Communicator - May June 2015

VOL 1 | ISSUE 2 | May June 2015Based on the gift each one has

received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.

(1 Peter 4:10)

SURRENDER BECOME CARRY

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ORSOUTHSIDE

MINISTRYServeOthers

What does the Bible say?

SOUTHSIDE | MAY JUNE 20152

This spring has come to us with an abundance of allergic reaction. At least I do not think it is just me? In the midst of

feeling like death warmed over, my loving wife ministered to me with all the care possible. She got me medicine, treatment, drink, and allowed me to rest, even took on extra tasks so I could. I so appreciate her and what she does for me, week in and week out.

What she did for me is the theme of this newsletter. What does it mean to minister? In my article I mention that we teach in our new members class that it is meeting needs with love. That is what Janice did for me in the last weeks. She met my needs with the love she has for me as her husband.

We can minister to Jesus. If we love Jesus, we should minister to Him. I know that He has no needs as we do, but we have a need to min-ister to Him. I recently heard a part of a ser-mon preached by Tony Evans on the scripture found in Luke 17:7-10. In that scripture Jesus talks about a man with servants who work out

in the field all day. Jesus then supposes with us that the servant comes in at the end of the day and the master would not say, “sit down, have supper” but would rather command the servant serve him supper first. Tony Evans then said the reason we do not receive from God what we want is that we want before we serve!

Jesus said of himself that he came not to be served but to serve in Matthew 20:28. If we want to be like Jesus, we will serve. We start by serving Jesus. Then we serve others. It does not matter if we are served or not. God is in charge of meeting our needs as we serve Him.

As you look through this newsletter and its theme of ministry, you need to answer this question. Where do I serve? Are you just a re-ceiver and never a giver? God wants us to give with a generous cheerful attitude. We serve God when we minister to others. I pray that this newsletter will encourage and challenge you to be all that God wants you to be.

A word from our pastor

Stewart McCarterLead Pastor

[email protected]

Dear Family,

MAY JUNE 2015 | SOUTHSIDE 3

I have been in a church family all of my life and throughout that time, there is one statistic that I have heard quoted more than any other. If you have been part of a church family for longer than six months, I would guess that you have heard someone say it also. In fact it has been quoted so often that we have come to believe it is true. What is that statistic? Here it is:

Am I compelled or comfortable?Serving my church family:

That statistic may be true, but I personally think that it may be slightly better than that. Regardless, we often accept it as being valid, because of what we experience in our faith families. Do we deem it to be true because we see the same people serving in multiple ministries and are known as the “faithful few”, or is it because it is so hard to get the average church member to escape the shackles of apathy? I believe not one but both of those factors contribute to our perception that the statistic is valid. I also believe that both of those factors are doing great damage to believers individually and to the body of Christ as a whole.

So how do we change what has become the norm in most churches?

In Matthew 20, we read the story about how the mother of James and John came to Jesus with an audacious request. She wanted Jesus to let her two sons sit on each side of Him in His kingdom. Jesus told her she didn’t understand what she was asking, and after explaining the great price they would have to pay as His followers, He said it was His Father’s decision to make, not His. This whole conversation was observed by the other ten disciples and they became indignant at James and John (probably because they wanted to sit by Jesus in His kingdom).

Jesus, never one to miss a teaching opportunity, shared this with them: “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your serv-ant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served but

From the StaffJerry McLeod

Senior Associate Pastor, Minister of Education

[email protected]

@JNMcLeod66

In most churches, 20% of the people

do 80% of the work/ministry.

Become more like Jesus.1


FROM THE STAFF

to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matt. 20:25–28 ESV)

That was not the response they were expecting. If you want to be great, you must be a servant. If you want to be first, you must be slave. To follow the example set by Christ, do not expect others to serve you, but rather serve others. Just a few days later we find Jesus showing them another example of what true service looks like as He washed their feet at the Last Supper. Jesus then set the ultimate example for serving others (including you and me) by taking the punishment for sin, which is death (Rom. 6:23). Eric Geiger said, “The essence of Christian faith is not that we serve Christ, but that He served us.” Think about this: You are most like Jesus when you serve others.

We live in a world and a society that has replaced the joy of serving others with the sin of serving self. Just watch 30 minutes of TV and count how many times you are told: “You deserve the best”, or “You should relax and take a break”, or “You can be prettier, stronger, happier if you use this product”, “You can be healthier and live longer if you eat this food or take this drug”, or “You can be more successful if you invest in yourself.” Do you see a common thread here? The world is telling you that “it is all about “you”, when the Bible teaches us that it is all about God. We should love Him first and most, then we are to love others as we love ourselves. We show that our love is genuine by serving Him and those around us.

Unfortunately, that idea of “it is all about you”, has made its way into our churches. People will join a church and will leave a church based on whether it provides for them what they want. They will attend and may give of their time and resources as long they enjoy the pastor’s sermon, or as long as their preferred style of music is played/sung, or as long as their children are entertained.

