BABY DEDICATION

baby dedication at truenorth church - An opportunity for parents to focus today on what will affect their child’s future.

CONGRATULATIONS – on your decision to raise your child in the ways of the Lord. No one will have more influence on your child than YOU! We believe that what happens at home is more important than what happens at church. It is our hope that we can partner with you from the very beginning. We want to be your biggest fans, your strongest supporters, and your trusted guides as you raise your child to know what it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Baby dedication is more than an event. It is an opportunity for you to take some time at the beginning of your journey as a parent to really think about what will matter the most in the life of your child; to really talk together and decide what you value and what you can do today that will have the greatest impact on your child’s future.

WHEN:
North Augusta Campus | Sunday, May 17^th, 2009 @ 1:00pm (auditorium)
Columbia County Campus | Sunday, May 17^th, 2009 prior to the 10:10 service, (auditorium)

Registration deadline is May 13^th, 2009

WHO:
Parents who want to publicly declare their intentions to raise child/children with the opportunity to know God and establish a personal relationship with Christ.

WHAT:
Baby dedication will be a special event, you’ll want to invite your friends and family and bring your camera.

Attire? Whatever works for you and your child. Many people dress their children in special clothing, others simply bring their child in a favorite outfit.

HOW: On both the North Augusta and Columbia County Campuses you will find sign – up sheets located at “Guest Services” and “Journey Land.” You must register either of those places. Then, via email, we would like (1) a picture of your child and/or family, whichever you prefer. This should be submitted before May 8^th, 2009 for it to be in the presentation on May 17^th, 2009.

We look forward to joining with you in “Guiding your child’s first step on the journey to loving God.”

Questions: contact Nina Fiedler at ninaf@truenorthchurch.com or 803-279-1555

It Happened!

Well, it happened.  God was at work this past Easter Sunday at truenorthchurch-Journey Land.  It was truly an amazing day.

The morning started at 5:30am for most of us in Journey Land.  The blow-ups had to be delivered and set up before our 8:30am service on the North Augusta Campus.  I did find out the hard way that the cafeteria ceilings are 14ft tall.  Now most wouldn’t think that was a big deal.  I’m hear to tell you that it is a HUGE deal when you have blow-ups that are 16ft and taller.  Needless to say, we got them moved outside, and set up.  Praise God for awesome weather. (A personal thank you to Jeff Cook from Bump-N-Bounce Blow ups-(803) – 279-4400)

What can I say about our volunteer’s?  To put it in perspective I would like to quote our Pastor, Steve Davis.

“I love our VOLUNTEERS who make it HAPPEN EVERY SINGLE WEEK RAIN OR SHINE! I love our KIDS MINISTRIES in  JOURNEY LAND and KIDZ STUFF – THERE IS NONE BETTER! I love our BANDS and MUSICIANS; they work hard and give their best every week! I love our STAFF. I’ve never been more excited about the LEADERS God has given us to lead TNC and our campuses! Finally, I love our Great God! There is NO ONE LIKE OUR GOD!”

The children, WOW! How amazing they are.  As I walked onto our Columbia County Campus and North Augusta Campus, I saw children learning the most awesome story of all, the “Easter Story.”  Yes, we had blow-ups and an Easter Egg Hunt and the children had an awesome time, but Easter is about Jesus.  I hope you will talk with your children about what they learned.

As I have shared in some of my other posts, numbers aren’t everything.  But, they are a way to allow us to plan for the future and celebrate the wins.  What are wins?  Well, for us at truenorth church, we would say lives changed.  This past Sunday we saw a total of 77 people get baptised.  That is just so powerful.

As I stood on our North Augusta campus watching the spontaneous baptisms, I couldn’t help but be in awe.  The most amazing sight was when a young man was asked what his testimony was.  He replied, “I’m ready to die.”  Tears came to my eyes, I couldn’t hold it back.  The Holy Spirit was in this place, no one can doubt that.

We had a total attendance of over 2100 people on all three campuses.  Journey Land North Augusta had 154 children and 66 volunteers.  Columbia County had 31 children and 12 volunteers and Decatur had 6 children and 2 volunteers.  SO! if you left Journey Land feeling like you put in a full days work, you did!  Job well done, thank you.

So A child can understand….Easter

JOURNEY LAND

GOD MADE ME, GOD LOVES ME, AND JESUS WANTS TO BE MY FRIEND FOREVER.

The Bible tells us about Jesus’ last supper with His friends. In Matthew 26:26-30, it says:

While they were eating, Jesus took bread. He gave thanks and broke it. He handed it to his disciples and said, “Take this and eat it. This is my body.”

