you as you “grow out” in faith as His disciples.  

Resources & Prompts

• Testimony: How do believers record their testimony?
One outline would be: 1. My life before God (lost). 2. How I came to know Jesus as Savior (repentance). 3. My life now in Christ (sanctification).  
How do believers use their testimony to testify of God’s goodness and to witness to the Lost?

• The importance of daily time in God’s Word: How to do it. The value of keeping a journal.

• Holiness and Honor: A study in 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

• Godly living: A study through 2 Peter 1:3-11, Romans 12:9-21

• How do you share the gospel: Knowing what verses to share i.e. 1 Corinthians 15:1-8, Romans 3:10,23; 5:8; 6:23; 10:9. John 3:16-17 (see Train and grow resource on Cru Website)

• Discuss the importance of the ten points of Trinity’s statement of faith. (They can be found on Trinityfree.com or on EFCA.org)

• How to raise Children in the Lord: A study through the book of Proverbs. Deuteronomy 6:1-7; 11:19

• The fruit of the Spirit: A study of Galatians 5.

• Who is God? A study through Exodus 34 and Hebrews 1

• Why does forgiveness matter? A study of 1 John and Ephesians 4

• How do I pray? A study through Matthew 6

Online resources:

Train and Grow Cru Resources
https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow.html
leaders discipleship guide

1. Fruit of the spirit
 https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/what-are-the-fruit-of-the-spirit.html

2. Raising Kids
https://www.focusonthefamily.ca/content/raising-kids-who-love-christ
https://answersingenesis.org/family/fathers-raise-your-children-in-the-lord/

3. Statements of Faith
https://www.efca.org/sof

4. How to share the gospel
https://www.cru.org/us/en/train-and-grow/share-the-gospel.html
https://www.sonlife.com/blog/sharing-the-gospel/

5. How to share your testimony
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/sharing-your-testimony/
https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/webfm_send/334

6. Living a Godly Life
https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/spiritual-life/what-is-necessary-to-live-a-godly-life.html
https://insight.org/resources/daily-devotional/individual/the-godly-life1

7. Holiness and Honor
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/series/holiness-of-god/the-importance-of-holiness

8. Devotional/Time with God
https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/importance-our-devotional-lives

9. Marriage
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/topics/marriage/

10. Prayer
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/joy-sorrow-and-the-healthy-prayer-life
https://www.crosswalk.com/faith/prayer/how-to-develop-a-dynamic-prayer-life.html
https://youngadults.lifeway.com/2011/04/3-steps-to-a-healthier-prayer-life/

Trinity Family, 

As we enter into 2022, we want you to have deep roots in God's Word so that you can faithfully believe in Jesus, love like Jesus, & and serve with Jesus. Please enjoy the attached reading plans below that our church member Richard Mastronardo put together. There are eight different plans, each emphasizing a different category or type of reading through the Bible. We pray that God will speak to you clearly as you commit to reading His living word - for it will not return void!

Grace & Peace to you,
Pastoral Staff of Trinity

>> 2022 Through the Bible Once Reading Plan
This simple plan will take you through the entire Bible in one year, reading for about 20 – 30 minutes per day, and with Sundays used as times of meditation. If you have never read through the Bible before this is a great place to begin.

>> 2022 Advanced Reading Plan
If you have read through the Bible in a Year before and are looking for something new, or if you have a strong desire to increase your understanding and knowledge of scripture then this plan is for you. This reading plan will help you gain a greater overview of the Scriptures in a number of ways. First, you will go through the Bible three times in one year. That's only 12 chapters a day or about 1 – 11⁄2 hours of reading but that is only for 25 days out of the month. I can promise you, the rewards are worth the effort. Each day you are reading from the Old Testament, New Testament, and a Poetic book to keep it refreshing and varied. Second, the readings have been organized in related portions. So, for example, as you read about the life of David in 1 Samuel, you will also be reading his Psalms getting insights on his life from those writings. Third, you will gain a greater knowledge of the big picture, message, events, and characters of each of the books which will aid your understanding.

