Podcasts up to date

If you've missed any of the last 4 Sundays, including the final 2 messages of the FAMILY series, Father's Day and Andy's message "Lose Something" you can go to our web site podcast page and listen.

Podcast also allows you to download to your digital recording device so you can take them with you.

Update from Matt and Sylvie Glock

Greetings everyone!

Here's some news from the events of the last week plus an important announcement about changes we've made in how we organize our ministry here in France.

MP13 Band in France
Thank you all for praying with us during the Milepost 13 Band's time with us. It was an amazing time. The CEP and the ICG were blessed by their presence and the Gospel was proclaimed. If you want to find out more about their time here check out their blog http://nhc2france.blogspot.com/. I've also posted a video to our youtube channel that give you a little taste of the open air concert from June 21st that was a part of the national Fête de la Musique (Music Party).

On a personal level Sylvie and I are deeply thankful for the connections that were made between our churches here in France and the folks from Nags Head Church. One of our roles, as missionaries is to communicate, how God is working here in France to everyone who surrounds our ministry with prayer. It is a tremendous privilege to do this, so when we get a chance to move beyond sending news to allowing folks from the two different worlds to connect, we are ecstatic! Good things have come about every time we've had people come to see what is happening here. So if you are thinking, "Hey, maybe we should go and visit Matt and Sylvie", we are ready to welcome you.

Strengthening and multiplying churches in France with the CAEF
Nearly 10 years ago Sylvie and I returned to France with the goal of strengthening and multiplying churches in France under the direction of International Teams. To accomplish this goal we became a part of the French denomination called the Communautés et Assemblées Evangéliques de France (CAEF). This means that over the last 10 years we've looked to these two groups for guidance in our ministry.

Last November Sylvie and I came to the conviction that we needed to simplify and focus the way we organized our ministry. We sought counsel from the leadership of ITeams and the CAEF as well as the leaders of our sending church, Plano Bible Chapel, and also the leaders in our other supporting churches. Through this process we saw God leading us to closer collaboration with the CAEF. This choice led to us to reconsider our partnership with International Teams. We talked with the elders at Plano Bible Chapel and came to the conclusion that because the CAEF provide pastoral support and direction for our ministry in France we no longer needed to be a part of International Teams. The elders provided us with a new letter of commendation which allows us to part of Christian Missions in Many Lands (CMML) a missionary service agency that serves Brethren churches in the States. If you have been following our ministry from the time I went overseas you will remember that we were already affiliated with CMML on two occasions (June 1991 to December 1994 and December 1999 to August 2000).

Here is what this means...
1. Plano Bible Chapel (Plano, TX) is our sending church. This process has strengthened our connection to the church the sent me out just over 19 years ago... We thank God for this church. We also want to acknowledge the invaluable role of the other churches that support us: Grace Chapel (Farmington Hills, MI), Faith Bible Church (Mechanicsville, MD), SAYSF Bible Church (Lexington Park, MD) and Nags Head Church (Nags Head, NC). These churches and the individuals that surround our ministry with prayer and give to make it happen are the best. We thank God for you and your partnership.

2. Our support is handled by Christian Missions in Many Lands. Their mailing address is at the end of this email. Our severance period with ITeams began on May 1st and will end on July 31st. Please note that all gifts received by ITeams after July 31st will not be sent on to us.

3. We serve in partnership with the CAEF. The CEP and the ICG are a part of this church family. The leadership of the CAEF see us serving in Grenoble in three key areas: strengthening and organizing the CAEF's first International Church, encouraging a local French church, the CEP, and stimulating thinking for church planting on a national level.

With great thankfulness...
Ten years ago we entered into partnership with International Teams. We have had the privilege of serving with a global community that is being used by God to building transforming communities through the proclamation in word and deed of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Over the years ITeams provided support and direction that allowed Sylvie and I to grow in our faith and in our capacity to serve as missionaries. Our choice to leave ITeams comes in part because of the ways they allowed us to grow and serve here in France. May God richly bless the missionaries and ministries of International Teams.

Wrapping this up...Anastasia, Pascal and Juliet have finished school and we've entered into the summer season for our churches. I've attached a letter from the leaders of the CAEF here in France.

Your partnership for the sake of the Gospel in France is precious to us. Thank you for your prayers. We also pray that God will bless you as you seek to make Christ know where God has called you to serve.

With love in Christ,
Matt and Sylvie for the 5 of us

Pray for Impact OBX this week

Over 115 teens plus adult leaders from the beach are out and about this week in the community sharing Christ in practical ways.

Pray for safety in the heat and traveling; attitudes to be Christ-like and a fruitful harvest from the seeds they sow.

What's your mission this week?

Sunday Feedback June 27

Andy taught on the effects of "losing" your Bible.
(If you jotted down the points on Make a date with God; Plan a time;, etc. please put them in a comment for the rest of us.)

