Southland Vine The

January 23, 2013

1630 W. Republic Road * Springfield, MO 65807

417.881.7405 * gosouthland.org

February Leadership Meetings:

> Ministry Council: Thursday, Feb. 7 @ 6 PM > Elders' Meeting: Thursday, Feb. 21

@ 6 PM

Southland Christian Church ...

equipping you to LIVE OUT your faith

as you ENCOUNTER God, CONNECT with others,

GROW DEEP and BUILD UP one another.

The next edition of The Vine – Feb 20th.

2013 SCRIP order dates: Feb. 4 & 18 - Mar. 4 & 18 - Apr. 1 & 22 -

(Orders must be placed by 8 AM.)

Southland's Enrollment Code: 7B6FE6772LL91

What’s Inside…

1 Souper Bowl Luncheon 1 SCRIP Order Dates 2-3 General Reminders & Information 4 NEW PAGE: "We do!" 5 What MATTers to Me 6 Les’ Latest ... with Summer dates

7-8 southlandwomen 9-10 Encounter 11 Connect 12 Grow Deep 13-14 Build Up 15 October Serving Schedule 16-18 Live Out

The

“SOUPER” BOWL Luncheon Featuring Chili, Soups & Sweets

Sunday, January 27th at 11:30 AM

Proceeds benefit our Youth

attending BELIEVE Conference.

The

“SOUPER” BOWL Luncheon Featuring Chili, Soups & Sweets

Sunday, January 27th at 11:30 AM

Proceeds benefit our Youth

attending BELIEVE Conference.

New Members:

> Hugh & Danielle Keeton (Children: Audrey and Caleb)

A new section for the

Vine beginning this

month ...

Check out page 4 for a special section where we will highlight

commitments of our Southland "Membership Covenant."

Check out page 2 for details about a change

to our start time for 1st service CONNECT

Groups and kids/youth Sunday School classes

(from 9:30 to 9 AM)!

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GGeenneerraall RReemmiinnddeerrss aanndd IInnffoorrmmaattiioonn ......

Effective Sunday, February 1 7, kids/youth Sunday School classes and CONNECT Groups that have met at 9:30 will transition to a 9 AM start time. This will create a uniform start time for everything that takes place during 1 st service. We are making this adjustment because we believe in the importance of building relationships, praying together and discussing God's Word. It will also allow us to get out by 1 0:1 5 and interact with any guests God might bring us on a particular week. In the end, our desire behind this change is to help facilitate a more productive and intentional time of CONNECTING so we can more effectively equip people to LIVE OUT faith! Make sure you mark your calendars and "donut be late!"

An Important Note: A huge "thank you" to all of our Connect Group leaders and especially our kids/youth Sunday School teachers for their servant hearts and their willingness to do what they can to help make this work!!

FINANCIAL UPDATE ... December 2012 (the most recently completed month)

We want to start providing this info to keep you aware of what's happening. Keep in mind, this is a snapshot of one month. Please feel free to ask any questions you might have through the office staff.

INCOME ...

Regular tithe - $39,788.65

Love Offerings - $3,265 (includes $2,570 to our IMAGINE Fund for the building)

Average weekly tithe - $7,957.73

Weekly budget goal - $8,650 (This is based on an approximate budget of $450,000 ... NOTE: This is our target; we adjust as necessary along the way.)

We are excit ed about ut ilizing t he “YouVersion” app for smart phones, t ablet s and ot her elect ronic devices during our Sunday service. Among ot her t hings, it 's a great way t o follow along wit h t he sermon (yes, we will cont inue t o have not e sheet s available as well).

See t he post ers around t he building for inst ruct ions on how t o find our LIVE event using t his app each week: “SCC – Sunday ENCOUNTER.” You can even send your own not es t o yourself via e-mail from right t here wit hin t he app!

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PRAYER …To share requests with Southland, please submit them via e-mail to

prayer@gosouthland.org or call the office.

As hard as we work to communicate all the right information, we know there may be additional questions you have about Southland ... especially if you are new around here! If you have questions, please contact the office and someone on staff will help you out. We also have an e-mail address (gotquestions@gosouthland.org) where you can submit any questions you might have.

IN THE EVENT OF INCLEMENT WEATHER...

There are times when we may have to either cancel or adjust our schedule due to winter weather. These changes will be made as soon as reasonably possible and communicated in these two main ways:

* On the front page of the website: gosouthland.org * Via e-mail to our "Vine" distribution list (to have your e-mail address added to this list, contact the office)

“Thank you for the prayers and flowers. Thanks, too, to Amanda for the delicious meal. Dennis and I appreciate your

thoughtfulness.” Sincerely, Kathy Grover

“A simple thank you doesn’t seem like enough for the well wishes, prayers, flowers, and candle. Also, the gift card.

God had been so wise to us to Southland 7 years ago. Your support, caring, and prayers were very evident to family.

Love, Diane [Yates]

COMING SOON ... Ozark Christian College's "Preaching and Teaching Convention" - February 25-27, 2013.

An opportunity to take a quick trip over to Joplin for a time of refreshment and encouragement. Maybe it's just for a day. Maybe it's just for an evening. It will be worth whatever time you can give to make it happen.

For more information, contact the office or check out the OCC website (http://occ.edu/PT).

