Thanks to everyone who helped us celebrate Pastor Rick's and Gail's 20 year anniversary with NHC this morning! In case you missed it, we surprised them both during our gatherings with a few gifts (the the mini surfboard above) and an opportunity for everyone to enjoy some cake and fellowship between gatherings.
If you did miss it, or even if you were there, feel free to leave a comment here and let the rest of us know how God has used Rick and/or Gail to be a blessing in your life.
January 27, 1991 I began my first Sunday as the interim pastor of Nags Head Baptist Church with a series on Sunday morning in the book of Galatians, followed that evening (we had a Sunday evening service then) with a series on the church: "God's Work God's Way".
From the very first Sunday we recorded the sermons (on cassette tape in those days on a karaoke machine), so it's around somewhere. Those tapes came in handy some time later when someone accused me of not preaching the Gospel!
As I recall there were about 40 people in church that Sunday morning and the offering was about $400. I don't remember what three hymns we sang, but I do chuckle when I think of it.
When I explained to the two elderly deacons that we would begin to do the offerings at the end of the service instead of after the second hymn the response I got was, "I never 'heerd' of such a thing before." I'm sure that wasn't the last time he uttered those words or thought those thoughts.
Later that week I called the phone company and asked them to turn on the phone line that had long been disconnected. Then I called the copier people and asked them to repair the copier that had been broken down for six months. I also spent $40 on an answering machine.
My sermon notes were all written by hand in those days, and my studying took longer, with a spread of commentaries on the donated surplus desk from an insurance office. To insert Scripture texts into my notes I would photocopy the page from a Bible and cut and paste - literally. It would be several years before I got a computer that could run Bible software.
Initially I was paid a part-time salary and either did odd jobs to make up the rest. But the church wanted us to move into the parsonage and paid me to do much of the renovations, including adding a bathroom and painting. Our children were 9, 7 and 5, and the extra bathroom (with a tub!) was a big help. Church volunteers, like Tom Lee helped out with things I couldn't do. Andy came from wherever he was living to help with the painting. (By the way, Andy, those ceilings have not been repainted since, so, come on over.)
I wore a suit or sport coat and tie on Sundays. Occasionally over the next few years some kindly church members would take me out and buy me a new suit or jacket. My hair was still dark and my eyes didn't need glasses! Being the lone pastor, I found myself wearing lots of hats around the church, doing just about whatever needed to be done.
Once the copier was fixed we began producing a Sunday bulletin each week. The copy was typed on a portable electric typewriter that I got as a high school graduation present. Soon, a young mom in the church offered to type it for me. Sandra Lee became our church treasurer, stepping out of her comfort zone but filling a need.
My first baptism was soon held at Manteo Baptist Church and included baptizing Charlotte Weaver, a converted Catholic grandmother. Then in May, another baptism was done at the old Tan a Rama Motel in Kill Devil Hills. Harry Francis was filling it up for the season and it was cold! But there were about a dozen baptized that day, including my kids.
In April, at the quarterly church business meeting the motion was made to call me as the pastor, removing the "interim" and to appoint a committee (we used that word in those days) to come up with a budget (the church had not had one in many years) and see if it wouldn't be possible for me to serve full-time. Offerings had tripled by this time and the church was steadily growing. So, in an act of faith, I became their full-time pastor, trusting that God would provide the funds.
Those first few months were exciting. Many new people began to come to the little white church house. In March we purchased a used van and Al and Marilyn Dolley began bringing children from Colington. We began a Children's Church to provide our growing number of children a worship experience at their level. Our nursery space (you should have seen it) was expanded and improved.
I could go on and on. So much has changed, and I hope for the better. Still hanging around from those earliest days in 1991, along with my family are Tom and Sandra Lee and their daughters Jenny, Cindy and Lauren; Marilyn Dolley; Ina Phelps and George Robinson (when he's down visiting from PA). Others like Steve and Diana Wise and Charlie, Nancy and Andrew Huff weren't far behind.
How in the world have I stayed around this long? Well, one reason is it must be God's plan. That I'm sure of, because it's otherwise unexplainable. Another reason is that from the very beginning there was vision - a dream of what could be on this corner in Nags Head. And just as importantly, the people God began to send, and continues to send, have never stopped discovering life in Christ. Through you all Christ has seen to it that His glory is in this church.