The Contagious Band led us in worship.

Getting together with a crowd to celebrate the greatness of our God and welcoming guests to join with us. It's all good.

Thank God for air conditioning!

MP 13 Band Rocks Grenoble with the Gospel

Team France is Back!

After a 21+ hour trip that included a train, 3 jets and driving home from Norfolk, the team arrived intact at NHC at 7:45PM Tuesday. We're tired and recovering from jet lag, but our hearts are full of what we experienced and saw God do among the French people.

Check out the trip blog for pics and videos in the next few days.

Last Full Day in France

Team France will have an opportunity today to see downtown Grenoble.

Tonight at 8PM (2PM EST) we will be in an open-air concert for le fete de musique.
We'll arrive late tonight (around midnight perhaps) at our lodging for a nap. Then we must leave at 4AM to catch the train (3 hour ride) to Paris. Another train takes us to the airport where we catch our plane (6.5 hours) to Philadelphia. After a layover we then catch the plane to Norfolk and then the ride home, arriving at NHC sometime around 7PM.

Please pray today for tonight's concert. It's free and the city is packed for the music event, which occurs all over Grenoble. And pray for safety and making all our connections on the trip home.

Bon voyage.

Sunday Feedback June 20

The France Team missed being there today and wants to hear all about it.
Please post a comment!!

Father's Day Sunday!

Sunday we honor Dad, so make it a special day for him.

Andy will be bringing a message from the Word for Father's - a great follow up to our FAMILY series. And if technology works like we hope you'll be able to catch a glimpse of the MP13 Band leading worship in Grenoble.

So if you haven't already, run out and buy Dad a tie or something.

In France

Don't forget to follow your team in France. Click here for pics and additional info.

Our first three days were spent doing a lot of traveling and a little site seeing in Paris. Today we have our first day of real ministry and outreach with a clinic Rick is teaching to local pastors. Chris and Buddy are there to lend a hand fielding questions. Our ladies are attending a ladies Bible study and our guys are going out distributing invitations in the neighborhood to tonight's concert.

Thanks for your prayers and your support! Matt Glock is being greatly encouraged by the potential of our visit and how it will benefit the two churches he is serving.

Sunday Feedback June 13

Today was the last installment in the FAMILY series.
So your comments about today are welcome, as are any comments about the entire series.

The MP 13 Band France Team was commissioned by missions pastor Burnie Staples. Please keep the entire team in prayer. Several members are leaving their young children for a week to take the Gospel to the streets of Grenoble.

How did things go in the nursery and Kidmo/Lil K? Let us know.

Don't forget about Lifeguard Dinner Thursday night. If you want to help, contact Diana Wise.

And then there's Date Night Friday night. Thanisha Chandler or Cinnamon Goodman can take your reservation. Give them a call if you didn't turn in a card.

Parent Night Out

This coming Friday, June 18, from 6:30 to 10pm. The Parent Pod, consisting of parents from the youth group, will be providing this ministry to the parents of NHC. Donations will go to the youth scholarship fund to help students go to camp and other events.

You can register by e-mailing either Cinnamon Goodman or Thanisha Chandler. thanisha@charter.net , tonutty4you@charter.net

Advance registration is requested to help them with their staffing.

Team France

On Tuesday members of the MP 13 Band and a few others are going to Grenoble, France to work with Matt and Sylvie Glock and churches in the area. It will include both outreach as the band plays on the streets of Grenoble during the Music Festival 2010and interaction and sharing with the local churches.

You can follow the team on their trip by visiting the Team France blog. And if you want to email the team the address is france@nagsheadchurch.org.

Here's a video Nathan made that Matt is using to connect with our hosts before our arrival. Please pray for us and for those we minister to and share Christ with in France.

Family Resources You Can Use - New Links added!

Here are some sites I trust that have a lot of great resources and articles about every aspect of family life.

Covenant Eyes - freedom from porn.

Exodus International - freedom from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ.

Focus on the Family - like the name says.

DivorceCare - Site for those who are going through or been through divorce. At NHC we have a DivorceCare ministry to help you survive and thrive.

Got Questions? - Biblical answers to questions, including marriage, divorce, sexuality and much more. In the search box type in your topic, ie. "single" and you'll get their articles and links, too.

HomeWord - Check it out parents!

Revive Our Hearts - Especially for women.

Center for Parent/Youth Understanding - Great site for helping parents understand what's going on in today's youth culture.

When the Going Gets Tough...

As long as I’m not uncomfortable.
As long as I’m not inconvenienced.
As long as I don't have to confront anyone.
As long as I don’t get hurt.
As long as I am not pressured.
As long as things are to my satisfaction.
As long as I’m not asked to give.

“Demas has deserted me.” Among the most haunting words to me are these from the Apostle Paul.

