LCC REACH

I Just Realized…

It just hit me- over the next 3 Sundays, we have deadlines for trips "Here, There, and Over-There".  We are sending teams to all the areas mentioned in Acts 1:8.  Pretty cool!  Here-  Build Team,  There- Atlanta Dream Center, and Over-There- Guatemala.  I think this is a sign of a healthy church that is "going to make Disciples of all nations" locally, regionally, and internationally.  

That said, I want you to know I love you- but y'all make me a bit crazy at times!  People at LCC are notorious about waiting to the last possible moment to register for trips. I guess the upside is that you all have me praying even more than normal!  I am praying that God would reveal to you whether YOU are to join us on one of these trips.  Guatemala deadline is THIS Sunday (22nd), Build Team is the 29th, and Atlanta is February 5th.  If you have questions or hesitations- call me right away at 384-1994 and I will help in any way I can.

This would be a good time to also remind you that we are going back to Belize in May and that deadline is March 4th

 EVERYTHING YOU NEED IS ONLINE!!  Not only can you get all the info about all our trips at lccreach.com, you can fill out your application and pay your deposit online.  We will be at the Mission Tent again this Sunday, but you can get everything filled out and payed for RIGHT NOW.  After you pay the deposit, send the application back to me as an attachment- and You're In!

 

If God has been telling you to "Go"- get online and do it now.  Don't wait to have your life forever changed.  Please Pray with me about whether you, and family member or a friend should "Go".

In Him,                                                                                                                                               

Pastor Joe

 

"Community" is our middle name…

As a Community church, we want to be out in the middle of our community in very tangible ways.  There are a couple of cool ways you can join us in showing the people around us that we are serious about taking Jesus outside the walls of our church building.  Join me Monday (the 16th) for the annual Martin Luther King Day March.  We will honor a whole segment of our community as every color of people walk together to make a statement of unity and support.  We will meet at the Town Hall (20 Bridge St.) at 1 pm for a service that precedes the march.  We will leave the parking lot about 2 pm and walk for about 45 minutes and end up back at Town Hall where there will be a little cook out to support the event.  This is my 4th year to participate andI am always so glad I go.  You can bring anyone, any age, any color.  You will meet some great people and even get a little bit of exercise.                              

Another great new opportunity to serve our community is with the Bluffton Soup Kitchen.  This is Bluffton's first (and only) feeding program for the homeless and hungry.  You may have seen in the paper that a number of churches have joined together to make this happen.  Patty and I went by today and got on the volunteer list.  As soon as I get more detailed info I will publish it here.  They will need volunteers to help from 11am to 1:30 pm on Wednesdays.  They actually serve folks from noon to 1 pm.  If you know of someone who is hungry, tell them to get to the Campbell AME Church (Boundary St- just past the 4 corner stop).  Jesus taught that feeding the hungry was one of His (and therefore our) greatest priorities.  You can email me if you are interested in more info and I will send it on to you:  jfriesen@lowcountrycc.org

 

Strengthening marriages is a high priority for LCC.  If you, or someone in the community want a fantastic marriage retreat, join many of us at " A Weekend To Remember" held at the Weston on HHI February 17-19.  With our LCC Group rate you get HALF OFF the price!!  You can get all the info on the retreat HERE.  If you want to register as part of our group CLICK HERE.

 

It's time to 'fish or cut bait' as I like to say.  Mission Trip deadlines are upon us.  The Guatemala deadline is on the 22nd!  Once again, here are the critical deadlines.  I hope you are praying about which of these you can join….I know I am praying!

Go to lccreach.com to find out all the details.  We will have a Mission Tent on the lawn the next 2 Sundays to answer questions and help you apply for any of the upcoming trips.

 Here's what you can pray about:

January 22- Deadline for Guatemala Trip (Training starts on 22nd)              CLICK HERE for info

January 29- Deadline for Build Team trip to Bluffton (Feb. 7-12)                  CLICK HERE for info

February 5- Deadline for Atlanta Dream Center (Feb 24-26)                   CLICK HERE for info

March 5-Deadline for Belize Water MissionTrip (May 12- 19)                                  CLICK HERE for info

 

  If you have any questions, again, go to lccreach.com or call me at 384-1994.

