I'm all about going to church on Sundays. Not because I now work at a church but because for the last 15 plus years of my life I've seen the benefits. 

Each Sunday, I've learned more and more about living a life that makes a difference. #differencemakers. Learning about Jesus Christ on Sundays has created in me an urge to love people more, to forgive people more and to help people more. It's not just about me anymore....well, sometimes it still is, but I'm working on that. Most of us are. 

In order for me to really be a difference maker, it takes an intentionality. It takes better use of my time. That has led to my choice to get together with other believers more than just on Sunday. It motivated me to sign up for my first Growth Group many years ago. These are small groups of people that meet once a week to learn more about their faith and get to know others on a similar journey. It's changed my life. I've learned more about Christ and have developed incredible, strong friendships.

We, here at FC, believe groups are vital. Andy Stanley (Pastor in Ga.) says "Circles are better than rows" and "Face to face is better than shoulder to shoulder". Yes, Sunday's at church are huge but being able to talk about what you're learning with others, is enormous! 

The thing is, we all can drift. We all can begin to doubt, question or even fall into a temptation. Without others around us who care, this can be detrimental to our faith. We need people to check on us. We need accountability. We need encouragement. We need others who can detect when we drift. "The drift begins within so we have to let someone in" Andy Stanley

Someone can see what you can't. If you want to grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ, you need to have intentional relationships with people who have the same goal. A Growth Group is the ideal place for this. We start these groups up the first week of October. I cannot recommend these enough! Ask around on Sunday to those who've been a part of a group. They'll tell you! It will change your life! 

Fellowship Church exists to help people encounter Jesus, encourage each other to be more like Him and engage with Him in everyday life. We believe that when you begin a personal relationship with Jesus, He has the capacity to change your life. Everything begins with and is all about a growing relationship with Jesus.

As a church, in order to reach people we’ve never reached we need to do things we’ve never done. That’s why I’m excited to announce that beginning Sunday, October 2nd at 5 pm, we’ll be launching a third weekly identical service.  Why an evening service at 5 pm? 

• 25% of America’s workforce are shift workers.  Many work on the weekends (healthcare, hospitality, first responders, etc.).  These wonderful people simply cannot attend church on Sunday Mornings.
• Jesus always met people where they are.  Some people will never attend Sunday morning because it’s their only day to sleep in.   Due to busy lives, the people we are trying to reach are looking for options that fit their schedule.  Think TV watching and Netflix and DVR versus traditional television scheduled shows and news.
• We need to create space in our auditorium & especially our parking lots, which are full. Due to the size of our campus, every time we hit the thresholdof around 225-240 people per service, we become full.  This year, we have averaged around 450 plus for our combined two services.  It’s time to add another service.

I’m so proud of our church.  Fellowship Church is growing because FCers are growing. We’re making decisions to put Christ first in all areas of our lives.  We’re forgiving those who have hurt us and learning to love each person in our lives.  Growing churches require growing people.  

Growing churches also require unselfish people. We grow spiritually by the commitments we make.  This is why I’m asking everyone to consider helping our church make this important step. 

First, we need 100% of our church serving in some capacity.  This is an “all hands on deck” situation.  Up until now, it may seem that there’s no need for you to join a team.  You attend a weekend service and are greeted by friendly people.  You drop your kids off to wonderful kids ministry team members.  You sing songs led by a great band and singers.  This growth opportunity changes everything.  We need help in all of our serving teams, both on Sunday and during the week.  If you’d like help in joining a serving team, you can begin by clicking on this link here.

Secondly, we are looking for 100 people move to the 5 pm service and commit to faithfully attend this service for one year.  You will be serving our mission by making room for new people in the morning services and helping create a critical mass to launch our evening service. 

I know you’ll answer the call!  Many have already started.  I can’t wait to see what God is going to do!  Get excited!

"The best decisions I've made in my life came during a time of drinking too much." said no one ever. 

