Southland Christian Church

It's getting close to the World Equestrian Games being right in your back yard... or front yard. I'm not sure exactly where you live. As the community revs up for some major international hosting, we thought we'd take an opportunity to let you know they're in need of volunteers. We think it would be a great way for you to meet up with other people who value volunteering and serving like we do. There's lots of ways to build relationships and lots of needs that could be met. If you're interested in serving at the WEG's (It's fun to say that out loud... "WEG." Come on. Try it.) just visit their volunteer page of the website. It would be great to see you out there serving.

Here's a great question when you're thinking about putting your kid in a lifegroup... Which Group Is Right For My Child?

Southland offers two different type of group experiences for children ages preschool through 5th grade.  Which one is right for you?
 
LIFE GROUPS are small groups for kids designed to help them find deep friendship, belonging and spiritual encouragement.  In Life Groups, kids form relationships with a consistent adult Life Group Leader and with other kids their age.   Life Groups do outside events together including both celebration times and service projects to help kids grow spiritually.   
 
Fall Life Groups kick off Sept 18/19 weekend in all Children’s Ministry environments.
Children must be able to consistently attend the same worship hour to join a Life Group.   Once an adult completes the registration card, children will be placed in a Life Group the following week.  Registration cards are available in all Children's Ministry environments.
 
MAGNET GROUPS are small groups for guests and for families who do not typically attend the same service hour from week to week.  Magnet Groups are designed to help connect less connected kids to the church and to Jesus.  Kid in the Magnet Groups do the same activities and large group time as everyone else, but will not necessarily be with the same kids and leader.   Magnet Groups require no previous registration or commitment.
 
BOTH GROUPS meet during our weekend worship service times at 5:30, p.m., Saturdays; 8:30, 10 and 11:30 a.m., Sundays. as part of the children’s worship service in their specific weekend environment.

What Do You Get the Kid Who Has Everything?

Remember the first time your child asked you for something? I remember the day I visited Babies R’ Us with my daughter, Emma, when she first became aware of toys on the shelf. I wanted to buy her everything. There’s something hard-wired into the heart of a parent to give our kids good things. That’s why we sometimes overload their schedules with sports, dance classes, swim lessons, etc. We don’t want them to miss a thing. We want them to have all the things we never had.

This fall, if you really want to give your child something that will last, don’t just settle for another activity or more stuff. Give them the gift of community. At Southland we offer an experience called Life Groups, where children ages preschool through fifth grade can build deep relationships with an adult leader and other kids their age. Life Groups let kids experience what’s it’s really like to be a part of the church where they are known, loved and shepherded in their growing faith.

They meet during our weekend worship services at 5:30, p.m., Saturdays; 8:30, 10 and 11:30 a.m., Sundays as a part of your child’s weekend environment.

To register your child for a group, fill out one of the Life Group registration cards available in the Children’s Ministry rooms.

Thanks,

Jason

School starts soon, and that means it’s time to kick off our school programs at Warner and Tates Creek Elementary schools.  We will be looking for willing mentors, tutors, classroom volunteers and encouragement team members soon.  

Here's a great thought from Nancy, who helps us with getting the food into the schools. This ministry makes a huge impact in these kids' lives. Stay tuned into what we're doing.

 
Some big news is that we’ve made changes to this year’s food program - so here’s the scoop:

• This year we are NOT collecting school supplies.
• This year we are NOT collecting new backpacks – instead we’ll be purchasing smaller, lightweight drawstring bags for all the kids in the program.
• We ARE collecting food!  We expect to have even more children in our food program this year than in years past, so we need food donations to get the year off to a great start.  We’ve made a few changes to the food list and will be handing out new food lists at Connection Point the weekends of August 14/15 and 21/22.  Stay tuned!
• We ARE adding a new opportunity to show kids love with our food program… so, start praying about being one of our Backpack Buddies!  More details to come here on the website and the weekends of August 14/15 and 21/22.

Here's a post from our new Office Host, Stephanie. She's the one answering the phones and greeting people when they come in through the week. We asked her to give a quick view into what she's picked up on after a couple weeks in the new job. Here's her thoughts:

Most of us who attend Southland hang out for an hour or two each week. We drink a little coffee, listen to Amaris belt out a song, and watch Jon give away free pizza. When I became a member of the Office Host staff, I was incredibly excited to experience the “real” Southland  and see the ins and outs of daily Southland life and gather all the wisdom that I was sure must be floating in the office air.

