December 21, 2009
A few weeks ago I wrote an announcement to try and draw attention to the Global Trips we are planning at West Ridge. In tongue and cheek fashion I gave a recommendation that you send your spouse oversees as a way of saving your marriage. Evidently, I was right on as several of you have talked with me about giving Global Trips to your spouse for Christmas.
This may be more than just an exercise in marriage intervention. Many of you have come to me and said that it was actually a spouse that encouraged you to go on your first trip. Sometimes we have to give each other permission to take the time, or spend the money.
If you have a spouse that has talked about wanting to see the savannahs of Africa, the Amazon of Brazil, or the hidden treasure of Cuba, let’s make 2010 the year. God is allowing us to partner and do some amazing ministry in these countries; digging wells, building churches, and being a part of community transformation in these three countries. Whole tribal groups of people who have never heard the name of Jesus, are being told about Him first from West Ridge and our partners.
I would encourage you to sit down, talk about this together, and choose to make the investment of your family’s time. There is some money involved, but most of it you can raise through fundraising and networking. We will provide guidance in this. We are very interested in helping you see what God is doing in the world, and engaging His global kingdom.
Sign up by visiting www.westridge.com/global
Everyone Belongs,
Paul
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December 9, 2009
Every day the doors are open at West Ridge there people here who have never been before. Many of them have not been to church before, at least not since they were kids. People from around the community come here looking for Benevolence help. Currently, they come in look for Christmas assistance (See my post, “A little dose of hope”).
In Benevolence there are always people that say they want to come visit. It’s from a pure heart. It’s not money grubbing. It’s literally people that think there is a string attached to getting their heat or light bill paid. There isn’t one. We also don’t just write checks. To get assistance here you are going to have a lengthy conversation with a person that cares enough to communicate God’s love on a personal level. Our Benevolence volunteers, especially their leader Michelle, are as caring as it gets.
I am always struck by the surprise I see in people’s eyes when you take time to talk to them and invite them to come back. Bring your kids. Bring your teens. Bring yourself. We want you to find your place here. So why don’t they?
What is it about the poor, the outcast, and the oppressed that makes them think, “I can come here for ‘this’, but I can’t really be a part.” What is it about us? Why is the church a good place to get help, but not a good place to belong?
By the way, since we are temporarily labeling people, who would you put in the categories, ‘poor’, ‘outcast’ and ‘oppressed’? Who goes through your mind? Was there ever a time when you would have labeled yourself that way?
Ok, so I didn’t even touch the ‘Largest unreached people group in America’ thing’. I’ll get to that.
Everyone Belongs,
Paul
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December 8, 2009
I sent an e-mail the other day to people at our church that have asked for Local and Global Outreach information. In the e-mail, I’m obviously being sarcastic, but I’ve actually had a lot of great conversations about Global Trips since sending it out. Anyway, thought I’d post it here. By the way, my wife and I are very happy together 
.
(Here’s the e-mail)
Are you simply tired of your hubby? Would you like a little distance from your wife? Friends, that’s what I am here for. That is why my wife loves missions! It puts oceans between us oftentimes, when we need it most.
Give a Christmas gift to them and yourself by sending your spouse to Cuba, Brazil or Burkina Faso.
$125 gets you registered to be a part of great vision, changed lives, and community transformation in some amazing places in the world. We will give you all the information you need, and help you raise the funds.
Get involved in sharing God through missions. It will change your life, and save your marriage.
Visit westridge.com/global and put a little Cuba in their stocking.”
Everyone Belongs,
Paul
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December 4, 2009
The last three weeks at West Ridge Church, Pastor Brian Bloye led us through a series called, ‘Fearless’. It was on giving. You know every time you hear or read the Bible it requires a response. Even by the Pastors on the church staff.
I have wrestled with an issue related to giving now for about three years. I heard a Pastor via podcast challenge his people about giving. This particular Pastor has a philosophy on communication that is one of my favorites, “Always wear shoes you can run in.” Brilliant. He was challenging Christ-followers to start with percentage giving. And then he went on a bit of a rant that has haunted me. He said, “If you are giving 3%, let’s talk about 4…. If you are giving 30%, let’s talk about 31….” Haunted me! God has been whispering me to very specifically since I heard that talk, “Let’s talk about 11.”
My wife is a natural giver. I am not. We sponsor a child in Burkina. From time to time we try to give an extra gift to one of my friends planting churches. We will give extra towards Outreach efforts at WRC (gift offering, toys for Christmas) so that our lives mirror our ministry. Just little stuff. Still, God whispers, let’s talk about 11.
My wife and I have been faithful 10% givers to our local church since the early days of our marriage. But scripture says this, But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. Grow in the grace of giving. Even just a little bit.
