A Divine Slap In The Face

If you're reading this blog right now, at this exact moment, we have a very special announcement for you.-- YOU'RE AWESOME! That is all.

Have you invited anyone to church lately? If the answer is no, I'm taking back your awesomeness. Get your invite speech ready for the next two weeks- WHY? Because we are continuing the "I Can" series this weekend, and this life changing message is one that you don't want to miss.

Damon Thompson will be back with us again next weekend with a message to help us continue to make 2013 the best year yet. Don't let this chance pass you by!

We are getting closer to kicking off our MENS and WOMEN'S WORKSHOPS! This is going to be 8 great weeks for the whole family to come out and experience.

WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:

• Childcare for the little ones
• Great teachings to fill your spirit
• Delicious food to fill your tummy

And don't forget about the great time spent together without having to worry about the girls spoiling all the fun, or the other way around. Sign up at the connection point tables in the lobby if you haven't already.

CALLING ALL CLOVIS VOLUNTEERS!!!

Saturday Feburary 16th 10am-11:30am we're holding an epic, Epic, EPIC all Clovis Volunteer meeting. The staff has some important information to get to everyone and share vision for our campus in this next year. Make sure you're there to get everything you need to take this next year to the next level and go down in the record books as the best year yet.

WE ARE ROLLING OUT THE RED CARPET! Friday night, February 22nd we will be hosting the first annual CVA's. Now I bet you're asking yourself what is the CVA's? That is a good question and I'm glad you asked. CELEBRATION VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION! In honor of all the volunteers that make this church what it is, we are uniting both Clovis and Fresno campuses together for one Big  GIANT PARTY! More details coming so.

VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK

TINIA BROWN!

Tinia is an amazing asset to our 2sm team! She has been serving in our students ministry for about 3 years, and is always willing to do whatever is asked of her. She always goes above and beyond to make students feel welcomed on our campus. Thanks Tinia for all you do, it's an honor to have such an awesome leader as yourself volunteering in 2sm!

Here's something from Perry Noble's blog that the Clovis Staff would like to share with you. With everything we have going on in church, it's easy to forget what is most important. We believe this will change your perspective on reaching the lost just as it did ours, enjoy.

A DIVINE SLAP IN THE FACE

• Tuesday, September 14, 2010
   
• ×
   
• Church Issues

 To say that God “rocked my world” last week would be an understatement…it was more like a divine slap in the face and a sobering reminder that lost people really do matter to God!

Here’s the way it happened…

Charisse (my three year old daughter) and I went to get ice cream last Friday night.  (One of her favorite things to do!)  There is a place near our home called “Yogo Express” that has become one of her favorite places…you go in, get a cup, put the yogurt in it, THEN go to the toppings area and put your toppings on and then you pay…by the ounce.

When we walked in the place was slammed, there were people everywhere.  So…I held her hand and we walked together to the area where we got our yogurt cups…she wanted chocolate yogurt with mint chips for her topping, so, I put all of that in her cup and then got ready to get mine.

BUT…when I looked down to tell her that hers was ready…she was GONE!

GONE!!!

I looked around and didn’t see her anywhere.

She had been right by my side five seconds before that…

I panicked!

Seriously…the scenarios that can run through a parents mind in a short amount of time are unbelievable.

I began calling her name…and I literally was plowing over people…trying my best to control my heart as it was literally about to explode out of my chest.

Then, after only about seven seconds (seemed like an eternity though) I saw her…she had gone to get napkins for us but had not told me.

I scooped her up and hugged her…and I can’t explain to you the overwhelming joy that shot through my body as I knew that she was not lost!  (If you are a parent and this has happened to you…you know exactly what I’m talking about.)

I kept her close to me for the rest of the night…and when I put her down to bed I hugged her a little longer and and little tighter…I thought she was lost, gone…but she wasn’t, and for that I was (and AM) so thankful.

However, later on that evening I felt the Lord say to me, “Now you know how I feel about lost people.”

BAM!

Seriously, I have preached on the importance of evangelism for a long time.  In fact, one of our core values here at NewSpring Church is, “Found People Find People.”  However, I had NEVER viewed the importance of evangelism through the lenses of a father who is obsessed with the lost…not like that!!!

The feeling God allowed me to feel for seven seconds was one of the deepest, most intense feelings I’ve EVER felt…and because of that Luke 19:10 has taken on a whole new meaning!

