Children’s Promise

This Sunday we will conduct a special offering for the Children’s Promise Project. Information is available on the website that details the scope of the work; but let me address a couple of aspects here:

First, this Sunday will be the “kick off” of the campaign; in essence the cash offering will jumpstart the process. If we receive $5,000 or $10,000 – that’s great. If we receive $40,000 or more – that’s great. We’ve not established a target goal for the first Sunday; but we do believe that it’s time to get the ball rolling and let the steam build. Since this is the starting point, we intend for the contributions to keep coming in over a period of time. How long? It would be great if in just a few months everything would be in place, but our commitment is to “build it when we get it” so if it takes three months, six months or one year, that’s okay. Please keep in mind that we’re asking members to give to Children’s Promise above and beyond normal tithe giving so that the budget doesn’t suffer.

Second, for many of our new members, there may be a question about the difference between Land of Promise and Children’s Promise. These are two very different campaigns. The Land of Promise was and still is the initial campaign to pay for our land purchase and building. We started raising money toward the end of the first year of Calvary, calling it the Nehemiah Fund. That fund folded into the major campaign (Land of Promise) that continues to help pay the monthly loan amount. We encourage our new members to join us in giving to the Land of Promise (above and beyond their budget giving).

Children’s Promise is focused on the new project for the children’s wing expansion that includes new classrooms, worship space, extra parking, etc… This is a short term (hopefully) campaign that allows us to pay for the expansion without incurring additional debt. The estimate for the project is $400,000 and once that has been completed we’ll then turn our attention to the youth room project – which will be a totally separate campaign. So, in short, the Children’s Promise, as identified on the drawings, is the way we hope to expand the facility and provide for our children’s ministry.

New Sermon Series to begin in May

If you would like to begin reading  ahead, I’ll start a new sermon series the first Sunday in May on “Life in the Spirit” based on Galatians 5:16-26 and selected passages in Romans.  The first few weeks we will explore the nature of living under the control of the Holy Spirit as compared to yielding to the flesh.  Then I’ll turn attention to the fruit of the Spirit as they are detailed in verses 22-23.

I’ve asked our Youth Pastor, Mark Smith, to preach the next two Sundays to prepare us for this series.  He’ll lead us into a deeper look at John 15 and the principle of “abiding” in Christ.  Pray for Mark as he preaches and pray for me as I prepare for this “in-depth” look at the work and fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Easter – Where are you?

Where are you in the walk of faith? At what point of maturity do you find yourself?  This Easter Sunday, the sermon text of John 20:24-31 concerns Jesus’ interaction with Thomas, who is often called “Doubting Thomas.”  Let’s turn this around and call him “Believing Thomas” which is the end result of the story.  How did he get to that point?   Just like him, we’re all at different stages and points of our spiritual journey.  Some have not taken the first step of faith and invited Christ into their lives; others have made an initial commitment, but need to walk more deeply with Him.  This sermon explores those points along the way and how to “get there.”

The schedule for Easter Sunday is normal, with the addition of an Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30 am (this service is an abbreviated devotional service that is different from the 9:00 and 10:30 am services).  Join us and bring some one with you to celebrate Easter.

Calvary Live: March 28th at 6:30 pm

The second of our two concerts will be held this Sunday evening beginning at 6:30 pm in our sanctuary.  We have two groups sharing their music with us – The Artisan Stage and Daniel Gregory (with band).  I was so pleased with the turnout and the response to our first concert last month, let’s invite our friends to join us again for a full evening of music.

March Mission Madness – did you miss it?

The Mission’s Madness weekend was an excellent emphasis with work being conducted in four areas in our community.  It’s our chance to support the sister ministries/organizations in Murfreesboro.  There was a group cleaning brush at the Greenhouse Ministry, two scattered to pick up the groceries from local stores, then another group stacked the canned goods.  We did work at the Journey Home which houses the Community Cafe – a ministry that we’ve been a part of for many years.  Also we were at Room in the Inn and helped with a project for Domestic Violence Center.  There were about thirty-five of our members who participated.  

The Weekend was completed by a Mission’s Variety Show with about twelve different acts, emceed by John Horn.  There were musical groups and solo performances, at least three dancing groups (including the children’s dance team), and a comedic monologue.  A quick count puts the attendance at about 350.  As the line kept filling up, we kept bringing out more tables and chairs!

Thanks to Mike and all the Mission Team for their efforts for the March Mission’s Madness Weekend.

A Faith Filled Ten Years – March 5, 2000 to March 5, 2010

Today actually marks the tenth anniversary of the first service of Calvary. On March 5^th, 2000 we gathered at the Keathley University Center at MTSU and began the journey that carried us to many places and in many directions. Permit me to reflect on some of that journey!

For the first month (in March of 2000) we met at the university (MTSU: Keathley University Center, Tucker Theater, Wright Music Hall), then for three weeks we were at Cason Lane Academy; followed by a four year pilgrimage at Central Middle School. In the middle of our sojourn at Central, we frequently had to meet offsite in places such as Barfield Park or back at MTSU. The weekday ministries were conducted anywhere we could find a spot – such as the old Board of Realty Building and then consistently the Lion’s Club building at Cannonsburg. The first offices were in the recently vacated Ruckart building on College Street; we were on the second floor and the Pregnancy Support Center utilized the first floor at that time. After about a year we moved to the ministry center on Hickerson Drive where we stayed until ’04 when we moved to the new building.

In 2001 we started a Nehemiah Fund which allowed us to start thinking about a future property purchase. After looking at two properties on the west and south side of town, the Lord directed us to the DeJarnett Lane land which we purchased from the Shaver family in 2002. Construction began in ’03 and we moved into the new building in two phases: we occupied the educational and office buildings in June and then a few weeks later the sanctuary was completed and we held the first worship service on July 11, 2004.

Over the last ten years, we’ve made some wonderful steps: We began an Adult Sunday School ministry and Key Groups (now called Connect Groups) after the first month. The Youth Ministry which started from the first week, initially met at the old Realty Board Building downtown and then moved to Cannonsburg where they stayed until 2004. The Christmas House ministry began in 2002, the Living Nativity in 2004. The Women’s Banquet has grown from around a hundred to almost five hundred, and the Sportsman Banquet reaches over three hundred men.

At this point our ministries are healthier than ever. A 2009 renovation of the Children’s Wing, now called Kidzboro, enhanced the learning experiences of our children; and the total Wednesday evening ministry, including adults and youth is seeing attendance numbers consistently around 350. The youth ministry itself has grown to a regular attendance of 100 students. We now have a Wednesday worship experience called “DownPour” that is reaching college students and young adults. Last year we strategically launched two Sunday Schools and two Worship Services. The results for the Sunday Schools are the strongest numbers we’ve seen thus far; and the worship attendance is building, with the second service showing increases as new members come into the church.

At each step of the journey the Lord has provided, directed, and blessed this work. We are so thankful for the manner in which He has led us to develop and expand the work of Calvary. We are confident that the best is Yet To Come!

New Leadership Team Members

On March 7th, we will elect two new members to Calvary’s Leadership Team; and to prepare for the annual meeting, I wanted to introduce to you the two persons nominated this year: Bud George and Blake Morgan.

Bud, Leann and their family are charter members of Calvary and have been very involved in our ministry. Currently Bud is a Sunday School teacher in the second hour; and Leann serves regularly in Kidzboro.

Blake, Stephanie, and their children have been a part of Calvary since the Central Middle days. They lead a Sunday School class in the first hour and Blake is a regular player in the Praise Band.