This type of church looks and acts more like a club that collects dues and caters to its members. This is not biblical church membership and is completely contradictory to what Christ taught and practiced.

In 1 Corinthians 12-14, Paul gives the church at Corinth and us today an example of what biblical church membership looks like. In chapter 12, he compares the church to the human body. Just as our physical body is made up of many parts, so too is the body of Christ. Paul describes how each part of the body has a place and purpose within the body as a whole. He teaches that the different mem-bers of the body are all important and must function together in uni-son for the body to attain maximum effectiveness. When part or parts of someone’s physical body doesn’t function any longer or functions at a reduced level, we say that their body is handicapped. I believe that is part of the reason why the church is mov-ing towards becoming irrelevant in our society. It is struggling to survive because it is functioning at a handi-capped level. Every member is not fulfilling their role within the body as a whole.

Allow me to share with you words on this subject from Thom Rainer (Presi-dent, LifeWay Christian Resources) and his book “I Am a Church Member”:

“Do you know how to remain a biblical member of a church? Give abundantly and serve without hesita-tion. Sure you can remain on the rolls of many churches and never show up or give. You can remain an “active” member in other churches by being a CEO Christian: Christmas and Easter Only. You can even be a revered member in a number of churches by giving a nice sum to the church each year, even though you never lift a finger in service or ministry.

But please understand. That type of membership is not a biblical mem-bership. … It is totally contrary to

what the Bible teaches. It has no place in our churches.

Biblical church membership gives without qualification. Biblical mem-bership views tithes and offerings as joyous giving. There are no strings attached. Biblical church member-ship serves and ministers as a natural way of doing things.

Biblical church membership is func-tioning membership.”

He goes on to say:

“We who are church members are all supposed to function in the church. The concept of an inactive church member is an oxymoron. Biblically, no such church member really exists.Such is the reason we are exhorted to know our gifts and abilities, so that we can use them to best serve the church for the glory of God. The fact that there is so much diversity in our church is our strength. Everyone has a function. Everyone should be functioning. Everyone should have a role.

One of the questions you should ask yourself and God in prayer is: “How can I best serve my church?” You should never ask yourself if you should be serving your church.

If you are a member, you must be a functioning member.

It’s just that simple.”

Here at Southside, we have the expectation that “every member serves somewhere”. If you are already serving in some way, thank you. Your faithfulness in using the gifts and talents is greatly appreciated and doesn’t go unnoticed. However, you may need to take inventory and determine if you have over committed yourself. You may be facing burnout because you haven’t been able to say “no” when presented with a service opportunity. It is ok to serve

Be Less Like the World.2

Understand biblical church membership.3

Serve Your church and others in some meaningful way.

4


and pursue excellence in a couple of areas of ministry, rather than be overcommitted and accept what is average in too many positions of service. Our Savior deserves excellence in everything we do as a church family.

If you are not currently serving in some way, contact one of our pastors or your Life Group leader. We will be glad to help you explore opportunities to serve. We can help you discover and exercise the gifts and talents God has given you. Do not wait to be invited to serve.

On May 31, we will hold a ministry expo where you can learn more about the different ministries Southside offers. You will also learn about opportunities to serve in these ministries. Some ministries have

immediate needs and some will have vacancies in the new church year that begins on September 1st. Please use this opportunity to explore places within Southside where you can serve.

Regardless of whether you are currently serving, have served for many years or whether you are making a first time commitment to serve. Here are Six Steps to Serving Effectively:

Pray and ask God to show you where to serve

Be faithful in your commitment to serve

Be teachable as you serve

Invite others to join you as you serve

Train someone to do what you do

Repeat, begin with Step 1

I recently read an article written by Stephen Blandino (pastor, blogger). In it he asked a question that we all should ask ourselves. It was both challenging and convicting. His question was: “When people think of you, do they think of someone who likes to serve or someone who wants to be served?” How you and I answer that question will tell us how we look at and respond to service opportunities. It will show whether we are compelled by love and gratitude to serve Christ and others or whether we have become apathetic or comfortable and expect others to serve us. I pray that every member at Southside will strive to be like Jesus in serving Him and others.

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J.C. KimmerPastor to Families with Children

Parenting

From the Staff

[email protected]

@pastorjckimmer

Why Kids Need to see

As a mom and former children’s director at a large multi-site, metropolitan mega-church,

I have seen the importance of parents needing to serve the church—both the local church-body and the bigger “C,” the body of Christ.

