The 2016 summer camp season at Maranatha is coming soon!

See the information in Erik’s section (page 7) for the sessions and dates when we will be sending kids.

NOTE: We will start the registration process on Sunday, April 10. Those forms will be due by Sunday, May 1 to receive scholarship help from SCC.

Southland Vine The

March 30, 2016 1630 W. Republic Road * Springfield, MO 65807

We will publish the next edition of The Southland Vine on April 27.

Upcoming Leadership Meetings:

April 7 @ 6 PM

For elders, staff and all ministry leaders. If you are directly involved as a leader of any ministry area here at SCC, please join us for this time. Supper & childcare are provided.

April 14 @ 6 PM Elders’ meeting

What’s Inside …

2-4 General Reminders & Info

5 What MATTers to Me

6 Erik’s Endeavors

6-7 children-MIDDLE SCHOOL

8-9 Les’ Latest/High school

10-11 southlandwomen

12-13 Encounter

13 Connect

14 Grow Deep

15 Build Up

16 April serving schedule

17 Live Out

Southland Christian Church ...

equipping you to LIVE OUT your faith

as you ENCOUNTER God, CONNECT with others,

GROW DEEP and BUILD UP one another.

GL BAL God’s heart is GLOBAL - His love is for all the

world; our mission it to be GLOBAL too!

During the month of April, we’re excited about a few key

opportunities we have to hear about our foreign missions

partnerships.

On Sunday morning, April 10, we will be hosting Kevin

Dooley who works with CICM. He will be preaching and

sharing about CICM’s work during both services.

On April 20 (during Cultivate), we will be hearing about the

work happening in Guatemala through Life of Hope and in

North Africa (our partners will be here that night!).

2

May and graduation season isn’t far away (sorry, parents of graduating seniors, but it’s true)! As

we do every year, we will again be recognizing our SCC graduates in May. As we prepare for

that, we are trying to make sure we have not left out the names of any graduates (high school

and beyond) who are part of the Southland family.

Right now, we have the following high school graduates:

Will Deckard (Republic) Bryant Edmondson (Kickapoo) Layton Flatt (Kickapoo)

Sarah Holt (Parkview) Megan Rosell (Kickapoo) Emi Siplinger (Kickapoo)

We also have the following college graduates:

Associate’s degrees: Rori Carmichael, Cameron Flatt and Seth Meyer

Bachelor’s degree: Adrian Todd

Master’s degrees: Billy Constantine (back in 2015), Stella Falconer, Ted Orcutt and Austin Shearin

If you are aware of any other graduates, we would like you to let us know so we can include them. Please get any

others names to Les or Deb as soon as possible so we can make sure to recognize them!

General Reminders and information ... Congratulations to a couple of our SCC young ladies who

were recently immersed into Christ!

ALYSSA DODSON ... immersed on Sunday, March 6.

LIZZIE KILGO … immersed on Sunday, March 13.

We also want to extend a “welcome to the family” to our newest

Southland member: SAM ELLIOTT (a former SCC member who

“boomeranged” back).

“THANK YOU” Notes

…

3

update

VBS 2016 is coming! July 25-28 (Monday-Thursday evenings)

Each year, VBS requires the participation of more than just those in our SCC family who have kids! So, we encourage you to get these dates on your calendars and be thinking about how you can be a part of this. In fact, if you already know where and how you want to serve, let Erik know. As always, we will have additional ways for you to participate even if you are unable to be here during that week.

Each May, our high school youth group holds a yard sale fundraiser for the students’ annual trip to the CIY “MOVE” Conference (this year, the conference dates are July 10-16).

The 2016 yard sale will be held Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May 14.

We need your help especially if you have items you might want to donate for the sale itself. Les is already starting to collect donations. You can bring items to the church building. If you need to make special arrangements (for example, a special pick-up), contact Les either at the office (881-7405) or on his cell phone (773-1650). Donation receipts can be provided for tax purposes. We encourage the Southland family to participate as a way of supporting our high school students and their annual trip to this moving conference experience.

Please make the following change in your most recent SCC directory:

Les and Kristin Londeen have a new address effective early April 2016

4803 N. Kensington Dr. Ozark, MO 65721

The rest of their contact information remains the same (except they

no longer have a home phone).

Save the Date!

FLOURISH 2016 This special annual gathering will be

Sunday evening, August 28.

A special “THANK YOU!” to all who

participated in the recent food drive

to support the Salvation Army and

its food pantry. Because of your

generosity, we were able to deliver

a large load of supplies. From the

collective effort of the Branch (over

$600 collected to purchase food) to individuals, many of

you pitched in and LIVED OUT faith by supporting this

effort. It was a GREAT WORK led by the G6:10 Ministry!

