Spring is almost here, and I’m ready for it! As nice as winter can be sometimes, there’s nothing like spring – the promise of new life all around us, the smell of newness and freshness – it reminds me of the promise of our God that He will make all things new!
Two months down in 2011 so far - how are you doing so far on your resolutions for the new year? Did you take my challenge to spend time in prayer daily, spend time reading Scripture daily, work on one area of discipline in your life, and find a place based on your gifts, talents, and passion to serve others in Jesus’ name? If you’ve fallen behind, don’t worry – just pick back up today and keep going. Every investment you make in your spiritual journey is one that you will never regret.
In March, I’m teaching a series called Connect on the power of small groups to help us in our spiritual journey, and at the conclusion of that series we will have an opportunity for you to join a new or existing small group. I believe that small groups can be an incredible catalyst for your spiritual life and health, and I hope you’ll be praying about this opportunity. It is in a small group that you can best be loving, growing, and serving as you do the Christian life in community with the brothers and sisters around you. This is what Jesus modeled for us, what the early church demonstrated, and I’m excited about this new opportunity to help all of our members and those who are not yet here to take the next step.
Later this spring, I’m going to start a new small group focused on leadership. For those who have been given the gift of leadership, our goal is to get better and better as leaders, as well as develop those within the church with the gift, so that we can lead with all diligence (Romans 12:8). This is something we’ve seen a need for at SCC, and more so as we move forward with P57 and all that it entails. It’s going to be an intense group – a lot of reading and a lot of discussion – but I think very rewarding for those who want to be involved. If this becomes what I'm hoping and dreaming it could be, this may continue - my desire is that this becomes a place where future ministry leaders, deacons, elders, and even staff members are raised up within the body, taught Biblical leadership principles, and then freed to use those skills in the context of SCC's ministry, in the workplace, and beyond. If you’re interested in being a part of the initial group, let me know.
As I mentioned at our members meeting last month, one of the initiatives of Project 57 for 2011 involves re-visioning and expanding SCC's intern program. We've been working hard to get this ready to launch, and we're ready! We’re calling this the Chrysalis ministry. A chrysalis is a protective covering for insects during periods of growth and metamorphosis. Southview's Chrysalis program is designed to do a similar thing - provide a safe environment where leaders can grow, experiment, and develop their passion for ministry. We’re putting out feelers now to find some great interns for 2011! You can find out more information about the Chrysalis program at our website, southview.org/intern. We're looking for some families who have some extra space in their home and are willing to serve as a host family. It could be for a short term intern (8-12 weeks) or for a longer term ministry resident (1-2 years). If you'd be willing to host one of these young men or women, email me at william.attaway@southview.org and let me know if you can host a male or female and for how long of a term. After I get your info, we'll add you to the list of open homes and will let you know when we have an intern for you to host!
The Elders have been meeting, praying, and discussing our current staffing situation, and we’re now ready to begin actively searching for a Worship and Arts Pastor. We’ve been praying about what the next position should be, and we unanimously felt led that this is the direction to go. Dawn Curran has done an outstanding job of coordinating and leading the worship team in the interim time, and I simply cannot thank her enough for her help in bringing the worship team to a place of unity and health. She agreed to help out in the interim, but we know it’s time to look for a permanent team member. We’re looking for someone with a genuine heart for ministry in the local church, a clear call from God, musical giftedness, a passion for worship, and leadership skills to oversee and equip a vibrant worship ministry team. Strong organizational, communication, and time management skills are a must. We’re looking for someone who can build teams and equip others to accomplish the mission, not someone who tries to do it all themselves. The right person will help us to create environments in worship that challenge, encourage, and equip people to take their next steps toward Jesus or in their relationship with Him. They will lead the worship team to minister with excellence in all that they do, providing oversight for our worship team, our sound, lighting, and media teams, our drama team, and our First Impressions (greeter) teams. They will launch new teams and utilize creative elements as needed to help us accomplish our mission of doing whatever it takes to share the hope and love of Jesus Christ with our community and our world. Please keep this in prayer as the Personnel Team and I start sifting through the resumes that have already begun to pour in – there are a lot of people who want to be a part of what God’s doing at SCC these days! If you know of someone, please have them send a resume to me and we’ll be glad to consider them in our prayerful deliberations.
Thanks to the incredibly generous gift Southview received at the end of last year, we’re going to be replacing the HVAC system in the elementary and youth areas and add central HVAC to our preschool rooms, restrooms, hallways, and children’s entrance area. We’re hopeful that this work will be accomplished before the end of March. If you see work trucks around, now you know why! Five companies have bid on the job, and we’re evaluating their bids to choose the best solution for the best price. It’s going to be great!
I am more excited than I’ve ever been about what God’s doing at Southview – I believe God has been preparing us over the last few years for what He’s about to do, and if we are faithful, we will see God do something that’s going to amaze us all. Let’s get to it!