This lesson was revealed to me after hearing “No” countless times when approaching parents to serve in our children’s ministry. It wasn’t always straight-up no; but, there were plenty of versions of it. For example: “I don’t really know how to teach kids” or “Sunday mornings are our only time to worship,” or—my personal favorite—“Can’t the college kids do it?” Now, before I point the finger at any of these excuses, I must reconcile the fact that I myself have told many a children’s director the same things or hid in the bathroom until they passed by and I could make a clear

getaway before being asked to teach the two-year-olds!

The truth is, we live in a culture where church rhythms are changing. For many of us, Sunday morning is the only organized time of meeting on campus while small group meetings are held in homes. Our lives are so busy during the week that we want Sundays to feel like a true Sabbath. We need to ask ourselves, however, “What does not serving communicate to my child?” One must wrestle with the question: if mom and dad don’t serve the church, will their children do the same when they are older?

One of my favorite memories of my mom is of her sitting in her favorite chair on Saturday nights with her Bible and her lesson, studying to teach her 9th grade girls the next morning. I also remember

Their Parents ServeMonths ago I read a blog by Jana Magruder that so captivated my attention, I thought that surely the parents of our Southside children would want to read it too. Jana Magruder, the author, was happy to share it when I contacted her for permission. Below is her article. Please give it some thoughtful consideration as you read it.


FROM THE STAFF

helping host parties for her girls to come over and eat a meal, do crafts, bake cookies, and so on. She didn’t just put in her time on Sunday mornings so the division coordinator would leave her alone, she was truly discipling them and—without even trying—she was preparing me to

serve one day. It took me “seeing” her model what serving the body of Christ looked like in order for me to believe that was a calling on my life as I grew into my own spiritual giftings.

We all go through seasons where serving is hard and requires sacrifice. Jesus is worth that sacrifice — and so are our children. We can trust Him to provide rest and Sabbath while we also serve. Whether it is teaching kids, chaperoning a student event, or serving on the parking team, let’s re-member that little eyes are seeing our actions and believing that they too are called to serve the body of Christ.

We need to ask ourselves…

What does not serving

communicate to my child?

Jana Magruder serves as the Director of Kids Ministry Publishing. Jana brings a wealth of experience and passion for kids ministry, education, and curriculum writing. She and her husband, Michael, along with their three children attend Forest Hills Baptist Church where she teaches The Gospel Project to preteen girls.

Reprinted by permission.


Serving saintsVolunteers highlight

MINISTRY SERVING FIT (First Impression Team)

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SERVING AT SOUTHSIDE?I’ve been serving at Southside for 5 years.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT SERVING?My favorite thing about serving is making folks feel good about coming to church.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT SOUTHSIDE? This is the only family we have down here. The rest of our family is in Pennsylvania.

Gary Fisher

We posed 3 questions to some servant volunteers. Their answers are below. Please be sure to thank them for their faithful service the next time you see them.

MINISTRY SERVING Sunday School Director

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SERVING AT SOUTHSIDE?A total of 9 years. The first 8 were teaching Sunday School and the past year I’ve been serving as Sunday School Director.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT SERVING?I enjoy working with the Life Group leaders and especially Pastor Jerry by helping him cast his vision for this ministry. (1 Samuel 12:24)

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT SOUTHSIDE?I enjoy worshipping with my family and being a part of a great Life Group. I love being a part of this body of believers where so many are willing to serve and help when needed.

Terry Violette

MINISTRY SERVING Food Closet

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN SERVING AT SOUTHSIDE?Mike: I’ve been serving 5 years.Glynda: I’ve been serving 7 years, maybe more.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT SERVING?Mike: I enjoy counseling. Talking to people and asking if they are saved.Glynda: I love helping people in any way I can, but the hungry and homeless really is my heart. It’s exciting to see how God provides what’s needed when it’s needed—over and over again!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE THING ABOUT SOUTHSIDE? Mike: I like the fellowship, I like being a prayer warrior, and I take seriously the classes. And, Southside’s food is great!Glynda: I love how this church family truly worships God, they are not “just going through the motion.” My 2nd favorite thing is that this church feels like one big family.

Mike & glynda arrington

Ministry

In the Greek language ministry meant to “attend as a servant, aid, service.” There

are so many things called ministry that do not “attend as a servant” but rather bring glory to the “minister”. In fact, one form of the use of this word is where we get the term liturgy which points to the “public function like a priest”. So ministry means to help another. In our context we are God’s helper to administrate and apply His grace and mercy.

At Southside we have taught in our new members class for nearly two decades that ministry is meeting needs with love. We can minister to many different persons. We can minister to the needy. We can minister to our brothers and sisters in Christ. We can minister to Christ. Perhaps the most beautiful picture of a person ministering to Christ is found in John 12:1-6.

Jesus has gone, six days before the Passover when He will be crucified,

to a dinner given for him. His good friends and siblings, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus are all there and play a part in the celebration. There are some interesting dynamics going on. Martha is doing her Martha thing, she is serving everyone supper. What Martha did was a ministry when she served the twelve apostles, her brother and sister, Jesus, and others. This is a good thing and it is typical of Martha’s personality. We can serve in conjunction with our personality and God is honored and people are helped.