 

Feeling Tumbled?

Our family lived in Hawaii for nearly 3 years and loved the warm, clear waves.  We played, boarded and surfed in them whenever possible.  One of my favorite beaches was Makapuu as it was one of the only ones with sand under it instead of coral.  It had a steep sand beach which made the wave stand up and were amazing for body surfing or bogey-boarding.  Only one problem: when you didn't catch the wave just right, it would throw you in front of the wave on to bare sand- then crash on top of you!  You would get mercilessly pounded, tumbled, and then it would leave you in a heap far up the the beach. Makapuu reminds me of Christmas:  I love it, but when December hits, I feel like I am tumbled until after January 1st when I come up for air and find myself lying in a heap.  I look forward to it coming again next year, but now I am looking around saying, "Man, that was some wave!"

Like you, I am looking at my calendar and realizing that major Mission Trip Deadlines are right on top of us.  Please stop right this second and ask God if He is calling you to go on one of the upcoming trips.  If He is, you need to register/apply ASAP as we need to know who is coming on these adventures. 

The most critical deadline is for our Guatemala Trip (March 17-25) and the registration deadline is January 22nd.  Go to lccreach.com to find out all the details.  We will have a Mission Tent on the lawn the next 2 Sundays to answer questions and help you apply for any of the upcoming trips.

 Here's what you can pray about:

January 22- Deadline for Guatemala Trip (Training starts on 22nd)              CLICK HERE for info

January 29- Deadline for Build Team trip to Bluffton (Feb. 7-12)                  CLICK HERE for info

February 5- Deadline for Atlanta Dream Center (Feb 24-26)                   CLICK HERE for info

March 5-Deadline for Belize Water Mission Trip (May 12-19) CLICK HERE for info

 

  If you have any questions, again, go to lccreach.com or call me at 384-1994.

Marissa Hunsberger is one of YOUR missionaries in Belgium and she will be with us this Sunday (the 8th) and we are hosting a Dessert Open House for her at our house on Sunday night from 7-8:30 pm.  Bring a dessert to share if you want, but come regardless!!  We live at 87 Muirfield Dr. in Eagle's Pointe off hwy 278.

 

A Good Year!

The world is different because LCC existed this year.  Through our Body, Jesus was shown in amazing ways: here, there, and over-there.  He gets all the glory for anything we did right this year.  Here are just a few of the highlights from this last year (not room to list them all)

We started the year with a trip to flood ravaged Nashville with Samaratin's Purse

 

 

 

 

 

Our first Water Mission trip with Rowkids in February

 

 

 

 

 

Many of you helped build a needy family a house in February

 

 

 

God use YOU and Easter Egg Hunts to change lives at Easter

 

 

 

 

 

Our Bumper Crops fed a ton of people in 2011-

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kairos Prison Ministry-  your cookies, prayer, and our BBQ KREW impacted Ridgeland Prison twice this year

 

 

 Our LowCountry Build Team impacted 3 families by  repairing their homes- in Jesus' Name

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our High School ministry sent 23 students to Jamaica with Rowkids

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Clothing Connection put clothes on thousands of people

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The November Belize Team brought safe water to Bullet Tree Falls for the first time in history

 

 

 

 

 

 Pray and consider how you could be in one of these pictures in 2012.  Go to lccreach.com to see all the ways you can help us change the world this next year.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

It Could Have Been You…

Sometime around Thanksgiving, the Brabham Family of Ridgeland had an electrical fire in their home and lost everything they own- other than what they were wearing.  Times were tough before the fire, and with no insurance, have gotten immeasurably worse.  They have a grandmother living with them and their small girls.

Some great folks have decided to collect everything they possibly can by the 20th of this month.  If you bring it- they will deliver it.  Download Bradham Family needs to find out all the details of what they need and where to drop it off.  Anything you can give will touch this family with the love of Jesus

 

Not only do I invite you to touch families right HERE, I want you to consider helping some families OVER THERE in Guatemala by going with our Team in March.  We will spend half of our time working in a village as we rebuild their homes and lives after a catastrophic hurricane.  We will build pre-fab metal homes that the owners will be able to take with them should they move.  We will then work in a number of ministries in Guatemala City.  One of those is a ministry called 'The Oasis' which is an amazing outreach to prostitutes.  CLICK HERE to see a video about The Oasis and see a bit of the crushing need there.  You can find out all the details about the trip by CLICKING HERE.  Remember, the deadline is January 22- only one month away!!!  Call me with any questions- (843) 384-1994.

 Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas!

 

Joe

Writing You From New York....

Thought I would drop you a note from the most "global city" in the world.  New York is a microcosm of the planet as I have seen people from every continent on the planet.  It is fun to taste all the cultures here, but I am still very glad to live in Bluffton.

I am here hanging out with Jimmy Taylor as he recuperates from surgery.  He is doing better every day, and in a few minutes, we are hoping to hop the subway and check out the Apple Store!  For all of those that have been praying for him- don't stop.  He really appreciates it.  If everything goes well, he will come home with me on Saturday the 10th.

    Jimmy was with our team that first went to Guatemala 3+ years ago and the experience is still impacting him in a big way.  Jimmy and I both want to invite you to consider going with us in March as we serve the people of this beautiful country. We will spend half the time in a village rebuilding homes destroyed by a recent hurricane.  We are constructing pre-fab metal homes that will allow the owners to disassemble them when they one day move.  The other half of the trip will involve ministry in Guatemala City (the 'City of Eternal Spring').  For all the details of this trip-CLICK HERE.  The Deadline is on us quickly:  January 22nd.   If you have questions- call me at: 384-1994 or jfriesen@lowcountrycc.org

Please check out all the 2012 Mission Trips at lccreach.com and notice the following deadlines:    Guatemala- January 22,  Build Team- January 29,  Atlanta Dream Center- February 5th

      I was struck this morning by how easy it is for me to be a Christ Follower. This is not the case for most of the rest of the world.  Take a second and go to: Voice of the Martyrs website and look at what is happening to our Brothers and Sisters all around the world.  May it make you thankful, grateful, and prayerful

 

In Him…Joe

 

Un-Belize-able!

Thanks to everyone who prayed for our Belize Team last week!!!  Your prayers were answered on every level: safety, travel mercies, health, strength, endurance, healing, power, joy, weather, unity, impact, and delivery of safe and Living water.  The Team became one functioning body as we passionately poured ourselves into Bullet Tree Falls.  

 

When we arrived, the building to house the filtration system was partially constructed.  With the expert help of the Harstas (Water Missions Belize) we were able to get the building finished, system installed and operating by Thursday.  Thursday night we had a village wide celebration and had around 450 present.  We had amazing testimonies by three of our team: Sandi Reed, Devin Bradley, and Dan Hunter,  Lives were touched as they heard about the Living Water that changes hearts for eternity. The rain waited until about 5 minutes after we concluded- then we we experienced a huge dose of what Belizians call "Sky Juice."

Our ladies held a community wide "Ladies Social" on two of the days.  We saw numerous women come and enjoy a craft, stories of life changing Water (Jesus), and a fresh baked treat.  The women enjoyed it immensely, and we know of several that prayed to receive Christ.  In the chaos that ensued, we were unable to do much in the way of follow up, so please pray that the life God began in these ladies will continue to grow and flourish.  You will hear more about this trip on Sunday, December 4.  Lots and lots of stories….

Again, I want to thank John and Sue Eve (leaders of Rowkids) for leading this trip and oveseeing its success.  I want to encourage you to go on our next water mission trips in May and November of 2012.  You will love the example of servant-leadership that the Eves provide.

 

I hope you will consider being on one of our mission adventures in 2012.  Would you like your face in one of these mission team pictures?  See all of our 2012 Mission Trips at lccreach.com  Our next soonest deadlines are for GUATEMALA and ATLANTA'S DREAM CENTER.  Click on either of these and find out how you can go.

 

Thankful and Expectant....

You guys are amazing! In the last month our little church has touched literally thousands of lives in Jesus' name.  I have never been in a church (and next year will be 30 years in ministry) that is actively in love with the community like you guys are.  Thank you for making my 'job' so fulfilling.  None of this is possible without so many great volunteer leaders.  I won't try to name them because there are so many I am sure to forget someone.  Here are some higlights:

Clothing Connection- a couple thousand people came  and got literally tens of thousands of articles of clothing- for free.  Best/largest volunteer army in the history of the Clothing Connction.  Help us next year?                              

