In addition to the Rubbles. . .

Cliff’s new step-mom, Ruby, and his dad, Rocky Rubble live about 30 minutes away – but they love to join their son and his family as often as they can. “It keeps me young” Rocky tells us. Although thoroughly enjoying their retirement, Rocky and Ruby have been wondering about life – and death – and what comes after. They have a lot of questions to be answered.

Cliff and Sandy’s best friends are Chip and Dusty Slate – friends they met at a school fun night several years back. Chip and Dusty have been having some marital problems lately, but really want to work on them. Finances have been a little tight and Dusty has to work late most nights, but the couple still finds time to have a date together once a week.

Sandy’s co-worker, Terra Feldspar, is 24 years-old, has been divorced for two years, and is working hard to raise her 3 year-old son, Hew – and she’s doing quite well on her own, thank you. Still, she feels something is missing. Is working, and movies, and eating, and parenting, and blind dates all there is to life? Terra’s in a rut.

Stone Slurry is Cliff’s old college roommate from BSU – Bedrock State University. Stone has never been married - isn’t looking - and is quite a successful entrepreneur. Stone loves his friends and his family, but this whole “God thing” leaves him a little cold. “If there is a God,” Stone has said, “it’s ludicrous to think he would want to bother himself with puny, insignificant humans.”

The Rubbles and their friends, family, and work associates are all exactly who Quarry Ridge considers our “target.” They are who we want to meet. No matter where we look, every person with whom we lock eyes matters to God. Old, young; rich, poor; educated, unschooled; male and female of every race and every nationality – every one of them matters personally to the God of the universe. That means they matter to us here at Quarry Ridge Community Church.

We will reach out in love, answering questions, serving selflessly, inviting them to join us in our lives and in our celebrations and in our spiritual journeys – so we can ask them the tough questions, like “Who is God to you?” and “What will happen to you when you die?” and “Would you like to know Jesus, like I do?”

These are the people God has sent us to find. He set the target. He gives us the ability to hit the mark. He’s prepared their hearts for this time and place. We must not lose heart or grow tired or become bored or fear failure. If God is for us – who can be against us?

This is Quarry Ridge’s unique paraphrase of John 4:35 and Matthew 9:37-38:
“Look – the mine is overflowing with precious gems – they’re ready to be scooped up by the truck load! But, where are the miners? Call the foreman – call the owner! Ask him to send us more miners – there’s a lot of work to be done!”