I noticed this morning that the darkness is lingering as the days are beginning to shorten. Fall is around the corner! It’s my favorite season: falling leaves, cool nights, mild days, and football!!

Fall stands as a significant period of ministry focus for our church. With summer past and school started, early September marks a significant opportunity for members to renew engagement in church life. It is also an ideal chance to invite guests to join us on Sundays.

Engage Survey

If you have not done so already, please take a few minutes to complete the Engage Fall survey, indicating how you plan to be involved and serve the church family. Every member is encouraged to participate in gathered worship, equipping courses, disciple-making, community groups, and serving.

We notably need members to serve on Wednesday nights in hospitality, nursery, kids, and student ministries. Thank you for considering ways you can lean into the body life of our church!

Engage Fall Survey

Fall Kickoff, Sunday, Sep 7

Fall Kickoff Sunday, Sept 7, marks the beginning of our autumn ministry season! A fresh slate of equipping courses will launch. In gathered worship, we will commence a new mini-series in the Gospel of Luke titled “Discipleship” (chapters 9-12). In this mini-series, covering chapters nine to twelve, we will learn how Jesus trained his followers and be challenged to follow him ourselves. We also plan to baptize Michael Bickers that morning!

After gathering for worship, we will enjoy a picnic, fun games for the family, and a pickup football game. Drinks will be provided. Please bring a picnic meal for your family. Also, feel free to wear your team colors or jersey.

Fall Kickoff Sunday is an ideal opportunity to invite unbelieving friends, family, and neighbors to hear the preaching of the gospel and experience the gathered church.

Amy Carmichael: Missionary to India

This Sunday, Aug 31, I will deliver my annual biographical sermon from Hebrews 13:7, illustrated by the life of a faithful believer of an earlier generation. This year's sermon will feature Amy Carmichael. Originally from Ireland, Amy served most of her life in southern India proclaiming the gospel and caring for abandoned children.

For His Glory,

Pastor Thomas

I want to make you aware of exciting things happening over the next several weeks. Please begin planning now to be present and praying that all will glorify the Lord:

SUNDAY, AUGUST 23

Jesus has promised that the church he builds is invincible. Despite this promise, in some hearts, the pandemic may have dampened enthusiasm for making disciples. At a minimum, COVID has upended familiar schedules, locations, and programs for evangelism and discipleship. This Sunday, I hope to bring a reassuring message from Matthew 16:13-20 reminding us that Jesus is always faithful to build his church. You will have the opportunity to witness the reality of this promise as Amanda Barnes publicly professes her faith through believer’s baptism. After the service, there will be a brief information and training meeting for all who serve on our Hospitality Team. This team oversees greeting, set-up, and clean-up each time our church gathers. Any members interested in helping should attend.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30

Jason Lee will be with us preaching and updating us about our mission partnership serving the refugee community in Clarkston, Georgia. He is an elder with Clarkston International Bible Church and the director of The Acts 17 Initiative.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

Annually, toward the end of summer, I preach a biographical sermon applying Hebrews 13:7, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” Past messages have featured Adoniram Judson, Lottie Moon, George Liele, John Newton, and others (listen to past messages here). This year I have chosen to focus upon the 18th-century missionary to the American Indians, David Brainerd. He was only active in mission work a handful of years before dying at the relatively young age of 29. Though his life was brief, his influence upon word missions was not. If you are finding it hard to make disciples amid hard times, you will discover Brainerd to be an inspiration.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13

With the arrival of autumn, and hopefully some cooler weather, we will begin a new expositional sermon series, “Behave as God’s Household.” We will study verse-by-verse through the New Testament book of 1 Timothy. We will see how the gospel leads to practical, visible changes in the lives of those who believe it.

For His Glory,
Pastor Thomas

Fall is Around the Corner! (By Thomas Hill)

Preview of the Coming Weeks