Archive for the ‘Features’ Category
Skydiving to Baptism: Christine’s Story
We recently had the joy of walking with Christine Loomer through her baptism, where she shared about the life change that’s taken place since she placed her faith in Jesus as her Savior. For many years, due to difficult life circumstances, Christine struggled with believing God existed. After her sister invited her to attend a service at Buckhead Church, Christine began to ask the big questions like “Why Jesus?” and “Why the Bible?” In seeking the truth through his Word, God revealed his love for her. Here’s her story:
Christine begins missionary teaching in Venezuela through the Network of International Christian Schools this summer. She is a beautiful example of how one invitation can bring someone to take a leap of faith into Jesus’ loving arms.
Sarah Wheeler ::: Membership & Baptism Coordinator ::: Buckhead Church
BC Music Spotlight: Chris Cauley
Do you ever want to know a little more about the folks leading worship at Buckhead Church on Sundays?
We thought so.
That is why, from time to time, we are going to be tossing up a quick Q&A with one of our worship leaders or musicians. This week, we’re pleased to introduce you to …
Chris Cauley, Worship Leader
Hometown: Cumming, Georgia
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What exactly do you do on Sundays at BC?
I’m usually up at 5:00 a.m. to get ready and warm up the voice, and then I arrive at BC at 6:30 a.m. The band hugs it out, catches up on the weekend, and then gets going with a run-through. Although it’s an early morning and a long day, I genuinely look forward to that alarm going off on Sundays!
How long have you been leading worship at BC and for North Point Ministries?
I started with North Point Ministries in the InsideOut student world about three years ago. I loved it so much and seemed to be adapting well onstage, so six months to a year later, I started leading on the main stages at all of the campuses. The dynamic of leading both groups is incredibly fulfilling. It’s pretty cool to get lost in worship in the a.m. and then go to InsideOut and open up with a current hip hop song that draws the high school students in. I love adapting to every environment.
What are some of your favorite things that go on ”behind the scenes” at Buckhead Church that the average attendee would not see?
Honestly, the fellowship, or “hang” as we musicians call it, is the best part. We all eat, pray, laugh, and play together so much that our families get close too. Between the 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. services, most people think we all go our separate ways and take naps, when most of the time, a lot of us go out to eat together and do life together. It’s like our very own small group; it really is an extended family.
What is your favorite moment or event that you have been a part of here?
I’ve been fortunate enough to be onstage at BC for the past two Christmas services. Obviously, for most of us, there is something to be said about the special feeling we all get around Christmas. This past year we did an acoustic, stripped-down set that really focused on the true meaning of the songs just as they were written. It was incredibly refreshing for me to sing the songs I’ve been singing my entire life, but hear them as if it was the first time. On top of that, to look out in the congregation and see our church family diving in with us was something special.
As far as my favorite event, it has to be Jeff Foxworthy’s Backyard Bash. I’m definitely not a country singer, but it was fun to play the role that evening and get lost in “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” Ha! It was so much fun and such a great cause!
What’s your earliest memory of performing or playing onstage?
I’ve been onstage most of my life. I was very active in theater as a kid long before I ever touched a guitar. Playing the role of Danny in “Grease” stands out as a highlight. I know, I know, laugh it up! My first paid gig was in the smallest Starbucks in the world with my high school acoustic trio. We thought we were the next Dave Matthews Band, so we compiled a massive list of songs, rehearsed for months, and rocked out for a few people for a few bucks a piece in Starbucks. We were on our way to the big time.
Tell us about your family.
I’m married to the most beautiful and amazing woman in the world, Sandra Cauley, who also is a singer. Between our separate travel schedules, it’s tough to remember which state we’re in most of the time. It’s difficult, but we wouldn’t have it any other way. We don’t have any kids, but we do have a ragdoll cat named Pocono that demands the attention that a small infant would, so we’ll be prepared when the time comes.
What do you do when you’re not at BC?
I’m always playing shows! Whether it be solo on the road at colleges, singing in global productions overseas, touring in a Tyler Perry stage play, or most recently being on Team Adam on The Voice on NBC, you’ll find me singing somewhere. Here’s a picture of me getting advice from Adam Levine and Robin Thicke on the show. I’m also a MASSIVE sports fan, so if I’m not singing, you can find me at a game or screaming at the TV!
How would you describe yourself in three words?
Silly. Active. Genuine.
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Keep up with Chris at:
WEBSITE | www.chriscauley.com
TWITTER | twitter.com/chriscauley
FACEBOOK | www.facebook.com/chriscauleymusic
The Tomb Is Empty!
~Happy Easter from Buckhead Church~
The Weight Of Sacrifice & Love
All this week, we’re asking various Buckhead Church staff to share thoughts to help us prepare for Easter and reflect on the events of Holy Week. Today, we’ll hear from Misti Mancini who works in Assimilation for our Groups Department.
