Hey guys,

If you are coming from Shreveport or Bossier, go down I-20 and get off on the Racetrack exit. Take a left onto Highway 80. Drive past Louisiana Downs, and when you get to the intersection where you see McDonald's, Sonic, CVS, and Domino's, take a right (onto Bodcau Station Rd.) Drive about a half-mile or mile down the road and you will see a sign for Christ the Rock church. That's it!

If you still have trouble finding it, call or email us!

This is Kerri and yea I know I am in Ohio, but we have a slow night tonight.

I have been learning  a lot in the past few days about self control. If you really start paying attention to how act and react to situations you will realize that we really don't have that much self-control. I know I struggle with this. And when everything is going good and fine it is easy to have that self control, but when you have rough days with no sleep, you dont feel good you lose that control very quickly. And those are the days when it is most important. I think that the way we act under stressful situations...such as your attitude when you are with other missionaries and you are lost in Cleveland, Ohio at almost midnight. Your reaction is very important when you are stressed and down.

I will admit I kinda lost my self control yesterday...not feeling good and it seemed like everything was going wrong, but last night we regained ourselves and talked and really had a heart to heart about everything. I believe self-control is most important when you are the "heat of the moment".

That is all for me for now....I am going to rest.

    Saturday nights have been more than I expected. We started off small, no big bang, no marketing, nothing but word of mouth. I wanted to see if people were really connecting with God in our gatherings. We wanted to grow by the excitement and enthusiasm of our members. If they weren't connecting, then we vowed we would pray, plan, study, and encourage more.

Well, 5 months into to it, with still no marketing strategy--other than enthusiastic word of mouth we are doing pretty well (if you consider attendance increase as pretty well, that's just part of it)

We are definitely not busting at the seams and scrambling for more space. However, something better is happening. Leaders are emerging out of the woodwork like crazy. It's like I have a full paid staff that actually wants to do ministry. I don't have to do staff meetings and persuade them and coerce them to do their jobs---they just show and get the job done. It's fantastic.

We are reaching air force men and women, college students, 20 and 30 year olds. As well as a few 50 year olds and a 60 year old guest last week. We have had decisions for salvation that followed up with baptism. 3 so far.

The most important thing is (and I'm not saying this like we always so it, I mean it, I can see it clearly) our people are growing into the likeness of Christ. I hear their stories, their daily triumphs over sin and it makes me proud as a Pastor-teacher. But it's the word of God, combined with deep meaningful relationships, vibrant worship music, concentrated prayer that is causing us to grow.

We had cops called on us, vandals try to burn us down, spiritual attacks on every front, food poisoning in China, people bailing on us, and yet God is the still the Holy One in our midst. He is the one we seek to glorify and ENJOY.

I can't wait for where Christ Fellowship is headed. I know we will impact the nations. I know we will feed the hungry, love the orphaned and the widow.

But I just want to get closer and closer to Christ like we have been doing.

A good question? When will Jesus be enough for you?

At Christ Fellowship HE IS!

Relational, Missional, Sacrificial,

Uriah

www.thechristfellowship.com

Incarnational Ministry

I love big obscure words. They make me feel like a didn't waste 5 years in college. I particularly like this word, incarnational. Jesus Christ was the Incarnate God. In other words--God in the flesh.
His ministry to us was an incarnational ministry. That means that He came to us. He invaded our space. He walked, talked, breathed, lived, and died among us. John wrote that he "tabernacled among us." Incarnate...in the flesh.

Think about ministry for a moment. Could we say that our ministries are incarnational? Are we walking, talking, breathing, living, and dying among the people of the world? Or are we waiting, anticipating, hoping, wishing, planning, thinking? Sounds about right.

I love the church, the bride of Christ. She is the hope of the planet earth. She is the vehicle by which man will hear the good, ground-breaking, earth shattering, sin busting, news of Jesus Christ. She is not perfect---she has flaws.

Recently I was challenged by this statement by Bob Roberts (paraphrase) "Have you ever thought that the church is the missionary?"

Being incarnational means being where the people are. Getting into their worlds. Our Christian subculture can be pretty wierd, lame, and confusing at times.

Our church will be remembered as being a church that tried its hardest to be incarnational. A church that is the missionary. That is with the people, connecting Jesus to the people.

