With the popularity of Facebook, people are reconnecting with old friends from High School, colleges, old stomping grounds, and work places.  Just yesterday I went back to Bishopville, where I went to High School, and met an old friend who I worked with during my Waffle House days. We didn’t meet on Facebook, but of course now we’re friends on Facebook together.  For your viewing pleasure, here’s some old photos of the coolest people in the business back in 1993.

At first, my friend and I had a hard time remembering some of our old co-workers’ names.  But then all of a sudden, we got on a roll.  At first it was, “Who was that one girl…you know the loud one?”  or “Gosh, what was his name…the guy with that face…?”  And then it became, “Yeah how about Jackie…you remember Carrie…do you still hear from Tony…oh Jennifer has four kids now?”  As we reminisced, feelings also came back to me.  That sense of being together, working side-by-side, the fun, friendship and warm sense of self-worth came back.  Truly, it is very cool to feel like part of the “in” crowd, isn’t it?

You may or may not have ever been part of any in-crowd, but probably you wanted to be.  Whether you’re willing to admit it or not, everybody wants to be accepted whether it’s with friends, family, co-workers or the cheerleader squad (well maybe not the cheerleaders for me personally).

Sunday, I’ll tell you how getting in a Home Team is one way to be part of a terrific in-crowd in the message entitled “Activate IN”.  Home Teams are small groups that meet during the week in homes.  This isn’t the kind of overly critical clique that judges everyone else who couldn’t possibly make the cut.  This is the crowd that is based on the groups that formed the first church in the book of Acts.  Acts 2:42-48 describes a group that did things together like

• learning about God,
• having fun together,
• sharing resources,
• caring for one another’s struggles,
• praying with and for each other,
• worshiping together, and
• serving one another and their community.

That’s a great in-crowd to be a part of.  As the three-week “Activate” series (UP, IN, & OUT) suggests, this is one way to activate faith in your life.

This Sunday, you’ll be able to sign-up to join in a Home Team that is beginning in September.  I hope to see you then.

The outdoor movie event was a smash last Friday!  I was afraid that we might get rained out, but the weather was awesome for the event.  The ball field was packed with movie-goers, and I’m really glad to say that everything came off without  hitch!  Already people are saying, “When are you going to do it again?“  Well, I don’t have plans right now, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t do it again real soon.  There are great pictures of the event on our Facebook page.

Setting up just before dusk in the Kershaw Ballfield. Soon 450 people will be in attendance!

The luminaries made it so festive...and there's Deeda, our picture-taker! Thanks

Take a look at the movie night photo album…you might be in there.

The only thing is how could we beat the popularity of such a family-friendly exciting movie like Race to Witch Mountain?  I know…we can make it a whole night of Betty Boop cartoons!  Just kidding, Scott!  We’ll just have to see what else might be a good time and choice.  Regardless, Team Church will be up to something in the community.

At Team Church, we believe in reaching and impacting the community, but events aren’t the only thing we hope to inspire people to participate in.  Our desire is to continually point people to an active faith in Jesus.  That is why we began our latest message series, Activate.  Sunday I explained that one area is to Activate Up…with transformational worship.  This Sunday we’ll be learning about Activate In…joining “in” a community of people who care, who will love, who will love enough to confront, who will help with accountability, healing, growing, learning, …living a faithful life.

Team Church will be having Home Team sign-ups this weekend.  Home Teams are what we call our the small groups that meet in homes during the week.  This is where we do most of our discipleship, fellowship, and have lots of fun together.  I hope that you will be ready to sign up to join in a group as you Activate IN.

After church Sunday, I went away to Brevard, NC for a planning retreat with the pastors of Team Church.  Because Team Church has two campuses, we’ve got lot’s to coordinate.  Plus, it’s a lot of fun getting away and building the relationships with the team.  The first dip in the ccc…cold NC water wasn’t so bad at Sliding Rock, but the next day after our plans were done, we hiked to Turtleback and Rainbow Falls.  I can’t say that I enjoyed the water as much that day.

I found myself looking over a cliff  where we could dive into the pool at the bottom of the falls. Have you ever climbed up a high dive or a ride at Carowinds where you wanted to back out, but there was no way down other than to take the plunge?  That was me.  It was either jump or call the rescue chopper!  Kenny said it was fine to not jump, but how could I get back out?  We had let ourselves down a steep rock face to get to the jumping ledge.  Even if you wanted to get out, it seemed impossible to scale the rock that led back to the trail.

I wish I could tell you that I conquered my fear of jumping, but I can’t.  It overwhelmed me and jellified my legs.  You can see the ledge on the left side of the picture, and yes, I know it doesn’t look that high.  I know.  But no one ever said that the fear was rational.
Instead, of saying that I took the leap, all I can say is, “I’ve been to the edge and back.”  And as for scaling the rock to back out…it was nothing! I went up a root like I’ve never climbed before in my life.  It seemed impossible for me to climb out of there, but it’s amazing what fear can do for you.  Kenny said I went up that root like a fireman going down a pole.

I don’t typically get myself into situations like this where you’re literally stuck between a rock and a hard place.  But it gives me a little more insight into the emotions that must have gripped Isaiah when he envisioned the Lord sitting on a throne high and exalted and just the hem of his robe filled the Temple building.  (Isa. 6)  When I was on the cliff I was thinking what Isaiah said when he saw the massiveness of God, “Whoa! I’m gonna die!”

Read Isaiah 6 in preparation for the message this weekend, which begins the new Activate series.  Also, tomorrow we have the Movie night.  Keep your eye on our facebook page to see whether the rain changes our location for this event!  See you there!

As I plan for the Aug. 14 Free Outdoor Movie night, I’m thinking of how we’re going to “reach and impact our community.”  That phrase is part of the philosophy or game plan of Team Church.  And it’s not just about the community right around us.  Team Church is one church…in two locations, therefore two communities.

While we’re making a difference in Lancaster County, SC, Team Church is also reaching and impacting the community of Matthews, NC.  And in fact, on the night of our Movie event, Friday Aug. 14, the Matthews campus is hosting a free concert.  This is an awesome evening for two communities to invite friends.  Plus, we’ve planned the events for the Friday just before a great new sermon series called Activate.  In both locations, this is a great event to bring your nonChristian friends.  Here’s a facebook invite for the Movie night to share with others.

I’ve just watched the movie we’ll be showing at the ballfield beside the Kershaw Elementary School, and it was really fun and exciting.  It’s perfect for families.  You’re seriously going to love it.  We’re not charging a thing for admission, and even throwing popcorn in for free!  But we are asking attenders to bring a lawn chair for themselves, and bring some school supplies to donate to Kershaw Elementary School.  Through generous donations of school supplies, we’re hoping the movie night will make a big difference for the kids who need the help getting ready for “back to school” the following Monday.

This is just one more way Team Church reaches and impacts its communities.

As I said, we’re one church…in two locations, so you may want to know more about what’s going on in both communities.  www.teamchurch.com gives you the ability to find info on events, faqs, messages, or keep up with the latest blogs of the Matthew’s pastors, including our head coach Kenny Hibbard.  In fact, check out the post from Tuesday which describes his vision for Team Church Lancaster County and beyond.