Our next event will be at The Coffee Company in downtown Elizabethton on Sunday evening, 6:30 PM on September 12th. This will be a time to learn even more about who we are as a ministry. I’ve been asked by quite a few people, “What is ‘The Gathering’ exactly?” I know, I know, sounds like a Stephen King movie! On this night we will begin to unpack what this new church is all about. We don’t make any claims that we are any better than the other churches around Carter County – we just don’t do things quite the same way – OK? Now if this makes us peculiar, strange, (you supply the adjective), that’s completely fine.

Our goal is to reach people and train them to be effective Christ followers and then send them back out to their sphere of influence to do the same. Sounds pretty simple but it’s not. If it was, all of our city would be following Christ. There is a definite disconnect from what Jesus wants for us and where people actually “are” in their lives. Somewhere along the line, the story isn’t getting through so we made a decision as we were fleshing out the vision God gave us for Elizabethton. Do we want to do what everyone else is doing and expect different results or do we want to better understand our culture and become relevant to them, while not compromising Truth? We have chosen the latter and yes, this makes us different.

It’s exciting, it’s tiring, it’s fulfilling, it’s purposeful, it’s challenging…my goodness, I could go on and on. As the pastor of this new work, God has allowed me to see many of the things He can accomplish through us if we follow after Him. This is our heart, this is our passion, and this has been our focus for over a year now. We can’t wait to begin unfolding things before our city and seeing lives changed as they are challenged by the truths that have been before us our entire lives, just never acted upon. Will you be there? Will you pass this along to someone else? Can’t wait to see you!

Thought it best to give you an update since we have had such a great weekend. But, before I do, I believe a disclaimer is in order. I want to emphasize that if you are currently attending a church where God has placed you for this season in your life, please do not consider our posts an invitation for you to leave your church. Your pastor needs you and by all means, serve where God has planted you. Our ministry does not want to be known as “sheep-stealers.” However, if God is dealing with you, make sure you understand what is being said before you act.

If you live in the Elizabethton area, you have likely seen that The Gathering is beginning to make our presence known. This weekend, a team of volunteers canvassed a 5 mile radius of downtown Elizabethton and knocked on doors. Our goal was to ask questions from a brief survey so we will know better how to minister to the needs of our community. In addition to the face-to-face encounters, we handed out over 1000 flyers Saturday and Sunday and placed 50 yard signs close to the major intersections for everyone to see. This weekend was busy and personally, I’m pretty tired, but I’m energized as well. I’m energized because a vision God laid on my heart is starting to take shape. As the momentum continues to increase I wanted to reach out to you.

I want to ask for your help. Don’t worry, I’m not asking for money (yet!) No, what I’m asking is for you to do a few things for us that won’t take but just a few minutes of your time. With modern technology and the expansion of social media, we are able to announce the arrival of The Gathering in a big way. I would like to ask you to do two things for us:

Please pass our Facebook page on to your friends and ask them to join our page.

Take this post and forward it to your email contacts and ask them to forward it on to their email lists.

Through this exponential action, we will be able to reach everyone that is anyone in the Elizabethton area. That’s all we’re asking for today – pretty simple isn’t it? You will find us on Facebook at thegatheringatelizabethon and our website is www.whatifitstru.com. When someone asks you if you’ve seen our signs or received one of our cards, you can tell them you received a personal invitation to be part of what God is doing through this new and dynamic ministry that is currently in its formation stage.

In closing (preachers say this alot), on Saturday, August 28th @ 6:30 PM @ T.A. Dugger Jr. High, we are going to have some great worship music and would love to have you and anyone you would like to invite, come and be part of this preview. (look at the 8/4 post “We’re Baaack” for more details regarding our schedule) Thanks for your time today – don’t forget the two favors!

Bryan Smith, Pastor

The Gathering @ Elizabethton has been progressing steadily for the past 7-8 weeks in preparation for the next steps in our formation.  Listed below are the upcoming events with a brief description.  We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you soon.  Our ministry has a new phone number (423)297-7017, so feel free to call or send us an email at bryan@whatifitstru.com.

August 21^st  

Saturday 8:30 – 1:00

Our goal is to knock on every door in the city of Elizabethon to make them aware of our ministry.  We are also asking several questions in a brief survey to take their “spiritual temperatures.”  We are estimating needing 40 teams of 2 people each to assist us in getting this done on that day.  We will be meeting at The Boys and Girls Club on Hudson Drive at 8:30 AM.  Each team will receive their assignment (map, survey sheets and handout material) and be given the instruction they need to make it a great day – and a fun day!

August 28^th

Saturday 6:30 – 8:00 PM
T.A. Dugger Junior High  at 306 West East Street
The Gathering @ Elizabethon Preview event #1   
Come experience great worship and learn more about what this exciting new ministry has to offer.  We are blessed to have with us, Ricky Hilton, as our guest worship leader.  Ricky is the worship pastor at Calvary Church in Johnson City, a native of Elizabethton and an incredible talent.  He will be leading worship with many of his original songs.

September 12^th  

Sunday 6:30 – 8:00 PM
The Coffee Company located at 444 East Elk Avenue
The Gathering @ Elizabethton Q & A session
Beginning on this date we will begin unpacking what this new ministry is all about.  We will meet each week at the same time and the same place and discuss what God is laying on our hearts and doing in our midst.  There will be childcare available.

September 25^th 

Saturday 6:30 – 8:00PM
T.A. Dugger Junior High at 306 West East Street.
The Gathering @ Elizabethton Preview event #2
In case you missed the first one, come and experience great worship and learn more about what this exciting new ministry has to offer.  This week, we are blessed to feature CURTIS as our guest worship leaders.  They are a local band headed by Andy Curtis that are quickly gaining a following for their passionate and hard-driving music style.

