Monthly Archives

November 2015

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dear Coastal,

I want to take this opportunity to wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!  Words can not express the deep gratitude I feel for you!  It is an honor to be your Pastor.

One passage of scripture always come to mind when I think about Thanksgiving – Luke 17:11-19:

“As Jesus continued on toward Jerusalem, he reached the border between Galilee and Samaria.  As he entered a village there, ten lepers stood at a distance, crying out, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”  He looked at them and said, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, their leprosy disappeared.  One of them, when he saw that he was healed, came back to Jesus, shouting, “Praise God, I’m healed!”  He fell face down on the ground at Jesus’ feet, thanking him for what he had done. This man was a Samaritan.  Jesus asked, “Didn’t I heal ten men? Where are the other nine?  Does only this foreigner return to give glory to God?”  And Jesus said to the man, “Stand up and go. Your faith has made you well.”

“Didn’t I heal ten men?  Where are the other nine?”  It’s sad to say, but sometimes it seems as though the statistics haven’t changed that much. Which group would you be in? Would you be with the nine, the majority, who wanted and received a great blessing from God, but didn’t give thanks? Or would you be like the one, who knew he had been greatly blessed, who recognized it came from Jesus, and who personally made the effort to thank Him?

Let’s be in the group that expresses our thanks with every aspect of our lives. And let’s be like the one who was healed who “praised God in a loud voice” and who “threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked Him.”

Father thank You for loving me and saving me in spite of who I am!  Thank You for Jesus!  Thank You for Your grace and patience.  Thank You for the best life I could ever imagine.  Thank You for my beautiful wife Janet.  She is my best friend.  She is the best wife and mother I could ever imagine.  In her, You gave me more than I could ever ask, dream, or imagine.  Father, thank You for Lydia and Christopher.  Seeing them grow to know and love You and others is the joy of my life.  I am so proud of who they are and who they are becoming.  Thank You for some of the best friends a guy could or should ever have – friends that I could call at 3 in the morning and they would drop everything and be here.  Thank You for Coastal Community Church!  It has been the adventure of a lifetime and I truly believe the best is yet to come!  Thank You for allowing me to preach Your Word, shepherd Your flock, lead and serve Your people, and cast Your vision.  I am Your unworthy servant.  Thank You for the hope of heaven.  I can’t wait for the day when You call me home or when the sky splits, the trumpet sounds, I bow my knee, cry out, “Jesus is Lord,” and get to see Jesus face to face!  And thank You that in the meantime You allow me to share Jesus with the world around me!

If you and your family are in town, we would love to see you at Coastal on Sunday!  This is a great time of the year to come back to church!  On Sunday, December 6th, we kick off our Christmas series, “Presence.”  Take advantage of this season and this series and invite your friends to church!

I love you and thank God for you every day!

Pastor Chris (friend me on facebook)

P.S. If you haven’t done so already, make sure you download Coastal’s app!  Go to your app store and search for Coastal Community Church, Charleston.  You’ll see our logo.  It’s a great way to listen to messages, keep up with events, and share the good news with your friends!

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Friday’s Five – 11-20-15

Dear Coastal,

Guess what Coastal?  We wrapped & packed 156 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child!  I want to thank all of you who donated toys and time to make this happen.  You are helping to sow the seeds of the Gospel all around the world.  Change the life of a child – change the world!

I also want to give you a new building update.  We got a few important inspections behind us, which means we were able to start “closing up” the inside with insulation and sheetrock this week!  In other words, the inside is really starting to take shape.  Drop by during the week and we’d love to give you a tour.  I can’t thank you enough for your patience.  My mantra is, “I’d rather it be right, than rushed.”  I know you feel the same way.  Keep praying that we can navigate the red tape and bureaucracy in a timely, God honoring manner (did I say that in a kind way?).  I also can’t thank you enough for your sacrificial giving toward this project.  Keep it up!  Every dollar goes toward making this dream a reality and expanding the Kingdom by enabling our church to continue to grow!  Thank you!

Speaking of giving, I’m so excited about this year’s Annual Christmas Offering!  Our initial goal is $50,000!  I say “initial” goal because someone has already generously donated a $25,000 matching gift.  In other words, they will match anything we give up to $25,000.  I say we can give that and beyond.

Our Christmas Offering will be used to fund 3 projects:  building/digging a well in Haiti, funding our LOVE CAN Help A Child budget, and renovating our Children’s area/new child check-in in our current facility as we move into our new facility.

To give, all you have to do is designate your gift “Christmas” on your check, offering envelope, card swiping receipt, pay pal, or TEXT (keyword “Christmas”).  You can give your gift beginning this Sunday, Nov. 22nd – Jan. 3rd, at any of our regular Sunday morning services or anytime through TEXTing or PayPal.  You might also consider giving it all at once during one of our 4 Christmas Eve Services (Wednesday, December 23rd, 5:30pm & 7pm / Thursday, December 24th, 5:30pm & 7pm).  Our entire Christmas Eve offering will go toward our Annual Christmas Offering.  Feel free to pick up a Christmas Offering Bank to include your whole family!