How much longer? I don't have an answer to that. God knows. I hope I have a few more good years left in me before I become a chaplain on a cruise ship or something... But as long as God and the church think I should stay, I'll stay. As soon as He says, "Move on" I'll move on.
In any case, I believe greater things are yet to come, greater things are still to be done here. The Great Adventure continues!
Saddle up your horses we've got a trail to blaze Through the wild blue yonder of God's amazing grace Let's follow our Leader into the glorious unknown This is a life like no other - this is The Great Adventure (Steven Curtis Chapman, 1992)
Something NEW at CREST this month! Do you have an idea for ....
Outreach or Bridging Event?
Ministry to the church?
Sermon series?
Christian Life Intensive class?
If so, plan to share it Wednesday night in 30 seconds or 4 sentences. That means you'll have to think it through before sharing. This is for NEW IDEAS not critical statements. Don't start your 30 seconds with "What's wrong with..." or "We used to...". Start with "What if...".
All our Ministry Teams will be giving brief reports on what God is doing in the church, and Rick will be sharing about what's coming down the pike in the coming months.
If you're a NHC partner, this is the time to find out what's happening around NHC that you might not know or see. So be there! Starts at 7. Over by 8.
Take a Discovery Class at the next NHCU? Just fill out a Communication Card. On the back you can check off which class you want to take next*. NHCU classes are typically offered the 3rd Sunday of each month except June, July and December.
Find out what Connection Groups are offered? At the Welcome Center is a listing of current groups that tells the time/day of their meetings, what they're studying, and leader contact info. It is updated regularly as new groups are added or groups fill up. We also hope to have that available soon on our web site as well.
Check out a Connection Group? Give the group leader a call or shoot him/her an email. Just because you attend a group a time or two doesn't mean you have to commit to it. But if it's not for you, be sure to check out another until you find the right one.
Be a Connection Group leader or host? Contact our Groups Pastor, Burnie Staples. burnie@nagsheadchurch.org. Most new leaders have been "apprenticed" by a veteran group leader first. We also have ongoing leadership training.
Get in or start a Quest Bible Study? A QBS is for those already in a Connection Group and is in addition to continuing with that group. If you're ready for that kind of commitment contact Rick about it. Your study teacher needs to have completed all 5 NHCU classes, have the gift of teaching and your study needs to be approved.
Register for a Christian Life Intensive class? Fill out a Communication Card and indicate on the back your desire to be in the class. Watch and listen for announcements about upcoming classes.
Attend a conference or retreat? Listen and watch for announcements as conferences come available.
Become a Coach? Contact Discipleship Pastor Steve Wise via a Communication Card or at steve@nagsheadchurch.org. If you haven't been all the way around the bases, you'll need to be on track to get that completed asap.
Be coached? Contact Pastor Steve Wise via a Communication Card or email at steve@nagsheadchurch.org. He'll match you up with an available coach.
Get involved in a Ministry Team? After getting on 1st Base (becoming a partner of NHC) you'll be able to try out ministry teams that you think may fit your SHAPE and gifts. A listing of current teams is available at the Welcome Center. Be sure to take Discovering My Ministry. Contact either the team leader of the team that interests you or Ministries Pastor Tom Lee at tom@nagsheadchurch.org. Certain teams have greater requirements than others. (For example, you have to be a proficient musician to serve on the MP13 Band as a musician or singer. Children's and Youth ministry team members are required to have a background check provided by the church.)
(*To move around the bases and take the NHCU classes beyond Discovering NHC has the prerequisite of becoming a committed partner in the church.)
Today was all about being equipped, growing, maturing in Christ and helping others do the same. How will you help your church fulfill our vision this year?
Once again, if you know the vision you can understand why we do the things we do and be totally supportive.
Thank God for a warm building!
This time of year many locals are checking out NHC, some for the first time. Be sure to make them welcome.
Don't forget CREST Wednesday night and "What's Your Big Idea?".
Checking the Weather Channel today and wondering about possible snow and how it might affect Sunday morning at NHC? Here is some info that you might find helpful. Read it carefully!
> IF the 9am gathering is canceled, a message will be sent via email, posted on this blog, and posted on our official Facebook group by 5pm on Saturday. If there is no cancellation, you won't receive any message.
> IF the 11am gathering is canceled, a message will be sent via email, posted on this blog, and posted on our official Facebook group by 8am on Sunday. If there is no cancellation, you won't receive any message. > IF you are serving on a ministry team this Sunday and there is a cancellation of the 9am gathering only AND you have a question about how that may affect your ministry team schedule, contact your ministry team leader. A general rule of thumb is to assume that you are still needed to serve in ministry regardless.