We are looking forward to seeing you at The Gathering for one or all of these upcoming events!

I’m writing today to provide an update of the status of our work on a new church start in the Elizabethton area. In my last correspondence to you, I wrote, “After selling our home in North Carolina and moving to Elizabethton, Angie and I have spent the last 7 months (now 9) in preparation for this new ministry. There is no question that Elizabethton needs what God has laid on our hearts, but we cannot carry the load ourselves. We have spent this time working on the strategy, designing ministry components and praying unceasingly, while keeping our eyes open for what He is doing around us…”.

Friends, this brings us to January 2010. As of now, there doesn’t appear to be enough of an interest to proceed at this time. On one hand, this breaks my heart and is very discouraging – not so much because of the time, effort and sacrifice on our parts, but because we know this type of ministry is needed here. On the other hand, we are very well aware that God knows what he is doing and if we are to proceed, it will happen on His timetable, not ours.

A good friend of mine recently put things in perspective for me. He said, “It’s like harvesting an apple orchard. First, you are contracted to do the work, therefore, you prepare yourself for the task. Secondly, you resource yourself for success. Thirdly, you lay your ladder against the first tree only to learn the fruit isn’t ready to pick.” No doubt, this is where we find ourselves at this time. We aren’t closing up shop and going to the house, but we are waiting on God.

I have said from the very beginning that I will not get ahead of God on this and I will not let my pride put me in a place that will hinder anything God has called me to do. Although I have heard from many inquiring as to the status of the “new church” I must reiterate (often to myself) that we aren’t working off our timetable, but His. I have also said from the start that I don’t have to be the one that makes it happen. If what I am doing is laying the groundwork for someone to come in behind me, then I have followed in obedience and done so.

As far as what we’re doing in the meantime, we’re still interested in meeting with anyone whom God may be speaking. I ask that you pray for what God is doing and still wants to do in Elizabethton. I promise to keep you up to date on any developments.

Bryan Smith

http://vimeo.com/7072300

1. What does running toward Christ and pursuing Love look like in your daily life?

2. John clearly tells us that “whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did” (I John 2:6). Are you ready and willing to make yourself nothing? To take the very nature of a servant? To be obedient to death? If your honest answer to those questions is yes, how are these intentions manifested in your life?

3. How would your life change if you actually thought of each person you came into contact with today as Christ? Think of who you passed on the roadway today, or stood behind in a line.

4. What are some of the ways we love “with actions?”

5. What are you doing right now that requires faith? Come prepared to discuss.

information meeting

that were a present far too small.

Love so amazing, so divine,

demands my soul, my life, my all.”

A few years ago my wife and I was privileged to hear the Rev. Billy Kim preach at our former church. His topic of discussion was “Kingdom Priorities.” In case you are unaware of Rev. Kim, he is the founding pastor of the Suwon Central Baptist Church in Seoul, Korea. He began the church in 1960 with ten people and at his retirement a few years ago, it was one of the largest churches in the world at over 15,000 members.

Rev. Kim told of how as a young man, he felt the call of God on his life to preach the Gospel. He had made friends with many of the American GI’s who were stationed in Korea after the war and came to the United States to receive his biblical education through one of these relationships. It was here he also met his future wife. Upon his return to Korea, where he felt God was leading him to reach his own country, Billy, along with the help of his American friends and his small group of church members, erected a small building in which they could have their church services. It was a sad looking structure made up of scrap lumber and discarded tin salvaged from the rubble around them. When they completed the project they had a place they could call their own.

Shortly thereafter, the ramshackle building bursting at the seams, Billy approached his growing congregation with a challenge. In so many words he told them they had to make a decision; Were they going to work on God’s agenda or their own? Were they willing to make whatever sacrifice needed for their struggling new church to go forward? It was time to look beyond their line of sight, venturing into God’s territory that only He could see.

I felt goose bumps as Pastor Kim shared with us the outcome of their offering that day. He said, “I cannot tell you the amount of money that was collected in that offering, but as long as I live I will always remember that amongst the currency, we counted 21 ladies wedding bands and 11 men had given their watches.”

Prayer focus

: Pray that God would give us a Kingdom focus like this congregation. May we see past the physical realm and into the spiritual. May we be so bold as to take God at His Word. May we grasp the opportunity God has presented to us and faithfully follow it through.

Even the title sounds scary! After last week’s Profile of the Lukewarm, it may be hard to look at oneself in the mirror. If this study is shaking you up, don’t be too disappointed – that is, if you are letting it be a catalyst for change in your walk with Christ. Let’s begin this week’s questions a little differently than we have in the past 4 weeks;

1. After reading this chapter, was there a particular phrase, story, or scripture reference that stood out to you? If so, why did it stand out?

2. “Church-goers who are lukewarm are not Christians.” After reading what Francis has to say about this, do you agree, disagree? What are your comments?

3. Following Francis’ line of thought (pg85), can a Christian be non fruit-bearing?

4. Read I John 2:3-4; Matthew 16:24-25 and Luke 14:3 Is there a difference in what is called “being a Christian” in today’s culture and what these verses say? Will you give some examples?

In the last paragraph of page 96 and continuing on to page 97, Francis offers a quote. Take a moment and read it aloud to yourself. Please describe your immediate feelings toward your relationship with God.

New book by Francis Chan  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MbT-IFTVxU

Great song to go along with our study  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxkzAjbvHck