One Story Of Saying YES To Adventure: Peggy Sellars

“Peggy-licious!” boomed Renovation Family Ministry Pastor, Joey Todd, as he greeted Peggy at Port City Java in Hampstead, on his way to another meeting. Peggy laughed in good nature, shaking her shiny brunette locks. I’m sure that’s exactly what she wants everyone to call her and will be thrilled to have a silly nickname on record for to all to see. Honestly, Peggy likely won’t care. While her demeanor is gentle and kind, her laughter is quick and her sense of humor sharp. She is exactly the kind of person you feel safe leaving your child with.

RenoCity is the area where children ages 6 weeks to 4 years old spend Sunday gatherings, learning that their friend Jesus created them. As you drop off your child, you’ll meet Peggy. She is at the computer, printing name tags and security tickets, making you feel secure that your child is in good hands. Her faint southern accent and sweet smile immediately put you at ease, and you just have a feeling she’s a really good mom, without even knowing a thing about her.

She is in fact a mother of two, and works in clinical research. Married to Chris in 2008, they parent six-year-old Paisley and four-year-old Owen. Peggy-licious was blessed to lead a life surrounded by faithful, Godly, examples, attending a private Christian school in her youth and even meeting her handsome husband on a mission trip to Ecuador through their church. Her husband had attended the same church since he was a child, and they settled happily into their lives there.

However, God had something different in store for the Sellars family, and they didn’t have a clue about the adventure awaiting them.

Renovation Church began taking shape at the same time the Sellars were determining which school to send little blonde Paisley to. “We were planning to send her to a private Christian school, but then I was like, wait a second!” Peggy realized that if she sent her to a private school, Paisley would only be the light for those kids. “If I send her to Topsail, she will be the light for everybody! The whole Paisley-school thing is where God has shown grace to us. He’s got our baby girl.”

Marveling at the way God used little Paisley to begin their new adventure, Peggy explained how they realized they wanted to be really involved right here in the community they lived in. It was a defining moment for their family, and it all started with trusting God to care for their child, wherever she attended school. 

“We were scared to send her, but I felt like it was being obedient to God to send her. And now I’m just like, Thank You Lord!” she said with a knowing smile, noting that simply stepping out and trusting the Lord when they didn’t have any control over the environment, was a huge leap of faith.

The Sellars family has jumped into serving at Renovation without regrets. Chris serves on the Safe Team, ensuring our kid’s ministry environments are secure. Peggy served at the check-in station for six months straight without attending a Sunday morning gathering herself. 

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“I never felt down or out or upset because I couldn’t go to the service, but now that I have been able to go, I didn’t realize how badly I needed it. Now that I can go, I’m like, oh my gosh, this is so good for my soul,” she said with appreciation for the new two service model. How good it is to feed the souls of the volunteers as well! 

The significance of Peggy’s role at Renovation never struck her until recently, when she attended a church conference focusing on the long-term impact of investing in Kids Ministry. While reading all the statistics about the children and their various backgrounds, she realized she was making a difference that went far beyond just serving as a volunteer. It was more than helping parents as they dropped off their children. 

“Even just smiling at someone and having a good attitude about it matters. This is what I’m supposed to be doing. No matter what the background of whoever, we are here to show the love,” she said with joyful conviction. 

Peggy certainly shows the love. She reflects a heart of joy and service, no matter where you find her. When God presented her with this new adventure, Peggy-licious jumped in with both feet, absolutely fearless in trusting the Lord with her family. Experiencing and serving in the groundwork of a church plant has been a blessing to the Sellars family. But Peggy’s sweet smile has been an even greater gift to those of us she faithfully greets at RenoCity check-in, every Sunday morning.

~Elizabeth Giles

Discovering The Adventurer You're Meant To Be: Part 2

Death defying heights. Rugged terrain. Obstacles along the course marked out. Every true adventurer knows there is no such thing as a pain free, problem free journey. The question becomes: what keeps one traveler dedicated to the trek yet another stumbling back down the way he came? As we learned in this week’s message from Pastor Joey, it’s all a matter of what you put in your pack.

Fear. Doubt. Confusion. Those rocks can weigh even the most experienced thrill seeker down and make them about face on the adventure of a lifetime. Trust. Direction. Faith. That’s what someone willing to go the distance loads up on as he sets out.

Meet Paul. Once a guy best known for persecuting the early followers of Jesus, his journey with Christ began in a dramatic way on a road to a town called Damascus. His conversion was just a prequel of the adventure that laid before him. On his way to condemn followers of “The Way”, he hears a voice. Not just any voice mind you, but the voice of the very One he was seeking to silence: Jesus. Subsequent blindness and instructions from Jesus on how to regain not only his physical sight but also his spiritual vision led to a miraculous healing and one man’s adventure story began. The one-time Jesus-hating, Christian killer would eventually find himself smack dab in the greatest quest he had ever known: a chosen instrument to proclaim the gospel. [Acts 9:1-17]

Paul was living the high life before this transformation. He was among the educated elite, a Pharisee. A “Hebrew of Hebrews” with Roman citizenship. He had a pedigree that made his contemporaries drool. Surely a guy with his credentials could expect his mission to be a breeze, right?

