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WOMEN We are a ministry for all women in all seasons of life, focused on providing opportunities to connect women to Jesus Christ and to one another through: God’s Word Prayer Fellowship Service Throughout the year, we offer a variety of opportunities to learn and grow together, including small group Bible studies, large group gatherings, and seasonal events. All women who attend Cedarbrook Community Church (and their friends!) are invited to join us! Make me to know your ways, O Lord; Teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long . Psalm 25:4-5 Women's Annual Retreat Join us for an unforgettable weekend to deepen your connection with God, led by our inspiring speaker Stephanie Rousselle, founder of Gospel Spice Ministries and host of the Gospel Spice podcast. The theme for the weekend is “Delighting in God” based on Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”. SIGN UP THE MOMCO Bringing Moms Together Join us for valuable insights, meaningful conversations, and a chance to build lasting friendships. We meet every 2nd & 4th Monday from 7-9pm at Cedarbrook. SIGN UP THE BRIDGE Single Moms Our single moms ministry meets every month for dinner on the 3rd Saturday. Join us for encouragement, friendship and support. Children are welcome. MORE INFO VOLUNTEER CONTACT

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HOME FOR THE CURIOUS AND THE COMMITTED Becoming followers of Jesus, bringing the good news of Jesus to the world WELCOME HOME Cedarbrook is a community of Christ-followers comprised of all ages, ethnicities, and stories. If you’re looking to grow in faith, build meaningful relationships, and serve the community, we’d love for you to join us. Sundays at 9:30 & 11:15am Livestream at 9:30am LIVESTREAM CONNECT CARD ADVENT READING PLAN STAY CONNECTED SUBSCRIBE DOWNLOAD APP THIS SUNDAY Are you searching for something more—something real? This Christmas season, let’s slow down and reflect on the true meaning of Advent. Together, we’ll explore the words of Isaiah, a prophet who envisioned the future and pointed to salvation: Jesus, the Son of Heaven. Join us this December as we discover how placing our trust in God’s Son can fill us with hope, comfort, peace, and life. JOIN US COMPASSION UPDATE UPCOMING EVENTS CONNECT NIGHT DECEMBER 16 | 6:30PM SIGN UP CHRISTMAS EVE DECEMBER 24 MORE INFO

MISSION & VISION OUR MISSION Our mission is to help people BECOME radical Christ-followers, to BRING the good news about Jesus Christ, and be a BRIDGE of Christ's love to those who don't know Him through service. OUR VISION Our vision is to be a disciple-making, missional church committed to planting new churches in the Baltimore-Washington DC metro area and beyond with the goal of reaching unreached people groups with the love of Christ. OUR VALUES Everything we do at Cedarbrook is driven by our 7 core values. These core values guide our actions and shape our pursuit of God’s vision for us as we actively engage in His mission. GOSPEL CENTRALITY The gospel is the reason and fuel for all that we do. It redeems us, giving us a right relationship with God and transforms us into His likeness through the power of the Holy Spirit. As a result, we aim to make the gospel as clear and compelling as possible in everything we do, always pressing forward to bring the gospel to more people. MISSIONAL God calls us each one of us to be his missionaries, to go where people currently are to love and serve them with the gospel of Christ. Our words and actions reflect the mission of God by expressing the love of God in a culturally relevant way. WORSHIP LIFESTYLE Our worship of God is expressed through everything we do, and everywhere we go: our Sunday worship services, Life Groups, service, daily devotionals, prayer, but also at work, school, and home. We seek to glorify God worshipping with our whole lives. DISCIPLE MAKING Jesus commands his disciples to make disciples, teaching them to observe all that he has commanded. Therefore, we are committed to empowering relationships geared toward helping people mature in trusting and following Jesus so that they can continue to develop relationships that disciple others to trust and follow Jesus. REVITALIZING AND CHURCH PLANTING Just as individual disciples are called to be disciple-makers, churches are called to be church-makers. We do this in two ways: •By revitalizing existing churches. •By planting and helping others plant new gospel-centered churches in areas where the gospel is needed. SERVANT LEADERSHIP Though Jesus is the very Son of God, he did not come to earth to be served by humankind. Instead, He came to serve and put others above His own interests and needs. As disciples of Jesus, we serve others by building up the body of Christ and our surrounding community using our spiritual gifts, passions, experiences, and abilities. SPIRITUAL FAMILY Jesus’ disciples are meant to live in fellowship with others. Every disciple of Jesus is part of a larger body called the Church, or family of God. As a spiritual family, we are committed to cultivating strong, healthy relationships within our church and with other churches in our region.

