I’ve been with 170 men from the North Atlanta Church this weekend. I came to do the speaking, but I wound up being the one inspired! Just to see this group of guys “wrapped in different shades of skin” (as Don M. would put it) — guys on fire for their faith — was powerful. Along the way, I got to hear several guys tells me amazing stories of transformation.
I’ll preach there this morning and then head back home. Have a wonderful Sunday.
I know that they blessed you but I also know that you blessed them. You will be missed this morning but I am glad that you are able to touch so many different lives. I love that you are willing.
If there is a church that is impacting their community MORE than Donnie and the believers at North Atlanta, I sure want to meet them.
If you want to experience “salt and light”, go visit them.
It’s amazing how just being humble servants in your community can impact the lives of SO many.
May God continue to bless my brothers and sisters at N. Atlanta!
DU
P.S. No doubt you were a blessing to them this weekend Mike!
I spoke to you for a few minutes this morning. So glad you were able to bless us and be blessed in return!
I hope you got a chance to meet and visit with Hal Runkel while you were there. He’s a member at North Atlanta with Matt Elliott and Major Boglin and the gang. His whole “ScreamFree Living” organization (www.screamfree.com) is such a fantastic resource! Even though his book on parenting and other materials are not expressly Biblical in their focus, I believe he is sharing an important ministry by equipping people to revolutionize their relationships. Given his rising national prominence, I think God has put him in a position to be a tremendous witness. I hope your time in Atlanta finished strong today. I know it’s always good to encourage and be encouraged by fellow disciples in other places - and it’s always good to get back home.
Praying you have a safe trip. God bless you brother.
Thank you, Mike, for allowing God to pour through you the gift of preaching this weekend. I was truly blessed by the way you shared God’s word and your life at the same time. I am convinced that this weekend will spark increased involvement at North Atlanta. May God bless you, your famlily and your church family!!
I am going to work with North Atlanta on my Spring Break Campaign in less than two weeks! I, too, was inspired by hearing Don speak at Lectureship and at Highland in September, and that sparked my interest in leading a group from ACU to come partner in serving with this great church for a week. We will be hosting a VBS for Latino children to help them get their brand new Latino ministry off the ground. I cannot wait to see what the Lord is going to do during that week, but I anticipate being richly blessed!
Great news Mike - thanks. IMO - Don’s greatest gift is his vision for the future. We need more visionaries today. And, lest, someone think the transformation of North Atlanta from a typical homogenous suburban church to a multi-racial and cultural meteor has been a piece of cake… The most profound thing Don said in September was something to this effect —
Everytime we (North Atlanta) made a major decision, we would take a step backward and lose a few folks before we moved forward.
North Atlanta has the video of your sermon and powerpoint notes up on their web site.
http://69.15.236.170
Hope you are home safe. My daughter, Whitney, has been in Abilene this past weekend and returns to Florida today.
Peace.
Mike - It was great to hear you preach on Sunday and nice to finally talk with you face-to-face! My husband said he really enjoyed the retreat and can’t wait to talk baseball with you!
Hope you’ll come back!
Save the hairdresser, the middle school student, the flight attendant, the high school senior, the preacher, and the college student; SAVE THE WORLD! Thank you for your call of service, giftedness, and ministry.
Thanks, Roger, for the shout-out, but I’m actually at Campus Church — not North Atlanta. We have no fellowship with N. ATL due to their unwillingness to take a stand on the controversial use of provocative footwear in public worship. They’ve also been known to clap and make sport after a baptizing, or maybe it was after a basketball game in their so-called “Family Life Center.” (I can’t be bothered with details.) To sum up, we have nothing to do with their unfruitful works of, um, unfruitful-lessness. So there.
My bad, Matt. Didn’t mean to connect you with such rowdiness! Chemaine and I will have to catch up with you and Lela soon.
Thanks for the link Steve - that was a great lesson Mike.
I’ll be attending ElderLink at North Atlanta in a few weeks. Looking forward to hearing Jack Reese!
I enjoyed getting to hear you Sunday. I tried to catch you to say HI but I was busy taking care of some of that rowdy basketball stuff we do at NACC.
One of my elders wants me to make sure everyone knows I was kidding.
Of course, I would have thought that the phrase “provocative footwear” would have clued everyone in…
I caught the sarcasm and joined right in but my comment may not have coveyed the sarcasm intended. I LOL at the “provocative footwear” comment.
Did you get your stash of “Trader Joe” things while there?