Energizing the Church: Don't get swallowed up in gossip

One of the things that has given our church the witness we have in the community and has strengthened us as a body is our commitment to work with partners who are having personal struggles and a refusal to tolerate gossip. If you’ve taken my DNHC class you’ve heard me talk about our attitude toward gossip because it can destroy a church’s unity faster than anything.

Often as pastors we’re called into situations involving partners and their relationships that need our attention. When that’s the case we do our best to protect the confidentiality of those involved and we also do our best to be patient and gracious. Life change doesn't always happen overnight. That means that we choose to be slow in pulling the discipline trigger unless it’s a situation that needs quick action.

I’m not inclined to believe that gossip is a problem here. If it is, I'm always to the last to hear any of it, and there's a reason for that.

Listen to the wisdom of James 3:3-6.
Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal. 4 And consider ships: though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So too, though the tongue is a small part [of the body], it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites. 6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our [bodies]; it pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell.

Here are some facts we need to remember:
1. When I listen to gossip I’m part of the problem.

2. When I listen to gossip it does nothing to bring me closer to Christ.

3. There are 2 sides to every story and usually somewhere in between is the truth. Perceived truth is not always real truth.

4. People who are having problems at home or at work will quickly make the assumption that people are talking about them when they aren’t. But that’s one of the negative byproducts of being entrapped in sin.

5. If we become known as a church that allows gossip our witness to the community as a body of Christ is damaged. And that kind of damaged reputation is difficult to overcome.

6. If someone who feels wronged by another approaches you with his/her story follow Christ’s instructions: tell him/her to go to the one who has offended him/her and work it out. If they have done that and want you to go with them to that person, then be spiritually ready to do that. But go with great humility and be full of the Spirit.

7. If I feel I'm the subject of gossip I shouldn't spread it by telling someone else that there's gossip going on about me. That's just another form of gossip. But I should follow point 6 above.

Having said all that, being in a church with multiple worship gatherings poses a special challenge. Have you ever missed someone at church and assumed that he/she/they are attending the other gathering? Maybe they are. But don’t assume that. Maybe they’re going through a struggle and could use someone to check in on them.

But again, be prepared. They may want to dump on you. But don’t let them. Rather encourage them to go to whoever they feel has wronged them, whether it’s a spouse or another church partner or a pastor and deal with it properly.

CREST Elders Report

Not sure why, but our CREST attendance grows smaller as the church grows larger! For those who missed it, here is the text of our quarterly Elders Report. (It was, btw, a most excellent meeting with lots of good news!)

Elders Crest Report
July 28, 2010

Sunday Series. One of our responsibilities as pastors is to seek God’s direction as to what is taught here in our gatherings. That means being sensitive not only to the Holy Spirit, but to what is happening in the life of the church. In the last quarter we ended one series that had our pastors telling their stories. I hope that challenged your own life as you heard them tell how God had used His Word and their own unique life experiences to grow them. Then we did a series on family. It was obvious to us that it has been in this area that the devil has worked his hardest among the church. Now we’re in a series that I hope is helping us understand the salvation we possess through faith in Christ.

When this series wraps up we’ll do a short series on how we all fit together as a church. We’ll call it “Body Parts” after what Paul says about the church in 1 Cor. 12.

40 Days of Love. Every two years or so for the last 6 years we’ve pulled together in all our ministries on Sundays, in our daily devotions and in our Connection Groups to do six week series over 40 days. This year we’re doing a new one to us that focuses on the thing Paul said was most important to us as Christians: love. We’ll be studying together 1 Cor. 13. All of our Connection Groups will be doing a six week study taught on DVD by Rick Warren reinforcing what we’ve heard in church on Sunday. If you have never been through one of these 40 Days with us, you’re in for a treat. They always result in a great time of growing for us. I’m building a 40 Days team to work on all the details. We’ve learned some things in the past, and already have our study guides and DVDs on hand. If you would like to serve on the team as we get ready, please let me know by Sunday.

June Baptisms. Six were baptized in June. Then this month we’ve seen 12 more baptized. We have one more baptism scheduled this summer on Aug. 15. It should be the most baptisms we’ve had in a summer that I can remember.

