Southland Vine The

March 25, 2015

Southland Christian Church ...

equipping you to LIVE OUT your faith

as you ENCOUNTER God, CONNECT with others,

GROW DEEP and BUILD UP one another.

What’s Inside …

2-3 General Reminders & Info

4 "WE DO!"

5 What MATTers to Me

6-7 Erik’s Endeavors (grade school/middle school news)

8 Les’ Latest (Sr. High news)

9 southlandwomen

10-11 Encounter 12-13 Connect 13 Grow Deep

14-15 Build Up 16 March serving schedule

17 Live Out

Upcoming Leadership Meetings:

April 2 @ 6 PM Whole group (see p. 2) April 16 @ 6 PM Elders

We will publish the next edition of The Southland Vine on April 22.

1630 W. Republic Road * Springfield, MO 65807

417.881.7405 * gosouthland.org

A special time to gather and remember the sacrificial love Jesus’ demonstrated through

His death on the cross.

(CCC is located on Hwy. 14 between Ozark & Nixa)

A time to celebrate the Easter Story and Jesus’ victory over death. Join us as we reflect on what His journey to death and

back means for us!

Non-perishable Food Drive - through April 12

See page 19 for information about a LIVE OUT opportunity sponsored

by the G6:10 ministry to help support the Salvation Army and its food

pantry. Just another way we can “do good!”

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General Reminders and Information ...

“THANK YOU” Notes

…

Annual “Youth Yard Sale” – May 15-16

A fundraiser for the Summer 2015 “Move” Conference … donations are

needed!! See page 8 for details about when/how to participate.

VBS 2015 is coming!

“ EVEREST: Conquering Challenges

with God’s Mighty Power”

July 27-30 (Monday-Thursday evenings)

There will be a lunch meeting on Sunday, April 19 after 2nd service for all

volunteers wanting to serve as part of VBS this year.

The Summer Camp season for 2015 at Maranatha Bible Camp is

coming. See dates of sessions SCC will be attending plus more

details in Erik’s section of the Vine (page 7).

Registration forms will be available starting Sunday, April 12

and will need to be returned by Sunday, May 3.

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In addition to all the ways we use this in our ministries here at SCC, we’re also

excited about what it makes available to everyone connected to our family. Through

our church subscription, you can have your own log-in with FREE access to all the content wherever and whenever you

have an online connection (via smart phone, computer or any other connected electronic device). If you haven’t yet,

please send a request via e-mail to the church office (info@gosouthland.org) and we will help you get set-up.

To share a 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.

We are excited to be utilizing the YouVersion “app” for tablets, smart phones and other electronic devices during our Sunday services. Among other things, it's a great way to follow along with the sermon and even take electronic notes. You can even send your own notes to your e-mail account from right there within the app! See the posters around the building for specific instructions on how to find our LIVE event using this app each week: “SCC – Sunday ENCOUNTER.”

FINANCIAL UPDATE ... February 2015 (the most recently completed month)

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 ask any questions you might have through the office staff.

INCOME …

Regular tithe for the month - $42,919.00 (total for Sept. 2014 - current = $238,787.33)

Average weekly tithe for the month - $10,729.75 (for Sept. 2014 - current = $9,551.49)

Weekly Goal for Sept. 2014 on - $10,000.00 (This is based on an estimated annual budget of $520,000 ... NOTE: This is our target; we adjust as necessary along the way. This will be going up for September and beyond).

Love Offerings - $660

We are in the process of updating our directory information so we

can publish a new edition sometime later this Spring (the most

recent one was done Fall of 2013). Unfortunately, we have lost

the computer program that we used to generate the previous

one. So, to help us gather that information and verify that it is

correct, we have put copies of the directory in each CONNECT

Group. We will make a preliminary copy of the directory available

later in April for each family unit to verify their information Please make sure we have the most

current contact information for you or add it if it’s not there.

All elders, staff & ministry leaders … Our next ministry meeting

is Thursday, April 2 at 6 PM. If you are directly involved as a leader of

any Southland ministry area, we want you to please plan on being here.

It’s an important time for us to come together as leaders here at SCC.

Supper and childcare will both be provided.

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One of the great privileges and joys of 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 is

required of us to belong to His Body? In this section of the Vine, we will be reviewing these commitments,

specifically focusing on the membership section (as you can see below, we also leadership commitments as

well). 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.

