Wow, wow, wow! What a great start to 2023 as we BAPTIZED 7 PEOPLE during our service last Sunday! It was a powerful and moving celebration! And as I said last Sunday, “7 down, 93 to go!” You see, last year we Baptized 61 people. Well, last week I set a B.H.A.G. (Big Hairy Audacious Goal) of Baptizing 100 people in 2023! We talk a lot about Next Steps at Coastal. As we say, “Everyone has a Next Step to take in their faith.” Maybe your next step is Baptism. We are ready any service, any Sunday. You simply need to let us know. You can do that one of two ways: sign up on your Connect Card any Sunday or sign up on our website.
But what is Baptism and why is it important? Well, first of all, let me simply say this – Jesus did it, He commanded it, and that settles it! Baptism is the outward expression of the inward conversion that God has done in our heart by faith. It is a physical act, a physical ceremony that depicts an awesome spiritual reality. Now, in and of itself, Baptism doesn’t save you. It’s your faith in Christ that does that. And if you haven’t given your life to Christ and you get Baptized, you’re just getting wet. Baptism, you see, is a beautiful picture of that salvation.
Let me illustrate it this way. 35 years ago, Janet and I were married and the two of us exchanged rings as a symbol of the vows we made to each other on our wedding day. So the ring that I wear is very special to me. But listen, that ring is not my marriage. When I come home after work and walk through the door, I don’t expect Janet to kiss my wedding ring! When I’m out of town missing Janet, snuggling up with my wedding ring has never done a thing for me! My ring is not my marriage. In fact, I could take off my wedding ring and I’m still married to Janet. But what would you think about a guy who took off his wedding ring any tme he went out of town or out to dinner? And what do you think God thinks of a Christian who is unwilling to be associated with Him in the most public and simple way? You see, I’m proud of my association with my wife. I’m not going to hide it. I want the world to know. She said yes. I’m hers, she’s mine, and she’s some kind of wonderful. You see, I feel that way about God too.
Sure, you can go to heaven without being Baptized. Don’t believe me? There was a thief on the cross. He died next to Jesus. Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” And guess what? He wasn’t Baptized. So it’s not Baptism that saves you and gets you into heaven. It’s not my wedding ring that makes me married. It’s a symbol of what’s already happened in my life, and I’m proud to tell the world. Baptism is me saying, “I’m unashamed to be connected to You Jesus. I want to be associated with you publically. I want to be known as Yours, and I want the world to know.” That’s the beauty of Baptism. Again, you can go to heaven without being Baptized, but why would you want to? It’s the most beautiful expression of your love, devotion, and obedience to Christ. And maybe, it’s your next step! Like I said, 7 down and 93 to go!
Maybe you’re new to our church and your next step is our Newcomer’s Reception (see below). Maybe you’ve been coming to Coastal for a while and you’re ready to officially make our church family, YOUR church family. Then your next step is our Membership Class (see below). And guess what? Whatever your next step might be, we are honored to walk on this journey with you! I love you Coastal! I love being your Pastor! And I love what we get to do together! This Sunday, we’ll be jumping back into our Romans series – can’t wait to see you!
Walking With You!
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas – TODAY, Friday, January 6th, 8:30am-11am. Meet at Coastal.
Clothing Team: Our Coastal Clothing Team will be organizing and sorting clothes TODAY, Friday, January 6th, 9am-11am. Meet at 2952 Old Pond Road on Johns Island.
Saturday Serve – The foundation of all of our serving opportunities at Coastal really starts with Saturday Serve – the first Saturday of every month. The next Saturday Serve is TOMORROW, Saturday, January 7th. We meet in the Welcome Center/Cafe at 8:30am, project leaders make a “pitch” for their serving opportunity, and then we serve!
Soldier’s Angels: We’ll be helping with the Veteran’s Mobile Food Distribution, Tuesday, January 10th, 8am-1pm. Meet at 1113 Sam Rittenburg Blvd. (The Elks Lodge).
Clothing Team: Our Coastal Clothing Team will be organizing and sorting clothes Friday, January 13th, 9am-11am. Meet at 2952 Old Pond Road on Johns Island.
Lowcountry Orphan Relief : Lowcountry Orphan Relief provides support services and aid to meet the needs of Lowcountry children identified as at-risk or suffering from abandonment, abuse and/or neglect. Coastal will be serving there, Friday, January 13th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.
Double Tailgate Day: Charleston Vets & Joseph Floyd Manor: Saturday, January 14th, 10am-1pm. Meet at the church and then pick which Tailgate you’d like to serve.
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 at 843-870-4613. - If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomers Reception. Our next Newcomers Reception is THIS Sunday, January 8th, in our Chapel immediately following the 11:15am service (at approximately 12:30pm). This is a great way to learn more about Coastal, meet staff and key volunteers, as well as meet some other new people. You can sign up on our website, or sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday.
- Our goal for our 10th Annual Christmas Offering is $125,000! And guess what? We’re almost there!! There are only 2 more weeks to give toward the Christmas Offering – this Sunday and next Sunday, January 15th. We are encouraging our entire Coastal family to give above and beyond their regular tithes and offering to reach this goal. To give, all you have to do is designate your gift “Christmas” on your check, offering envelope, online, or TEXTing (843-571-1777). You can give your gift during these next 2 weeks at any of our regular Sunday morning services, or anytime through TEXTing (text “give” to 843-571-1777), or our website. With this year’s offering we are purchasing a 15 passenger van, sound equipment, golf carts, and buying Christmas gifts for all of the children of the New Life Children’s Home in Peru.
- SPRING LIFE GROUP LEADER TRAINING! Training for new Spring LIFE Group Leaders will be offered in person on Monday, January 23rd, 6:30-8pm or Saturday, January 28th, 9-10:30am. Returning Leader Training will be online on Thursday, January 26th, 8-8:30pm. ALL Leaders need to attend one session. RSVP on your Connect Card. For more details or to answer any of your questions, please reach out to Pastor Scott Huff.
- Interested in officially making the Coastal church family, your church family? Our next Membership Class is Saturday morning, January 21st, 9-11:30am. You can respond to this email, sign up on our website, or sign up on your Connect Card on Sunday. You can join us either in-person or online through Zoom.
P.S. Come help with setting up all the chairs in the auditorium! With 8 to 12 people it takes less than 30 minutes. Typically our LIFE Groups help with Chair Set Up, but in between LIFE Group Semesters, we need help. So, here are the dates and times for the month of January: this Saturday, January 7th at 7:30am (then stay for Saturday Serve); Saturday, January 14th at 9am (then stay for Double Tailgate Day); Saturday, January 21st at 8am; Saturday, January 28th at 8am.
