What miracle do you need God to do in your life right now? Maybe it’s in your marriage. Maybe it’s with one of your children. Maybe it’s your finances, your health, your future, or a relationship that seems beyond repair. Maybe there’s an area of your life where you’ve done everything you know to do, and you’ve simply run out of answers.
Throughout Scripture, there are moments when God’s people find themselves facing something they cannot possibly accomplish on their own. One of my favorites happens in Joshua 3. The Israelites had finally arrived at the Jordan River. The Promised Land was on the other side, but there was a problem: the river was at flood stage. There was no bridge. No boat. No human solution. And before God did anything miraculous, Joshua gave the people an interesting instruction, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.” (Joshua 3:5)
In other words, get ready. God is about to do something. I love that. God was going to perform the miracle, but the people had a part to play in preparing for it. And then came the step of faith. The priests carrying the Ark had to actually step into the water before the river stopped flowing. God could have stopped the river first. He could have let them see dry ground before asking them to move. But He didn’t. They had to trust Him enough to take the next step before they could see what God was going to do.
I wonder how often we’re waiting for God to show us the miracle while God is waiting for us to take the next step of faith. That’s especially meaningful to me as we walk through Thrive together. We are asking God to do something much bigger than any one of us could accomplish on our own. But Thrive isn’t only about what God wants to do through our church. I believe He also wants to do something in us.
So let me ask you again: What miracle are you asking God for? And maybe an even better question is: How are you preparing for it? This Sunday, we’re going to look at one of the greatest miracles Jesus ever performed and discover four simple principles for how we can “Prepare for a Miracle.” Between now and then, pray. Come expectant. Bring your Bible. Bring someone with you. And maybe come asking God one simple question: “Lord, what step of faith are You asking me to take?” I can’t wait for Sunday. Healthy things grow. Healthy things THRIVE. I love you Coastal! I love being your Pastor! And I can’t wait to see the miracle God does in and through our church!
Thriving Together!
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas: Join the team as we travel over to Patriot Villas, a veterans housing facility in North Charleston, to provide encouragement in the form of a fresh hot cup of Coastal coffee, a Krispy Kreme donut and community. We’ll spend the morning serving the veterans, fellowshipping, building relationships and thanking them for their service! TODAY, Friday, September 18th, 8:30am-11:30am. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
The Boutique Sort & Stock: Come help sort & organize all the clothes we distribute! TODAY, Friday, September 18th; Monday, September 21st, 10:30am-12:30pm. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
Ronald McDonald House Meals that Heal – Breakfast: Ronald McDonald House provides a “Home-away-from-home” where families stay while their children undergo extensive medical treatment. The Meals that Heal program provides a much-needed support service to families taking care of their sick children, who often don’t have the time, funds, or energy to prepare a healthy, home-cooked meal. Ages 16+. TOMORROW, Saturday, September 19th, 7:30am-9am. Meet at: 81 Gadsden St, Chas (Downtown Charleston).
Hollywood Free Laundry: Partnering alongside the owners of We-Fold-It, we are able to serve the community of Hollywood by getting to pay for their laundry! We will host a table with snacks, coffee and water for those who are waiting on their laundry, help people bring their laundry in and out of the facility, fold their laundry and use iPads to start the machines so that those we serve never have to open their wallets! TOMORROW, Saturday, September 19th, 8am-11am. Meet at We-Fold-It Laundromat, 6310 SC-162 Unit D, Hollywood, SC 29449.
Hollywood Clothing Distribution: The third Saturday of each month, there is a clothing distribution for the those in need in Hollywood. We will get the opportunity to take one of our Mobile Outreach Clothing Vehicles out to distribute clothing while loving on those we encounter. This is an amazing project to join and get a glimpse of what our Clothing Ministry here at Coastal does!! TOMORROW, Saturday, September 19th, 8am-11am. Meet at We-Fold-It Laundromat, 6310 SC-162 Unit D, Hollywood, SC 29449.
Brighton Place Fellowship Activity & Devotion: This project will allow us to spend some time with the residents and get to know them better through a lively game of Bingo and devotion. Kid Friendly! Tuesday, September 22nd, 1:30pm-3pm. Meet at: Brighton Place, 1429 Orleans Road.
