Don’t invite your friends to Church

Many times church leaders plead with the congregation to “invite your friends” to church. We live in an age where the invite just doesn’t get it done. An invite is almost like the annoying Facebook game about joining a Mafia or some stupid Farm game.  We’re are conditioned to “deny” requests.

As you consider who you think should come to church think about don’t throw out an invite. Church has enough misconceptions and perceived ideas. 

It’s time that we bring our lost friends to Church with us. An invitation assumes that the invited understands the importance and or significance of their being there.  You, as a changed person with a story of life change should understand the full impact of being in a place where God is moving, convicting, healing, changing lives.  Lets not cheat out our friends and loved ones of their opportunity for  a life changing moment. 

Bring them, bring them, bring them!

If a massive title wave was headed for Savannah and would destroy the lives of all who didn’t evacuate you wouldn’t just casually invite or send an email to your loved ones warning of the destruction. As the time of destruction grew closer your urgency would increase as well. 

As the church we know that the time is drawing near of Christs return. We also live, knowing that we are not promised tomorrow. 

Just as important to bring people to the shelter of “the church”, it is equally important to understand that YOU ARE THE CHURCH!  The body of Christ, the Bride of Christ.   The same power that conquered the grave lives in you!   We need to take the mission extremely personal and understand that we’re accountable to share Jesus to OUR WORLD. 

My prayer on April 24 2011 is that we take personal ownership of the message of Jesus.  Jesus came to SEEK and SAVE the lost.  I wonder how many of us; even if the lost found us, would know how to lead someone in a prayer of salvation?  I wonder if we applied the SEEK part of the mission who would be found living a life that SEEKS the lost?

I’m asking God open my eyes to His mission.  His kingdom come, His will be done. 

Jesus, start with me.

Sunday Recap. March 25′th 2012

Yesterday was a great day at Relate.  We started our day setting up “church” in the Royal Cinemas at 7am.  We have an amazing team that gets to the theater at 7am and normally doesn’t get out of church till 12 noon.  Those 5 hours spent serving help reach people with the hope of Jesus.  I’m blessed to serve with the amazing volunteer team we have.

We had the privilege of hearing from Pastor Scott Volk from Fire Church in Charlotte NC.  He has been a friend for over 15 years and it was a truly a privilege to have him speak at Relate on Sunday.  He gave a great word on Jesus being the “Lamb of God”.  John 6:53 Says “⁵³ Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. ⁵⁴ Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

We need to appropriate the blood of Jesus in our lives today!   His perfect sacrifice was paid so that we wouldn’t have to strive in our religious efforts to make ourselves right in God’s eyes.  Jesus paid it all!   As we understand the value of the price He paid we find that His blood shed for us brings us freedom in every area of our lives.

As we come into this Easter season lets celebrate that Jesus paid the highest price so that we might have salvation and relationship with God through Jesus.

Let me encourage you to keep the cause of Christ in front of us, keeping our eyes open for the opportunities to serve, love and give.

Yesterday, as we were walking downtown I put 2 of my care packages in the stroller just in case we ran into some homeless. As we came up to city market I was able to give both bags of clothes and water to some men.  Earlier this same week I gave a bag to a homeless guy in front of TJ Max.  Opportunities are everywhere.

The food we collected this weekend at Relate will be serving families meals over this coming weekend!  It will be sent home in kids backpacks who’s last meal is on a Friday at School and normally are not eating again till Monday at School.   Thanks to your giving, we will meet a basic need in our community this week.

I encourage you to find the need in your life and meet it.  Be prepared that God would shine His love through you.

 

Target Marketing

If you’ve ever got a Facebook add with some advertising for a band, a product a church or anything on your side bar you’ve been a target audience of marketing.

As Christ followers we need to ask ourselves, who is Jesus “target market”.  If he was spending His dollars on face book adds who would He be trying to reach?  Well the truth is, the people Jesus is trying to reach probably don’t own a computer, let alone have a Facebook account.  It’s primarily people who don’t even have their basic needs met like clean water, a place to sleep, a fresh set of clothes.  Here’s my big marketing plan for reaching my world.

(Start simple)

I decided to start packing up a few WalMart bags with a few shirts,  jeans, socks a water bottle and any extra clothes I haven’t worn in a while. I keep em in my trunk and whenever I head downtown Savannah I have em.

So today after I dropped Eli of at School downtown like I do every Monday I headed to Starbucks.  On my way in I immediately saw a huge bearded homeless guy I recognized.  I remember in the past seeing him pull coffee cups and food out of trash cans and shamelessly eat or drink whatever he found.  Even sadder than this was that he would circle the block and search again.

I now know his name is Robby.  As I was drinking my $4. drink at Starbucks I saw him outside and remembered the plastic bags in my trunk.  I trustingly asked a guy to keep an eye on my laptop and “Man purse” while I ran to get the bags.  He was glad to take it and happy to talk.