EMPOWER: Digital Ministry In October 2024, Pastor Jonathan invited the church family to participate in a survey to assess our spiritual and personal well-being. The results confirmed some existing trends and provided valuable insights to empower Cedarbrook to become more radical in following Jesus. Two key findings emerged: 66% of respondents felt the church hadn't helped them discover their life's calling 67% lacked clarity on their next steps for spiritual growth Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, we were witnessing a significant shift in communication, with fewer people attending traditional church services and more turning to the internet. This trend has accelerated, and our church cannot afford to ignore the digital landscape. How can Cedarbrook capitalize on these insights? To address these insights and adapt to the changing times, we must evolve our digital ministry strategy. We must move beyond merely sharing information and focus on building authentic connections with both church members and seekers. This involves using digital as a means to discipling individuals in digital spaces and reaching out to those outside the church who are searching for spiritual meaning. Discipling Our Church in Digital Spaces To effectively disciple our church in digital spaces, we need to leverage technology to connect, teach, and encourage believers. Goals Q2: Script, record, disseminate high quality discipleship content (podcasts, shorts, blogs, etc) Q4: Develop online courses on various spiritual topics, such as Bible study, prayer, and discipleship Reaching the Spiritually Curious Online To effectively reach the spiritually curious online, we must leverage digital platforms to engage, educate, and inspire. Goals Q1: Bolster our digital content budget to build teams to create engaging high-quality content online via blogs, social media, and video Q3: Establish a strong online presence that attracts new members and strengthens existing relationships GIVE

WHAT WE BELIEVE We are a gospel-centered, Bible-based, Spirit-empowered, missional church located in Montgomery County, Maryland. These basic beliefs represent what we hold to be essential elements of biblical teaching. Cedarbrook is a church that “majors in the majors and minors in the minors. Our central tenets are Gospel-centered and clearly supported by Scripture. We do not compromise on theological doctrine as it relates to the salvation of human beings. We are gracious, humble, and inviting toward people who hold secondary theological doctrine different than own into gospel unity, refocusing our identity in Christ toward embracing all of his people. THE BIBLE We believe the 66 books of the Old and New Testaments are the inspired word of God. We believe that Scripture in its entirety originated with God, given through men chosen by Him. Scripture, thus, at one and the same time, speaks with the authority of God and reflects the backgrounds, styles, and vocabularies of its human authors. We hold that the Scriptures are infallible and inerrant in the original manuscripts. They are the unique, full, and final authority on all matters of faith and practice; and there are no other writings similarly inspired by God. For purposes of Cedarbrook’s faith, doctrine, practice, policy, and discipline, our Leadership Team is Cedarbrook’s final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application. Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21. Because we believe this… We strive to regularly read and study the Bible, privately and corporately, to understand and apply its message. We submit all aspects of our lives and conduct to what the Bible teaches. We must obey what we discover God has commanded. All messages, classes, and Growth Groups offered at Cedarbrook must provide teaching supported by the Bible. We do not accept doctrines – no matter what is claimed as their source – if they do not line up with what the Bible says. GOD We believe that there is one true, holy God, eternally existing in three persons — a Trinity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — each of whom possesses equally all the attributes of deity and the characteristics of personality. God created all things, demonstrating the glory of His power, wisdom, and goodness. By His sovereign power, He continues to sustain His creation. By his providence He is operating throughout history to fulfill His redemptive purposes. Because we believe this… We make knowing and loving God our highest priority in life. We depend on God to be at work in and around us in the daily affairs of life. We