Church Conferences

The last couple of weeks I have experienced two church conferences. The first @ Mountain Lake Church in Cumming, GA  called Velocity and the other Unleash sponsored by New Springs Church in Anderson, South Carolina.  Both were well organized, inspiring and motivating.  Unleash was sold out with over 3,000 registrants; Velocity was sold out with around 900.  

Let me give you my take on New Springs Unleash Conference. This was my third time to attend Unleash so I pretty much expected to be blown away by the tech, music, facility and volunteer teams. And of course in the general sessions, Perry Noble was going to be good but in your face. The breakout sessions for Campus Pastors & Multi-site church were deficient. As a new Campus Pastor looking for ideas, encouragement and inspiration, I received none. For some reason I had sense that the breakout leaders, who were New Springs Campus Pastors were just disseminating information about how they were making it happen. Not where are you guys and what can we do to help you? Therefore, I walked away at the end of the day wowed but not changed!

Then there was the Velocity Conference which was all about serving Christ. Giving of yourself. Being a servant! Emulating Christ! The general sessions were inspiring, worshipful and humbling! Why wouldn't they be with such servants of God like Rick Warren, who came to the conference on his own dime. You could not help but feel the heart of Christ when he shared his vast experience in ministry. The Pastors of Mountain Lake Church and founders of Church Planters, Shawn Lovejoy & David Putman set the tone for the conference by pouring their hearts out in the first general session. The breakouts were informative, relevant and intimate. Unlike the Unleash breakout leaders, one sensed that these leaders had a definite heart to serve and give their all. I left Velocity feeling that I had encountered Christ and learned an immense amount of knowledge to  help propel me as new Campus Pastor. 

For my money I'll take Velocity over Unleash anytime!

God Has Something to Say!

Beginning a blog with an apology is usually not a good way to start, but that is what I need to do this time. So....Here goes. " I apologise for not posting a blog for over a month. However,  in 2010 I resolve to be more diligent and endeavor to post twice per month!" Now that said, let's get on with my comments.

Blogging is not one of my favorite things to do! Yet I know that it is very therapeutic and freeing. Sometimes it is even beneficial to folks who read it. There could even be some enlightening information. (lol)  Part of my problem is that I think I must have some revelation knowledge or some profound philosophical viewpoint before I write a blog.  God is beginning to help me to realize that He speaks to each of His children in specific ways and that there are times He wants to share some of it with others.  So, I guess my point is that we are God's mouthpiece and if we do not speak up and speak out,  the world around us will not hear some of the unique things that God has placed in out hearts. 

Speak up, God has something to say!

Say It!

Pastor Marty preached a sermon today admonishing us to say it! Say thank you! Compliment those who are special in your life.

I'll start by saying, "thank you Shirley"! Thank you for complimenting my ministry for over thirty years. Thank you for being my very best friend! Thank you for being there through the good times and the bad times. You are indeed a treasure.

Thank you Marty & Stevens Creek Church for giving me the opportunity to pastor the Grovetown Campus. I am having the time of my life watching God turn ordinary people into a dynamic force for good!

Thank you Stevens Creek Grovetown Church for your heart of compassion! Observing you give of yourself and your resources over these last few months has been awesome.

Lastly, thank you God for what you are doing in the lives of  the Stevens Creek Grovetown Church. Marriages have been salvaged. Broken hearts have been mended. Souls have been baptized and saved. 

Thank you for a life giving church!!

Movie & A Meal

This past Sunday following the service the G-Team came together to enjoy a meal and celebrate what God has done! We gathered back in the auditorium to watch a slide presentation of the various events and services that we have experienced together over the last few months. It was really a rather emotional moment as we all watched before our eyes the formulation of a church: Stevens Creek Grovetown. Many if us wiped tears of joy realizing that God had taken just ordinary folks and had put together a extraordinary team, an army of believers who have already impacted the Grovetown Community for the Kingdom.

Then, we headed to the school cafeteria to enjoy a scrumptious BBQ meal catered in by Rick & Diana Cutright and my wonderful wife, Shirley. It was neat to watch everyone interacting and enjoying one another. We had originally thought about taking the event to someones house, but readily concluded that the team was just too big for that. Well then, we thought perhaps a park. Couldn't find a park close by with a pavilion. Hence the school cafeteria. I was thinking it would be tough but we would make it work. You know it was nothing fancy but those cafeteria digs worked just fine. It actually matched the style of this rugged service oriented G-Team!

Indeed it was a fun time for all! Thank you Lord for allowing Shirley & I the opportunity to lead such wonderful people. God be glorified through our every endeaver is my prayer!!

Launch Day

Entering the Grovetown High School parking lot on our launch day took on a completely different feel than at any other time. This time it was for real. A brand new church was about to be birthed! Stevens Creek Church Grovetown would officially commence services for the Grovetown Community. The G-Town sign team had already put signs up lining the drive. There were already smiling greeters at the front entrance ready to do their part for the day. For sure, there was incredible energy in the air. What did God have in store for us on this historic occasion?

What was in store was nearly 50 brand new families attending the Creek for the first time; 97 children with 70 G-Team members. All total, we launched with 358 people. After months of advertisement, prayer, team building and hard work, the day pretty much came off without a hitch. I watched as God took a team of willing hearts and turned them into His church! Awesome!

In Good Times & Tough Times, God Is There!

August 2009 has been a blurr. So much has happened that I was unable to blog the whole month. The first week of August my ailing 83 year old father had a stoke. Shirley & I drove to Ohio to be with him. His doctor indicated that with the prostate cancer & now the stroke that dad had just a few weeks to live. The words were numbing! My father was going to die? Not this soon after my mother's death!

Well, before we left Ohio we got dad set up in a nice convalescent center and got the ball rolling to bring in Hospice Care. We left hurting, but knowing he was in great care. My siblings & I kept in close contact so we could monitor his condition. His condition worsened, so my sister Kaye, who lives in Tampa, Florida and is an RN. jumped on a plane to be at his side. It wasn't but about ten days on August 22 that my father went on to be with the Lord! Mind you, I know he is reunited with my mother & rejoicing with the angels, but I didn't want to let him go. We wanted him to live at least until Christmas. However, God's ways our not our ways so we must trust and know that He works all things for the good.

On August 28th the Sturgell family was confronted with having an another funeral; just six months after my mom succumbed to a stroke and went on to her reward. Dad's funeral was wonderful celebration! Here was a great Christian soldier that was the epitome of Christian. He lived the life; so much so his life preached his funeral. "Lord give us more soldiers like Archie Sturgell!!!"

Of course my church family the Creek both Grovetown & Augusta has been unbelieveably supportive during this trying time. The Sturgell family thanks you from the bottom of our hearts!

In the midst of all of this, the Stevens Creek Grovetown launch has been going full throttle. The G-Team has stepped up big time. We are one week away & most everything is in place. This past week we added the last major peice to our staff. Cliff Jennings joined us as our Worship Leader. Wecome Cliff! I know that God helped us sort until we got the right man. Looking forward to getting our worship on at Grovetown Creek, September 13th...

Vision Service

What an exciting Vision Service we experienced at our new church campus the Grovetown High School Fine Arts Auditorium. My, my, my was there ever a great spirit of worship!!! Great building, nice crowd, excellent band, excited singers and inspirational speaking. Pastor Marty certainly expanded our minds & touched our hearts with a vision for Grovetown and beyond.

I am so thankful for the competency of the G-Team. You proved on your first major test that you are ready for the challenge. Accolades to all who helped in preparation for the service. I can't wait to see what God does in the next few months!