Nine Things To Share
Hey y’all,
Nine things I want to share with you this week:
First, I want to thank you for allowing me to take time away from preaching over the past month. The truth is, I don’t really get tired of preaching or tired from preaching, but there are times when I need to give time to other things in our church besides preaching. So after a couple of weeks of vacation, I’ve been doing a good bit of thinking, praying and planning for this next season of life for us as a church. I’m very excited about what God seems to be orchestrating…
Second, since my time off came around the time of my eighth anniversary as lead pastor of our church, it gave me time to reflect on my first eight years here. And as I thought about our next eight years together, four particular hopes seemed to bubble to the surface as I was reading through Ephesians. So before we jump back into Luke, I want to take time this Sunday to share those hopes with you as we begin this next eight years together.
Third, and I don’t want to forget this, isn’t it amazing that God has gifted us with a number of men who can open up the Bible and point us to Jesus on Sundays? I’ve listened to all four sermons from Philippians and I’m incredibly thankful for the grace God has given David, Collin, Lewis and Aaron to preach Jesus. I look forward to having all of them preach again.
Fourth, the record our band recorded will be on sale at the end of the month. Everyone who pre-ordered the album has already received a digital copy and can pick up their CD this Sunday after the gathering. I’ve been listening to various mixes for months and I love the artistry and the depth of the lyric in their work. If you don’t already have a copy, save up your milk money and pick one up later this summer.
Fifth, we’re finalizing dates to launch our groups this fall. In our church, following Jesus includes life together in community. So if you’re not already plugged into a group, look for information in August about how you can get on track with us.
Sixth, we’re building out something called Legacy Weekend, where we invite former members of our church to come back in town to have a massive party on a Saturday night and then join us for our gathering on Sunday. I hope to be able to give you dates in the next couple of weeks so you can start inviting people.
Seventh, be looking for a ton of stories about what God is doing in and through our church. Our team is shooting videos, listening to stories, scheduling times during our gatherings for people like you do tell the rest of us what God’s up to in their world. If you’d like to tell the rest of us what God is telling you – through the good stuff or the junk of life! – get in touch with Stephen Terry at sterry@missionathens.com.
Eighth, I’ll be preaching next Tuesday at the Summer RUF gathering on Psalm 115. Appreciate the prayers and if you’re a student and would like to go, let me know ( madair@missionathens.com ) and I’ll give you directions.
Ninth, congratulations to David and Jenny Melton on the birth of their son, Vance. Great to visit with them yesterday and welcome them to the world of multiple sons as Vance joins big brother, Cade, in a mission of wreaking havoc for Jesus.
As always, our website (missionathens.com) and our blog (missionathensblog.com) are great ways to stay connected with us as we join God in restoring all things.
Much Love,
Matt
PS – Thanks for all the notes and questions about my dad. He’s back home after a second stint in the hospital. Prognosis is good and he’ll be over here later in the month with my mom.
PSS – The rumors are true. I did have a kidney stone on July 4th. Wouldn’t wish that on anyone other than Satan.
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“I want to be passionate about my city because my God is passionate about people.” On August 25th, Our church will be hosting an event that will bring people from all over the Southeast. The Chick-fil-A® 3on3 Basketball Tournament and Family FunZone is a premiere event which provides a 3on3 basketball competition for communities. As […]
“What We Learned”
The next couple of post will be stories from our team that went to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Hey everybody, it’s Rachael Mirabella (soon-to-be-Boyd!). I was privileged to be one of four leaders on our youth group’s recent mission trip to Brazil. I could talk about a thousand different things from our week in Rio, but I want to share is the two biggest lessons I learned.
Passion for your City
I was floored by the three pastors we worked with while in Rio – one was American and two were Brazilian. You want to see people who love their city? We saw them. As they took us to a church to do VBS, to an orphanage to play with kids, to a homeless shelter surrounded by transvestites, to a street in the City of God (one of the poorest slums in Rio), they were not strangers. These were not places they just take teams of Americans every once in a while to give them an experience. These are places they go, week in and week out, to tell people about Jesus. They bring spiritual and practical restoration to some of the darkest places on earth. They are loved by the people in these places.