OFFERING ENVELOPES ... We have our offering envelopes available in the foyer. These are not "coded" with a number, but are generic - blank except for a spot to write in your name. If you give by cash and want a record at the end of the year for tax purposes or if you want the extra privacy/security of envelopes, you can pick up either a box or a bundle of 20 envelopes. If you do not use envelopes, all checks will still be automatically tracked for purposes of your tax records.

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One of the great privileges and joys when it comes to following Jesus is being joined together with other

believers as His church. Here at Southland, we express that vital connection in part through our “Membership

Covenant.” It provides the basic parameters for belonging to the church family here – the commitments we

have made to Christ and one another as His people. Now, these are not just our own ideas. Rather, they are

our attempt to communicate the teaching of God’s Word when it comes to His Church – just what does it

require of us to belong to His Body? In this new section of the Vine, we will be taking the time to review these

commitments – 1 from each of the 4 sections of the covenant in each Vine. It’s a way for us to keep fresh in

our hearts and minds just what it means to be connected to one another as His church here at Southland.

GENERAL LEADERSHIP (elders/staff) COMMITMENT … We covenant to cultivate a growing personal

relationship with Christ as His followers so we can continue to become more and more like Him. For leaders to

effectively help others on the journey as followers of Jesus it requires that they themselves are travelling that

same road. As one author noted, the church doesn’t need “travel agents” who tell people about a journey with

Christ, but “tour guides” who help lead people along the way. That’s why this is an important leadership

principle in God’s Word and why it’s a foundational commitment of our leaders. While it can sound audacious,

the attitude of a leader should be the same as what Paul shares in 1 Corinthians 11:1 – “follow my example as

I follow the example of Christ” (NIV).

ELDERS’ COMMITMENT … We covenant to embrace the unique and sacred responsibilities entrusted to us by

God. The New Testament teaches the vital role of elders. In reality, it’s a carry-over from God’s design for the

Jewish people: men of wisdom and experience who lead His people. In the church, elders receive this unique and

sacred trust from Christ Himself (1 Peter 5:2; see also Acts 20:28). It’s with this group – it’s always a

“plurality” of elders in the New Testament – that God has placed primary responsibility and accountability for

the well-being of a congregation. In fact, because of the important task that elders have received from Christ,

they are to “watch over” God’s people as those “who must give an account” (Hebrews 13:17).

STAFF COMMITMENT … We covenant to embrace the directions and priorities established by the elders,

affirming the unique place of leadership God has entrusted to them. Staff members share with elders much of

the responsibility and accountability of leadership. However, because of the elders’ unique role, the staff serves in

submission to their leadership, working alongside them to carry-out God’s priorities for Southland. This is part

of how we honor the design of “elder leadership” in the church as God has laid it out in the New Testament.

MEMBERS’ COMMITMENT … We covenant to protect the unity of Southland by doing that which leads to

building up one another and avoiding that which threatens to undermine the Spirit’s bond of peace. The New

Testament places a significant emphasis on the unity of Christ’s people (e.g. see John 17:20-21; 1 Corinthians

12:12-13 and Ephesians 4:3-5). This is not just something that happens, but something that each part of the

Body must work to maintain (notice the language of Ephesians 4:3 … “make every effort to keep yourselves

united” – see also Romans 14:19). This priority of unity is the responsibility of each member of Southland.

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What MATTers to me … If you want a human culprit for my intensity and passion, you can blame Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Sure, it’s really the Holy Spirit that produces it, but Bonhoeffer has long been one of my “heroes” of faith and ministry. It started when I read his masterpiece on truly following Jesus called The Cost of Discipleship. It has continued over the years as I have become more and more familiar with his life and his writings. It’s why it has been such a joy to work my way through his biography written by Eric Metaxas … Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.

In many ways, the Holy Spirit has cultivated even greater intensity and passion in my heart as I have read this story of Bonhoeffer’s life. The purity of vision he had for the church to be what Christ called it to be is so inspiring … even more so when you consider his context. He lived in Germany during the rise and rule of Hitler and National Socialism. Early on, many churches and their leaders were going along with the Nazi’s dangerous ideas cloaked as they were in patriotism and "the good of Germany." Even in the midst of horrific acts against the Jews, still so many remained silent and passive. And yet, from very early on, Bonhoeffer saw it all for what it really was. Time gradually and decisively confirmed these initial suspicions. Desperately, he worked in whatever way he could to arouse the church, especially its leaders. He alerted them to these deceptions and called them to action – not just because it was right, but because it was the church's essential duty in the midst of brokenness!

It has all coalesced so well within my mind as I have been reading this story in the midst of our current sermon series on LIVING OUT faith in Christ. Here are some of words Metaxas writes about Bonhoeffer’s emphasis …

“[In Bonhoeffer’s thinking], the eyes of faith had a moral component. … He strove to see what God wanted to show and then to do what God asked in response. That was the obedient Christian life, the call of the disciple.”

“For Bonhoeffer, the idea of limiting actions to this sphere (i.e. to within the church as opposed to the outside world) was absurd. The church had been instituted by God to exist for the whole world. … [He] believed it was the role of the church to speak for those who could not speak. …

In other words, as we read in James 2:14-26, faith is only real and living when it produces action in our everyday lives! For Bonhoeffer, following Jesus was not about what happened within the walls of the church, but something that reverberated into every corner of life. As far as Bonhoeffer was concerned, to sing to God in worship while ignoring the realities of the world rendered such songs empty and meaningless. It resonates so well with the consistent message in the Old Testament prophets – to claim to honor God while ignoring His priorities in the midst of everyday life contradicts and even nullifies the existence of any true worship (see Isaiah 1:10-17; Amos 5:21-24 and Micah 6:8)!! Like with those prophets of old, the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer demonstrates someone urgently striving to confront the brokenness of our world and the systems that perpetuate it. Considering the price he paid, it also reveals the cost of doing so. Ironically, when contrasted with the response of typical German church leaders – an ambivalence that allowed the Nazi regime and its ideals to flourish – perhaps his story helps us even grasp the disastrous consequences of NOT living out faith as well!

As I have been processing Bonhoeffer’s story, I cannot help but think about our situation today (please note, this is a general comment about our culture as a whole, not a political statement about government leaders … except to whatever extent they might apply). We live in a world of so much injustice and brokenness. We live in a world where God may still be acknowledged as a theoretical reality, but the principles and priorities revealed in His Word are viewed as out-dated, no longer applicable to life today unless they suit our agenda. We live in a world of blatant compromise. Unfortunately, in the midst of this context, we also live in a world where churches have abandoned their true responsibility, where comfortable Christianity has replaced costly discipleship and where faith has become nothing more than an idea in our brains or a feeling in our hearts. May God stir within us a committed passion for His Kingdom and His will in the midst of this world of brokenness! May we offer ourselves in true worship – everyday, living sacrifices where faith reverberates! May He find us faithful!

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Vacation Bible School Volunteer Meeting & Potluck Luncheon

Sunday, February 17th @ 12:00 noon in the Fellowship Hall

Come meet with us to find out about volunteer opportunities for this summer’s VBS.

LLeess'' LLaatteesstt UUppddaatteess ffrroomm tthhee YYoouutthh MMiinniissttrryy

GROUP HUDDLE MEALS: Group Huddle Bible studies are off to a great start. Each evening, our kitchen staff provides a delicious meal to our group. To off-set the cost of this meal, we ask that parents pay $25.00 per student per semester. That averages to about $ 1.50 per meal. Please have your child give their meal payment to me at your earliest convenience. Also, we gladly welcome parents to help prepare and serve the meals. We have evenings available in April and May.

2013 BELIEVE CONFERENCE * FRIDAY & SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8TH & 9TH

Release Forms & Remaining Balances are due BEFORE Friday, February 8th.

We depart from SCC on Feb 8th @ 2pm & return on Feb 9th around 9pm.

One small carry-on per person. Bring $ for 3 meals & extra $ for souvenirs.

Conference is at Family Arena in St. Charles, MO. Housing at Sleep Inn.

IINN TTHHEE SSPPOOTTLLIIGGHHTT

Congratulations to MATTHEW GRAVES! He was selected to play the trombone in the South Central Honor Band. Matthew is in seventh grade at Republic Middle School.

KELLY LOFTIS was recently named Teacher of the Month from the Springfield Public School District. Kelly is loved by her students and co-workers at Robberson Community School.

TIM COBB was selected to perform in the Springfield Area Honor Band. Tim plays the tuba in 8th grade band at Cherokee.

KENDALL WOOLDRIDGE, a sophomore at Willard High School performed an original composition in her school’s talent show.

MMAARRKK YYOOUURR

CCAALLEENNDDAARRSS!!

** AAnnnnuuaall YYoouutthh YYaarrdd SSaallee –– MMaayy 1177tthh && 1188tthh iinn tthhee cchhuurrcchh lloott..

** CChhrriisstt iinn YYoouutthh MMOOVVEE CCoonnffeerreennccee –– JJuullyy 77tthh –– JJuullyy 1133tthh ((FFoorr tthhoossee eenntteerriinngg ffrreesshhmmaann yyeeaarr ttoo ggrraadduuaattiinngg sseenniioorrss))

** VVaaccaattiioonn BBiibbllee SScchhooooll –– JJuullyy 2299tthh –– AAuugguusstt 11sstt ((PPrree--sscchhooooll tthhrroouugghh 55

tthh ggrraaddee))

Middle School Camp- June 16th – June 21st (For youth moving into 6

th – 8

th grade.)

Beginner Day Camp- Saturday, June 22nd (For children entering kindergarten – 1

st grade.)

Junior Camp- June 23rd – June 26th (For young people moving into 5

th – 6

th grade.)

Kids’ Camp- June 27th – June 29th (For kids going into 2

nd – 4

th grade.)

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Americans can be quite adept at delusional thinking. For example, we actually believe that we can halt or even reverse the

aging process with lotions, potions and pills. Billions of dollars are spent every year in pursuit of delaying this physical

inevitability. (As a grandma, I am doing my part to counter the fallacy of this thinking by adhering to the old-fashioned belief

that grandmas should be a little softer than a 30 year old. I think kids are going to remember more about the memories of

cookies, fun, games and good cooking at grandma’s than they are about how buff grandma was. Truly ladies, there is

freedom in not trying to look 30 when you are 50! Just sayin’!) Corporations have become fantastically rich playing on our

pride and selling us the unattainable goal of staying young when we are in fact aging every moment. There is simply no

getting around the fact that ever since the Garden of Eden, we are doomed to get old and die. No amount of delusional

thinking and wasteful spending is going to change what has been set in motion in this fallen world.

