"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure."
Hebrews 6:19
Chasing God is a series of evenings set aside for the sole purpose of drawing near to God. Through music and worship, teaching from some great speakers, prayer and enough flexibility to respond to God in the moment, we hope that significant life change will happen!
Wednesday, October 7
Julie Yoder serves as Senior Pastor alongside her husband, Mike, at The Vineyard Church of Central Illinois. She is passionate about developing leaders, equipping communicators, and cultivating a healthy Kingdom culture of family. Julie and Mike love serving together and raising their four children. Outside of church, Julie enjoys walking, chocolate, and reading a good book.
Thursday, October 8
Aaron Smith is the founder of the Handlebar Podcast and has served in full-time ministry for more than 10 years. He currently oversees the UPPERROOM School of Ministry and holds degrees in theology and church leadership. Aaron travels with his family, ministering to young people around the world and sharing the beauty of who Jesus is. He and his wife, Sarahbeth, live in Dallas with their three children, Rosie, River, and Shepard King. Aaron is passionate about equipping young people to passionately follow Jesus and build their lives around prayer.
Friday, October 9
Kurt Attaway has been following God’s call on his life for more than 25 years. He joined The Vineyard Church Pearland, Texas, in 2007 and has served as Lead Pastor since 2020. Kurt holds a Master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy and spent 10 years practicing as a clinician. He is passionate about serving his church, the city of Pearland, and Vineyard USA. Kurt is married to his best friend, Lauren, and together they have four children.
Saturday, October 10
Kevin Fischer has served at Miami Vineyard for more than three decades, passionately helping people experience God’s love and become all He created them to be. He has served as Senior Pastor since 1993, leading the church through tremendous growth while continuing to believe in a God who can do anything. Kevin is passionate about seeing lives transformed and encouraging people to live fully into God’s purposes for their lives.
We are inviting our church body to come together to fast and pray for Chasing God because we believe God will honor and bless the sacrifice. The invitation is for each of us to take part in a fast from all food for three days. Try asking God what the fast should look like specifically for you.
We do not "earn anything" by fasting, but rather by dismissing our reliance on food for a time makes room to receive spiritual nourishment. It slows us down and creates more space for us to hear from God. Jeremiah 29:12 says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
A church-wide fast is different than a personal fast because you are surrounded by others experiencing the same struggles, who can encourage you along the way. When a community fasts together, it can lead to a large scale revival of faith. Some examples of fasting in the bible are Esther 4:16, Ezra 8:21-23, and Acts 14:23.
If you choose to fast for more than a day, typically the 2nd and 3rd days of any fast are the most difficult. It is normal to experience: dry mouth (drink water or chew gum), lightheadedness (drink some juice), hunger pangs (if severe, please consult a doctor), going to the restroom a lot (you are likely drinking a lot more water than usual), and changes to your sleeping pattern.
No! A benefit of a church-wide fast is that you are not alone. We expect hundreds of people to participate in the fast, and we want each person to feel supported while fasting so they can experience all God has for them. Before Chasing God, you’re invited to join us as we pray and worship as one, seeking God’s presence during the fast:
Open Prayer & Worship
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