Monthly Archives

December 2014

Happy New Year!

Dear Coastal,

Happy New Year!  I hope you have had a wonderful Christmas and that you have been able to take some time off from work and spend it with family & friends over the last couple of weeks!  I’m not sure I’ll make it to midnight, but at the Rollins home we’re simply chilling out, flipping channels, and listening to neighbhorhood fireworks.  I know – pretty wild & crazy!

Like every year, 2014 has seen it’s share of ups & downs, highs & lows.  My simple prayer is that at the end of it all, we’re a little bit more like Jesus and the fruit of the Spirit is a little bit more evident.  I’m excited about 2015!  I believe this is going to be a year of tremendous growth & change.

One of the things I’m most excited about is reading through the Bible with my Coastal family!  I hope you’re ready to begin tomorrow – January 1st.  Like I said this past Sunday, go ahead and get your resources together ready to meet with God tomorrow!  Come with a reverent, expectant, obedient attitude.  Someone asked me today if there was an audio version of our One Year Bible reading plan.  The answer is yes!  From your phone or computer go to:  oneyearbibleonline.com/audio.  It really couldn’t be any easier – whether you’re reading from the One Year Bible book, listening to the audio, or reading from the One Year Bible app on your phone, the issue isn’t one of availability, it’s one of willingness & obedience.  But it’s also one of grace.  If you miss a day (or two), don’t give up.  Just pick up where you left off and continue.  Don’t slip into legalism and miss the relationship.  It’s not a race to hurry up and finish, it’s a relationship to pursue and develop.

I also wanted to share some exciting news with you!  Isabelle Carpenter, a woman who has been attending Coastal for the past 2 months, gave her life to Jesus on Christmas Eve and is getting baptized this Sunday morning, the first Sunday of the New Year!  In her own words, Isabelle “had been a strong agnostic for many years.”  Her husband is in the military and several people over the years had reached out to her and witnessed to her.  They moved to Charleston and became next door neighbors to Matt & Stacy Curtis (is God amazing or what).  Stacy reached out to her, became her friend, prayed for her, and shared her faith.  She also invited her to Coastal.  Isabelle is getting ready to be out of town for several weeks and Matt & Stacy recently got their orders for the USS Pennsylvania out of Washington State.  Isabelle asked if she could get baptized this Sunday, so that if at all possible, Matt & Stacy could be there before they moved.  Of course we said yes!

So we will be setting up our baptistry for this weekend!  I can’t think of a better way to begin 2015, following Jesus’ example and being Baptized!  Baptism is in fact a beautiful symbol of a new beginning, a fresh start, and the forgiveness of our sins.  If you would like to join Isabelle and get Baptized this Sunday, simply respond to this email and I’ll follow up with you!  To learn more about Baptism you can go to our website.

I was in tears listening to Isabelle share her story with me.  She was so thankful for Coastal, our Worship Team, and Stacy.  One thing that stood out to her was Stacy’s confidence that if Isabelle would truly seek God, she would find Him.  She said she could tell it was a confidence in God and His Word.  Well, Isabelle did seek God and she did find Him.  Coastal that’s why we exist!  That’s why we do what we do!  We don’t just go to church, we are the church!  We are all, together, on a mission, to share and experience the life and love of Jesus with the world!

I love you Coastal!  I love what we get to do!

Happy New Year!

Pastor Chris (friend me on facebook if we’re not already friends)

P.S.  You’ve got a little over an hour to give to Coastal in 2014.  You can still give online or through TEXTING – 843-277-8337.

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Christmas Eve @ Coastal!

Dear Coastal,

So, are you ready for Christmas?  Well, ready or not, it’s here!  Which means of course, that we have our 3 Christmas Eve Services, this Wednesday night, 5pm, 6:30pm, or 8pm, ready for you to enjoy and invite & bring your friends!  It’s not too late to invite someone.  Make the ask!  What’s the worst thing that could happen?  Better yet – what’s the BEST thing that could happen?

Pray for me & my message.  Pray that people give their lives to Jesus and get saved!  Pray for our Worship Team that they would lead people to worship Jesus.  Pray for Children’s Ministry Volunteers, that they would teach our children about Jesus.  Pray for all our Ministry Volunteers, that they would serve Jesus by serving others.