>> 2022 Chronological Reading Plan
Have you ever wanted to read the Biblical narrative in its historical chronological order? Then this study is for you. This plan allows you to read through the Bible in a year but in its historical order. This plan was modified from one created by John A. Battle, Th. D. of Western Reformed Seminary.
The books are broken down based on their content and interspersed with poetry and accounts from other passages to provide you with a complete historical view (with the exception of the four gospels – those are ordered according to the time of their writing ). This plan will provide a useful approaching in understanding the timings of all the events and people of the Bible.

>> 2022 MacArthur Reading Plan
Adapted from John MacArthur’s book Unleashing God’s Word in Life, this plan takes you through the Old Testament once in a year but through the New Testament six times. In the Old Testament you will read three chapters for six days a week, with Sundays being used for times of reflection and meditations. In the New Testament you read a larger section (either the entire book or half of larger books) each day. This will allow you get a greater understanding of each of these books since you will be reading them in one sitting, as most were meant to be read. The smaller, one chapter books are interspersed among the readings to even out the ‘book at a time’ approach.

>> 2022 Narrative + Poetry Bible Reading Plan
This simple plan will take you through the entire Bible in one year reading for about 20 – 30 minutes per day, and with Sundays used as times of meditation. In this format you will have two readings each day, one from a Biblical narrative and the second from one of the poetry books. This allows you to go slower through the readings and mediate and focus on the poetry portions with more detail.

>> 2022 Old Testament Reading Plan
This simple plan will go through the OT once in a year and will help you obtain the big picture of the Old Testament.

>> 2022 New Testament Reading Plan
This simple plan will take you through the entire New Testament in one year, reading one chapter for about 10 – 20 minutes per day, and with Saturdays and Sundays used as times of meditation. If reading through the entire Bible seems daunting, then this is a great place to begin.

>> 2022 Commands of Christ Reading Plan
This simple plan will take you through 52 commands of Jesus (once per week). This plan is a great plan to add onto one of the other plans for supplemental reading. It is also a great plan to grow through if you are new to reading the Bible. 

June 23rd, 2021
Greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!

By now, you have probably heard that I am taking a three-month sabbatical this summer starting in July. According to our by-laws, the church gives the lead pastor this time every five years to rest, renew and reimagine. I will be taking this time to rest proactively and research for better work in the future. The sabbatical isn’t a vacation from ministry but rather a part of every active ministry.

Full-time ministry is demanding, and few people recognize the spiritual and physical toll it takes on a pastor. Lifeway Research reports that 1700 pastors leave the ministry every month! The most common reason for this exodus is burnout. It’s a big job, and that’s why God established the sabbath. He first modeled the sabbath in Genesis 2:2-3 where He ceased working on the seventh day to rest. Jesus also modeled the sabbath when he went off many times to be alone with the Father. He then commanded his disciples to “come away and rest” (Mark 6:31) as a part of ministry. I am so grateful for a church body that supports rest and renewal for their pastors.

I have appreciated all the encouragement I have received from so many of you telling me that I’ve “earned” this time to get away and rest. We have seen God do so much together these last five years. We can look back together and see how much God has done! I plan to use this sabbath time to build on the momentum we have and catapult us forward with a fresh new vision. For five years, we have been building up the foundations of our church. Now it’s time to build out into the community.

What do the next three months look like for Trinity Church?
The pastoral staff; and the elected boards have been working diligently to put a plan into place not to lose any momentum while I am away. Our Associate Pastor, Andy, will be preparing and delivering sermons every week. He is a Spirit-led man of God, and I have complete confidence in his abilities. The other leaders, as well as the elders, and administration board, will also be sharing the day-to-day ministry needs. They are intentionally making themselves available, and I am fully confident that this will be a fruitful season for the church all around.

In my absence, I would like to challenge each of you as members of the body of Christ to be intentional with your spiritual gifts to build up the church. I am only one person out of many. Please use this time to serve and volunteer if you see a need. Please pray! Pray for our ministry this summer. Pray for Andy and the leaders as they serve, and please pray that I am faithful to use this sabbatical time wisely. I will miss seeing you all, and I already look forward to the next five years and beyond. May God bless you and the ministry at Trinity Church.