God is PASSIONATE about reaching lost people…and HIS followers SHOULD BE AS WELL!  Evangelism is not an option for those who say they are followers of Jesus…it is a COMMAND!  AND…read through Luke 15 and notice that in each of the three stories something is lost, what is lost is found…and because of the lost being found a party/celebration begins!!!

Lost people matter to God; therefore, they should matter to HIS church!

One more thing…NewSpring Church, let’s keep doing this…let’s keep doing ALL WE CAN to reach out to people who are far from God!  Let’s share our faith with them…let’s get them to church THIS Sunday…and let’s continue to BEG God to give us a harvest of souls unlike the world has ever seen!!!

Let this be a challenge to us Clovis Volunteers!

Just as we promised you Clovis Volunteers, here are some more tools to help you in the new year.

WHATS GOING ON!

MARK YOUR CALENDERS for some BIG, IMPORTANT dates that you don't want to miss!

1. February 16th: We will be having a meeting for ALL Clovis volunteers. 

• Casting Vision 
• Setting Goals 
• Basic Security Training for ALL areas

     2. February 22nd: UNITED APPRECIATION PARTY and VISION RALLY!

• A FUN night to THANK ALL CELEBRATION VOLUNTEERS & Party
• Vision for March Madness & Easter

Wednesday Nights

The call is out to mobilize the people of Celebration to FAST from sun-up through service out on Wednesdays. There's no better way to position ourselves for a breakthrough 2013 than to start the year with fasting. As the leaders of this ministry, participate and come join us on these nights & let's experience God's best this year!

Reading Plan
Hopefully by now you've started our new Bible Reading Plan for 2013. Nothing unites the body of Christ like going through God's Word together. This is our life-line and so important to the life of the believer, especially as leaders. If your not on board yet, join us, grab the plan from Connection Point Lobby Tables or Guest Services and get in the game. We truly believe this is a HUGE adjustment for Celebration to position us for greatness in 2013.

Leadership Tool
The Clovis Staff read an article a few weeks ago written by Dr. Cho. He is a mighty man of God who has built the worlds largest church in Korea from the ground up. His congregation is currently around 800,000 members and growing. In this article he shares how he builds/expands his faith & how he has accomplished such great success in his life. He really simplified it down to doing 4 simple things, which he referred to as the Incubation. Much like a chicken will incubate her eggs until they hatch, we too must incubate God's vision for our lives (our goals) and incubate them until they come to pass. We believe this will be a great resource to you guys as you develop vision for your lives in 2013!

Clear Goal

 In order for us to incubate, you must have a clear-cut idea in your mind as your goal is before you. Your heart has to be filled with the desire; the Holy Spirit will answer you based upon the desire of your heart. When a mother hen lays her eggs, she has to sit on them, or incubate them, so that the eggs can hatch and become baby chicks. In the same way, that desire is like an egg, ready to be incubated.

Visualize

We should know how to visualize the end result of our goal. Just as a hen dreams the chick out of the egg, so we should clearly see the end result of our goal, in our vision and dream. If you have not visualized clearly in your heart exactly what you hope for, it cannot become a reality for you. The things you really hope for can only be possessed as you visualize them clearly in your heart and mind. When they are clear in your mind the deep desire for God to grant that request now becomes a vision in your heart as well as a prayer.

Pray with fervency

After having a vision you must pray fervently to have substance. Faith is the "substance." To make faith substantial you must have the assurance in your heart. Just as if you own a piece of property you have its title deed, you should have such an assurance in your heart that excludes all doubts about the fulfillment of that goal and vision which you already incubated. So, when you have a clear-cut goal and have those things in the visions and dreams, then you have to pray until your faith rises up to become the "substance." 

Confessions

To have a successful incubation you must release your faith through the confessions of your mouth. When you have the substance, when your faith becomes substantial, you've got to release that substance and confess that its going to be just as your faith reassured you. Concerning salvation the Bible clearly says, in Romans 10:9-10,"That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believes unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Only by confession can faith power be released allowing tremendous things to happen.

VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK

                           

BILL BUCHER!!!

