Wilson Community Church : WCC News

GO DEEP

2010-08-19T00:00:00-05:00

BUILDING FUND

“Stepping into one of the boats, Jesus asked Simon to push it out into the water. So he sat in the boat and taught the crowds from there. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Now go out where it is deeper and let down your nets, and you will catch many fish.’” (Luke 5:3-4 NLT)

The nets - The nets represent our time and talent. You can join us on the journey by taking time to pray and use your gifts and talents for the Lord’s work as we prepare to move into this new property.

The boats - The boats represent our possessions and identity. You can join the journey by turning all your possessions and your identity over to God. What is Jesus asking you to give for Him to use?

The fish - The fish represents our calling in this world. We are called to be fishers of men. This new property offers an opportunity to be located in the center of the city as a visible and present “City Church!”

GO DEEP! Turn in your “Go Deep” pledge card today. Let it represent an amount that will require faith and sacrifice to give. Ask God to help you to give beyond your ability. Then, look at your nets and boat. What do you have? How can you give it asking God to multiply the gift? Bring your gift into the church. We need to have it by September 19, 2010.

Property Info-

· Type of Property: Former 6-plex Regal Cinema

· Address: 1705 Montgomery Drive , WILSON NC 27893

· Year Built: 1988

· Building square feet: 24,618

· Construction: Steel Metal Frame, Block, Stucco

· Acreage: 5.1 acres

· Estimated current appraisal value: $2.2 million

· Our purchase price: $285,000

· Financed by: NC Baptist Foundation, Inc.—We have been preapproved for an 80/20 loan for 25 years @6.25%. The monthly payment is estimated at: $1504.05

· Contract closing deadline: September 30, 2010

· Estimated amount needed at closing: $65,000 (Success goal)

· Estimated transitional costs: $10,000 (Go Deep Goal)

· After closing we will apply for a construction loan for the upfit. The NCBF is ready to make this loan based on future improved value.

Other information is available upon request by members. Email your questions to info@wilsoncommunitychurch.org

Hot Dog Eating Contest

2010-08-31T00:00:00-05:00

$ for Building Fund

How many hot dogs can you eat?

Join us after the Yard Sale for a fun Hot Dog Eating Contest to raise even more money for WCC's Building Fund. Contact Abby Propst for more details or to join the contest. More details on the Yard Sale Here.

Church-Wide Yard Sale

2010-08-31T00:00:00-05:00

for Building Fund

WCC member's are hosting a Church-Wide yard sale September 4th, 2010 next to Advanced Auto on Nash Street across from Checker's from 6AM-12PM. All sales will be donated to the WCC Building Fund. Volunteers should call the church office or Kristie Agee for more information.

Want to know more about the Building Fund? Click Here!

Beth Moore Simulcast

2010-08-31T00:00:00-05:00

Everetts Baptist Church

Join the ladies of Everetts Baptist Church for a Beth Moore Simulcast on September 18th.

Follow the link to register or for more details.

EVERETT BAPTIST CHURCH

Cost$20.00 (Space is limited so register today.)

Re-

2010-03-30T00:00:00-05:00

Sermon Series

What is “Re?” It is the new 4-week message series, beginning on Easter Sunday at WCC. The power of the Creator is the same resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead. This power is sufficient to handle whatever problems we face today! Join us for all four weeks:

April 4th —Revive my life!

April 11th —Reveal my true identity!

April 18th —Restore my relationships!

April 25th —Renew my passion!

Invite Cards

2010-03-18T00:00:00-05:00

Share with Friends!

Don't Forget to pick up extra Re Invite Cards this Sunday for your friends, family, and neighbors. The cards are a great tool to inform others about our Easter Eggstravaganza and upcoming services.

Candy & Egg Collection!!!

2010-03-18T00:00:00-05:00

For Eggstravaganza

We have a goal to collect 2,000 empty Easter Eggs and 5,000 pieces of candy for this years Easter Eggstravaganza. Candy suggestions are gummy bears, jelly beans and sweet-tarts. Please, NO chocolate. Your donations will be used to light the eyes fo the children who attend our Easter Egg Hunts for the Easter Eggstravaganza. You can also volunteer to serve at the event by signing up in the Lobby at CCS this Sunday.

