The Journey: blog

Updated- ways you can Serve! @BhamDreamCenter on Thursday evenings- See you tonite!you

We have updated the "ways you can serve" on Thursday evenings file. Here's the new pdf:  Download Ways to serve- updated 06-11-2011

Again, if you want to serve, the best ways to get involved are to do any of the following:

1) Use this list and start serving directly on Thursdays. 

2) Go to the registration table. They will have this list and introduce you to a team member.

3) Attend The Growth Track. Attend four weeks, on Thursday evenings, 5:50 p.m. to 6:35 p.m.

More info on  a previous post.

Ways can you serve at The Dream Center, Thursday evenings

Here's the update... ways you can serve. If you want to jump in, you can do the following:

1) Use this list and start serving directly on Thursdays. The person you need to see is listed. In most cases, they are the leader. Sometimes, they are the person that can get you to the leader. Rest assured, they'll put you to work.

To download the list, you may need to "right click" and "save as"): Ways to serve- updated 06-09-2011

2) Go to the registration table. Anyone there (usually two gals named Julie and Tracy) can help point you in the right direction. 

3) Attend The Growth Track. The Growth Track classes run on Thursdays from 5:50 until 6:35- and are 45 minutes short. Four classes (taught the four Thursdays of each month) will take you from basic Christianity (101), through spiritual disciplines (201), your gifts (301), and your ministry (401).

That's it! Thanks, again- it's very humbling to see so many of you in action, so graciously and eagerly each week.

@BhamDreamCenter mind-dump, from Thursday 06-09-2011

Here we go... that's Rob's t-shirt- the shirt that stopped a bullet that was headed to his heart at the shooting on Monday morning. Other than that, here are a few highlights, updates, and random thoughts from the Thursday Night gathering at The Dream Center (5:30 p.m. food / 6:45 p.m. worship & Word):

• Rob Malcom, who was shot multiple times this week, was with us. We've posted more about that on this blog throughout the week. You can catch up there.

• You can catch the audio of Rob's testimony during the middle of the teaching time from this week. The audio from the teaching is here. Rob talks from 12:00 - 18:15 in the talk.

• Kids' church (called Dream Nights), began this evening. Randall & Kay Moore are children's ministry vets who have stepped up and completely taken the bull by the horns on this. I thank God for them and for what they are doing!

• This opens up more seats in the main area. Invite some more people. We now have more space.

• By the way, your kids are still welcome in the service. Do what you feel led to do with them.

• We're still working out some kinks on 101, 201, 301, 401... no worries. We'll get it in a good flow soon. I'm grateful for the team we have leading this.

• Tonight was the second Thursday of the month- and bike night. It's great to see the motorcycle crew out- though I think (between me and you) it's too hot to ride at this point in the year.

• Thank you to all of you who serve every week- and to those of who you simply show up,  start working... and we don't even know who you are! It will be great to get to know each other as we serve our city together, loving the people and expressing the life of Christ.

• Later in the week, I'll post ways you can serve on Thursday nights on this blog. I have a pdf file that needs a few more tweaks.

• One of the young woman who helps with the food on Thursdays, Geri Martha, made the bread for the burger that just won Birmingham's best! Congrats to her.

@BhamDreamCenter mind-dump, from Thursday 06-02-2011- better a week late than never

 

 Here it is... the low-down from last week's gathering (5:30 for food; 6:45 for worship & Word) (yes, I know... the next event is today / tonight):

• We began running 101, 201, 301, 401 this week... at 5:45 p.m., next door to The Dream Center at Christ Health Center. That four week set of classes runs every month, always on Thursdays... and teaches Basic Christianity (101), how to read the Bible & pray (201), ways to discovery your talents and gifts (301), then releases you into your ministry (401). 23 attended the first run of it!

• 8 more people saved! (That brings the total to 141 since we began mid-way through January.). That's 141 people whose eternity is different now!

• This was week 19 of the event, by the way- including a week we changed-up for the tornado. It's amazing to see what the Lord is doing through everyone in such a short time.

• Someone had the bright idea of serving around the front side of the building, rather than the side (where we had been)... now, we're running everyone to the front door instead of the garage bay doors. 

• I loved it! It kept the worship area (fire truck garage) cool, and it made that atmosphere different in some way.

• It was great to see Pastor Peeples in the house- he's a Pastor and friend from the Woodlawn area, who is a great supporter & ministry partner through Prayer Force United.

• We're talking about Simple Christianity right now... simply making some practical applications to what it means to follow Jesus. Tonight we discussed being the absolute best you can be in the place God has you right now. Instead of waiting for "the next big thing," the opportunity around the corner, or the dream gig... do everything you can do serve strong now.

• It's basic; it's easier said than done; but it's revolutionary.

• Fun fact: I didn't give an invitation. I prayed for everyone in line with the teaching from tonight. Jason Cooke came up, as planned, to take the next leg of the service, gave an invitation... the 8 people were saved. Incredible how God uses teams to make things happen.

• The food was exquisite: half-chickens (200 of them), fresh corn on the cob, and gourmet potato-salad (chef works at Bottega's in Southside). Then, for desert, Bud's Best Cookies. I think Bud should pay us to advertise or something- for pairing his cookies with such great food. That, or just send more free cookies : )

• Pastor Short-Tee was in the house tonight- and served up an opening number from his previous CD. The Track? "Thrown the Devil Fits!"