cannot agree with any religious group that rejects God’s revelation of himself as Trinity (as is common among most “cult” groups). FATHER God as Father reigns with providential care over His universe, His creatures, and the flow of the stream of human history according to the purposes of His grace. He is all powerful, all knowing, all loving, and all wise. God is Father in truth to those who become children of God through faith in Jesus Christ. He is fatherly in His attitude toward all men. Genesis 1:1; 2:7; Exodus 3:14; 6:2-3; 15:11ff.; 20:1ff.; Leviticus 22:2; Deuteronomy 6:4; 32:6; 1 Chronicles 29:10; Psalm 19:1-3; Isaiah 43:3,15; 64:8; Jeremiah 10:10; 17:13; Matthew 6:9ff.; 7:11; 23:9; 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 4:24; 5:26; 14:6-13; 17:1-8; Acts 1:7; Romans 8:14-15; 1 Corinthians 8:6; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 4:6; Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17; Hebrews 11:6; 12:9; 1 Peter 1:17; 1 John 5:7. Because we believe this… We trust that God is a loving Father, even when life is at times difficult and tragic. JESUS CHRIST We believe Jesus Christ is the eternal second person of the Trinity who was united forever with a true human nature by a miraculous conception and virgin birth. He lived a life of perfect obedience to the Father and voluntarily paid for the sins of all by dying on the cross as their substitute, thus satisfying divine justice and accomplishing salvation for all who trust in Him alone. He rose from the dead in the same body, though glorified, in which He lived and died. He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of the Father, where He, the only Mediator between God and man, continually makes intercession for His own. He shall come again to earth, personally and visibly, to consummate history and the eternal plan of God. Genesis 18:1ff.; Psalms 2:7ff.; 110:1ff.; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 53:1-12; Matthew 1:18-23; 3:17; 8:29; 11:27; 14:33; 16:16,27; 17:5; 27; 28:1-6,19; Mark 1:1; 3:11; Luke 1:35; 4:41; 22:70; 24:46; John 1:1-18,29; 10:30,38; 11:25-27; 12:44-50; 14:7-11; 16:15-16,28; 17:1-5, 21-22; 20:1-20,28; Acts 1:9; 2:22-24; 7:55-56; 9:4-5,20; Romans 1:3-4; 3:23-26; 5:6-21; 8:1-3,34; 10:4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2:2; 8:6; 15:1-8,24-28; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; 8:9; Galatians 4:4-5; Ephesians 1:20; 3:11; 4:7-10; Philippians 2:5-11; Colossians 1:13-22; 2:9; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; 3:16; Titus 2:13-14; Hebrews 1:1-3; 4:14-15; 7:14-28; 9:12-15,24-28; 12:2; 13:8; 1 Peter 2:21-25; 3:22; 1 John 1:7-9; 3:2; 4:14-15; 5:9; 2 John 7-9; Revelation 1:13-16; 5:9-14; 12:10-11; 13:8; 19:16. Because we believe this… We are Christians because our faith and message is about Jesus Christ – his life, his work, his divinity, and our need to follow him. Any message that does not center on Christ, including his full humanity and divinity, and his forgiveness for all sin is not the gospel. Because our salvation was secured by a perfect sacrifice of a perfect person, we live knowing we are totally and unconditionally forgiven from sin now, rather than hoping we will be forgiven at some future point. We are secure in the grace of God through Christ. Knowing Christ will return someday, we hold the things of this world loosely, investing our lives in the things that are eternal. THE HOLY SPIRIT We believe the essential accompaniment of a genuine saving relationship with Jesus Christ is a life of holiness and obedience, attained by believers as they submit to the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Trinity. He was sent into the world by the Father and the Son to apply to mankind the saving work of Christ. He enlightens the minds of sinners, awakens in them recognition of their need of a Savior, and regenerates them. At the point of salvation, He permanently indwells every believer to become the source of assurance, strength, and wisdom and uniquely endows each believer with gifts for building the body, the church. Genesis 1:2; Judges 14:6; Job 26:13; Psalms 51:11; 139:7ff.; Isaiah 61:1-3; Joel 2:28-32; Matthew 1:18; 3:16; 4:1; 12:28-32; 28:19; Mark 1:10,12; Luke 1:35; 4:1,18-19; 11:13; 12:12; 24:49; John 4:24; 14:16-17,26; 15:26; 16:7-14; Acts 1:8; 2:1-4,38; 4:31; 5:3; 6:3; 7:55; 8:17,39; 10:44; 13:2; 15:28; 16:6; 19:1-6; Romans 8:9-11,14-16,26-27; 1 Corinthians 2:10-14; 3:16; 12:3-11,13; Galatians 4:6; Ephesians 1:13-14; 4:30; 5:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; 1 Timothy 3:16; 4:1; 2 Timothy 1:14; 3:16; Hebrews 