Pearls of Wisdom

2010-03-08T00:00:00-05:00

Women's Retreat

April 9th at 6:30pm -10th at 9am to 9pm.

Our women have "Pearls of Wisdom" to share with you from the book of Titus, about how to mature as a woman of God. Join us as we have fun, study the Word, and get to know other women at this years women's retreat. It will be a weekend you don't want to miss.

Time is short so sign up quickly. A deposit of $15 dollars is due March 14th and the final payment of $15 dollars is due March 28th. If you need financial help, please speak to a host at the Women's Event table in the lobby of CCS this Sunday.

Please note that dinner will not be served Friday Night (just snacks) and breakfast Saturday morning will not be included. Please make arrangements to eat prior to arrival time.

One Big Day

2010-02-11T00:00:00-05:00

For Ministry Leaders

One Big Day 2010

Forward Momentum!
March 6, 2010

A Conference Designed for Volunteer Church Leaders
and Workers

Sponsored by the Innovative Church Community

Philip. 3:13-14 .... I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, [14] I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven.

The fifth annual One Big Day conference is set for Saturday, March 6 at Integrity Community Church in Burlington. This year's theme of "Forward Momentum" will help focus church leaders - both staff and volunteers - on what it takes to plan for progress, measure it and assess it.

For more information on the interactive workshops click here. To register and pricing information click here. For schedule and facility map click here.

Featured in 2010:

1) A single kickoff session focusing on "Forward Momentum" with some of the fine leaders in the Innovative Church Community
2) You can register in advance for the interactive workshops you would like to participate in. There are five workshop tracks to choose from this year. You can register for a complete track, or mix and match your workshops.
3) This year's Leadership, Worship, Small Groups and Life Development tracks will focus on
a) 'getting the ball rolling' toward positive change, and
b) sustaining that momentum.
4) Our new Infrastructure track will deal with understanding and catalyzing ministry in the light of current and future technological and social networking trends.
5) Each track features a built-in "open line workshop" specifically designed for your questions and whatever you want to talk about. OBD is one of the very few conferences anywhere that is designed to help equip your church leaders and workers all in One Big Day!

Church Services Cancelled Tomorrow

2010-01-30T00:00:00-05:00

We are cancelling both services tomorrow due to icy road conditions that are predicted to continue through Monday. Please stay home and be safe. Pastor Gary recommends you get up and have a family worship time on Sunday. Let the kids help. They'll love it!

Help Haiti

2010-01-15T00:00:00-05:00

We are still receiving gifts for the earthquake victims in Haiti.

Currently, North Carolina Baptists have 3 medical teams in Haiti. They had to fly into the Dominican Republic but the first team was able to get into Haiti on Friday (1-15-2010). The second team of 13 people got into Haiti on Wednesday (1-20-2010). They have been working hard at a hospital and meeting many needs in Haiti since January 15. We have taken in many medical supplies and we have bought supplies in the Dominican Republic and taken them into Haiti.

A third medical team arrived on January 24th. There are 13 people on this team. They are taking many needed medical items into Haiti. Right now the needs are medical and very specialized, but in the future we will have many more opportunities for volunteers with other skills to be used in Haiti. Potential volunteers can sign up on our website. We are looking at being involved in Haiti for a long time.

There will be a need for many volunteers in the near future. If you are interested in going please contact the NCBM office with and give your skills and your contact information. E-mail at gmoss@ncbaptist.org or call 1-800-395-5102 ext. 5606.

Make your checks payable to WCC and mark your giving envelope "Haiti Help." We will send your donations to NCBM.

Please continue to pray for the people in Haiti and pray that we will be led to minster in the place that God wants us to be.

What is the Advent Conspiracy?

2009-12-03T00:00:00-05:00

A movement of churches across the U.S. to restore the message of Christmas to its true meaning ...