Systems. We are looking a better ways of coupling technology and good management principles to help us accomplish our purposes as a church. We possess a great data base system to help us track groups, teams, events, etc. But we haven’t used it’s potential. So one of our goals this year is to be better organized and see less frustration. For example, we have a system to track those who take “Discovering NHC” and follow them from the class through their commitment to partnership. But the system has some flaws, and sometimes we don’t get the information in a timely fashion to our church clerk. We want to do better with that. One of the things we’ve learned is that usually it’s not the person who is broken, it’s the system.

Finances. Burnie is working on a plan for us to really work at paying our mortgage down. He’ll be sharing that at our next CREST meeting. Our staff are continuing to work part time as we can, and returning our wages to the church. We’ll keep doing that until the economy changes and we’re seeing our giving meet our budgeted needs.

Assimilation Team. We’re still learning how to grow up as a church. We have some ideas as to how to do a better job moving people from “the crowd” to “the committed”, and one of those things we want to do is to establish a team of partners who will help do just that. It will involve things like calling local guests to thank them for attending; helping to plug new attenders into connection groups; and moving partners into ministry.

Building Usage is up. Right now, for example we have 2 AA groups that meet here; a foster parent training class; the Monday night Beth Moore study. Operation Impact met here in June every day. This is the Lord’s building and part of our vision was to make it available to the community for non-profit groups. It’s also available for you for birthday parties, weddings, etc. Because it is being used a lot we have a buildings use request form to fill out if you need it. Sometimes we’re asked by church family if they can borrow chairs and tables. As long as they’re not needed here at that time you’re welcome to borrow them, but we do have a form to fill out so we know where they are and when they’ll be returned.

Although it is the Lord’s building, He’s given us the responsibility to take care of it. So please treat everything like it is the Lord’s. That means if you see something that needs to be picked up or fixed, it’s OK if you go ahead and do it. Thanks to Beth Nelson for coming out on some hot days and pulling weeds in our beds out front!

Wake Up Rally Sept. 18. Across the Chowan Association special rally services are being held to encourage spiritual renewal. We’re having one in our area for Dare and lower Currituck churches here at NHC on Saturday, Sept. 18. You can be involved right now by beginning to pray for God to use the rally to give our local churches a greater passion for being God’s people.

Do you visit our web site, blog, Facebook group or use the pod cast? There’s a calendar on the web site. The blog includes a place to post prayer requests and give updates during the week. The NHC Facebook group also posts info for you who use Facebook. And we’ve seen weekly emails continuing to come into our mailboxes highlighting upcoming events.

We’ve had some requests to put the FAMILY series on disk, so we’re going to do that and will make it available for purchase.

NHCU. Our next NHCU is scheduled for September. If you have not gone all the way around the bases yet, please make it a priority to take your next class. If you have questions about which one to take next, please just talk to one of us.

Your pastors have a monthly meeting that makes time available to you if you need to speak to all of us at once. To get put on a meeting agenda, give Tom Lee a call or email him.

Adoption Update from Adam and Melissa Hoffman

Friends,

Thank you so much for being on this journey of becoming a family with us.  Having a community really makes all that we have been through and going through so much easier.  We are excited to tell you that we are matched with another birth-mother.  This woman is 29 years old and lives near Modesto, CA.  She is due with a baby girl on September 3rd.  We are thrilled that this is working out and are anticipating the day of her arrival.

Her is a little more information about the birth-mother.  She is shy but easy to talk to.  We felt she is definitely someone we could get to know more and felt comfortable with.  She has a beautiful story of struggle and faith.  She is on a journey of trying to follow Christ and be more like him, Praise God.  We also got to meet her Spiritual mother, a women who is discipling her and it was such a blessing.

Thank you again for your prayers and support, this has been such an up and down journey and you have been with us all the way.  We are so blessed!

Blessings!
Adam and Melissa

Sunday Feedback July 25

A bit of "theology" today.

What did God use Sunday to teach and mold you?

Hope you got to say "goodbye" to Buddy, Aleena, Haley and Hadassah Overman. We'll miss them.

(The list of 15 "In Christ" passages is two posts below this one.)

In Christ...

