Wow – what an awesome day Sunday was! We baptized another 41 peopleout at Folly Beach! That means that we have now baptized 139 people so far this year! I say “so far” because it’s only August, and I firmly believe that God isn’t done! God is using our church in a powerful way!
Coastal, I’ll just say it, what we are experiencing isn’t normal for most churches. But I don’t want normal and I don’t want to settle for what most churches are doing! Someone once told me, “If you want your church to grow, just look around at what most churches are doing and do the opposite.” Because most churches aren’t growing. Do you know what I want? I want Acts 2:47 to become the new normal, “And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” I want to walk in Holy Spirit power, by faith in the resurrected Savior, and trust in the Sovereign Holy God! I want to attempt things so big, that without God, we’re doomed to fail! Simply put, I want all God has to offer and I want to share the good news of the Gospel with as many people as possible until He calls me home or comes again! That’s what I want – what about you?
Do you know what’s also normal at most churches? 20% of the people, do 80% of the work. Read that again. 20% of the people, do 80% of the work. That’s normal and that’s why most churches aren’t growing. For the month of August, there has been a real emphasis on finding a place to serve in the family here at Coastal on Sunday mornings. In fact, we’ve said, if you call Coastal your home, you should be able to answer this question, “What is my ministry and where am I serving on Sunday mornings?”
So how about it? What about YOU? What’s your ministry and where are you serving on Sunday mornings? Just one person, one service, once a month, makes a huge IMPACT. Church isn’t a show you watch or an event you attend. Church is a family. And for our family to grow and function in a healthy way, it takes everyone pitching in, pulling together, and doing their part. So whether it’s Coastal Kidz, Prayer Team, Security, Tech, Worship, First Impressions, Cafe, or Online Engagement (whew!) – you should be serving! But you should be serving not just because there is a need (there is always a need). You should be serving because this is your FAMILY! Sign up today online or this Sunday on your Connect Card! I love you Coastal! I love being your Pastor! And I love serving alongside of you!
Never Normal!
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
Coffee & Doughnuts with the Vets at Patriot Villas: TODAY, Friday, August 16th, 8:30am-11:30am. Meet at Coastal.
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 Coastal on Tuesday, August 20th, 12pm-3pm.
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, August 21st, 8:30am-12pm. 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 22nd, 11:30am-1pm.
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, August 23rd, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at 1850 Truxton Ave in North Charleston.
Downtown Charleston “Hotdog Ministry”: We will be grilling and serving hotdogs to the homeless and hungry downtown! Friday, August 23rd, 4-6:30pm. 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. - Mark your calendar for our next Coastal Night of Worship – Wednesday night, September 4th, 6:30-8pm! Invite your friends and family to join us for a night of prayer, worship, and encouragement. RSVP now for childcare (birth-kindergarten) on your Connect Card.
- Coastal is looking to hire an Administrative Assistant. This would be a part time, hourly position – approximately 31 hours a week, Monday-Thursday, 9am-4pm, Sundays 10am-1pm. This person would work closely with Rachel Speer, supporting our Pastors and Staff, and managing our office reception area. If you are interested, please submit a resume to info@coastalcommunitychurch.org.
- LIFE Groups are just around the corner! It’s going to be an exciting semester! Remember, the whole church is going to be studying the same thing – The Sermon on the Mount! Because of that, the LIFE Group Catalog will be a little different. We’ll still have our many Support Groups and Activity Groups, but since our “regular” LIFE Groups will all be studying the same thing, you’re really just picking the time and location. But the Catalog with all the information will be available on Sunday, August 25th. LIFE Group Sunday with all the Tables, Leaders, and great snacks throughout the building will be Sunday, September 8th. LIFE Groups will begin the week of September 15th! I hope you’re as excited as I am!
For All LIFE Group Leaders & Assistants: We have 3 Trainings (you only have to come to one):
– NEW leader training in-person on Monday, August 19 at 630-8pm
https://www.churchteams.com/m/Register.asp?a=VWRSb3RORnJFbTA9
– NEW leader training in-person on Saturday, August 24 at 9-1030am
https://www.churchteams.com/m/Register.asp?a=V2l2NEJSQnBkSDA9
– RETURNING leader training ONLINE on Thursday, August 22 at 8-9pm
https://www.churchteams.com/m/Register.asp?a=cko4YXUvd3luMGM9
If you have any questions, please reach out to Pastor Scott Huff at scotth@coastalcommunitychurch.org. - On Sunday, August 25th, 5:30-7PM, CSM is kicking off our Fall Semester programming! We are so excited to invest in your Student (6th-12th Grade), and we have a fun night planned. There’s going to be food, games, bubble soccer, smores and an open gym! The goal of our kickoff is for Students to reconnect with each other and their leaders, while having a ton of fun at the same time. If you have a 6th-12th Grade Student, this is a great night to introduce them to CSM! As a parent or guardian, please plan to come inside when you drop off your Student so that we can update your information in our system. We look forward to serving you and your family in this season!
P.S. Interested in officially making the Coastal church family, your church family? Our next Membership Class is Monday, August 26th, from 6-9pm, 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) on Sunday. Dinner & childcare provided!