No sooner than sitting back down at my table than I saw another homeless guy in a wheel chair.  His name was Sonny.  He again was happy to chat and take a bag of 2 T Shirts, 2 long sleeve shirts, 2 pair of socks and a bottle of water. Nothing earth shaking.  It actually didn’t coast me a cent to show some practical charity for my fellow man and a child of God.

Matthew 25:38-40   New International Version (NIV)

³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’   ⁴⁰“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’The point is that when we serve the least of these we actually are serving Christ.(Own the Mission)

Take ownership of your town!  Savannah is my town and I believe there is a level of accountability Christ followers have for reaching the ones Jesus said to reach.

The point is that every one of us has some plastic walmart bags stuffed under our sink, and we all have a few pieces of clothes that we haven’t worn in the last year or 2.  My challenge to you is to pack up 2 bags and throw em in your trunk and keep your eyes open.  Keep your eyes open for the need.  God said that the harvest is plenty but the workers are few.  Lets take a simple, practical step to love like Jesus loved.

(Tell Somebody)

As stories come in of serving the least of these, life change will happen.  In our lives and in the lives of those we reach.  When we serve a need greater than ours our problems get put in perspective.  When we serve the least of these we please Christ.  God chooses to use the local church to represent Jesus and the hope of the world.  Lets take initiative for change!

Email your stories or ourtreach ideas to drew@relate-church.com.

Thanks

-Drew

Sunday Recap: Baptism

Baptizing Shedlon & Jenny. Husband and Wife.

What a fantastic day. We had a the privilege of Baptizing Sheldon and his wife Jenny.  They had made decisions to follow Jesus and trust Him with their lives.  They took the next step in following Jesus in water baptism.  What an honor to be apart of their journey in following Christ.

This is a moment to celebrate so remember to pray for Shedlon, Jenny and their family that God would continue to move in their lives and watch God’s plans for them unfold.

Good to remember

Another weekend in beautiful Savannah.  As I write this I’m downtown enjoying the beautiful weather and the amazing town I get to call home.  Sometimes its easy to get complacent in life.  Our outlook really determines our outcome.  Attitude is the lens we look through at our circumstances.

It’s funny how; depending on our attitude, things can either be opportunity or obstacle.

I choose to surround myself with positive, faith filled friends, Pastors, and family.   We could always use another friend that buys in 100%, that believes the result will be success, that pushes us to chase our dreams.

*As followers of Christ we should be the most faith filled, joyful, grateful people on the planet.  As a “follower” of Christ we benefit from all the favor and blessings God poured out for His son Jesus.  As we “follow” Jesus we become more like Him.

Jesus was a HEALER, a MIRACLE WORKER, a WATER WALKER, a FOOD MULTIPLIER, a STORM CALMER, PEACE GIVER.  The same power that He walked in is available to us, His DISCIPLES.

In 2012 my challenge to myself and to Relate Church in creating Spiritual Momentum would simply to be to TAKE ACTION.  You may be a “believer” in your heart, in your private world.  Jesus called His disciples and said come “follow me”.

Jesus calls us to action.  Those who followed Him and took action, found action!   Miracles, wonders, healing, etc.    Sunday I talked about Baptism and if that’s your next step lets take it and believe for God’s “Super” to meet our natural and we can have a Supernatural, Spirit filled life!     Life to the fullest is available to everyone!

Very thankful that the best is yet to come.

Daniel Fast

Well we’re 4 days into our Daniel fast.

By now, if your a coffee drinker you’ve possibly suffered the migraine withdrawal headaches.  I have and it made me think two things.  1) What does it feel like for people coming off REAL drugs?  2) Caffeine can’t be good for me if this is what my body does without it. Fortunately I’ve pressed through and no longer have headaches.

You may be reading this blog not knowing much about fasting.  The fast we’re currently doing as a Church is called the “Daniel” fast.   Basically this fast involves eating only fruits and vegetables and drinking water and juices for 21 days.   You may decide to modify your fast weather that be for a shorter amount of days or by what you are, or are not eating.

The goal is not to be legalistic but to up our prayer lives and up our intensity in seeking God.  Fasting is a Biblical way to amp things up.  Keep your eyes on the prize!  Deeper relationship with Jesus and the ability to hear His voice.  Fast expectantly, for God to move in your life!

He is faithful to more than we could ask think or imagine!

Lets bring in 2012 with prayer and intentional direction.

 

Weekend Recap

Last weekend was awesome.  What can I say?  We had our second highest attendance at 120. Second only to launch day on 9/11/11.  We had 7 people begin relationships with Jesus.

You can feel our culture in worship developing and deepening. I love to look out and see hands raised and we sing and hear all the voices lifting up praise to Jesus!

Our Dream Team is growing and getting better every week.  We’ve got some warm, friendly faces welcoming first time guests and our regular church family.