9:8,14; 2 Peter 1:21; 1 John 4:13; 5:6-7; Revelation 1:10; 22:17. Because we believe this… As Christ-followers, we are continually striving to be more like the one who saved us; we are not content just to be forgiven; we want to exemplify Christ-like behavior in every area of life. The Christian life is more than just “being good.” We need the Holy Spirit to bear his fruit in us; therefore our daily lives must be yielded to the Spirit in a moment-by-moment surrender. When we share Christ with others, the message we present is effectual, not because of our superior reasoning or irresistible presentation, but because the Spirit is at work through us and in the heart of the person we are talking to; therefore, we depend ultimately on his invisible activity through our limited understanding of what will reach the person. Because the Spirit resides in us, we listen for his promptings, anticipating that he wants to direct us and will do so if we are open to him. HUMANITY We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female, and that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. We believe all people are created by God in His image, giving every man and woman, born and unborn, great potential, worth, and value. Humankind rebelled against God, falling into sin, marring his likeness to God, and severing his relationship with God. Humans are completely unable to take away or make up for his rebellion against God. Only through faith in Jesus Christ can people obtain the righteousness God requires to restore their relationship with God. Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18,23; 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18,29; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19,21-22; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11. Because we believe this… •We understand that, among all creation, humans are uniquely made in God’s image. •We see all people, regardless of who they are and what they have done, as precious in God’s sight. This includes humans in all stages of life, from conception to life’s natural end. •We see the gospel of Jesus Christ as the one, true hope for reconciling humanity to God. SALVATION We believe the central purpose of God’s revelation in Scripture is to call all people into fellowship with himself. We believe the only basis for salvation is the shed blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection for all who believe. Only those who receive Jesus Christ by faith, through grace, are justified in God’s sight and born of the Spirit, becoming children of God. Genesis 3:15; Exodus 3:14-17; 6:2-8; Matthew 1:21; 4:17; 16:21-26; 27:22-28:6; Luke 1:68-69; 2:28-32; John 1:11-14,29; 3:3-21,36; 5:24; 10:9,28-29; 15:1-16; 17:17; Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:30-31; 17:30-31; 20:32; Romans 1:16-18; 2:4; 3:23-25; 4:3ff.; 5:8-10; 6:1-23; 8:1-18,29-39; 10:9-10,13; 13:11-14; 1 Corinthians 1:18,30; 6:19-20; 15:10; 2 Corinthians 5:17-20; Galatians 2:20; 3:13; 5:22-25; 6:15; Ephesians 1:7; 2:8-22; 4:11-16; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:9-22; 3:1ff.; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24; 2 Timothy 1:12; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 2:1-3; 5:8-9; 9:24-28; 11:1-12:8,14; James 2:14-26; 1 Peter 1:2-23; 1 John 1:6-2:11; Revelation 3:20; 21:1-22:5. Because we believe this… Our message to those exploring faith contains the call to turn from fruitless attempts to earn God’s favor and cast themselves on the perfect and reliable provision of God in Jesus Christ. We rest secure that the Christian life we live is a “thank you” to God for the salvation he has fully provided. We neither think that our obedience enhances our salvation (as if we could add something to the death of Christ) nor do we treat his grace in a cavalier way (as an excuse to live sinfully). We strive to make the most of every opportunity to share Christ with those who don’t know him. THE CHURCH We believe there is one true church universal, comprised of all those who truly acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. As the body of Christ — His agent and representative — the purpose of the church is to glorify God by accomplishing His work and reflecting His character. The church has the God-given mission of proclaiming Christ to all people and nurturing those who believe to become mature disciples of Christ; the church should also be devoted to teaching God’s word, fellowship, worship, and prayer. The individual believer should develop his or her own gifts and abilities in service to the church and its mission. We believe