Promise, hope, and a revolutionary love. So, what happened? What was once a time to celebrate the birth of a Savior has somehow turned into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists. And when it's all over, many of us are left with presents to return, looming debt that will take months to pay off, and this empty feeling of missed purpose. Is this what we really want out of Christmas? What if Christmas became a world-changing event again?
Welcome to Advent Conspiracy, a movement calling us to proclaim Christ in how we celebrate Christmas. Advent Conspiracy was started in 2006 by five pastors who decided to make Christmas a revolutionary event by encouraging their faith communities to Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More and Love All. The response was overwhelming and the Conspiracy was born. The vision for this project is a collaboration between Rick McKinley of Imago Dei Community in Portland, OR; Greg Holder from Windsor Crossing in St. Louis, MO; and Chris Seay of Ecclesia in Houston, TX.

ENTER THE STORY
Advent Conspiracy is a resource for churches to engage in authentic Worship and Giving at Christmas more fully – a simple idea for you to take and run with. Be as creative and bless those in need by giving relationally as God gave His Son to us at Christmas. No money comes to or through Advent Conspiracy. You decide where and how you would like to Give More to those in need. The concept behind Advent Conspiracy is simple…

[WORSHIP FULLY]
It starts with Jesus. It ends with Jesus. This is the holistic approach God had in mind for Christmas. It’s a season where we are called to put down our burdens and lift a song up to our God. It’s a season where love wins, peace reigns, and a king is celebrated with each breath. It’s the party of the year. Entering the story of Advent means entering this season with an overwhelming passion to worship Jesus to the fullest.

[SPEND LESS]
Before you think we’re getting all Scrooge on you, let us explain what we mean. We like gifts. Our kids really like gifts. But consider this: America spends an average of $450 billion a year every Christmas. How often have you spent money on Christmas presents for no other reason than obligation? How many times have you received a gift out of that same obligation? Thanks, but no thanks, right? We’re asking people to consider buying ONE LESS GIFT this Christmas. Just one. Sounds insignificant, yet many who have taken this small sacrifice have experienced something nothing less than a miracle: They have
been more available to celebrate Christ during the advent season. Looking for a few gifts that don’t cost a lot of money? Need some more ideas for relational giving? Head to www.RethinkingChristmas.com today.

[GIVE MORE]
God’s gift to us was a relationship built on love. So it’s no wonder why we’re drawn to the idea that Christmas should be a time to love our friends and family in the most memorable ways possible. Time is the real gift Christmas offers us, and no matter how hard we look, it can’t be found at the mall. Time to make a gift that turns into the next family heirloom. Time to write mom a
letter. Time to take the kids sledding. Time to bake really good cookies and sing really bad Christmas carols. Time to make love
visible through relational giving. Sounds a lot better than getting a sweater two sizes too big, right?

[LOVE ALL]
When Jesus loved, he loved in ways never imagined. Though rich, he became poor to love the poor, the forgotten, the overlooked and the sick. He played to the margins. By spending less at Christmas we have the opportunity to join him in giving resources to those who need help the most. When Advent Conspiracy first began four churches challenged this simple concept to its congregations. The result raised more than a half million dollars to aid those in need. One less gift. One unbelievable present in the name of Christ. For more information, including some videos, be sure to visit www.AdventConspiracy.org

Gift to Hope Station

2009-11-24T00:00:00-05:00

Sonny Allen and Pastor Gary presented a gift to Director Linwood Boykin of the Hope Station for $1124.00 this past Monday.

Pastor Gary, Sonny Allen, and Stephen Combs took a tour of the new Hope Station facility this past Monday, November 23rd. Hope Station Director, Linwood Boykin, was excited to receive them and take them on a tour of the building. They met many of the men that are living there in the men's dorm. They toured the food pantry and clothes closet areas that serve local families in need.

The Hope Station, which was started by the Wilson County Minister's Association, offers an integral connection between local churches and those in need in our community. Pastor Gary, who is a former president of the WCMA, believes that our church should work together with local churches and ministries to help meet needs in our community that are too large for any one church alone.

Pastor Gary says, "Why does every church have to start its own food pantry and clothes closet? Why not work together instead of building our own kingdom. Let's join God where He is already at work."

