Posts Tagged “706”

Aug 14 2009

AMAZING DAYS

Posted by: jcarpenter in General, tags: , , ,

Be forewarned – today’s post is like drinking from a Fire Hydrant. BUT, it’s SO STRATEGIC for what God is preparing us for in this fall season of ministry, which officially kicks off THIS SUNDAY, I had to give you the 4-1-1……

#1 – SERVICE TIMES CHANGE THIS SUNDAY.

AC 9:30, no excuses to being there ON TIME now.

AC & OC 11:00 – you can only hit the Sunday morning snooze ONCE.  Matt is freakin out and having nightmares that the AC & OC 11:00 will show up at 11:15 and totally miss his intro to BE BOLD…I have full confidence you’ll NOT let him down!!

#2 – I’m MESSED UP – Paul’s words to kick off his ministry in Rome have MESSED ME UP – FOREVER!!! “For I have a great sense of obligation to people in our culture and to people in other cultures….to PREACH the GOOD NEWS. For I am NOT ASHAMED of the GOSPEL about Christ. It is the POWER of God at work, SAVING EVERYONE who believes.” (Romans 1:14-16)

•I cannot stop thinking about these words. They are the fire driving my passion.

•I cannot read those words as someone who’s given my life to Jesus and be normal, do church as usual, or settle for average!

•I’m more convinced than ever as a church, we must do WHATEVER it takes to connect, invite, pray for, serve, offer ourselves, and sacrifice to see THIS GENERATION in OUR CITY not just know ABOUT Jesus but have a personal relationship WITH Jesus!! The Gospel must be presented BOLDLY at all costs!

#3 – IN LESS THAN 48 HOURS, we will begin our newest series, BE BOLD.

•I’ve NEVER seen our staff work so hard on a series.

•I believe that many of our friends, family, neighbors, roommates, and classmates are HUNGRY SPIRITUALLY and what they HUNGER FOR is a RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS but they try to fill that hunger with anything else they can find.

•And, what they NEED are friends and family who love them enough to BOLDLY INVITE them to a place where they can meet Jesus and satisfy their chronic spiritual hunger!!

•BE BOLD is designed as a season for you to PRAY BOLD PRAYERS and to step up and out and make the BOLDEST INVITATIONS you have ever made.

•As you do, this preacher man will be challenging people to step out and take the BOLDEST STEPS of faith toward God they have ever taken in their life. Seriously, you don’t want to miss this Sunday. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

•After 3 weeks off, I’m nervous, excited, confident, can’t sleep with a sense of urgency for what God is preparing this church for, CAN’T WAIT to preach, and CAN’T BELIEVE we are really going to do what is being planned for this Sunday.

•It will be the BOLDEST SERVICE and presentation of the GOSPEL we’ve ever made at Compass.

•We are out there with this and if God does not show up, we are DOA. But WHEN He Does, it will be something Unexplainable yet Undeniable.

PS – Good thing this whole deal is God’s idea!!!!

PSS – you’ll be kicking yourself if you know someone who needs Jesus and don’t bring them with you!!

#4 – WEDNESDAY’s 706 WAS OFF THE CHAIN – 11 Students gave their lives to Christ at 706 Wednesday night. THAT’s not NORMAL .  THAT Blows me Away!!

•WHY is this happening? Because we are seeing a generation of students whose #1 Goal in life is to KNOW JESUS and connect their friends to Him.

•They are worshiping God with SO MUCH PASSION right now on Wednesdays, I’ve asked them to start worshiping this way on Sunday Mornings – Get Your READY SHOES on Compass!!!!

•They’ve led people to Christ on Facebook, started prayer times on their high school campuses and ran out of seats this week – more than I can blog about here – YOU’VE GOT TO READ WESLEY’s BLOG.

#5 – BE BOLD FAST – Our church staff, prayer partners and many of our ministry leaders and volunteers will be participating in a 21 Day Corporate Fast during this season of BEING BOLD.