Our delusional thinking doesn’t only affect our futile resistance against aging. Here’s another example. We live our lives as if

we have all the time in the world to address later what we neglect today. In his book “When The Game Is Over It All Goes

Back In The Box,” John Ortberg portrays our modern lifestyle in this fictional story about a man wrapped up in this life:

“…He routinely logged twelve to fourteen hour days at his job, and sometimes weekends… Even when he was not working, his mind drifted toward his work so that it was not only his occupation but also his preoccupation. He found the forty-hour work week such a good idea he would often do it twice a week. His wife tried to slow him down, to remind him that he had a family. He knew that they were not as close as they once had been. He had not intended to drift away. It’s just that she always seemed to want time from him, and that is what he did not have to give. He gave at the office… He recognized that his life was out of balance. His wife nagged him about going to church – there was one down the street from them. He intended to go, but Sunday morning was the only time he could crash. He prided himself on being a practical man who lived in the real world where money is how you keep score. ‘Besides, I can be spiritual without going to church,’ he said to himself. ‘There will be plenty of time for that sort of thing when things settle down…’ His wife woke up at 3:00 a.m., and he was still not beside her. She went downstairs to drag him to bed and saw him still sitting in front of the computer terminal, his head on his desk… She touched him on his shoulder to wake him up, but he did not respond, and his skin was alarmingly cold… When the paramedics got there, they told her that he had suffered a massive heart attack, that he had already been dead for hours.”

Ortberg goes on to describe how the man was eulogized on earth as a Visionary, Innovator, Leader, Entrepreneur – the word

Success was engraved on his tombstone. But in heaven, God had a different word to describe the man: Fool. Around the

world, people live their lives as if they were in control of their end. Every so often it works out that they can actually make

up for lost time, but more often than not, their foolish pursuit of the worldly catches up with them before they expect it.

Jesus addressed this delusional thinking in Luke 12:13-21 in the Parable of the Rich Fool. In this story, Jesus describes a man

who has it all – an abundance of crops, bigger barns, a large nest egg, an easy life, and even the time to eat, drink, and be

merry. He was deluded in his thinking that there was time for God down the line, but his life was demanded from him way

before he was ready. Jesus condemns this mindset in verses 20 and 21: “But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your

life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ This is how it will be with anyone

who stores up things for himself but is not rich toward God.”

Sadly, Christians have also bought into this lifestyle and delusional thinking. Ask the world. All too often the only thing that

sets American “Christians” apart from the world in any sort of practical, “live out” fashion is the fact that they say they are

followers of Christ and attend church on a regular (or somewhat regular) basis. To the outside, it would appear that many

Christians pursue the secular and deny the inevitable the same way the world does.

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Sign-up online at www.gosouthland.org or pick-up a registration form from the nursery counter.

CHILDCARE WILL BE PROVIDED. E-mail questions to msanights@gosouthland.org

Know a mom who needs support & encouragement?

Southland now offers TWO opportunities for them to connect with other moms!

MSA days & MSA nights, both on the 1st & 3rd Tuesdays of

each month.

Plan NOW to go! See Debbie Nelson for more details.

"Ezra – A Blue Print for Revival Tuesday morning Bible study

(9:30 - 11:30).

As always, childcare will be provided.

If you look back over the past 50 years at the teaching trends in the church, it is hard to tell which came first – the backing

away from the uncomfortable teaching of heaven and hell or a drop in attendance because of that uncomfortable teaching

resulting in less and less talk of heaven and hell. No matter which came first, we are now faced with a generation of

Christians who are deluded about the accountability that will be required of them when they one day stand before the Lord.

Lives, even Christian lives, are lived like there is no hell, like everything will be “fine,” – like we can live any way we want

here and now without any thought as to the eternal ramifications.

The easy excuse for perpetuating the status quo is that one person’s changing is not going to make any difference in the

Body of Christ as a whole. Wrong! If each of us would commit ourselves to living each day as if our lives were going to be

demanded of us that night, the culture in the church would change. The Holy Spirit is pressing a sense of urgency regarding

this very thing on the hearts of many. Yet, an apathy and false sense of security remains in the majority. Despite the fact

that a person of 50 can look 30 on the outside, they are still 50 and deteriorating on the inside. No amount of potions,

lotions and pills can change that. So it is with the modern church. On the outside, we look vital and pretty with our

oversized buildings, catchy marketing, technology and large congregations. We buy into the delusion that we are good

because we look good but all the while, we are far from the church that Christ intends for us to be. No amount of

programming and marketing can change that.

I believe with all my heart that all who are true followers of Jesus need to grasp the urgency of the days in which we live and

realize that the period of grace is rapidly coming to a close. We cannot afford the delusional thinking that everything is okay

and that God is good with where we are. We must, as we read in James 1:22, not only be hearers of the Word, but also

doers of the Word. We cannot continue to dress up on the outside while we are deteriorating on the inside. My prayer, my

plea, is that the Body of Christ wake up, hit our knees in repentance and follow the Holy Spirit in His sense of urgency so that

what we appear to be on the outside is truly what we are on the inside.