As a Christian in today's society, alcohol is somewhat of a hot topic. In a country where there is a bar, liquor store or even a pizza place that serves bourbon on every corner, it's talked about a lot. There are new craft beers, local breweries, flavored martinis and wine tastings to check out. A high majority of the people we know drink most weekends, if not daily. So where is the cut off for a Christian? 

To start, I would say as a side note, we live in a country that has an age limit for alcohol consumption. The fact that we have an age limit means that there is an enormous amount of responsibility that should come with this. We probably should have a maturity limit as well! 

I read a quote recently that said,"With every picture, tweet and event that centers on alcohol, I wonder: isn't anyone friends with alcoholics?" Although we may not have an addiction to alcohol, others around us may. So we must be sensitive to them.

Romans 14:21 It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything else if it might cause another to stumble. 

Romans 15:1 We who are strong must be considerate of those who are sensitive about things like this. We must not just please ourselves.

1 Corinthians 8:9 But you must be careful so that your freedom does not cause others with a weaker conscience to stumble. 

I often say that a high number of us as Americans can not be told that a glass of wine is actually beneficial to us because we are not very good at moderation. Go into any restaurant and look at the meal you just ordered! The serving size of this meal is not just for one! We're in excess of everything here. But I'm not talking about gluttony today. That will be a future blog! Alcohol can be very dangerous and we need to ask ourselves some questions when deciding whether or not to have a drink: 

• Am I in control? Does the alcohol cloud my judgment in any way lessening my impact on my job, my family, my responsibilities or, most important, my walk with God?  
• Why do I need a drink right now? Can I go a day without it? A week?  
• Can I afford to drink like I have been? Am I financially in debt yet still buy my six-pack every night?
• Is there someone around me that would be influenced by this? See above verses.
• Am I driving? I cannot understand for the life of me why anyone would risk this! I have heard too many stories of DUI's, DWI's and worst case scenarios of death based on alcohol intake. 
• If married, is your spouse at all concerned about how often or how much you're drinking? If so, why would you challenge this? If anyone has ever called you an alcoholic I recommend you really think about what made them say that and allow pride and ego to fall by the wayside. 

Drinking alcohol is not a sin. Drinking too much is! Ephesians 5:18 Don't be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit. 

This is a great topic to discuss with someone close to you especially if you feel as though this is too close to home. Alcohol to most people is a release of stress. We go to it when we need to relax or unwind. I wonder what it would feel like if we went to the ultimate source of rest, Jesus Christ instead. Seems like a Christian answer because it is. It is what we are called to do. Anything we do should glorify and point others to Him. I can't imagine drunkenness marketing Jesus very well. 

For more verses on alcohol see Proverbs 23:29-35 Isaiah 5:22

This is a heavy topic. I'm not here to judge but I am here to hopefully make you think. Alcohol is a slippery slope. Why do I feel as though I will not be invited to as many parties after writing this blog?

Sadly, Christian behavior doesn't always match Christian belief. Working at a church, I'm still surprised, at times, when someone comes to me with gossip, swears, or ends up drinking too much at a function. It happens. I still love them. I know I've probably done some things in the past early on in my faith that had people wonder whether or not I really was a Christian. 

The question always seems to be how do we deal with it? One of the things I love most about our Fellowship Church family is that when someone in a Growth Group slips up and swears, there is no gasp, there is no condemnation, no one kicks them out of the group. They just listen. They also usually get a quick apology. But there's no judgment.....none. We are in this together. If we quickly tell them we will not allow this behavior, what are we doing? There goes the church because the only difference between the person swearing and the others sitting in a circle is that he or she was exposed. Their sin came out while the others in the group were allowed to be perceived as still "perfect".

Whether it's a Growth Group or the church itself, once we start being careful about who we allow in, we've lost complete touch with Who Jesus is. The more I read about Him, the more I see who He hung out with and it was clear no one filled out an application to do so. 

We love people here at FC. We're full of people trying hard to do better. They'll have slip-ups and make mistakes. They may even offend you but all in all their heart as well as ours is for everyone here to draw closer and closer to the only Hope we have Jesus Christ. 

