This past Sunday, I stood on the beach and watched 92 people publicly declare their faith in Jesus through baptism. Ninety-two. As I looked up and down the shoreline, I couldn’t help but think, “This is why we do what we do!” Every baptism represents a changed life, a changed family, and a changed future. And it’s just one more reminder that God is moving in and through our church in amazing ways.
If you’ve been around Coastal for any length of time, you’ve seen it. You’ve felt it. You’ve been a part of it. God is growing something special here. Healthy things grow. They THRIVE. That’s why, this Fall, we will begin a church-wide Spiritual Growth/Giving Campaign called, “Thrive: Expanding Our Reach, Deepening Our Roots.” You’ll be hearing much more about it in the weeks ahead. Toward the end of the summer every individual and family will receive a Thrive Campaign Magazine that explains the vision, the process, what we’re building, how much it will cost, and how each of us can participate.
Take a look at the Thrive Campaign Logo above. Notice the oak tree. That’s intentional. Majestic oak trees define the landscape of the Charleston Lowcountry. We have a large beautiful one right here on our campus. For years it has stood as a reminder of strength, stability, and growth. Oak trees don’t become mighty overnight. Their roots run deep. And because they are deeply rooted, their branches can spread wide, providing shelter, beauty, and life for generations.
That’s the picture behind Thrive. We believe God is calling Coastal to deepen our roots in Christ, in prayer, in generosity, and in our commitment to His mission right here in our community. At the same time, He is calling us to expand our reach—to create more opportunities for more people to share and experience the LIFE and LOVE of Jesus in Charleston and around the world. The oak tree also reminds us that what we’re doing isn’t just for ourselves. Many of us enjoy the shade of trees we didn’t plant. The sacrifices, prayers, generosity, and faith of those who came before us helped create the church we enjoy today.
Well, now it’s our turn, our opportunity, our privilege, to plant seeds that will bless future generations. And that’s really what Thrive is all about.
Yes, we’re talking about a new worship center, more classrooms, and additional space. But that’s not ultimately what we’re building. Buildings are simply tools. We’re creating space for future baptisms, future salvations, future marriages restored, future children discipled, future missionaries sent, future families strengthened, future generations reached with the good news of the Gospel. In many ways, we’re planting seeds whose full harvest many of us may never completely see. But that’s how the Kingdom of God works. One generation plants. Another generation harvests. And all of it brings glory to God.
One of the ways we’ll celebrate the Thrive journey is by giving every family a small plant to nurture and watch grow throughout the campaign. It’s a simple reminder that healthy things grow when they’re cared for, rooted, and given room to flourish. My prayer is that every time you water that plant, you’ll remember what God wants to do in us. Because nobody looks at a seed and sees an oak tree. But God does. He sees what can happen when His people trust Him, obey Him, and take a step of faith together.
What makes Thrive different is that it’s not simply a building or giving campaign. It’s a spiritual growth journey for our entire church family. Beginning the week of September 13th, our Sunday morning messages and all of our LIFE Groups will move through the same Thrive study together. Every group, every ministry, and every generation will be focused on the same Biblical truths and spiritual challenges. Then, from September 28th through November 6th, we’ll participate in a 40-Day Fast and Devotional Journey, culminating in a 24-Hour Prayer Vigil on November 5th–6th and Commitment Sunday on November 8th.
Yes, part of this journey includes taking the next step as a church by building a new worship center and expanding our Coastal Kidz space so we can continue reaching more people for Jesus. But the real goal is much deeper than that. We want to deepen our roots in Christ. We want to grow in faith.
We want to become more generous, more prayerful, more united, and more dependent on God. In short, we want to THRIVE. For now, I’m simply asking you to begin praying. Pray for our church. Pray for our leadership. Pray for the people God will reach in the years ahead because of the steps of faith we take today. And pray that God would prepare all of our hearts for what He wants to do—not just through us, but in us. I truly believe God has positioned Coastal for such a time as this. Hold on to your fork, the best is yet to come! I love you Coastal! I love being your Pastor! And I love watching God deepen our roots and expand our reach together!