•The purpose is to deny ourselves from something in the physical realm to prepare our hearts for the Spiritual Work God wants to do in people’s lives in this city, on our school campuses, and in our church.

•Some of you remember the Unexplainable yet Undeniable way God moved as a result of our 2008 Fast. Some of you, are like….say what!!! You got to be crazy bro if you think I’m going without food for 21 days.  Chill, Chill – yes, you’ll hate it AND you’ll love it, BUT God will do something crazy in your life.

•Don’t be a hater on this until you get all the info. Besides, Solomon said “Intelligent people are always open to new ideas. In fact, they look for them.” (Proverbs 18:15) and I know y’all are intelligent!

•I’ll explain more details on Sunday and we’ll distribute the 21 Day Be Bold Fast Journals with all the details.  We will begin this Sunday night  and continue through Sunday, September 6th. Be Bold & Get Ready for God to do something BIG!!!!

#6 – THIS SUNDAY NIGHT, August 16, 5:30-7:30pm –  FALL VOLUNTEER GATHERING (Leadership Community). This event is our Fall Volunteer Kick Off and is for ALL current Ministry Leaders & Volunteers and for those of you who call Compass home but have never volunteered and are ready to jump in.

•Let me clarify, if you are breathing, love Jesus & Compass & this community, BRING IT ON!!! We want you to come even if you have never served before and only attended one Sunday but want to be part of something bigger than yourself.

•This is your shot to do something BOLD!! You are WAY TO VALUABLE to sit in the stands and do nothing.

•Reserve your spot here. I can’t wait to hang out with THE BEST VOLUNTEERS ON THE PLANET!!!!  We will be introducing you to several new strategic initiatives that will better enable us to IMPACT our community and this generation like never before and kick off the school year with a time of Worship, Prayer & Communion together – it’s going to ROCK!!!!

#7 – THURSDAY WAS AMAZING

•5 of us attended ONE, A One Day Conversation For Senior Pastors With Their Children and Student Ministry Leaders.

•It was hosted by Perry Noble at New Spring and I was honored to hang out, take tons of notes, and learn all day with 4 crazy passionate, sold out, fired up student/children leaders - Wesley, Chase, Andy our student intern, and Mary Ann our OC Volunteer Children’s Coordinator.

•Challenged us to the Core. Much to share with you (next week though).

•Came back to a date night with the hottest wife and mom on the planet. An Amazing Thursday!!

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Jul 10 2009

GENERATIONAL INFLUENCE

Posted by: jcarpenter in General, tags: , ,
One of Compass’ 8 Values is Generational Influence. In case you are not familiar, we sum it up this way – “We will give our lives to hand off a healthy church and pass on a Godly legacy for generations to come.” (2 Timothy 2:2)

During a lunch conversation this week, a young couple expecting their first child told me “We have never been to a church who puts so much emphasis on the next generation!”  BOO YA – that statement (and the letter below) made my week!!

THANK YOU to EVERY VOLUNTEER in our Compass Kids and 706 Student Ministry – you are making Jesus famous to the Next Generation in NE Georgia!! AND, EVERY little thing you do is making a difference. ENJOY this recent letter our 706 Student Pastor, Wesley Odum, shared with me –

Hey Wesley,
We’ve been attending Compass for 8 years and my kids have been attending 706 around 4 years now.  Being a single mom and trying to raise two of my three kids by myself has been a challenge; though I must say, I have excellent kids!  As they get into their teen years, there are times when I feel my guidance and direction is not enough.  I am very close to my son and daughter, but often I feel they need an extra connection outside of me; someone else guiding and leading them to live a Christian life.  The 706 has been a huge factor in keeping my kids focused on Christ.

Since my kids do not have that daily interaction with a “Father Figure,” I know they are searching for other people to fill that void.  It has been a blessing for my daughter to strongly connect with her Small Group Leader, someone besides me who can pour into her life and reiterate all the values I have been teaching her.  Her Leader has helped her believe in herself, have confidence, and she encourages her to be a Christian Leader herself.  It has been a blessing for my son to connect with his Leader, to have a strong desire to be more like him and to admire him as a Christian man.  It has been a blessing for them to bring their close friends with them to 706,  friends whom they spend most of their day with, friends with whome they can talk about Christian values and friends who will hold them accountable.

