As I was walking through VBS this week, I found myself smiling over and over again. Everywhere I looked there were children laughing, singing, playing games, making crafts, learning Bible verses, and discovering something even more important – that the God who created this incredible world also created them, knows them, loves them, and wants a relationship with them.
Our theme this year has been “Rainforest Falls – Exploring the Nature of God.” What a beautiful reminder that every waterfall, every towering tree, every colorful bird, and every amazing creature (including Ocelots – didn’t know what that was until this week) points us to an even more amazing Creator. Romans 1 tells us that creation declares His greatness. And all week long, hundreds of children have been discovering who God is through the world He made. What a privilege!
This week has once again reminded me why we do what we do. Every decoration that was hung, every snack that was served, every game that was played, every lesson that was taught, every Bible that was opened, every song that was sung, and every prayer that was prayed was another opportunity to help a child experience the LIFE and LOVE of Jesus.
I’ll update all the final numbers after tonight, but already God has done some incredible things! We have had over 350 children, 200+ volunteers, and countless conversations about Jesus throughout the week. Those numbers matter because every number has a name, every name has a story, and every story matters to God.
I also want to say a heartfelt thank you to every volunteer. I honestly believe we have the greatest volunteers anywhere. You gave up vacation time, worked long hours, sweated through Charleston heat, decorated classrooms, led small groups, checked in families, cleaned up every night, and did it all with joy. Thank you for serving so faithfully. You have made an eternal difference in the lives of these children, and I couldn’t be more grateful or more proud to be your Pastor.
And speaking of making an eternal difference, our children gave hundreds of items of clothes and food, and as of right now (not counting tonight’s offering or anything you’d like to give on Sunday) our VBS offering is right at $6000! If you’d like to give, the easiest way is to text “VBS” to 843-571-1777. Every gift counts, every gift matters! Thank you for your incredible generosity. Every dollar given helps us continue sharing the love of Jesus beyond Charleston and around the world.
Don’t forget that tonight is our VBS Closing Celebration! From 6:00–7:00 PM we’ll enjoy hot dogs, Kona Ice, and inflatables outside (weather permitting), followed by our Closing Program at 7:00 PM inside the Worship Center with music, highlights from the week, and a special slideshow. Whether you had children at VBS or not, I’d love for you to come celebrate what God has done with us.
One final word of appreciation goes to Aly Huggins. This was her second VBS as our Children’s Director, and she has done an outstanding job leading an incredible team. Like every great leader at Coastal, she’ll be the first to tell you this week was made possible by an amazing team of staff and volunteers. But Aly, thank you for your vision, your leadership, your hard work, and your heart for children. We are so thankful for you. I love you, Coastal. I love being your Pastor. And I absolutely love watching the next generation discover just how great our God is.
Much, Much Love!
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
The Boutique Sort & Stock: Come help sort & organize all the clothes we distribute! TODAY, Friday, July 17th; Monday, July 20th, 10:30am-12:30pm. 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! TODAY, Friday, July 17th, 8:30am-11:30am. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
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, July 18th, 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, July 18th, 8am-11am. Meet at We-Fold-It Laundromat, 6310 SC-162 Unit D, Hollywood, SC 29449.
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, July 18th, 7:30am-9am. Meet at: 81 Gadsden St, Chas (Downtown Charleston).
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, July 21st, 12pm-3pm.
Brighton Place Grocery Distribution Set-Up: Come unload, sort, and stage supplies for our distribution the following day! Wednesday, July 22nd, 9:30am-12noon; Thursday, July 23rd,10am-12noon. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
The Market Sort & Stock at The Outpost: Coastal feeds an enormous amount of people. Come to the Outpost (1050 St. Andrews Blvd.) and help keep our Food Pantry organized (and have a lot of fun while you’re at it)! Wednesday, July 22nd, 10am-12noon.
Brighton Place Tailgate: We will be putting on a Tailgate for the Brighton Place community (here in West Ashley – near Citadel Mall) on Wednesday, July 22nd, 6-8:30pm. Meet at Coastal.
Brighton Place Grocery Distribution: Come help distribute food to the wonderful residents of Brighton Place! Thursday, July 23rd,10am-12noon. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
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, July 23rd, 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, July 24th, 4pm-6:30pm. 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. - We’re looking for LIFE Group Leaders for this Fall! If you’ve ever led a Coastal LIFE Group in the past, WE NEED YOU TO LEAD ONE THIS FALL! If you’ve ever BEEN IN a Coastal LIFE Group before, and have ever considered leading one, this Fall is the time to do it. Why is this the time to lead a LIFE Group? Because all of our LIFE Groups will be studying the same material based on simply watching and/or listening to the Sunday morning message. We’ll provide all the discussion questions and leader materials necessary for facilitating the Group. In other words, people will be signing up for a Group based primarily on relationships, time and location, and not the different studies.
If you’ve led a Coastal Group before, go to this link and sign up to lead one today! We need to have the information about all of our Groups turned in by July 26th, so we can put together and print our LIFE Group Catalog. You can also sign up on your Connect Card this Sunday. Contact Pastor Scott Huff if you have any questions. - If Coastal is your church home, I want to encourage you to sign up for one of our twelve THRIVE Information Meetings. I personally will be leading each of these meetings. This will be your opportunity to hear the vision behind the church-wide Spiritual Growth & Giving Campaign called, “THRIVE – Expanding Our Reach & Deepening Our Roots,” ask questions, and see how God is leading us into our next chapter together. Yes, it’s your chance to see exactly what we’re going to build and how we’re going to do it, but it’s more than that. It’s really a “family meeting.” You can sign up on Sunday on a special Thrive Card in your bulletin or you can sign up now online. You only have to sign up ONE time and ONE way and attend ONE meeting, but we ARE asking everyone who calls Coastal home to attend. Childcare and refreshments (or pizza) are provided at almost all the meetings.
- We are planning our 2nd BEACH BAPTISM of the Summer out at Folly Beach County Park on Sunday, August 9th, 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.
- This Sunday, July 19th, Pastor Chris will be kicking off another favorite Summer Sermon Series tradition here at Coastal – “Summer Reading”! “Summer Reading” is where we pick a group of books (see book list and schedule above) for you to read over the Summer, and then the subject matter of each of those books becomes the sermon topic for that particular Sunday. We’re not preaching from the books themselves. If anything, during this series you will find yourself compelled to go to Scripture as we point people to the truth of His Word and a deeper relationship with God. We hope you’ll pick up one or two or all of the books and read them over the Summer. After all. . . leaders are what? Readers!
P.S. Membership Class: Interested in officially making the Coastal church family, your church family? Our next Membership Class is Saturday, July 25th, 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!