Up and to the right! We're in this together. 

It's the age old question for all of us. What if it's true? By it, I mean the Bible. What if everything it said was true? What would that look like to those of us that are Christians? Would we, ourselves, live differently? I imagine the hypocrisy meter would lessen. We'd have to rid of worry in our life. (that alone,worries me) (Matthew 6:31 and Philippians 4:6) We'd have to trust God fully (Proverbs 3:5-6, John 14:1 and Romans 9:32), not periodically or only on Sundays at church. 24/7. We'd have to make disciples which means we'd have to talk to others about Christ (awkward!) (Matthew 28:19). Most importantly, we'd have to actually love people. (Matthew 22:36-40, 1 John 4:20, and 1 Thessalonians 3:12) I mean, really love them where it showed and it was clear. Actions not just words. (Psalm 119:5, Proverbs 16:3, and James 2:14). It would mean that when some tragedy happened in this world (and there's been plenty of this!) our first reaction would be LOVE, compassion, empathy and a "how can I help?" attitude. Not a need to state our opinion on why the tragedy happened, just sympathy and this unusual amount of grace that this Jesus we're following would have shown in the midst of all this. You see, based on my reading of this Book, isn't He the one we should be emulating?

How about for those of us that are not Christians? If you were told that this book was 100% accurate, what would tomorrow look like for you? To know that God loved you so much that He sent His son to die on a cross for you. (John 3:16) To know that this life is so short but has eternal ramifications. To know that all of these hectic, chaotic and stressful times are temporary. To know that someday, upon us coming to accept Christ into our heart, all of the pain, all of the tragedy, and all of the sadness will soon be gone forever. What would it be like for you to know of the HOPE that comes from Him.  

I truly believe the Word of God. Once I read of all the evidence in Christ rising from the dead, the rest of the stories (the parting of the Red Sea, Jonah being swallowed by a fish, Noah's ark, Samson, the fiery furnace and the lion's den) all of  these seemed easier to believe.

Whether you're a believer or not, what if you commit to reading the Bible for 15 minutes a day? What if you take this chance, and see if it makes any difference in your life.  I believe with my whole heart that it will change your life.  It is the Book that can save you from an eternity apart from God and apart from everyone you've ever known.  

15 minutes a day can have eternal ramifications.

I have been friends with the men in the above picture for over 35 years. That states, first of all, that I'm old and secondly, that they are all great guys. It takes a lot to stay friends for that long. It takes effort. In the busyness and transitions of life (moving, having children, etc.), we need to be intentional in reaching out and staying in touch. 

Do you call your friends without agenda? Do you have a sit down just to get together and talk? Real talk, not just weather and sports. LIFE.

I spoke to our church recently about friendship. I've learned quite a bit over the years-good and bad. I've disappointed friends and have been disappointed by friends. But I've learned that I need them. They encourage me and keep me humble as well. They inspire me and push me to do things I would've never tried. 

In my last sermon, I spoke about just how important it is to be surrounded with friends who want great things for you, friends who have your best interests in mind and friends who will go the extra mile in loving you. I spoke of the 2AM friend, one you can call anytime for help. I also mentioned the "help you move" friend. Both of these are different level friends. Both of these will help you so much along the way. We were not meant to do this alone. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 "Two are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble."

But how are they influencing you and how are you influencing them? I truly believe we should use caution regarding the people we allow into our lives. If we are leaving these friends depressed or in regret of what we did, maybe it's time we address this. For those of us that call ourselves Christians we are suppose to be living with the standards of God's Word (the Bible). If every time we get together with a friend outside of our faith we are choosing to live a different lifestyle than the one God chose for us, then it's time to either "love from afar" or to start to be the influencer in the relationship. Worse, if the person you are hanging out with is a Christian and both of your behavior is not what God would have you do, then it's time to evaluate what you're doing and the possible damage to those around you. 