4

How to listen to content you may have missed ... Nothing can replace actually being here with the Southland family as we go about our church life together. And yet, we know that from time-to-time, people cannot be here in person. We have recently started utilizing a new way of making content available - through a podcast.

On whatever device you might have, use whatever “Podcast” app you want and search for “Southland Christian Church - Sermon Podcast” (look for our logo). You can even choose to “subscribe” to the podcast so you will be automatically notified when something has been added. Should you need any help, let us know and we’ll be glad to help make that happen.

Currently, we have made available our sermons and CULTIVATE sessions (beginning with Dave Embree’s “Vantage Points”). At some point in the future, we may even be expanding what is offered. Just a note: ALL the same content can also be accessed directly through the website as well (go to the “Online Sermons” tab and then “Launch Sermon player”).

To share any prayer requests with the Southland church family, you can send an e-mail to us at prayer@gosouthland.org or call the church office.

PRAYER Got Questions? While we work hard to communicate information, there may be additional questions you have about Southland. If so, please contact the office and someone on staff will help you. To e-mail: gotquestions@gosouthland.org.

FINANCIAL UPDATE … February and March 2016 (the most recently completed months)

We want to provide this basic info to keep you aware of what's happening. Keep in mind, this is a snapshot of

one month. Please feel free to direct any questions you might have to the office staff or the elders.

INCOME …

Regular tithe for February = $40,140 That is an average weekly tithe of $10,035.00. Regular tithe for March = $36,189 That is an average weekly tithe of $9,047.25.

The year-to-date total (September 2015 - March 2016) is $284,944.10 … an average of $9,498.14 weekly.

Our weekly goal for this ministry year is to average $10,000/week. (This is based on an estimated budget of $520,000. While this is our target, we adjust as necessary along the way.)

Love Offerings: for February = $760 for March = $1,160

We encourage you to take advantage of Southland's online presence ... check out our

website to listen to sermons, check out upcoming events, etc. Don't forget: you can also

get updates and information by "liking" our "Southland Christian Church" Facebook page.

5

What MATTers to me … Each year leading up to Resurrection Sunday, our staff works together to plan and brainstorm about the day. We strive to seek God’s direction in guiding us into how we can celebrate this familiar story with a fresh emphasis. God raising Jesus from the dead on the third day is obviously an incredible story that is worthy of special focus. Our goal each year is to make sure we give Jesus’ resurrection (and its ongoing implications) the attention it deserves. For those who are here with us at Southland on this special day, we want it to be a day where Jesus and this greatest of events are unmistakably at the center.

This year, we came to this theme of Jesus as “the UNDISPUTED One.” It was the result of our reflection on the significant way the NT consistently emphasizes Jesus’ resurrection in affirming His unique identity and place. As we saw on Resurrection Sunday, He is the RISEN and EXALTED One. It’s not that He became someone different. It’s that by raising Him from the dead, God confirmed Jesus’ identity and place.

Our ENCOUNTER time on March 27 was a great opportunity to respond to Him as the UNDISPUTED One with our reverent awe. It’s why we structured the service so that we led into such a time of worship. Indeed, such adoration is most appropriate on such a day as that. Even before the resurrection has significant implications for our own lives, it boldly announces Christ! While it’s good for us to consider what it means for our own story, at the most basic level, it should lead to this kind of worshipful response as we join our voices with countless others over the past nearly 2,000 years in proclaiming His identity and place.

But, as we move beyond that day, what more should our response be? Surely the resurrection was never meant to be a belief that simply leads us to worship on one day only to be forgotten the next. Surely this identity and place of Jesus as the UNDISPUTED One should become an important foundation for our entire lives. Indeed, this response of adoration should surely extend to an ongoing posture of worship with our entire lives declaring who He is. We give Him our allegiance, acknowledging Him not only as the UNDISPUTED One over all things, but even over all things in our own hearts and lives. As the RISEN and EXALTED Christ, it’s the place He deserves in my life and yours!

Consider these two specific areas where that is true:

1. He deserves the UNDISPUTED place as the One in whom we place our unrivaled confidence - both our faith in the midst of our lives today and our hope for eternity. We might trust many different things and people in the midst of life. None can deliver like Jesus can. How can we know that our confidence in Him is warranted? How can we be so sure that He will deliver on the future He has promised? Because He is the One who has uniquely overcome through His own resurrection. The promise of One who can do that deserves our deepest confidence.

