My friends, the summer is hot, the ministry is happening, and God is moving! We’ve been hearing a ton of “God stories” through this season of ministry, and I believe the best is still yet to come! Here’s an update on what’s happening at SCC this month…
• Our Kids Day Camp in July was just amazing! 116 kids came onsite during the week and were told about the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we saw two accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior – that never gets old! What a blessing to be a part of the spiritual journey of so many kids! Thanks to ALL of you who were a part in some way – whether you were a guide, worked registration, served snacks, led worship, taught Bible stories, helped with crafts or recreation, or prayed for the kids, you had a part in what God did that week – thank you for being a church focused on reaching out to these kids and their families!
• Our youth have been busy as well; from re:Charge youth camp to WorldChangers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, from helping with the Kids Day Camp to serving families in need with construction and repair projects, they have been actively engaged. Thank you to all who led our group to camp and to the WorldChangers project in TN – God’s work is being done in and through these students, and I can’t wait to see what He’s going to do next!
• On Sunday mornings in August, I’ll continue the series of messages on “The Greatest Sermon Ever,” Jesus’ teaching known as the Sermon on the Mount. We’re going verse by verse through this well known sermon that Jesus gave and learn about the life that He calls us to lead. Jesus was the master teacher, and we’ve learned so much about the Kingdom life that He calls us to live here and now. What has God been teaching you? What have been your greatest takeaways from this series? I’d love to hear from you – you can email feedback@southview.org and let me know what God has been doing in your life.
• Our search for a Worship and Arts Pastor is continuing. Since we restarted the search in June, we’ve received 75 resumes from some great candidates. Since February, we have received over 150 resumes, and the personnel team and I have been working hard doing phone and video interviews. Our prayer continues to be that God will lead us in His timing to the person He has for us – please join us in that prayer. We’re hoping to have some news for you soon as we continue narrowing down candidates for consideration.
• Lynn Carr has served with great distinction on our administrative office staff for 12 years, and she has grown far beyond her current role as a Ministry Assistant. In consultation with the Personnel Team and the Elders, we are “re-organizing” the staff a bit and promoting her to Church Administrator as of August 1. Lynn will oversee not only office administrative operations, including HR and financial matters in the church, but she will be the point of coordination for church business, contractors, and other operational matters, working closely with our Properties Team and other teams in the church. As Lynn moves into this role, we will be hiring two part time receptionists who will be at the glass doors downstairs handling office walk in traffic, mail, telephone support, and other duties. Lynn will oversee these positions and will ensure that our church operations function with a degree of efficiency that she has modeled in her current role for the last 12 years.
• On Wednesday, August 24, SCC members will go to Coates Elementary for our first off site Back to School Boutique – we will have the opportunity to minister during the course of the day to 80-100 kids and their families who are in need. By providing school supplies, clothing, a meal, and the love of Christ, we will have the opportunity to share one-on-one with them the reason for “why we do what we do” – Jesus in us. If you haven’t yet signed up to be a part of this, there’s still room for you to serve – you can find more info on that at our website (southview.org) or by contacting Diane Atkison.
Summer is a time when many take time away to recharge, refresh, and renew ourselves, and that’s an awesome privilege. Don’t let summer activities keep you from connecting to and serving those around you with your church family. Opportunities are everywhere – we just have to follow God’s leading and take advantage of them.
Finally, let me thank you for being faithful to your church’s work in your giving – the tithes and offerings we receive allow us to do the ministry that we pray and plan for. The great missionary to China, Hudson Taylor, once said, “God’s work, done God’s way, will never lack God’s supply.” It is through the faithfulness of His people that God funds the ministry at SCC – and I believe there is so much more to do. Through our giving, we get to participate in all that God is doing at SCC and beyond.
God has done great things at SCC in recent years – we have seen lives changed for all eternity; we have had the privilege of introducing so many to Jesus – and we’re not done yet. Project 57 continues as we move into a fall that is packed with opportunities to serve. September 11 we’ll kick off a new series called “Faith in Action,” and we’ll end that series with a major day of community service on October 1. Be praying NOW that God would use our efforts to connect with those in our community who are far from Him; be praying that He would give us the privilege of serving them in His name; and be praying that we would have the opportunity of sharing about the love that God has for them.
