Posts Tagged “Connection Groups”
#1 – I LOVE this church, our people, our vision, our leaders, our volunteers, our staff - You are willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES to connect this community to JESUS!! THANK YOU - You have been such an encouragement to me this past week and the past couple of months.
#2 – I CAN’T WAIT to Preach this Sunday and share with you the NEXT STEP God is asking us to take as a church to Impact this city. (PS – note to self – be at church Sunday!!). I asked our staff 3 months ago if there was ONE CHANGE we could make to double our impact, what would it be? The answer – Surprised Me, Challenged me, and we’re Doing It! I’ll tell you all about it on Sunday. PS – our staff is some of the most passionate, prayerful, and prepared godly leaders I know!!!
#3 – I also CAN’T WAIT for our 10th ANNIVERSARY SERVICE January 31st at the North Oconee High School Fine Arts Center. We’re having ONE COMBINED SERVICE @ 10:30am (here’s more information on it). A 2010 Can’t Miss Event – it’s going to be AWESOME!!!! You’ll need to GET THERE EARLY!!
#4 – WOW – Last week I share with you the “TOUGHEST but most AMAZING year of ministry” I’ve ever experienced. If you missed it – HERE’S THE LINK!!
Many of you have encouragingly and courageously responded through emails, notes, and gifts. You are INCREDIBLE.
So far, Compass Church, you’ve generously given $10,782 above our January budget which goes directly towards erasing our 2009 $75, 997 year end ministry expense shortfall and setting us up for the great things God has NEXT for us. Please BOLDLY PRAY with me about the remaining $65, 215 and PRAYERFULLY CONSIDER how God would have you respond to this need this week or at the latest by January 31 (3 ways to respond are included in the link above).
#5 – Praying about something God’s laid on my heart to take our church through – very P90X-ish except it’s probably the most EXTREME spiritual exercise I’ve ever done (well, there was a 4 week mission trip to Uganda with no running water, ripe bananas, dry toast, and tea WITH leaves every morning for breakfast and a 2′ foam sleeping mattress). I’m thinking about calling it B30X – might drop that one on you guys this Sunday too…we’ll see!!
#6 - Unleash is right around the corner and selling out QUICKLY! There are less than 400 spots open…so if you are planning on being there you had better purchase your ticket soon! It’s the BEST ONE DAY Conference for Passionate, I Love Jesus, Do Whatever it takes Volunteers and Church Leaders on the planet. We took 35 people last year – let’s make it 50 this year. Yes, it did sell out and Yes, we had people sit in overflow. Go here to sign up!!!
#7 – 2010 Winter/Spring CONNECTION GROUP Sign Ups began this week ONLINE. Lisa and I are jumping back in to co-leading a Connection Group again. Your life really is defined by the people you circle up with. GET INFO & SIGN UP HERE!!
#8 – BAM POW – FUSION was AWESOME!! Last Sunday night at the NOHS Fine Arts Center Compass Church’s Volunteers, Worship band and interns, 706 Student Pastor Wesley Odum, and our Worship Pastor Matt Ammons partnered with Northeast Georgia Fellowship of Christian Athletes to minister to 600+ students from the area.
To say it was ROCKIN is an understatement. Right at 10 students gave their lives to Christ and 60+ boldy stood up to respond to Wesley’s in your face challenge to stop being a “Religious Christ Follower” and start being a “REAL CHRIST FOLLOWER!.” Yes, he will do that message for us on a Sunday morning at Compass.
#9 – Looking forward to taking three 10 year old girls to see the Oconee Youth Playhouse production of the musical “GREASE” at the Oconee Civic Center. Some of Mackenzie’s friends are coming to see her in the show. Yea, Girls Night Out with Dad! (PRAY for me). Great Date Night – do something different and come on out and support local arts and theatre. TICKET INFO HERE
#10 – Matt Ammons mom is coming in for a weekend visit. Can’t Wait to see her. Worship is going to ROCK this Sunday – I know I always bring it a little more when mom’s in the house!!
#11 – NOT BLOGGED MUCH this week (or year so far) – still transitioning and healing, needed a break, a lot going on, needed to spend time in prayer, God’s Word, and listening to God. I’d rather He speak than me!!