Loving, growing, and serving Him with you,
--Pastor William
Two months down in 2011 so far - how are you doing so far on your resolutions for the new year? Did you take my challenge to spend time in prayer daily, spend time reading Scripture daily, work on one area of discipline in your life, and find a place based on your gifts, talents, and passion to serve others in Jesus’ name? If you’ve fallen behind, don’t worry – just pick back up today and keep going. Every investment you make in your spiritual journey is one that you will never regret.
In March, I’m teaching a series called Connect on the power of small groups to help us in our spiritual journey, and at the conclusion of that series we will have an opportunity for you to join a new or existing small group. I believe that small groups can be an incredible catalyst for your spiritual life and health, and I hope you’ll be praying about this opportunity. It is in a small group that you can best be loving, growing, and serving as you do the Christian life in community with the brothers and sisters around you. This is what Jesus modeled for us, what the early church demonstrated, and I’m excited about this new opportunity to help all of our members and those who are not yet here to take the next step.
Later this spring, I’m going to start a new small group focused on leadership. For those who have been given the gift of leadership, our goal is to get better and better as leaders, as well as develop those within the church with the gift, so that we can lead with all diligence (Romans 12:8). This is something we’ve seen a need for at SCC, and more so as we move forward with P57 and all that it entails. It’s going to be an intense group – a lot of reading and a lot of discussion – but I think very rewarding for those who want to be involved. If this becomes what I'm hoping and dreaming it could be, this may continue - my desire is that this becomes a place where future ministry leaders, deacons, elders, and even staff members are raised up within the body, taught Biblical leadership principles, and then freed to use those skills in the context of SCC's ministry, in the workplace, and beyond. If you’re interested in being a part of the initial group, let me know.
As I mentioned at our members meeting last month, one of the initiatives of Project 57 for 2011 involves re-visioning and expanding SCC's intern program. We've been working hard to get this ready to launch, and we're ready! We’re calling this the Chrysalis ministry. A chrysalis is a protective covering for insects during periods of growth and metamorphosis. Southview's Chrysalis program is designed to do a similar thing - provide a safe environment where leaders can grow, experiment, and develop their passion for ministry. We’re putting out feelers now to find some great interns for 2011! You can find out more information about the Chrysalis program at our website, southview.org/intern. We're looking for some families who have some extra space in their home and are willing to serve as a host family. It could be for a short term intern (8-12 weeks) or for a longer term ministry resident (1-2 years). If you'd be willing to host one of these young men or women, email me at william.attaway@southview.org and let me know if you can host a male or female and for how long of a term. After I get your info, we'll add you to the list of open homes and will let you know when we have an intern for you to host!
The Elders have been meeting, praying, and discussing our current staffing situation, and we’re now ready to begin actively searching for a Worship and Arts Pastor. We’ve been praying about what the next position should be, and we unanimously felt led that this is the direction to go. Dawn Curran has done an outstanding job of coordinating and leading the worship team in the interim time, and I simply cannot thank her enough for her help in bringing the worship team to a place of unity and health. She agreed to help out in the interim, but we know it’s time to look for a permanent team member. We’re looking for someone with a genuine heart for ministry in the local church, a clear call from God, musical giftedness, a passion for worship, and leadership skills to oversee and equip a vibrant worship ministry team. Strong organizational, communication, and time management skills are a must. We’re looking for someone who can build teams and equip others to accomplish the mission, not someone who tries to do it all themselves. The right person will help us to create environments in worship that challenge, encourage, and equip people to take their next steps toward Jesus or in their relationship with Him. They will lead the worship team to minister with excellence in all that they do, providing oversight for our worship team, our sound, lighting, and media teams, our drama team, and our First Impressions (greeter) teams. They will launch new teams and utilize creative elements as needed to help us accomplish our mission of doing whatever it takes to share the hope and love of Jesus Christ with our community and our world. Please keep this in prayer as the Personnel Team and I start sifting through the resumes that have already begun to pour in – there are a lot of people who want to be a part of what God’s doing at SCC these days! If you know of someone, please have them send a resume to me and we’ll be glad to consider them in our prayerful deliberations.
Thanks to the incredibly generous gift Southview received at the end of last year, we’re going to be replacing the HVAC system in the elementary and youth areas and add central HVAC to our preschool rooms, restrooms, hallways, and children’s entrance area. We’re hopeful that this work will be accomplished before the end of March. If you see work trucks around, now you know why! Five companies have bid on the job, and we’re evaluating their bids to choose the best solution for the best price. It’s going to be great!
I am more excited than I’ve ever been about what God’s doing at Southview – I believe God has been preparing us over the last few years for what He’s about to do, and if we are faithful, we will see God do something that’s going to amaze us all. Let’s get to it!
Loving, growing, and serving Him with you,
--Pastor William