Instead of a first class trip, Paul found himself on the roughest ride of all. There were the many beatings, imprisonments, and being shipwrecked a time or two. Not to mention constantly on the run like a fugitive, hatred from his own people and those he was sent to share the gospel with, as well as hunger, thirst, and just about every dilemma you could imagine. [2 Corinthians 11: 23-28] It’s amazing how quickly your accomplishments and background don’t matter when you get invited on this adventure. Circumstances don’t seem to take note of your education, family history, place in society or religious elitism.

Paul had a choice. He could have said, it’s too much. This journey isn’t worth it. He could have stopped getting on the boat for every subsequent voyage. He could have changed his tune about this Jesus fellow and settled back into a life on top instead of becoming an easy target for the masses. But giving up would’ve meant giving up on the thing that mattered the very most: Christ himself and the Gospel plan that reconciled him with the one true God.

Instead of stocking up on a good dose of fear, Paul took a different approach and attitude on his adventure. With a steady hand from a prison cell, he penned these words to the church at Philippi:

Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. [Philippians 4:11-13 NLT]

Want to know the secret of a true adventurer? A consistent trust and belief that whatever lies ahead on the course can be handled not through the sole might of the one on the journey, but through the strength given to them by Christ alone. Paul learned how to be content. An essential truth every one of us must remember. 

This adventure is a lifelong journey and hurdles, pain, and problems will just train our spiritual bodies and strengthen our faith in Christ. All it requires is a willing participant up for anything. Are you up for whatever is ahead?

Here’s something to think on: What would you do if you were absolutely confident that God was with you?

Pray about it: Lord, teach me the secret of living in every circumstance. Help me through whatever hardships and obstacles I face as I rely wholly on you and the journey you’ve set before me. Amen.

~Catherine Fitzgerald

Discovering The Adventurer You Are Meant To Be: Part 1

Inside each of us is a desire for adventure. A yearning for a life story filled with twists and turns, a touch of danger mixed with awe inspiring heights, mastering heroic feats where the unassuming become brave.

No two adventure stories are the same and neither are any two adventurers.

There are those who are bold and daring and those who are meek and timid. There those whose story take an unexpected plot turn and those who start off with what seem to be insurmountable challenges.

Adventurers come in all sorts of different shapes and sizes, from every imaginable background, but they all come looking for the adventure of a lifetime.

Every so often comes along a brazen trailblazer, ready for anything, prepared to go to the ends of the Earth so they can live out a story that will captivate generations to come.

Meet Peter. Peter was the kind of guy who when a seemingly ghostly haze across the lake called him to step out of the boat, onto the water and walk, he did. [Matthew 14:22-29] He was the one jumping head first into the journey Jesus invited him on. So much in fact, that at times, Christ had to ask Peter to dial it back.

When guards came to take Jesus away to his death on the cross, Peter drew his sword and sliced off the ear of one of them. I’m not leading a band of thugs, Jesus cried as he healed the guard’s ear.[John 18:10-11] Later after Jesus’ resurrection, as Peter, John and James sat alone with Jesus on a high peak and watched Christ’s face transfigured. It was a true mountaintop experience of his faith adventure and Peter’s response was, Let’s set up camp here forever. [Luke 9:28-33]

He was an all or nothing kind of guy. Peter was up for whatever pursuit Jesus was taking his crew on. Bold. Daring. All in. Yet faltering.

You see, Peter had fully committed to the journey. He wasn’t, in his mind, wavering at all the obstacles that laid ahead. He was sure he would plow through them as they came. But then he heard a cock-a-doodle doo and found himself backsliding on all the promises he had made and denying knowing Christ. [Matthew 26:69-75] Just proof that even trailblazers lose their way sometimes.

You may be the kind of voyager who has truly taken the plunge into following Jesus.

Ready to go, wherever He may ask. Always on the lookout for the next big adventure He has for you. And then suddenly, you find yourself backed in a corner you never expected to be in.

Perhaps circumstances have caused you to veer off the path or maybe, fear has started to well up inside you as the fingers of the crowd surrounding point out you are one of them, one of those Christ followers.

Jesus knew Peter was going to hesitate when the adventure got scary and He knows when you’re knees are going to quake too. But Jesus didn’t dwell on how bad Peter was going to fail. Instead, He was more concerned in telling Peter who Jesus was making him into in spite of all his weakness.

When Jesus arrived in the villages of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “What are people saying about who the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some think he is John the Baptizer, some say Elijah, some Jeremiah or one of the other prophets.” He pressed them, “And how about you? Who do you say I am?”

Simon Peter said, “You’re the Christ, the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out. And that’s not all. You will have complete and free access to God’s kingdom, keys to open any and every door: no more barriers between heaven and earth, earth and heaven. A yes on earth is yes in heaven. A no on earth is no in heaven.” [Matthew 16:13-20 The Message]

If you can say with certainty like Peter who Jesus is, then He will without a doubt tell you exactly who you are, not based on how you might trip along the way, but on His plans for you.