#12 – Lisa left me in charge of making Vegetable Soup yesterday. We came home last night HUNGRY and realized I had unplugged the crockpot when I made my morning Banana-Blueberry-Soy Protein Shake….BUMMER!!!
Did I tell you Sunday was going to be AMAZING?!!- See You There!!
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Compass, I’m more convinced than ever that you need to click HERE and sign up for a Connection Group TODAY. Here is what God revealed to me through His Word and my experiences this past week.
Lately, I’ve been journeying through the Book of Acts. The book begins with telling us about the first great movement of God in His church (over 3,000 people are saved, baptized and added to the church that day). Over the past month, we have been blessed to see a great movement of God happen in our day and time as well. During this time at Compass, we have seen 66 people come forward to publicly celebrate their faith in Christ through baptism. Over the past two weeks we have seen 20 more people come forward and pray to receive Christ and we can’t wait to see what God is going to do this Sunday during our last week of The Gospel series. May we never think this is normal or take for granted getting to see God move in such a mighty way!
With the end of this series upon us….many might ask, “What is next? Where do we go from here as a church?” It is interesting to me that Acts makes it pretty clear what our next steps should be. After witnessing such a powerful move of God and seeing a great number added to the church Acts 2: 46 – 47 tells us exactly what they did. They worshiped together at the temple and they met in homes to praise God and enjoy fellowship with His people.
No doubt, we will continue to boldly proclaim the Gospel together every Sunday and we will continue to see people respond and ask Christ into their life. I find it interesting that the story of the church in Acts doesn’t stop with gathering at the temple, though. In the same breath, it says that they met in homes to praise God and for fellowship among His people. Yes, the Gospel is boldly PROCLAIMED when we gather together for corporate worship. However, the Gospel is best LIVED OUT when we gather together in homes with other imperfect people passionately seeking Christ and encouraging one another on in that pursuit. This is why I am so excited about the kickoff of our Fall Connection Group season here at Compass!
This past Sunday I had the privilege of gathering with 20 other passionate leaders who will be leading Connection Groups this fall. After spending time with them and hearing the heart that God had given them to lead groups, I can honestly say that I believe the next great move of God in our church is going to happen in these 20 Connection Groups that will be meeting once a week throughout the Athens area.
I can’t think of anything better for you to be a part of this fall if you are serious about growing in your relationship with Christ than one of these groups. I encourage each of you to not hesitate and go ahead and SIGN UP to be a part of one of these groups today. Sign ups have only been open for one week and we have already filled 1/3 of the total spaces that we have to offer. As of right now all the groups still have space, but there are several that are already 75% full.
Current Connection Group members, don’t forget that you must re-sign up for your group. If you haven’t already, then your spot is fair game. If you’ve never been in a Connection Group, there has never been a better time to jump in. Don’t miss out on the next great movement of God in our church. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to see the Gospel LIVED OUT by being part of a group. Get CONNECTED today!
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UNBELIEVABLE WEEK & WEEKEND!!!!
Compass-ers – here’s several things that have me PUMPED about what God is doing….
#1 – LAST SUNDAY @ COMPASS
- Seeing almost 20 people Be Bold, Get out of their seat and Walk to the front of the church, and profess Jesus as their Lord and Savior in front of EVERYONE – it’s Friday & I’m Still NOT SLEEPING (and yes, people did this at the VIDEO service too!!)
- That Was AWESOME!!
- That NEVER gets old!!!
- Don’t take for granted what God is doing right now in our church – this isn’t NORMAL Compass!!
- 1 dude came up to me after the service (with his wife & son who had been visiting for the past couple of weeks but it was his first time) and said, “I left the church when I was 18 and this is the first church I’ve walked in since and I’ll be back next Sunday!!” That’s what it’s ALL ABOUT!!
- Volunteers – there’s more and more of you every week – this does NOT happen without you – you are THE BEST on the PLANET!!!!
#2 – THIS SUNDAY @ COMPASS
- THE GOSPEL - Real. Authentic. Raw. Just the Gospel. The same Gospel written over 2,000 years ago. It radically changed lives then and is still changing lives today. Do WHATEVER it takes to join us for week 2 of this three-week event… just DON’T COME ALONE!!!!
- Seriously – CAN’T WAIT to PREACH this Sunday and deliver a message of hope to all of us who have expected God to show up in our lives but He didn’t – I’m ready to PREACH this baby RIGHT NOW!!