Karios Prison Retreat- Great Cookies!!!  We got over 400 dozen from LCC alone.  We will do it again in March so please help us try to top 500 dozen!  We had more people praying for the retreat than ever before, and our BBQ KREW cooked their signiture chicken to all the guys on the retreat.  The KREW is known like a group of rock starts at Ridgeland Correctional Facility.  

Small Groups- there were a number of groups that got outside their comfort zone and served- way to go!!!!

Jump in and serve with us- here are two ways right now:

Operation Christmas Child- last chance to get a box this Sunday and pack it for a child somewhere in the world who has never experienced a Christmas gift.  Bring them back this week- your absolute last chance to turn them in is November 20

LowCountry Build Team needs carpenter skills Nov. 15-19.  You can come for part or all of the project.  Check it out HERE.

Mission Team Prayer Alert!  This team is leaving Saturday the 12th for Belize.  Please pray for them each day.  If you would like to be part of our prayer blog, email seve@lowcountrycc.org  and get on the email list.  Please pray for: (back row left to right)- Devin Bradley Daren Tremblay, Van Gauby, Joe Friesen. (Front row) John Eve, Patty Friesen, Ann and Dick Tullie, Dan Hunter, Sue Eve, Linda Peterson (Sandi Reed and Nic Eve are  not shown).  Thanks for lifting us up.

Would you like your face in one of these mission team pictures?  See all of our 2012 Mission Trips at lccreach.com  Our next soonest deadlines are for GUATEMALA and ATLANTA'S DREAM CENTER.  Click on either of these and find out how you can go.

Cookie Monster NEEDS You!

 

We need you to deliver your Karios Prison Cookies to the church office on Tuesday or Wednesday of THIS WEEK  (18/19).  If you lost your recipe card CLICK HERE.  We're changin' lives one cookie at a time.  Touch a hardened convict with a profound touch of kindness.

  We have a "clothing emergency"- we have the most clothes we have ever gotten  and are under a mountain of fabric!!

WE NEED 'SORTERS' ASAP!!!!!!     Drop by the church any time between 9am and 8pm- Tuesday through Thursday (18-20) and help us sort and set up.  Give us any time you have, and together we'll help change the world! 

Not A Fan...

I have been reading a book that has really 'messed up' my life. God has used this book to speak to issues deep in my life and make me think about issues in our church (and THE American Church).  In a book filled with Scripture, stories and humor, Kyle Idleman says things that rock you to the core, but he does so without resorting to guilt/shame.

'not a fan' just came out this summer and I am asking a number of my closest friends to read it to see if it hits them the way it did me.  The author is so transparent about his journey from 'fan' to 'follower' that you will be compelled to look at your own relationship with God and see which one describes you.  You may be in for a surprise…

Of course you can find it online, but 'Heaven Sent', our local Christian book store is going to match or beat any online price (and no shipping!).  They are inside The Scottish Mill Store (on 278).  Here's a MAP.   Ask for "not a fan" by Kyle Idleman (Zondervan). The store said they would have an order of them in by this Saturday.

Should you get the book and read it, let me know what you think.

 

On a personal note…  I told you a couple of weeks ago that my wife Patty's brother was in the process of dying of cancer.  Well, she just called in tears and it looks like it could be today.  He has been suffering so much that we are praying that it will be today.  I feel so helpless to help Patty and her family as they are in California.  Not all of her family  (10 siblings) know God so please pray that God's love and peace will shine through Patty even in these worst of times.  Gary's wife Robin and their kids could really use your prayers.  Thanks...

 Think about it- people are dying all around us and we HAVE to let them know of the love of Jesus. It sure won't cost you much to invite someone headed away from God to come to "FRIEND DAY" on Oct. 23.  Your invite is truly a matter of life and death!  

Also, your Kairos Cookies could go to the most hardened criminal at the Ridgeland Prison.  Just one more way to touch a life with Jesus' love.  Here is the COOKIE RECIPE.   Remember to drop them on Tuesday or Wednesday (Oct 18/19)  

 Thanks for partnering with me in The Kingdom.

 Joe