A quick Staffing update:  We are currently trying to fill 2 Full Time Staff positions – Administrative Assistant & Youth Pastor.  We are taking resumes, scheduling interviews, and going through the hiring process.  In the meantime, I can not say enough about our current staff, our part time staff, and all our volunteers!  You guys ROCK – especially our Student Ministry Volunteers!

Here are 5 things to remember:

  1. The remaining balance for the Youth Winter Retreat (6th-12th Grade) will be due Dec. 13th ($175 total).  The retreat is Jan. 15th-Jan. 18th in Pigeon Forge, TN.  We are also accepting donations for scholarships.
  2. Christmas Offering begins this Sunday, Nov. 22nd – Sunday, Jan. 3rd!  Goal:  $50,000!
  3. Coastal’s 2015 Christmas Eve Services:  4 Services – Wednesday, December 23rd, 5:30pm & 7pm / Thursday, December 24th, 5:30pm & 7pm.  In addition to how you serve already, we need EVERYONE to find a place to serve at our Christmas Even Services.  All hands on deck!
  4. Interested in Leading a LIFE Group for the 2016 Winter/Spring Semester?  Have a new idea for a LIFE Group?  Let us know NOW!  We are in the process of planning the new semester.  Simply respond to this email.
  5. We will have our full & normal Children’s Ministry during each of our 4 Christmas Eve services.  All Children, 2 years – 5th Grade, will have an age appropriate Pizza & Movie Party!  We’re even encouarging all children to wear their Christmas P.J.’s!

Hoping You Have A Wonderful Thanksgiving!

Pastor Chris

P.S.  Janet and I will be heading to Atlanta next week (Tuesday – Friday) to see Janet’s family for Thanksgiving!

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Friday’s Five – 11-13-15

Dear Coastal,

I hope you do your best to come out tonight to our Operation Christmas Child Packing & Wrapping Party!  It will be at the church from 6:30pm-8:30pm.  It really is a great way to usher in the Thanksgiving/Christmas season.  (There will be PIZZA!)

I’m so excited about this year’s Annual Christmas Offering!  Our initial goal is $50,000!  I say “initial” goal because someone has already generously donated a $25,000 matching gift.  In other words, they will match anything we give up to $25,000.  I say we can give that and beyond.

Our Christmas Offering will be used to fund 3 projects:  building/digging a well in Haiti, funding the LOVE CAN Help A Child budget, and renovating our Children’s area/new child check-in in our current facility as we move into our new facility.

To give, all you have to do is designate your gift “Christmas” on your check, offering envelope, card swiping receipt, pay pal, or TEXT (keyword “Christmas”).  You can give your gift beginning next Sunday, Nov. 22nd – Jan. 3rd, at any of our regular Sunday morning services or anytime through TEXTing or PayPal.  You might also consider giving it all at once during one of our 4 Christmas Eve Services (Wednesday, December 23rd, 5:30pm & 7pm / Thursday, December 24th, 5:30pm & 7pm).  Our entire Christmas Eve offering will go toward our Annual Christmas Offering.

Here are 5 things to remember:

  1. Operation Christmas Child Wrapping & Packing Party TONIGHT, 6:30pm-8:30pm.
  2. $75 deposits for the Youth Winter Retreat (6th-12th Grade) are due NOW.  $100 balance due Dec. 13th.  The retreat is Jan. 15th-Jan. 18th in Pigeon Forge, TN.  We are also accepting donations for scholarships.
  3. Christmas Offering begins Sunday, Nov. 22nd – Sunday, Jan. 3rd!  Goal:  $50,000!
  4. Coastal’s 2015 Christmas Eve Services:  4 Services – Wednesday, December 23rd, 5:30pm & 7pm / Thursday, December 24th, 5:30pm & 7pm.
  5. Interested in Leading a LIFE Group for the 2016 Winter/Spring Semester?  Let us know NOW!  We are in the process of planning the new semester.  Simply respond to this email.

Loving Him, You, & What We Get To Do!

Pastor Chris

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Our 4th Annual Christmas Offering

Dear Coastal Family,

I am so excited to share with you our plans for our 4th Annual Christmas Offering!  We have not done a Christmas Offering for the past 2 years, because of our “All In” Giving Campaign, but this is the 4th time our church has collected a special Christmas Offering during the Holidays.  We have the opportunity through this offering to impact our world for Jesus!  Beginning Sunday, November 22nd, through the first Sunday of the New Year, January 3rd (7 weeks), we are encouraging our entire Coastal family to give above and beyond their regular tithes and offering to our special Christmas Offering.