#3 – HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WEARING BE BOLD BRACELETS
- Compass – would you PRAY LIKE CRAZY over the weekend for 500 people who are initialed on our BE BOLD bracelets to SAY YES to the simple invitation to “Come & See” this Sunday and then for God to Rock their world with Jesus!!!!!
- Unbelievable – last Sunday a father & son came down front to receive Christ – it did not surprise me when I heard their initials were on one of your bracelets.
- Go For It – don’t wait – do it now – invite them today – let’s use EVERY SINGLE CHAIR we have @ the AC until there’s only room to stand and RIP those curtains down @ the OC…Let’s BE BOLD and make Jesus more famous than anyone or anything else in NE Georgia!!
#4 – FALL CONNECTION GROUP SIGN UPS
- NEVER been so pumped about our Small Groups. We all need TEAMMATES to do life together with – no exceptions!!
- Registration just opened for our 10 week Fall Semester – SIGN UP HERE.
- There will be 20 different group focuses to choose from (new Christ Followers, finances, parenting, marriage, books of the Bible, UGA Football – ok, not on the list but you can watch football on your group leader’s 50″ Flat Screen if you pick the right group leader).
- Saw a report late last night of sign ups – shaping up to be THE MOST people we’ve ever had in Connection Groups.
#5 – SPEAKING AT FUSION ON SUNDAY NIGHT
- What is Fusion? A gathering of 1000 teenagers from all over NE Georgia dreamed up by our local FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes)
- Matt Ammons & crew leading worship, I’m Preaching (NO IDEA why they asked), and 1000 teens from across NE Georgia – YEA, we’ll be bringing the RUCKUS to the North Oconee High School Fine Arts Center!
- This Sunday night, 6:00pm – if you love Jesus with all your heart you’ll be there!!
- Pray that God would do something CRAZY in the hearts & lives of these teens that would be the CATALYST to make Jesus famous on every middle & high school campus in NE Georgia!
#6 – DATE NIGHT WITH KZ (MacKenzie)
- We bought white & pink soccer cleats, shin guards, and pink polka dot & striped socks – she’s a “Fashionista”
- Ended the evening splitting a Venti Slim Decaff White Chocolate Mocha @ Starbucks – BOO YAH!!
- Still have a sick kid at home from school the last 2 days – I’m officially TIRED of this!!!!
#7 – EATING MEAT & DESSERT THIS WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!
- Huge Thanks to our student intern, Andy Zuniga, for his BE BOLD FAST Blog – Awesome stuff bro!!
- Somebody told me I should become a vegetarian – I prayed about it….NO!!
#8 – (last but definitely NOT least) – THE MEN & WOMEN WHO FIGHT TO PROTECT THIS COUNTRY FROM ATTACKS LIKE 9-11 – your sacrifice, bravery, and courage are second to none…we remember you, salute you, and honor you on this day of remembrance!!!!
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Any weekend where I get to watch the boys play baseball (finally!!) and preach is a rockin’ weekend.
Here’s all you need to know…
#1 - I CAN’T WAIT TO PREACH ON SUNDAY
•I’m talking about Jesus this week and why He STRIPPED for us. I will NEVER get over that for the rest of my life. He was a REBEL – I’m FIRED UP!
•Yes, we are doing a Foo Fighters song on Sunday – that ROCKS!!
•Yes, it’s an AWESOME weekend to invite guests – they will hear the Gospel and the Vision of our church like never before. If you know ANYONE who has given up on church, do them the biggest favor of their lives and get them here this Sunday.
•Being off 2 weeks has been incredible and much needed. I will NEVER go 35 weeks in a row again – suicide. My wife even told me a couple of months ago I needed counseling I was so cranky!!
#2 – I LOVE OUR EASTER CHICK
•Please PRAY like you never have before that people would respond and show up on Easter Sunday like never before.
#3 – I HAVE A GREAT SENSE OF URGENCY, LIKE THE APOSTLE PAUL, TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THIS CULTURE (Romans 1:14)
•Of all the things that BLOW me away in life, nothing does it like the Gospel.
•The fact that Jesus STRIPPED and Died for me is more than I deserve…if we ever get over that, we need a heart transplant.