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

"Clear the Stage" ... thoughts on worship from Jon

There’s a link that a friend of mine posted on my Facebook timeline a couple of weeks ago for no given reason. She simply posted the link titled “Clear the Stage” with no explanation as to why. Because I trust this friend, I followed the link. The video turned out to be a music video by a Christian recording artist named Jimmy Needham. The song, of course, was called “Clear the Stage.” After roughly one and half minutes into the song, I could not help but feel a heavy conviction provoked by the lyrics. At first, I thought to myself, “Is this friend of mine trying to tell me that there’s something in my life or ministry that I need to fix?” I mean, the song obviously has some “this song is for the messed up worship leader” undertones written all over it. I am kidding, of course. I know that was not her intentions. However, I am honestly convinced that the Holy Spirit indeed told her that I needed to hear the lyrics of this particular song … because, to put it simply, I did. I want to share with you the lyrics to the song (If you have online access, I highly recommend you watch the video here. Or, visit YouTube.com and search for “Clear the Stage” by Jimmy Needham).

Verse 1: Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze If that's the measure you must take to crush the idols Jerk the pews & all the decorations, too Until the congregations few, then have revival. Tell your friends that this is where the party ends Until you're broken for your sins, you can't be social Then seek the Lord & wait for what He has in store And know that great is your reward so just be hopeful Chorus: 'Cause you can sing all you want to Yes, you can sing all you want to You can sing all you want to And still get it wrong worship is more than a song Verse 2: Take a break from all the plans that you have made And sit at home alone and wait for God to whisper Beg Him please to open up His mouth and speak And pray for real upon your knees until they blister Shine the light on every corner of your life Until the pride and lust and lies are in the open Then read the Word and put to test the things you've heard Until your heart and soul are stirred and rocked and broken

Chorus 2: 'Cause you can sing all you want to Yes, you can sing all you want to You can sing all you want to And still get it wrong worship is more than a song We must not worship something that's not even worth it Clear the stage, make some space for the One who deserves it Anything I put before my God is an idol Anything I want with all my heart is an idol Anything I can't stop thinking of is an idol Anything that I give all my love is an idol Chorus 3: Cause I can sing all I want to Yes, I can sing all I want to And we can sing all we want to And still get it wrong Worship is more than a song Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze If that's the measure you must take to crush the idols

As a worship leader, it is extremely easy to get lost in the song sets, rehearsals, the stage, the lighting, the sound and, yes, even the people. I often forget what this concept we call “worship” really means. Jesus tells us in Matthew 6 that “where your treasure is, there your heart will be also…” In worship, God desires our hearts to be in His possession, not in the possession of our jobs, our homes, our entertainment, our friends or even our ...

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... about 1st Service ENCOUNTER

As we mentioned in the December Vine and as you have noticed on Sunday mornings, the worship team now

leading 1st service is different. At this point, the plan will be to move forward as things are right now. We will

continue to evaluate where things are and adjust if/as necessary. Again, we will strive for the same basic priority

of "blended" worship where we can offer praise and adoration from our hearts to our heavenly Father.

A huge "thank you" to all those who served so diligently with the 1st service team in 2012!

CURRENT SERMON SERIES

Through the end of February, we will be in a series of sermons we’re calling “LIVE OUT … A Faith that Reverberates.” Our goal in this series is to look at different actions and attitudes Christ calls us to live out in our everyday lives. Faith in Christ is not just a private matter of the heart, nor is it something that just has personal benefits for me! It should also produce action (see James 2:14-26). Like an echo, we want our faith to reverberate throughout every corner of our lives.

Here are the themes we will address in the weeks to come:

January 27 LIVE OUT: Witness … Sharing the Good News with Others Right Where We Are

February 3 LIVE OUT: World Mission … Finding Our Place in God’s World-wide Kingdom

February 10 LIVE OUT: Compassionate Love … Practically Putting Our Love for Others into Action

February 17 LIVE OUT: Grace and Truth … The Delicate Balance

February 24 LIVE OUT: Courage, Empowered by the Holy Spirit … Allowing His Power to Flow through Us

UPDATE

families. But if we treasure any of these things (meaning we put the majority of our time, energy and passion into them), they become where our hearts truly rest. They become our idols. In that case, I personally have many idols in my life I need to crush and set ablaze before my God, and this song reminded me of that fact. I keep my life so busy and focused on so many pointless and finite things – things that that my relationship with my heavenly Father often times takes a back seat.

So what are some of your idols? Where is your treasure? Where is your heart?

The word pictures the author uses to describe distractions and idols in our life can really relate to anyone. In the case of the song, sound, lights, pews, decorations and any form of church “staples” had become idols, and it may be in your case, as well. But the songs message is clear; whatever keeps your heart from fully belonging to God needs to be crushed.

“Clear the stage and set the sound and lights ablaze, If that's the measure you must take to crush the idols…”

Thanks, friend, for the post.

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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, consider how God’s Word applies to our lives. Please see the "CONNECT Counter" in the foyer for information about when/where these

groups meet on a weekly basis and for more details about upcoming events listed below. GET CONNECTED!

SYNC & TWO FORTY TWO will join for a Super Bowl party at Jon & Katy Carmichael’s!

5:00 pm on Sunday, February 3rd.

Wings provided by the Carmichael brothers. Please bring a complimentary dish to pass.

Super Bowl Party at the Jennings home

5 pm - Sunday, February 3rd. Bring your favorite Super Bowl foods to share with everyone!