Your life is to copy the life and ministry of Christ. Be incarnational. Walk, talk, breath, cry, hurt, laugh, mourn, pray all night with others. That's "what Jesus would do" in case anyone is really wondering or still asking that question.

    I am really loving our Life groups (small home meetings). We've been having about 8 every week and we are really beginning to become like family. It's cool to come to a comfortable place and talk about Christ while laying on the floor in your most comfortable and ragged clothes. We are really beginning to peal back the layers of fake-i'm ok-you're ok Christianity. To me this is the best representation of the church. The people are the church. I think our guests see the genuine love that we have for each other and are drawn to it. Pray for us as we seek to connect with our co-workers, friends, and family. That's our approach to growth. We want to be a spiritual family like the believers in the book of Acts. They shared everything. Imagine that.

    Let's try this again. It's a good idea and will be worth it if we make time to pray for each other.

Uriah-Pray for me as I prepare to teach and lead Christ Fellowship. Pray that I can juggle seminary, church, family, etc.

    It's been 2 and half months since we've launched our worship gatherings. We have had some really good times of connecting with Christ. Our songs have been focused on his blood and his cross. It's been good not to have to perform or woo a group of people at a church service.

We have kept to our original plan: simplicity. Our philosophy is, if people don't want God, the Triune God we serve (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) then we are sorry but that's who we come to worship and seek. We are pretty much songs, prayers, and Bible.

If you are seeking a place that is simple and Christ centered, then check us out. We want to grow with you and be the church with you.

Tonight was the beginning of our worship gatherings. I choose my words carefully...This was not the launch, pre-launch, or even a preview service. This was the second dimension of the way we will celebrate and practice our faith in Jesus Christ. Christ Fellowship began in my living room the night we met for our first time of singing, studying, and praying together. We survived what we call the celebration time or worship gathering. God pretty much smoothed everything out and we are confident that things fell into place the way they were supposed to. It was not professional or pretty, just simple and to the point (I think). The band was great Tommy, Daniel, and David really brought us to throne. The song selection was rich in scripture and theology. The Switchfoot song at the end really helped get my blood flowing for preaching. People responded well. We had friends and family (and even some fellow myspace friends who read the bulletin and showed up for the first time). No gimmicks, just a focus on the message of the Cross and a call to serious and radical discipleship. We will be there on Sat. nights until God chooses to do otherwise. It's all for Him. Join us soon, go with us. Where is that? I don't know, but I am fully devoted to Christ and ready to go where He wants us.

We are only a week away from starting our Saturday night worship gatherings. My mind can't help but see all the possibilities----the what -ifs, the I -wonder- whos. What if no one comes? I wonder who will go along with us on this journey?

Why Saturday nights by the way? Well, the simple answer is lack of options. We are not (or at least we don't think we are) ready to take on a huge lease agreement. The building we are using is a missions strategy of the church that is sponsoring us. (Eastwood Baptist)

We are one of four churches gathering for worship in that building. I love the partnership. We have an African American church, an Hispanic church, an Anglo (white) church (although they are really multi-cultural) and us www.thechristfellowship.com  (we think we are the Postmodern church).

None of us know what God is going to do in this community with four congregations, but we are ready to see him move in a mighty and unusual way.

But the Saturday night option is something that we think will be a positive thing for people we are seeking to reach. Lots of people go out on Saturday nights and, let's be honest Shreveport/Bossier does not have tons of options. There comes a time in many people's lives that the same old, same old gets, really....well old.

I remember in my partying days feeling like I wanted something more out of life. I finally sought that out and found it but it wasn't easy. Christ Fellowship will not be easy but it will be a place where people can find that something more that we all desire.

So, our idea is that this can be a place to come together on weekends with friends who have something in common: a desire to know more about God. I'm not talking about a religious service. We've all done that and most of the time it has left us empty. I'm talking about a night of getting to know God more and more-----with people you know and trust. Bring your old life and lose it. Leave with Christ's life in you.

let's pray for one another. Post your prayer requests here. 1. Pray for Christ Fellowship as we move forward and begin our Worship Celebrations. We will gather at the church on Shed Road in Bossier on Saturday nights to celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Pray for Tommy as he leads worship, Uriah as he instructs in God's Word, and others as they will participate in other areas.