Lazarus is reclining at the table with Jesus. In the days of Christ, they did

THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE THAT WILL HANG OUT WITH JESUS. THERE ARE VERY FEW WHO WILL

MINISTER TO JESUS.

“ “Ministry is an oft used seldom understood word. We do a lot of things

we call ministry and they are not ministry at all. The New Testament uses the word about thirty times in one form or the other. The basic word for

ministry is the same basic word for deacon.

We should first serve Jesus with our devotion. All other ministry flows from that first love and first ministry of service. Mary met Jesus needs with love. Jesus commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel and He said that Mary’s example would be one we should share as we did. She identified with Jesus in His death which is the first step to us being a surrendered follower of His.


From the Staff

Stewart McCarterLead Pastor

[email protected]

not sit in a chair to eat, they lay on low slung couches with their heads pointed toward the table, and ate. Sorry to all you Leonardo da Vinci fans, but not only did Jesus not look like a renaissance era man, He did not sit down at the last supper on one side of a table with the twelve apostles. Here, Lazarus is reclining at the table with Jesus. A good place to be in my book. Staying close to Jesus is a good thing. Doing what Jesus is doing is a smart thing. If I had been there, I probably would have been found doing what Lazarus or even Martha did.

But do not forget Mary. Not only did Martha revert to form, so did Mary. You see, this is not the first time Jesus has been with them. One other time he came and Martha complained about serving, and Lazarus was hanging around someplace, but Mary was found sitting at Jesus feet learning from Him. In this passage I find it interesting that the word “therefore” is used. When Jesus had been there on that other occasion, Jesus had told Martha that she was busy with many things but that “Mary has chosen the one thing that cannot be taken away”. Here in this visit, since everyone else is occupied with their own agendas, therefore Mary ministers to Jesus.

Let me tell you that there are a lot of people who will serve God and His people. There are plenty of people that will hang out with Jesus. There are very few who will minister to Jesus. What Mary does here is phenomenal and Jesus says of it in the accounts in Mark and Matthew, that wherever the gospel is preached, what she did will be spoken of. The reason Jesus gives is that there will always be opportunity to serve the poor and even to hang out with Jesus, but what Mary did revealed that she knew he was going to the cross and had anointed His body for burial. That was a one-time opportunity to physically do that for Jesus. Mary served by ministering to the one that would serve us all.

What Mary did also had no-hold-back in it. When she broke the jar of perfume, it all had to be used. The Bible said the smell of it filled the room. When we minister to Jesus, even if He looks like a homeless man, the fragrance of what we do will fill a room. Mary had none left over, she could not save some for later. She poured it all out for Jesus. Ministry is costly and we will be poured out for Jesus if we do it right.

I am not implying that we should not minister to others. What I am stating is that we should first serve Jesus with our devotion. All other ministry flows from that first love and first ministry of service. Mary met Jesus needs with love. Jesus commanded us to go into all the world and preach the gospel and He said that Mary’s example would be one we should share as we did. She identified with Jesus in His death which is the first step to us being a surrendered follower of His.

MISSIONS / SERVICE / WORSHIP FELLOWSHIP / DISCIPLESHIPPRAYER

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FROM THE STAFF

Ministry in Action

1. Prayer. Students and parents get together for prayer around the school flag pole.

2. Needed supplies collected and delivered to our ministry partner church in Baltimore.

3 Harvest Festival

4. Packing the truck with collected Samaritan Purse boxes.

5. Serve the City Backyard Kid’s Club in progress.

6. Helping little ones make Christmas Cards.

7. Centri-Kid 2014, summer camp for children—having fun and growing in faith.

8. Africa mission trip

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R. Stewart McCarterLead [email protected]

Jerry McLeodSr. Associate PastorMinister of [email protected]

John StricklandWorship [email protected]

J.C. KimmerPastor to Families with [email protected]

Jeremy EfflerPastor to Families with StudentsMissions [email protected]

MAY May 3 | Ministry Expo May 10 | Mother’s Day May 24 | Memorial Day Picnic (combined service

& picnic on grounds, after service) May 30 | Night of Comedy/Gong Show May 30 | Serve the City Prayer Walk May 31 | Serve the City Training May 31 | Ministry Expo

JUNE June 14 | Graduate Recognition Day June 15-17 | SBC Convention June 19 | Worship Ministry Banquet June 21 | Father’s Day June 25-30 | Baltimore Mission Team June 27-28 | SBC of Virginia Disaster Relief

IMPORTANT DATES

917 Carolina RoadSuffolk, VA 23434

757-539-6629 | sbcsuffolk.org

Place Postage

Here

PASTORAL STAFF

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Communicator - May June 2015