the church is to be led by elders who are mature men of character, men, who lead eagerly rather than under compulsion, and by example, not by coercion or intimidation. Matthew 16:15-19; 18:15-20; Acts 2:41-42,47; 5:11-14; 6:3-6; 13:1-3; 14:23,27; 15:1-30; 16:5; 20:28; Romans 1:7; 1 Corinthians 1:2; 3:16; 5:4-5; 7:17; 9:13-14; 12; Ephesians 1:22-23; 2:19-22; 3:8-11,21; 5:22-32; Philippians 1:1; Colossians 1:18; 1 Timothy 2:9-14; 3:1-15; 4:14; Hebrews 11:39-40; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Revelation 2-3; 21:2-3. Because we believe this… We are a non-denominational church, emphasizing that all true believers are one with Christ and each other, regardless of their denominational background. We make personal involvement in the ministry of the church a priority in our lives. We want all believers to discover, develop, and deploy their spiritual gifts in order to strengthen and build up the church. We guard the unity of the church by working through misunderstandings and conflicts in a Christ-honoring way. ORDINANCES (Baptism and the Lord’s Supper) We believe baptism by immersion in water and the Lord’s Supper, or communion, are ordinances to be observed by the church, but not to be regarded as a means of salvation. Matthew 3:13-17; 26:26-30; 28:19-20; Mark 1:9-11; 14:22-26; Luke 3:21-22; 22:19-20; John 3:23; Acts 2:41-42; 8:35-39; 16:30-33; 20:7; Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 10:16,21; 11:23-29; Colossians 2:12. Because we believe this… We understand baptism and communion as acts of obedience to the commands of Christ. MARRIAGE We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female and that these two distinct, complementary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. We believe that God created marriage to be exclusively the union of one man and one woman, and that intimate sexual union is to occur exclusively within that union. Genesis 1:26-28; 2:15-25; 3:1-20; Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 6:4-9; Joshua 24:15; 1 Samuel 1:26-28; Psalms 51:5; 78:1-8; Psalms 127; Psalms 128; 139:13-16; Proverbs 1:8; 5:15-20; 6:20-22; 12:4; 13:24; 14:1; 17:6; 18:22; 22:6,15; 23:13-14; 24:3; 29:15,17; 31:10-31; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12; 9:9; Malachi 2:14-16; Matthew 5:31-32; 18:2-5; 19:3-9; Mark 10:6-12; Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 7:1-16; Ephesians 5:21-33; 6:1-4; Colossians 3:18-21; 1 Timothy 5:8,14; 2 Timothy 1:3-5; Titus 2:3-5; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-7. Because we believe this... We pursue lives of sexual purity that honor God. We view marriage as a lifelong, exclusive, and interdependent relationship between a man and woman in which both, sometimes as individuals and sometimes as partners, participate in pursuing God’s mission in this world. We are committed to working through marital struggles with the goal of reconciliation. HUMAN DESTINY We believe death seals the eternal destiny of each person. For all mankind, there will be a resurrection of the body and a judgment that will determine the fate of each individual. Unbelievers will be separated from God into condemnation (hell). Believers will be received into eternal communion with God (heaven) and will be rewarded for works done in this life. Because we believe this... We recognize that our eternity is infinitely longer and more significant than our 80 or so years on earth, so we order our lives here so they take into account this eternal perspective; we choose our activities and priorities based on God’s Word, recognizing that his approval supersedes every other consideration. The message of the gospel brings life to those who would perish eternally without Christ; we therefore seek to present his saving message as often as we can. As we relate to people throughout life, we see them as the eternal beings they are and accord them due respect; we have never met an average person – everyone matters to God and deserves to be treated lovingly. THE FUTURE We believe in the personal, physical, return of Jesus Christ to the earth to establish His kingdom at the end of the age. We believe all believers will live in God’s presence in a new heaven and new earth. Isaiah 2:4; 11:9; Matthew 16:27; 18:8-9; 19:28; 24:27,30,36,44; 25:31-46; 26:64; Mark 8:38; 9:43-48; Luke 12:40,48; 16:19-26; 17:22-37; 21:27-28; John 14:1-3; Acts 1:11; 17:31; Romans 14:10; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 15:24-28,35-58; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Philippians 3:20-21; Colossians 1:5; 3:4; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18; 