When it comes to going above and beyond, Bill is your man. Bill is committed to serving here on the Clovis campus, happily greeting everyone that walks through the front doors with a friendly smile. He takes ownership over the campus by picking up trash and cleaning with excellence to keep it looking beautiful, and he's always willing to lend a helping hand and step out of his comfort zone. Thank you Bill for everything you do, your hard work is truly an inspiration to us all.

2013: a NEW year!

Hey Clovis Volunteers! 

Thanks for tuning into the blog today, here are a few things to help keep you on your toes!

BIBLE READING PLAN 

If you haven't picked up your Five Times Five Times Five, Bible Reading Plan, you can pick one up at Guest Services. This is vital for us as leaders, to stay spiritually sharp and healthy; and remember-- A chapter a day keeps Diablo away! 

THIS WEEKEND!

Pastor is back and has a great message in store for us this weekend, SO DON'T MISS IT! Lets come stirred up with expectation ready to receive everything God has planned for you, your family, and all your places of influence.

UNITED VIBE! 

It's going down again this weekend in Big Kic, prior to the services (Saturday 5pm, Sunday 9am) we'll be getting some fresh vision for the new year. See you all there!

Here is a resource that Pastor put into our hands to  to help us set some goals. Don't make 2013 another year, make it a NEW year! Here are some tools to help you do that :) 

  7 Steps of Goal Setting

                                                                      By Zig Ziglar

Step 1: State the Goal

Clearly state your goal in a positive way. Even if you aren’t 100% sure you can do it, do not insert any maybes or probablys. If you think losing 30 pounds would be good for you and that you might want to make it a goal, say:


I want to lose 30 pounds.

Step 2: Set a Deadline

Add a deadline to your goal to enhance the clarity even further. This can be a particular date, a month, a year, or even a lifetime goal.  

Step 3: Identify the Obstacles

By pointing out the things that are in the way of a goal, we can figure out ways to overcome them. Thoughts in your head are a lot tougher to beat than words on a sheet of paper. Listing your obstacles is a great first step to overcoming them. 

Step 4: Identify the People, Groups, and Organizations that Can Assist

Make a list of the people, groups and organizations that can help you in your quest. If you can’t identify more than just a couple, do a little bit of research. Your goal is worth the amount of time you put into it. 

Step 5: List the Benefits of Achieving the Goal

List as many benefits as you can think of to setting and making this goal happen. Whatever your goal is, go to town on writing down all the possible spoils of making this goal a reality.

Step 6: List the Skills You Need to Acquire to Attain the Goal

Our ability to take on these goals is directly related to what we can do to make it easier and more achievable on our parts. There are so many books available on so many subjects and there is a growing “how to” directory of videos and articles on the Internet. If you need a skill in order to improve your chances of accomplishing a goal, you have little to no excuse. Take the time and learn it. 

Step 7: Develop a Plan

You know your goals and when you want to achieve them by. You know what’s in your way and who can help. You know how much these goals will benefit you and you know what skills you must acquire to help you along the way. You must create a plan to ensure that you will at least attempt to hit these goals.

Make sure you tune in next week for more great tools and resources. (We didn't want to pull all our tricks out of the hat this week!) 

VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK

MICHAEL BROOKS!!!

Michael Brooks has been a consistent, faithful, volunteer serving in the area of Production for many years. If you think our camera shots have been great, it's probably Michael working behind the scenes to make it happen. Despite his crazy work schedule, Michael comes ready to serve and has a great attitude doing it. Thank you Michael for all your hard work and commitment! We love and appreciate you at the Clovis Campus!

Let's have an awesome weekend leaders!

Clovis Team :)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The new year is here Clovis Volunteers and there are great things in store for you in 2013! This year will be your best year yet!!! 

LET'S START WITH A BANG! 
Damon Thomson will be joining us this weekend along with Pastor Randy, who will both will bring messages that we believe will position us to have the best year yet! You better not miss it! This is a great opportunity to invite someone new to church to have the best experience of a lifetime.

What experience? Well I'm glad you asked:

1. EXTREMELY LOUD MUSIC
2. POTENTIALLY BLINDING LIGHTS
3. SKINNY JEANS
4. A GREAT MESSAGE

But most importantly an encounter with Jesus Christ. Lets all do our part and make this weekend the start of a great year.

UNITED VIBES
The Clovis Staff would like to announce we will be having a UNITED VIBE Saturday night at 5pm and Sunday morning at 9am before service in Big Kic for all volunteers. Come get full of vision and excitement for what's going to take place this weekend and this year! 