If you’ve said yes to this adventure of following Christ, He is ready to use your life as one of the many rocks in the building of His church.

A rock. Strong. Hard. Immovable. That is how Jesus describes those bold trailblazers who may at times get lost along the way, but that shamelessly join him on an adventure of a lifetime.

Here's something to think on: Are you a bold and brazen trailblazer like Peter? When have you found yourself faltering under pressure or circumstances?

Take time today, to pray this: God, make me bold on this adventure. Give me a desire to be all in like Peter and help me to follow you when this journey gets hard. Amen.

~Catherine Fitzgerald

Growing Simple And Complex

  Growth can be exciting and even sometimes overwhelming. It can bring about great clarity or great confusion; it can engage people or enrage people; it can serve as catalyst for exponential reach or exponential setbacks. To continuing growing as a church, it’s important for us to understand and know how to properly respond to GROWTH.

One of the greatest challenges for any new start up company, organization, or even church, is the ability to grow in a healthy way. The ability to move from simplicity to complexity. In fact, we can see the reality of this challenge in the growth of our personal family dynamics. When a couple unites together in marriage they have the simplicity of the honeymoon phase. This is when a couple begins to work out what it means to enjoy, serve and love each other. “Let the adventure begin!” they’ll say.

Time will pass and growth will be desired. Therein, the joyous announcement of a new addition comes. This next chapter for a growing family brings excitement yet complexity… and it doesn't end there. With it comes the possibility of more kids, pets, school, homework, practice for sports, time with the in-laws, you name it! The simplicity experienced initially in the honeymoon phase is replaced by the complexity of family growth and demands. The responsibilities of a growing family can hit you like a tsunami unless you understand and properly respond to that growth.

The early church experienced the same tension and pull of a growing family. The book of Acts gives us great insight on how the first church grew in a healthy way. It’s a great blueprint for moving from simplicity to complexity and it allows us the ability to keep the mission front and center.

In Acts 5, the numeric growth curve is off the charts. “And more than ever believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women…” (Acts 5:14). Believers were multiplying rapidly and they weren’t exempt from encountering all the natural challenges that come with growth. The ability to move from simplicity to complexity was essential for the mission of reaching every man, woman, and child!

Here’s what we can learn from the early church as they thrived:

The early church grew both large and small (at the same time). See Acts 2:46. While placing an emphasis on both the gathering of believers in the Temple courts, they also encouraged the gathering of believers in homes, around the dinner table, where they knew true community would take place. We celebrate as a church family during our Sunday gatherings but we have to place an emphasis on authentic community that takes place in a home environment to grow on a deeper level. That’s why we will have Missional Community Groups launching in our near future.

The early church equipped and appointed new leadership as needed. See Acts 6:3. The leadership of the early church equipped and empowered people to carry out the vision. They knew it couldn’t be done by a few who did it all. They kept the duplication of leadership in mind as they appointed and invited others to join with them in the task of bringing others to Christ. We know that all believers can help in reaching every person with the message of the Gospel when they own the vision of living on mission. Which is exactly why the church has to be in the business of developing and reproducing leaders.

The early church got it—they needed a simple strategy that allowed the church to grow (increasing complexity) in a healthy, effective way. Through it, they engaged and equipped; they reproduced and served people wholeheartedly; and most importantly, they reached people... by the thousands. This is our hope too—It’s why we do what we do to reach our community for Christ.

Video Highlights

Videos can make a big difference when it comes to conveying a message, story, or truth. Here are a few recent videos that have been shown in this way over the last 6 months.

Stories

Craig and June's Story

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Hubert's Story

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Creative

Believe | Renovation Creative

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Grace Talks Great Commission

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Recap Videos

School Kick-Off Sunday

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Grand Opening

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Renovation Church Is Closing Its Doors

That's right... this coming Sunday, October 11th, we’re closing the doors at Topsail Middle School so we can open brand new doors by having a party in our community, for our community. A party that, we pray, will open the doors for conversation and authentic community so that ultimately lives can be changed by the reconciling work of the Gospel. So why on earth would we do something like that? Because...

Sundays aren’t for church anymore.

In fact only 25% of Americans actually treat Sunday like a Holy day. So what about the other 75%? They’re not at church. They're home enjoying football, napping, golfing, hunting, fishing (you name it).

Renovation Church is all about celebrating. It would be easy to count who is attending and get excited about how God is bringing new faces every week, but filled seats are not what motivates us — It’s the life-changing power in the name of Jesus. A vision and mission for reaching EVERY man, woman, and child with repeated opportunities to see, hear, and respond to the Gospel.

So what if we stopped counting those who fill our seats, and started counting those in our community who aren’t? If only about 25% are actually going to church, that means about 7 out of 10 people are NOT attending church on Sundays. For our area, that’s about 16,000 people. Let that sink in.