And God is certainly at work through the Hope Station. When the Pastor, Sonny, and Stephen presented Mr. Boykin the check for $1124.00 from our Whirlygig Festival booth, he was overjoyed.

Mr. Boykin said, "Thank you so much! You don't realize how far we can stretch this money to help the hungry and homeless. The need has never been greater. And your gift is so needed."

The ThanksGIVING Praise Service was amazing!

2009-11-23T00:00:00-05:00

Pastor Gary reports on the wonderful worship and giving our church experienced together at our November 22nd Thanksgiving Service.

The church was packed with excited worshipers this past Sunday evening, November 22nd, as we enjoyed one of our best ThanksGIVING Praise services ever! WCC's worship team, StedFast, was awesome! They really brought us together in worship and wove together a powerful evening. Stephen Combs and his team (too many to mention) worked for days in preparation for his evening and it showed.

What a blessing for me as pastor, to just sit (and stand) with our fellow members and be encouraged. The worship was moving. The cardboard testimonies were powerful. And as usual, I cried during the baptism video, as we watched all those who had been baptized in 2009. Didn't you love how Mikey Williams put this together? Especially how the baptism candidates changed from b/w to color as they came up out of the water.

I'm especially proud of how our members are growing in their understanding of the grace of giving. We're emphasizing the "giving" part in Thanksgiving. Families crowded around their shoeboxes, filling them with gifts of love, for the Operation Christmas Child effort, while our worship team continued to lead us. We put together 124 shoeboxes for Samaritan's Purse at this service. What a joy to help children around the world experience the love of Christ at Christmas. We also raised $431.00 to give to OCC to help with shipping costs.

At the end of the service we asked everyone to give an extra gift to our Christmas Benevolence Fund to help with local needs during the holiday season. As people left the service they dropped a total of $661.03 in the benevolence buckets.

How thankful I am today as I continue to think about the testimonies, worship, and giving of our church!

Whirlygig a great success!

2009-11-12T00:00:00-05:00

Sonny Allen, our Director of Contribution and mission events like the Whirlygig Festival, writes,

I would like to take a moment to say thank you to the more than 50 WCCers who volunteered at our Whirlygig booth this year. Your hard work and commitment helped make our efforts an awesome success!

I would also like to give special thanks to my WCC Whirlygig Team. Abby Propst, Amanda Manuel, Marsha Morris, and Mike McKinley all worked together as a team to help us bring the church to the streets. Each of these individuals went above and beyond. We couldn't have done it without them.

We sold 261 raffle tickets, 422 cotton candies, and painted untold hairdos! In the process we raised $1124.00 for the Hope Station, a local ministry that feeds the hungry and provides shelter for the homeless.

The rocking chair raffle drawing was done after the event and the winner was Amy Barfield of Wilson. Our pastor presented the rocker to Mrs. Barfield at his office. She was delighted to win.

We have mailed out thank you letters to all those who filled out raffle cards at our booth, thanking them for helping us to help the Hope Station.

Thanks again to all of you who worked with us at Whirlygig. This event could not have happened without your love and support!

His Servant,
Sonny Allen

Special Called Business Meeting - This Sunday

2009-10-30T00:00:00-05:00

This Sunday, November 1st, after the 11 AM service, there will be a business meeting to approve a motion by the WCC Trustees to sell the Barnes Street Building.

Immediately following the 11 AM service, we will call the members back into assembly for a vote on a motion from the WCC Trustees. We will excuse our guests after the benediction, take a 10 minute break, and then call the meeting to order at around 12:25 PM.

The motion by the Trustees will be as follows:

"We, the WCC Trustees, make a motion that the church accept the offer from Allan Bell to purchase the Barnes Street property for the agreed upon price of $140,000.00. The closing date to be set as January 29, 2010. This offer from Allan Bell has been properly signed by same and $1,400.00 in earnest money has been deposited in escrow. The Trustees unanimously recommend that the members approve this offer."

