LCC REACH

ATL Dream Center started in a crack house!

    About 7 years ago, a 'crazy' pastor and his wife heard  God call them from a rural mountain community in California to one of the most notorious neighborhoods in Atlanta: The Old Fourth Ward.  This is the neighborhood that Martin Luther King grew up in, and as the explosion of crack impacted Atlanta, became the center of the drug universe in the city.  The "Miracle Mile" runs right through the neighborhood.  this Mile stretch boasted  crack sales of over 1 million dollars per week.  It was on one of the streets directly off of the Miracle Mile that Paul and Patty Palmer  took all the money they had and leased a crack house- on a street filled with crack houses.

Recently, Paul drove me to that house, which became the church office and base of operations for the Atlanta Dream Center.  As we drove down the street, Paul told me the story of transformed lives which ended up transforming the entire block.  Now, there is not a single crack house on that street.  Pastor Paul stops and hugs people everywhere we drove- everyone knows and loves him.

The Atlanta Dream center has grown and now has a complex of buildings that is used to touch and care for the broken, lost, hungry, and forgotten people along the 'Miracle Mile".  They are a church completely focused on taking Jesus to the streets.

 LCC is taking 2 Mission Trips there in the next months.  THIS SUNDAY (Feb 5) IS THE DEADLINE for our February 24-26 weekend trip.  CLICK HERE to find out info or register for this trip.  We will also be sending a team of our college students (and any other young at heart adults) for a week long trip- May 15-20.  Pastor Rob will lead the trip in May, and I (Joe) will lead the weekend trip.  Let either of us know if you have any questions.

For all you married folks: 

Just a reminder that 'A Weekend To Remember' is coming to the Westin on Hilton Head February 17-19.  Even if you can't spend the nights at the hotel, this weekend will rock you and your marriage.  Patty and I are still feeling the impact of last year's weekend.  I can't recommend it highly enough!  If you join the LCC group, the cost is half-price!   CLICK HERE to get to our group site and register.  Your marriage is definitely worth $159!

 

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.