2. He deserves the UNDISPUTED place as the One whose teaching and authority we exclusively accept. I appreciate how Tim Keller put it on one occasion:

When a great big truck goes over a tiny little bridge, sometimes there's a bridge-quake, and when a big man goes onto thin ice there's an ice-quake. Whenever Jesus Christ comes down into a person's life, there's a life-quake. Everything is reordered. If He was a guru, if He was a great man, if He was a great teacher, even if He was the genie of the lamp, there would be some limits on His rights over you. If he's God, you cannot relate to Him at all and retain anything in your life that's a non-negotiable. Anything … any view, any conviction, any idea, any behavior, any relationship. He may change it, He may not change it, but at the beginning of the relationship you have to say, "In everything He must have the supremacy."

His is the voice that should take precedence over any other, the One whose perspective we should embrace above any other. Because of His resurrection, He deserves a position uniquely above and beyond all others - the place as UNDISPUTED One in our lives!

6

Erik’s Endeavors

NOAH’S PARK … an opportunity for kids ages 3 through 5th grade to come on Wednesday evenings and experience fun while

learning to be more like Jesus.

4/6 … Love others by forgiving 4/13 … Love others by giving

4/20 … Love others by sharing

I recently heard an African proverb that stuck hard with me: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” It wasn’t until after I heard it that I made the connection that this was an African Proverb, which I incidentally heard while Cheyenne was in North Africa. God has a way of not only going further than our expectations, but at times, doing things quicker than we anticipate. He can often times speak to us using small, hidden connections. And if we are listening through prayer, I believe we will see God go further faster.

Our middle school students went to the CIY Believe conference in Kansas City on March 11-12. It was a crazy time in KC - the Big 12 basketball tournament was there, presidential candidates were coming in to campaign and there was a major car auction in town. Despite all of that, we were able to remain drawn to amazing worship of our God. It was also a great time of learning how to turn on the light of Christ’s truth into our lives. While it was a fast trip, my hope is that God uses this conference to bring our middle school students even further into His light.

Group Huddle continues to go further into equipping students to be leaders of faith in their families, schools and communities. We will be closing the semester with the final four lessons on praying up. We will break down what prayer is all about using the word PRAY as an acronym. Prayer is about Persistence, Relationship, Attitude and Yearning. All of this is designed to bring us full circle with our purpose of having students learn about legacy. Having a powerful legacy for a zealous God requires becoming an excellent leader that keeps yearning in prayer. My hope is that this continues to help prepare our middle school students well for high school, college and beyond — for the rest of their lives.

I recently met and prayed with some college friends that I haven’t seen in a while, including my former roommate at Mizzou Christian Campus House. We talked on several things about what God is doing in their lives including the spiritual gifts He gives us and His timing. We also talked about being able to express our questions to Him in a way that is open, honest and humble. We didn’t completely agree on everything, but definitely had conversations that we want to continue. I think these types of conversations allow us to become stronger in our faith.

If we are going to go further in our faith, I believe we have to be stronger in it. And I believe that more devotion is a key part of that. We must transition to thinking more about devotion. We may not be sure when the seed of devotion will reap a harvest, but I believe this is the season for planting that seed. You may be thinking, “I have so much going on this month, and it’s almost the end of the school year. All these tasks and taxes are overwhelming.” I’m right there with you, but let’s take a deep breath and start to run farther with Jesus. Let Jesus help be your resolve and bring about the right balance in your life. You take His Book and He will take your burden (see Matthew 11:29-30, Psalm 55:22 and 1 Peter 5:6-7). Let the Master Gardener help you plant the seed of devotion inside of your heart. You may go faster alone, but with Him, you will go further (and faster) together.

7

Summer camp dates for 2016 (listed by age group): Beginner Camp (K-1st grade) June 11

Kids’ Camp (grades 2-4) June 16-18

Junior Camp (grades 5-6) June 12-15

Middle School Camp (grades 6-8) June 26 - July 1

SPECIAL NOTES:

These are the specific sessions SCC will be officially

attending. There is another camp option for each age

group. If the above date will not work, see Erik so he can

help you look into the other session.

We give families with 6th grade students the choice to either remain with a younger

group (just 5th-6th grades) or to attend the middle school camp.

Camp registration will be from April 10 through May 1.

Upcoming schedule for Cultivate (middle school) 4/6 Garden Independent

4/13 Service project at Dorothy Marti’s house

4/20 Sand volleyball night (combined with high school group)

2016 VBS Monday, July 25 - Thursday, July 28

(6-8pm each evening)

VBS is for kids age 4 through 5th grade. There will be

programming for younger children as well (a nursery

section and one for 2-and-3 year-olds) - these are available

for kids belonging to volunteers working at VBS.

There will be a meeting Sunday, April 24 for all those who are leading an area of VBS.