In His Service,

What is a sabbatical? Click the link below to learn more about the biblical basis for sabbaticals.

Trinity Family,

This Easter we will welcome many visitors to our worship gatherings. A lot of these guests will step into a church service for the first time! Many, I suspect, do not call themselves Christians. Guests notice and usually comment on how loving a fellowship is (or is not) by their willingness to welcome newcomers. The following are just 10 ways we can help guests feel welcome and at home each Sunday, but especially this coming Easter Sunday.

1. "Leave the parking spaces closest to the entrances for your guests, expectant mothers, and senior adults."

2. "Greet everyone you see with a smile whether you know them or not."
From the time, you step out of your vehicle, greet everyone with a friendly smile and tell them how glad you are to see them. Use the time from the parking lot to the seat to greet visitors and to get to know other members.

3. "Introduce yourself to those you don’t know."
If you don’t know someone, take the time to greet them and introduce yourself. It will make all the difference in the world.

4. "Assist those who don’t seem to know where they are going."
Remember, you may know where everything is in your church building, but your guests are not familiar with our facilities. Take time to show them around, and offer to take them to where they need to go.

5. "Fill the seats at the front of the meeting room first when you enter to worship."
Late comers and guests do not like to parade before the entire congregation on their way to find a seat. If you fill the seats up front (and scoot in toward the middle), then visitors and late comers can slip in without having to walk in front of the entire congregation.

6. "Don’t rush off after the service."
Instead, take a few minutes to greet visitors and other members you do not normally see. Thank them for attending your services and invite them to come again.

7. "Make sure the church building is clean and welcoming."
If you have time this week, pop in and help us prepare the church building for guests. If you see a mess, help us clean it up.  Many people, right or wrong, will judge the church on its facility and signage. Help us make sure that we use our campus for God’s glory.  

8. "Invite visitors out or to your home for a meal."
One of the best ways to get to know someone is to share a meal together. Practice Christian hospitality by inviting someone to eat lunch with you after worship.

9. "Invite first time visitors to worship with you again."
You will be amazed how much weight a personal invitation carries. Encourage visitors to return and worship with you on a regular Sunday.

10. "Above all, let’s preach the gospel!"
While all these ideas are helpful and provide a welcoming environment, they mean nothing if we don’t preach the gospel! If the whole Bible is about Christ, the gospel should be present in our sermons each week.

Right or wrong, visitors will form an opinion about our churches within the first few minutes after they arrive. Make every effort to welcome guests this Easter Sunday (and every other Sunday) through genuine, Christian love and hospitality. And be sure to point them to Christ—the whole point of Easter Sunday!

Trinity Family, 

I still remember the first time I saw a motion picture about the life of Jesus, and the scene of Jesus reacting to what he saw at the Temple. It is a dramatic scene where Jesus overturns the tables of the moneychangers and drives out the sacrificial animals and birds.  In a loud voice he is quoting scripture saying “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers” (Mark 11:17). It is in Isaiah 56 where we learn that God names his house a house of prayer.  “These will I bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer.  Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar, for my house will be called a HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL NATIONS.”  Isaiah 56:7

So there you have it!  God names His house a “house of prayer”!  It almost begs the question as to why we haven’t followed this nomenclature that God gave us.  Imagine if every church and temple changed their name to include “house of prayer”.  This won’t ever happen, but it would certainly give credence to the importance of prayer in the church! Many church meetings wonderfully begin and end with prayer. However, there are many examples in the Bible where the whole purpose of meeting was to pray.  Prayer and praying together was an important element in the early church:
>> Acts 1:14 “They all joined together constantly in prayer”
>> Acts 2:42 “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer”.
>> Acts 12:12 “… where many people had gathered and were praying”

This is why here at Trinity Church we are re-emphasizing the importance of prayer. This is being done from the pulpit and in various other ways. As you know, we started the “31 Days of Prayer” leading up to Easter Sunday. Additionally, after Sunday services some of the church leaders gather at the large wood cross for anyone who wishes to be prayed over.  The Monday evening Bible study group just started a six-week course titled “The Essentials of Effective Prayer”.  We can also twist this title around to say “prayer is essential to be effective”.  