Leave a comment here if you have any general questions.
Tonight we begin our youth ministry team retreat. We have never done this before and I'm excited! Hopefully this weekend will help us to:
Be a better team. Ministry is always better when accomplished with someone else.
Be better ministers. Students need caring adults in the church investing into their lives.
Be closer to God. When you pour out in ministry you must make sure you take time to refuel spiritually.
I'm blessed to part of a team serving with 11 other partners from NHC with the goal of impacting student's lives and assisting parents as they disciple their kids.
If you get some time please pray for us this weekend we would appreciate it.
A Room at the Inn - We'll be providing a place for homeless residents of the beach to sleep safely and warmly for the week of January 30-Feb. 6 . It involves 2 volunteers each night to stay overnight and meals, including supper, breakfast and lunch items to be taken with them as they leave each morning. Contact Charlie Huff @ 573-9560 if you or your Connection Group would like to get involved.
Ministry Team Opportunities - Contact Ministries Pastor Tom Lee at tom@nagsheadchurch.org to get more info about joining any of these great teams.
Housekeeping Team. Love to clean house? Our housekeeping volunteers have openings to serve. Most teams serve once a month keeping the building looking sharp.
First Impressions Team. Outgoing personalities to welcome guests and attenders each Sunday. This is a weekly ministry. A great way to get to know more of your church family.
Hospitality Team. Can you make coffee and get the goodies ready before worship gatherings? Great fellowship happens on this team every Sunday morning and for special occasions. Schedule depends on need.
Assimilation Team. Want to help others connect with NHC? Check this post out for more info. Contact Andy for more details.
Teller Team. A once a month rotation counting and getting Sunday's offerings ready for deposit. Requires staying a bit late after the 11 o'clock gathering.
If you're interested in training so you can volunteer with NC Baptist Men's Disaster Relief (its for men and women!) there is a training event coming to Elizabeth City March 4-5.
Areas of training include:
Administration: volunteers learn how to manage the paperwork associated with running a disaster operation.
Communications: for amateur radio operators and IT professionals. Need HAM license or IT network experience.
Disaster Relief Chaplaincy: provide spiritual care and encouragement to volunteers and survivors, requires background check (provided by NCBM) and reference letter BEFORE training. Regions 3, 5, 9
Disaster Relief Temporary Child Care: Emergency child care training, requires background check by NCBM.
International Search & Rescue: for volunteers with US&R credentials and/or experience including Medical Professionals. Team members are expected to respond INTERNATIONALLY within 24 hours of notification if possible. Requires passport. Regions 3, 5, 9
Mass Feeding: Learn food safety and preparation for mass feeding. Volunteers prepare breakfast and lunch on Saturday.
Medical Reserve Corps: domestic and international response. Must have a current NC medical license. Regions 3, 5, 9
Recovery: Help homeowners recover by using mud-out, chainsaw, and temporary repair. Age 15+ w/parent.
Shower/Laundry: Covers setup, maintenance, and use of shower/laundry units.
Information and registration for training and to learn more about Disaster Relief can be found at this link.
Did you know that Cindy studied Radio, Television and Motion Picture Production as a student in college?The last 25 years haven’t provided many opportunities to use her skills and talents in that area, but in December she produced a video to be played for thousands of college students later in the month.
Each year students attend conferences across the country during the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day.Cindy’s goal was to create a brief video for those conferences, to envision students for the impact for Christ that they can have by joining arms with believing professors.
Storyboarding and directing may not have changed much in the past 25 years, but editing and working with digital recordings is a lot different from working with film.Cindy wrote the script and a student at UNC provided videography expertise.Ian did most of the acting and Cindy produced the video.The project came together in early December and was sent on its way to be shown at conferences later in the month.
What if God uses the video to encourage students to pray for and engage their profs?That’s what we’re praying for!
Tootsie Rolls, a cowboy hat and cotton balls. Paul's "Whatever it takes" strategy for reaching every culture and bringing them to Christ.
How can you help your church fulfill this part of our vision this year?
Sunday afternoon saw a lunch/ministry team meeting for our housekeeping team. That was followed by two NHCU classes, which is followed by the Parent Pod and Contagious Youth. Another ministry-filled day for the family of Nags Head Church.