Brian talked specifically about church centered giving. He spoke about giving where you are taught (and in this case sometimes where you do the teaching). After years of wrestling, being stubborn, and probably a bit fearful, we are moving to 11. I’m notorious for jumping 4 steps ahead, when I should just take the one in front of me. One will lead to the next; eventually.
I can’t tell you how small a step this is, or how stupid I feel for not taking it sooner. But it’s an obedient step. It’s also one I believe that if more of us did it, we could make a greater impact in Atlanta, Burkina Faso, Cuba, Brazil, and right next door.
Let’s talk about….
Everyone Belongs,
Paul
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December 3, 2009
As we roll forward toward our Hope For Christmas Event I wanted to let you know where you could give directly to children in your own community. Toys for Tots is a wonderful organization. The boxes that are around your community are collected and taken to a central distribution center where they are given out by their national organization. They will most likely give us some toys from the general donation that is coming in from around Metro Atlanta.
One of our partners for this Hope For Christmas event is Toys for Tots of Paulding County. When you give to one of their locations you can be guaranteed that the toys stay here to help children in our own community. Some are collecting already, they all will be by this time tomorrow. Here are some Toys for Tots locations that will be collecting in partnership with what is happening locally:
Elon Salon (Dallas)
K-Mart (Hiram)
Rite-Aid (Hiram)
Wal-mart (Hiram)
Wal-mart on Dallas Hwy (Dallas)
North GA Bank (Hiram)
Paulding County Courthouse (Dallas)
Bentwater Community
Liberty Mutual (Norcross, Beaver Ruin Road)
Williams Printing (College Park)
Of course, we are also collecting at West Ridge Church the next two Sundays.
Everyone Belongs,
Paul
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December 2, 2009
A couple years ago I read a book on prayer by author Richard Rohr. The book was called ‘Everything Belongs’. It had a lot of great insights and some impact on me personally. As I continued to read and reflect over the title of the book God kept tweaking the phrase in my heart. Over time I started using the phrase ‘Everyone Belongs’. I started signing my name with the phrase. I was looking at people differently.
You see I grew up with a conservative Christian upbringing. What I’m about to say is not a reflection on my family. Since they may be the only 5 people reading this I had to throw that in there. Quite frankly, in an independent fundamentalist background (Baptist one on side, charismatic on the other) not everyone belonged. In my world you ‘belonged’ if you tucked in your shirt, wore a belt, had your hair cut the right length and listened to the right kind of music. But especially don’t listen to the wrong kind.
Over the years, God has chipped some of that stuff away (I’m a work in progress), and I can’t go back to my previous way of thinking. I have learned that there is good and beauty in a lot of places I didn’t used to look for it. I have learned that God has placed a piece of Himself inside of everyone, and that a personal relationship with Jesus is how to activate the God-particles.
Never has that been brought more to light than when the Outreach team at West Ridge starting engaging what some have called the largest unreached people group in America…(Part 2, later)
Everyone Belongs,
Paul
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December 1, 2009
In 2008 an awesome collaboration of community leaders in Northwest Atlanta invited West Ridge Church to help them pull off the county Christmas program. We let them know what we could do, and together we were able to serve somewhere north of 1,000 families for Christmas. West Ridge didn’t do this alone.We partnered with A Fresh Hope, CAYA Ministries and Toys for Tots to pull it off. Several other local churches got involved as well.
This year, we thought we would do it again, invite more families, and provide more assistance. So with the same partners we are throwing a party on Saturday, December 19th from 2:00 pm – 7:00 pm at West Ridge Church. We call it, ‘Hope For Christmas‘
Here is what happens at the party;
- Invite people who need some extra assistance with Christmas to come and receive a food box with enough stuff for Christmas Dinner,
- Give every parent a toy for each child in their home,
- Give every child a chance to ’shop’ for free in Santa’s Secret Store. The store gives children who otherwise might not get gifts themselves the chance to experience the joy of giving. The store is filled with items for siblings, Mom and Dad, and grandparents.
Along with all of these elements are crafts, snacks, and Jolly Ol’ Saint Nick himself makes an appearance.
I believe a little dose of hope given in Jesus name has the potential to go a lot farther than people may realize.
Christmas is a magical time of year, but 1500 families don’t get assistance by magic. We need your help, and I would invite you to partner with us in one of the following ways.
- It takes over 500 volunteers to pull this off both before the event and on the 19th itself. If you would give a little time, it will go a long way. (You can volunteer by going here)
- We could use some gifts. Toys are less expensive this year than ever before. You can drop them off at West Ridge Church in boxes spread throughout the church or bring them in Monday-Thursday from 9am-5pm. We could also use gifts for Parents and Grandparents for the kids to choose from in Santa’s Secret Store (I love saying that name. Don’t know why )
- We need canned goods. What would you want for Christmas dinner? Boxes of stuffing, potatoes, cans of yams, green beans and corn would be great.