Compass 706 Leaders are pouring into our kids and their friends; a small comment that sticks in their heads; perhaps the deep conversation that takes place; or they will learn from watching these Leaders as they interact with them weekly.  Our kids are taking into their futures the values of Compass 706 Leaders with whom they are interacting at this young age.  I am very thankful my kids have been embraced and loved by the 706 Leaders.  They are helping to carry out everything I have been trying to do at home.

Thank you for all that you do to protect and prepare our kids for life!

Jennifer


TOP 3 THINGS TO DO IN NE GEORGIA THIS WEEKEND –

#1 – SIGN UP your Middle and/or High School student for FLIP – 706 Summer Student Camp July 20-24. The camp is totally sold out, but Wesley has 5 spots available. Click here to contact Wesley for more info.

#2 – SERVE a widow in our Community through the  Compass Community House Project. Tomorrow, Saturday, July 11, is landscaping day as we’re helping to rebuild an elderly single lady’s home.

#3 – INVITE a friend to come to Compass this Sunday – God wants to rock their world!

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May 01 2009

Guest Blog – Wesley Odum & The 706

Posted by: wodum in General, tags: ,

Recently At THE 706 (student ministry), we have been fighting culture. When we hear the word “CULTURE” we often think of how the “world” is influencing the decisions and choices students make. As 706 leaders we have had to fight a more influential culture than the “world,” we have had to swing hard at the culture of “religion.” During our current series on the Book of James, multiple students have stepped out of the culture of “religion” and into a living and active relationship with Jesus.

Key Principles God is pouring into our students:

1) God’s Word is a mirror. (James 1:22-25)
The Bible shows us who we really are and the things in our lives that must change. It’s up to us to respond.
We would not wake, look in the mirror to see a huge whitehead on our face and let it go; so why hear from God through His Word (mirror) and not respond? I believe we make following Jesus harder than it needs to be at times. Simply hear from God and respond.

2) Faith without action is dead. (James 2:14-19)
Have we really given our lives over to God if we are not living like it?

3) The tongue is a tool. (James 3)
With this tool we can speak truth into lives. We can praise God. We can rip lives apart. The way people in your life respond to God depends on how we use this tool.

Yes, we play videos games, have pizza and listen to loud music at THE 706. Don’t be fooled though, we are fighting culture.

Get your student there!

THE 706 meets Wednesdays from 7:06 – 8:30 at the Athens Campus.

Wesley

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Dec 17 2008

Worth It All – Part 2

Posted by: jcarpenter in Christmas 2008, Uncategorized, tags: , , ,
•God literally Rocked My World yesterday about what He wants to do in 2009 in this church and community!! Can’t wait to share but tomorow….hijacked blog again.

•The 706 GUYS hit me up BIG TIME with their Fowler Drive stories wanting some equal time.

FIRST – More Christmas A.D.D. –
#1 – There are NO SUNDAY MORNING services at either the Athens or Oconee Campuses this Sunday, Dec 21.
#2 – Christmas Service Times are  4:00pm AND 6:00 pm THIS SUNDAY, Dec 21 at NORTH OCONEE HIGH SCHOOL Fine Arts Center.
#3 – Your tickets say on top “Christmas Eve Services” – THIS SUNDAY, DEC 21 ARE our Christmas Eve Services. There are NO SERVICES on December 24 (hey – we’re not perfect – just forgiven).
#4 – This also means that if you are traveling to see Gram and Gramps on Saturday night this weekend, you CAN GET BACK for Sunday Christmas Services without getting up at the butt crack of dawn.
#5 - Christmas is not complete without the forgiveness of our Saviour – I can’t wait to see how many lives God Rocks when they ‘Flip The Switch’ this Sunday. I believe it will be the BIGGEST DAY of LIFE CHANGE in our church’s brief history.
#6 - Seriously, you need to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to INVITE WHOEVER you can THIS SUNDAY to CHRISTMAS @ COMPASS – God is going to ROCK their worlds. I can’t believe some of the stuff that is being planned – DARN it’s going to be a great day!!
#7 – TICKETS - GET THEM HERE! they are free…nobody will be turned away…helps us big time with planning.  We’re at 900 – 300 more will be the BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY we’ve ever had to tell people about Jesus at one time in this community. Finish Strong – bake some cookies, get some candy canes and invite EVERYONE you know to Taste Test Compass this Christmas.
#8 – 50,000 Mailers hit the boxes yesterday and today all over Northeast Georgia – Pray Like Crazy – God wants to do something BIG in Northeast Georgia!!