It is a blessing to all of us at Trinity Church that we collectively improve our prayer lives and ultimately experience a more intimate union with God. We don’t need to change our church name or the sign out front to be known as the name God gives His church, a house of prayer!

Yours in Christ,
Rick DiGioia

Trinity Family,

It was 15 years ago but I still remember the moment that I experienced an epiphany… a sudden insight into something obvious that had since escaped my understanding.  I was driving on a highway and my thoughts were on what I would write for a witness I was giving for an upcoming men’s retreat. I began contemplating what it means to know that God is our Father, our Creator and that we are all His children. I started thinking of how deeply I loved my own children and how much I gladly provided for their needs.  I thought of how much joy they added to my life and that I would never stop loving and protecting them for any reason.

Then I thought about what I wanted most from my children…to be loved, respected and appreciated. I wanted them to act unselfishly, be kind to others, and to live according to the teachings of Jesus. What I most desired was to just always have a close and loving relationship with them.  That is when it hit me… I suddenly realized that what God desires from me is very similar to what I desire from my own children. For some reason I had never thought of it from that perspective.

As a father I would not be satisfied if my children only spent an hour with me on Sunday and then completely ignored me the rest of the week. I want my children to ask me for help when they need it. I expect them to want to spend time together, not out of obligation or guilt. I want to always be loved and appreciated by them.

As such, God desires for us to love and appreciate Him and to have a personal relationship. This is why prayer is so important.  It is through prayer that we create a more intimate relationship with God. It is through prayer that we express our appreciation to God as well as share the concerns of our heart. Whether we are on our knees or taking a walk, all prayer is communication with God. As any couple will attest, communication is essential to having a happy and healthy relationship.

I hope you are trying and enjoying the “31 Days of Prayer” that we have started at Trinity. It is not too late to start if you haven’t yet.  I like that each day the prayers begin and end with prayers of gratitude and praise to God. God desires and deserves our praise and not just our prayer requests. Increasing our conversations with God can only help to deepen our relationship and understanding of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who in John 15 said He no longer calls us servants but friends.  

Yours in Christ,
Rick DiGioia

Trinity family,

Last year Pastor Andy introduced me and my wife Angie to the church members during one of the 10:30 a.m. services.  It was made known that we visited Trinity Church after talking with Steve and Donna Overmire who were working the Pumpkin Patch sales one weekend.  The last-minute decision to follow a sign in the hopes of finding a pumpkin was completely random.  However, we firmly believe the outcome was undoubtedly planned by God.   Prior to knowing anything about a pumpkin patch or Trinity Free Church, Angie and I asked a group of men and women from our Friday morning bible study to pray for us for the purpose of finding a church.  The next day we made that quick decision to get a pumpkin and ultimately found an answer to our prayers.  

The experience of looking for a pumpkin but finding a church is just another example of how God answers prayer. Our internet searches and weekend drive-by’s of churches were completely ineffective compared to what God was able to do with a dozen people praying in one accord.  I never tire of hearing someone exclaim “my prayers have been answered”!  We all feel thankful and happy when prayers are answered, but should we feel so surprised?  After all, we are sons and daughters of the Most-High God who hears our pleas and answers our prayers according to His will.

One of my favorite parts of the Sunday morning service at Trinity is when we all bow our heads and are led in prayer by one of the Pastors. It is a special moment to experience the power of a praying group of believers. In todays’ busy world, many people are not satisfied with the amount of time they spend in prayer. However, prayer is an essential element in building intimacy with God and deserves our focus and attention. This season of Lent is a great time to recommit ourselves to improving our prayer life. There are many bible verses that can help with this.  One of my favorites is Philippians 4:6-7… “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.  And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”.  

For the next 31 days, Trinity Church is committing ourselves to prayer as a church body. We are going to do exactly what Paul says, “in everything… let our requests be made known to God”. For each day leading up to the death and resurrection of our Messiah on Easter weekend, we will be provided with a one-page prayer outline for us to pray through. These daily prayer guides will be made available each week in paper form and online via the church app and weekly newsletter. You can also find the prayer guide link below.

