"Who's Your Daddy?"... A Call to Youth Ministry

This phrase is often reduced to a phrase communicating dominance. However, I want to seriously ask you this question, "Who is YOUR Daddy?"

Mal 4:5-6 MKJV Behold, I am sending you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of Jehovah. (6) And he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the sons, and the heart of the sons to their fathers, that I not come and strike the earth with utter destruction.

These are the last words recorded in the Old Testament. Final words are always vital. Many people believe that they are the most important words. Jesus' words ended with the Great Commission. The Old Testament ends with Malachi's final words. Unfortunately, most believers are unfamiliar with the words of Malachi. Ultimately spoken to encourage, these words give a firm warning. If the hearts of father's and mother's are not returned to their children, we will be cursed. Let's see how we measure up. The statistics are not promising...

Taking It To the Streets....

      This past week of Embrace projects have been so awesome to say the very least.  We've been doing things all around the CSRA, practically showing the love of God and meeting practical needs!!!  This week, let's take it to the streets and see what you guys did....  From Facebook to Twitter...  You guys were buzzing about EMBRACE....  We've even got some emails...  Let's take take it to the streets....

Can't wait for tomorrow's Embrace Project! @KatieKinson

Feeling informed and empowered! What an amazing night doing our embrace project! @MeaghanPafford

EMBRACE... a lifestyle

"...EMBRACE, it works!"

This week has been so exciting and awesome to say the very least!  The Alpha Net has been mobilized all over the CSRA, reaching out and practically showing love to others in the community!  There has been so much buzz surrounding the Embrace Projects...  While this week has been so awesome and exciting, we hope that we continue to Embrace and see the needs around us.  Giving back is not contained in one week a year, it is a heart.  It is our goal, that through Embrace Projects, we are fostering an environment and a heart that is consistently seeing others and reaching beyond our own comforts to meet needs.  With all that said, here are some links to organizations and campaigns so that you can continuously live LOVE!!!  Take a look at these and let's (TOGETHER) be people of action!!!

Living LOVE...

"let's not just talk about love;

let's practice real love.

This is the only way we'll know

we're living truly, living in God's reality."

1 John 3:18 The Message

I love mango. Its true and it’s a well known fact to those who know me. I also love coffee, birds, sunshine and my car. We all know how flippantly the word “love” is used to describe any and everything we have the slightest affection for. In the midst of loving this and loving that, and it changing so easily, let’s not lose the heart of love- the purpose of love and the One who is Love.


Our world can be so consumed with the desire to be in love that the thought of being love is rare and fleeting. In order for us to truly be love to others, we have to go back to the basics of how extravagantly loved we are. Our Lord is in love with each and every one of us- as is- no conditions required! Jesus showed His love for us by completely surrendering himself to die on the cross. He exemplified love not only with his words, but with His actions. His act of love, the cross, was and is and will always be the greatest expression of Love ever known to humanity. And though we fail Him, and though a vast sea of people has yet to come to the saving knowledge of Him, He doesn’t regret His love-action one ounce! In fact, He’s consistently drawing us with His loving-kindness. Likewise, are we drawing others to Him through loving-kindness? Is the God we profess being made a reality to those around us through our actions- not just our words?

It's all about the L-O-V-E...

"I've been a victim of a selfish kind of love. It's time that I realize...."

-Michael Jackson-

     Welcome to the month loooooveee. The places my mind often wonders when thinking about February is visions of cupids, conversation hearts, kisses, date nights, chocolate and roses, etc....and many of you are gagging as you are reading already! Yes, our society has driven into our minds these thoughts about February because it holds that special little day known as "Valentine's". I'm actually not a Valentine's hater at all! I know many people will give you their spills about how it only adds to our culture of consumerism, or how it creates an unwelcome awareness of singlehood for those who are flyin' solo on that day. But, I think as believers in the God who says that he is the very essence and being of love, we can respond with a message that's a whole lot deeper than what's in Hallmark's 99 cent V-day cards. (what?! at least that's where I buy mine!)

ALPHIE AWARDS... (And the Alphie goes to...)

KATELIN HENDRICKS

Every month we are so excited to feature an Alpha Net Member who has shown outstanding servant leadership!!!  To kick it off....  Katelin Hendricks!

Katelin was nominated by Tony Lamb.  Katelin has been helping Tony with the Columbia Middle School Alpha Net Team.  Tony has been so thankful and appreciative of Katelin's help.  Let's get to know a little bit about Katlin!!!

TAKING IT TO THE STREETS...