5:1ff.; 2 Thessalonians 1:7ff.; 2; 1 Timothy 6:14; 2 Timothy 4:1,8; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 9:27-28; James 5:8; 2 Peter 3:7ff.; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; Jude 14; Revelation 1:18; 3:11; 20:1-22:13. Because we believe this... We have a sure hope for the future. We can face death without fear. We live now with an attitude of expectancy. FAITH AND PRACTICE We believe Scripture is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. We recognize that the church cannot and should not bind the conscience of individual Christians in areas where Scripture is silent. Rather, each believer is to be led in those areas by the Lord, to whom he or she alone is ultimately responsible. Because we believe this... We wholeheartedly embrace what Scripture teaches. We submit all of our lives to the authority of God’s Word. We do not take stands on controversial issues about which the Bible is silent; individuals are left to their own consciences before God rather than depending on the church to tell them what to think or do. We believe the Statement of Faith to be an accurate summary of what Scripture teaches. This is our attempt to capture the Bible’s main themes — things that are true for all people at all times in every place. All members shall refrain from advocating doctrines that are not included in the Statement of Faith in such a way as to cause division.

EMPOWER: Missions Projects In October 2024, Pastor Jonathan encouraged the church family to take a survey to get a sense of how the church and her people were doing spiritually and personally. For the most part, the survey confirmed what we were already hearing and experiencing, but it also unveiled some areas of actionable intelligence that would strengthen and empower Cedarbrook to become radical in following Jesus on mission in this next year. Two insights from the survey which God is now positioning Cedarbrook to capitalize on related to this Empower initiative is as follows: 52% of all respondents said the church doesn’t provide adequate opportunities to help the suffering or marginalized in society 67% of all respondents said the church is not involved enough in addressing injustices in society The implications of each of these insights are as follows: There is a hunger within our Cedarbrook family to address societal issues as they relate to suffering and marginalized in society. We are uniquely positioned and have an opportunity to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). How can Cedarbrook capitalize on these insights? Bolster reach and effectiveness of Cedarbrook’s own relief ministries (Clarksburg Closet, Clarksburg CAN, public school outreach, etc) Develop and grow missions partnerships ministering the gospel and aid to suffering and marginalized people groups Bolstering Cedarbrook’s Own Relief Ministries Our volunteers are the heart of our benevolence and relief ministries, including Clarksburg Closet and Clarksburg CAN. However, their dedication is often stretched thin due to limited resources. To ensure we can continue to provide essential support to those in need, we aim to enhance our organizational capacity. This will allow our volunteers to spend more time connecting with individuals and less time on administrative tasks. Goals Q2: Digitize inbound requests and outbound fulfillment tracking Q4: Systematize volunteer recruiting and scheduling Developing partnerships ministering to marginalized people Similarly, our ability to minister to unreached, marginalized people groups is limited to the availability of our dedicated volunteers. As a church, we believe God is calling Cedarbrook to be a disciple-making, missional church committed to planting new churches in the Baltimore-Washington DC metro area and beyond with the goal of reaching unreached people groups with the love of Christ. Goals Q1: Expand and develop our lay missions team to be able to fully support existing local and international missions partnerships and grow our missions capacity Q3: Extend our local and international missions partnerships by 20% Q4: Identify and build capacity for two short term mission trips for 2026 GIVE