FFRRIIDDAAYY,, FFEEBBRRUUAARRYY 2222nndd

,, 66 ppmm aatt tthhee cchhuurrcchh –– PPIIZZZZAA

&& GGAAMMEE NNIIGGHHTT.. PPlleeaassee bbrriinngg $$55..0000 ttoo hheellpp ccoovveerr tthhee

ccoosstt ooff ppiizzzzaass,, aanndd ggeett rreeaaddyy ffoorr ssoommee ffuunn!!

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD, NOON

HAM & BEAN DINNER AT THE CHURCH

Sign-up in the foyer to bring corn bread or a dessert.

Friday, February 1st, “Free At Last” groups will be going to see the play, “Oliver” at the Landers Theatre. We need a head count by Sunday, January 27th, so that we can order group tickets. Terry Ochs will serve as the contact for this outing. Kayla Gray, daughter of Dan & Debbie Gray, will be performing in this production!

Hope you can come! Shirley Bloss, Dorothy Marti & Sue Malina

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

At Southland, a significant way we help people grow is through our Deeper Life Groups (a.k.a. "D-Groups"). While we occasionally offer other teaching opportunities, this is our primary way of helping people plant DEEP roots into Christ and God's Word (see Colossians 2:6-7).

A thought from Matt about GROWING DEEP - for your consideration ... "Just sayin'!"

What if growing deep isn't just about my personal benefit? What if it really is about me being more prepared to LIVE OUT my faith?

I never knew I'd need that screw-driver with 6 points (it's actually called a "Torx Screwdriver" ... who knew? I know, I know, somebody among you surely did!). In fact, even though I knew they existed, I wasn't sure I had one. But recently, when the top brake light on our mini-van went out, my whole world was exposed to something new!

For some reason, this is one of those places on the 2001 Grand Caravans that Dodge saw fit to use such screws. Imagine my surprise when I had all the necessary resources for changing the burnt-out bulb, only to discover that I didn't have with me the right tool to take out the screws. Seeing the 6-pointed screw head sent me on a diligent search through the various boxes of tools in my highly-organized garage work area (I know, can you believe that I actually have such a place?). Indeed, I had one. More surprisingly, it could actually be found. Now equipped with the proper tool, I got busy accomplishing the task at hand - before long, voila! Behold the replaced top brake light!

When it comes to our spiritual lives, we can often consider growth as something according to the personal benefits involved - what's in it for me! I grow in Christ because it helps me have greater confidence in God. I grow in Christ because it helps me develop a heart and attitude more like Jesus. I grow in Christ because it helps me face the struggles of my day better. Of course, all of those are great reasons!

And yet, I wonder if such an attitude towards why we should grow doesn't miss something significant. Maybe growing deep isn't just about what I get out of it to help my own life. Maybe growing deep is about making sure that I have the necessary tools to LIVE OUT my faith for the good of others.

Many times, when we offer a new opportunity through the church, we emphasize the personal benefits. That can even be the case when we speak about Deeper Life Groups or other opportunities to learn/grow. We talk about how "this will strengthen your relationship with Christ, etc." And yet, as we've focused on the importance of LIVING OUT our faith in Christ, a different perspective came to mind. Maybe instead of just focusing on how growing deep roots in Christ helps me, we should focus on how it helps me be equipped for the good of others. At those times in life when you find yourself needing the right tools, it's a great thing to have what you need readily available. Likewise, may we GROW DEEP so we can be truly equipped to LIVE OUT faith!

To be a part of a Deeper Life Group, please fill out one of the GREEN CARDS found at the Welcome Center. NOTE: If you have already signed-up to be a part of a D-Group, we will be forming new groups here in the next few weeks.

CHILDCARE IS AVAILABLE FOR D-GROUPS MEETING ON WEDNESDAY EVENINGS BEGINNING AT 6 PM.

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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 have a need for help, (2) make you aware of special opportunities to serve and (3) provide a place to thank some of our volunteers.

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

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.

A BLESSING

What a wonderful feeling it was when we returned from our seventeen year sojourn to the south, to see how the church has grown spiritually. It is with joy that I see how many of the people who were the “young ones” have grown and have taken the responsibility of teaching and leadership.

A really big blessing that has been added is that of a minister to the women. I have witnessed Debbie’s teaching and mentoring of all the women in the church, and it really blesses my heart when I see the young women grow in their positions of being daughters of God, but also in their desires to be a helpmate to their husbands and to teach their children about living for Jesus. Many of the women have sent their own children out into the world as Godly women, and are committed to help teach other children in the church. It is very evident that Debbie has had a great influence on these young women, and also on those of us who are not as young as we once were. She teaches us all and encourages us to seek God’s word and to develop a great relationship with Him.

Thank God for her leadership, and thank the church leaders for seeing the need for a minister to the women at Southland Christian Church.

Edna Houser, (one of the “not so young”) who has been blessed.

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Pam Foster has volunteered to clean up communion every week. This is one of those jobs that often goes

unnoticed – that is unless it is not done! It is no fun to come to church ready to prepare communion on Sunday

morning only to find last week’s communion still in the trays. We appreciate Pam’s willingness to BUILD UP the

church through this work. Also related to communion, Wilber Kaylor came in and hand-polished each and

every communion tray and lid. He noticed that there were some water marks and spots on the trays and just

showed up one day to polish them. Thank you Wilber for taking the initiative to go above and beyond! Finally, to

those who come to church early to prepare communion – thank you! Those folks include Mike and Carolyn

Owen, Warren and Carolyn Burros, as well as several from the Empty Nesters Connect Group and

Jon’s worship band.

