Wow! What an AMAZING Sunday at Coastal this past week! It was LIFE Group Sunday, and once again, you guys absolutely knocked it out of the park! We had 1,561 people in person and another 1,013 online! The excitement, energy, and enthusiasm in the Welcome Center were incredible. I can’t thank all of our LIFE Group Leaders enough for the hard work, creativity, and heart you put into making Sunday so special. And are you ready for this? So far, we’ve had almost 1,100 LIFE Group signups! That’s AWESOME!
Why does that matter so much? Because I’ve said it over and over again: healthy things grow. Healthy things THRIVE! And one of the ways we grow spiritually is by getting connected with other people who are growing too. Some of our LIFE Groups are already full, but many still have room. So if you haven’t signed up yet, go to our website, check out the catalog, and find your Group today! Unless otherwise noted in the catalog, LIFE Groups begin the week of September 13th.
And speaking of September 13th, GET READY – IT’S GOING TO BE A BIG DAY! On Sunday, September 13th, we officially kick off “THRIVE: Expanding Our Reach, Deepening Our Roots.” We’ve been talking about it. We’ve been praying about it. We’ve been preparing for it. And now it’s time to THRIVE!
Over the last 14 days, I personally completed 12 THRIVE Campaign Info Meetings, and 669 people attended! Let me just tell you, the excitement and enthusiasm have been incredible! I loved getting to share the vision, answer questions, hear your stories, and talk together about what God has done through Coastal and where we believe He is leading us next. And I want to make sure you hear this: we want EVERYONE who calls Coastal home to be a part of this journey. If you weren’t able to attend one of the meetings, don’t worry. We’re working on scheduling a live “make-up” meeting, and we’ll also provide a link to the recorded presentation so you can watch it on your own time.
But September 13th isn’t simply the beginning of a new sermon series. It’s the beginning of a journey we’re going to take TOGETHER. That week, our LIFE Groups will begin walking through THRIVE together. And this Sunday, you’ll be able to pick up your very own copy of our THRIVE Daily Devotional Guide. The daily devotionals begin Monday, September 14th, immediately following our series kickoff.
And then, on Monday, September 28th, we’ll begin our 40 Day Fast together as a church. I want to encourage you to start thinking and praying about that NOW. Fasting is simply choosing to deny ourselves something physically so that we can focus more intentionally on growing spiritually. It’s saying, “God, I want You more than I want this.” For some of you, that might mean fasting from a meal each day, sweets, soft drinks, coffee, or a particular kind of food. For others, it might mean stepping away from social media, television, streaming, video games, or something else that consumes a lot of your time and attention.
The specific thing you give up isn’t nearly as important as what you do with the space it creates. When you feel the hunger… PRAY. When you instinctively reach for your phone… PRAY. When you would normally spend that time watching television or scrolling… open your THRIVE Daily Devotional, read God’s Word, and PRAY. Don’t just give something up. Replace it with something that draws you closer to Jesus. So start asking God now: “What could I deny myself physically for 40 days so that I can grow spiritually?”
Imagine what could happen if hundreds and hundreds of us spent 40 days intentionally seeking God together! Think about that for a moment. We’ll worship together. We’ll hear God’s Word together. We’ll pray together. We’ll fast together. We’ll meet in LIFE Groups together. And we’ll ask God to grow us and stretch us together. Because THRIVE isn’t ultimately about a building. It’s about becoming the people God has called us to be. Yes, we’re dreaming about making room for more people. Yes, we’re dreaming about a new Worship Center, more room for Coastal Kidz, more space for people to connect, and even greater opportunities to serve our community.
But buildings are simply tools. PEOPLE are the purpose. It’s about ONE MORE person meeting Jesus. ONE MORE family finding a church home. ONE MORE child discovering that God loves them. ONE MORE student finding Christian community. ONE MORE person getting connected in a LIFE Group. ONE MORE person discovering their purpose and using their gifts to serve others. And I believe with all my heart that God is preparing Coastal for what comes next.