•In a recent blog post, Perry Noble said it best – “We cannot claim we love someone if we KNOW the Gospel will save them from hell and yet refuse to talk to them about Jesus…or even invite them to church!”
•This is WHY I’m so FIRED up about Easter – I promise you we are going all out on Easter Sunday to provide a place you can bring the people you care about the most in life to hear about Jesus.
•We are asking God to change at least 100 people’s lives on Easter Sunday – the Biggest Day of Life Change in our church’s history!
•PRAY for us as we are working harder than we ever have…and beg God to do something BIG.
#4 – IT’S BEEN AN INCREDIBLE WEEK
•The buzz about the Financial Learning Experience on Wednesday night has not stopped
•It’s exciting to hear about so many of you who have already gone to Joe Sangl’s website, began budgeting, scheduled your Debt Freedom Date, calculated your retirement nest egg, and begun to color in the squares on your HOME or Whatever your Dream PAY OFF SPECTACULAR is.
•“I Was Broke, Now I’m Not” Connection Groups begin the week of April 13. They will meet for 6 weeks and you will be well on your way to positioning yourself to be debt free, less stress, and doing exactly what you were put on earth to do. Email Sheryl here to get in one…90% of the game is showing up!!
#5 – THE CARPENTER FAMILY ACTUALLY GETS TO PLAY BASEBALL THIS WEEKEND – I Can’t Wait!!
P.S. Your grass will be greener IF you wait until AFTER church on Sunday to work in your yard!
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•Last Night was OFF THE CHAIN. Truly EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS!
•Almost late, my boy got sick as I was dropping him at 706 and had to run him back home – Lisa rescued me though (that’s my life story – being rescued by Jesus and Lisa).
•A Rebel – someone who goes against the grain…flips the script…counter-cultural…makes it happen in spite of the odds.
•Making a PLAN, having the HOPE, and Knowing exactly WHAT TO DO to become Debt Free – THAT’s a COUNTER-CULTURAL REBEL!!
•154 people are now Armed & Dangerous with the tools they need to not only become debt free, but will begin to position themselves, many for the first time, to do exactly what they’ve been put on earth by God to do.
•We PLANTED SEEDS that will be harvested in the weeks, months, and years ahead that has the potential to impact generations to come as families and singles say “NO” to debt and “YES” to making a plan to get their financial house in order.
•So many of our singles and young couples currently in pre-marital were there – that FIRED me up.
•One of our 20 Somethings came up to me after and said she had already been applying the “Debt Snowball” to her finances and as a result of getting rid of all the unsecured debt was purchasing her first home next month – that FIRED me up even more!
•Beginning the week of April 13, I’m asking ALL of our Connection Groups (this is an ALL Skate) to to go through Joe Sangl’s six week small group financial study, “I Was Broke and Now I’m Not.” The longer you put this off, the tougher it gets to climb out of the ‘Hole.” If you are NOT in a Connection Group, GET IN ONE by emailing Sheryl sgraham@compasschurch.com. In 6 weeks you will learn how to get out of debt (seriously- you can do this!!) and have FUN planning your financial future (yes, it’s fun when you have a plan).
•HUGE THANKS to our FLE Volunteer Coordinators and Deby Sorenson for leading the way. You brought your A-Game. Joe’s team said the coordination and registration was THE BEST they had been a part of any place in the country!!
•HUGE THANKS to our 7 Financial Counselors – thank you for your willingness to serve others. Because of you, Compass is now able to offer FREE Financial Counseling and Budget Planning for anyone who needs it – that’s unheard of!!
•HUGE THANKS to our 706 LEADERSHIP Team and Volunteer Childcare Workers for unselfishly serving our students and kids of the 154 Rebels last night – you are what makes this church so special!
•We will be offering a full make-up Financial Learning Experience for all who couldn’t attend the April 1st FLE. Stay tuned for the date.
EASTER WEEKEND – a quick word….
•The Creative Team did it again – knocked it out of the park with the game plan and promotion. I’m more excited about how God has led us to present the Gospel this Easter than any other time in our church history. I’ll share more tomorrow.
•PRAY like crazy for people to be led to come and do WHATEVER it takes to get people there next weekend – they WILL HEAR the clearest presentation I’ve ever given of how Jesus wants to Rock their world and change their lives (Here are the 4 service times by location)!