• I like it when we open up with fun songs- whether it's a rap song by Short-Tee, a Gospel Choir number led by Jonette, or kids dancing and rhythmically hitting trash cans (that's coming in a few weeks!)

• By the way, Short-Tee was leading an outdoor church service at Park Place with us last year... When it was time to launch again for the Spring, we prayerfully decided that it would be best to pray for a team that would help carry this event off each week. That team has started to emerge and will begin meeting again in the next few weeks, so that the event doesn't land on a few people- but on many. It's been incredible to see the Lord bring this team together, in His timing. It appears that the Hip Hop Church in the Park will resume sometime around August. Here's a video link to 42 News, who covered the bi-weekly outdoor church last Spring.

@BhamDreamCenter mind-dump, from Thursday 05-26-2011

Here's the re-cap from last night's service The Dream Center:

• The highlight of my night, of the week, was baptizing my oldest son, Noah ("I'm six, almost seven in June," he would say). I'll post some video and pics when I get them from Cristy's camera.

• It rained that afternoon... and we had planned to have baptisms outside. Last month, the tornadoes halted the baptisms (April 27). This month, we prayed the rains wouldn't...

• We moved the service inside, b/c of the rain- but the rain stopped in time for us to hit the front lawn and baptize outside!

• The sun actually broke through at the end!

• The rain did throw off the normal flow of eating outside, having the prayer ministry tent set up, registration tables... but, everyone simply rolled with it. 

• Next week, we'll run two food-service lines (grill fires at 5:00 p.m., food served at 5:30 p.m.). This means that both 1) more people can be served and  2) more of you can help serve!

• Thursdays are becoming my favorite day of the week- because of what is happening on Thursday nights.

• We are out of space- but something will work out for more- and, if you come, we'll gladly squeeze you in!

• We have a team starting The Growth Track next week, Thursday June 2. Classes are at 5:50 p.m., next door at Christ Health Center. We'll have food for those taking class- and dismiss at 6:35, in time for worship at 6:45 p.m. FYI, the classes will be tweaked specifically for The Dream Center and the ministry happening in the inner city!

• We have over 25 signed up for the first run of classes! And, we have an incredible group of teachers ready to lead the group. 

• By the way, the grill masters will be cooking whole chickens this next week. It will be an incredible break from the hot dogs!

• I'm sure our lady from Bottega will bring corn on the cob, fresh watermelon, or something else that goes well with the meat! By the way, the gal from Bottega, @GeriMartha , was baptized tonight!

• Robert Record brought an incredible word about baptism. That's him teaching above. By the way, you can get the online recording of his teaching right here.

@BhamDreamCenter mind-dump, from Thursday 05-19-2011

For the past 14-15 weeks we've been running a small group at The Dream Center (though it's not that small, anymore). We fire up the grill around 5:00 p.m., then feed everyone that comes until around 6:30. By 6:45, we're worshiping... 

Here's some thoughts from last night:

• We had 13 people saved last night!- that's 115 in the first 15 weeks.

• 20 people signed on cards that they want to be baptized next week.

• The 50 new red chairs we received two weeks ago are already full!

• Each person baptized will receive a shirt that says, "I got baptized." It will also have The Dream Center logo on the back.

• Best part of the shirt... Robert Record actually took his polo off- during the cookout and put the model on. It was a small- and, yes, it fit!

• 1,250 Bibles were donated by Books-A-Million to The Dream Center. We were able to give many of them out to people who attended last night.

• It is incredible to see so many teams coming together of people that are so eager to love and serve the people of our city... whether it be by cooking, serving meals, praying in the prayer tent, beginning new classes... It is an honor to serve with all of these people.

• Many of you have asked how you can serve, what you can do... We are actually going to create a list this week that Mark Bensinger will have in his hand on Thursday nights... 

• 101, 201, 301, 401... classes to help you discover basic Christianity (101), how to read the Bible & pray (201), your gifts and abilities (301), and your ministry (401) will start in June. Until then, we can work from the list and put you to work!

• I ran into a young man that I met at The Dream Center last week... then, providentially, ended up praying for him at the LIFE retreat on this past Saturday morning. He has someone that needs the men's discipleship program we do... The Lord continues bringing him back before me... I believe the Lord is going to raise him up to do some incredible things. I'm starting to see that He brings some of these relationships full circle.

• In two weeks, Eddie (the grill master- and, yes, he really is a grill master) is serving donated chickens from the grill. He told me that he believed cooking for the Kingdom may be his calling- I agree with him 

• We scored a baby sitter last night- Cristy and I are going on a date Monday. Thank you, Jaclyn!

  

Game on, tonite at The Dream Center... The grill is back and will fire up at 5:00, food being served around 5:30 p.m. Worship starts at 6:45 p.m. 

The guys from Crosspoint in Nashville will be joining us this evening. They have been volunteering to serve in our state since last week's tornado frenzy. You can read more about their efforts here. 

Putting together the schedule for the summer for our "Thursday Nights at The Dream Center" event... 

Every week, we fire up the grill around 5:00 and start serving the people at of the neighborhood at 5:30... we break it down at 6:30 and worship at 6:45 p.m. 

Over the next few weeks...

• Thursday, April 28, baptisms (fourth Thursday of each month). 102 people have been saved in the first 12 weeks of the event!

• Thursday, May 5, Ryan Bult & Chris Surratt from Crosspoint Church (Nashville) will be with us.

• Thursday, May 12, we'll launch into the next teaching series... more to come on this.