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A Church Of 10,000

January 23, 2012 in West Ridge Church with 0 Comments

A few weeks ago at West Ridge Church a lady made a really innocent comment to me. She was trying to be nice, but there was just a hint of frustration. She was talking about how much she loved the church, the worship music, the friendly atmosphere, the teaching (ok, she only mentioned Brian’s teaching and not any other communicators, but we know what she meant). After buttering me up, she smiled, shook her head and said, “I just don’t know how to get plugged in to a church of 10,000″.

Here’s the honest truth; we are not a church of 10,000. If someone doesn’t feel connected it doesn’t matter what size the church is. A church of 100 can easily feel like a church with a ton more if there is an inwardly focused mindset or not a clear path to getting connected. I’ve been invited to speak at small churches, and felt like I just interrupted a meeting with all the cool kids, and I should strongly consider stepping away and just act natural.

At West Ridge it is our desire to grow larger and smaller at the same time. How do we do this? For us the answer is small groups. A small group is an opportunity for people to connect with just a handful of other people at a time who are going through about the same stage of life. It is the opportunity to build relationships with other people who are also trying to become fully devoted followers of Jesus. In Group life you learn more about the Bible as you study together, but more than anything you get the opportunity for someone else to ‘have your back’, and you get to have theirs.

Groups are not for perfect people, or just social butterflies. They come in all shapes and sizes: Men’s,Women’s, Married Couples, Singles, Bible Studies, Care and Recovery, and I’m sure there’s more.

So you may be smiling and shaking your head thinking, but how do I find one of those?

This Sunday at each of the three locations of West Ridge Church we are having an event called, Group Link. It’s a no pressure opportunity for you to come and have lunch, and consider getting into (or back into) a small group. That’s all you do. One step. That’s a pretty clear path.

This is our attempt as a church to make sure that no one is left behind. If you are not in a group at the moment, you need to come check this out.

Go here and let us know that you are coming so that we can be ready to host and feed you.

Join us for Group Link!

Everyone Belongs,

Paul

 

Dad, Where Do Volunteers Come From

November 7, 2011 in Community Outreach, Engage Atlanta, Partnership, Personal thoughts, West Ridge Church with 0 Comments

A couple of months ago during the Engage Atlanta Community Makeover (12,000+ volunteers served from 110 churches) my then 8 year old asked me a question; “Dad, where do volunteers come from?” He is not the first one to ask this question. In fact, several church or non-profit leaders over the years have asked me the same question. People who have a passion to start an organization or serve a need that has been laid on their heart have asked that.

I realize this is an important question. If God lays a vision on your heart that is bigger than you can accomplish on your own, you have to answer the question, ‘How am I going to get others involved?’ It’s really very simple, but the first step can be the biggest!

The #1 way to bring volunteers to your ministry or cause is recruiting one on one. You have to make the ask to that first person. When you find someone who believes in you and what you are doing tell them to keep it going. Then you will find yourself being able to ask the second and the third and so on. It just happens, life on life, one on one. I sat down with someone recently who just drips wisdom when he speaks, and he told me, ‘No revolution begins apart from relationships.’

If you think your dream will come true if your company sends an official email, or if your Pastor will announce your ministry/cause from the stage, or if it makes the church bulletin, that’s just not the case. If you need more Children’s Ministry volunteers, parking lot team members, it begins with the existing volunteers believing in what they are doing enough to make the ask. If you are finding fulfillment meeting a need or serving a cause, give others that same opportunity.

Are you engaged in something bigger than yourself? Who are you asking to join you?

Everyone Belongs,

Paul

Update on Chris and Connie Feilds

November 1, 2011 in Africa, Burkina Faso, Global Outreach, Partnership, West Ridge Church with 0 Comments

A lot of my readers know that West Ridge Church took a step forward a couple of years ago and sent a family to do Ministry in Burkina Faso, West Africa. Here is a letter we sent out updating everyone as the Feild family fulfills their commitment. Here is the note.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank you for your investment in the Kingdom of God in Burkina Faso, West Africa, and invite you to a further partnership.