I am confident that when we commit to prayer God will do amazing things, but most of all, we will grow closer to Him. I hope that you will join us in this 31 days of prayer and that this challenge will ultimately bring you the peace of God that surpasses all understanding!

Yours in Christ,
Rick DiGioia

[UPDATED]
Trinity Family,

We are glad to write to you all about an exciting season in our church! Many of you know that our worship & youth director, Trevor Horton, has accepted the call to be the lead pastor at Cornerstone EFCA church in Rochester, Minnesota. We are excited for how God will use Trevor, Jennifer, Maddie, and Grayson in their new church, and we all pray for God’s blessing upon them. We will miss the Horton’s and the ministry they leave behind. Trevor’s official last day with Trinity will be Sunday, February 14th.

As a Search Committee, we’ve been tasked with finding a Youth Pastor candidate to come in and lead our youth ministry. This process started back in late October of 2020 when Trevor initially felt led to follow God’s call into lead ministry. Pastor Ryan recommended an awesome candidate, Zane Balmer, to the Elders, who was then recommended to the Search Committee. Zane has now visited Trinity twice and was introduced to the church on Sunday, December 6th, 2020 at both the 8am & 10:30am services. Our Elders, Staff, and Search Committee participants have had the opportunity to sit and meet with Zane. As a church membership, we discussed these transitions at our Congregational Meeting on Sunday, December 13th, 2020.  

We are thrilled as a committee to have officially approved Zane Balmer as the Youth Pastor Candidate!

1. The Search Committee met with Zane & Mackenzie Balmer on Monday night, January 25th. We've unanimously approved him as the youth pastor candidate to go before the congregation.
2. We will have a candidacy weekend THIS Sunday, January 31st, at the 9am Sunday school hour for Q&A time. Please invite any families, friends, and youth that would like to attend to get to know Zane and his wife Mackenzie.
3. Congregational Meeting | We will present Zane Balmer as the Youth Pastor candidate to the voting members at our Congregational Meeting on Sunday, February 7th immediately after the 10:30am worship service. We will perform a short and efficient meeting with an audible vote. If you cannot attend the congregational meeting, we will have it live-streamed on our church Facebook page and we will have an online ballot form available and emailed out to you.
4. If approved by the voting members of the congregation, Zane’s starting date would be Sunday, February 14th.

God continues to provide for Trinity! We are thankful to our Lord Jesus and we pray for His blessing upon the Horton family and our candidacy process with the Balmer’s.

On behalf of the search committee, if you have any questions please contact me, George Hamrick, at (352) 516-3762 or email me at hamrickgj@yahoo.com. May God unite us all in His Spirit.

God Bless,
Trinity Church Search Committee

I wanted to give you a recap of our congregational meeting from December 13th, 2020. I'd say our meeting was more of a "celebration" because we have seen God move in our church family in many great ways this past year!

Please check out the video below (from our facebook livestream) in case you were curious or had missed out on the meeting.

Two key moments from the meeting were the 1) church budget approval, & 2) approval of new deacon board members.
1. Our church members voted favorably to approve the proposed 2021
Ministry Budget
2. Our church members voted favorably to approve the proposed new Deacon
Board members (Brandy Feagan, Anthony Goldsmith, & Donna Overmire)

If you didn't get a copy of the 2021 budget or have other financial, administrative related questions, please don't hesitate to reach out.

May we continue to live in increasing faith in our awesome God!
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Andy

Greetings Trinity Family!

I wanted to keep you up to date with what we are doing as a staff to continue to hold in-person church services as we face rising COVID-19 cases in Florida. Now that we are in July, we have transitioned to a 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM services, while also live-streaming on our Trinity Facebook page, and uploading the sermon to our website at a later time for those who are more comfortable at home.

Here are the ways we are still planning & moving forward:

·      Communication & Online Content: We are continuing to invest into our online presence as a church via podcasts, videos, facebook, pre-recorded sermons, our church app, blogs (like this one), zoom interviews, weekly newsletters, and even live streaming our Sunday morning services. If you are not checking these things out regularly, you are missing out on some great biblical content! We are continuing to look for ways to equip you & others for fellowship, discipleship, & evangelism through various online avenues. trinityfree.com is where it's at! 