I say it all the time, once you "announce" the fact that you are a Christian, some of your "audience" or your non-Christian friends may start looking at you to see what, if anything, changes. You may just be the only example of Jesus Christ they ever see. How alarming is this if when we become a Christian our friends do not see a change in us?!? 

Those friends around you that are not Christians are not to be put to the same standard. They never proclaimed Christ as their Savior so we have no right to judge them. But, if we "Christians" behave in a way that is not honoring to God, we certainly deserve to be questioned. 

Good friends are hard to find. I've been blessed with some great ones along the way. It takes some walls to come down to allow others in. But choosing those we let in is the key to your future - Your Friends Determine Your Future - choose wisely.

There were smiles everywhere and the excitement was palpable.  Children, students and adults were laughing and getting ready. Vacation Bible Camp was about to begin!  Oh, what a week we had…

    I am so grateful for the love our church has for its children and students.  After all, they are the future of Fellowship Church.  Last week was a perfect example of FC’ers giving of their time (and energy!) to show the 162 children that attended VBC how much God loves them and how much we, as a church, love them.

    I loved to hear the stories of how the children’s lives were touched.  One visiting mom was so excited on Tuesday.  She couldn’t believe how much fun her kids had had learning about Jesus.  She said “they were so excited to come back that they set their own alarm clocks and were waiting in the car for me this morning.”  Another mom said, “my children’s enthusiasm coming to VBC is about the only activity they all agree on!”

     Likewise it was so nice to hear how the volunteers were touched through serving God and the children that attended.  One said, “It was so enjoyable watching the kids really understand the gospel message.”  Another said that she most enjoyed “ getting to help teach the word of God to the kids.”

    While VBC is over and we look forward to next year, we still have plenty to do to teach FC’s kids about Jesus and how they are loved.  Many people have the preconceived idea our kids volunteers are just ‘babysitting’ on Sunday’s.  That couldn’t be farther from the truth!  Our Sunday Kidz volunteers have the important job of not only teaching them about Jesus, but making a lasting positive impression while showing them that they are loved and accepted at church.  Our volunteers form relationships.  They are encouraging to kids and families, making guests feel welcome and part of the group.  FC Kidz volunteers use creative Bible teaching to show the kids God’s promises and make learning about Him fun as well!

Call me biased, but I think FC Kidz Volunteers are the best!  We’d love to have you join us as we show the future of FC how much they are loved by God and by us.

If you are looking to make a difference in the life of a child, I would love to talk to you about the opportunities that we have in the Kidz Areas.  Please email me, or find me on Sunday or sign up to help right here!

The word "membership" today means belonging to a select club. Everyone uses the term including credit cards and fitness clubs. It's kind of gotten a bad rap. I know this from working at a fitness club for over 20 years. It's way too difficult, at times, to end a membership!

We feel that 'church world" should be different. Our belief is that every Christian should belong to a local church and take "ownership" of that church. This includes serving, giving, and participating in biblical community. It's a process. Some jump right on while others take their time. I, for one, took my time. It took me a couple of years before I did anything but I still felt welcomed. I was never rushed into serving. Nobody ever pressured me. Ultimately it was me reading God's Word that convinced me, not those at the church. 1 Peter 4:10 God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.

In a perfect church (yes, there's no such thing!) people, much like Jesus, would come TO SERVE, not to be served. Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others. We have a shared cause, a shared mission. Our ultimate goal here is to introduce this community to Jesus Christ. Once you make this HUGE decision for your life to become a follower of Christ, there comes with it expectations. It's written throughout the Bible. We are not called to "sit on our hands". There are responsibilities. We here at Fellowship Church want all of you to love this church so much that you really take "ownership" of it. This means you do anything you can to make people feel welcome, to help make our church look good for those coming here for the first time and to intentionally seek and help out others in their journey. 

In our Membership class on March 26th 11:45AM to 2:15PM, we will be going over our core values, our beliefs, our history and our vision. We will have lunch and provide childcare as well. We really hope you join us and help us make a big difference here in this community. Take ownership of your church and sign up here.