Over the last two years we have been very excited to see how God has used Chris and Connie Feilds to reach Muslims for Christ working at Lycee Alliance Christienne. Chris and Connie have lived on this Christian High School campus and invested day in and day out in the lives of the students there. By starting an English Club on the school campus they have been given influence that they have leveraged to see dozens of students come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. They have also ministered to the village of people living in mud brick huts directly behind the school, as well as taken teams out in the bush to share the gospel with people who have never before heard the name of Jesus.

Chris and Connie made a sacrificial, two-year commitment to invest in the second poorest country in the world, with the highest illiteracy rate on the planet. After fulfilling their commitment they will be returning home in December of 2011.

From the time that Chris and Connie made their two year commitment to serve in Burkina it has been our desire to create a path for them to transition their family home without experiencing an abrupt cut off to the resources that need to sustain their family. Many missionaries experience this type of abrupt end to their support that creates challenges when they return to the US.

For this reason I would like to invite those of you who have been financially supporting their ministry to extend your support through March 2012. Currently, Chris and Connie receive financial support through the Christian and Missionary Alliance. We would now like to ask you to send that you begin to send that support directly to Engage Burkina effective immediately.

Engage Burkina is a partner with the Christian and Missionary Alliance and beginning to take a larger role in Burkina under a new memorandum of understanding with the C&MA. Our mission is to engage Burkina Faso with the love of Jesus Christ. Previously, we have partnered with C&MA to build the facility that Chris and Connie have called home. We have continued our ongoing work been by digging and drilling water wells, building churches, expanding school capacity, and Chris and Connie have been hosting and shepherding our teams.

Extending the monthly support the Feilds have been receiving will be a great blessing. However, it does not come close to touching some of the one time cost they have to return home. Would you also consider a one time gift to help offset the cost of plane tickets home, and further honor their sacrifice as they return back to the States?

If you have been a prayer partner to this point, and have not given financially, you know that your prayers have made an immeasurable difference. If you are not able to make a monthly commitment, would you please consider a one-time gift to appreciate, encourage, and transition this family back home so that they can prepare for whatever God has for them next?

Engage Burkina will be passing along your entire designated gift to Chris and Connie without that gift incurring any type of administrative cost. Your gift is fully tax-deductible under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

You may gift directly to them electronically by using the following url; http://tinyurl.com/chrisandconnie

You may also mail your gift to:

Chris and Connie Feilds

c/o Engage Burkina

3522 Hiram-Acworth Hwy

Dallas, GA 30157″

Taste and See

October 26, 2011 in Africa, Burkina Faso, Global Outreach, Partnership, West Ridge Church with 0 Comments

One of my most fun privileges is to help direct our efforts in Burkina Faso through our non-profit, Engage Burkina. Every year I get to visit this West African country at least once, meet with leaders, and find out how we can best serve their efforts to spread the gospel.

Since 2008 we have had the opportunity to fund and initiate the digging or drilling of 74 wells. That has allowed us to provide water to somewhere in the neighborhood of 50,000. This effort is happening from a growing network of individuals and churches from around the country.

Each year the two Burkinabe Pastors who oversee the digging of wells in the bush (where we are employing locals to do the work) send us back a detailed report of the cost for each well in each village, report to us what challenges they have encountered, and report the benefits of the wells.

Our most recent report had a comment on it that I thought was just good, clean fun. They reported that some villages are tasting things they have never tasted before. Presumably because they are growing things they have not been able to grow. Wow! I live in a country where I can have anything I want from just about anywhere, and they are experiencing new taste!

In Psalm 34:8 the writer says, ”Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed are those who take refuge in him.” These people are literally being able to taste and see that God cares about them and that he can be trusted.

We are going to continue to take water to the people of Burkina Faso. This time of year we are waiting for the water table to lessen so that we can be sure the wells are dug deep enough when we begin the process again in January. Of course, that makes this a great time to gather new commitments for the next season of activity. If you want to learn more about the work in Burkina or sponsor a well you can donate online by going to engageburkina.com/store

 

Everyone Belongs,

Paul

 

Hope For Christmas 2011

October 25, 2011 in Community Outreach, Partnership, West Ridge Church with 0 Comments

To be honest we have been working on Hope For Christmas since July. My friends, The Gilcrease Family, never really stop working on it. Once again this year Hope For Christmas is being refreshed to help us reach out to more folks around this region.