KIC (KIDS IN CELEBRATION) 

Make sure your kids don't miss KIC's exciting new series---

 The Fruit of the Spirit 

This is a nine week series packed with 

• Awesome live worship 
• Tons of prizes 
• Candy 
• Games 
• Collectible cards and buttons

 Your kids don't want to miss this service full of surprises and laughs.


BAPTISMS 

Wednesday January 9th we will host the greatest pool party on the face of this earth, and you're invited! If you are interested in getting baptized would like more information, you can stop at our connection point tables in the middle of the lobby. Come out--Get dunked-- and lets celebrate together.


WORKSHOPS

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, BOYS AND GIRLS! LETS GET READY TO WORKSHOP! 

It's that time again everyone! Eight great weeks of inspiring teaching, fellowship, and stuffing your face with delicious food. 

Starting Wednesday, January 16th, Our Men's and Women's Workshops will be starting. Childcare is provided and the Middle Schoolers will be having something just for themselves as well. It's a night for the whole family to come out! Sign up at the Connection Point tables in the lobby.

                     VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK

                    GRACE RIVAS!!! 

Above and beyond is Grace's middle name! Grace has done a fantastic job of being where ever she is needed. She does so many things that people don't see behind the scenes like picking up people and giving them rides, covering for managers when they are gone, and even involves herself during the week to further what's going on at Celebration. Thank you Grace for being an outstanding individual and volunteer- We love you!!! 

Thank you Clovis Campus! Let's have a great weekend and a great year! 

Clovis Team :) 

Brighter Days Ahead!

Hello Clovis Volunteers! We hope that you had a wonderful Christmas with your friends and family and that Santa brought you everything you could have ever wanted! If Santa failed you, remember, don't stop asking God! He's your loving Father who wants this next year to be the best year of your life yet! 

A couple weeks ago, Pastor prophesied over this next year and said that we would have a bigger harvest in 2013 than all the years put together- Now that is something to be excited about! Let's mix faith with that and go into this next year with great momentum for souls to be saved, and for our lives to get brighter and brighter! 

While you're walking around the church this weekend, here are what we like to call some---

CONVERSATION STARTERS:

• Special Sunday Night service on January 6th with Damon Thompson! There is absolutely an evangelistic call on this man's life to see the unchurched get saved, but there won't be anyone there to hear the message unless we get people there! Start inviting people now to this amazing weekend just up ahead. 

• Men's and Women's Workshop! From January 16th to March 6th on Wednesday nights, the entire family is encouraged to come and be apart of these powerful nights. 

*Men sign-ups have already started at the Connection Point tables and we have an Early Bird special of $20 as long as you pay before the 16th. This cover charge takes care of dinner and materials for 8 whole weeks! What a deal! (Regular price $25)

• Baptisms! When we choose to follow Jesus, it’s important we don’t keep the good news to ourselves. Jesus asks us to celebrate that decision with our family, friends, and community around us through baptism. Baptisms will be taking place on Wednesday, January 9th, at 7pm. Sign-up this weekend at the Connection Point! 

There are some things that you can help us spread the word on. Remember, it's our job as leaders to point people to where they should go. God didn't intend for our lives to get better and then stop there, NO! His intent was for us to get fixed so we could help fix someone else. 

THIS WEEKEND!!! 

Let's be aggressive these next few days in inviting people to church! There are ALWAYS opportunities around us to invite people. Turn boring, mundane days into days of adventure as you seek out who you can impact. We promise you that your life will take on a whole new light! 

VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK

MISSY DAVIS!!!  

Your children are talented, but not talented enough to pull off two Christmas songs all by themselves last weekend! They had the wonderful help of Missy leading them pouring a tremendous amount of energy into making that part of the service a great success. Missy has helped in Big KIC for a while now and brings her very best to the table to ensure that your children aren't just being baby-sitted but that they are walking away from every weekend full of God and His Word. Thank you Missy for going above the call of duty to help us have a great children's ministry- we love you! 

Thank you Volunteers for what you do every week. This life is just a vapor the Bible says, and you are investing your vapor wisely! Thank you! 

Clovis Staff :) 

Here Comes Santa Claus!

BIG CHRISTMAS WEEKEND!

