I love our volunteers here at Coastal – I do! I truly believe we have some of the best volunteers any church could imagine. I think the reason we have a high number of committed volunteers here at Coastal is two-fold. People will serve when they fall more deeply in love with Jesus. Service is an outflow of a love relationship with Jesus. The key is to grow in your love for Jesus and when you do, you’ll understand who He has made you to be, and then you’ll WANT to serve Him by serving others.
Here’s the other reason I believe we produce a lot of committed volunteers. We consistently teach that the Christian life is fundamentally a life of servanthood. That’s our primary position – servant. Jesus is our Master and we are His servants. Whatever He says goes. In our world where we are the center of the universe and everything revolves around me and my needs, we have to continually remind ourselves that we serve God by serving others, by putting others ahead of ourselves. And even in the modern church where we have created a culture of finding a church that offers the best and the most and “I didn’t get anything out of that service” and “I’m burned out” and “I’m too busy” and “I’ve served my time,” somewhere in all of that, we have forgotten that we are here to glorify God, reach out to people who are far from Him, and to be a servant to all. It’s not about you. It’s about Him.
We talk about life all the time here. We exist to share and experience what? The LIFE and LOVE of Jesus. Jesus came that we might have LIFE and have it more abundantly. Well, Jesus said something very interesting about LIFE in Luke 9:23-25, “Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life. And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose or forfeit your own soul in the process?” Jesus is saying that we find our lives not by focusing on ourselves, but by giving away our lives for the sake of Him.
The month of August, as we move into the Fall, we’re focusing on finding a place to serve in the family here at Coastal on Sunday mornings. It’s real simple. If you call Coastal your home, ask yourself this question – what is my ministry and where am I serving on Sunday mornings? Whether it’s Coastal Kidz, 1st Impressions, our Cafe, the Safety Team, the Tech Booth, the Prayer Team or countless other opportunities, there is a place for you! Go to our website, check out all the different opportunities to serve, and sign up today! Or, this Sunday, make sure you sign up on your Connect Card! I love you Coastal! I love being your Pastor! And I love serving alongside of you!
In His Service & Yours!
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
Clothing Team: Come help sort & organize all the clothes we distribute! TODAY, Friday, August 8th; Monday, August 11th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 2952 Old Pond Road on Johns Island.
2nd Meal: TOMORROW, Saturday, August 9th, 9am-11am. Come serve with us 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, August 9th, 10:30am-1:30pm. Meet at the church and then pick which Tailgate you’d like to serve.
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, August 11th, 1pm-2:30pm. Meet at JFM.
Soldier’s Angels: We’ll be helping with the Veteran’s Mobile Food Distribution, Tuesday, August 12th, 8am-12:30pm. Meet at 1113 Sam Rittenburg Blvd. (The Elks Lodge).
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 Chair Volleyball, a meal, and devotion. Kid Friendly! Tuesday, August 12th, 1:30pm-3:30pm. Meet at: Brighton Place, 1429 Orleans Road.
Charleston Vets 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. Wednesday, August 13th, 6pm-8:30pm. Meet at Coastal.
Food Pantry Sort & Stock: Coastal feeds an enormous amount of people. Come to the church and help keep our Food Pantry organized (and have a lot of fun while you’re at it)! Thursday, August 14th, 11:30am-1pm.
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas: Friday, August 15th, 8:30am-11:30am. Meet at Coastal.
Hollywood Clothing Distribution: We will get the opportunity to take one of our Mobile Outreach Clothing Vehicles out to distribute clothing while loving on those we encounter. Saturday, August 16th, 7am-11am. Meet at We-Fold-It Laundromat, 6310 SC-162 Unit D, Hollywood, SC 29449.
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, August 16th, 7am-11:30am. Meet at We-Fold-It Laundromat, 6310 SC-162 Unit D, Hollywood, SC 29449.
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. - Attention all Life Group Leaders & Assistants – you are required to complete a training session each semester. You only need to attend 1 of the 3 options. You can click the date below to sign up for which one you would like to attend.
– NEW Life Group Leader training on Saturday, August 16th at 9:00-10:30am
– NEW Life Group Leader training on Thursday, August 21st at 6:30-8:00pm
– RETURNING Life Group Leader training ONLINE on Sunday, August 17th at 8:00-9:00pm - Newcomer’s Reception: If you’re fairly new to Coastal, a great next step is our Newcomer’s 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 Newcomer’s Reception is NEXT Sunday, August 17th, in our Chapel immediately following the 11:30am service (at approximately 12:45pm). You can sign up on our website today.
- We are planning our 2nd BEACH BAPTISM of the Summer out at Folly Beach County Park THIS Sunday, August 10th, 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.
- Membership Class: Interested in officially making the Coastal church family, your church family? Our next Membership Class is Saturday, September 20th, 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. Middle School Trampoline Event – TOMORROW, August 9 @Summit | 4–5:30pm This free event is for all CSM Middle Schoolers—and especially rising 6th graders! It’s a great chance for new students to have fun and meet others before the year kicks off. Drop off and pick up is at Summit. We’d love for your student to invite a friend! Click this link to register! Also, don’t forget that Coastal Student Ministry Fall Kickoff will be Sunday, September 7th, 5:30pm-7pm! Don’t miss it!