EMPOWER: Church Planting In March 1989, a group of 40 individuals, led by Pastor Paul Abbott, answered God's call to establish Cedarbrook Community Church in Western Montgomery County. Their mission was clear: to make disciples of all nations and baptize people in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. This legacy of faith starts before Cedarbrook's founding, as our church was birthed from another congregation with the same fervent commitment to God's mission. Cedarbrook is a testament to generations of believers who have faithfully obeyed the Great Commission. For 35 years, Cedarbrook has faithfully ministered the gospel to with new generations and diverse cultures. However, despite our rich history, we've yet to plant a new church. It's time to rekindle our original passion and embrace the core of our mission: to help people become radical Christ-followers, to bring the Good News, and to bridge Christ's love to those who don't know Him. Consider this statement from Tim Keller: “The vigorous, continual planting of new congregations is the single most crucial strategy for (1) the numerical growth of the body of Christ in a city and (2) the continual corporate renewal and revival of the existing churches in a city. Nothing else—not crusades, outreach programs, parachurch ministries, growing megachurches, congregational consulting, nor church renewal processes—will have the consistent impact of dynamic, extensive church planting. This is an eyebrow-raising statement, but to those who have done any study at all, it is not even controversial.” From experience and research, we know new churches best reach new generations, new residents, and new people groups. It’s how Cedarbrook initial grew and continues to grow. But with the number of Christians in our area is continually shrinking, our strategy must change to continue to be mission focused. How can Cedarbrook capitalize on this knowledge? Embrace a Missional Culture: We must transition from individual missional activities of service to a corporate missional focus. Enable Church Planting: Actively support church planters and new church starts to reach unreached people groups beyond our current capacity locally and globally. Foster Generosity: Cultivate a spirit of open-handed giving to revitalize the entire body of Christ in our area. Embracing a Missional Culture To cultivate a missional culture, we must actively engage our communities beyond the walls of the church. This involves building authentic relationships with non-believers and viewing every interaction as an opportunity to share the Gospel. Rather than solely focusing on the church as a place of worship, we must equip and empower individuals to become missionaries in their daily lives. Goals Q3: Establish partnerships with other churches and organizations to expand missional impact Q4: 75% of church members will be able to articulate and apply the church's mission, vision, and values to their daily lives Enable Church Planting A church can enable church planting by actively supporting potential planters through training, providing financial resources, identifying potential new church locations, fostering a culture of outreach and evangelism within the existing congregation, and encouraging members to participate in the planting process by volunteering time and talent to new church initiatives. Goals Q2: Expose the church to the necessity of faithful churches in gospel starved areas Q2: Identify area(s) locally and globally for Cedarbrook to plant churches Q3: Identify potential church planters within the congregation and equip them for the task Q4: Partner with established church planting networks to leverage their resources and expertise Foster Generosity Financial support will always be one of church planting’s greatest needs. The end goal is always for the new local congregation to become financially self-sustaining in time. In order to be a church planting church, it’s important for us hold our resources with an open hand and be ready to willingly give toward God’s work outside our own walls. Q3: Have a church planting seed fund as part of the budget Q4: Provide initial financial support to help new churches get started or offer ongoing financial assistance for operational costs, staff salaries, and ministry expenses for newly planted churches in our target areas GIVE