"But the noble man makes noble plans..."  -Isaiah 32:8

Earlier this month we got to hear from our very own Christan Barnette!  Her article on the importance of setting spiritual goals was both challenging and encouraging!  What I love the most about the beginning of a new year is the hope and possibility that lie within it.    This week I thought we'd take it to the streets to find out some of your goals for 2010.


Adam James-  "To become addicted to the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, to avoid re-taking any tests for the duration of school, to recognize and capture musical inspiration in order to write for the Church, and to be a believer who encourages, whose words continuously bring the life of the Holy Spirit."


Haley Lamb-  "As I was reading the Compassion blog in early December '09 about making spiritual goals for 2010, I came across a challenge to ask the Holy Spirit to give you one word from God for 2010.  I decided that I wanted to know my one word for the New Year and began asking away!  It came down to 'intimacy.'  In 2010, I am seeking to be more intimate with God than ever before.  I'm completely confident that if I truly understand the perfect love of God that any fear or insecurity that I battle with will subside so that I can walk/continue walking into the destiny that God has paved our for me.  I want to dig in deep with Him!"

MEET and GREET...

CREATIVE TEAM

Initiate, Saturate, Brightside, House Party, Caught in the Groove... Chances are you've either been to an Alpha Net Party or you've at least heard of them. Cool lights, bright colors, fun music... Net Parties are so much fun! Although, many of us attend these gatherings have you ever stopped to think how these events come to pass??? Whether you've wondered how these events come to pass or you're interested in how to use your creative abilities in the Alpha Net- you will enjoy this Alpha Net MEET and GREET!




A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege to sit down and interview the Alpha Net Creative Team. This team, spear-headed by Meagan Lambert, is key in making all of the net parties and gatherings happen! While the Creative Team is consistently changing and growing I was able to interview: Pastor Scott Franklin, Meagan Lambert, Rebecca Lowe, Katie Kinson, Katelin Hendricks, and Jacob Candler. They were very energetic and interviewing them was so much fun! Check it out...

Ok, so I like to make lists... There is a strange comfort in writing down things that I want to accomplish or perhaps have already done. Today as I was waiting on my lunch I flipped over my receipt and wrote down the gifts I was purchasing for others for Christmas. Granted, most of the items on the list were already purchased, but it helped me see how much I had accomplished to write it out and how much I had left to go. It helped me get organized and make sure no one was left off or short changed in the gift department. I’ve even brained washed my five year old into this practice. In recent past he has been my grocery list checker offer. It helps with his reading skills, not to mention gives him a task while I try to get the items on the list. We have even thrown the list away together at the store just to feel that satisfaction of completion. “We did it! We’re a team.” he says. And we are a team.

Six years ago I was at a much more unorganized time in my life. I had just turned 21, just found out I was pregnant, withdrew from my private liberal arts school, moved home with the parentals and had no job and no plan. I had sunken deep into depression feeling that God had somehow forgotten me and that I could never earn his love back. I remember one very dark day emotionally I had been in bed all day and rolled over to my Bible. I will never forget that moment.

WORDS...

Words. The means by which we communicate. They are always around us and once spoken are always with us. They are powerful. One of the few things that separate man from other creatures is the ability to speak. The value and power that lie within the spoken word is something that we have seemingly lost. In Genesis we see that God spoke creation into existence. God speaks. Proverbs 18:21 says, "The tongue has the power of life and death..." They are important. They are useful. A simple word of encouragement could determine someone else's day, could be the catalyst for a dream, could quite possibly change a life... A word fitly spoken could cause change, a revolution, a smile, a laugh, a tear... They are powerful.

Hey Guys! We are SO excited about what God is doing at our church and the hope that lies within 2010! We're officially kicking off the Alpha Net blog and I'm soooo excited! Our hope here is to revive the power of the written word and our goal in launching the blog is to increase connection! We want this blog to be a place of laughter, of encouragement, of contemplation, and a place of dreaming of what could be... Here you will: get to read articles written by our very own Alpha Net dream team-ers, lots of chances to meet and greet various small groups and teams, opportunities to connect with our Pastors here at New Hope, get to hear reviews and announcements of various events, and a few other surprises! We will be posting on Fridays- so make sure you check us out and tell your friends!!! SO- whether you are already an Alpha Net dream team-ster, new to New Hope, or just stopping in... WE WANT TO WELCOME YOU!!! You can also connect with us on Facebook (AlphaNet Augusta) or on Twitter (@thealphanet)... I am so excited to be on this journey with you guys!!! So- Without further ado... HERE WE GO!!!!

-Jessica Seigler

"My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer."

-Psalm 45:1