Now think on this: Hampstead is a thriving community FULL of families — some have been here for years, others recently relocated. It’s a community that will rally around building local business while also staying true to their fishing roots. They love their families, and they love a good event FOR the family—It’s no wonder why the Spot Festival draws THOUSANDS of people every year—because it both promotes a family environment AND their local business.

So if Sundays aren’t for church anymore, what can we do about it?

We can forego a Sunday morning gathering so that the 16,000 who wouldn't normally set foot in one of our environments can participate in a community-wide event that they will want to attend.We can work hard to be what we stand for—to create intentional, outside-of-the-box opportunities to engage those who would never step in our doors.We can do as Jesus clearly commanded — abandon the 99 to reach the 1 (see Matthew 18:22).

So come join us this Sunday, October 11th for our first-ever Party In The Park at 12pm out at Kiwanis Park. Food Trucks, FREE inflatables, face painting, crafts, music, and giveaways! Oh, and by the way — We’ll reopen the doors back at Topsail Middle School, 10:30am on Sunday, October 18th. It will be an incredible morning celebrating the wins from Party In The Park — So be sure to join us for that party too!

Whatever it takes

At Renovation Church we value community and the opportunities to build relationships with the people that live, work, and play in the amazing place we get to call home—the Hampstead/Topsail area! We're always looking for creative ways to further the conversations, build trust and deepen friendships with each other. You see, our School Kickoff Party is just one example of how we will not just do church but be the church in the ever-changing culture that we live in. These are exciting days for us as a brand new church that's seeking to reach every man, women, and child with repeated opportunities to experience the love and truth of Jesus and we'll do whatever it takes to inspire people to see God differently.

In Mathew 14, we see an incredible moment take place as Jesus told his disciples to do the impossible: Feed a massive crowd of hungry people with little more than what would sustain only one family. The disciples had told Jesus to send the crowd away to find food on their own. Yet Jesus took what was given, blessed it and told the disciples to feed the people themselves. As they stepped out to do what must've have seemed foolish (trying to feed over 5,000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish—What?!), God moved allowed a miracle unfold right out of their hands. Imagine the reaction of those being fed—"Is this the Messiah?” they must’ve wondered.

As the last portion was given out, the disciples collected baskets of leftovers, awestruck by what they had just witnessed. Personal engagement allowed them to experience the impossible become possible. That’s what we get the privilege of doing this Sunday at the School Kickoff. Do we expect a miracle to unfold because of feeding people pancakes? No.

But we are praying that as a result of serving pancakes, miracles will happen in the lives of those that we are serving. So that ultimately, marriages will be rescued, addictions will be broken, families will be restored, and lives will be forever changed by the message of Jesus.

Don’t’ miss out on the opportunity to intentionally invite your friends, neighbors, and family to the School Kickoff Party and take a step towards being apart the mission of serving our community—Because every person needs a miracle from Jesus.

#RenoHampstead #YouBelongHere #RenoSchoolKickOff

Indivisible

As a nation, we’ve just come off of celebrating one of the greatest holidays of the year—Independence Day. Our founding fathers fought long and hard for a nation that would be established on a new idea, a new principle of governance: "One Nation Under God, Indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for All.”

But here we are several hundred years later and we’re currently struggling to live indivisible, as one nation. Recently, this struggle was made all to real by the massacre at Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC. In a place of refuge, hope, deliverance, love and acceptance—9 brothers and sisters in Christ were shot and killed because of the color of their skin.

Evil has a way of finding its place—even in the church. At times, the church has stood in silence, or worse, allowed ignorance to dissolve its value in God’s people. But it doesn’t have to be that way any longer.

As followers of Christ, we carry the Hope of the world within us—therefore, we’ve had the answer to racism all long.

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”—John 13:34-35

This is evident: People Matter to God, therefore people must matter to us. And because people matter, stories matter. On Sunday, we shared Hubert Graham's story: one that would tell the historical and present struggles of racism within the church.

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Watch Hubert's Video Here

It’s a story that forces us to think outside of our own perspective, so see the church through the lens of someone of a different race. It moves us to ask questions about our personal life and the responsibility of the church when it comes to race.

It’s stories like Hubert’s that show us how theissue of racism has kept our country and our churches divided for too long.

Here at Renovation Church we will do everything we can to do our part at ending racism and hatred of this kind. If we are really going to say that we are about “

Reaching Every man, woman, and child

” then we have to write a new history for our nation. That starts with the Church living out a new level of life that is truly indivisible—

Loving others 

just

 as Jesus loved us.

For more on Sunday's message, listen to the podcast

— 

A New Level of Life Commands a New Level of Love

Why We're Making A Big Deal About Father's Day

If you didn't already know, we’re making a pretty big deal about Father’s Day. Why? Because making a big deal about Father’s Day means making a big deal about fatherhood. God has given the gift of fatherhood—a unique and pivotal role for men as they lead their households. There is no doubt about it, fathers have and will always play a significant part in leading our families, community, and nation. Fatherhood is important to God, and what is important to God must be important to us. As the Church, we have the privilege of supporting, encouraging, and investing in this leadership role.