On the third Sunday of each month, a group of parents and children has been going to “The

Neighborhoods at Quail Creek” (the care facility across the street from Southland) and hosting a

brief worship service for residents. The next service will be Sunday, April 17. It’s a great

opportunity for families to join in on this service and bless others together. Anyone wishing to

participate can meet us at the front entrance to the facility around 1pm.

8

Les’ latest & grOUP HUDDLE News The God of Tiny Birds

I worry. I worry a lot. To add to my perpetual list of things that cause

anxiety, we sold our home and purchased a new home in five days. So in

between packing, hauling stuff to storage, and switching utilities, I worry.

I worry about my family. I worry about my friends and their struggles. I worry about the current

political arena, wars and conflicts in the world. I worry about our church and the families I dearly

love. I worry about people who don’t know Jesus and about the people who do know Him but don’t

act like Him.

Worry is an endless, vicious cycle. It is a game played in the heart and mind that we never win.

There is always something to worry about. Everywhere you turn there is some sort of chaos or crisis

on a global level. Even on a personal level, we are constantly hit by a barrage of inconsistencies,

trials and general mayhem. There are a multitude of things that can cause sleepless nights: difficult

relationships, stressful work situations, financial burdens, physical ailments and even plumbing

issues.

Then I read the words of Jesus found in Matthew 6:

25 “So I tell you, don’t worry about the food or drink you need to live, or about the clothes you

need for your body. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothes. 26 Look at the

birds in the air. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, but your heavenly Father

feeds them. And you know that you are worth much more than the birds. 27 You cannot add

any time to your life by worrying about it.”

The problem is - worry comes naturally for us. We think worrying about things may add a little

clarity to our lives. We often like to call it critical thinking or problem solving. Jesus continues:

28 “And why do you worry about clothes? Look at how the lilies in the field grow. They don’t

work or make clothes for themselves. 29 But I tell you that even Solomon with his riches was

not dressed as beautifully as one of these flowers. 30 God clothes the grass in the field, which

is alive today but tomorrow is thrown into the fire. So you can be even more sure that God will

clothe you. Don’t have so little faith!”

Okay, time out! Did Jesus have to worry about affordable mobile phone plans? Because those things

are a nightmare. When we continue in our reading, Jesus illustrates that our heavenly Father is

taking care of us.

31 “Don’t worry and say, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we

wear?’ 32 The people who don’t know God keep trying to get these things, and your Father in

heaven knows you need them. 33 Seek first God’s kingdom and what God wants. Then all your

other needs will be met as well. 34 So don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will

have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Sometimes we may think that God is not concerned with the details of our lives. We know that He

cares about the condition of our hearts, but when it comes to our daily living, like paying our

mortgage or helping our kids with their Algebra assignments, we’re not sure God is concerned. But

that is the exact opposite of what Jesus says. He strips it down to the most basic of necessities.

What will you eat, drink, or wear today? Don’t waste time worrying about it. God has already taken

care of it.

While we are focusing all our thoughts on fixing problems or imagining outcomes, we could instead

be conversing with the ONE who actually has the ability to make a difference in our lives. When we

worry, we end up where we started – with ourselves. When we look to God, we find an endless

supply of answers, miracles and wisdom. If God cares about tiny birds, and meets all their needs,

then I’m pretty sure He can take care of my needs as well.

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2016 Summer MOVE Conference University of Nebraska (Lincoln) July 10-16

Do you need some help with your homework? No problem, bring it with you prior to

Group Huddle. Starting at the end of February, we are partnering with teachers and

parents in a tutoring program. Take advantage of this free opportunity to receive

subject-specific help on projects, papers and other assignments. The tutoring program

will be led by Suzi Bryant, who teaches science classes at Central High School. In

addition to one-on-one help, these sessions will include a short devotional, prayer and

some guidance related to various study skills.

Pre-Group Huddle Academic Tutoring … Sundays, 4:30-6:00pm

Cultivate Schedule for Senior High students

April 6 Calling and prayer with home bound

April 13 Yard work at Southland

April 20 Sand Volleyball & Fellowship @ Sonic (with the middle school group)

The 2016 Summer MOVE Conference will again be held on the University of Nebraska campus in Lincoln,

Nebraska. Students will enjoy five days of worship, challenging messages and small group studies. Housing

and meals will take place in the dormitories and dining halls. Registration includes access to the recreation

center, student union and museums. We will depart from the church on Sunday, July 10 and return on

Saturday, July 16. We currently have 27 students and sponsors registered and have 3 more spots available.

See Les Londeen for more information.