This year Hope For Christmas will be happening on Saturday, December 10th in 4 locations. We are thrilled to be hosting this at every West Ridge Church Campus and we are being joined by Bethany Christian Church in Dallas, GA. This year we believe we will serve 6,000 children  multiple Christmas gifts, allow them to choose a gift for a loved one, and provide a Christmas meal for their families. Of course, we cannot do that without help from as many people as possible.

If you want to volunteer, help a guest register, or check out some of the businesses that are collecting toys in Bartow, Cobb, and Paulding Counties visit www.hopeforchristmas.com

More To Come!

Everyone Belongs,

Paul

One Foot In Front Of The Other

October 24, 2011 in West Ridge Church with 1 Comment

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to speak at the East Campus of West Ridge Church. We are in a series about the life of Samson called Stupid Human Tricks. At the end of my message on ‘Refusing To Control Sexual Urges’ I invited people to take a step toward beginning to starve lust in their lives.

The first steps are Confession and Repentance. Our Creative Arts team made a spot available on our website for people to make private and confidential confessions. I have had the opportunity to read some of these and pray over them. Many people have stepped forward and made the courageous step of acknowledging secret sin. I cannot see your names (we didn’t ask for them on the form) or email address. I have no idea who you are, but I’m praying for you. I want to encourage you to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Confession and Repentance are necessary parts of removing sin in our lives. We can’t just think to ourselves, “I wont do it again.” I wanted to take a moment to point the way for people to take their next step forward. We refer to the Care and Recovery area at West Ridge as Life Care. Pastor Jeff Bell has done a great job of creating an environment where people can get help. If you are struggling with any type of substance abuse or addiction issue you don’t have to struggle alone.

You can visit our Life Care area on our web site by going here. Nothing is off-limits. If you don’t see what you are looking for give our office a call at the number on the page, or shoot a note to lifecare@westridge.com.

Everyone Belongs,

Paul

Not There Yet

October 4, 2011 in West Ridge Church with 0 Comments

I had the opportunity to speak at West Ridge Church over the weekend (at our East Campus). We are in a series called, Stupid Human Tricks, and have been looking at the life of Sampson. The topic was Sampson’s anger and the results of his unwillingness to deal with it. Bitterness and anger can grow inside of us for any number of reasons from things that have been done to us, things we imagined were done to us, or just dealing with some of life’s hurts.

At the end of my message we invited people to write on an index card something inside of them that if they did not forgive or allow God to heal them it would ultimately end in destruction. They were to put that card in trash cans that were placed throughout the Worship Center. Because of how I understand Biblical forgiveness from Psalm 32 we picked up the trash and took it out.

I’ve received one question from Sunday over and over again; “What if I’m not ready to let it go?” One person said, “I’m not there yet.”

I really appreciate that level of honesty in response to a message. Lots of thought go through my head, but one verse comes to my mind when I hear that. In Mark 9 a man comes to Jesus for healing for his son. While he is asking for healing he indicates he may not be all the way there in believing that he can trust Jesus with his issue. In response to a loving question from Jesus the man responds;

Mark 9:24 “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 

What a brilliant prayer. If you are struggling today, I would suggest making those words your own and sending those right up to the Father who is always able to listen.

If we are honest, Faith and doubt are often intertwined aren’t they? For some, probably because of circumstances they have been through, faith comes with much greater difficulty. That doesn’t make you a weak person.

Faith is a choice, and it is not something that just happens one time. Hebrews 11 tells us that God rewards those who pursue Him with diligence. Faith is a pursuit. It is a never-ending journey that requires us to consistently ask God to increase our faith. Hundreds of cards were placed in trash cans last Sunday. Some have told me they had a moment where they felt like huge burdens were lifted and they walked out in freedom. Things they have carried around for a long time, and probably tried to lay down before. God the Father wants that for all of us.

God forgives. He carries away our hurts and our sins. He lets them go. He will do that as many times as you need Him to until you come to the understanding you need to find freedom, or the ability to forgive others, or to forgive yourself.

Everyone Belongs, Paul

Here’s the message if you missed it. May God continue to honor His word.

Stupid Human Tricks: Letting Your Anger Get Out of Control from West Ridge Church on Vimeo.