Fathers are difference makers. For better or worse. In fact, the bible mentions several times the effect fathers can have on their children’s future:

"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it." Proverbs 22:6

"We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.” Psalm 78:4

We not only love dads but we value their effectiveness as leaders in the home. This Sunday (Father's Day), we’ve designed Dad Fest to be a great opportunity for inviting dads, the difference makers, to join us as we make a big deal about celebrating fatherhood. Our prayer is that every dad that attends finds a sense of belonging, hope, and genuine community. All over a piping-hot plate of MISSION BBQ.

Father’s day has a history of being the lowest attended Sunday of the year for churches nationwide. But it doesn’t have to be, and we believe, shouldn't be.

Join us this Sunday at #RenoDadFest because #YouBelongHere.

"Party on, Church!"

Our belief is that christians should celebrate and celebrate often. Has there ever been a group of people with a better reason to celebrate than the church? So guess what? It’s time to party. But here’s the truth… we’re not actually throwing the party—we’re joining it. It’s a party that’s been happening since death was overcome by the work of Christ on the cross.

"I tell you that in the same way, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.”—Luke 15:7

The misconception is that the Church shouldn’t party. There's a stigma that it's boring and lifeless.

However, Jesus made a big deal out of partying—celebrating abundant life given through the forgiveness of sins. Speaking directly to religious leaders, followers, and sinners alike He shared a few pivotal illustrations on celebrating what is lost, being found:

The Lost Sheep— “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’' Luke 15:4-6

The Lost Coin— “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.” Luke 15:8-10

The Prodigal Son— "But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet; and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found.' And they began to celebrate." Luke 15:22-24

Then He said to the Church, “‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’” Luke 15: 31-32

To Jesus, new life was worth taking a time out to party. As God's people, we have abundant life given through Jesus. This means we should be the greatest expression of love, joy, excitement, and celebration that the world could ever know.

Renovation is all about lives being renovated by the love of Jesus. And we’ll celebrate often through recognition of God at work—celebrating every life that begins that renovation process, no matter where they are in the journey from being lost to being found. A heart of surrender is ultimately what we’re after. When that collides with the gift of love, fueled by compassion, it will always bring about a heavenly celebration.

So, in the same vein as Wayne and Garth from Wanye’s World, “Party on, Wayne! Party on, Garth!” So party on, Church! Turn the music up—Every new life is worth it.

The Gap Between Belief and Disbelief

[blockquote cite="ROMANS 1:20 (NLT)" type="center"]For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.[/blockquote]This past Sunday at Renovation Church was about the great creativity that Jesus used to reach people and convey messages in simple life-changing ways. Jesus used stories. So to tie into this concept we saw an opportunity to craft an experience that might help convey a very real struggle of belief and disbelief. So what did we do? We shot a video that told a story.

Using Romans 1:20 for the backbone, we found a culturally relevant song that the band played with the video which matched the story we were trying to tell. To summarize: the video is about a young man struggling to believe even though the world around him reveals God’s undeniable power and divine nature. Woah… kind of deep right?

[blockquote type="center"]Watch the video here.[/blockquote] Even if this concept wasn’t quite revealed to it’s fullest for you, that’s okay. When it comes to using creative elements our intention isn’t to be heavy handed or to force feed an idea but to invoke wonder to promote discovery of who God is.

[blockquote type="center"]We view creativity as a yet another tool for reaching our community.[/blockquote]

We are loved by the author of all creation, the ultimate creator. So followers of Jesus should be the most creative, innovative and thoughtful people on the planet. We're going to do whatever it takes, discover new methods, and speak in creative, thought-provoking ways to reach every man, woman, and child. Why? Because it's what Jesus has called us to do.

[blockquote type="center"]You shouldn't feel like you have to believe to feel like you belong.[/blockquote] To those of you whom may not yet believe or desperately struggle to believe: Our prayer is that one day you may see God’s plan of restoration. (2 Peter 3:9) His desire is to see every man, woman, and child come to the knowledge of the truth. So press on, keep digging, keep searching - it's worth it.

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[author title="About the Author"]

When serving gets uncomfortable, unpredictable, messy.

I hadn’t even scratched the surface on what God meant by serving the least of these. After God’s conviction that I didn’t even know anyone He considered the least, I began searching for local organizations that were truly serving those in need. I happened upon a little blip of a website with the word refugee emblazoned on it. Sure, I watched the news from time to time, but that word didn’t mean much to me until I was sitting on the floor of a dingy, low-income apartment. I exchanged awkward smiles and attempted to ask my new friend questions about her life. As a volunteer with Interfaith Refugee Ministry, I was going to be the mentor to a newly arrived refugee family and welcome them as they started over in our community. This sounded so exciting and out of my comfort zone that I completely missed the fact that I would actually have to interact with a refugee. I didn’t consider the reality that I’d be entering a world completely different from my own:

Uncomfortable. Unpredictable. Messy.