The annual youth yard sale will be held on the parking lot of the church on Friday, May 13 and Saturday, May

14. This fundraising event helps students who are attending the Summer Move Conference. Donated items

can be brought to the church or arrangements can be made to have your item picked up from your house (Les

Londeen 417-773-1650). Students and sponsors attending the Move Conference are encouraged to sign up

for one of the following yard sale shifts:

Sorting & Pricing Tuesday, May 10 6-9pm

Sorting & Set-up Thursday, May 12 6-9pm

Early Shift Friday, May 13 7-10am

Mid-Day Shift Friday, May 13 10am -1pm

Afternoon Shift Friday, May 13 1-5pm

Early Shift Saturday, May 14 7-11am

Late Shift Saturday, May 14 11am-3pm

DID SOMEONE SAY YARD SALE?!!

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southlandwomen In the news earlier this week, I came across a rather remarkable story about

Shirley Webb, a 78 year-old grandma who can dead-lift 225 pounds. Not so

long ago, Shirley was not in good physical shape. She joined a gym with her

granddaughter, never expecting dramatic results, just hoping to get in better

shape. But over the course of two years, she worked hard and has been

transformed from a physically weak woman to an energized, self-sufficient

and confident woman. She has set records for the dead lift in both Illinois and

Missouri. It is now her goal to lift 260 pounds in an upcoming competition.

Shirley works out with a trainer 2-3 times a week. She will now speak of the

physical and mental benefits she has experienced through being challenged

to push herself beyond what she ever thought possible.

Here is a woman who persevered through muscle aches and distractions through being told that it was

nonsense and just not worth the effort. Certainly there were days when it would have been easier to give

in to it all and stay home. Besides, let’s not pretend that it doesn’t take a certain amount of courage for a

78 year-old woman to walk into a gym where people are all about their appearances and physiques, pick

up that first small weight and begin to work-out. And yet, Shirley continued on. She kept going to the

point that she is now an inspiration to her peers and even people much younger than herself.

As I listened to that story, I thought of all the ways it parallels our lives as we pursue Christ. We initially

come to Christ in less than healthy spiritual shape, but we make the decision to follow Him, and then the

hard work begins. The current culture would have us believe that following Christ means being delivered

from all hardship. Actually, it means something much different: being delivered and strengthened in and

through hardship. Think about it this way: it is only after Shirley Webb started the hard process of lifting

ever heavier weights that she began to experience the real benefits and results. She could have read

article after article about how to lift weights, how to gain strength, what exercises were the most

beneficial, etc. But it wasn’t until she actually lived through the experience and work of doing it that there

was benefit to her. She developed her stamina by going through the workouts – not just reading about

the process. The same is true of building spiritual muscle. It is only when we get into the midst of pursuing

Christ that we are able to be strengthened and grow into His likeness. We are not going to realize those

benefits through simply reading through a Bible study book or devotional, but through putting it into

action. Becoming strong takes so much more than just reading about it!

What is particularly difficult for us is this: the effort most often comes in the midst of hardships. Adversity

and trials, pressures and temptations become our “weights.” In fact, Jesus promised us that we would

have to go through the hard workouts: “In this world you will have trouble, but be of good cheer, I have

overcome the world” (John 16:33). God does not tell us we will have a life free of trouble, He tells us life

will happen in the midst of the troubles that are certain to come. He will certainly help us develop the

spiritual muscles we need to dead-lift pounds of spiritual weight – not without effort, but without

crumpling under the strain. And at the end of our effort there is this: “To him who overcomes, I will give

the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God” (Revelation 2:7). Obviously, in order

to have life, we must be willing to develop our spiritual muscles through the process of overcoming

adversity. So the next time you are tempted to ask God why you have to go through a hard season or

great adversity, stop and consider instead the benefit and blessing of going through the workout.

11

An overview of our BTG retreat … 48 girls and moms came to our annual BTG retreat day. We spent the day learning about giving God our emotions. He is certainly the One who has created us with these feelings. But we learned how we have to choose to honor God by letting Him have control over them, especially the way we react and respond to what’s happening around us. Much of the day was packaged using characters from a recent animated movie called Inside-Out. It tells the story of a young girl who is undergoing a life-change as her family experiences a move. The film creatively uses characters to personify each of the wide-ranging emotions she experiences internally and expresses externally. Throughout the day, we focused on the emotions of fear, anger, disgust, joy and sadness - the same emotions depicted in the movie.

Overall, it was a great day. Thank you to Ashley Worthy and her team for all their work in making the event happen!

Box Top Girls

BTG is for young ladies (as well as their moms and/or grandmothers) age 8 through 8th grade.

The next meeting will be Friday, April 29 at 6:30.