As the culture of the Church is created I pray our focus will always be for more, prayer, more worship, more healing, more lives responding to a salvation call.   As we’re 1 day into our Daniel fast I’ve made a list of things I’m believing God for during this time.  I would encourage you to join in the fasting and reading plan.   I’m not fasting just cause but I’m doing it with a purpose and a goal in mind.

Determine in your heart what your seeking God for during this time.  Thank Him in advance for the breakthrough or miracle your believing for.  Maybe its for VISION for your life? Maybe it’s direction?

Lets do this, and in 21 days we’ll see our lives changed, our faith strengthened, lost saved and God move in a mighty way in our community!

2012

2012 is here.  You know it, I know it and we’ll all be forgetting it when it comes time to sign a check and we still write 2011.

2012 will be a great year for those who approach it that way and make a plan for success.  The best thing we can do is plan.   Jeremiah 29:11 says

Jeremiah 29:11-14  (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.

God has plans for 2012 that involve giving us a hope and a future and to prosper us and not to harm us.  To walk in these plans it will involve seeking God.

If we’re going to get our Spiritual Momentum back in 2012 we’re going to need to dig in.   How we’re going to seek God is through His word, the Bible.  I encourage you to join the church as we read the New Testament together in 2012.  The Bible says that God’s word is a lamp unto our feet and alight unto our path.  We’re going to let the Word of God do the talking and we’re gonna hone in our “listening” through a Biblical tool called “fasting”.

When we “fast” we’re actually giving up something to gain time to listen to God.  If we fast and just don’t eat or just give up Net Flix or cut out coffee we’re just starving ourselves.   It’s as much about the sacrifice as it is digging into God in a deeper way and getting quiet before Him.  The Bible says, “in His presence is FULLNESS of JOY”.   They that wait on the Lord will renew their strength, run and not grow weary, walk and not faint.  I know that as we go into a new year there are plenty of weary and tired people.   Lets make the most out of the opportunities we have in front of us.

The best is yet to come.

I would challenge you to invite friends and family members as we kick off our “Get Back” series starting this Sunday!

Christmas

Christmas 2011.  It always seems like the Christmas season comes and goes extremely quick.  I remembered that this year and welcomed the Christmas music as soon as Thanksgiving was over and had the tree up a week after Thanksgiving.  Now that its over we’re all looking to 2012.  Many of us have been waiting to make major changes to our health, diet, commitments, relationships etc until the new year rolls in.

Maybe Christmas for you was like the very first Christmas; a perfect mess!  Maybe things didn’t go as planned.  Sometimes when nothing goes as planned and we’re left with a huge mess Jesus actually has room to do what only He can do.

If you’ve felt like 2011 has been a bit out of control like many of us have, lets expect that we’ve got the perfect condition for Jesus to move.   How many times did we see Jesus disciples in a huge storm?  Jesus was with them the entire time and they we’re still freaking out.  We can do the same things so many times.  The storm seems huge, when all the while we’ve got Jesus right beside us.  One of the names of Jesus is Emmanuel; which means, God with us.   Not just that He walked the earth just like us but that He actually WALKS WITH US.

Having Jesus with us doesn’t mean we won’t face storms; job loss, health problems, relational problems, it just means He will walk with us.

His strength is available for us today.  This is a reminder for me personally.  The Bible says He will never leave you or forsake you.  it does not say we will never face trails.  I love the lyrics from the song Never Once, “Never once did we ever walk alone, never once did He leave us on our own, You are faithful, God You are faithful!”

Lets take a moment today to remember the faithfulness of Jesus.  That while were yet sinners Christ died for us.

Weekend Recap: Craziest Weekend Ever!

Well this weekend we had Pastor Dino speak to us on Servolution via video message.

We had just about anything that could go wrong to exactly that.   If this was football there would have definitely been a “delay of game” call made.  While our team was fixing projector/ sound issues with our video I attempted to fill some awkward time with  a drum solo.

I guess this is a perk of being the pastor is that you can play a drum solo in church; a true childhood fantasy come to life.  As much as it was nice to life a childhood fantasy, it was a bit of a Pastoral nightmare.  Things not working properly etc.

In spite of that the message was one that hit home in a big way.  God wanting us to walk through the process.  Serving the same in private as you would in public.

I’m so excited for our Christmas Sunday service as we’ll look at the REAL Christmas story, drama and all.   The first Christmas looked very similar to an episode of MTV’s “Teen Mom”, Teenage pregnancy, talks of divorce, verging homelessness, paranormal visitations and all sorts of drama.

Sometimes at Christmas things don’t go exactly as planned.  In Jesus story that was also the case for Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus.   Come join us for a candle light Christmas morning family service this Sunday at 10am at Royal Cinemas in Pooler.

Have a blessed week!

-Drew