When you are “in Christ”…
1. You will never be condemned again for your sin. (Rom. 8:1)
2. You have no need to ever be alone (Rom. 12:5)
3. You’re a part of a team of committed co-workers (Rom. 16:3)
4. You are set apart for a special purpose (1 Cor. 1:2)
5. You’ll be resurrected from the grave (1 Cor. 15:22)
6. You’re are a winner, not a loser (2 Cor. 2:14)
7. You’ve been made a new creation and your past is gone (2 Cor. 5:17)
8. You’re free from religion’s slavery (Gal. 2:4)
9. You’re on equal ground with other believers (3:28)
10. You have all of God’s blessings (Eph. 1:3)
11. You won’t be left out or left behind (Eph. 1:10)
12. You’re guaranteed a seat in heaven (Eph. 2:6)
13. God directs His kindness to you (Eph. 2:7)
14. You were created for a higher purpose (Eph. 2:10)
15. You get in on His inheritance (Eph.3:6)

Responding to a Disaster

We've been blessed and fortunate not to have a disastrous storm in many years. But we all realize that it's just a matter of time before a hurricane or tropical storm comes our way again.

So what should our response as a church be to the effects of a local natural disaster? I'm of the opinion that we should be ready to minister to those in need.

The question is "How?".

If you'd like to discuss it with me, be sure to attend Wednesday night's CREST meeting. We'll hang around and talk about what NHC could/should be ready to do.

(The picture is of Katrina approaching the Gulf states.)

Student Life Camp

Nags Head Youth was chosen as "Group of the Day" for today! Check out the pics and article here.
Check out our camp blog and day one video! Follow the link on our blog page and you can listen in live to our worship services tonight, tomorrow and Thursday. Worship time begins at 7PM.

Hukilau Surf Camp - More than getting wet

Here are a couple of comments about our last Hukilau Surf Camp. It serves to reach people to discover life in Christ.

My granddaughter attended the Hukilau surf camp on July 17. It was her 12th birthday and I signed her up knowing this would be something she would enjoy. Neither she nor I was disappointed! She had a wonderful time and declared the day to be AWSOME! The young lady who helped her learn, Mackenzie?, was very patient and made her feel confident. Thank-you very much for your outreach and for the wonderful, cool ( do they still say that?) young people who stood up and told their feelings about Jesus without embarrassment. We need more young people like that to be role models for other young people. My granddaughter is looking forward to the next surf camp. Thank-you for giving me a way to give my granddaughter a way to have a blast and see and hear something positive about our Lord. God bless you.

Just wanted to let you know that the surf camp was the highlight of Justin's visit here. He was really impressed with how nice his coach was and how much he learned in a short period of time. Thanks so much!

"The Proverbs Project" - Guinea Pigs Needed

I'm looking for a handful of volunteers to guinea pig an idea for me. It's called "The Proverbs Project". It's about a one month commitment; your schedule; your location that could lead to life change. It will take a minimum of 15 minutes per day. If you're interested, send me an email at rick@nagsheadchurch.org.

Sunday Feeback July 18

Steve got to stand in the shade as he welcomed at the front door!

Lots of people using their gifts for ministry made the day happen at NHC today.

What did you see, hear, experience that God used to capture your heart today?

And praise Him for the awesome baptism!

This Sunday

Our message Sunday - Your Benefits Package - will be from Romans 5:1-11. Go ahead and read it through a couple of times. It's a great passage!

We have a bumper crop of believers to baptize after the 11:00 Gathering! Baptism will be held at the Town of Nags Head Municipal Complex access, across the Beach Road from the Nags Head Town Hall. It's just past Sonic on the left and BB&T Bank on the right on 158. There is plenty of parking. So if you normally come at 9:00, you might want to sleep in Sunday and come at 11 to be in on the celebration.

God has given us some amazing Sundays lately. Come ready and prepared for Him to wow us again.

Update from Adam and Melissa Hoffman

Well, here we go again.

Adam and I are going to meet another Birth-mom tomorrow. About three weeks ago we decided to expand our network and to work with a facilitator to help us find a Birth-mom. She has matched us with Sunday and we are driving up to Modesto, CA to meet with her today. She has already seen our profile and would like to work with us. Sunday is 29 and already has 3 children who live with her Mom. Her pregnancy is healthy, and she is having a GIRL! =)

It is hard to describe all the emotions that are running through us right now, excitement with spurts of fear and a whole lot of anxiousness. What do you say to the women who is about to give you one of the greatest gifts ever? It is just over 5 hours north to Modesto, we will meet with the birth-mom and the adoption facilitator and then stay with some friends near by.