Then he took the cup. He gave thanks and handed it to them. He said, “All of you drink from it. This is my blood of the new covenant. It is poured out to forgive the sins of many. Here is what I tell you. From now on, I won’t drink wine with you again until the day I drink it with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives.

“In Luke 23:44-49, we learn about Jesus’ death:

It was now about noon. The whole land was covered with darkness until three o’clock. The sun had stopped shining. The temple curtain was torn in two. Jesus called out in a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my very life.” After he said this, he took his last breath.

The Roman commander saw what had happened. He praised God and said, “Jesus was surely a man who did what was right.”

The people had gathered to watch that sight. When they saw what happened, they beat their chests and went away. But all those who knew Jesus stood not very far away, watching those things. They included the women who had followed him from Galilee.

“Finally, Matthew 28:1-7 tells us the good news, about His resurrection, which was when he rose from the dead:

The Sabbath day was now over. It was dawn on the first day of the week. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

There was a powerful earthquake. An angel of the Lord came down from heaven. The angel went to the tomb. He rolled back the stone and sat on it. His body shone like lightning. His clothes were as white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here! He has risen, just as he said he would! Come and see the place where he was lying. Go quickly! Tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead. He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

As our week comes closer to this Sunday, April 12th, we encourage you to personally read over these scriptures and learn what Jesus did for each of us.  We also encourage you to share with your children/family the story of Jesus Christ.

Easter is a time for family visits, egg hunting and traditions.  Make it a tradition in your family to find the true meaning of Easter.  Jesus Christ who died on the cross for our sins and who rose again, He is ALIVE!

We in Journey Land wish you and your family a happy Easter.

Upcoming Events”:

April 12th, Journey Land Easter Egg Hunt on North Augusta Campus and Columbia County Campus.

• Excepting donations of stuffed eggs at the church office.
• Children will participate on Sunday morning in an egg hunt.
• Parent’s. please dress your children in play clothes, let them be comfortable.
• Blow-ups for the children.

April, 2009, Journey Land Easter “OutReach” project.

• We are currently excepting donations of new items for our PSA project.  (see more info. here.) List of items available.
• We will be delivering these items within the next two weeks.
• Our project is to help a local facility care for it’s “special need’s” children.
• You may drop off items at the church office or on Sunday morning, April 12th.

May 17th, 2009, Baby dedication

• Baby dedication will be held on May 17th, 2009 after our third service on the North Augusta Campus. (Time to be announce for Columbia County and Decatur)
• We will be posting more information in the near future.

May 2009,   SUMMER SERVE- What is it?  Look for more info. in the future….

Summers are filled with plans…trips to the lake, vacations, ball games, picnics, pool parties…and the list goes on. Everywhere you look, families are taking advantage of time away from school and the beautiful summer weather. Even though kids don’t have the usual loads of classes or preschool activities, their capacity and desire to learn still grows. In Journey Land and in KidzStuff, our kids will experience a summer filled with life-changing lessons from the Bible- flooded with loads of summer fun.

Summer is also a great time to slow down the routine pace a bit to try something new and exciting…and what can be more exciting than being a part of reaching Kids for Jesus Christ. Here at truenorth church, Summer Serve gives you the opportunity to do just that! As you make summer plans, please consider the unique opportunities available to serve Christ by serving His kids throughout the summer season. The opportunities are many, and the joys of watching our children grow in their knowledge and love of Jesus Christ is priceless.

Looking forward to doing summer with you in Journey Land or KidzStuff!

For more information please contact Nina Fiedler @ ninaf@truenorthchurch.com or daphneb@truenorthchurch.com

803-279-1555

Ridgeview Manor-Adopt A Block

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood.
–John 1:14 (The Message)

Jesus’ neighborhood was a rural, agricultural society in first century Palestine. Our neighborhood is the CSRA with a laser-like focus on an eighty-eight unit apartment complex in twenty-first century North Augusta, SC.

Jesus came to us and met us where we were. This past Sunday’s Hip-Hop Easter Egg Hunt was another opportunity for the people of TrueNorth to continue to meet the people of Ridgeview Manor right where they are.

If Jesus was here today, I fully believe He would do exactly what He did then–immerse Himself in the culture and hang out with real people in the real world. Adopt-a-Block is just that–an opportunity for us to be insolated, not isolated while showing the love of Christ to people who may be far from Him.

I can’t possibly thank all the TNCers enough for making the Easter Egg Hunt at Ridgeview Manor a tremendous success. You guys are amazingly selfless and dedicated!!!

See the North Augusta Today article here.

More photos in North Augusta Today’s Spotted gallery here.

Mike Fiedler
Missions Pastor