Each week during second service, our children are in classes enjoying their own, age-appropriate version of

ENCOUNTER. These classes are led by a wonderful group of volunteers who understand the importance of

training our children. Those volunteers are:

CRUISERS (1st-5th grade) Andy and Donna Lillard, Brad and Ashley Worthy, Stacey Smith, Austin and

Amanda Presko,

LIL’ CRUISERS (4 years – Kindergarten) Amber Neil, Debbie Jennings, Kelly Loftis, Emily Sampson, Kristen

Londeen,

WEE CRUISERS (2 and 3 years old) Gabrielle Carroll (and soon to be joining her – Danielle Keeton)

Besides these leaders, there are a group of young ladies who are regularly scheduled to serve as assistants in

these classes:

Alexis Simpson, Allison Ritz, Shelby Ritz, Anna Martin, Britney Shearin, and Linsey Drake

Other youth serve on an “as needed” basis in the Cruiser area. Sunday mornings would be very different around

Southland if it were not for the dedication of these people. If you have ever stepped into one of the rooms

where they are teaching, it is evident that they take their task very seriously and have a true desire to teach the

kids about the ways of the Lord. Please take a moment to thank them for their ministry to our children.

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SERVING SCHEDULE - February 2013

Communion Prep: Empty Nesters

GREETERS WELCOME CENTER 2/3/13 - 1ST SVC 2/3/13 - 2ND SVC

10:30 Free At Last Connect Group 9:30 Free At Last Connect Group

Brandon Joines/Jay Butler Kay & Dennis McCann

2/10/13 - 1ST SVC 2/10/13 - 2ND SVC

Senior High Youth Refuge Connect Group

Joe & Pam Sewell Ernie & Charlotte Emmerton

2/17/13 - 1ST SVC 2/17/13 - 2ND SVC

Empty Nesters Connect Group 9:30 Branch Connect Group

Jay & Kim Tyler Edith Phipps/Dorothy Marti

2/24/13 - 1ST SVC 2/24/13 - 2ND SVC

Junior High Youth 242 Connect Group

Dustin & Lacey Shumaker Sue Malina/Shirley Bloss

/ /12 - 1ST SVC / /12 - 2ND SVC

SERVERS 1ST SERVICE 2ND SERVICE 2/3/13 Various Members Austin Presko Team

2/10/13 Various Members Doug Graves Team

2/17/13 Various Members Ben Jennings Team

2/24/13 Various Members Les Londeen & Youth Ministry

NURSERY CHECK-IN 1ST SERVICE 2ND SERVICE

2/3/13 Dorothy Marti Caroline Stewart

2/10/13 Marian Smith Terra Gegg

2/17/13 Pam Sewell Jill Sims

2/24/13 Edna Houser Susan Graves

NURSERY 1ST SERVICE 2ND SERVICE 2/3/13 Sammie & Jared Wilson/Cortney Joines Stewarts & Millers

2/10/13 Lori Hembree/Janet Kubitschek/Katy Carmichael AJ & Terra Gegg/Jessica Worthy

2/17/13 Tammy Worthy/Mara Ray/Cindy Benefield Debbie & Kayla Gray/Megan Rosell

2/24/13 Mike & Laura Lippert/ Sheila Seal Graves Family

/ / 12

Cruisers Pit Stop Check-in (9am - 9:20am)

Wee Cruisers 10:30am - 11:45am

Li'l Cruisers 10:30 - 11:45am

Cruiser's LEADER

2/3/13 Lillards

Gabrielle Carroll Allison Ritz

Debbie Jennings Shelby Ritz

Andy & Donna Lillard

2/10/13 Les

Gabrielle Carroll Allison Ritz

Kelly Loftis Shelby Ritz

Stacey Smith

2/17/13 XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Gabrielle Carroll Linsey Drake

Emily Sampson Alexis Simpson

Brad & Ashley Worthy

2/24/13 XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Gabrielle Carroll Anna Martin

Amber Neil Britney Shearin

Austin & Amanda Presko

/ / 12

COMPUTER 1ST SERVICE 2ND SERVICE 2/3/13 Jordan Marsh Emily Courtney

2/10/13 Dan Gray Dan Gray

2/17/13 Christy Wall Jay Butler

2/24/13 Karl Simpson Sonya Simpson

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LIVE OUT Ministries

... a path for putting faith into action.

As part of our effort to keep you informed about Southland's missions partners, we have listed the organizations and their websites (where applicable) below.

Central India Christian Mission ... www.indiamission.org

Ozark Christian College ... www.occ.edu

Maranatha Bible Camp ... www.maranathabiblecamp.org

Christian Campus House at MSU ... www.cchonthe.net

Pregnancy Care Center ... www.pccchoices.org

Salvation Army ... www.usc.salvationarmy.org/springfield-mo

"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

Be looking here for future updates about the G6:10 ministry as they help Southland identify opportunities where we can LIVE OUT our faith in Christ!

We are excited to announce the addition of another foreign partner. A while back, we felt the Holy Spirit's leading to place a larger international emphasis on our missions at

Southland. God's heart is for all the peoples of the world. For us, that means not just caring about what's happening here, but also caring about His GLOBAL Kingdom. Part of that involves finding significant partners who are involved in His work around the world!