·      Deep Clean: We regularly maintain a high level of cleanliness during this season of life, with cleaners coming in twice a week.

·      Social Distancing: We have less seating available within the sanctuary, which means more spacing between rows. (We've capped seating to 100 chairs). Our first Sunday service is a mask-only 8am gathering, and our second service is a mask-optional 1030am gathering. Don't have a mask? Don't worry, we have masks available in the front lobby as you enter on Sunday mornings.

·      Supplies: We provide hand sanitizer, soap, tissues, and other cleaning supplies for you within the building during services.

·      Committing to Prayer: We ask that you pray along with us as we seek discernment and wisdom from the Lord as Elders, leaders & staff. Your Trinity Church Team & “Prayer Warriors” regularly pray for our church family, so we invite you to submit your prayer requests and needs whether through email, phone call, or stopping by the church office.

·      Children’s Ministry: Both our Nursery and J.A.M. Sunday morning children’s ministries will be available. Our Children’s Ministry Director, Lisa Simpson, will have her leaders and volunteers limit the amount of kids per room, as we have plenty of space in the Impact Center to spread out and distance if necessary. Each week, we have a dedicated nursery cleaner who deeply cleans the nursery rooms, toys, and surfaces.

·      Adult Sunday School: Our Adult Sunday school classes are meeting regularly, being mindful of distancing and number of people in attendance.

·      Food/Drink Policies: Our coffee room is open again, with individual cups, creamers, sugar packets, and lids. You are also welcome to bring your own coffee. We will not provide Sunday morning snacks.

·      Order of Service: We do not pass the plate for tithes & offerings but instead ask you tithe online on our website at www.trinityfree.com, or drop off your tithes in the box in our front lobby. Our greeters will be asked to not shake hands, and we will not provide a time of greeting at the beginning of our services.

I hope that you are staying connected with your small groups, bible studies, prayer partners, and one another! If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to us at the church office: (352) 589-5673, office@trinityfree.com.

Until then, we hope you’ll join us at our 8:00 AM "mask-only" service & 10:30 AM "mask-optional" service, or connect with us online here at trinityfree.com!

Grace & Peace,
Pastor Andy

On May 25th, George Floyd, an African American, was tragically killed when Minnesota Police officer Derek Chauvin, a white man, pinned him down with his knee on his neck for almost nine minutes. This terrible event sparked racial outrage throughout the nation. commune that with the unsteadiness of the last three months of COVID-19 and it created and explosion of chaos. Protests turned into violent riots around the nation destroying and lotting businesses, defacing national monuments and dividing our nation even more.

My heart hurts over the pain and loss all this has caused. These are uncertain days and the question is how should the church respond to this? Or another question would be, how do we engage with our culture and still represent Christ? There is a temptation to quickly react to the chaos and draw assumptions that make you either for or against a particular side. We must resist that “knee jerk reaction” and instead go to our knees in prayer. What does God tell us about all of this in the bible?

I believe that terrorism, racism, and division are symptoms of a greater condition. The ugliness of racism has been around for thousands of years and is found in every race. This hatred comes from one source – sin. We have ignored God’s definition of the human race. “God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them" (Genesis 1:27). This means that every human was originally designed to reflect the image and glory and beauty of God. In Psalm 139 David writes, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful; I know that full well.”

Different colored skin serves as the paint for an artist’s masterpiece.  If the world would recognize this, there would be no racism. However, we have scoffed at His ways and instead of reflecting God, man now reflects themself and their own glory. We must remember that sin has corrupted the heart of mankind. James 4:1 says “What causes conflicts and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from the passions at war within you? You crave what you do not have; you kill and covet, but are unable to obtain it. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask.”

The answer to racism, division, and riots and every other manifestation of sin is the one who has defeated sin! Jesus is the answer for the world today. There is real division in our culture today. There is real racism that needs to be dealt with. There is real terrorism and fear. And there is a real savior that has the power over sin and darkness.

