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

 

 

Thanksgiving weekend at Ridgeview!

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday for what is one of the special Sundays in the life of our church. It is unlike most Sundays we have, so let me fill you in on the plan:

 

a) All Growth Groups will be cancelled this Sunday.

b) Our morning gathering will begin at normal time (10:30 a.m.).

c) We will have a brunch in the cafetorium from 10:30 a.m. -11:15 a.m. You are encouraged to bring left-overs from Thanksgiving, pastries, etc. You also are encouraged to come even if you do not have any food to bring. We will have plenty of food. Remember, this is a brunch, not a full-fledged meal.

d) We will have the morning worship officially beginning at 11:15 a.m. The preschoolers will then be taken to their classrooms for an abbreviated teaching time.

e) We will have a time for you to share the things you are grateful for in your life (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

f) We will light the Advent candle to usher in the Christmas season.

g) I will share a short message on "Families that show gratitude" and then we will conclude with the Lord's Supper as we reflect on the greatest reason we have to be thankful this season: Jesus Christ.

 

Ridgeview receives 135 shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child!

 

Thank you Ridgeview Church for your generosity in donating shoe boxes filled with gifts for children that will go literally around the globe. It is a great way for you to be a bridge of God's love to kids who will experience the love of Christ in a practical way and they will have an opportunity to come to know Jesus as their Savior this Christmas. According to our records, we received 135 total shoe boxes! It has been a great lesson for all of us. Christmas isn't about getting, it's about giving! Special thanks go out to Liz Niles and Lainey Lee who made Operation Christmas Child at Ridgeview Church a success. I believe one day we will meet people in heaven who will thank us for the shoe box we sent to them and they were able to hear about the good news of Jesus Christ. That will be a wonderful day!

 

Ridgeview Christmas Offering

 

Did you know millions around the world have never heard the name Jesus? Did you know thousands around our community know about Jesus but do not know Him in a personal relationship? This year Ridgeview will receive the annual Christmas offering on Christmas eve at the Red Barn. During the 6:00 p.m. and the 8:00 p.m. services there will be a time for you and your family to come forward and give your offering. Fifty-percent of the offering will go to international missions through the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. The other fifty-percent of the offering will go to support local bridge events in our community (i.e. four single mom free oil changes, Good News Club, many servant evangelism projects, benevolence, community Easter egg hunt, mega sports camp, etc.). Please understand the nature of an offering. Many special offerings were held in the Old Testament. They were to be given over and above one's tithe to the Lord. You are asked to begin praying now how much the Lord would have you give this year. One rule of thumb our family keeps is this: we always give our biggest gift to Jesus during Christmas. After all, it's all about Him anyway.

 

See you Sunday!

 

Pastor Tommy

 

 

Health & Wealth Gospel

I am currently reading a great (but long) book by Randy Alcorn entitled, If God is Good: Faith in the midst of evil and suffering. Sooner or later every person who calls himself or herself a Christian will face suffering and adversity. It is not a sign of one's lack of faith in God- it's called life on earth that has been tainted by sin. Randy Alcorn says that prosperity theology teaches that God will bless with material abundance and good health those who obey him and lay claim to his promises. There are an abundance of tv preachers who espouse that theology every day. Just one problem: it wasn't the case in the life of Paul, who was beaten, stoned, shipwrecked, prayed 3 times for healing, and eventually was beheaded by emperor Nero. Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, and nearly all the prophets suffered "because they were righteous." John the Baptist was beheaded. Jesus was crucified.

If you are suffering (and you know it's not due to unconfessed sin in your life) take comfort in that you are in good company. They endured to the end. You can too. Compared to eternity, it will all be over in just a little while. Persevere!

Marriage & Family Therapist Jim Harbin To Speak This Sunday

Marriage & Family Therapist Jim Harbin To Speak This Sunday on "Husbands & Wives Who Relate Intimately" 

I am pumped about "The Perfect Family Christmas" message series and this Sunday's guest speaker, Jim Harbin. Jim is a marriage and family therapist at Piedmont Psychiatry. Recently, he has led seminars at Brookwood Church, First Presbyterian Greenville, and Taylors First Baptist. He brings years of expertise to the topic Sunday. I will be in the front row taking good notes. Bring a friend! 