So, Coastal, HERE WE GO! Pick up your THRIVE Daily Devotional this Sunday. Get signed up for a LIFE Group. Start praying about your 40 Day Fast. If you missed a THRIVE Info Meeting, watch for information about the make-up meeting and recording. And most importantly, begin praying: “God, what do You want to do IN me during this THRIVE season, and what do You want to do THROUGH me?” Because healthy things grow. Healthy things THRIVE! I love you Coastal! I love being your Pastor! And I can’t wait to see what God does as we take this journey together!
Thriving Together!
Pastor Chris
- UPCOMING OUTREACH PROJECTS:
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, September 4th, 8:30am-11:30am. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
The Boutique Sort & Stock: Come help sort & organize all the clothes we distribute! TODAY, Friday, September 4th, 10:30am-12:30pm. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
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 TOMORROW, Saturday, September 5th. We meet in the Auditorium at 8:30am, Project Leaders make a “pitch” for their serving opportunity, and then we go out and serve!
Soldier’s Angels: We’ll be helping with the Veteran’s Mobile Food Distribution, Tuesday, September 8th, 8am-12pm. 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 Bingo and devotion. Kid Friendly! Tuesday, September 8th, 1:30pm-3pm. Meet at: Brighton Place, 1429 Orleans Road.
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, September 9th, 9:30am-11:30am. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
Brighton Place Grocery Distribution Set-Up: Come unload, sort, and stage supplies for our distribution the following day! Wednesday, September 9th, 9:30am-12noon. Meet at: Brighton Place, 1429 Orleans Road.
Charleston Vets Fellowship: Charleston Vets is home to 35 struggling, local veterans who have sacrificed so much in service to our nation. Join us as we head out to connect with these veterans, share an evening meal, laugh alongside them, play some lively rounds of Bingo and share a devotion to help them grow closer to the Lord! Wednesday, September 9th, 5:30pm-8pm. Meet at The Outpost – 1050 St. Andrews Blvd.
Brighton Place Grocery Distribution: Come help distribute food to the wonderful residents of Brighton Place! Thursday, September 10th,10am-12noon. Meet at: Brighton Place, 1429 Orleans Road.
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, September 10th, 11am-1:30pm. 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, September 11th, 10am-12noon. Meet at: NHC Skilled Nursing Facility, 2230 Ashley Crossing Dr, Charleston, SC 29414.
2nd Saturday Meal: Saturday, September 12th, 9am-12noon. 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: Saturday, September 12th, 10:30am-1:30pm. Meet at The Outpost and then pick which Tailgate you’d like to serve. 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. - So, have you signed up for a LIFE Group yet? Our 2026 Fall Semester LIFE Group Catalog is available. And just like college, your preferred classes (LIFE Groups) are filling up fast! So, go to our website right now, check out all the different Groups and sign up today. Most of our Groups start the week of September 13th.
- Don’t miss Saturday Serve! Want to get involved in all the Outreach here at Coastal! The best place to start and see an overview of what we do is SATURDAY SERVE! Saturday Serve meets the first Saturday of every month. The next Saturday Serve is THIS Saturday, September 5th. We meet in the Auditorium at 8:30am, Project Leaders make a “pitch” for their serving opportunity, and then we go out and serve! Go to our website and sign up today!
- Parents, don’t forget there is NO CSM this Sunday, September 6th. Also, mark your calendars on Saturday, October 17th for Coastal Student Ministry Serve Day! More information coming soon!
- Membership Class: Interested in officially making the Coastal church family, your church family? Our next Membership Class is Saturday, September 26th, 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. New to Coastal? Join us in the Coastal Chapel on Sunday, October 11th immediately following the 11:30am service for our Newcomer’s Reception. Learn more about Coastal, meet staff and key volunteers, and get plugged in. Lunch & childcare are provided. RSVP online or on your Connect Card.