The name of their organization, Restore Brazil, is very fitting. That is what they are working towards. And they are working hard! They know their city, they know the needs, and they are working tirelessly to meet them. At first it made me ashamed to think of these pastors coming to Athens. What would they think when they saw how little I knew my city? Then I realized there is no need for shame. Jay, Paulo and Rabsom were very quick to admit that working for restoration is a long process. I don’t need to be ashamed; I need to be inspired.
And I was inspired. I want to know whatever city I live in the future as well as they know Rio de Janeiro. I want our church to know Athens / Watkinsville and work to meet their needs. I want you to go to Brazil, meet these three pastors and all the other wonderful people down there 🙂
God answers prayer
Over and over again, Collin and I prayed for one big thing. We prayed that the Spirit would move. We asked Him to move in our hearts, the hearts of our students, and the hearts of the people in Brazil. The whole trip was pointless if Jesus wasn’t there; He is the one that changes people.
I was blown away moment after moment as I watched God change hearts that week. Some were very small changes, some were very large (our bus driver became a believer!), all were a blessing of grace from Him. Personally, God was working away at my pride and cultivating humility. He by no means achieved perfection in my heart, but He did some good work. He also encouraged my faith by allowing me to see Him answering prayer.
So those were two big lessons learned! God answers prayer, and I want to be passionate about my city because my God is passionate about people.
Donations to Project Safe
As we mentioned, the student’s and our leadership team were floored when we saw how generous our faith family had been in donating items for our trip to Rio de Janeiro.
As we were stuffing suitcase after suitcase several hours before our flight out, we soon realized that we had too much. In fact, we had what amounted to about six suitcases worth of clothing that we couldn’t take with us due to checked bag limitations of international flights.
However, we wanted to let you all know that those items did not go to waste! They were donated to Project Safe to be sold in their thrift store. For those of you who don’t know about Project Safe, it is a safe house here in Athens for women suffering from domestic abuse – it is a place where they can recover and start again away from any danger.The items you donated will be sold in their thrift store to fund this safe house and its tenants.
Thank you so much for your generosity; it has impacted men, women, and children in another hemisphere as well as just down the street. If you have any interest in volunteering or making further donations to Project Safe you can find their information at www.project-safe.org.
Athens 3on3 Basketball
This August our city as well as our church will be apart of something special in Downtown Athens.
Connect Events will be putting on a Chick-fil-A 3on3 Basketball Tournament and Family FunZone on August 25, 2012. This event will host competitive 3on3 basketball tournament as well as provide activities for families to come and enjoy in the Family FunZone.
Our church will be one of the few host churches that will be directly involved with this event (Volunteering, Refereeing, etc.).
So, with that being said, will you please pray for this event. Pray for our city. Pray that while more details come that God will be glorified. Pray that this will be an opportunity for us, as a church family, to interact with the Athens Community. Pray the Spirit of God would guide our steps as we seek to better display his love for all man.
Coming This Sunday, June 3
This Sunday, June 3rd, we will gather at 10 AM in the 130 Foundry Building.
Lead Pastor Matt Adair will be speaking from Luke 10:38-42, the story of Mary, Martha & Jesus.
“Eternal God, unchanging, mysterious, and unknown. Your boundless love, unfailing in grace and mercy shown.”
- Jesus Shall Reign (Mission Athens Music style … coming soon!)
- Just As I Am (Mission Athens Music style … coming soon!)
See you there!
Psalm 103:3
“Who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases”
Humbling as is the statement, yet the fact is certain, that we are all more or less suffering under the disease of sin. What a comfort to know that we have a great Physician who is both able and willing to heal us!
Let us think of him awhile today. His cures are very speedy—there is life in a look at him; his cures are radical—he strikes at the center of the disease; and hence, his cures are sure and certain.
He never fails, and the disease never returns. There is no relapse where Christ heals; no fear that his patients should be merely patched up for a season, he makes new men of them: a new heart also does he give them, and a right spirit does he put with them.
He is well skilled in all diseases.
Christ Community Church 