All of us on the Parkway above Boone
October 25, 2007
Another big smile!
October 25, 2007
Here comes the Ridge!
Mommy and Riley
October 25, 2007
cute cute!
Moving Forward
October 25, 2007
We had our first info meeting last week. This was the first opportunity for people to begin getting plugged in to Ephesus. We had 58 at the meeting! Very cool. There was probably close to 20 or so more who had other commitments but are interested at what is going on. We’re moving forward. The web site is in place. Right now it’s just a real basic site right now, we are moving forward on a more permanent, customized site. I’m also working on getting some more media content up. I’ve run into some technical difficulties with the first video devo, but that’s why we’re working out the details now! Anyway, it’s exciting stuff to see the momentum that is beginning to roll. The challenge is keeping it going. We’re now moving into admin mode to get the communication channels going as we move forward. Getting quality infrastructure together is tough at the start when the team is still forming. I realize that right now with no physical presence our “front door” is going to be our media and web site. I’m wanting everything to be top notch from the start, but that is certainly a challenge as resources are slim. It’s funny though, even as I write this I’m realizing God is going to make this thing happen. I know that, but it’s different from owning that truth. We need to do our best to do things with excellence and those who know me know I’m always striving for the best we can achieve, BUT God is at the center. How cliche that often seems, but when you sense the truth of that statement it’s truly encouraging. Anyway, wanted to get some thoughts up, it’s late, but I haven’t blogged in a while.
October 16, 2007
You know Facebook’s Group function is pretty good stuff. I’ve set up a group, Ephesus Church Charlotte and have been able to upload video, communicate our vision and sent mass emails about what is upcoming. It really has some great features all for free. It’s really opening some opportunities to get an online church off the ground with very little upfront cost. This week I’ll be launching video devo’s on the group page. These will be “sermonettes” walking through the book of Ephesians and why it’s foundational to the vision of Ephesus Church. From there we’ll be able to engage in discussion on the devo and link to pertinent web pages too. Cool stuff. Later I’ll be using YouVersion to enhance the experience. If you haven’t seen YouVersion yet head this way . It’s still in beta, but promises to be a very powerful tool. Anyway, get on Facebook join the Ephesus Church Charlotte group and keep up with how God wants to impact Charlotte through Ephesus Church.
Wow
October 16, 2007
That about sums up what God is doing with Ephesus Church. The response from Sunday has been really good, better than expected. It’s funny cause every time I talk to a group about the church plant vision the response is better than expected. Why do I expect less from God? Ephesians 3.20. And he keeps doing it. We’re meeting Thursday evening, 7pm at Grace Covenant to talk about specific ways to get involved and the timeline to launch. Wow, I’ll say it again…
Sneak Peek
October 11, 2007
Here’s a sneak peek at my outline for this Sunday. If you’re crazy you’ll cheat and get the fill ins before they come up on the screen and then impress all your friends!
Why Church Planting? Ben Eige 10 October 2007
Ephesus Church
q Why plant more churches?
Matthew 28.19-20
o Right now there are approximately 180 million Americans who do not have a relationship with Jesus
o There is a lower percentage of Americans in church today than 15 years ago
o 80% of new followers of Jesus begin their relationship in a church less than 2 years old
q Why the city? Why Uptown Charlotte?
1. The city/Charlotte is strategic for God’s plan
2. Christians should live in the city/Charlotte
q Matthew 5.14
You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.
3. The city/Charlotte is ripe for the harvest
Matthew 9.37-38
4. It’s about Jesus
A vision for Uptown Charlotte
Acts 17.22-23
What does this mean to you?
q 3 Ways to be a part of Ephesus Church
1. Pray
2. Give
3. Go
Nehemiah 11.1-2
EPHESUS CHURCH
Uptown Charlotte
Easter 2008
This week
October 10, 2007
Crazy week. I’m speaking in all 3 services at Grace Covenant this week about the church plant. It’s an exciting, awesome opportunity to share the vision with about 2200 of my closest Lake Norman pals! I have to be honest, I’m a little nervous, and I might even say a little scared. This is HUGE! What God wants to do is HUGE! This is the shot to get people excited and on board. I’m totally approaching it from way to much of “man” perspective. I need God to move, the Holy Spirit to move hearts and lead people to action in support and actually going with us. I need your prayers BIG TIME! This is going to be battle and I need your prayers going in. I want to speak God’s words and not my own, always a challenge for me. This is his deal and He’ll make it happen…
The final touches are being put on the new website, ephesuschurch.tv, still very much under construction, but at least it’s there! The final video with ending is up! I’ve finally put them together in final form and it should be available on Youtube shortly. Also I’m excited about the new Ephesus Church Charlotte Facebook group. 60 members strong and growing! Very cool stuff. Jump over and join if you haven’t already. I’m also excited about starting video devo’s hopefully next week. I want to start doing a 5 minute weekly devo on video. Initially we’ll walk through the book of Ephesians and see where it goes from there.
Be praying for this Sunday.
Video ending
October 3, 2007
Finally have an ending to the vision video. And here it is! I’ll be showing this video in all 3 services at Grace Covenant on Oct. 14th as a part of my sermon. Exciting stuff ahead! Scroll down for the rest of the video that this is the ending to.