Three times in Paul’s letters he mentions his fellow missionary companion Demas. Two of the three times it is clear that Demas is a committed teammate, taking risks and taking Christ to the Gentile world; establishing churches where the religious are hostile to this new way.

Being a Christian in the first century Roman Empire wasn’t without opposition. Believers in the Jewish Messiah were truly counter-cultural and revolutionary – not in political ways, but in discovering life in Christ often meant a life unknown by the world. The Messiah’s call was to abandon all and to take up a cross; to put your hands to the plow and only look ahead. It was a call to self-denial and servant hood. It meant becoming a citizen of another world while living in this one.

While in his final days in a Roman prison Paul penned those words. “Demas has deserted me”. Can you feel the pain in his heart? When he most needed friends and encouragement – someone to assure him that the missional movement he started would continue – one that he had hoped would stay faithful and loyal had dropped out.

Demas, it seems, couldn’t stand the heat so he got out of the kitchen. As he weighed his options he chose the comfort and convenience of casual Christianity. The idea of perhaps winding up like his mentor was a test he would not pass. Imprisonment and execution by a Roman sword took commitment to a level he was not ready to seek.

So he dropped out. He went “home”. “Sorry Paul, but I can’t deal with this.”

Haunting words, but, to me they're also helpful.

I know that I have never been put to the test like this. Not really. Sure, there have been times when I’ve had to make what seemed at the time to be a hard choice regarding my commitment to Christ. And I like to convince myself that dropping out is not an option. When I look at Demas I have to think, “But for the grace of God, there go I”. Demas is my anti-hero; someone I don’t want to follow.

They're helpful to me also because as a leader in a Christian community I’ve experienced some level – surely not what Paul experienced – of watching the formerly committed and faithful drop out. And I’ve heard all the “reasons”. And I try to remind myself that it’s not me they’re abandoning. It’s Christ. It’s His family (which you cannot separate from Him). It’s their calling that is deserted.

As I read the Bible and “hear” the words of Christ, Peter, Paul, James and John I know that this journey of faith has potholes and places where there are no shoulders along the road. It can be both treacherous and at the same time daring. Most of all it is a life that doesn’t allow a neutral gear. You’re either growing into His image or you are falling away; with Him or against Him. And we don’t like that.

I’m sure Paul made some effort to convince Demas not to quit. My feeling is that Paul pulled no punches with peers like Demas. He may have felt a twinge of failure as Demas shook his head and walked away. But if it happened to Paul it can, will and does happen to all in the Lord’s service. That gives me some consolation.

But it doesn’t erase completely the pain and puzzlement.

Update from Don and Mary DeHart

(I hope you'll take a few minutes to click on the link and read a great testimony! RL)

Dear Nags Head Family,

Summer has come with a rush. We sure have wanted to see y'all again and now looks like we are toast for a couple of months.

But we think of y'all and long to see your faces.

Our colleagues in Tacoma share this story at my request. I pass to you as good encouragement in the journey.

We love y'all,
don and mary

Sunday Feedback June 6

It was a marathon day at NHC.
There were two worship gatherings.
There was a new partner lunch and interviews.
There was the Kids Zone dedication and Open House.
Contagious band practiced for FFHS's baccalaureate service at NHC Wednesday night.
Contagious Youth had their first Sunday night at the beach.

What did God use to grow you in His grace?

Prayer Request from France

Dear Friends,
In the life of the a French church baptisms are events that stand out. Tomorrow at the CEP there will be two baptisms, Jérôme, who's in his mid-40's and Pascal, our son. We are really excited. Jérôme's wife Isabelle was baptized last year so tomorrow is a big day in their family. The guests of the two families will probably outnumber the folks from the CEP. Please pray for Jérôme and Pascal. Also pray for all those who will be visiting.

With love in Christ,
Matt and Sylvie

Kids' Zone Open House and Dedication

At NHC we're always looking for a reason to celebrate! After all, we're practicing for an eternal celebration in heaven.

The newly completed Kids' Zone in the upstairs south wing of our building is a major cause for celebration. Not just another goal accomplished, it allows us to better serve families in the church and in the community. And it looks great!

Thanks to those who volunteered the past couple of weeks getting the last touches done, we're ready to open it up to the community for a walk-through and to formally dedicate it to God's glory.

The party starts at 3PM with a short dedication gathering. Our town mayor will be on hand to say a few words. It promises to be a fun time with a surprise or two you don't want to miss.

Please feel free to invite your neighbors and friends, especially if they have young children in the home. We hope they'll see that NHC cares about them.

F1RST Wednesday! 6:30-8PM

Jesus commands us to observe communion until He returns. Tonight's the night we do that at NHC.

Great worship, fellowship and a challenge from the Scriptures.

Nursery and Kids Worship as always.