•Northeast Georgia and Beyond better watch out - Compass Church is addicted to changed lives and I believe with all my heart there is no stopping a church that boldly presents the Gospel of Jesus Christ and whose people put God first in their finances.
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4 THINGS I’VE HEARD RECENTLY THAT ARE MESSING ME UP – Part One
The first two are from Lisa’s Talk on Sunday which you should listen to if you haven’t yet! They are rocking my world to make me pray bolder and invite people more passionately than ever before!
Take Note – I’m FIRED UP Today! Just a few reasons before getting to #1
My Wed. Morning Men’s Group Rocks – @ 6:30 am @ Chick-Fil-A we were crying, laying hands on, and praying over a man in our church that just lost his wife to cancer a couple of weeks ago. That’s authentic community…that’s Jesus with skin on.
This Church Rocks - Lis & I have been overwhelmed by your cards, support, and most of all how God used Sunday to minister to so many hurting people!
The Compass Church Staff Rocks – these guys are working their butts off to become the best leaders they can to lead this charge to help us CONNECT with people and LEAD them to JESUS – I love their PASSION!
If the second half of the week is anything close to the first half of the week – we’re going to see God do something BIG on Sunday.
I’m seeing God truly begin to do “MORE than we could ever ASK or IMAGINE” in our city, this church, and our lives. Hold on – THAT DAY will become THIS DAY when we see 3000 people Flip the Switch!!
So, What’s Messing me up….
#1 – “Having God in our lives just gives us hope. There are some of you out there, who can relate to everything I have shared today except the part about having hope. You have no hope, because you don’t know God. So here is what I can say, IN GOD THERE IS HOPE.”
The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:10 “That I may KNOW HIM.” That’s the key to finding Hope. That’s the key to a great marriage, being a great parent, being a great friend, financial stability, freedom from addiction, finding the purpose in life we so desperately want – it’s the Key to Life – KNOWING JESUS…IN GOD THERE IS HOPE!
I am more convinced of this truth every single day - God opened TWO HUGE WINDOWS on Sunday for us to demonstrate Hope THIS WEEK!!
FIRST, in our Community – HOPE for Kids.
Food2Kids and the Food Bank of NE GA pack food kits to send home with elementary school kids every Friday afternoon. Why? Because these kids WOULD NOT EAT over the weekend without this support. They contacted us this week – they need 2000 pop top cans of RAVIOLI by the end of October to meet their goal of 2500 they need to feed these kids the next month. They asked if we could help. I spoke for you and said ABSOLUTELY. This is UNACCEPTABLE to me that kids go hungry in our city schools on our watch.
This is also SIMPLE to solve – most of us will go to the grocery store between now and Sunday (for sure on Sat. to get ready for the Dawgs game). Sam’s has cases of 10 for $8.78. I’m asking EVERYONE to go by Sam’s and pick up AT LEAST ONE CASE and bring with you on Sunday or drop off at the church before. Don’t miss it – THIS is how we make Jesus famous in Athens – BY OUR LOVE people will know hope (John 13:35)…Yes, this is over and above our tithe! Students go in together and buy a case.
“…We have several children that receive this at our school and I can assure you that’s all they have to eat over the weekend. And they usually get it by themselves. I will get some cans there.” V. Dail, Winterville Elementary Teacher
SECOND, in our Connection Groups – HOPE for People.
Don’t miss your Connection Group this week. GET READY and EXPECT God to show up in a big way!! As a result of God working Sunday, in many of the groups that have met so far, there has been a huge window to pray over, lay hands on, and just love people in the middle of their deepest needs, toughest pain, and greatest sorrow. I love the church being Jesus with Skin On!!
The people we circle up with in life will determine our SOURCE of HOPE – who are you circling up with this week? If you are looking for a Connection Group, email ccockfield@compasschurch.com – Chris Cockfield, our Small Groups Pastor will get you hooked up!
James 5:13-16 is a great Scripture to read to be prepared for ministering and praying hope and healing into people’s lives.
….In the past 24 hours, God did something BIG for our BEYOND resources that will blow you away…I’ll share tomorrow!!
SUNDAY is going to ROCK – after I heard what the Creative Team had planned – I CAN’T WAIT…could be the most FUN you’ve ever had in church!!
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