Moms Set Apart M. S. A. Mornings – April 7 and 21 (9:30-11:30am)

Contact Debbie Jennings … msamornings@gosouthland.org

M. S. A. Nights – April 5 and 19 (7:00-8:30pm) Contact Kristie Martin… msanights@gosouthland.org

The cost for each meeting is $5 - among other things, that helps with the cost of childcare

which is provided each meeting time (morning and evening sessions).

April 19 will be the last MSA Nights until sometime in August. MSA Mornings will still

meet through May and into the summer with a modified schedule.

GIVING GOD OUR “INSIDE-OUT”

EMOTIONS

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Weekly ENCOUNTER ... a time to gather in God's presence together.

There’s a Hebrew word we find multiple times in the Old Testament, especially in the Psalms. The word is

toph. Most modern-day translations will translate that into “timbrel” or “tambourine,” which are essentially

the same instrument. However, the majority of scholars and Bible translators aren’t 100% certain what the

exact instrument really was in the ancient world. What they do know is that it was a rhythmic, percussion

instrument resembling a drum that one would play by beating with their hand or a stick. One example (of

many) we see in Scripture of this word being used is in Psalms 105:3-6 where it says, “Praise Him with the

sounding of trumpet, praise Him with the harp and lyre, praise Him with the tambourine (TOPH) and dancing,

praise Him with the strings and flute, praise Him with the clash of cymbals, praise Him with the resounding

cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.”

Whether the word toph means tambourine, timbrel or drum, it’s evident from archeological discoveries that,

throughout the world, people have used a type of “drum” or rhythmic instrument. Often, these consisted of a

type of hollow, wooden shell with a hole that was covered by animal skin. For thousands of years, these

percussion instruments (no matter how basic they were) have been part of a community’s worship - whether

of the one true God or pagan gods. And, of course, they are still in use today.

Though notably a nuisance to some, drums and other percussion instruments are arguably one of the most

important instruments in the world of music. That certainly has been the case in the world of musical worship.

In areas of atmosphere, energy and driving the emotions, there is no other instrument with so much impact

and influence. They are also a key component in keeping everyone singing together on the same time and with

the same tempo. Percussion is important. Just ask any marching band instructor, orchestral conductor or jazz

band leader. Musically, it’s a pretty big deal.

We also look at it as a very big deal in our worship ministry at Southland. Not

that worship is impossible without percussion instruments, but we believe that

they can be used to help direct people to a more intimate encounter with our

Creator if executed correctly. This is why I want to spend some time to show my

appreciation for the hearts of our two primary percussionists at Southland, Scott

Griggs (no picture available) and Layton Flatt.

You probably couldn’t find two drummers who are so different. Scott has been

playing drums for well over 40 years. He’s a “go to” for several bands in town

when they have a “gig” and are a short a drummer. He can adapt to almost any

setting or occasion. He’s what we’d call the seasoned veteran of drummers. He’s

controlled and likes to keep it somewhat simple, although there is definitely a

depth to his playing which complements our worship in a major way. Layton,

13

on the other hand, is a senior in high school who has a heart on fire for music, especially exciting, energetic

music, and it shows when he’s on stage. He brings a level of flare and spunk to the team that is definitely

needed, especially since we rehearse each week at 7:15am. Layton loves Jesus and you can tell that playing

the drums is one of the main ways he declares it.

Although I know nothing about the actual playing of the drums, I probably spend a majority of our rehearsal

time asking for tweaks and changes from these two. Not at all because they lack talent - I envy their abilities

and am privileged to have them on our team - but because, like I said before, percussion is such a HUGE part

of Sunday mornings in regards to creating an atmosphere of intimacy and/or energy. I’m glad these two are

patient and put up with my amateur input.

I think it’s easy, as a drummer in a church, to feel unappreciated or even unwanted. That’s why I encourage

you, regardless of your views of drums in the church’s worship, to let them know that you appreciate the time

and heart that they put in each week to help create a more meaningful time of worship for us as a church

family. I am not the only worship leader at Southland. People like Scott and Layton take their ministry

responsibility seriously. I hope that we can encourage them often to keep on loving Jesus through serving Him

and us through our SCC worship ministry.

A brief preview of our upcoming preaching calendar: Sunday, April 3 Why we can believe that Jesus’ resurrection really happened. Sunday, April 10 Kevin Dooley with CICM will be preaching/sharing during our ENCOUNTER services. Sunday, April 17 A special time of extended worship (we did a couple such services in 2015). Sunday, April 24 We will launch a new sermon series on this Sunday.

See the flyers located by the CONNECT Ministries banner in the foyer for more information about these groups - when and where they meet, the basic demographic target for each group (just to help provide an idea of the people in the group), etc.

A note about CONTENT for CONNECT Groups - from time-to-time, we use a church-wide curriculum for the materials used by these groups. We will do another such series sometime in the Fall of 2016. Currently, each group is on its own when it comes to content. That information will be determined by each group’s leaders and communicated within.