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From Luke 23:44–49 NIV:
It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Good Friday is a day when I feel the weight of the sacrifice Jesus made for me. Normally, I can go about my day having some awareness that I’m broken and sinful, but my soul isn’t very disturbed. Do you know what I mean? However, in this season when I slow down to reflect on the details of Jesus’ death, I come face-to-face with the consequences of my sin.
Darkness. Suffering. Death.
With each detail, I’m drawn into the emotion of the day. In verse 49 above it says, “…those who knew him (Jesus), including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.” Those who knew and loved Jesus watched him die. There was tremendous hurt and grief . . .
Caused by my sin.
My human mind can’t reconcile the unfairness of an innocent man taking on the penalty for the guilty. I want to apologize and take back the things I’ve done to wrong God—as if a mere “I’m sorry” would ever be enough. I can’t make things right. I can never repay the debt I owe God. There is nothing I can do.
Regret. Shame. Helplessness.
As I focus my eyes on what happened on the cross this day, I realize once again the depth of God’s love for me. I always know he loves me, but remembering the details of this day forces me to look at the depth of that love and the great cost attached to that love. Jesus’ death means life for me, and he endured it because of his love for me. How do you wrap your mind around that type of love?
Gratitude. Hope. Love.
So, today, I slow down. I reflect. I remember the sacrifice Jesus made on my behalf. It weighs on my heart and there is a tremendous sadness. I sit here and let it stir in my soul. And as I do, it causes me to fall even more in love with Jesus.
Misti Mancini
Misti is the Director of Assimilation at Buckhead Church. In her role, she helps adults get connected into small groups. Misti and her husband, Dan, have two children, Luke and Maddie, and live in Tucker.
How He Loves
All this week, we’re asking various Buckhead Church staff to share thoughts to help us prepare for Easter and reflect on the events of Holy Week. Today, we’ll hear from Mike Glogorski who works in our Care Ministry.
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From John 13:21–35 (NIV):
After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
If you had only a few moments with your closest friends or family to share with them the most important things you had learned over the course of your life—the things you really wanted them to remember—what would you say?
The passage above includes a section of Jesus’ last words to his closest friends and followers before his impending crucifixion. He knows he is about to be betrayed. He knows who his betrayer is, and he knows how his arrest will go down. In short, he knows his time is limited. In verse 33, he says,
“I will be with you only a little longer . . .Where I am going, you cannot come.”
He sets them up, builds their interest, and then lays it on them. He has already presented so much rich knowledge to his disciples. He has already shared so much wisdom and instruction. But in these last moments of privacy with those closest to him, he says:
A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. (John 13:34–35 NIV)
With those first six words, “A new command I give you,” I think Jesus is saying (my words, not his): “All the other stuff I’ve said is important, but this—this is what you’re going to need when I’m gone. This is what’s going to keep you together when things get tough. This is the example I want you to set for others. This is what’s going to establish what it means to be a follower of Christ.” In terms of our most recent message series, “This is what people should think of when they hear the term Christian.”
I for one have read this many times and thought: “Okay, I need to love others. I can do that.” But I missed the miracle. I have found myself loving only those who were most easy to love. I’ve found myself doing a pretty good job of loving those closest to me—and even some of those on whom I took pity—but I completely missed the big picture from this passage.
The thing that sets Jesus apart from the rest of us in this regard is his love for those who hurt him. He knew Judas was going to betray him. He knew that Peter, James, and John would soon fall asleep after he asked them to keep watch while he prayed his most vulnerable prayers. He knew that Peter would soon disown him after claiming that he would die for him.
In spite of all that, Jesus loved them. He humbled himself in the lowest way possible. He washed their feet. He shared meals with them. He allowed them into his inner circle knowing full well that they would fail him. And still he loved them.
Later that night, after the Last Supper, but before he was arrested, Jesus prayed. He prayed specifically for you. In John 17:20, Jesus says (referring to his disciples at the time),
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message.”
You see, Jesus loves you the same way he loved those closest to him back then. He knew as he gave this “new command” to his disciples that you would be born, that you would hurt him, that you would hurt others, and still he prayed for you. He loves you. He died for you. He rose for you.
As we consider today the command Jesus gave his disciples on what we now call Good Friday to “love one another,” let us remember how he loved the most unlovable. Let us remember how he loves us.
Mike Glogorski
Mike is the Director of Care Groups at Buckhead Church. In his role, he oversees our ministries for marriage enrichment, divorce recovery and grief recovery. He also meets with couples and men who are looking for pastoral guidance. Mike, his wife Jennifer, and their 4 year old son Chip live in Cumming.
