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Hostage

This Sunday we begin a new message series called, "Hostage." I am learning so much about some of the truths that I want to share. These messages are being taught to me as I live out each day. Y'know, certain things in life have a way of holding us back. Fear. Insecurity. Failure. What is it in your life that's holding you captive? That has taken you hostage? We'll dig into liberating truths of the gospel to learn how we can overcome and find freedom in Jesus Christ.

I believe God will use these messages to set a great number of people free. I want to encourage you to invite your friends to these real-life messages. No fluff, no pretense ... just dealing with the current reality in too many of our lives.

The good news is that there is freedom...there is hope...there is release...and it's all found in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Maybe This Christmas

 

It was on the Special Night long ago when God showed up in the Person of Jesus. He brought into our world a new sense of awe, wonder, and majesty.

AND HE IS STILL DOING IT!!

This week, at both campuses, we will be offering SEVEN different opportunities to worship Christ, the newborn King. At the Bluffton campus we are offering a 7 p.m. service on Wednesday night, and on Christmas Eve, three services at 2, 4, & 6 p.m. At our Hilton Head campus, it's the same time on Wednesday, and Thursday at 4 & 6. We expect the services to be well-attended; I personally am praying for and expecting over 1500 worshippers to come before our Lord and exalt His name.

Why so many services? you may ask. To make it convenient for you … NOT!! We have always been about creating more room for as many people to hear the gospel as possible. So, do your part: INVITE, INVITE, and INVITE!!

These services are going to be filled with God’s Spirit, great music, God’s Word, a sense of divine joy and expectancy … and a few SURPRISES along the way! Don’t miss it. Pick the service which fits you best and be there on time. You don’t want to miss the start of these services.

Promiseland is available for all of our children and it’s going to be off-the-hook as well. Our staff and volunteers are working hard and praying a lot … We are expecting God to show up and show off!

We will be presenting the gospel each and every service and are asking God for dozens and dozens of people to step across the line of faith for the very first time. It’s going to be an amazing week!

A sense of wonder, awe, and majesty … can you sense it? Will you pray for it? Will you bring someone with you? God has done it before and He will do it again! And why not among us? Why not this week?

Wherever you are as you read this, and wherever you worship Jesus this week, let’s worship and encounter once again Christ, the newborn King of kings and Lord of lords!

If You Would Have Told Me a Year Ago, Part Two

Joe Friesen is our guest blogger. See yesterday's post to get caught up if you missed it...
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These relationships have grown and led me to Pastor Harvey who heads a very cool street-level ministry in Old Bluffton called "Community First, Inc." She is opening my eyes to all kinds of ministry we can do right here where I live - no passports needed. Those of you attending LowCountry Community Church will be supporting this amazing ministry as we begin partnering with them in January. This relationship will lead to many more...

As I was on the flight home from Africa two weeks ago, I had the same conversation with the Lord as I did a few years ago, and asked Him to reveal more relationships in our area as I returned home. That was on a Friday. On the following Monday, still jet-lagged, I received a call from Pastor Brenda in Beaufort (SC) - and I had never had any contact with her before. She said, "I hear that your church does work in South Africa with AIDS. Tomorrow is World AIDS Day and we have a community event to try to get people tested for HIV. We are in desperate need of volunteers."

Long story short, four of us from LCC jumped in a car and stood on a busy street corner waving signs asking people to come in for a free health screening and HIV testing. I couldn't help but chuckle at what I was doing. Dozens were tested; and people are now going to receive much-needed help and care.

This also reinforced my motto for the year: "We need to do missions on a quarter tank of gas." All it cost me was a little gas, a few hours, and a little humbling. If you would have told me a year ago...
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Want more information or like to know how to deepen your involvement in Great Commission ministry where you live? You may contact Joe by email here.

If You Would Have Told Me a Year Ago...

My guest blogger for the next two posts is Joe Friesen. Joe is our mission pastor and just recently returned from leading an incredible team of LCCers to South Africa. The image above is of Joe and his lovely wife, Patty, as she consoles him on yet another San Francisco 49ers loss...
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Last year, while on a seemingly endless flight from Africa, I was talking to the Lord about what had just happened with our team in Red Hill (Cape Town, S.A.). In our "conversation," I clearly remember the thought, "You came half-way around the world to minister in Red Hill - and that's a good thing - but why can't you do all of this right where you live in Bluffton, S.C.?"

I remember asking God to show me how I might start connecting with needs right where I live (especially in the African-American community). I really had no idea where/how to start those relationships. I'm a Dutch, white boy from California! I was staying very busy without going outside my LCC office...

As I started praying for relationships in specific areas of our community, I would never have guessed how the Lord would take me into some very different cultures without ever having to board a plane.

Because we were looking for Serve Day projects, I met Pastor Green of St. John's Baptist Church, an African-American church in Old Town Bluffton. She in turn asked me to meet several other pastors prior to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day parade. Not only did I end up meeting several additional black leaders in our area, but I marched in my first MLK Day parade (and was asked to pray to launch the march). This led to being at the MLK program, followed a week later by the MLK banquet ... more connections.

If you had told me a year ago...

This story continues to get better...part two coming tomorrow!

The Stories of Christmas

I'm excited to announce this brand-new series which I will be preaching starting this weekend. We often learn life's lessons best when our imaginations are engaged. In The Stories of Christmas we will unlock biblical truths and spiritual principles from three classic Christmas movies ... both LCC campuses ... this Sunday!