What we need most right now: Prayer!!
- pray for our emotions and anxiety level
- pray for safe travel there and back
- pray for Sunday, she is nervous as well that we will like her
- pray for the continued health of the baby
- pray for God's guidance and peace

Thank you for being a part of this exciting time of life with us. We really do rely on your prayers and encouragement, and are so blessed by them. This whole experience has really shown us the power in the Body of Christ.

Blessings,

Adam and Melissa

Operation Back Pack

We are fast approaching Operation Back Pack. For a few years now NHC has reached out to our community by offering free school supplies. You can join the team today. Simply go here and sign up for the team. There will be need for people to do inventory, set up, distribution at the event, registration, prayer room and community contact gathering community support.

Join today!

Sunday Feedback July 11

Today we began a new series in the book of Romans.

The hospitality team unveiled their two new coffee dispensers!

The band introduced a new song: Grace Already Won.

The Lil K team had to scramble at 9 due to technical difficulties.

Where was the Spirit in all this, and how did He make Himself known to you?

Pray for FCA Camp!

Dear friends,

We hope your summer is going well. Again, we want you to know how very thankful we are for each of you.

We are at UNCW getting ready for Leadership Camp, which starts Monday and ends on Friday morning. We ask you to pray for us over the coming days in several ways:

1. Pray for wisdom and discernment for Scott as camp director in making all of the decisions that need to me made, some on the fly – that God would be honored by all I do and represented well by my attitudes and actions

2. Pray for our 100 or so campers, student and adult FCA Leaders from all over NC, VA, and SC, that they would be equipped, encouraged, and challenged and can go back to impact their schools and communities for Christ

3. Pray for good weather (last year we had rain almost every day!)

4. Pray for no injuries

5. Pray for our speakers, John & Guy Earle, former NFL players and current youth ministers

6. Pray for our musician, Matt Blair, and his band as they lead us in worship and music

7. Pray for our 11 college student huddle leaders, who will be working closely with the campers all week (for wisdom, energy, excitement, representing Christ in a winsome way)

8. Pray for our witness to UNCW, that all of the staff we work with and come into contact with will see and hear the Gospel from us

Thank you so much for your prayer support!
Scott

New Series Starts Sunday! "A Matter of Life and Death"

This Sunday: "Good News/Bad News/Good News"

The question that the Bible will answer for us in the coming weeks is this one: “How does having faith in Christ work in my everyday life?” How does it make a difference in life now before I get to heaven?" We probably know that it should make a difference, but how does that work?

You can come prepared by reading through Romans 1-4. After that we'll take on chapters 5-8, devoting two Sundays to each chapter. This is the "heart" of the best book in the Bible for explaining our relationship with God through Christ.

How important is it to dream?

What does it take to move from the way things are today to an entirely new place – to a desired future? Cindy and I are dreaming. We dream of changing the university environment in a way that encourages students and professors to look more closely at the Savior.

What if every freshman had just 1 professor this fall that identified himself as a Christ follower that first week of classes? What if he invited students to bring their questions to him, or to have lunch together to talk about those questions? We know a couple of professors who do that, but far too few.

Back during the Civil War, the army with the higher ground had an advantage. Artillery fired from a hilltop reaches further, and the enemy has to climb to reach you on that hilltop. Professors who make Christ known on campus help give students the high ground in discovering truth, and a personal relationship with the God of all truth. I picture students thinking, “If Dr. _____ takes Christ seriously, maybe there’s something to this that I’ve missed. Maybe I ought to take a closer look…”
There are tough battles ahead for that high ground, but we also have successful skirmishes going on right now.

For years we’ve sent Christian professors to speak to students in other countries. We’ve also sent students from the U.S. to help launch spiritual movements across the world. This summer we’re sending students with professors together to Ghana and to Haiti. In Ghana, American students and professors are on campus right now, sharing God’s love and forgiveness. Professors are opening doors for our students to charge through. I picture tag-team wrestling  - students and professors together having a greater impact than the sum of their individual efforts.

And in Haiti God is doing something very special. A Christian professor from Embry Riddle University in Florida has designed and manufactured a water purification device that can make a huge contribution in providing clean water to people suffering from the devastating earthquake there. He, along with a number of his graduate students and Campus Crusade students from across the U.S. will be in Haiti this summer working together to bring clean water and Living Water to thirsty people.
And I wonder if the greatest impact won’t be on the Ghanaians or Haitians, but on those professors and students who come back changed, believing God to use them back on campus in ways they never before imagined.