This offer will relieve the church of the liability that is currently incurred by the loan and upkeep of the building. The proceeds of the sale will go first to payoff the $97,577.00 equity line that is secured by the building. The rest of the proceeds will be directed as the Trustees recommend and the members approve in the 2010 budget, with preference going to payoff any other liabilities the church may have at that time.

The Pastor, the Pastor's Management Team, and the Trustees have met together and are in complete unity in this recommendation to the church. We are also encouraged that the buyer, Allan Bell, is planning to upfit the building as a place for Christian concerts and other Christian events.

All WCC members should prayerfully consider this matter and be prepared to approve this motion this coming Sunday.

Operation Christmas Child

2009-10-29T00:00:00-05:00

Share the love and joy of Christmas with international children who would never have Christmas without our help.

Help a Child in need receive a Christmas present this year, by participating with us in stuffing shoe boxes at our annual Thanksgiving Praise Service on November 22nd. We will provide plastic shoe boxes and delivery to Samaritan's Purse for shipping. You will need to bring the stuff that goes in the boxes. We recommend that you bring enough for each member of your family to stuff a box. This is a great way to teach your kids about the true meaning of Christmas.

What you will need to do/bring:

Select: Boy/Girl Select Age: 2-4, 5-9, 10-14 Include: $7.00 per box

Collect the following Gift Suggestions:

School Supplies: pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

Toys: small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A sketch, toys that light up or make noise (w/ extra batteries), Slinky, etc.

Hygiene Items: toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.

Other: hard candy and lollipops, mints, gum (please place all candy in Ziploc bag), T-shirts, socks, ball caps, sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (w/ extra batteries).

A Personal Note: You may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may write back.)

Do NOT Include: Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow globes or glass containers; aerosol cans
ember 22nd.

What the Church will Provide:
Plastic shoe boxes to be stuffed, Operation Christmas Child selection envelopes for each shoe box and rubber bands to close boxes.

Last year was a great success and everyone had a great time packing their gifts for other children in need. Join us this year at the Thanksgiving Praise Service and bring a friend.

Weekend Services Guest Speaker: Tom Bartlett

2009-10-15T00:00:00-05:00

Pastor Tom Bartlett will be speaking at our men's retreat at Camp Oak Hill this weekend. He will also be preaching at our Sunday morning services.

Tom Bartlett is the Lead Pastor of Celebration Church. He is primarily responsible for the overall leadership of Celebration and Sunday teaching. Tom has raised up a preaching team of 10 other individuals who work with him to speak at weekend and midweek services as well as other engagements. He has also developed a team approach to the entire ministry at Celebration. Tom also works with church leaders from the Wilkesboro area and across the state. Tom's life passion and purpose is two-fold; to raise up leaders and to teach with accuracy the Word of God.

Pastor Tom and his wife Carla moved to Wilkesboro in 2003 to restart Celebration Church. Celebration Church has grown from 30 to over 500 at times in worship in a town of 6,000 and was featured on a Nightline News program about Purpose Driven. CelebrationChurch was also awarded the 2006 Purpose Driven Health award. Tom and Carla have 5 children from ages 6 to 21 years old.

Education
Pastor Tom double majored in Church Ministries and Music from LibertyUniversity. He also holds a Master of Arts in Leadership and a Master of Divinity from Rockbridge Seminary with a Doctor of Ministry degree in progress from TempleSeminary. He is also a member of the faculty of FoothillsBibleCollege in WilkesboroNC

Discipleland Photos

2009-09-10T00:00:00-05:00

See pictures from our Discipleland Kick Off

Amy Wall reports on WCC Children's Ministry

2009-09-03T00:00:00-05:00

WCC Children's Ministry Director, Amy Wall, gives a report on how things are going since we've launched two new curriculums.

I am happy to announce that The Great Adventure Children’s Ministry has two wonderful curriculums taking place in both of our Sunday morning service. This Sunday marked our 8^th week with Splash Kingdom and our 1^st week with DiscipleLand.

Splash Kingdom is a children’s musical/play in a curriculum format for our children. The children will be performing on Sunday, October 25, 2009. Splash Kingdom is going to be one of the greatest plays that we have ever done at WCC! There are wonderful surprises like sign language, bubbles, ballet, black light and more within the performance. I pray that all of our church members come out to support our children.