Operation Christmas Child Collection This Sunday 

Last Sunday we addressed the topic "Families Who Serve." I shared with you how important it is to serve one another in your family as well as serving the Lord. I shared the importance of instilling in your children the value of service. Operation Christmas Child is a great way for you to teach your children the value of service and of giving. Last Saturday night my family went out to buy items for our shoeboxes. We sought to teach our boys why we were doing it. Please bring your boxes THIS SUNDAY as we collect them on the stage in the worship center. We will pray over these boxes and ask God to use them to connect many kids to Christ. What an opportunity! 

Thanksgiving Sunday: Brunch, Lord's Supper, No student and adult Growth Groups or Ridgekidz for grade school 

Thanksgiving weekend at Ridgeview is a very special Sunday in the life of our church. Please bring a small dish to share for brunch. We will  meet at 10:30 am- no Growth Groups at 9:30 am or Ridgekidz. Our preschool kids will gather with us at 10:30 am for brunch and then will be dismissed around 11:15 am for the rest of the service. I will share a message entitled "Families that show gratitude." We will also partake of the Lord's Supper. It will be a time for you to share how grateful you are for the Lord's blessings in your life.  

See you Sunday! 

Pastor Tommy 

This Sunday is a Big Day!

This Thursday through Saturday thousands of direct mail pieces from Ridgeview Church will be landing in mailboxes all over northern Greenville County. We are inviting the community to come to our church for what promises to be a great marriage and family message series. I do not have to tell you the trouble families are going through in our community. You see it everywhere and many of you have experienced pain in your own family. I believe God's Word can help! I am burdened by the crisis I see in families and as we go into the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday season, the problems will only be magnified for many. We have help available through God's Word and through His church like Ridgeview. It's one of many ways we want to bridge people to Jesus and the hope He brings this season.

So, with that in mind, Sunday is a Big Day! Guests will be arriving in our parking lot not knowing where to go. They will walk through the doors of Mountain View Elementary School with the number one emotion of fear. They will be wondering, "Where do I take my kids?" "Where do I go for the worship service?" "What kind of church is this?" "Do they handle snakes here?" "Am I going to be made to look stupid?" "Are they going to put me on the spot and embarrass me?" Many of these questions will be going through the minds of guests Sunday. We must be a bridge of God's love to them and make them feel welcome and comfortable.

How? How do we do that? Well, what if you had dinner guests at your home Friday night? The same principle applies. We need to warmly welcome them as they arrive in the parking lot. We need to have greeters at all entry points showing and walking with them to where they take their kids and the worship center. We must be more concerned in talking and welcoming our guests than our own church friends on Sunday morning. We must pray today, tomorrow, Friday, Saturday, and especially Sunday that God's Holy Spirit would not only bring those who need to be there, but their hearts would be open. We must smile!

I am excited about our message series. I promise you I have worked hard on the message Sunday and the message series to get everyone who walks through our doors the best help possible to improve their marriage and family. God's Word has the answers. Please pray He would use me and our guest speakers to clearly present it to every person present.

See you Sunday!

Tommy

The Perfect Family Christmas

I want to give you a heads up about our new message series that begins
Sunday, November 15 entitled, The Perfect Family Christmas. With the
approaching Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays at hand, many families
will be spending more time together. For some families these will be
sweet times of fun, joy, laughter, and wonderful memory making
opportunities. For others, it will be a dreaded nightmare. I am
burdened about marriage and families in our culture today. They are
under attack. The Perfect Family Christmas message series can't
promise to deliver you a perfect family, but I guarantee if you build
your family on the building block principles I will share each Sunday
from the Bible, you will see a dramatic improvement this season!

Here's the schedule. Please make plans to be here each Sunday and
invite those family members, friends, neighbors, and coworkers to what
promises to be an incredible message series!

November 15 - Families Who Serve
November 22 - Husbands And Wives Who Relate Intimately (Guest speaker:
Jim Harbin, Marriage and Family Therapist, Piedmont Psychiatry)
November 29 - Families That Show Gratitude (Thanksgiving Brunch)
December 6 - Parents Who Guide
December 13 - Children Who Obey And Honor Parents