Posted in Graystone Church, Missions/Outreach, Prayer, Stewardship, Vision, Volunteers, tagged Expansion Campus, Walton County on November 5, 2012 | 1 Comment »
We need EVERYONE to help us launch Graystone Walton. Please pray about the part God is leading you to play. Also, please pass this video on to friends and family who you think would be interested. Thanks.
There are 5 ways to get involved:
Our next Graystone Walton Info Meeting is Sunday, November 18 at 12:00PM in the Student Room.
Posted in Graystone Church, Prayer, tagged Drunk Driving, Faith in God, Forgiveness, miracle birth, Parenthood on October 31, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Posted in Bible, Discipleship/Spiritual Growth, God, Graystone Church, Prayer, tagged miracle birth on October 25, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Denise Sailors Rabon is one of the sweetest and strongest ladies I know. This Sunday at Graystone, she will be sharing the story of her daughter Angel’s miracle birth and tragic death at age 16. Please pray for God to use Denise’s testimony to help hundreds of people get through their greatest fears in life and put their faith in God. Here’s a previous post: An Angel in the Sky.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28
Posted in Family, Graystone Church, Missions/Outreach, Prayer, tagged Foster Care, God's Provision on October 12, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
1. The two brothers (age 2 and 3) have been living with us for 1 month and 2 days. Everyone seems to be adjusting well. We’re still not sure how long they will stay. It could be 1 more week or 6 months. Our church family has been a tremendous support system for us. Thank you.
2. Do you ever hear people say that God provided for them in the form of “a check in the mail” out of nowhere? Well, that has happened to us each of the last 3 weeks. When we are faithful to God’s call on our lives, He will provide. Don’t let money keep you from stepping out in faith and obeying something God has called you to do.
3. This week, we sent 35,000 Graystone mailers to the homes closest to our church. If there is an average of 4 people per home, then the mailer went out to 140,000 people. Please pray for God to use the mailer to draw people to Himself. We are inviting our community to our new message series, PHOBIA, which begins October 21 and to the Fall Carnival on October 28.
4. This Sunday is the finale of our NOT A FAN series. I will be talking about “Decisions” and how we make the important ones in our lives. I will also be bringing EVERYONE to a point of decision as to whether they are a fan or a follower of Jesus. This is one of the best Sundays of the year to invite a friend or family member, especially if he/she is on the fence with God.
5. Ben and Tiffany Presten are in town. They will be at Graystone all 3 services on Sunday (9:00/10:30/12:00). And at 1:15PM on Sunday in the Front Room, they will be sharing an update on Valley Town Church and the direction God is leading them in the near future. If you know Ben and Tiffany, please take a moment to encourage them on Sunday.
GEAUX TIGERS!
Posted in Bible, Discipleship/Spiritual Growth, Graystone Church, Missions/Outreach, Prayer, Volunteers on September 27, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Our first Graystone Walton Info Meeting is Sunday, September 30 at 1:15PM in the main auditorium at Graystone. So far, we have around 100 adults who are interested in helping us start our new expansion campus. There are actually several ways that you can get involved. Here are five:
1. Join the core team. This is the group of people who will be leaving Graystone Ozora and are being sent out to start Graystone Walton. They will be serving at Graystone Walton for the long haul.
2. Serve on the launch team for 6 months. This is the group of people who will commit to volunteer at Graystone Walton until we can get her up and running. They will stay for 6 months and then go back to the Ozora Campus if God leads.
3. Pray. We need to up our level of prayer. Since we are growing and taking on new territory, we are facing more opposition from the enemy. There are “princes of darkness” over Walton County that are not too excited about us moving in. We are in a spiritual battle, and as we expand we need more prayer coverage to knock down the walls of the enemy. I hope this spiritual warfare talk does not freak some of you out, but I’m already feeling more spiritual attacks than normal. It reminds me of when we first moved to Grayson.
4. Give. In order to launch Graystone Walton, it is going to cost $200,000. This includes start up costs and 2013 expenses. You may not be able to go, but you can give to help support the work. When it’s His vision, it’s His provision.
5. Invite your friends and family who live in Walton County. The reason we are starting Graystone Walton is to reach the unchurched. So, if you have friends, family or acquaintances who live in the West Walton area, please invite them. The Grand Opening will be Sunday, March 3, 2013. And you know this date is going to be on the front of a T-shirt: 03.03.13.
Posted in Bible, Discipleship/Spiritual Growth, Missions/Outreach, Prayer on September 21, 2012 | 2 Comments »
Yesterday, I had lunch with an old high school friend. He shared with me that he committed his life to Jesus Christ a couple of month ago. I almost couldn’t believe it. He is a close friend (I.e. college roommate, groomsman in his wedding, etc.), and I have been praying for him for over 25 years. I could give you all kinds of back story here but just think “as far from God as you can imagine”…Prodigal Son.
It was actually weird to be sitting across the table hearing him talk about “the blood of the Lamb”, “walking in the Spirit”, and “living under the Reign of Jesus Christ”. Really? He asked me to help him grow spiritually and to hold him accountable in his walk with God.