Here are a few other reminders:

  • Be helpful, friendly and welcoming to all our guests.
  • Introduce yourself to people you don’t know.
  • Park over at Oakland to make more room for guests.
  • Fill out your Connect Card.  This encourages others to do the same. (We’re also giving away some fun gifts at the end of each service!)
  • Sit to the front of each section of the auditorium and to the center of each aisle.
  • We will be having our normal Children’s Ministry during all 3 services – Nursery, Splash Zone, Clubhouse, & Coastal Kidz.  Not only does this provide more seating for our guests, but Janet and our Volunteers have a wonderful evening planned for our children!  They won’t want to miss out!
  • If you are serving during a service, please come early and be in your spot no later than 30 minutes before each service.

Don’t forget that our entire offering on Wednesday night will go toward our “All In” Giving Campaign (the new building)!  Prayerfully consider making a year end sacrifcial gift.  We all can’t give the same amount, but together we can all make a sacrifice.  Our faith will start to become sight in just a couple of weeks when we begin our site work in the new year!  It’s going to be so exciting!  I can’t wait!  I know you can’t either!

Well, I think that’s about it.  Can’t wait to see you and your guests on Wednesday night!

Pastor Chris

P.S.  There will be only 2 services on Sunday, December 28th, 8:45am & 10:15am.

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“I bring you good news of Great Joy!”

Dear Coastal,

I want to share with you some GREAT NEWS!  I just found out this morning that our new building plans have finally been approved by the final person at the City of Charleston! (In my loudest, wildest, Ric Flair voice) Woo-hoo!  It has been a long and difficult process.  One day I’ll share more about that.

So what exactly does that mean and what’s next? Now we print & deliver the hard copies of all finalized and approved plans to the City of Charleston.  We put up construction fencing and pay someone from the City to verify & approve said fencing.  Final plans are then signed and stamped by the City and Building Permits issued  And then construction begins!

Technically, it’s not “final” approval & building permits, in the sense that we can’t start construction tomorrow. But a HUGE hurdle was crossed today that paves the way for all of that to fall into place!  Praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord!

Like I’ve been saying, “When I know, you’ll know”, and I wanted you to hear the good news from me as soon as possible!  Spend a moment today giving thanks to God for this blessing!  Dream about the new building being filled to capacity multiple times with people needing Jesus!  Invite someone to attend our Christmas Eve service!

And then finally, consider giving a sacrificial gift toward “All In” at our Christmas Eve Service or before the end of the year!  We could not have reached this milestone today without your faithful, generous giving!  Now together, let’s work toward finishing what we started.  Remember, not equal gifts, equal sacrifice.  We can’t all give the same amount, but together we can all sacrificially give!  And when we do that together, that’s when God shows up and does a miracle!

I love you Coastal!

Pastor Chris

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Angel Tree Emergency!

Okay Coastal, it’s time to do again what we do best – love our community! I got this message this morning from the Guidance Counselor over at Oakland, “Hey Pastor Chris! I might need some help! We have some tags left on the Oakland Angel Tree and a family turned in their request list yesterday. I hate to keep asking the teachers to spend more money. Did you have any members that wanted to help but didn’t get the chance to get a tag?”

So, I’m sure you know exactly what I did! I went over and took ALL the remaining Angel Tree Tags! We actually had LOTS of people this past Sunday who didn’t get a tag. I know it’s late notice. It would be great to get this stuff by Sunday, but since it’s late we can bring the gifts over no later than Wednesday morning (you could drop everything off here at Coastal by Tuesday).

So, here’s what I’m asking you to do: call the office today by 4:30pm to verbally be given your Angel Tree card information – 843-571-1777. We will then check off that card. If after 4:30pm, call my cell phone – 843-442-8820 – and I’ll give you your card information. Again this is a great way to love and serve the families right in our very own community – to love our neighbors! Share this message! Help get the word out! Now – let’s hear that phone ring all day today!

