JOHN GIST Worship Pastor I’m the Worship Pastor here at Cedarbrook, and I’ve had the joy of serving in this role for the past 15 years. My wife, Sherra, and I have a full, lively house with five amazing kids— Ivey (17), Halle (15), Misha (8), Ollie (3), and Neva (1). Life is never boring, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. When I’m not leading worship, you’ll probably find me playing music (yes, I know it’s technically my job too), out on the golf course, experimenting in the kitchen, or just spending time with family and friends. And if you ever need a laugh, just ask me about the time I played Buddy the Elf in a musical/ballet. Don’t worry—there was no actual ballet involved, though I might have busted out the Running Man. I have a BS in Kinesiology from the University of Louisiana at Monroe, and I’ve been serving in ministry and pastoral leadership for 25 years. My favorite treat is sushi, but my favorite part of this job has nothing to do with food. It’s getting to be part of a team that’s passionate about lifting up the name of Jesus, and being in a room filled with our church family, all singing the same words and melody, is something I’ll never stop being in awe of. john@cedarbrook.org

Assist ESOL: Events - Setup and Tear Down Support Assist set up and tear down the classroom environments. 2.5 hours weekly Weekly 2

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Encourage Worship: Photographer Encourage Photographer to take pictures at worship services, ministry events, and other church activities. 2 hours monthly Monthly 5

Encourage Kids: Large Group Tech Encourage Assisting in the flow of large group with Propresenter, lighting, and sound. 2 hours monthly, bi-weekly, weekly Monthly, bi-weekly, weekly 4

Teach ESOL: English Teacher Teach Teach English to adults 3 hours weekly Weekly 15

JASON CHANG Church Plant Pastor Resident I’m a Church Planting Resident here, which basically means I get to help lay the groundwork for new church communities, something I’m deeply passionate about. I’m married to my amazing wife, Angela, and together we have three incredible kids: Emmanuella (8), Elliana (5), and Evan (2). Life is loud, joyful, and full of surprises. When I’m not working, you can usually find me exploring new places with my family, trying out new foods (I’ll try almost anything once), or just enjoying quality time with friends. I’m also a huge board game fan. Settlers of Catan is my jam. If you ever want a game night, I’m your guy. I have a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and a Master of Divinity, which gives me a unique mix of strategic thinking and theological grounding. One of my favorite parts of this role is getting to ask questions and dig into the “why” behind what people do. I'm endlessly curious about what drives and inspires others. Oh, and if there’s chocolate peanut butter ice cream around, I’m probably not far behind. jchang@cedarbrook.org

Encourage Assimilation: Sunday Service Prayer Team Member Encourage Spend 1 hour on Sundays praying over our church and our church services pre-service. 1 hour monthly Monthly 5

Encourage Students: Large Group A/V Technician Encourage Help manage morning through pro-presenter and help create an environment for worship through lighting and sound. 5 hours Monthly, bi-weekly, weekly Monthly, bi-weekly, weekly 4

ae2c3f52-757a-4aa3-b165-588710781846 Fishers of men: a disciple is committed to the mission of Jesus A fully-formed disciple of Jesus will live as Jesus lived: loving others as we love ourselves, caring for the marginalized, and sharing the good news of Jesus wherever we are. We do not have to quit our jobs and move to a foreign country to participate in the mission of Jesus. We do it right where we live and work and play. Each month on this page we will offer practical guidance on how to join Jesus in the work he is already doing in the lives of those around us. Loving Our Neighbors During a Pandemic BOOKS The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak and Dave Runyon The Hopeful Neighborhood by Don Everts ARTICLES How to be a Compassionate Neighbor During a Global Health Crisis by Evelyn Allen 9 Ways to Love Your Neighbor in This Pandemic by Justin Early ORGANIZATIONS THAT NEED YOUR HELP Clarksburg Closet https://www.cedarbrook.org/clarksburgcloset Clarksburg CAN http://www.clarksburgcan.org Germantown Help https://germantownhelp.org Damascus Help http://damascushelp.org Upcounty Hub at Black Rock (Germantown) https://www.blackrockcenter.org/upcounty-hub Wumco Help (western MoCo Poolesville based org) https://wumcohelp.org A Wider Circle (Gaithersburg area) https://awidercircle.org Interfaith Works (down county - Rockville area) https://www.iworksmc.org Red Wiggler Community Farm (Clarksburg area) https://redwiggler.org NOTES COMMENTS hands page

KENYA PAUL MBUTE Tell me more about your mission? Through Compassion International, our Githunguchu Children’s Center aims to release our local children from their spiritual, physical, social, and economical poverty. At Compassion, we enable them to become responsible and fulfilled Christian adults. What are some victories I can celebrate with you? Through our partnership with Compassion International and Cedarbrook Community Church, we have seen lasting transformation of our children through quality and affordable education, as well as the ability to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the community. We have also enjoyed hosting a team from Cedarbrook many times over the years and welcome you all back to Kenya again soon! What are some of the challenges you face? Our community has the challenge of a lack of basic needs and quality schools. Generational and widely-accepted poverty is a significant challenge to overcome here. How can I pray for you? Please pray that God enables us to service the entire community where our children’s center is located in Githunguchu. How can I support you? Cedarbrook members can continue to generously sponsor our needy children in Githunguchu (project KE324) through the Compassion International sponsorship program. Where can I learn more? https://www.compassion.com/ The list of children to sponsor in Githunguchu. global missions

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