Our response? I can think of two things. First, now more than ever, we need to share the good news of Jesus Christ! People will not be able to deal with the condition of sin on their own. No amount of rioting or protesting will ever satisfy the soul’s need for righteousness.  We must pray for those who hurt and come alongside them with the hope of salvation. Where sin and Satan divide, Jesus unifies.

The second response I can think of is just as critical. The Church (capital C) must exhibit God’s definition of unity. That’s God’s design for the church. We are strongest when we are together. Not even the gates of hell can prevail against the church. Be reminded that Romans 2:11 says, “There is no partiality (favoritism) with God.”  Now that we are baptized under the name of Jesus Galatians 3:28 tells us, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” When Jesus prayed for the church he said, “I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one", John 17:11.

This does not mean that we're all the same and that the church must all look the same. Instead, like a beautiful choir with many voices singing one harmonious song, the church of all ethnic backgrounds must come together in “unified diversity”.  When we sing the Saviors song together, revival will come to land.

- “Our battle is not with flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms", 
Ephesians 6:12.
- “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone”, 
Romans 12:17.
- “In your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect", 
2 Peter 3:15.

May God’s people pray and be stirred to love a hurting world.
In Christ, 

Greetings Trinity Family!

I am excited to share with you that we are having a soft-reopening of Sunday morning church services beginning June 7th. Let me first say that we are playing everything by ear, dependent upon the state of Florida and their phases of reopening businesses and restaurants at limited operating capacities. We will follow suit with our own process of transitioning back into Sunday morning services by offering three service options:
8:30 AM, 10:30 AM, and 6:30 PM night service.

The reason we have provided three service options is because we can not have 100+ people at the 10:30 AM service. We still have to respect the state guidelines and in respect to our own church family, practice some social distancing guidelines. This means that there will be limit to our seating capacity at 100 people per service (though we don’t believe we will have that many attenders to begin with.  So, here’s where you come into play - the Elders and I are asking that you commit to attending only one service time. We’ve created on online survey that we strongly recommend you fill out so that we can best plan and prepare in case we need to shift people around. Please click the button below to fill out the form:

When we do reopen and restart we will begin with less capacity and slowly move into full capacity as able. I also want to share with you a list of goals and steps we are taking as leaders and staff to prepare. Our denomination, the EFCA, has provided an outline for us that we are currently working towards. Here’s how we are planning:

·      Communication: regularly informing you of any changes updates about our plan for reopening (sign up for our weekly email newsletter, reach out to your pastors as well).

·      Deep Clean: We are working on a "deep clean" of the entire building—bathrooms, carpets, fellowship areas, tables in classrooms, nursery equipment, etc. We will regularly maintain a high level of cleanliness during this transition and season of life.

·      Social Distancing: Less seating will be available within the sanctuary, which means more spacing between rows. (In the case that we have too many guests, we will cap & limit capacity of people within the building). If you are more comfortable wearing a mask, you are welcome to, but we do not require it nor discourage it. There will not be a time of greeting during the services.

·      Supplies: We regularly provide hand sanitizer, soap, tissues, and other cleaning supplies for you within the building during services.

·      Committing to Prayer: We ask that you pray along with us as we seek discernment and wisdom from the Lord for our leaders & staff as we seek guidance about reopening. Our Leaders, Pastors & “Prayer Warriors” regularly pray for our church family, so we invite you to submit your prayer requests and needs whether through email, phone call, or stopping by the church office.

·      Children’s Ministry: Both our Nursery and J.A.M. Sunday morning children’s ministries will be available, but we will only provide a nursery for the Sunday night service. Our Children’s Ministry Director, Lisa Simpson, will have her leaders and volunteers limit the amount of kids per room, as we have plenty of space in the Impact Center to spread out and distance if necessary. We also regularly clean all toys and surfaces within our children’s ministries rooms.

·      Adult Sunday School: Our ABF’s (adult bible fellowships) will not be meeting during the first few weeks of our reopening. We will work towards providing these studies again, but will begin our reopening process by postponing the studies.

·      Food/Drink Policies: Our coffee room & Sunday morning food spread will not be available as we begin reopening. You are welcome to bring your own coffee.

