We are just 48 hours away from our 2007 Chest of Joash service. Please be in prayer for God to move in a mighty way as we sacrifice like never before. I can’t wait to hear the stories of those that stand at the chest this year. It is going to be awesome!
What an awesome news story! One of our staff members, Pastor Andy, one of our members, Luke Laney, and one of Luke’s employees all became famous last night and this morning on WBIR Channel 10 news. You can find a link to the news spot if you click here.
I just wanted to take a moment and tell C Laney and Sons ‘Thank You’ for all you do for The Gathering. You guys truly are a blessing and it is an honor to be your pastor. You exemplify what the spirit of Christmas is all about!
I just wanted to take a moment and say ‘THANK YOU’ to every person who calls The Gathering their family. The response to Review… Renew… Outdo… was incredible! I believe that God is calling our church to another level in 2008 and by the response with your financial commitments - you believe it as well.
Just imagine - in just 12 short months we are going to be ready (God willing …) to move into our new church facility. You guys have really stepped up this year and I wanted to tell each and every one of you - Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Words cannot express how grateful I am that God has brought you to The Gathering. I pray that in the coming years we grow closer to God as well as closer to each other.
God Bless!!!
ps - We’ll all be AMAZED at what God does at The Chest of Joash this year… Remember - great sacrifice = great attention.
Did anybody see this article in The Mountain Press the other day? C Laney and Sons deserve a standing ovation for their tireless effort. I can’t imagine putting together ONE bicycle … could you imagine 1,500???
That being said - I am so blessed to be able to give back to our community. Christmas at The Gathering is right around the corner and we are going to have the largest Christmas Party in Sevier County. If you haven’t already done so - sign up to serve our community by helping us give away all of these bicycles as well as food baskets and other toys! We need help December 17th - 21st. The first and last days will be set up and tear down and the other days (18th - 20th) will be the days that we serve BUT, there is NO job unimportant. The person who helps set up the table is just as important as the person who personally loads a brand new bike into a car. All that you have to do is SIGN UP IN THE LOBBY!!!
I can’t wait to see what God does as we serve our community this year … because EVERY child deserves Christmas!!
One meal down and how many others await? No one can make dressing like my wonderful wife. De De Mitchell brought me some low cal sweet potato casserole with a little brown sugar and melted marshmallows. Also I am waiting on God’s Team, the Dallas Cowboys to stomp the New York Jets while munching on some praline cookies. I am placing a bet with Mitch Mitchell that Joey Matthews will out eat anybody in the entire county.
Hope you are having a wonderful Thanksgiving Day! See you in church this weekend.
Gene
It is incredible for me to think that our church will celebrate its 7th Birthday the 2nd week of January 2008!
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday we have purposefully planned to have our Pledge Weekend fall on two consecutive weekends!
November 17th & 18th
&
November 24th & 25th
Last year we had 138 families turn in their pledge during the months of November and December. This year in one weekend we have had 103 families make their pledge. Last year those 138 families pledged almost 5 million dollars. This year I am praying for an additional 3 million dollars in pledges. This is so easily accomplished if everyone will do their part.
I am asking our entire church family to do two things during these next two weeks:
FIRST: Pray about what the Lord would have you and your family pledge toward our Great Investment campaign. Remember, we are no longer building only one building, we are now constructing two separate buildings!
SECOND: Bring as much of your pledge as possible to The Chest of Joash Offering the first weekend of December, December 1st & 2nd, and EXPERIENCE The Chest of Joash. Come expecting a miracle and prepare to be amazed!!!
I say it ALL the time, I pastor the greatest people in the WORLD!!!
Love ya,
Pastor Gene
Click on the link below to watch our Land Update that we showed in our services November 3rd & 4th.
http://thegatheringfamily.com/LandUpdates1107.htm
Click on the link below to watch our new virtual video of The Lodge that we will be breaking ground on in 2008!!!
I just thought that inquiring minds might want to see the conceptual of the lodge …
It’s finally upon us. Pledge Weekend. This coming Saturday and Sunday (November 17th/18th) mark the first of two weekends where our church family will be turning in our pledges toward for our capital campaign. Last year there were 138 families that made three year commitments toward the campaign and this year we are praying for 138 more. Also, we are asking all of those that are still fulfilling their three year pledge to ‘Review…Renew…Outdo’ their previous pledge for the campaign.
We have added an addition 27,000 square foot of building with our new Retreat Lodge bringing the total of the new church facility and the lodge to around 70,000 sq feet. As Chuck and Rosemary talked about this weekend in their interview … The National Average for the buildings alone should cost around $300/sq ft without the cost of the land. After some quick math that means that we should be paying 21 Million JUST for the buildings - Once you add in the cost of land, audio/video, etc … the total is more like 34 Million. Our bill - land, buildings, audio/video, EVERYTHING is $10.6 Million.
See, because of the low cost of our total project, your pledge toward the capital campaign right now has more value than it ever will again. That’s why we are inviting everyone to be a part of something bigger than yourself. Trust me, You can’t outgive God … I’ve been trying for 26 years.
You guys are the best! I can’t wait to see the miracle unfold as we march toward pledge weekend. God bless!!!
Ok - I’m writing this post so that I can help clear up some of the confusion surrounding the Pledge drive and the Chest of Joash service. See, we have just launched our Review … Renew … Outdo … campaign where we are asking those who have made a pledge to The Great Investment to pray for the next two weeks about how they should increase their commitment to our building campain AND we are giving an opportunity to make a pledge to all those that are new to our church. The big question is … (drum roll please!) ….
How does all of this work with the Chest of Joash on December 1st and 2nd??
It’s very easy. Pledges are to be brought to church on one of the two pledge weekends (November 17th/18th and November 24th/25th). After you have made your pledge, bring as much of your pledge as possible to the Chest of Joash service on December 1st/2nd. The sacrificial offering that you make at The Chest of Joash service is your first contribution toward the pledge that you made the week prior.
Does that make sense? I know that all of those on my faithful blogroll already knew all that but I had to post it just so I could begin to clear the air.
Just keep your ears open at the service this weekend - we will continue to explain it so that every one is on the same page ….
You guys are the BEST!!