My encouragement to you today is to NEVER GIVE UP ON ANYONE. Keep loving your friends/family, do whatever it takes to bring them to Jesus, and pray like crazy. God is still in the life-changing miracle business. Nothing is impossible for Him.
For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37
Posted in Bible, Discipleship/Spiritual Growth, Graystone Church, Prayer on September 17, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Today, the elders of Graystone are fasting and praying. We fast the 3rd Monday of each month. The focus of our fast today is for God to lead us to the perfect meeting location/facility for our Graystone Walton Campus launching March 3, 2013.
If you would like to pray and/or fast with us today, that would be great. A simple application would be to skip lunch and spend your lunch break in prayer. Fasting boosts our prayer lives. Every time we have a hunger “pain”, it encourages us to depend on God to meet our needs and reminds us to pray for our specific prayer request. The fact that we are fasting together multiplies our prayer effort.
Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven.” Matthew 18:19
Posted in Graystone Church, Missions/Outreach, Prayer, Sports, Volunteers, tagged Boston, Georgia Disc Dogs, Valley Town Church on September 7, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Oldest church in Boston has pew boxes that families paid for.
1. Jennifer and I are in Boston. I can now say that “I went to Harvard.” Yesterday, we walked the Freedom Trail and soaked in a little American History. I ate a lobster roll and chowda. Tonight, we are going to a Red Sox game at Fenway Park. It will be fun to check that one off the bucket list. I’m sure I will post a picture.
2. Saturday morning, we are driving to Wilmington, VT to spend time with the Valley Town Church Team. We’re looking forward to SEEING all that God is doing in and through their lives and ministries. It’s hard to believe that Valley Town just launched earlier this year on Easter Sunday. We hope to be an encouragement to them, and we will definitely talk church growth strategy. Valley Town’s big need right now is a meeting location for Sunday mornings. Ben is going to show me all of their options, and I hope to add some wisdom and experience to their decision. Let’s pray for God to lead them to the perfect place. Also, please pray for me as I will be speaking on Sunday morning. I’m praying for 5 people to commit their lives to Jesus Christ.
3. Sunday, Jim Hollandsworth will be sharing the final message in our DOMINATE series at Graystone. We will also have an update/highlight video from last Sunday’s Graystone Serves. We have received numerous thank you notes, and it’s amazing the amount of work that can be accomplished in our community with 600+ volunteers. Thanks again to everyone who served.
4. Graystone Kids is hosting a Family Fun Event tonight at 7:00 at the church. The Georgia Disc Dogs will be performing and everyone is encouraged to bring a picnic dinner. The event is FREE and will be a great time of fellowship for the entire family.
5. Next Sunday, September 16, we launch a new message series, not a fan, at Graystone Church. This will be the perfect Sunday to invite a friend. I encouraged EVERYONE a couple of weeks ago to write down 3 names on a post-it-note that you would like to invite to church. Hopefully, EVERYONE is praying for their 3 friends. Let’s do “whatever it takes” to bring people to Jesus. I still think it would be a great idea for someone to bring their friends to church in a helicopter. I’m still waiting for someone to top me in bringing our Pee Wee Softball Team to church in a hummer limo…not that it’s a competition or anything.
Posted in Graystone Church, Miracles, Prayer on August 17, 2012 | 3 Comments »
Here’s an email we received from Denise Rabon, whose 16 year old daughter, Angel, went to be with the Lord on July 1, 2012. God is good!
I wanted to share this with you guys. Angel’s cousin left yesterday to go to college at Southern. She is still having a hard time with Angel’s death. While driving she was asking God to take care of her and Angel to watch over her while she was in college. This is what she saw. She had to pull off the road and everybody on that road pulled over and was taking pictures. There was a man standing there crying because he had just lost a love one. Amazing…
Posted in Bible, Graystone Church, Leadership, Prayer, Vision on July 30, 2012 | Leave a Comment »
Jonathan Howes getting air on the wakeboard.
Please pray for the Graystone Staff Team as we are heading this afternoon on our annual staff retreat. We will spend the next few days praying, planning and playing. All of the spouses have been invited so my hope is that this will be a great time of fellowship and team building. With everyone’s busy lives and ministry schedules, we rarely ALL GET TOGETHER.
We will be celebrating all that God has done in this past season of ministry, and we will dream big and set goals for the 2012/1013 ministry year. Staff Momma, Jennifer Howes, will be handling all the meals, and Kyle Hale and Chris Landress (my favorite staff husband) are heading up the water sports and activities on Lake Oconee. If you’re lucky, you might get to see a few pictures or even a video or two. I’m pretty sure I’m better than Kyle on the wakeboard. And I doubt that the Hollandsworth boys will even be able get up on the wakeboard/skis/kneeboard. Maybe we will have a tube for them, or they will enjoy riding in the boat?
Please pray for God to confirm His perfect plans for Graystone’s next season of ministry and for us to stay on God’s agenda for our lives, areas of ministry, and church. I will be sharing more specifics about Graystone’s vision and strategy this upcoming Sunday.
In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” Proverbs 16:9
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