A Great Christmas Eve Service!

It was a great way to close out the year with two Christmas Eve services at the red barn. Milo and his dad Marvin did a great job leading us in Christmas worship songs. Several commented to me this was one of our best services we have had at the barn. I heard CJ Cauble did a great job in my absence last Sunday. I am grateful for him and his family and what they mean to our church. I also am excited to have Jim Crittendum speak this Sunday. Jim works for our International Mission Board responding to counseling needs to our missionaries. You will get to hear firsthand how the money you have given this Christmas for the Christmas offering is making a difference globally. I look forward to being with you January 10 as I share my state of the church address. I can't wait to share with you what God is stirring in my heart. Blessings, Pastor Tommy

Christmas Eve at red barn!

I am looking forward to our two Community Christmas Eve services at the red barn (6 pm & 8 pm). This has quickly become a tradition for many not only in our church, but also in our community. Don't forget to bring your "Christmas Offering" with you. No greater gift can you give this Christmas than the financial gift that will enable many people to hear the good news of Jesus Christ.

Don't let all the commercialism of the season keep you from the reason of the season.

 

Hope to see you and your family this Christmas eve!

 

Pastor Tommy

 

Former University of South Carolina Quarterback Garry Harper To Speak This Sunday: "Husbands Who Love & Lead"

 

Don't miss this Sunday as we conclude our message series, The Perfect Family Christmas, with guest speaker Garry Harper. Garry played for the Gamecocks from 1977 - 1980. During his senior year in 1980, he was the QB who handed the ball off to the eventual winner of the Heisman trophy that year, running back George Rogers (see above reunion picture). Garry had many accomplishments on the field, such as leading South Carolina over Michigan; it was one of  the biggest victories in school history. They went on the Gator bowl that season.

 

In spite of his success on the football field, Garry is most proud of his family. His wife of 27 years, Karen, will also be with us Sunday. He is the proud father of Shane, Daniel, and Kara. All three kids are in their twenties and are passionate about Jesus Christ. Garry has an incredible testimony of how he came to know Christ by a fellow teammate. His life has never been the same! I came to know Garry as a middle school student at Taylors First Baptist where Garry was a member at the time. He and Karen were my discipleship teachers and they were great models for me of a Christian marriage. They will be great models for you as well.

 

After graduating from USC, Garry spent 12 years with IBM and resigned in 1992 to attend New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He majored in Old Testament/Hebrew. He spent 10 years as a full-time Baptist minister. In 1999 he entered back into the business world and became a VP for one of the largest Auto ID industry distributors in the US. He is now a Client Exec for Agilysys in Greenville. He is a member of the Spartanburg School District 5 School Board and is a Chaplain for the Spartanburg County Sheriffs office. He is a member of NewSpring Church Greenville.

 

Garry says his purpose in life is to "Cause God joy and to point people to Jesus where I am every day and in every way. I love to be prepared at all times to give a defense for the hope that is within me, yet with fear and reverence.  I love ALL people because of the love of Jesus that is in me."

 

You don't want to miss this Sunday! We have a special treat for a lucky Clemson fan. Bring a friend!

 

Pastor Tommy

 

This Sunday "Christmas Offering" Live Chat With SBC International Missionaries Tim & Anna N. Stationed Off African Coast

This week you will be receiving your Christmas offering letter in the mail. For the last two Sundays we have shown videos of how your offering goes directly to support over 5,000 Southern Baptist missionaries who are all over the world. Did you know that Southern Baptists, through our annual (Lottie Moon)l Christmas offering, are able raise support for our missionaries so that they can go to the field without having to raise their own support. One such couple on the field is Tim, Anna, and Judah (last name withheld). They have been an active part of our church over the last year and a half. They are now on the field and are at language school. We are going to call them Sunday morning using Skype and hear firsthand how God is at work. Remember, you judge a church not by it's seating capacity but by it's sending capacity. So, I will see you Sunday. Please give prayerful consideration how much God would have you give for this year's Christmas offering.    

 

Red Barn Christmas Eve Services

Last year over 300 people attended our Christmas eve services at the Red Barn. Like last year, we will be offering two services at the same time: 6:00 pm and 8:00 pm. I am excited about this year as we have worked to really simplify the evening. In fact, Milo Wilson has made an instrument he will be playing that night. You don't want to miss it! Please bring family and friends!

 

See you Sunday!

 

Pastor Tommy

 

Parents Who Guide This Sunday at Ridgeview

 

Pictured above is our family's dinner table. We bought it at Wal-Mart 10 years ago. It is certainly not the most expensive piece of furniture we own (have you checked out the prices on Pottery Barn furniture?) but it is certainly the most important, especially as it relates to Parents Who Guide. Ephesians 6:4 states, "And fathers, don't stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord." I look forward to seeing you this Sunday at Ridgeview as I co-teach with my wife Tanya principles from God's Word on training and instructing children. Are we the experts? No, certainly not! We are on this parenting journey like many of you. We simply want to share some things we've learned from God's Word and some ideas for implementing His principles in teaching our two boys. I know you will take away at least one thing this Sunday to help you guide your kids in the way in which they should go.

 

See you Sunday! 

 

Pastor Tommy