A simple step to the right=LIFE CHANGE!

A simple step to the right=LIFE CHANGE!

Sunday we took a few minutes to paint the picture of what we want to do as a church this year for Christmas & it's awesome. Here is the recap: This year we want to pool our resources together to provide such a huge & unexpected Christmas for a family that it has the capacity not just to change December 25th for them but to potentially change their entire year. Who knows maybe their lives will be changed!

We have identified a family in our area that has some significant needs and we have set an ambitious goal to provide all of their Christmas and much, much more. This single mother is doing her best to make ends meet but she doesn't have a car or phone or some basic living necessities and we believe that is simply unacceptable. SO---First of all we want to purchase a car for her! Depending on how well we do raising funds as a church we would also like to provide car insurance for a year--gas for a year--a chunk of grocery money--a pre-paid cell phone for a year--some help with bills & MORE!!! How much more depends on how far the people of Ridge Church are willing to stretch themselves.

HOW? We have asked people to help in two ways:
1) Pool together our resources that maybe would have gone to multiple ventures or needs this Christmas and instead combine them with the gifts of every one at Ridge Church to make massive impact for a family!

2) Consider taking one simple step to the right in your financial giving for the month of December. Click on chart below for example:
How will the collected resources be dispersed?
Is this for people inside Ridge (attendees) or people outside Ridge Church...ANSWER--BOTH!! Our mission is to lead people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ so every dollar we spend is ultimately toward that end. We believe that we have a responsibility to create irresistible environments every week for people of all ages that are a platform for ongoing change in people's lives [as well] as strategically blessing people in the name of Jesus--even people that in some cases may never attend our church. So these funds will increase our capacity to reach people through the weekly environments of Ridge Church as well as increasing our capacity to bless people in need within our community.

Stories like Mark's story are a result of God's activity through the environments YOU help us create at Ridge Church! One simple step to the right enables this to happen and will help us provide an unexpected Christmas for a family in need! I can't wait to see how God uses each of you to help create space for life change. Take a look at this video then join the mission--take a simple step to the right!

Mark Henry "In His Own Words" from Ridge Church on Vimeo.

I want a hippopotamus for Christmas (Opener)

It was great to be at Ridge Church for part two of Unexpected Christmas. You can catch up on part one and two of that series HERE. Sunday was a rare Sunday where we brought children into the adult worship service to celebrate together so we had some grab bags & fun elements for them (fun for adults too:-). Check out the Opener "I want a hippopotamus for Christmas". Packed house. Really fun day! Very practical message. Best quote of the day from worship leader Christopher Kincaide, "No Hippopotomi (is that a word?) were harmed during that opener"...pretty sure that's a Ridge Church first!

Fun Opener 11-28 from Ridge Church on Vimeo.

Join us in Giving an Unexpected Christmas!

Ridge Church is a young church but part of our DNA from early on has been to reach out to bless and help people in our city in need. Even people that may never attend our church. We are doing something HUGE this Christmas that I'm really excited about and we want to INVITE you to join us in this effort. This video gives the big idea of our desire to "Give an Unexpected Christmas" to a family in need. This week at Ridge we'll give some practical ways for people to get involved. **One Combined service this week at 11am (Upstreet and Student Impact will join the adults--All Waumba environments open!)

Giving An Unexpected Christmas from Ridge Church on Vimeo.

Synchronized lights show at Ridge

Great kick off for our Christmas series called "Unexpected Christmas". Take a look at the opener from week one. Rusty Burchard built a house on stage--(big enough that I entered the stage through the front door of the house) He also developed a lights show that synchronized to a Christmas song. The 9:30 crowd broke into spontaneous applause. The 11 crowd didn't show up until 11:15:-) It was even better live so don't miss this week. One combined service at 11am. It will be a really fun day!

Fun Opener from Ridge Church Christmas 2010 from Ridge Church on Vimeo.

Unexpected Christmas...going to be awesome!

Most people associate Christianity with religious living... an attempt to live a life filled with godly morals and virtues. Some days, we're good at that. Some days, we're not. Fortunately, Christmas reminds us that Christianity is not as much about what we do as it is about what has been done for us.

Jesus' lineage is filled with shady characters, people with less than stellar pasts... none of whom could have come to God on their own merits. But a relationship with God has never been based on our own goodness. So if you feel like the things you've done (or haven't done) are keeping you from God... well, you can throw that thinking out the door. And conversely, if you feel like the things you've done are responsible for your relationship with God... well, you can throw that thinking out too. If there's anything that the Christmas season reminds us of it's that we're all in need of help... help that Jesus is willing and able to give.

Join us Sunday @ Ridge Church 9:30 and 11:00 a.m