 
12/6 "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas" - Matthew 2:1 - 2:23
King Herod was the original Grinch. But unlike the Grinch, his heart was never changed. Because Jesus Christ came to earth, we have the opportunity to receive a changed heart!

 
12/13 "The Christmas Carol" - 1 Chronicles 29:15
Jesus isn't just another pick-n-choose lifestyle guru or teacher; in fact, He claimed exclusively to be "the Way, the Truth, and the Life." If we choose to follow Him, then we also have to count the cost - and it is a dear price to pay. However, the reward - a dynamic, loving relationship with the dynamic, loving God - is surely worth it!

 
12/20 "Miracle on 34th Street" - Luke 1:26-38
To believe in Kris Kringle as Santa Claus is a blind leap of faith. But to believe in the miracle of the virgin birth, the atoning death of Christ and His resurrection, is a reasonable step of faith when you understand the true nature and power of God!

Come each Sunday and bring someone with you. Lets' make sure that we do all we can to ensure that Jesus does not become crowded out in the commercialization of Christmas - and that has to begin right in our own hearts and minds. See you Sunday! 

Coming This Sunday!

Our friend, Marquis Laughlin, will be joining us again at LowCountry Community Church's Bluffton campus. Marquis is an extremely gifted "performing artist whose life work is to help audiences see, hear, and feel the God of the Bible through the words of the Bible."

It is always an amazing time when Marquis shares with us. I am so looking forward to hearing him present the Scripture - from John's gospel - to us in such as straight-forward, yet profoundly moving, way.

This Sunday at 8:30, 10:00, and 11:30 a.m., LCC's Bluffton campus.

To see and read more about Marquis and his ministry, click HERE.

Please Pray for Our South African Mission Team

A team from LowCountry Community Church leaves tomorrow, November 6th, for Cape Town, South Africa. They will be working with our mission partners there: Living Grace, Living Hope, and Living Way Centres. The team will be conducting health screenings, life skills education, and working with many, many children who live in the Red Hill township.

God has really brought together some of LCC's finest to share in His work. Please consider being a part of it all by praying for them now and over the next two weeks. They will be working with LCC's own Al Allnoch, who is currently serving there full-time.

To receive updates on the trip and team along the way, kindly email Mark Howard. If you'd like to view some great photos from previous teams, click here. Thanks!

Beach Baptism This Sunday!

We will meet at Chaplin Park on Hilton Head Island at 5:00 p.m. this Sunday for our final beach baptism of the year. Over 30 of our church family will be baptized.

Our BBQ Krew will provide hot dogs or pulled pork sandwiches, slaw, beans, chips, and a beverage for $5/person or $15/family.

If you desire to be baptized this Sunday, it's not to late! Adults, contact Pastor Bob; middle and high school student, contact Aaron; and parents of children may contact Pastor Vinnie.

This is always one of the coolest things we do as a church. Don't miss it!

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Yesterday I incorrectly linked Jen Denton's email address. If you want to serve ONCE A MONTH with the Moppets, you can reach Jen here.

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Image: Pastor Rob Jacobs, Tyler Chisolm, and Aaron Friesen, 2009.

What is a Moppet?

LCC has a ministry called MOPS. It's a fantastic ministry and one that God is using all over the country.

MOPS stands for "Mothers of Pre-Schoolers" and for us, it's open to all moms of pre-school children in the lowcountry region. Our goal is to provide a welcoming, safe, and relaxing environment in which mothers can build solid relationships with one another. It is designed to support mothers through the trials and triumphs of raising small children.

That's what MOPS is. Now, what in the world is a moppet?

A moppet is the name we have given the hilarious, spirited, loving, and cute children of these moms. And they can really use your help.

Our moppets are in need of some loving adults - both men and women - to care for them once a month while their moms are at MOPS. For every volunteer we have, another three moms can attend MOPS. It's just once a month in the morning (the second Tuesday of each month). And did I mention it's just once a month?

If you would like to serve Jesus by serving His little ones, please contact Jen Denton. She will help get you plugged in and started. It will be one of the best experiences of your month! Thanks.

Monday Morning Reflections

Only two areas I want to touch on this morning ... really unusual for a Monday Morning Reflection. I could mention football - college and NFL - the beautiful weather we're having, the lunch I enjoyed with Tiff and Lauren yesterday, how nice it is to have Darlene home after her weekend trip to Orlando with Lauren to attend a Beth Moore conference ...

(Well, I guess I did mention those things and now this post isn't about only two things ... but here are the two things I want to mention...)

1) Over 40 people prayed to receive Jesus Christ at both of our campuses yesterday! Really, does it ever get any better than that? My answer is NO! LCCers, thank you for inviting friends, family members, co-workers, and neighbors. I honestly believe that there are hundreds of people who are ready to attend church if someone will simply invite them. And there are hundreds of people who are ready to submit their lives to Jesus if they can just hear the gospel communicated to them in an understandable way.

I spoke with a man after one of the services who had prayed to ask Jesus to take over the lordship of his life. He told me he hadn't been inside of a church in years. I asked him how he came to attend LowCountry. He said, "My friend. She invited me." Wow. The power of a simple invitation!

2) Baptism is one of the coolest things we get to participate in at LCC. To see and hear of changed lives, spend some time together as a church family at the beach, and chow down with vittles from our BBQ Krew. That totals up to an awesome afternoon! Plan to attend ... this coming Sunday, 27 September, Chaplin Park, Hilton Head Island, 5:00 p.m.

God is good! Lives are changing!