If you want to volunteer or know someone that needs to register for assistance, you can take them to this link. There you will find two separate links for registration and volunteering.
We are also inviting over 400 families to this that were impacted by September’s flooding. It’s the least we can do for them.
Help us give a little dose of hope this year. It just might change the trajectory of an entire family.
Everyone Belongs,
Paul
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November 30, 2009
So I’m 33 years old. I look younger, which doesn’t really have any advantages at this point. I’ve been a part or a church staff for 12 years, and have been around ministry for a long time. I’ve had the opportunity to be around great leaders and great ministry, but I have never seen it quite like this.
Over the last 10 years we have thought that people are more open to receiving the kindness of God, like September 11th or the financial collapse last year. But sitting at my desk with my view of the world this season is one like never before. Maybe it’s the flood relief we have all been involved in for NW Atlanta, maybe it’s the unemployment rate, I’m not sure. Every day at West Ridge we see families who have lost everything financially, emotionally, spiritually and physically, and they are coming to the church for help. There is no longer a high level of cynicism when we go out into our community. There is an extraordinary amount of people ready to listen to what God has for their life.
This is only possible when Christ-followers get involved and invite other friends from the community to do that as well. I can’t put a finger on what is happening, but I plan to share how we are leveraging this season to expand the kingdom.
Here are a couple of examples of what we have coming in the days ahead.
- We will provide food and toys for over 1500 families at Christmas including 400+ families impacted by recent flooding
- We will serve four-five dozen special needs families with a strategically placed Christmas respite event
- We will send a family to Africa to continue to help us engage Burkina Faso in the areas of water and education
- We will begin to unveil some of the rebuilding work that we and other churches have been called into for flood victims around NW Atlanta
I hope you will join with us in this. I think we are on the edge of seeing lives, communities, and countries transformed like never before.
Everyone Belongs,
Paul
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October 27, 2009
I’m not sure what name you will remember the ‘Flood of ‘09′ by that swept through Northwest GA. For a majority of us it will be the year of the ‘really crazy rains’ or ‘the year we missed school because of rain’. For hundreds of families it is the moment their life was changed forever.
I don’t want to be too dramatic, but it is pretty easy to drive around Metro Atlanta and not realize that thousands of people have been displaced or lost their homes in the last four weeks. Some are just starting to come to grips with it. In the last 7-10 days, Samaritan’s Purse has assessed more than 100 new homes damaged by the floods that no one has touched. How is this possible? Many of these families left their homes in the flooding that happened in September and are just now returning home. They are in shock. They have no idea where to begin. These families need our help right now!
The #1 way we can help these families is to volunteer with Samaritan’s Purse to help remove debris and tear out sheetrock. To volunteer you simply call 678-202-5974. Teams go out every single day. If you can take off work, or bring the office with you, do it! By the way, Disaster Relief experts are saying that it is too early to replace walls damaged by the flood. The wood will need a couple of months to dry out and make sure all the mold is gone. We will help families repair and rebuild, but we will wait until we can do the job right, not just expediently. Helping these families is going to require long-term care and commitment.
Spread this word around. Our partners as Samaritan’s Purse and these flood victims need our help.
Everyone Belongs,
Paul
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October 23, 2009
This Sunday at West Ridge Church my friend Pete Brokopp will share for a couple minutes in each of our three services. Pete is an inspiring leader with lots of great stories so we thought we would create another opportunity for you to meet him. Sunday afternoon at 4 pm we will be hosting a reception for Pete at West Ridge where you can learn more about how to get involved in Burkina, and what life is like there. This is an especially great chance for those of you who have sponsored a child through Compassion International to learn more about the trials your sponsored child might face.
With that said may you want to go to Africa, but maybe you would like to know what other trips are available through the church. For more information on going on a Global trip with West Ridge visit westridge.com/global. I have put some brief descriptions below.
Where will you go?
CUBA
Cuba has been in the news a lot lately. It’s on a lot of people’s minds. Beyond all the politics there are some incredible people, and the opportunity to experience an amazing culture that mixes the Caribbean and Hispanic life. Join us in working alongside our church partners just outside of Havana. We will work to help them serve their communities, and to assist and train them in doing Women’s, Children’s and Small Groups Ministry.
BRAZIL
We are partnering with Indigenous Pastors and Leaders to build a training center to equip tribal people to be able to engage over one hundred unreached people groups along the Amazon River. The training center is being built near Iran-duba, which is located across the Rio Negro from the beautiful city of Manaus
BURKINA FASO
Every trip we take to Burkina Faso has a different focus as we seek to impact the culture and infrastructure of this West African country and spread the gospel. We may be in the bush building church, or working in the capital city of Ouagadougou working alongside the number one school in the country. We have a built on our guest house and team center here and are ready for year of ministry in order to truly make a difference.
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