Thriving With You!
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING SUMMER OF IMPACT OUTREACH PROJECTS:
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! In fact, there are over 70 projects this year and there is something for everyone. You simply sign-up and then show-up. It’s that easy. Every project has a leader and every project is well-organized. Check out all the projects next week listed above! All the projects are loaded on our website and you can start signing up TODAY!
Clothing Ministry Sort & Stock: Come help sort & organize all the clothes we distribute! TODAY, Friday, June 12th; Monday, June 15th; Friday, June 19th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
2nd Saturday Meal: TOMORROW, Saturday, June 13th, 9am-11am. Come serve with us at the church as we prepare a hot meal in the Coastal kitchen and then deliver those meals to one of our awesome ministry partners – organizations like Charleston Vets, S.C. Strong, Brighton Place, Joseph Floyd Manor and more!
Double Tailgate Day – Meeting Street & Joseph Floyd Manor: TOMORROW, Saturday, June 13th, 10:30am-1:30pm. Meet at The Outpost and then pick which Tailgate you’d like to serve. 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
Blessing Box Repair & Refill: TOMORROW, Saturday, June 13th, 2pm-4:30pm. As a church, through the generosity of our members, we built 7 Blessing Boxes a few years ago and maintain another 12! This summer, we are looking to repair, repaint and restock these boxes. If you are looking for a handy-person project, this is a great one for you! Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
First Responders Appreciation: As a way of saying thanks to our community’s first responders, we’ll open our doors to provide a continental styled breakfast to area firefighters, police officers, EMTs and more. They will be able to come, relax, enjoy fellowship, and some great food while we thank them for their hard work in keeping our community safe. The event is family friendly and is a great opportunity to showcase our church to those who serve our city. Monday, June 15th, 9am-11am at Coastal.
JFM Fellowship Activity & Devotion: A fun project for kids! We’ll serve at Joseph Floyd Manor (JFM), a public housing facility in Downtown Charleston, playing BINGO with the residents. Monday, June 15th, 2pm-3:30pm. Meet at JFM.
Hope Center Tailgate: The Hope Center, managed by the city of Charleston, serves as a one-stop shop in downtown Charleston to assist those who are homeless or who are at-risk of being homeless. We’re sending a Tailgate Team to serve dinner to anyone who is hungry. We meet at The Outpost on Tuesday, June 16th, 12pm-3pm.
Patriot Villas Veterans Game Night: Our church enjoys a remarkable relationship with the veterans at Patriot Villas – a facility where we have been serving for years. We will be sending a team out to have a game night. This evening will be designed to fellowship & love on these amazing veterans. Come out, bring your family, and let’s play a game! Tuesday, June 16th, 6-8pm. Meet at PV.
VA Hospitality Project: This team serves at the VA Hospital in Charleston by providing a hospitality cart, greeting incoming patients and employees, visiting patients, and helping Volunteer Services with small sorting projects. Wednesday, June 17th, 8:30am-11:30am. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
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, June 17th, 10am-12noon. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
Kid Friendly 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, June 17th, 5pm-8pm.
Patriot Villas Veterans Tailgate: We will be putting on a Tailgate for the Veterans at Patriot Villas on Wednesday, June 17th, 6-8:30pm. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
Sleep In Heavenly Peace Bed Delivery Project: This team from Coastal will help to deliver beds, alongside brand-new linens, to well deserving but underserved children all over Charleston. There will be some light lifting and assembly required but will be heavy on both love and encouragement. We’ll bring comfort, love, and encouragement to the families we serve. Meet at Coastal on Wednesday, June 17th, 6pm-8:30pm.
Serving in the Boutique at The Outpost: Coastal clothes an enormous amount of people. This team receives, inspects, sorts, and prepares thousands of items of donated clothing every single month to ensure our outreach teams are ready to assist those in need in our community. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd., Thursday, June 18th, 11am-1:30pm.