It’s going to be great!
Loving, growing, and serving Him with you,
--Pastor William
• Our Kids Day Camp in July was just amazing! 116 kids came onsite during the week and were told about the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and we saw two accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior – that never gets old! What a blessing to be a part of the spiritual journey of so many kids! Thanks to ALL of you who were a part in some way – whether you were a guide, worked registration, served snacks, led worship, taught Bible stories, helped with crafts or recreation, or prayed for the kids, you had a part in what God did that week – thank you for being a church focused on reaching out to these kids and their families!
• Our youth have been busy as well; from re:Charge youth camp to WorldChangers in Chattanooga, Tennessee, from helping with the Kids Day Camp to serving families in need with construction and repair projects, they have been actively engaged. Thank you to all who led our group to camp and to the WorldChangers project in TN – God’s work is being done in and through these students, and I can’t wait to see what He’s going to do next!
• On Sunday mornings in August, I’ll continue the series of messages on “The Greatest Sermon Ever,” Jesus’ teaching known as the Sermon on the Mount. We’re going verse by verse through this well known sermon that Jesus gave and learn about the life that He calls us to lead. Jesus was the master teacher, and we’ve learned so much about the Kingdom life that He calls us to live here and now. What has God been teaching you? What have been your greatest takeaways from this series? I’d love to hear from you – you can email feedback@southview.org and let me know what God has been doing in your life.
• Our search for a Worship and Arts Pastor is continuing. Since we restarted the search in June, we’ve received 75 resumes from some great candidates. Since February, we have received over 150 resumes, and the personnel team and I have been working hard doing phone and video interviews. Our prayer continues to be that God will lead us in His timing to the person He has for us – please join us in that prayer. We’re hoping to have some news for you soon as we continue narrowing down candidates for consideration.
• Lynn Carr has served with great distinction on our administrative office staff for 12 years, and she has grown far beyond her current role as a Ministry Assistant. In consultation with the Personnel Team and the Elders, we are “re-organizing” the staff a bit and promoting her to Church Administrator as of August 1. Lynn will oversee not only office administrative operations, including HR and financial matters in the church, but she will be the point of coordination for church business, contractors, and other operational matters, working closely with our Properties Team and other teams in the church. As Lynn moves into this role, we will be hiring two part time receptionists who will be at the glass doors downstairs handling office walk in traffic, mail, telephone support, and other duties. Lynn will oversee these positions and will ensure that our church operations function with a degree of efficiency that she has modeled in her current role for the last 12 years.
• On Wednesday, August 24, SCC members will go to Coates Elementary for our first off site Back to School Boutique – we will have the opportunity to minister during the course of the day to 80-100 kids and their families who are in need. By providing school supplies, clothing, a meal, and the love of Christ, we will have the opportunity to share one-on-one with them the reason for “why we do what we do” – Jesus in us. If you haven’t yet signed up to be a part of this, there’s still room for you to serve – you can find more info on that at our website (southview.org) or by contacting Diane Atkison.
Summer is a time when many take time away to recharge, refresh, and renew ourselves, and that’s an awesome privilege. Don’t let summer activities keep you from connecting to and serving those around you with your church family. Opportunities are everywhere – we just have to follow God’s leading and take advantage of them.
Finally, let me thank you for being faithful to your church’s work in your giving – the tithes and offerings we receive allow us to do the ministry that we pray and plan for. The great missionary to China, Hudson Taylor, once said, “God’s work, done God’s way, will never lack God’s supply.” It is through the faithfulness of His people that God funds the ministry at SCC – and I believe there is so much more to do. Through our giving, we get to participate in all that God is doing at SCC and beyond.
God has done great things at SCC in recent years – we have seen lives changed for all eternity; we have had the privilege of introducing so many to Jesus – and we’re not done yet. Project 57 continues as we move into a fall that is packed with opportunities to serve. September 11 we’ll kick off a new series called “Faith in Action,” and we’ll end that series with a major day of community service on October 1. Be praying NOW that God would use our efforts to connect with those in our community who are far from Him; be praying that He would give us the privilege of serving them in His name; and be praying that we would have the opportunity of sharing about the love that God has for them.
It’s going to be great!
Loving, growing, and serving Him with you,
--Pastor William