In just two weeks, I’ve heard the depth of many scientific conversations among staffers. A current popular topic is the development of theories on the precise amount of time that a Double Bubble gumball, courtesy of guest speaker Reggie Joiner’s visual prompt, can last before it runs out of flavor, color and texture, rendering itself useless.

Conversations that demonstrate the creativity and ability to practically apply Biblical knowledge are also popular. The new desk in the front office has freed up a noticeable amount of space. Our staff Culture Director is keeping tabs on the ideas that flow from the wealth of brilliant staffers, including a rocking chair with a nice, quilted blanket thrown over the back; a crackling fireplace; and an oversized checkerboard to foster the Acts 2:42 concept of Christian community. Others are suggesting that we work on the importance of keeping our bodies, as the temple, healthy and include a treadmill and smoothie machine. In the works: a possible www.oneideafortheoffice.com* website where staffers can leave suggestions for the empty space, since it’s sister website, www.oneideaforlex.com is already working so well for the new campus project.

Even with all that distracting brilliance, the front office is the perfect place to get to know  the people that make up our local portion of the body of Christ. I’ve had the opportunity to talk with a woman who has spent almost her entire life in the area surrounding the Lexington Mall and has been praying for its revival and for God to send his people there. Hearing her laughter and joy at the realization that God has honored her prayers was a beautiful thing. I’ve spoken with a man who came to Lexington to study social work and is now starting his own organization to help the people in his home country of Zimbabwe. I’ve discussed the weather, the theological basis of Catholicism, and t-ball. I’ve spoken with people who are homeless, jobless, and hopeless and realized how much our spiritual family and our city are crying out to be covered in prayer.  The people I have the opportunity to talk with on the phone or in the office are part of the rhythm of Southland’s heartbeat.

And quite possibly the coolest thing about setting up camp in the front office? Seeing how much caffeine, prayer, and iphone usage go into keeping this place running every week.

*This is not really a website... although it would make a great one.

Here's a thought from Nathan, our Age-Level Minister:

In ministry to teenagers over the years I’ve had A LOT of conversations with parents that go like this:

“Would you talk to my son?”

“Sure, what about?”

“Well he’s depressed, his grades are dropping, he’s started drinking and I think he’s sleeping with his girlfriend.”

“Gotcha, what specifically do you want me to talk to him about?”

“I just think he just needs someone right now.”

“Imagine so. Tell me about his friends.”

“Well, he doesn’t have a lot and the ones he has aren’t good.”

“Does he go to church with you here?”

“Not really, he goes to his dad’s every other weekend and I used to make him go but he’d rather sleep in….”

It’s at this point my heart breaks, I get a little frustrated at the hopelessness of the situation and wish I had a magic wand that would undo all the issues related to a wandering teenager and heartbroken parent.

Obviously there is no magic wand and on my best day I’m a woefully inadequate resource for the 1,000’s of students living out the same pseudo-satisfying life. I really wish I had the answer. (I actually do because quite literally Jesus is THE ANSWER but at this point in a student’s life He’s not relevant.) So my tension is to help make Jesus relevant to a kid’s life so that he/she chooses a better story than the one described above. Here’s five ways I believe us here at church and you as parents can help make Jesus relevant:

1. Make sure Jesus is relevant to you. For me and parents we can’t fake this because students smell a fake a mile away.
2. Make sure your teens have good influences. You can and should be consistent in knowing who your kids are hanging out with.
3. “He who walks with the wise grows wise but the companion of fools suffers harm,” is as true a statement today as it was the few thousand years ago it was written. You need to KNOW your kids friends and make tough calls when they are the wrong friends.
4. Dial in the influence of a trusted adult. Here at Southland we call these people Life Group leaders. For info on how to serve with us, visit the blog.
5. Make sure you have time for your teens. A dad I had a conversation (similar to the one described above) with two weeks ago decided taking his son to a tennis tournament this week is more important than his success at work so they are hanging out together in a subtle effort to be relevant in his son’s life again so he can be better at pointing his son to Jesus.

If your son or daughter is in a tough place we’d love to process and pray with you about it. To let us know what’s going on, just shoot us an email or call.

