Hi Gwinnett Church,

I am excited to tell you about another church emerging from the mission and strategy of North Point Ministries. In addition to the launch of Gwinnett Church, we are also preparing for the public launch of Stone Point Church, a new North Point Ministries Strategic Partnership.

Last year, a group of people living on the East side of Atlanta decided they wanted a church where they could bring their friends who did not go to church – a church similar to North Point Community Church and it’s Atlanta area campuses. They knew they were willing to drive to Alpharetta or Buckhead for church but knew their unchurched friends and neighbors probably wouldn’t.

In September 2010, this dedicated, small group of people was asked to become a strategic partner of North Point Ministries. This group of people became Stone Point Church – a church that people living in Snellville, Lilburn, Stone Mountain, Tucker and Decatur would love to attend!

This once small group of people now…

1. Meets weekly in small groups throughout Lilburn, Tucker & Decatur.
2. Hosts monthly momentum events called NEXT to help people connect and discover their best next step with Stone Point Church.
3. Has hosted two Nights of Worship to celebrate the amazing work God is doing.
4. Is preparing to launch later this year by hosting a series of Preview Services from September through December.

The opportunity that lies before us is amazing! I ask you to partner with us by…

1. Praying we will be able to finalize our location, we will continue to meet our financial benchmarks, and we will launch a healthy and sustainable church.
2. Helping us fill the auditorium we are renting by inviting a friend to join you at our first preview service on Sunday, September 18^th at 6:00pm.
3. Following our progress and connecting with us through our website, through our blog, through twitter, through Facebook or by joining our email list.

Thank you for allowing us to partner with you to create churches all across Atlanta where unchurched people will love to attend!

Tensley Almand

Lead Pastor :: Stone Point Church

tensleyalmand@stonepoint.tv

This past weekend, I had the privilege of speaking at Soul City Church, http://soulcitychurch.com/ a new church in downtown Chicago. Soul City was started a few months ago by my good friends Jeanne and Jarrett Stevens. What I experienced Sunday was so encouraging to me for several reasons.

First, planting a church is extremely hard work.  For that matter, starting anything new is difficult. To start something like this from scratch is almost impossible.

Second, I walked away reflecting on a few things for our upcoming launch this Fall.  Here are just a few of my takeaways.

1.  Leverage your experience but don’t depend on it.
Both Jarrett and Jeanne have worked for Willow Creek and North Point Ministries.  This provided great experience for both of them and they have leveraged what they learned.  But they didn’t depend on it.  They have depended on God to provide.  This might seem like an obvious choice, but isn’t it easy how we sometimes, maybe unknowingly, lean in on our experience, talent and previous success.  All of that is important but it can also prevent God from doing a fresh, new work in our lives. This was an important reminder for me.  I am so blessed to have learned a great deal during my time at Buckhead Church. I definitely want to leverage that experience.  At the same time, I want God to do something fresh and new in me.  This will only happen if I depend on Him, and not my background or training.

2.  Fight the voice of doubt by praying BIG.
The Soul City Church team has had plenty of reasons to doubt whether this was going to work. Doubts aren’t a sign of weakness as much as it is sign that you’re not denying reality.  But you have to fight the doubt.  You have to get up and push back when it knocks you down.  You do this by praying BIG.  One of Soul City’s big prayers was over the possibility of leasing a warehouse space in downtown Chicago.  As the pictures below can prove, God showed up in a remarkable way.  Sure, the doubts are still there but prayer and praying BIG has a way of shoving doubt aside. If you’re starting something new, you should expect the doubt. It’s a part of it.  Recognize it when it arrives and let it force you on your knees.  Pray. Pray. Pray.

3.  Ask for help.
Soul City’s volunteers are beyond passionate. In fact, I didn’t think anyone was going to leave Sunday night after the final service of the day.  Many of them had been there all day.  Part of the reason for this is that Jarrett, Jeanne, Amy Lawlor and the core leadership team have made ‘personal asks’. They have personally asked people to serve.  They have asked for help, and they celebrate when people say yes.  During the welcome at the two Sunday services, Jeanne called out new volunteers by name who were serving for the first time that day, and everyone cheered.  No wonder their volunteers are so committed.  To borrow a phrase from the Auburn Tigers, they’re ALL IN.

Driving away from Soul City Church on Sunday night, I was once again reminded of the power, beauty and hope of the local church.  It’s also why I’m ready for October 2nd to get here.

Yesterday, I received a very encouraging email from Maureen Kornowa, the Executive Director of the North Gwinnett Co-Operative Ministries.  We are helping NGC with their drive for school supplies.  Thank you for such an encouraging response to our request to help.  Don’t forget that Friday is the deadline to drop off the school supplies. Thanks so much everyone!!

Jeff

Good Afternoon Jeff,

Boy has your church stepped up in a big way already!  I have received so many school supplies and given tours to two or three NEW groups who received your email!  Just thought I’d let you know how much we already appreciate your support!

Blessings.

Maureen Kornowa

North Gwinnett Co-Operative Ministries, Inc.
www.northgwinnettcoop.org

“School is almost here.”

I said this to my kids the other night and it didn’t go over very well.

But it’s true. Before long, this heat wave will give way to fall and we’ll be launching Gwinnett Church together. How cool is that?!

The even better news is that we don’t have to wait until fall to start impacting the community.  This week, I met with Maureen Kornowa who is the Executive Director of North Gwinnett Cooperative Ministries http://www.northgwinnettcoop.org/ Maureen and her volunteers do an amazing job of providing food, clothing and financial assistance to those in need in our community.

As I was touring their facility, I thought, I can’t wait for Gwinnett Church to help this ministry.  And then I thought, Why wait? Let’s do something now.

Here’s how you can help.  They need backpacks and school supplies for children for the upcoming school year. This would be a great opportunity for your small group to not only provide these supplies, but also to learn what NGC does throughout the year. If you’re not in a small group, call some friends and go shopping.

The deadline is Friday, July 29th.
Drop off your donations at the co-op during their hours of operation, which are: Monday, 4 – 8 pm. Wednesday, 8:30 am  – Noon.  Friday, 8:30 am – Noon.

So, here’s my request.  Don’t delay. Forward this link to your small group, your family, and your friends. Go shopping together, and let’s deliver an unbelievable amount of backpacks and school supplies as our first community service project for Gwinnett Church.

Thanks so much!!

Jeff

Thanks to all of you who watched and helped get the word out about our Fall launch.  If you didn’t get a chance to watch the webcast for our big news, you can catch it here: http://gwinnettchurch.org/

See you in October!!

Jeff