Archive for October, 2007
Life Change from the InsideOut…
Our mission in Family Ministry at Buckhead Church is to create experiences during which children and students can grow in their relationship with Christ. I know that we say that a lot, but we really believe it. We feel like much of the battle of in society today lies in the fact that there is so much that blocks the way to a clear, true, life-changing encounter with God. We, adults AND kids, are all busy, stressed, overworked, and being pulled in a thousand different directions. Unfortunately, it makes it hard to take a concentrated look into our lives and into the gospel of Christ. This is why a primary goal of ours is to create places (environments) where people can see past all that typically interferes with us when we try to make an authentic connection with God. It is in those clear, unusual moments that life change happens.
Part of our Family Ministry agenda is to create life-changing experiences for high schoolers. Working with high school kids can be a mysterious journey. Just ask Lauren Shupert, our amazing high school director, and her stellar staff team, Paige Raynor and Jeff Ponder. (They run InsideOut, our Sunday afternoon environment for high schoolers.) Evidence that ministry is “working” in high school kids can be elusive, as it happens in a season of great change and tumult. When we hear of a story that shows that life change IS happening, we love to pass it on. That is why we are using today’s blog entry to offer a video version of an email that we received last week.
But first a little background . . .
Last July, we took a team of high school students and small group leaders on a mission trip to Merida, Mexico, to work with one of our international partners, Shalom Church. We spent an amazing week repainting the children’s ministry rooms, running a Vacation Bible School for a mission church in a poorer part of Merida, joining Shalom’s high school ministry for training and programs, and immersing ourselves in a totally different culture. It was a great trip for all involved and more great things happened than I have time to tell. I want to show you one, though.
Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago . . .
We received an email from one of the girls that attended the trip. We loved it so much that we put the content of it into a video so that you could hear it while watching some of the actual images from our trip. We want you to see what we mean by “life change.” Click play and then continue reading under it when it is done…
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/v/JYiGFzij5ho 425 350]
That is why we love to create experiences for people to connect with God. Life change. We certainly don’t participate in mission trips for our own gain. We do it because Christ called us to do it so the world could see Him at work. Still, it is amazing to see how God works in our lives when we take time to serve Him and His.
Our message in light of this one student’s experience is simply this: thank you. Thank you to all of you that gave this year to make experiences like InsideOut and mission trips happen. On behalf of the people of Merida, Shalom Church, the InsideOut mission team, and one specific girl who was able to see her God and herself with new eyes: thank you.
Thank you to the small group leaders, production crew, and host team that make an environment like InsideOut run every Sunday. You make it possible for high school students to come and worship, connect, laugh, and learn.
Thank you to the high schoolers’ parents that are continuing to fight the good fight to stay connected to their kids through a tough season of life.
Finally, thank you to those of you that give of your time, money, and prayers to make Buckhead Church (and InsideOut) a place that passionately seeks to be a place where people TRULY can be led into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
Billy
Billy Phenix
Director of Family Ministry / MarriedLife
Starting Point: Got Questions?
We all have questions in life. For many of us, the questions are multiplied when we are approaching things from a spiritual perspective. That is the reason we created Starting Point. It’s a safe place for people with questions about faith as well as those who want to learn about the Bible and Christianity. Groups consist of people who are curious and investigating Christianity, those who have recently started a relationship with God, or those who are reconnecting with God after being away from church for a while. But don’t take my word for it. Listen to Courtney share her experience from her recent Starting Point group.
When I first started attending Buckhead Church felt lost in such a big church. I learned about Starting Point through one of Andy’s sermons. I definitely was a little anxious when my husband and I attended the first orientation meeting with a ton of unfamiliar faces and we were a little apprehensive when we first learned that it was a 10-week commitment.
Despite these feelings we joined a group that met at 9:00 on Sunday mornings. We had a very diverse group and we met some amazing people! We had people from all stages in their walks with Christ and had people from many different religions and backgrounds. Each week we all got more comfortable with each other and the uncomfortable feeling wore off week by week. I really learned so much from each and every person in our group and hold a very special place in my heart for each of them.
The Starting Point group experience really made me think about how I was living my life and made me realize that I am not on this earth for just myself. Each week we attended I felt even closer to God and got so many questions answered that I didn’t even know I had. Now that it is over it has left me feeling like I want to keep learning more and want to become more involved at church. My husband and I have since joined a married couples community group and I look forward to what this new group will bring to our lives. Starting Point not only changed my life, but it strengthened my relationship with Christ and strengthened my relationship with my husband. We were looking to add something to our lives and this was truly it! -Courtney Stewart
If you are curious to know more about Starting Point, we would love to talk to you! Please join us for a 20-minute orientation this Sunday after each service in the Starting Point area on the first floor next to our resource center.
Steve Giddens
Director of Group Life
The Launch of 7|22
It is hard for me to unpack 7|22 last night in a few words. 7|22 in Buckhead is something God has been leading our team toward for months now, and it is so exciting to finally begin this new chapter. While there are still some kinks to figure out (yes, parking is still a work in progress), we are overjoyed by God’s faithfulness as we continue to move forward.
The night began with the resonating sound of scripture being read in four different languages. As images of a painted canvas with written prayers from our last night in August flooded the screens, the sounds of Tim Hughes’ “Everything,” led by Kristian Stanfill and the band, filled the room. Over 1300 single adults worshiping together—what an experience! If you missed it, keep reading—and you can always watch it online at our new website, www.722.org.
Jarrett Stevens opened up this series by coming around the idea that “God is greater than me.” Seems pretty simple. But just wait…
Jarrett introduced the idea that there are moments when we realize that we need God, but these are only moments. Except for these rare times, we often live without recognizing our need for Him and choose to live life on our own. God is inviting us into a dependence that shapes the way we live. When will we allow God to invade our lives so that we may become fully dependent on Him? Thankfully, if we let Him, He is ready and able for the task.
In closing, I leave you with the same challenge Jarrett gave us last night—that we pray earnestly each day that God would be our everything. Can you imagine how your life, and the lives around you, would change if the attitude of dependence on God infected your life? I don’t know about you, but I am ready for the challenge!
joel
::: Joel Thomas /// director of college & singles :::
toothpastefordinner.com
Hey guys!!!
We hope you are feeling like this is an avenue to make Buckhead Church more accessible. We definitely want to make it a place where we can kind of cheat the system. Making a large Sunday environment smaller. Where you can get a bit more “in the know” about the haps at Buckhead Church.
One thing I have been wondering is how many of YOU have blogs? Any of you? 3 of you? 100 of you?
If you have a blog and are an attender of Buckhead Church let us know in the comment section. That way we can being to build a small community of Buckhead Church blogs and share a sneak peek into your lives as well!!!
Let us know HERE!!!
Carlos
7|22 Parking Update
Hey everyone! If you are a post-college single adult, we hope that you are PUMPED and EXCITED about 7|22 starting tomorrow night. We just wanted to let you know that we have had some major changes to our parking plan. Parking will be very different than on Sunday mornings, so we ask that you follow the directions of the parking attendants and please carpool! Some parking will be available across the street at Marsh and Rock Bottom Brewery, and shuttles will be provided. Please be patient with us. We are still working to improve this process in order to develop the best plan for both those attending 7|22 and for the businesses and residences around Buckhead Church. Come early to get your parking spot and your seat—7|22 starts at 7:30.