A group of 23 Middle School students, some parents, and leaders took a mission trip to Jamaica in July. This trip was meant to broaden our view of who God’s people are and how we can serve them as the church. Our meetings leading up to the trip started with just getting to know each other and learning about Jamaica’s people and culture. Then we started planning and practicing our VBS program.  The VBS would last 3 days and we would do a skit, rec games, and small groups each day. Our week was laid out for us. Monday we would get to walk around the nearby towns and hand out invitations to the VBS. Tuesday through Thursday we would do construction during the day and then have the VBS in the afternoon. We had spent time talking about our fears and expectations of going to Jamaica. We knew the weather would be hot and we would get to love on a lot of kids! Everything else was up to God.

Expectations, fears, and planning were blown away! God knew what we were to do and experience. All we really had to do was show up and be available. This trip was not about us going to Jamaica to show people who God is. This trip was about God revealing to us that we are all chasing after the same things. We all want to know and feel the love of God. We are all battling against the same enemy who wants to pull us away from God. We are just in different battle zones. Jamaica’s battle zone is poverty. United States battle zone is materialism.  The people we met taught us what it meant to trust and rely on God… what true joy and happiness looks like. Hopefully we showed them that there is a group of 23 people who love and pray for them thousands of miles away that serve the same God.

I would like to share a story with you. One is from a  parent and the other is from a student.

Every night we would get together as a team and have some worship time and a short devo. Then we would talk about how we saw God that day. It was amazing how God was moving inside of each person on this team. Each day was a new experience of God opening our eyes to something. Thursday night was our last night to have this worship time. Friday we would have a fun day at a place called Dunns River Falls. That night we were in a very vulnerable place. We were all physically exhausted and spiritually full. One of the parents came up and said she would like to be baptized. She explained that she was baptized when she was 8yrs old. She went through a class at Southland about baptism and thought she understood. After being in Jamaica she has a new understanding of who God really is in her life and she wanted to dedicate her life to living for Him! Here is what she had to say about this experience:

“My husband and mom were both very excited. I love telling everyone about our trip and awesome experience.  It was life changing... boy do I look at things differently.  Now I want my relationship with God to grow more and more and look forward to it!  I want to see actions from myself and less words about doing it.  I want to serve everyone around me!!!”

What a great story.

Thanks for reading,

Caroline

One of our elders, Dr. Tim, went to Haiti recently with another doctor from our church. He saw some of the Feed My Starving Children packs, just like the ones we made. Who knows? Maybe they were packed by some of us. Here's his note:

Chris,
Last week Marc Manley and I were in Haiti.  We were with Samaritan's Purse and got to see what they were doing especially from a medical standpoint.

We learned a lot.

Dr. Kara Gibson the SP medical director for Haiti was our host.  One afternoon after the Cite Soleil clinic she took us to an orphanage where a Haitian pastor had 35 orphans living in his small home.  His orphanage in PAP had been completely destroyed by the quake.

He showed us the only food he had to feed them which was Mannapacks from Feed my starving Children.

Who knows? Maybe some of these had been packed at Southland last year.  I just thought it was awesome to find these meals in a Haiti orphanage (a place that definitely needs them).

High School ministry rocked the Mud Bowl last weekend. It was awesome. That's all there is to say. If you think you missed out (which is a virtual certainty if you're high school student), you should come be a part of what we do. It's a blast.

Hey Middle Schoolers,

We need you this week. I know you're probably way bored eating Cheetos and Bagel Bites watching reruns of SportsCenter, Hannah Montana and MTV Cribs - so we have something awesome for you do this Friday. Throughout the summer we get together once a month and have huge middle school swim parties. One of those parties is this coming Friday and YOU NEED TO BE THERE.

All you have to do is show up and be ready to get wet... and have a good time. There's a pool, food, games, people, a pool, corn hole, games, people, games, relaxation, chillin, marinatin', serenadin', a pool and did i mention games? What more could we ask for... exactly!!

So - are you ready to have a good time this Friday. Call Mallory if you have any questions... or... check out our facebook event for directions and more information hit us our Facebook page.

See you there!

It seems the news has made us all very aware of some of the devastation seen by our neighbors in Pike County. We've heard stories of a young guy who is organizing an effort to get residents clean water. Another story came through of a lady gathering clothes to delivery with a message of, "Jesus loves you. We're so sorry." 

