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Launch Day @ New Community

  • Chris Hoffman
  • Feb 26, 2007

This thing we have been calling New Community came to life on Feb. 25th, 2007.  Our Launch Day was absolutely unbelievable.  251 people showed up to our Grand Opening Service (160 people from the community).  The energy was intense, the people were amazing, the band was rockin and the vision was cast for how we want to serve this community.  Below is a write up from John Wasem, who was present at our launch.  He really captures the day in his report.  Have a great week.

Grace and Peace....Chris Hoffman

New Community - a Christian Church launched today in Braselton, GA (NE of Atlanta off I-85) and as is often said - "God really showed up!" The forecast was horrendous and for once (unfortunately) the forecasters were right! As I was driving to the West Jackson Primary School, I began digging out my checkbook. I felt so badly for Chris, Dawn, and Sharon and the entire NC team that it was raining so hard that I wanted to re-write my offering check to make up for what would probably be a pitiful offering. When I pulled up to the school, the lot was full of cars. I figured (by the way, I have been told I am a staunch realist who would have never, ever planted a church without the deep, abiding faith of my wife) the teachers must have been stuck with a lousy, Sunday morning "in-service". Oh me of little faith. The place was alive and electric with people of all ages (although a huge contingent of 20- and 30-somethings hungry for truth, direction, and hope) drinking the best "new church plant" coffee I've ever tasted. Volunteers greeted all of us with umbrellas and smiles. And the people kept coming - 251, in fact! Wow.

I looked around the school. The children's ministry did a fabulous job of using the available space to create functional, joy-filled, colorful, and safe areas for the kids. What creativity! Dawn Hoffman and her team should be receiving an Oscar tonight for most impressive achievement in children's ministry! The worship area was also reflective of innovation in the face of school space limitations. Great lighting, projection, sound, seating, and even all the walls draped with cloth to transform what is probably a drab, predictable school box into a sanctuary of worship to the God of the Universe. Awesome.

Then Sharon Waddell and her three worship band members "cranked out" a powerful tune that brought all to their feet clapping resoundingly. I saw plenty of people with gray hair clapping energetically and no, I wasn't looking in a mirror! "In the name of love" established the church's core value and message (and I'm glad we ended with that song too). Sharon, the worship and arts director, engaged us all in powerful praise. If I ever host an event and want Bono to do a guest appearance, I'll hire Sharon because Bono will probably be busy and Sharon is just as good - you think I'm kidding, don't you? OK - 10:30 AM EST next Sunday come to NC and then email me and let me know if you still think I am kidding. In addition, the visual graphics were outstanding.

Chris Hoffman welcomed us and preached a fabulous core vision message all based on trampolines. The entire marketing focus leading to opening day was based on trampolines! www.comejumpwithus.com in case, once again, you think I'm kidding. What a powerful and creative metaphor to communicate the heart and soul of this new church. Chris ... awesome! His message based on Matthew 22:37-39 and First Corinthians 13:1-3 really "rang the bell" (Chris, did you really end up face-first in the springs of a trampoline trying to impress kids in your youth group or was that a "preacher story"?). Having traveled one of the shortest runways to launch that I have ever witnessed in church planting, Chris' faith, passion for God's Word, love for God and people, ability to listen and get in touch with the 60% of Jackson County who are unchurched, perseverance, energy, and ingenuity truly set the pace.

I didn't get to meet Donna Littleton who directs the business and administration ministries of the church, but, Donna, having planted a church with a four-month runway myself in 1994, I know you must be the MVP! And when Donna and her team counted the offering, they had to add over $1200 given as a "love gift" from the Stadia East new church in Columbia, SC (Crossmark Christian Church, Mike & Kim Cottle, planters) who even though they are 33 Sundays away from their own launch. Stadia East is the embodiment of interconnectivity and expressions like that one illustrate it beautifully.

Pray for NC that this faith community succeeds in retaining a maximum number of these opening day people. Pray for the staff and their hard-working volunteer teams. And if your neighbor is a weatherman, please tell him, "That's okay. God's work on earth just can't be rained out."

Reporting from Braselton, Georgia for Stadia East.

John