When it comes to outside events , each group communicates details among its own members.

CONNECT Ministries ... a place to discover Christian community.

We have designed our CONNECT Ministries to help people discover Christian community. They provide the right kind of place to

build relationships with other believers, pray with and for one another as we strive to follow Jesus faithfully and consider how

God’s Word applies to our lives.

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G ROW DEEP Ministries ... an opportunity to plant deep roots in Jesus and God's Word.

At Southland, a significant part of what we do is designed to help people GROW DEEP. This happens through our Deeper Life

Groups (a.k.a. "D-Groups") as well as other opportunities like Ladies Bible Study. Beginning in September 2015, it has also included

our new Wednesday evening ministry called “CULTIVATE” (see below). Though each one is somewhat unique in its format, they all

have the same basic purpose: to help us plant deep roots down into Christ and God’s Word (see Colossians 2:6-7).

One of the benefits of this Wednesday evening format

is that it gives us an opportunity to provide some

focused teaching that may not always be best for a

typical sermon format. Such is the case again with

this session. Specifically, it will focus on some of our

key priorities here at Southland - some points of

emphasis that we believe are vital to who we are.

April 6 DISCIPLESHIP

April 13 Our GLOBAL Mission (part 1)

April 20 Our GLOBAL Mission (part 2) … an opportunity to hear about ways we are

able to participate in that mission through our partners in Guatemala (Life

of Hope) and North Africa.

NOTE: If you miss an evening of CULTIVATE, we are making the content available through

our SCC podcast (see page 4 for details about that) and through our website. That

started with the “Vantage Points” session led by Dave Embree and continues on into

the current “Cultivate: to the Core” session.

Other important details:

We will have childcare for ages 2 and younger. See the student ministry section of “The Vine”

for information about ministry programming for kids age 3 through high school

We are still providing an inexpensive meal opportunity on Wednesday nights. The cost of

meals will again be $2/individual with a maximum of $10/family.

If you are coming for the special GLOBAL mission session with our partners on the evening of April 20 (see above for more details about that night) and want to eat with us, we certainly want to extend that invitation for that evening. Please just make sure you let us know you are coming.

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We want to say a special “thank you” to members of

the BRANCH connect group (with the help of some

others) plus their kids. They stuck around for a work

day on a Sunday in March. There were several

projects they helped to get done that were especially helpful as we approached Resurrection

Sunday. Thanks for your service!

Also, a special “Thank you!” to those who put in extra effort for our services on Good Friday

and Resurrection Sunday. From the worship team to those on the tech team, etc. … thanks for

helping BUILD UP the body by doing your own special part as we celebrated the story of Jesus’

death and resurrection!

This section of the Vine provides a central place for you to be informed about how to become active in service at Southland. One of our major priorities is to be a place where God's people BUILD UP one another. In fact, according to Ephesians 4:16, the overall health of the church (the Body) depends upon each part doing its "own special work." Through our acts of service, God uses us to help others grow. At the same time, here’s what is beautiful about God's design: what we do for the benefit of others even has benefits for our own growth as followers of Jesus. That's why we share this section with you. While we cannot include every potential opportunity to serve, we want to (1) highlight some specific areas where we need help, (2) make you aware of special opportunities to serve and (3) provide a place to thank some of our volunteers.

To volunteer to serve in any area of ministry, please fill out one of the BLUE "Build Up" response cards at the Welcome Center. We will pass your name along to the appropriate leader.

Opportunities to BUILD UP ... a way to serve others and even help ourselves grow.

Specific OPPORTUNITIES to SERVE & “BUILD UP” the BODY

At the Welcome Center, we have provided flyers with specific ways people can serve and

BUILD UP one another here at Southland. If you’re looking for a specific way to get involved,

we encourage you to take a look at these materials and find the right place for you.

Spring brings the start of mowing season. The Southland “Lawn Sharks” as

part of the grounds ministry is forming mowing teams to begin serving

soon! If you have a willingness to serve on such a team, please sign-up on the

sheet at the Welcome Center or contact Dennis McCann (417-827-3699).

We have recently communicated that Bill Foster is now overseeing our

Building Ministry (overseeing maintenance, etc.). As part of that, Bill has

developed a list of some specific “odd jobs” that need to be done around the

building. If you are willing and able to help with any of these or want to be a part

of Bill’s ongoing team, please contact him at (417) 839-1023.