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“The Sounds of Christmas”

Dear Coastal Friends & Family,

Don’t miss church this Sunday – let me give you some reasons why!  Thanksgiving has come and gone, it’s the first Sunday of December, and Coastal is kicking off a brand new series entitled, “The Sounds of Christmas.”  Each week we will hear and sing your favorite Christmas songs (and introduce you to a few new ones) and share the real story of Christmas!  Even it’s been a while since you’ve been in church, this is a great time of the year to come back!  You’re always welcome at Coastal!  In fact, invite & bring a friend!  We expect guests!

This Sunday is also Newcomer’s Lunch Sunday!  Immediately after the 11:45am service (approx. 1pm) there is a meal for all those who are new to Coastal.  It’s a great way to learn more about our church, meet other new people & our staff, enjoy a great meal, and discover possible next steps.  You can simply show up on Sunday or let us know you’re coming now on our website.

On Sunday you can also pick up tickets for our Christmas Eve services this year – Wednesday night, December 24th, 5pm, 6:30pm, & 8pm.  Obviously, the tickets are FREE, but they serve as a way to let us know when a service is filling up and a great way to invite friends!  Pick them up Sunday!

Want another great reason to come to church this Sunday?  This Christmas, Coastal is partnering with our neighbors, Oakland Elementary School, to help provide Christmas for over 30 children!  There is a little Christmas Tree in our building with 30 Angel Tree cards on it.  Take a card, purchase the gift, tape the card on the gift, and bring it back to church no later than Sunday, December 14th (one week). You only have one week to make the purchase and bring it back because we will take the gifts over to Oakland the last week of school before they let out for Christmas.

Honestly, most of the gifts are real needs like clothes & shoes. There’s even one that says, “Toothpaste & deodorant for a girl.” There are some fun things too – easy bake oven, skateboard, baby doll, etc. I know we only have 1 week, but I have no doubt we can do this! This is a great way to bless the children right here in our own community and to be a good neighbor to our friends at Oakland! Are you with me?  What a great way to kick off our Christmas series this Sunday!

Hope to see you Sunday & over the Holidays!  Our service times are Sunday morning 8:45am, 10:15am, & 11:45am.

Pastor Chris

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Angel Tree

Coastal is partnering with our neighbors, Oakland Elementary School, to help provide Christmas for 30 children!  On Sunday, December 7th, there will be a Christmas Tree in the auditorium with 30 Angel Tree cards on it.  Take the card, purchase the gift/gifts, wrap the presents, tape the card on the gift, and bring it back to the tree no later than Sunday, December 14th (one week).  We will take the gifts over the Oakland the following week – the last week of school before Christmas.  This is a great way to bless the children of our community and to be a good neighbor to our friends at Oakland!

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Happy Cyber Monday!

Happy Cyber Monday!

I don’t know about you, but my inbox & social media have been inundated with ads for Cyber Monday. The reality is that a lot of people will buy a lot of stuff online today and over the next month. That isn’t a bad thing, but it isn’t eternal. Our church exists to reach people that do not know Jesus and that IS eternal!

So, while you are shopping online today, why not consider doing one of 3 things as we participate in Cyber Monday. And here’s my CyberMonday offer: 100% of your investment will go to reaching people for Jesus.

1. Go here (https://coastalcommunitychurch.org/give/) and give to God through the local church from our website. The investment is eternal. It lasts way longer than an iPod, toy or winter coat. You do not have to have a PayPal account to give.

2. It is now possible to give to Coastal with your smartphone through TEXTING! After a one step, one time registration process (takes less than 2 minutes), you simply text any amount to 843-277-8337 and hit send. GIVE IT A TRY! You can give any amount, any where, any time, any place. It is not billed to your phone. It is through your Bank/Credit Card that you register. It is simple, safe, and secure.

3. If you haven’t done so already, download our church app onto your phone, iPod, or tablet (http://get.theapp.co/473b). It’s free at your app store! It’s a great way to spread the Word and keep up with all things Coastal. Make sure you approve push notifications.

Happy Shopping (and giving)!

Pastor Chris

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Online Connect Card

  • If this is your 1st or 2nd time joining us, we'd love to mail you a little more information about Coastal along with a thank you for tuning in today.