EMPOWER: Ministry Leader Development In October 2024, Pastor Jonathan encouraged the church family to take a survey to get a sense of how the church and her people were doing spiritually and personally. For the most part, the survey confirmed what we were already hearing and experiencing, but it also unveiled some areas of actionable intelligence that would strengthen and empower Cedarbrook to become radical in following Jesus on mission in this next year. Three insights from the survey which God is now positioning Cedarbrook to capitalize on related to this Empower initiative is as follows: 65% of you responded that the church doesn’t empower young people to develop as leaders. 72% of you responded that there was no clear pathway for a person to become a leader at this church. 84% of the leaders in this church believe that there are not enough leaders in the church to operate effectively. The implications of each of these insights are as follows: Younger people feel undervalued and unseen in the church's leadership structure. A lack of clarity about leadership roles and progression can discourage potential leaders. The church will struggle to meet its mission and vision due to a shortage of leaders. How can Cedarbrook capitalize on these insights? At Cedarbrook, we evaluate potential leaders and develop leaders based on the four “C’s”: character, competency, compatibility, and capacity. To be a leader at Cedarbrook, whether that’s a leader in Promiseland or in Student Ministries, or in Life Groups, Alpha, ESOL, MomCo, our Board of Directors, or Elder Team, an individual must possess or develop these essential criteria. To accelerate the growth and development of our ministry leaders, we're focusing on three key areas: Implementing a Formal Leadership Development Program : Providing structured training and mentorship to equip leaders with the necessary skills and knowledge. Creating Clear Leadership Pipelines and Pathways : Establishing a clear progression for leadership roles, offering opportunities for growth and advancement. Funding Leadership Development Opportunities : Investing in our leaders by supporting their attendance at conferences, workshops, and other training events. A Formal Leadership Development Program This year, we will be developing a leadership development curriculum covering leadership skills, biblical knowledge, and church ministry for new Life Group leaders. As it currently stands, our existing groups cannot absorb the current demand for Life Groups and so developing Life Group leaders is paramount to discipling people in small groups at Cedarbrook. Goals Q1: Research other leadership development programs Q2: Develop a leadership development curriculum based on Cedarbrook mission, vision, and values Q3: Pilot the leadership development curriculum Q4: Tweak and revise the leadership development curriculum A Leadership Pipeline and Pathway Currently, the way people are identified for leadership roles is informal and training is often times trial by fire. This year, we will be focused on systematizing the training of those identified for leadership roles to transition leaders well and help them succeed from the get-go. Goals Q1: Identify key leadership roles that need a pipeline and pathway within the church Q2: Develop a clear pathway for progression within these roles Q3: Communicate these pathways to church members identified for potentially fulfilling those roles Q4: Implement a system for tracking individual leadership development and pipeline availability Funding Leadership Development Opportunities Investing in our leaders is an investment in the future of Cedarbrook and the kingdom of God. While our internal leadership development program is crucial, attending industry conferences and seminars offers unique benefits. These events provide opportunities for our leaders to: Learn cutting-edge leadership skills Network with other ministry professionals Gain exposure to best practices Bring back innovative ideas to enhance our leadership development programs By sending our leaders to these events, we’re empowering them to grow, learn, and lead more effectively. GIVE

Gaithersburg Help: Call Center - Food/Infant Coordinator Assist Work at home using your phone and computer with Internet access; return calls to schedule clients to receive food or infant needs at our food pantry; phone hours are M-F 9 am to 12 noon; commitment is 6 hours per month. 1 hour monthly Monthly 5

Worship: FOH Content Operator Assist FOH content operator on the A/V production team. 2 hours monthly, bi-weekly, weekly Monthly, bi-weekly, weekly 4

JULIA SEIFERT Promiseland Director I just graduated from Colorado Christian University with a degree in Christian Education. I am so thrilled to be the new Promiseland Director! In my free time, I love reading, doing anything artsy, and spending time with my family. I cannot wait to walk alongside all of the Cedarbrook parents as they raise their kids to be strong Christ-followers. It is important to establish firm foundations in Christ during this time so they will instinctively turn to Jesus for the rest of their lives. Being a part of Cedarbrook is a blessing. I can not wait to see what the Lord has in store! julia@cedarbrook.org