INTERSECT! This Christmas

It is truly better to give than to receive! As Longleaf gears up for the Christmas season, it is our vision to support those in need, here locally and across the globe. As a community, Longleaf will partner with several organizations and share in the joys of blessing others this Christmas season.

Here are three opportunities for you and your family to get involved:

Longleaf's Canned Food Drive

Throughout the month of December, Longleaf will be collecting canned goods. All canned goods collected will be donated to Perry Volunteer Outreach in support of their ministry to the needy and their new homeless shelter, opening in January 2010. Clean out your pantry, pick up a few extra canned goods on your next trip to the grocery store and bring them to the next Longleaf LIVE service on December 6. Canned goods will be collected through December 22, 2009.

Bite Back Campaign

The Bite Back Campaign is a project where our UpStreet kids (pictured below) are partnering with Compassion International and students around the world to raise money to purchase mosquito nets to protect African children from malaria. Bring your spare change and help our Longleaf students as they work hard to help provide for these children in need.

Buy a net. Save a life. Bite back.

• Adopt-A-Family

Lastly, Longleaf church encourages those of you who are able to support local outreaches in their adopt-a-family ministries. There are many families right here in the Middle Georgia area who are in need and YOU could be the one to bring smiles to their faces this Christmas. Click HERE for the link to a local organization seeking families to adopt those in need!

At the next Longleaf LIVE (Sunday, December 6) we will have an INTERSECT table set up for your donations and to answer any questions. Bring a few canned goods to church, grab a few dimes from your spare change drawer and pull together a few friends to adopt-a-family. Lets work together this season to spread the love of Jesus through Longleaf, right here in Middle Georgia!!

Thanksgiving Day Proclamation

My friend Skip emailed me an interesting link this week. He found the exact iteration of the Thanksgiving Day Proclamation issued by George Washington in 1789. Many of us may not be aware that President Washington officially proclaimed the Thanksgiving Holiday "to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God". Here's an excerpt from George Washington's Proclamation on this date, 220 years ago........

WHEREAS it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me "to recommend to the people of the United States a DAY OF PUBLIC THANSGIVING and PRAYER, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God, especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness:"

NOW THEREFORE, I do recommend and assign THURSDAY, the TWENTY-SIXTH DAY of NOVEMBER next, to be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be;

George Washington

WHY WORRY Part 1

If you been around me very much, you've probably heard me pose the question "what does that look like?" when discussing concepts or principles. In other words, I want to understand the practical realities of turning concepts or principles into action. At Longleaf LIVE last Sunday, Andy discussed a healthy tension for us to wrestle with in Part 1 of the Why Worry series. That healthy tension is; Our worry points to what we are devoted to in our hearts.....so, what are we devoted to? Jesus teaches that we can't serve our stuff while also serving him (Matthew 6:24). Furthermore, Jesus reminds us that anxiety and worry will not add a single hour to our lives and instructs us that perhaps we simply need to reorder our priorities (Matthew 6:27 - 6:34)

I have read through Matthew 6:24 - 6:34 this week and processed how this tension plays out in my life. On issues or challenges where I have shifted my focus to the things that I can do and trusted God to do only what he can do, some good things have happened. Those good things often seem to be people that enter my life at particular times or particular moments and answer my prayers in profound and encouraging ways. So, "what this looks like" for me are catalyst relationships. I shouldn't be surprised by this because God has always worked this way. I can't wait for Longleaf LIVE on 11/22 and Why Worry Part 2!!

WOW!

The journey of planting Longleaf Church took a big step this past Sunday as we entered a new and exciting chapter! We launched an environment called Longleaf LIVE. Longleaf LIVE includes a worship service and family ministry environments. Over 100 Adults and 40 kids were in attendance at the first Longleaf LIVE. The message, the culture and our vision seemed to resonate with all who attended. You could feel the energy! I'm grateful for His grace and for good friends on this journey together. I'm excited about the direction of our church and I can't wait 'til November 22! A "full-launch" is on our horizon....

As always, I ask that our committed people engage in 4 Things:

1. Serve Strategically (Host Team is a great first step)
2. Connect with a Small Group
3. Invest and Invite (email, eVite, facebook, CD's)
4. Give Intentionally (I've unpacked this a little bit below)
   

To fulfill our mission and vision, we have sought to raise start-up capital AND generate an average monthly giving pattern of $15,000 before launching. Our North Point partners have coached us towards these financial benchmarks. They will provide us with a healthy foundation and will afford us the opportunity to create the compelling AND sustainable ministry environments that will change lives across Central Georgia. We are quickly closing in on a $15,000 average monthly giving pattern as the Longleaf community continues to grow. We are hoping and praying for more people to give intentionally, the amount that's right for them, to Longleaf Church. Additionally, we are prayerfully seeking visionary support for our capital needs. Here is a current breakdown of our capital needs:

Remaining Capital Needs

• Audio Equipment = $18,500 (ATTAINED $2500)
  
• Video Equipment =$12,000
• Lighting and Staging = $4000
  
• UpStreet Environment (K5 - 5th Grade) = $5000 (ATTAINED $2000)
  
• Waumba Land Environment (Birth - 4k) = $4000 (ATTAINED $2000)
  
• Office Equipment = $1500 (ATTAINED $2500)
  
• Production Trailer = $1400
  
• Reserve Funds = $20,000 ($10,000 ATTAINED)
  
• AMENDED GOAL = $49, 900

Giving is easy....

1. Give at Longleaf Live.
   
2. The easiest and most flexible way to give is through eGive (see below).

One-time gifts and monthly tithing can be made via eGive. Simply click the eGive logo from this page, set up an account through their service and establish your giving to Longleaf Church.

Thanks for the part that you are playing to plant and become Longleaf Church!

Video Blog/Longleaf Church Origins

A little bit of our story so far.....