·      Order of Service: We do not pass the plate for tithes & offerings but instead ask you tithe online on our website at www.trinityfree.com, or drop off your tithes in the box in our front lobby. Our greeters will be asked to not shake hands, and we will not provide a time of greeting at the beginning of our services.

I hope that you are staying connected with your small groups, bible studies, prayer partners, and one another as we all adjust to this “new normal” in our community, state, and world.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me by text, email, or phone call. Email - ryan.schmitz@trinityfree.com, church office - (352)589-5673.

Until then, we hope you’ll join us at our Final Drive-In 10:00 AM church service May 17th. We will transition to only having online services for May 24th and May 31st so we can prepare for our soft reopening on June 7th. I invite you to stay up to date with our prerecorded sermons, devotionals, and other information at our website, www.trinityfree.com.

God bless you and your families! It is a pleasure to serve you as we grow in belief, love, and service like Jesus.  
Ryan Schmitz
LEAD PASTOR

2 Timothy 1:7, “For God did not give us a spirit of fear. He gave us a spirit of power and of love and of a good mind.”


Trinity family,
I just wanted to take a moment to thank you for all you do. Without people to be the hands and feet for Jesus, we are just lost sheep wandering a lost world.
We are all aware that things are changing every day and as the church, we are trying to make sound decisions on behalf of the congregation, community, and our families.
Ryan and Andy will be addressing the schedule changes and keeping everyone updated the best we can. My role is to remind everyone that it's going to be much more difficult for Trinity to be effective in all we do if we fall behind on our tithes and giving.
Our number one concern is the safety of our congregation, especially those at risk. With that in mind, I want to remind you that there are a couple of ways to keep up with your gifts and giving without leaving your home.

1. The website.
   You can go to www.trinityfree.com, click on giving and follow the instructions. It's very easy or here's a direct link to the giving page… —> (Click Here)
2. You can go old school and use the US mail. The address is, Trinity Church, 890 Abrams Rd. Eustis, FL 32726. 

Thanks again for all you do. We are praying for all of you and ask you to pray for us as we lead the church through these uncharted waters.

God bless you all.
Jim Budzynski
Elder Board Chairman


1 John 4:18, “There is no fear in love. Perfect love puts fear out of our hearts...”

Trinity Family,
The leadership at the church is staying informed with all information and updates regarding the coronavirus in our country. Even though we understand that the threat is low, we are taking preventative measures. At this point we are not canceling any services or church events throughout the week. However, we are asking that you to take simple preventative measures as you would in any flu season like washing your hands and avoiding gatherings if you are experiencing flu like symptoms.
 During this season: 
Attending Services and Ministry Events – If you have any symptoms of coughing, sneezing, fever, nausea, chills/sweats, achiness, or any flu-like symptoms, please stay home. This applies not only to our corporate worship services, but to mid-week ministry events, meetings, bible studies, and small groups. If you are scheduled to serve or volunteer, please let your ministry leader know as soon as you can if you are not able to serve.
Children – Please do not send your children to the Nursery or J.A.M. or midweek meeting times if they are experiencing any of the above symptoms and consider staying home for the weekend. We sanitize all of our toys weekly and any time they are used. We also will have children wash hands with soap/water.
Weakened Immune Systems – If you have a weakened immune system or other underlying conditions that would make you more susceptible to any virus, we urge you to follow the advice of your doctor and to err on the side of caution on whether to attend or not in the coming weeks.
State Mandates – Some states have encouraged gatherings, including churches, to suspend for a time. We would follow the recommendation of our local governments if such a directive were to be made, for both services and ministry gatherings.
Sunday Mornings - We have provided sanitary gel that is located throughout the church building that we encourage you to use. We have reduced our Sunday morning food to only pre-packaged snacks verses the bigger meal. We are not going to include a “time of greeting” in the service where we shake the hand of someone next to you. We are asking our front door greeters not to shake hands. We are recommending that all attenders find alternative ways to greet each other, whether a simple “hello,” a wave, or an elbow bump.
If you cannot make it to a church service, please worship with us online by watching our sermons, tithing and giving online, and subscribing to our weekly newsletter. 
May God keep you well through the season and may we shine faith and certainty as we trust in Jesus.

In Him,
Pastor Ryan Schmitz