SECOND – A.D.D. #2
•By Popular Demand we have 2 Sided JANUARY11.org Yard Signs. Email Wesley Odum here to reserve yours and arrange pick up this week.

BACK ON TRACK
•The Preacher’s kids were at East Side Wal-Mart last night…let me just put it this way, the Red Posts at the entrance ARE Removable – never knew that before!!

•We have the Most Stinkin Awesome, Off the Chain, Flat Out Incredible Student Leadership Team ANYWHERE in the entire world! They rock and JESUS rocks through them!!

•Here’s the email “UN-EDITED” – if you want a HUGE God Moment hang to the end  - the LAST PARAGRAPH Says It All (yes, tears again!!) :

About half of the group met at the church around 4:00, and we headed up the loop to the Wal-Mart at Epps Bridge.  Jonathan, Ko-D, and Derek decided to lead us in song, which was probably a bad idea from the get-go.  More on that later.  Anyway, we knew that serveral were going to meet us there (Seth, Erin, Phillip, Ethan, and James) [Jim's insert - ERIN is a brave 706 Warrior -ESS], so this group was going to be BIG.  I was actually worried about us getting kicked out of Wal-Mart.  I learned later as three of them were throwing a football over the top of the men’s clothing section that Wesley actually encouraged a couple of boys in the group to try to get kicked out of Wal-Mart.  I know he was joking, but they might not have thought this.

We got about $120 worth of merchandise from Wal-Mart, scanned everything ourselves, loaded it in my trunk, and took off to Academy Sports.  Some of the guys took turns riding the bike for the five year old across the parking lot.  How nobody is hurt, and how the bike is still in one piece, I’d like to know.  There are pictures of the bike rides that would probably incriminate us.

Academy wasn’t THAT bad…well…kinda.  This was supposed to be an in-and-out deal.  BUT, they saw the weightlifting equipment and treadmills.  Nobody died, but there were probably a couple of close calls. Thankfully I kept my camera in the car.  We then went to eat at Wendy’s on Epps Bridge, but this wasn’t really eventful.

The trip back to the church…ummm…I’m glad that it was dark outside so that nobody could see the activities taking place.  As we were leaving the parking lot, the three “heathens” started a chorus of “99 bottles of beer on the wall”, and they got down into the lower eighties before screwing things up.  I was also taking Seth home, and he looked like he was going to strangle all three of them.  He wanted to kill Derek and Jonathan more when they stripped down to their boxers for fun, and started to take pictures with their phones. [JIM INSERT - NOTE TO SELF - probably should have Edited that last line.]

With all of the craziness mentioned, it was still one of the most impactful things I’ve seen done in my 23 years on this planet.  These eight students donated their time and their money in order to make sure that this family wasn’t going to go “without” on Christmas in 2008.  I know a lot of people say that kids have changed.  They aren’t as “great” as they used to be, they say.  I beg to differ.  People try to focus on the negative sides of students in order to pump up THEIR generation.  When looking at the events of Sunday, I’d argue that they’ve already surpassed my generation of five-six years prior.  The Lord is doing great things with The 706, and it’s more impactful when you see it in front of you.

706 Small Group Leader – Jimmy Hughes


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