I spent the next year stumbling through building a relationship with a woman my age, whose story was nothing like mine. Escaping intense persecution from Southeast Asia, she and her family were relocated to America through refugee resettlement. She had nothing but a few personal items, I had everything I could ever ask for. Every week I showed up to take her to places that I felt represented “America.” Her English improved and we were able to really share and understand each other’s life. I learned about the horrors she endured and we built a friendship despite all our differences.

As much as I was pouring in to her life, I was receiving back threefold. My heart was changing and I couldn’t go back to where I had been. God kept propelling me forward, finding more ways to get involved, more refugees I could befriend. Eventually, I just couldn’t contain this passion He had inserted into my heart. Only our God can take a white, middle class, stay-at-home, homeschooling mom and turn her world upside down. All I could think about is how to get everyone I knew involved in helping persecuted people rebuild their lives. It started with my own family, watching them fully put their energy in to serving refugees. Then, I started to bring my friends in to this passion by organizing events where they could come serve. God wasn’t only changing my life, but He was working in the lives of those around me.

When we determine what matters to God must matter to us, something happens. Slowly, we begin to open clinched fists holding on to what we believe to be ours and God reveals the cost to truly obey Him and answer His call in serving the least:

1. It costs TIME. When we start doing the things God says, we quickly learn that step one is showing up. There is no way to “virtually” serve people. FaceTime can’t serve a meal to someone who is hungry. We can’t Facebook our way in to a prison to love on people. We have to actually, physically be there. This means, schedules get rearranged. A lot of “no’s” must be said so that I can say “yes” to what matters to God.

2. It costs RELATIONSHIP. God is a relational God and while there are times it’s great to swoop in and do a project for someone in need, He is really calling us to something bigger in terms of our investment. Paul said it best when ministering to the Thessalonians,

“because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”

God wants us to put in the relational deposits that will really give us the leverage to ensure that every man, woman and child have repeated opportunities to see, hear, and respond to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

3. It costs COMFORT. It is awkward to try to communicate with someone who doesn’t speak the same language. It can make us feel weird to sit in a home that looks nothing like our own and strike up a conversation with someone, whom on paper, we have very little in common. People’s lives are messy and it can be unnerving to enter in their messes. BUT, the more we are willing to give up our own personal comfort, the more opportunities God presents us with opportunities to be a part of something so much bigger than ourselves. When we give up our own comfort, we get to be a part of HIS story unfolding before our very eyes in our local and global community.

It is hard to let go of our time, relationship, and comfort. We can all convince ourselves that staying within our church walls is enough. However, there is an entire world around us aching from genuine hunger, thirst, loneliness, nakedness, sickness, and imprisonment—Physical needs that need to be met in order to even have the opportunity to address spiritual ones. The question remains for each of us: are YOU willing to pay the cost to hear Jesus Christ himself say, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”?

This week’s blog is a continued story from guest writer, Catherine Fitzgerald. Read the beginning of her story here. For more information on getting involved in any of our React Mission Opportunities, please email react@renovationonline.org.

When serving is comfortable, predictable, sanitized.

Reaching the least of these shouldn’t have been easy—and that’s how I liked my world. I had convinced myself that was what God wanted for my world too. I was doing lots of things, really good things for Him. I was busy, serving within the four walls of my church. It was easy for the most part. It felt good. But in the summer of 2012 God wanted to grow me up spiritually, taking me on a journey unlike anything I’d ever been on.

He wrecked me, bringing up the least over and over again in everything I was reading, hearing, and seeing. I would read Matthew 25:34-36 where Jesus is telling the people about what it is going to be like when He returns. Here he mentions two groups of people: those who obey him and those who don’t. To those who follow Him, He says:

"Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ But the people get confused and ask, 'When did we ever do those things for you, Jesus?' To which He replies, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.'”

For me, that was a difficult passage to digest, seemingly too hard to actually do and uncomfortable to really live out. And so I began to have a dialogue with God about what I thought He really meant to say. It went something like this:

Me: God, I think when you say hungry, thirsty and such, you really mean those who are spiritually or emotionally in that state. So, technically, I’m serving people who are spiritually “hungry” and “thirsty” so we are good then! (Lift hand for celebratory high five) God: (shakes his head) No, I’m being literal here. Me: Like literal literal or like figurative? God: Like literal literal. Me: Ok, but I don’t think you understand. I’m pretty busy doing stuff. Good stuff. Stuff for you stuff. I don’t really have the time, and besides, look around me. I don’t exactly know a lot of hungry, thirsty, strangers in need. God: Exactly.

God had my attention and now the ball was in my court. Could I find the least in my insulated, secure, Christian world and would I even have the time and ability to serve them wholeheartedly? Or would I just fall back to my old ways of just blessing the blessed? That’s when His perfect plan in my life really started to get interesting…

To read more on Catherine’s journey, join us back here next week for, When serving becomes uncomfortable, unpredictable, messy.

Here's to 6 Weeks Post Launch....