Do Me A Flavor

September 30, 2011 in Personal thoughts, West Ridge Church with 0 Comments

I love this time of year and where I live. I love heading to North Georgia to pick pumpkins, attend festivals, and eat things like apple dumplings that create in me an echo of another, better world still to come. :)

There are a lot of great events this time of year. I’ll probably tweet pictures when my family is somewhere fun, but if you live in Northwest Atlanta I want to invite you to an event with tremendous personal meaning.

The little man above is Jax Foust. His parents Chris and Kristen are great, personal friends. Chris is a drummer and part of the Creative Arts team at West Ridge Church. Their lives were rocked when Jax was diagnosed with Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) at eight months old. LCH occurs when the body accumulates too many immature Langerhans cells, a type of white blood cell. This disease can affect many body systems such as skin, bone, lymph nodes, liver, lung, spleen, brain and the pituitary gland.

It’s not exactly something you hear about every day. Jax is still battling this disease, but his family would like to take action, raise awareness, and give back to the community in the meantime.

On Saturday, October 8, 2011, from 1 pm to 5 pm, the first annual, “Hope for Histio” fundraiser, influenced by two year old Jax Foust, will be held at Earl Duncan Park (click the link for directions) off of Hwy 61 to aid in the efforts to help raise funds and awareness for a rare blood disorder called histiocytosis.

All families are invited to help support the cure for histiocytosis. For $20 a family, you can enjoy fun-filled activities, such as face painting, food, and entertainment. Enter the raffle drawing to win a chance at a free round of golf at Cannon Gate and other prizes. Funds raised through this event will go to the Histiocytosis Association to be used for research, raising awareness, and education. Since this disease is very rare, funding for research is severely limited.

The Foust Family receives no personal benefit from this, but I know they would appreciate your ongoing prayers for Jax.

Everyone Belongs,

Paul

Giving Away Teddy

September 27, 2011 in Global Outreach, West Ridge Church with 0 Comments

In the month of October every campus at West Ridge Church is proud to be partnering with Gleaning For the World to provide Teddy Bears to children in need around the globe. Gleaning provides humanitarian aid and disaster relief to communities when they need need it most. They provided more than 1 million dollars of goods to help Engage Atlanta provide flood relief to NW Atlanta during the floods of 2009, and continue to partner with us to serve families at Hope For Christmas (‘Hope’ on facebook).

Gleaning provides food, water, and shoes to children in need. They have also learned the incredible encouragement that a stuffed animal can bring to a child in the third world. Unlike my own kids, a stuffed animal to a child in need will be one of the only toys a these children have.

Please bring a gently used or new Teddy Bear to the Kidquest or Kidquest Jr area at your West Ridge campus any Sunday in October. This is a great teaching moment for us as parents to teach our kids to give up something they have for someone in need.

Below is a video that Gleaning put together to help describe just a little bit of this program.

Paul

U might have missed this 1

September 26, 2011 in Community Outreach, West Ridge Church with 0 Comments

My friends Tony and Skip led Last Saturday this past weekend. Outreach happens all the time through our Local Missions, but this is a once a month serving opportunity for anyone at West Ridge Church to get involved. Maybe next month you could join us for Last Saturday!

Cindy S- A widow that has been on a walker and somewhat bedridden for 20 years.  We had 10 volunteers from our Journey Group complete yard work which included mowing, trimming, edging, removing trash, planting shrubbery that had been purchased by Ms. Simmons previously. We spread 18 bales of pinestraw all around her home. We made plans to continue to serve her by organizing a garage sale at her home to help raise funds for some medical bills that are due. 

Sarah H- A single mom that has suffered a spinal injury in the past and lives with her 15 year old son. She was in need of a handicap ramp instead of negotiating the stairs outside her front door.  4 volunteers and completed the ramp before lunch. 

Barbara W- A single lady that has had a stroke recently and has no strength in one arm. She had asked us to help with some miscellaneous items including mowing lawn, moving some shrubbery, mulching a garden area where she sits outside, repairing a park bench, planting some flowers, restoring a bird bath, and painting handrails on the front and back porch. Skip Anglin led this project that included 11 volunteers, 5 of those 11 were young children.

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