Thank you for your prayers and giving to help make it possible for Cindy and me to devote ourselves to reaching students and professors, and mobilizing them to reach a broken world.

Helping Leaders Reach Leaders,
John and Cindy Peterson

(John and Cindy represent Christ and NHC by mentoring leaders on college and university campuses here in the southeast. They'll be stopping in to say "Hi" to us at NHC on August 1.)

"You all are different than most"

At the end of our Block Party Sunday night I was locking up the building as almost everyone had departed to see the fireworks. As I walked away from the front doors a lady walked up asking if she could use the restroom. "Of course you can." And I unlocked the door for her.

She said she was OK because she was a "local". I told her it didn't make any difference to us where she was from. We were glad she came out and we were happy to have her, and that we treated everyone the same, locals or vacationers.

With a smile she said, "You all are different than most!"

I hope so. If Jesus lives within you there is a difference.

Thanks to all of you "different than most" NHCers who came out and served the community Sunday night.

Sunday Feedback July 4

We were maxed to our limits in attendance at 9AM today. All 300 seats were filled in the auditorium. That stretches all our teams. So thanks to all of you who have a Sunday morning place of ministry. What we do on Sundays is impossible without you!

The band opened each gathering with a medley of the choruses from "American Band" and "Born in the USA". Happy 4th!

Missions was up front and center, with Jay and Alicia being prayed for and sent out by the church. They leave soon, this week perhaps, for South Asia. God speed!

The MP13 France Team gave their report to the church.

Don't forget Sunday evening's bridging event to the community from 7-9.

Got some thoughts to share?

Thanks to NHC from the Glocks in France

Dear NHC Elders,

We wanted to write you first. We still can't get over all that happened during Team France's stay among us. Please share the letter below with everyone at NHC.

With love in Christ,

Matt


Meylan, June 25th 2010

Dear Nags Head Church Family,

Our hearts are overflowing with thankfulness. Sylvie, Anastasia, Pascal, Juliet and myself keep singing the songs and reliving the moments we spent with Team France. We are not alone. It seems everyone who was involved with the project is having the same reaction. Their example of Christ like love has had an impact in the lives of many.

The team was a huge blessing to both us and the churches here in France. They were always ready to help and displayed a unity of spirit and purpose. They were full of grace and joyful. Their attitude was always positive. The power of God was present in their lives. They were filled with the Holy Spirit.

When Paul was thanking the church in Philippi for their participation in the Gospel, he spoke of having the Philippians in his heart and that he longed for them with the affection of Christ. Those types of relationships have been forged between the believers here in France and you. We are living out the wonderful truth of the communion of the saints that reaches beyond borders and language. We are the body of Christ.

Paul also recommends Epaphroditus to the Philippians, telling them that he gave himself fully to Christ’s service. He put it all on the line to accomplish the job he was given. Team France gave their all in accomplishing the job they came to do. Paul said that people like Epaphroditus are worthy of honor...

Sylvie and I thank God for the relationships that were created and the ministry that was both given and received. We look forward to seeing how God will grow the seeds that were sown during Team France’s stay. We are already talking of bringing a team your way next summer. May it be so!

We love you very much.

Matthew and Sylvie, Anastasia, Pascal and Juliet

4th of July BLOCK PARTY!

Building on the success of last year's event (see video below), we're tweaking our 4th of July outreach event this year and turning it into a big block party. A block party is a party that involves a neighborhood or small community (for example, everyone who lives on a certain block of a neighborhood) and usually involves lots of music, food and fun. Although are target is the neighborhood behind NHC, we're making this an open even for everyone.

MP13 will be playing live. Tubbs Hot Dogs will grilling some Boars Head meat. Sea-Freeze will be handing out slushies. We'll have moon bounces and other activities for the kids. Everything is free!

And, of course, free parking for the Manteo Fireworks. With neither Nags Head nor KDH offering fireworks this year, the best alternative for people on the beach will be on top of Jockey's Ridge, and what better place to park than at NHC?!?

If you are a partner or regular attender at Nags Head Church and are interested in helping with this event, please send us an email OR fill out a communication card on Sunday!