Twas the weekend before Christmas and all through Celebration, not one missed a service, let this be your MOTIVATION! -- The end --

Christmas time is here Clovis Volunteers and if there's ever been a weekend you didn't want to miss, this would be it! Here's what's goin' on!

• Santa Claus is coming to town! 
• The most ADORABLE christmas carolers will be singing the most ADORABLE christmas carols, and its probably the most ADORABLE thing you've ever seen in your life! 
• Face Painting for the brats... I mean the kids. 
• Open bar! (Hot chocolate bar that is) 
• And more! 

              We've crammed this weekend full of Christmas cheer that'll knock your stockings off! 

This is the weekend to invite family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and even strangers, that you have been wanting to come to church for so long. Christmas time is a time where people are willing to step into the doors of a church, so let's capitalize on this moment! 

Everyone is welcome to come and have a great with us!

VOLUNTEER CHRISTMAS PARTY
The Clovis staff would like to thank you for joining us for our Volunteer Christmas party! If I could describe this night in one word it would have to be SWEET! -- and I mean that in more ways than one.

Congratulations to all the Greeters on winning the Battle of the Areas being crowned the reigning champions and earning bragging rights for the whole year!

 Thank you to everyone who came out and helped make this night one to remember.

VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK

SANTA!!!

The staff wanted to thank Harold Hand for doing a fantastic job being Santa for us! Not only does he have an amazing real beard, but he also has a wonderful smile to go with it! Harold Hand has had huge investment in this ministry since its beginning and has helped this ministry reach countless amounts of people over the years. Thank you sir for believing in the next generation and for inspiring all of us! Thank you!!!

Thank you Clovis Campus! Let's make this weekend one to remember!

Clovis Team :)

Have a Very Merry Christmas!

Feliz Navidad Clovis! 

The Clovis team cannot express how thankful we are for each of you. You are all so different and we love seeing how everyone brings something unique to the table. Thank you for being you! 

TWO WHOPPERS! 

1. Volunteer Christmas Party!
Even as we speak, the staff is getting ready for this party of the century- so unless you're getting a kidney transplant you would be crazy to miss it! 
- The fun kicks off tomorrow night (Friday) from 7- 9pm.
- Bring the heat! We've got some fun, creative, festive games that will position you and your area to win some great prizes.
- The best bar in town...Hot Chocolate Bar!  
- Wear your wildest Christmas Sweater! Prize for the winner! 
- Bring a dessert to share with everyone. Someone please bring donuts. Please. Thank you :)

This is a night for the whole family, so come on out and don't be a SCROUGE! 



2. The Next Two Weekend Services
Every weekend is a another opportunity to invite someone to come and hear the good news and get their lives rocked! 
This weekend we will have tons of special things going on:
- Santa's coming to town! Bring your cameras or phone, Santa will be here 30 minutes prior to the services starting. 
- Free Hot Chocolate
- Face Painting for the kids (sorry adults). 
- And our lobby looks fantastic! 

Next Weekend: 

Pastor stressed to the staff to make sure that people are getting out there and inviting people to the weekend right before Christmas. We won't be having extra Production services, but our services will be designed to throw out the net and get people saved. This will be a great service for the whole family, and even the kids will be a huge contributor to it's success. SO WHO ARE YOU BRINGING???

UPCOMING NEWS:

- 2SM FSU Basketball Event. 2SM will be supporting our Fresno State Dogs on Wednesday night, January 16th. $20 will get you a ticket and a t-shirt- Now that's a deal! Reserve a spot at the Two Spot this weekend! (no pun intended)  

- Men and Women! Have you been itching to start our Workshops back up again? From January 16th to March 6th we will be having fun- that's 8 weeks that will rock your world! Sign-ups will be available this weekend!

VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK

Natalie Lopez!

Natalie has been a huge help to making KIC the best place to be for kids. You may have recently seen her and her husband bringing joy to all the tiny tots in Clovis with face paintings- of which they do a fabulous job! She comes early to help with whatever KIC needs and brings an amazing energy level with her! As a staff, we also wanted to commend Natalie for stepping in to help out another Volunteer when they were in need recently- because that's what family is all about! - taking care of one another :). Thank you Natalie for all your help and for making Celebration a wonderful place to be! 

We love you all! Let's finish this year strong! Remember- this month is a gateway into a new season; how you finish one season, is how you'll start the next! 

Clovis Staff