There are endless possibilities of what anyone could do in this time of need. We just wanted to take a minute and challenge you. Is there something you could do? Self directed ministry is what Jesus was all about. We should be about it, too. If you're looking for some help from friends, feel free to post something on MySouthland or check out Christian Appalachian Project to see their needs.

Photo from Kentucky.com.

Here's a good story showing us why we should sometimes (if not all of the time) venture beyond our campus and get out into the community.

Over the last few years, our family has been “on mission” with the baseball team in our community.  We have had an amazing journey building relationships with people in our county and doing life together with them.  
 
Last weekend, one of the coaches asked my husband to pray before their first game.  Then, as I drove up to the field, I saw my husband kneeling at the 3rd base line with 12 little boys, hats off, kneeling beside my husband…praying.  The coaches were standing behind them with their hats off as well.  It was an amazing sight!
 
Earlier in the day, my husband, took notice that one of our coaches was having some back trouble during the game.  My husband went up to him and asked if he could pray for his back.  The coach said, “Sure.”
 
At the last inning of the game, the coach had asked us to pray, because we were losing.  Well, the game ended and we lost.  
 
As I was driving away, the coach waved me down so I would stop the car.  I rolled down my window and he asked where my husband was.  I said, “He is already heading home.” The coach said excitedly, “You have to tell him this, my back did not hurt the entire game.  I don’t know what happened, but that is the first game I pitched that my back didn’t hurt.”  He said, “Your prayer didn’t work because we lost the game (in a teasing way).”
 
I said, “Maybe God wanted you to have the win, instead of the team.”  He said, “Maybe so.”

-Michelle
  

Not "brats," like "Hey you brats, get off of my lawn!"

It's like a bratwurst. As in, "Hey middle school kids, are you coming to the Lift cookout for burgers and brats?"

Well, if you are a middle school kid, you should totally come. If you know any middle school students, let them know about our festival of grilled meats. It's this Friday, July 23. Call us if you have questions.

Here’s a note we received from one of our Southland staff members, Candy Williams, who loves and serves every day helping people with their needs... and does it with a smile on her face and a joy from the Lord. We asked her to share a bit of her story and encourage you to do the same. We love how she ends her note by inviting us into her life.  You’d never know the daily struggle she pushes through in order to minister to others:
 
July 4th, 1999 was when it all started.  It was something that would change the rest of my life... radically altering how I lived each day.  For the next three years I struggled through several different illnesses, finally landing in the world of chronic pain: Fibromyalgia.  I didn’t have a clue what it was but knew I didn’t like it.  After the diagnosis I spent hours at the library and on the computer trying to figure out what this thing was and what it was doing to me.  Eleven years later pain and fatigue are just a part of my day.  I’ve tried, pills, pills and more pills.  Each one only brought along side effects - other symptoms that were worse than the pain.  Today I have an exercise program which doubles as time with God to pray over the pain.  It is His grace and love for me that help me up and keep me going each day.  Psalms 57:1, “I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

If you struggle, feel free to email me your story, receive encouragement, or ask for prayer.

Sincerely,

Candy

Last night we hit our neighborhood pool with our kids and had a blast.  For the first time, my 19-month old daughter got into jumping to dad from the edge of the pool.   It was cool to see the trust in her eyes as she reached her little arms out to me and fearlessly took the plunge - over and over again.  She knew she could trust her dad to catch her every time.  

As much as it warms my heart to see her faith in me, my ultimate dream is to see both of my girls learn to trust their heavenly Father with their entire lives.  I am praying for the day that each of them "takes the plunge" and says, "God, here I am.  I am all yours."

If you have the same dream for your kids, you're invited to next month's Kid Splash event, on Tuesday, August 17th, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. in Building C. Kid Splash is a special experience for kids and parents to come together and hear the story of God's love for them. At Kid Splash we will help families learn what it means to become a follower of Jesus Christ and talk about how baptism fits into this plan.

Whether your child is just starting to ask questions about salvation or if they're ready to make this incredible decision to follow Jesus, Kid Splash is designed to equip your family with the information you need to help your kids take a next step at the appropriate time.

If you're interested in attending Kid Splash you can register with Wende.