Ruthie's Kitchen needs our help on Tuesday, Jan. 25 to feed the hungry dinner. And "A Room at the Inn", providing meals and shelter to the homeless in our community returns to NHC Jan. 30-Feb. 6. Call the church office (441-7548) or email info@nagsheadchurch.org to get involved in either outreach.
I shared their story of decline in the first lesson of our current series "In Plain Sight". Remember this church?
Here's an update. It has a good ending.
Another church, a black congregation, was burned out of their home in December, 2007, and has not been able to rebuild yet due to negotiations with the city. Less than a mile separates the two churches locations.
But now, the Park View Baptist Church is selling their building (at half its appraised value) to the Zion Baptist Church and the transition will be complete by Easter. Here's a link to the story.
Once again the old church building will be full of worshipers. It's a good thing. Zion has a home and the neighborhood once again has a church that is culturally relevant to reach it.
A decade or so ago one of our local restaurant's slogan was "Treat you like family". Their commercials were pretty silly, but the message came across.
In the church we're a family. Just what does that mean? If you are/were at NHC on Sunday, January 9 you heard these points. Please take the time to do a little research and study with them.
• Caring about each other. – 1 John 3:17 • Fellowship. - Acts 2:46 • Meeting needs. – Acts 4:35 • Offering support. - Acts 20:35 • Extending hospitality. – 1 Peter 4:9 • Contributing to the household through our spiritual gifts and financial offerings. – Ephesians 4:16 • Accountability. – 1 Corinthians 12:12-26 • Confronting and correcting when necessary. – 2 Timothy 4:1-4 • Working together. – 1 Thessalonians 1:3 • Providing safety and security. - Acts 20:28-31 • Refusing to gossip and be unloving in any way. – 2 Corinthians 12:20-21 • Loyalty and trust. – 2 Corinthians 7:7, 12
We just wanted to say THANK YOU to all who purchased a Boar's Head ham for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas. We were able to raise $700 that was given to the Lottie Moon December Missions Fund from Nags Head Church! We hope you enjoyed it and look forward to serving you again in the future! A Joyous New Year to everyone! Brad & Rebecca Meyers OBX Deli Provisions
Our total for the foreign missions offering surpassed our goal of $1500! Thanks for giving so that the world might hear.
This post is from my personal blog, and was written in 2008. I'm re-posting here because of its relevance to this coming Sunday's message in our "In Plain Sight" series on the vision of Nags Head Church. - Rick
The amazing thing about the church* is that because it is a living organism (as opposed to an organizational institution) we get to watch it grow and mature and change all the time. And as God teaches and moves us, He changes us by revealing more and more to us about Himself and about ourselves.
Every week I hear more and more stories from and about our church about how God is using you and giving you greater insights into His purposes for your lives. Every week someone tells me how God has healed; changed; challenged their lives. Pains and hurts are part of this life as well, and we're not exempt from them, either. And whether those things are in little areas of life or are huge miracles, they’re all significant, not only to your life, but to the church body.
Paul wrote that when one of us hurts, it hurts us all. And when one of us rejoices we all celebrate, too. No one in the church should ever be alone (although I know plenty who have secluded themselves and their hurts because of pride or fear).
Nothing else on earth compares to a healthy church.
*A local body of believers called together to be the community of Christ.
Rick, I thought you might pass this on to the church, or anyone in particular that you know who this may help. There is a couple in my neighborhood who are customers of mine. They also have visited our church on numerous occasions when they are down for the summer. They are remodeling their kitchen soon, and have a refrigerator and electric range that will be replaced. Someone suggested they call Hotline, and they will if they need to, but they thought first that someone in our church may have a need for them.
Both appliances are almond colored. Refrigerator - Magic Chef, freezer on top, approx 5-6 yrs old. Range - GE, approx 10 yrs old.
I have seen both appliances. They are clean, in perfect working order, and look like new. Either or both are free for anyone who can use them. Whoever takes them will have to pick them up. They are in a top floor kitchen. They will be available after Jan. 15th. If anyone is interested they can call or e mail me for more information. I'm hoping this will help someone! Chris Jolly
If you're interested or know someone who could use them contact Chris at jamjolly@juno.com.
Start the New Year off right by worshiping with your family at F1rst Wednesday. Something retro tonight with the music. Communion and a brief message on living 2011 with clean hands and a clean heart. We'll also be praying tonight for our global outreach team around the world.
Starts at 6:30 sharp. Nursery and child care for the littlest ones.
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