Starting in 2013, we have officially joined together with the work of a family in North Africa (they are part of a broader team there). For security purposes, we will not publicize their

names or their exact country anywhere that can be accessed online. We will, however, soon have more information available in the alcove. This will include a way for you to sign-up directly to receive their updates. We are excited about working together to help share God's

love where it is most desperately needed!

In addition to these regular partners, we occasionally have an opportunity to "bless" other ministries with money designated for foreign missions. This happens in the form of a one-time special gift. We were recently able to do just that with $5,000 that we sent to Blackbox International, a ministry devoted to helping young boys find healing and hope in Christ as they recover from horrible wounds inflicted by others. As you can see from the image, the name comes from the "black boxes" used over the eyes of a child harmed in this way. Check out their website (www.blackboxinternational.org) for more information about their amazing work!

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Dear Southland Family,

I have been invited to be a part of a team from Northside Christian Church that is

going to North Africa. We will hold a retreat for missionaries that minister in a country

that is closed to Christianity. The oppression in that culture, the difficult language,

the lack of Christian fellowship from a church, the fear of being expelled, the fact

that in a country of 17 million only five hundred are Christians takes an emotional and

spiritual toll on the team members living in this country. This is where we come in.

Six members from Northside Christian Church and I will lead their team of fourteen

adults and thirteen children in a spiritual retreat where they can relax, enjoy

fellowship, worship, study, and laugh together. In order for the adults to be fed

spiritually, we need to have some people care for the 13 children that belong to

these families. I have been asked to lead the childcare team and host the children

every day during the retreat VBS style. We will also watch the kids in the afternoon

and late evening to provide the parents with a little quality couple time where they

know their children are being well cared for.

This opportunity will not only to bless this North Africa team with encouragement, rest,

and spiritual renewal for their families but it will also be a huge blessing in my life. I

personally know three of the families on this team and feel God has laid it on my

heart to be a constant supporter of encouragement to them. Through much prayer

and talking with Matt Martin, I feel God leading me in this decision to go on this trip.

We will be leaving for Africa on March 7 and returning March 17.

In order for God to use me as an encourager to this team I need your help. First, I ask

that you would partner with me in prayer daily or weekly about this trip. Will you also

prayerfully consider helping me to cover the costs of this trip? You will not only be

investing in my ministry but you will be blessing God’s kingdom workers. If you would

like to help monetarily, please make your check payable to Southland Christian

Church – write MISSIONS: Kelly Loftis on the memo line. You can send it to the church

or place it in the church offering.

Thank you in advance for your partnership in prayer and financial support ... or both!

Blessings,

Kelly Loftis

Member-Southland Christian Church

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A Mission Trip Opportunity …

This year we are reaching out to more and more missions. An opportunity is knocking for you to participate on a mission trip!

Countryside Christian Church has invited us to go to Eagle Pass, TX with them over Spring Break. The trip is to help at Collegio Biblico, a Bible college that trains Christian workers for ministry in the Spanish-speaking world. The group will be leaving on March 9th and will return on either the 14th or 15th, depending on how long the work actually takes. The cost of the trip will be $150/person. This $150 will cover meals and lodging while there ($100 – this is the only part due in advance), plus provide spending money along the way. Southland’s missions ministry will be supplementing the remaining amount needed to help with transportation, supplies, etc.

If you have never been on a mission trip and would like to get your feet wet (in the Rio Grande, that is) this would be a great place to start. In fact, on this particular trip, the group will not even be crossing the border.

We would love to see 10-12 people go, but space is limited. Dennis McCann (one of our elders) is heading up the Southland portion of this trip, so if you are interested, please let Dennis McCann know by February 17th.

Another favorite moment of mine came during a youth service in the town of Masaya. Our team had the

opportunity to help with the service and we were singing Revelation Song in English when the rest of the

congregation joined in singing in Spanish. It was a very powerful reminder that despite the language barrier,

we do in fact have a strong connection to our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world. That connection

proved to astound me, personally, throughout the trip as people I’d never met before and may never meet

again would hug me and tell me they loved me simply because we are all a part of the family of Christ.

I want to say a huge thank you to everyone at Southland. A large part of my trip was funded by our missions

committee. This trip wouldn’t have been possible for me without the support, love, and prayers from my

Southland family. I am so very blessed to be part of such a supportive church family!

Hey Southland!

My name is Jacque Graham and I have been a

part of the Southland family for about 7 years

now. I’m currently attending Missouri State and

am a part of Christian Campus House. Recently,

I had the opportunity to travel with Campus

House on my first ever mission trip. We spent

an amazing ten days in Nicaragua! We worked

with Cosecha Ministries in Tipitapa and did a

variety of things including VBS and work

projects.

We provided VBS in a rural mountain town

called Tule where we were literally the first

group of outsiders to ever visit. It was amazing

to see the entirety of that small community

crowded into their tiny church and even

standing around the door and windows just to

be part of our VBS! I felt an especially strong

connection to the kids who were at VBS every

day. Not knowing what those kids were going

home to or who would simply spend time with

them after we left continues to break my heart. I

know God has broken my heart for these people

for good reason. I am eager to see what He has

in store for me, perhaps in the way of more

mission trips or a return trip to Nicaragua.