• Karen and the Boys are off to Texas
• I’m In Mourning (SAD Day for Pastor Gene)
• Coach Phillip Fulmer has a NEW Fan, That man was a Class Act at the Lord’s Child 1st Golf Tournament.
• Joey Mathews you did a great job on the Golf Tournament. So Proud of YOU!!
• Make sure you enjoy the weekend and sit back and do some cooking out.
• A Pastor Friend, Steve Furtick from Elevation Church, sent Karen and I some Cheese Cake from the Cheesecake Factory, I’m eating all of it. Why? Because I’m all alone and in mourning for my wife!!
• Karen has followed me for 23 years and left her family to help me start this church. I guess she can go see her Mom and Dad since I get her back in 10 days.
• Until then I guess I will do some Coon Hunting. Somebody has got to do my job.
• See You at The Gathering this weekend.

gene

I have never been so proud of our church…

I HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE PROUD!!!

• Proud of The most AWESOME Staff in the Entire World
• (Terri Danis) You are Leading our Life Development Department to a “HOLE-NOTHER LEVEL”
• Pastor Scott, you are going to do fantastic with the Entire STAFF!!
• Karen, you are awesome, The best wife in the world. (Love Serving with YOU in HIS Kingdom)
• Choir, Thank-you for YOUR TRUE Faithfulness. Weekend and Week Out.
• Most of All the People of The Gathering, I set in 5 Services this weekend and watched you take notes.
• SO proud of ALL that come to church TO LEARN. You make me study hard every week!!
• OUR CHURCH, YOUR CHURCH IS GROWING UP SPIRITUALLY and I LOVE IT!!!
• GOD IS SO PROUD OF YOU!!!!
• OUR VOLUNTEERS YOU ROCK, We can’t do it without YOU!!
• OUR GIVERS the people that give so faithfully every single week you get paid.
• The FULL TITHERS you are helping us RELOCATE this entire church in the next 9 months.
• To All of OUR GIVERS you are going to be so PROUD of YOUR NEW church Campus.
• 4th OF JULY is going to Rock, all I can say is get READY!!
• Don’t Forget Coach Phillip Fulmer (UT Head Football Coach) and the Lord’s Child Golf Tournament this WEEK!!
• Berry Blast for the kids this June it is going to be fantastic night.
• I could brag on all of the NUMBERS at The Gathering but, everything is UP, UP, but better yet WE as a CHURCH are going UP, UP, with our GREAT GOD.
• Karen and I are up watching the Great Country Music Awards. (Love Rascal Flatts)
• Got to go If I don’t read a little about these Ole Coon Dogs tonight it might hurt God’s Feelings. Ha Ha (Coon Hunting is Holy)
• Chuck and Luke Laney you guys are absolutely the BEST it is an HONOR to be YOUR PASTOR!!!!!

gene

pastoring the greatest people in the entire world….

please call pastor warren and get in a small group this summer…..

you can join the church next Sunday call pastor bobby…..

try volunteering this year… call april bradley……..

The Lord’s Child Leadership Luncheon

This past Wednesday we held our first ever Lord’s Child Leadership
Luncheon.  For those of you who know me - you know that I have always
been extremely passionate about leadership and have read thousands of
books by men and women of influence.  As a matter of fact, one of my
favorite quotes by John Maxwell is ‘Everything rises and falls with
leadership’ and this week The Lord’s Child hosted the first of many
networking and development luncheons for leaders in East Tennessee.

It was such a blessing to see the hundreds of business men and women
of faith from our community assemble together in one place.  I was
truly overwhelmed to see that there were so many different churches
represented.  My vision is that if we, as leaders, could cut across
denominational boundaries and be the church of Jesus Christ, the
church that He died for, then, together, we could show the love of
Christ to impoverished children and families all across the
Appalachian region.

At each one of our luncheons we are bringing in established and proven
leaders who will not only challenge us to become better leaders, but
also give insight to how crucial it is to uphold christian values in
our realm of influence.  This week, along with an incredible meal, I
interviewed Jim Haslam, the founder of Pilot Corporation, who shared
stories and principles of leadership with all of us.  But, the message
was two-fold.  Not only do we need to act with integrity in our
businesses, we also need to be proactive in our communities.

It was a great lunch - the team did a great job putting everything
together!!  Until next time - God Bless!!

Gene

There are TWO Ministries at The Gathering that actually function as ONE. Our First Impressions and Life Development Teams are doing a phenominal job! Terri Danis heads this team along with April Bradley. They recently acquired two more A players on their team, Warren Broomer and  Bobby Wright. Both of these men have pastoral experience and will play a vital role in helping us  desciple our church family here at The Gathering.

 Our First Impressions is responsible for the WOW factor when you pull onto the church campus. This area of ministry consists of grounds, parkers & greeters, ushers, maintenance and the bookstore.

Our Life Development oversees our small groups,  membership, volunteers, security team, mailouts and Gene & Karen Events. They are essentially responsible for making sure people get connected!

 As with all the other staff here at The Gathering they also have a great team of volunteers. I am so proud of how hard the staff has worked the past few weeks in these two areas of ministry. They have surprised even me in how tenacious  they are in  their approach. They are committed to making sure our members and attendees are growing in their faith.

You guys (and gals) are the BEST!!

gene

• Took a Nap today, Can’t Sleep!! 12:13 AM
• Five Services are Exhausting!!
• Coach Bruce Pearl (University Of Tn. Basketball Coach) was at The Gathering today. SUPER NICE GUY!!
• The Gathering is GOING FORWARD it is in the AIR!!
• Seth and I went Coon Hunting tonight for 1 hour, it was a Great Time. Father and Son outing, I love to hear Seth talk, He reminds me so much of me. Full of it!! (Corey Hates to Hunt)
• Seth Is my Last Hope???
• Corey got to meet Bruce Pearl and he is going to three different Basketball Camps this summer. He is Pumped!!
• Pastor Scott is our New Executive Pastor, He’s in charge of all Hiring and Firing and Running the Day to Day Operations of The Gathering. Thank You Jesus!!!! Pray for Him, he is a very wise young man.
• Chuck and Luke Laney are doing a Great Job on Our New Building, I’m Addicted to going there Everyday. You Can’t go. Why? Because they will throw you off the job-site. They are getting sick of seeing me!! So now I sneak out on Sunday afternoons.
• Don’t Miss Mothers Day it is going to be exciting.
• I Love The Gathering so much and I’m so excited about this Series, Why? Because Our church is Not Going to be the Same. EVER AGAIN!!!
• 7 Prayers that are going to change your LIFE. Don’t Miss it, be in church it is going to be the ride of your life.
• David May is in Kenya, it is such an honor to know that man. I love him so much. Please pray for him this week.
• Lord’s Child is Rocking, it is the TICKET!!

Love Ya, I’m done blogging.

Tomorrow is my day to fast. I’m fasting for 19 Miracles and Two Red Sea Miracles.

Gene