We’re 6 weeks into launching Renovation Church and today we’re focusing on wins we’ve seen as a result of God doing big things in our community! #AllYouNeedIsMom, our Mother’s Day celebration, was a great display of God’s provision. God has given Renovation Church an incredible team of people who have worked hard, prayed continuously for our community, and given generously to the mission of reaching every man, woman, and child. Sunday, our team welcomed and loved on over 500 individuals from our area. Celebrating with several hundred moms laughing, crying, and being encouraged was an incredible memory we will always have for our first Mother’s Day.

As a church that honors the important role of parenting, we’ll work to see that every Mother’s Day and Father’s Day champions the pivotal role parents play in the family. And while we’re on the family, that’s our next measured win at Renovation.

When we began laying out the foundation for Renovation Church, we knew we wanted to reach our community through renovating families. Today, our family ministry is growing. On opening Sunday, we kicked off our RenoKids environment with 40 kids. This Sunday, our kids environments were filled with 38 volunteers who sang, jumped up and down for Jesus, and creatively taught biblical truths to over 100 children ages birth thru 5th grade. We’re at work, looking to duplicate those volunteers within the next 2 months—that’s 40 new volunteers for RenoKids and Camp Renovate combined. That will allow the current team who've given every Sunday to serving since launch, the opportunity to begin attending Renovation gatherings. Interested in being a part of the new RenoKids and Camp Renovation volunteer team mentioned above? Simply email Emily@renovationonline.org.

These wins are great reminders of why we do what we do. We value people because God puts a priority on people. That’s displayed in the way we cultivate great environments so that relationships can deepen within our Sunday gatherings and we can continue building relational bridges into our community. Relationships are the leverage in which we teach God’s word so that every man, woman, and child will have the opportunity to respond to the love of Jesus.

Renovation, we have much to celebrate. And this Sunday night we’d like to invite you to an evening of worship and celebration of all that God has done and what He is going to accomplish through Renovation Church. We’ll share in our first communion together and look at what it means to take the next step in being an active participant in the life of Renovation Church through membership. You don’t want to miss it!

#renohampstead

#AllYouNeedIsMom

This week for our weekly post we chose to do a video blog to give a few shout outs and a charge to take personal ownership of inviting others to our Mother’s Day celebration. So, watch the video below and be sure to check out additional ways that you can spread the word about #AllYouNeedIsMom for share week.

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All You Need Is Mom Promo from Renovation Church on Vimeo.

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Because Mom, You're Worth It.

Every Sunday we talk about the mission at Renovation church: to ensure every man, woman, and child have repeated opportunities to see, hear, and respond the love of Jesus Christ. We believe that outside of sharing the Gospel, two main objectives help us in accomplishing this great task: creating great environments and creating memorable moments. Both break down walls and remove barriers so that people can better connect with Jesus. Renovation Church values the role of motherhood and the impact moms and women of all ages and stages have on our community! That’s why our Mothers Day celebration will be a strategic moment for us as a church. It will not only accomplish our mission of reaching families in our community but it will show our deep love for serving the people God has placed in our area. For Mother’s Day we will create an environment that demonstrates our appreciation for the women/moms God has blessed us with. Loving on moms will be the way we allow them to see and experience the love of Jesus. We will champion and cheer them on because, moms—You’re worth it.

Mother’s day is a great way for each of us to engage in the mission of Renovation Church—and it will take every person who calls Renovation home to play a role. What’s that role? To simply invite families to join us.

Let’s reach out so that this Mother’s Day, every woman in our area will have an opportunity to feel celebrated, appreciated, and loved by Jesus.

#renohampstead

From First Steps to Next Steps

Ever experienced a child’s first steps? The uncertainty and excitement as he or she steps forward— a wobbly motion—and then, with realization, a determination to seize every opportunity and any terrain! The possibilities become endless as one step after another, a child discovers the beauty of mobility. First steps always lead to next steps.

The first step at Renovation is a discovery phase: learning a sense of belonging as we gather together. We invite people to come and discover what we’re all about. It's the phase that gives us the opportunity to provide clarity and alignment for the vision and mission of Renovation Church. It should give each person absolute clarity of what we’re all about as a brand new church in the community.

Our goal is to move every individual from the discovery phase to the alignment phase by taking Next Steps.

The alignment phase moves guests from weekly attenders to participants in the mission. It’s the where and how of personally contributing to the mission of Renovation Church. Next Steps gives the opportunity for individuals and families to steward their time, talents, and treasure for the mission of the Church: seeing people reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. We make a big deal out of Next Steps because it shows full ownership of the mission of Jesus and being a part of Renovation Church!

Our current series, Anything Is Possible, looks at the words of Jesus and how our mission is built upon His example here on earth. It’s designed to mobilize people for the mission and vision of Renovation Church.

It's time for first steps to lead to Next Steps.

God’s got a future full of endless possibilities. The crazy thing is next steps are often the scariest and, yet, most exhilarating steps we’ll ever take. They'll take us to a new place in our faith journey where God does the greatest things. Here are a few next steps that we believe are great opportunities to engage in the mission of Renovation Church: 

1. New Volunteer Orientation

2. React Outreach Opportunities

We celebrate every next step a person takes towards trusting God. Whether it’s surrendering their life to Christ, giving for the first time, serving our community, or going on a mission trip; we hope to cheer every person on as they take their next step!

#renohampstead

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Thank You.

Our journey in life is always impacted by our relationships. People who have gone before us give us the wisdom, support, and encouragement to help us overcome the challenges that are associated with life’s journey. We are better as a result of their encouragement, we are stronger as a result of their wisdom, and we are blessed because of their investments. One of the great joys of life is expressing gratitude to the people who have helped you accomplish the dream and desires of your heart. They help that vision take flight. They are cheering you on— celebrating the wins with you. I want to take the time, on behalf of Renovation Church, to thank all of those who have been apart of this adventure of helping start this new church in the great community of Hampstead, NC.

Thank you to every church. Those that took the time to sit down with me and hear the vision of Renovation Church. The pastors and leaders who helped me think through some of the challenges of planting a church. Humble wisdom was graciously given to help protect us from their own mistakes. Thank you for praying with me and over me as I stepped out in faith to lead people in starting this new church. Thank you for taking our church before your people so they could pray for the work taking place in Hampstead. Thank you to each church that gave so generously to help us reach our community. Your selflessness has influenced me greatly and Renovation Church will always be grateful to you for taking interest in our mission of reaching people for Christ.

Thank you for the family and friends that sat and listened to the vision being casted for a new church in the community in which I live. Each of you took the time to hear what God was doing in my life and the opportunity that was in front of us.  I was grateful to have the opportunity to share how your story has been apart of my own story. There are many life lessons that I have learned from each of you which have helped me become the leader that I am today. Your story is apart of the story of Renovation Church. Thank you for your financial generosity and the sacrifice each of you made to help us purchase the equipment we needed. You're investment has and will continue making a lasting impact on eternity.

Thank you to our launch team members for your generosity, trust, encouragement. The amazing support you have shown and your willingness to do what ever it takes has truly made this a remarkable journey for me.  I’m so thankful and blessed to have this opportunity to serve this community and lead this church with you.

The greatest thanks goes to the one who has made it all possible and He deserves all glory and honor for everything thing that has been done through this new church called, Renovation Church. All thanks and glory to Jesus— for your ultimate picture of generosity on the cross and the grace you showed in allowing my story, our stories, to be a part of your greater story.

Jonathan Cockrell #renohampstead

What's So Great About Being Brand New?

There is no greater moment in the history of a new family, company, or church than those first few formidable months. The remarkable ambition—the stop-at-nothing drive. There is nothing like being brand new. God granted that opportunity for Renovation Church this past Easter Sunday when we saw nearly 600 people show up to our grand opening.  We met so many new friends and nothing excited us more than when individuals and families said they found their new home. As we had prayed for, so many truly felt like they belonged.

Renovation Church offers people the chance for a fresh start, opportunities to do good things for our community, and a place to be a part of a loving, generous network of individuals ready to do BIG things for Jesus.

Being a brand new church means multiple opportunities for individuals to take hold of a vision and live the mission. For the next several months we want every person to make to the most of Renovation Church being brand new! Don’t miss out on serving, giving and the countless opportunities to invite your neighbors and friends. They’ll want to discover more about,”that brand new church that meets in a middle school gym.” After all, who wouldn’t?!

Join Renovation's mission of ensuring that every, man, woman, and child will have repeated opportunities to see, hear, and respond to the message of Jesus Christ.

#renohampstead

Three Powerful Words

Three powerful words. Words that, together, share a powerful message to our community about who we are and what we're for. At Renovation Church, we champion that statement because we believe every man, woman, and child has a place where they can call home. Here’s why:

You It reflects the uniqueness of how God purposefully hand crafted you and I in his image. He has given us gifts, talents, dreams and ambitions. Those immeasurable gifts allow us to become a great student, leader, parent, and employees. Such gifts allow us to provide for our families, our community, and the local church.

And there is a greater story unfolding. It’s a collection of individual stories. The greatest news of all—God wants every person to enter into a relationship with Him; to discover the true fulfillment and meaning of life. He has a perfect plan in how to use you to do things beyond your wildest dreams, beyond what you are capable of accomplishing alone.

+ Belong That universal desire of every person—to experience a sense of belonging. It's a place where we are loved and accepted no matter what our background, race, ethnicity, or what the pocketbook says. It’s the feeling that makes you say, “I can be real and authentic. I’m with family.” It brings comfort and safety through the storms of life and celebrations of life's journey, all while being shared together. To belong means to have authentic community and accountability. Belong simply says, we need each other.

+ Here This is the place where stories collide. It’s the community we love and belong to. It’s the place where we work, play, and raise our families. It’s the moments that make up the dash in our life; from the day we were born to the day we die. Here is significant because it brings about the personal expressions of God’s mission in our lives. And Hampstead is at the epicenter of where God wants that impact.

Here is where God has us today. We belong in this community. God has prepared it for the wonderfully, talented, unique you!

= You Belong Here

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourself with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. “ Colossians 3:12-15