The Market Organize & Prep: Come to The Outpost and help keep the Market stocked and organized (and have a lot of fun while you’re at it)! Wednesday, September 23rd, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
Brighton Place Grocery Distribution Set-Up: Come unload, sort, and stage supplies for our distribution the following day! Wednesday, September 9th, 9:30am-12noon. Meet at: Brighton Place, 1429 Orleans Road.
Sweat & Serve: Come help unload the Coastal Box Truck filled with our weekly food pickup! Heavy lifting required (40+lbs). Wednesday, September 23rd, 9:30am-12noon. Meet at Brighton Place, 1429 Orleans Road.
Brighton Place Tailgate: Come help put on a Tailgate for the wonderful residents of Brighton Place! Wednesday, September 23rd, 6pm-8:30pm. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
Sewing Project: Sewing experience not required! Come and acquire a new skill while helping others in the community. This team of volunteers will work on zippered pouches, lap quilts, and blankets. Meet at Coastal on Wednesday, September 16th, 5pm-8pm.
Brighton Place Grocery Distribution: Come help distribute food to the wonderful residents of Brighton Place! Thursday, September 24th,10am-12noon. Meet at: Brighton Place, 1429 Orleans Road.
Serving in the Market & the Boutique at The Outpost: Coastal feeds and clothes an enormous amount of people. Come to The Outpost and help serve our community (and have a lot of fun while you’re at it)! Thursday, September 24th, 11am-1:30pm. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
Downtown Charleston “Hotdog Ministry”: We will be grilling and serving hotdogs to the homeless and hungry downtown! Friday, September 25th, 4pm-6:30pm. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
As always, if you are interested in serving in any of these projects, you can sign up on your Connect Card this Sunday or sign up now on our website. If you have any questions, please reach out to Pastor Chris Jones. - During the remainder of our Thrive Campaign, we’ll use this place to update/remind everyone about all things Thrive:
First of all, we just added a THRIVE page to our website! Much of what you see below (Devotional, Campaign Info Meeting) can be found there.
As part of our THRIVE Series, we are asking our entire church to participate in a 40 Day Fast. Beginning NEXT Week, Monday, September 28th, choose something to deny yourself physically as we use these 40 days to draw closer to God and THRIVE in our faith.
So, have you signed up for a THRIVE LIFE Group yet? While Groups have just gotten started and some are full, it’s still not too late to join one. Our 2026 Fall Semester LIFE Group Catalog is available online. So, go to our website right now, check out all the different Groups and sign up today.
Our Thrive Daily Devotional began this past Monday. Although most people did pick up a copy of the Devotional, we ran out of the physical copies on Sunday. We have ordered more that should arrive next week, but, in the meantime, if you would like to follow along you can do so HERE with a digital download of the devotional.
If for some reason you were unable to make it to one of our THRIVE Campaign Info Meetings, led by Pastor Chris – no worries! We’ve got good news – we recorded it for you! 👉 WATCH THE THRIVE CAMPAIGN INFO MEETING HERE! Grab a cup of coffee, sit down together as a family, and hear the heart, vision, and details behind Thrive. - On Saturday, October 17, CSM is hosting a CSM Serve Day! Coastal is passionate about being the hands and feet of Jesus, and our Student Ministry wants to take that calling seriously. We’re planning a full day of serving opportunities, teaching, worship, and fun! We want students to see that they don’t have to wait until they’re older to be a part of what God is doing at Coastal—they can make a difference right now!
We’re also inviting parents and guardians to join us for the day. We’ll start early Saturday morning, serve together, gather for a time of worship and teaching around midday, serve again in the afternoon, and then wrap up the day with some fun! We will provide food and the event is completely free! Sign up everyone who plans to attend by clicking this link! - Interested in going public with your faith through Baptism? Sign up on your Connect Card or on our website to be baptized any Sunday or at our next Beach Baptism (“Polar Plunge”) on Folly Beach on Saturday, November 21st at 10am.
- Membership Class: Interested in officially making the Coastal church family, your church family? Our next Membership Class is Saturday, September 26th, from 9am-12noon, in the Chapel. You can respond to this email, sign up on our website, or sign up on your Connect Card (let us know if you need childcare). Breakfast & childcare provided!
P.S. New to Coastal? Join us in the Coastal Chapel on Sunday, October 11th immediately following the 11:30am service for our next Newcomer’s Reception. Learn more about Coastal, meet staff and key volunteers, and get plugged in. Lunch & childcare are provided. RSVP online or on your Connect Card.