To give, all you have to do is designate your gift “Christmas” on your check, offering envelope, card swiping receipt, pay pal, or TEXT (keyword “Christmas”).  You can give your gift during those 7 weeks (Nov. 22nd – Jan. 3rd) at any of our regular Sunday morning services or anytime through TEXTing or PayPal.  You might also consider giving it all at once during one of our 4 Christmas Eve Services (Wednesday, December 23rd, 5:30pm & 7pm / Thursday, December 24th, 5:30pm & 7pm).  Our entire Christmas Eve offering will go toward our Annual Christmas Offering.

Why a Special Offering?  This Special Offering is a small way for us to grow in our faith and to prepare us for what God wants to do through our church in a bigger way in 2016.  This offering is not because we are behind on budget, but rather it is to position us to make a greater impact in our community and in our church in 2016.  Christmas is all about giving.  Many people, during this time of year, are in fact looking for charitable opportunities to give.

What is our goal and where is the money going?  Our overall goal is $50,000!  Someone has already generously agreed to match whatever we give up to $25,000!  The money is going toward digging a water well in Haiti, funding our budget for LOVE CAN Help A Child, and remodeling our current facility to expand our Children’s Ministry.  We feel like these ministries give our church the greatest opportunity to make the greatest eternal impact in the lives of children and families internationally, locally, and at home.

How much should you give?  Prayerfully consider giving a gift that will stretch your faith and include your whole family.  For some people, coming up with “extra” money is difficult.  We’ve learned that as we give, God provides.  For some people $1000 above your regular giving is a huge sacrifice.  For others, it’s not.  Just like our “All In” Giving Campaign, we can’t all give the same amount, but we can all make the same sacrifice.

Remember, this offering should be over and above what you regularly give.  If you’re not regularly giving, use this time of year to start.  If you’re not tithing (10% of your income), step out in faith and start tithing.  Reaching this goal will be a celebration of what God can do through us as together we stretch our faith.

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Chris Rollins

PS – If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.

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Friday’s Five – 11-6-15

Dear Coastal,

I met so many new people this past Sunday!  Keep up the good work Coastal!  Invest and invite!  Our spread of people over the 3 services has been so much better lately.  Thanks for making room for growth!

Because of our “All In” Giving Campaign, it’s been 2 years since we’ve had our annual Christmas Offering.  Well, this year as “All In” closes out and with the large number of new people at our church, we’ve decided to add our Christmas Offering.  What is a Christmas Offering?  It’s kind of like a “mini giving campaign” – from Thanksgiving until New Years.  Our entire offering during our Christmas Eve services will go the Christmas Offering.  During this time we ask you to give above and beyond your regular giving to help fund several exciting projects.  During our previous Christmas Offerings we’ve funded our Egg Drop, raised money for VBS & Student Ministry, and even remodeled our women’s bathroom and put a new roof on our entire facility.  I can’t wait to share with you this coming week what this year’s Christmas Offering will be used to accomplish!  Look for an email from me early next week!

Here are 5 other things to remember:

  1. While October was Operation Christmas Child month at Coastal, you can still bring large shoeboxes and items to fill the shoeboxes right up until our Packing Party!  Right now we could use small stuffed animals and sports balls (look for deflated soccer balls and small hand pumps).  The Packing Party will be at the church on Friday, November 13th, 6:30pm-8:30pm.
  2. $75 deposits for the Youth Winter Retreat (6th-12th Grade) are due this Sunday, Nov. 8th.  $100 balance due Dec. 13th.  The retreat is Jan. 15th-Jan. 18th in Pigeon Forge, TN.  We are also accepting donations for scholarships.
  3. Interested in formalizing your commitment to Coastal?  Want to officially make Coastal your church family?  Make plans to attend our next Membership Class, this Saturday (tomorrow), November 7th, 9am-Noon.  Childcare and refreshments provided.  Sign up online or on your Connect Card on Sunday.
  4. It’s never too late to start giving toward our new building!  Every gift counts and every gift matters – large or small.  Help us leave a legacy for future generations, continue to grow, and reach people with the Good News!  Simply designate your gift:  building or All In.  Small gifts given consistently, over time make a huge impact!
  5. Every person at Coastal should be able to answer this question, “Where is my ministry at my church?  Where am I volunteering?”  LIFE is found in serving God by serving others.  There is a place for you at Coastal!  Looking for a place to serve?  Respond to this email and we will contact you and help you find your place.  Whether it’s the Cafe, our 1st Impressions Team, our Security Team, or the Nursery – one person, one service, once a month, makes a HUGE impact!  You are needed at Coastal!  Respond to this email and simply say, “Help me find a place to serve.”

All In!  LOVE CAN!  Game On!

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.