Serving in the Market at The Outpost: Coastal feeds an enormous amount of people. Come to The Outpost and help keep the Market stocked and organized (and have a lot of fun while you’re at it)! Thursday, June 18th, 11:30am-1pm. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
Serve at Lowcountry Food Bank: Come spend a couple of hours with us as we serve in the LCFB warehouse! Thursday, June 18th, 1pm-3pm. Meet at: Lowcountry Food Bank, 2864 Azalea Dr, North Charleston, SC 29405.
Joseph Floyd Manor Grocery Distribution: Come help residents of JFM meet their food needs! We will unload, set up, and distribute food to all the residents at JFM. Thursday, June 18th, 5pm-7:30pm. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
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! Friday, June 19th, 8:30am-11:30am. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
NHC Fellowship & Hospitality Project: Those in skilled-nursing centers are arguably some of the most neglected people in our society. The hope of this project is to send a reminder to the residents of the facility, in which we are serving, that they are not alone. This kid-friendly project will consist of loving on the staff and residents through words of encouragement, quality time and snacks and more! Friday, June 19th, 10am-12noon. Meet at: NHC Skilled Nursing Facility, 2230 Ashley Crossing Dr, Charleston, SC 29414.
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+. Saturday, June 20th, 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! Saturday, June 20th, 7:30am-10:30am. 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 food distribution for the elderly out 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!! Saturday, June 20th, 8am-11am. Meet at We-Fold-It Laundromat, 6310 SC-162 Unit D, Hollywood, SC 29449.
Ronald McDonald House Grab & Go Meal Kit Packing Party: Our team will assist the Ronald McDonald House in its mission by packing “Grab & Go” Meal Kits for families staying at the house. This kid-friendly effort will help provide families with something to eat while supporting their loved ones during longer stays in the hospital. Saturday, June 20th, 9am-11am. 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. - Mark your calendars now – Coastal’s VBS is July 13th-17th, 6-8:15pm for children 4 years old – 5th Grade. This year’s theme is, “Rainforest Falls – Exploring the Nature of God!” Registration for Volunteers and children is open! Go to our website and register today!
- Newcomer’s Reception: If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomers Reception. 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. Our next Newcomers Reception is this Sunday, June 14th, in our Chapel immediately following the 11:30am service (at approximately 12:45pm). You can sign up on our website today.
- Calling All Artists! As we prepare for our 2026 Church-Wide Spiritual Growth/Giving Campaign, we are looking for Artists from within our congregation to submit pages for the Coastal Coloring Book! All submissions will need to be turned no later than June 30.
- Don’t forget that as we continue our current sermon series, “AT THE MOVIES” that ALL 1st Time Guests (and the person who invited them – YOU) will receive a FREE Movie Ticket to Citadel Mall Theater! Make sure you pick up the microwave popcorn invite tool this weekend to invite your friends to the series. We’ll also be taking the kids (and anyone who wants to come) to a FREE movie (Toy Story 5) on Tuesday, June 23rd at 10am at Citadel Mall Theater (doors open at 9:30am)!
P.S. We are in the planning stages for our THRIVE CAMPAIGN FALL LIFE GROUPS! This is the easiest time to lead a Group. All of our Groups will be studying the same material based off of our sermons. We provide the material, you facilitate the Group. LIFE Groups are the primary vehicle at Coastal for community – learning, friendships, fellowship, and care. Would you possibly be interested in leading, assisting, or hosting a LIFE Group this Fall? The Fall Semester begins in September and lasts 10 weeks. Sign up on your Connect Card or contact Pastor Scott Huff if you are interested in leading a Group.
P.S.S. Father’s Day is Sunday, June 21st! As always, it’s going to be a great celebration at Coastal with a gift for all the men, grilled WINGS outside under a tent, fun giveaways at the end of each of our services, FREE Kona Ice for everyone, a Family Photo Booth, 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 weekend or right now online. Include your child’s full name and the service you will be attending. Baby/Child Dedication is a special time for parents to commit their children to the Lord and to renew their commitment as parents to raise their children in a Christ centered home.