DiscipleLand just started this past Sunday and WOW was it exciting. This curriculum is to help support the parents as they disciple their children spiritually. It gives the children disciple skills, memory verses, and Bible reading. I am happy that our ministry is following the Pastor’s theme for the church this year “Discipleship.” We believe that discipleship does not have to start with the adults. The Great Adventure Ministry is committed to the discipleship of our children and supporting parents as they disciple their children.

Our ministry went a step further by splitting our 4^th and 5^th grade boys and girls during DiscipleLand which is at the 11:00am service. I believe this was one of the best decisions that we have made in the ministry. The boys have a policy that Ms. Amy can observe their class from the hallway since it is an all boy room only. Of course, they had no problem allowing Pastor Gary in the room.

Many thanks need to be given at this time. Thank you to Pastor Gary for taking time from preaching this past Sunday and working in our ministry. Thank you to the Pastor’s Ministry Team for listening to God and putting the children’s ministry at the top of the priority list this year. Thank you to all of the Old and New Teachers and helpers who have answered the call to serve in the Great Adventure ministry. Thank you to the Great Adventure Leadership team for all of your hard work, seen and not seen. Thanks to their families who gave up many hours of wife and mommy time to see that this ministry got the best attention.

May God bless you all,

Amy Wall

Children’s Director

Splash Kingdom starts Sunday

2009-07-09T00:00:00-05:00

9:30am service

The new curriculum Splash Kingdom will be kicking off this Sunday at Wilson Community Church. The kids will enjoy many exciting aspects such as customized children's worship, age appropriate crafts, and activities. We aim to have one spectacular time, so come join the fun this Sunday! We look forward to seeing you there.

Promoting our Children

2009-06-16T00:00:00-05:00

Great Adventure Promotions and Hot-Diggity-Dog Picnic

6/14/2009
This past Sunday we celebrated the children's promotions at our annual Hot-Diggity-Dog Picnic at the Wedgewood Picnic Shelter. The weather was perfect for volleyball, playing on the playground and having fun visiting our friends and family. The children did a wonderful job providing entertainment as they sang "Our Big God" from the StedFast worship CD. As I watched them sing, I was reminded of how blessed our children are to be able to sing and dance for our Lord, and that they get to grow up in a church that sets them on fire for Jesus our Lord and Savior. Be blessed and know you are a cherished child of God.

Great Gift Ideas

2009-05-22T00:00:00-05:00

Give a strategic gift to the WCC children's ministry and make a difference!

Great Gift Ideas

“There you will bring to the Lord your burnt offerings, your sacrifices, your tithes, your special gifts, your offerings to fulfill a vow, your freewill offerings, and your offerings of the firstborn animals of your flocks and herds” (Deuteronomy 12:6 NLT).

Many of you have asked, “How can I give a strategic gift to the Lord that is above my regular tithe?” This is a great question. It is a wonderful thing to trust your finances to the Lord by tithing. It is an even more wonderful thing to give Him a gift above your tithe when you feel so inspired. Giving is one of the ways that we express our love and worship to God.

With this in mind we believe that the most “strategic” giving that you could make during this season is towards the improvement of WCC’s children’s ministry. We really want to raise the bar in this area. We feel called to pass a spiritual legacy to our children. We want WCC’s children’s ministry to be most excellent.

Take a look at this list and pick something out that you’d like to give to Jesus on behalf of our children:

· “Discipleland” Curriculum Review Kit $100

· General supplies needed $200 total (any amount)

· 3-4 storage cabinets $150 each

· Microphone/speaker kit $250

· Improved Signage $200

· 4-5 Rugs $50 each

· Discipleland Curriculum $1600 ($400 per quarter)

· Pack and play sheets Donate sheets

Simply designate your gift by naming the item(s) on your giving envelope and make your check out to WCC.

Parent Child Dedication

2009-03-19T00:00:00-05:00

Sunday, March 15, 2009, we helped several parents set their children apart in dedication to the Lord.