Word is getting out about what God is doing here at Coastal! I’ve been down in Florida part of this week for my Pastor’s Coaching Meeting. Two of the Pastors from my Group, one from Austin, TX, and one from Cincinnati, OH, have scheduled trips to Charleston to visit our church in June. They want to experience what we’re doing first hand, ask questions, and see what next steps they might take back to their own church. Sure, there are plenty of much larger churches in their area (even in our area), but sometimes it’s better and more relatable to learn from someone who is maybe only 2 or 3 steps or stages ahead of you, than it is from someone who is 20 steps ahead of you.
And speaking of the “word getting out”, I want to share a story with you that I shared at last Sunday’s VIP Volunteer Meeting about the power of a simple invitation. Evidently, Claire Moody, a member of our Worship Team, had left some “You’re Invited” cards at her workplace break room. Well, it just so happened that one of her co-workers had just been talking with her husband that day about their need to find a church. She shows up in the break room and picks up one of those cards and came to church on Easter Sunday with her family. As they stand for worship, she looks up and sees Claire, her co-worker, on stage, helping to lead worship! SHE HAD NO IDEA! They met up after church and were both in tears of joy! And not only did they attend Easter, but they came back, and they have family moving to the area right around the corner from our church. And one of them wants to get Baptized!! I unknowingly met them the following Sunday after church and asked them how they found our church. The woman smiled and said, “Well, it’s kind of a funny story. . .,” and she proceeded to tell me what I just shared with you!,
Again, the power of a simple invitation! People all around us are searching, and God is preparing the soil of their hearts. He’s simply looking for people to plant seed, people who are prayerful and faithful and will extend a simple invitation. 2 Chronicles 16:9 says, “The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.” Tell Him to search no further! Say, “God use me! My heart is fully committed to You and Your Kingdom! I will keep serving, keep loving, keep giving, and keep inviting!” I love you Coastal! I love being your Pastor! And I love what we get to do TOGETHER!
LIFE & LOVE!
Pastor Chris
If we’re not friends on Facebook or Instagram – give me a follow!
https://www.facebook.com/chris.rollins
On Instagram: jampastorchris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
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 (TODAY), April 28th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.
Downtown Charleston “Hotdog Ministry”: We will be grilling and serving hotdogs to homeless and hungry downtown! Friday (TODAY), April 28th, 4-6pm. Meet at Coastal.
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas – Friday, May 5th, 8:30am-11am. Meet at Coastal.
Clothing Team: Our Coastal Clothing Team will be organizing and sorting clothes, Friday, May 5th, 9:30am-11:30am. 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 Saturday, May 6th. 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, May 9th, 8am-1pm. Meet at 1113 Sam Rittenburg Blvd. (The Elks Lodge).
Charleston Vets Potluck: Wednesday, May 10th, 6-8pm. Sign up online to serve and then an email will be sent to volunteers about signing up to bring food. Meet at Coastal.
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. - On Mother’s Day, May 14th, Coastal will celebrate all the women in our lives with fun giveaways, free Kona Ice for all ages, a family photo station, and baby & child dedication during all 3 services. If you would like your family to participate in the baby/child dedication, sign up on your Connect Card this Sunday OR sign up online. Include the child’s full name and the service you will be attending.
- Coastal Day at the Riverdogs! Join us on Sunday, May 21 at 5pm at Joe Riley Park for the Charleston Riverdogs Baseball Game. Tickets are FREE (our Gift to YOU) and will be distributed digitally (you MUST have an email to receive the tickets). Parking at the stadium is also FREE on that day. Please submit your name, email, and number of tickets on your Connect Card beginning this Sunday OR by simply emailing Pastor Scott at scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.org.
- If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomers Reception. Our next Newcomers Reception is THIS Sunday, April 30th, in our Chapel immediately following the 11:30am service (at approximately 12:45pm). This is a great way to learn more about Coastal, meet staff and key volunteers, as well as meet some other new people. Pizza and childcare provided. You can sign up on our website today or on your Connect Card on Sunday!
- We are planning our Annual BEACH BAPTISM out at Folly Beach County Park on Sunday, June 11th, at 5pm. You can sign up for it on our website. The only requirement for Baptism is that you have personally given your life to Jesus. Baptism is a public profession of your faith, and it’s a great celebration! It beautifully illustrates Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection. If you’re unable to participate in our Beach Baptism, remember at Coastal we’re ready for you to get Baptized any service, any Sunday. If you are interested in getting Baptized, simply respond to this email, sign up on your Connect Card, or sign up on our website.
P.S. One of the ways our church marks the beginning of Summer every year is through something called Summer of IMPACT! If you are fairly new to Coastal, Summer of IMPACT is a month-long effort (the entire month of June) where we as a church saturate our community with the love of Jesus through simple acts of service. It’s basically what we normally do all throughout the year, but MULTIPLIED during the month of June! There is something for everyone. There are opportunities nearly every day of the month. You simply sign-up and then show-up. It’s that easy. Every project has a leader and every project is well-organized.
So here’s what I am asking you to do RIGHT NOW:
Click on this link: https://coastalcommunitychurch.org/missions/
Take a look at all the opportunities. Find the project(s) right for you and then sign up! You can sign up for as many opportunities as you want directly from our website. And by the way, you don’t even have to call Coastal your home to participate! Invite and bring your friends, family, neighbors, and co-workers to serve! If you are looking to make an IMPACT in our community, this is the way to do it!
P.S.S. Mark your calendars now – July 10th-14th, from 6-8:15pm each night, for children 4 years old – 5th Grade! This year’s theme is a Space Theme! You can start registering your children now! You can also start signing up to serve at VBS! Check out the flyer in your bulletin this weekend for more information!