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SERVING SCHEDULE – April 2016

Communion Prep: Amy Ritz (weeks 1-2), then Truman & Karen Haynes (weeks 3-4)

Greeters Welcome Center Foyer Hosts

4/3/16 - 1st

4/3/16 - 2nd

10:30 Free at Last (8:45-9:10)

The Branch (10:15-10:40)

Wilber Kaylor/Sue Malina (8:45-9:10)

Joe & Suzi Bryant (10:15-10:40)

Ben & Debbie Jennings

Ernie & Charlotte Emmerton

4/10/16 - 1st

4/10/16 - 2nd

Empty Nesters (8:45-9:10)

Launch (10:15-10:40)

Catherine Correll (8:45-9:10)

Tony & Kim Flatt (10:15-10:40)

Terry & Brenda Ochs

Jay & Kim Tyler

4/17/16 - 1st

4/17/16 - 2nd

10:30 Free at Last (8:45-9:10)

9:00 Free at Last (10:15-10:40)

Jerry & Brenda Doty (8:45-9:10)

Scott & Judy Schiller (10:15-10:40)

Mike & Carolyn Owen

Bill & Pam Foster

4/24/16 - 1st

4/24/16 - 2nd

Empty Nesters (8:45-9:10)

The Refuge (10:15-10:40)

Pat Burge/Dorothy Marti (8:45-9:10)

Ken & Debbie Nelson (10:15-10:40)

Pat & Debbie Little

Steve & LeeAnn Marsh

Servers 1st Service 2nd Service

4/3/16 Various People Mark Miller team

4/10/16 Various People Doug Graves family

4/17/16 Various People Ben Jennings team

4/24/16 Various People Les Londeen & Youth Group

Nursery check-in 1st Service 2nd Service

4/3/16 Amanda Miller Susan Graves

4/10/16 Donna Lillard Debbie Gray

4/17/16 Jill Sims Amanda Butler

4/24/16 Stacy Gambill Jill Cobb

Nursery 1st Service 2nd Service

4/3/16 Amanda Miller - Lacey York Graves family

4/10/16 Andy & Donna Lillard Debbie/Kayla Gray - Jenelle/Ezri Smith - Xana Butler

4/17/16 Jill Sims - Cheryl McAnally Amanda Butler - Emily Owen - Xana Butler

4/24/16 Stacy Gambill - Linda Jones Cobb family

CPU (in service) 1st Service 2nd Service

4/3/16 Alexis Simpson Sonya Simpson

4/10/16 Dan Gray Dan Gray

4/17/16 Simeon Martin Jay Butler

4/24/16 Wes Holt Cameron Flatt

Wee Cruisers’ Leaders Li’l Crusiers’ Leaders Cruisers’ Helpers

4/3/16 Kristin Londeen - Emily Weber Sara Emmerton - Shelby Ritz Andy & Donna L. - Javan L.

4/10/16 Andrea Conboy - Cindy McMillian Sara Emmerton - Lizzie Kilgo Les L. - Kayla B.

4/17/16 Judy Schiller - Aimee Garrett Sara Emmerton - Jessica McAnally Brad & Ashley W. - Luke B.

4/24/16 Brad & Marsha Foster Sara Emmerton - Katie Kilgo Les L. - Wes H.

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LIVE OUT Ministries

... a path for putting faith into action.

"Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people,

especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

- Galatians 6:10

OPPORTUNITIES TO “LIVE OUT” YOUR FAITH

One of the key purposes of the G6:10 Ministry is to offer opportunities for us to LIVE OUT faith (see the theme

verse of Galatians 6:10). That is not so much about creating new events, but helping to keep the SCC family aware

of events that are already happening, especially with our local ministry partners. The goal is not for everyone to

participate in every single event. Rather, we want to lay these opportunities before you so you can decide how/

where/when to participate. We want to provide you with some very specific ways you can participate in Kingdom

work as you LIVE OUT your faith!

www.cchonthe.net

www.show-mehome.com

www.417pcc.org www.maranatha

www.occ.edu

Our local ministry partners:

To keep you informed about Southland’s foreign missions

partners, we strive to provide updates when available in

the alcove of the auditorium (by the map). This is really

the only way one of our partners can communicate with

us. Their location makes any online presence too risky

from a security standpoint. We do make their newsletters

available as they come in.

There is a website for the “Central India Christian Mission.” Check out www.indiamission.org

for more information about some of the global Kingdom work we get to partner in here at

Southland. You can also “like” their Facebook page for ongoing updates.

You can check out the website for “Life of Hope Ministries” at www.lifeofhope.org. Through

our partnership with Life of Hope, we are partnering with those on the ground in Guatemala.

We had a couple of our SCC family working on a medical trip there recently.

Please make note of the front page of “The Vine” for information about upcoming opportunities to hear

from our foreign partners. What a privilege it is for us to be a part of what God is doing!