GENERAL LEADERSHIP COMMITMENT (for both elders and staff) … We covenant to provide pastoral

care, including praying for the congregation and making ourselves available especially in times of spiritual

need (NOTE: this is a shared responsibility).

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

by God.

STAFF COMMITMENT … We covenant to be “workers worth our keep” (see Matthew 10:10) so that

through our faithful, diligent service we earn the financial compensation we receive.

MEMBERS’ COMMITMENT … As members, we covenant to accept the leadership God has established at

Southland, including their responsibility to lovingly discipline when it is appropriate (the discipline process

is laid out in the covenant itself - it is based off of the instructions we find in Scripture).

Throughout the history of God’s people, He has specifically appointed some to serve as leaders. Such

individuals are not extra-special, just those to whom He has given a special role. Furthermore, it is not in

any way a replacement of Him, as He continues to have a unique place of supreme authority. And yet,

God certainly does call leaders to help carry-out His agenda among His people. At Southland, our leaders

strive to own such a role not as a position of privileged status, but in a way that is reflective of what

God’s Word would teach - as a sacred trust and responsibility. Spiritual leadership is about striving to be

faithful stewards of the people and opportunities God grants (see Hebrews 13:17). We strive to express

this through the various commitments made by our leadership, both elders and staff.

In Hebrews 13:17, we see a corresponding response: individual believers are instructed to respect such

leaders, even submitting to them because of their God-given position. Like elsewhere where God’s Word

mentions submission, this is not permission for spiritual leaders to “lord” whatsoever they might desire

over people. It’s not about exercising an inappropriate level of authority. Instead, as leaders strive to serve

faithfully, it’s a call for believers to accept and embrace their leadership. Ultimately, when we willingly

receive their guidance as those striving to carry-out God’s purposes and follow them as they follow Christ,

it is an expression of our acceptance of even God and what He has chosen to establish.

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What MATTers to me … I’m not the most savvy when it comes to social media. Sure, I’ve heard of the options (some of them, anyway), from Facebook to Twitter to Instagram to LinkedIn and even Pinterest. But I’m no kind of expert. There’s one trend in such sites that has intrigued me: it’s the use of the term FOLLOWING or FOLLOWERS. With Facebook, you “follow” people by receiving their posts. With Twitter and Instagram, it’s the same basic concept, you choose to become someone’s “follower” and because of that, you have access to whatever material gets posted by them (e.g. tweets, pictures, etc.). It’s a fairly basic kind of idea with social media: to “follow” someone means you get insight about what’s happening. There’s nothing required of you, and unless you choose to interact with them, no real action you have to take once you make the initial choice. You sit back and passively observe what they’re doing.

For years now, I’ve opted for the term “followers” to describe our relationship to Christ. For sure, there are many options we could use: believers, Christians, saints, etc. But there’s something about the word “followers” that captures some key components of what it means to be “in Christ.” Consider these things:

It shows a faithfulness to the way the NT shows Jesus’ inviting people into relationship with Him, through the words “Follow me.”

The idea of being a “follower,” at least on the surface, denotes some kind of action, as opposed to a term like “Christian” that can mean so many different things.

Overall, “following” Jesus better captures the reality of our lives in Him: we are actively going after Him, striving to live our lives in the way that He desires.

Obviously, in the end, what matters is not the label we wear, but the lives we live. And yet, words matter, even the terms we use to describe our relationship with Christ.

Of course, given what we’ve seen with social media, this can even create some clutter with the idea of “following Jesus.” So, does it mean we simply go about life and from time-to-time He “posts” some kind of thought or message and we then receive notification of it? Does it mean that we digest what He makes available to us in the same way we do with the countless other people we “follow?” Does it suggest that our lives in Christ are simply about nothing more than passive reflection? Somehow, that doesn’t seem to adequately capture what we see with Jesus. His invitation to “follow me” is so much more!

That call - both in the lives of His actual disciples who literally walked with/behind Him and with us - is a call to active pursuit. It’s a challenging invitation, not to make Jesus a topic of our interest, but the focus of who we are. Reflect on these 3 ways He invites us to “follow” Him:

To follow Jesus is to accept as our own His view of life. We are doing more than receiving what He says, we are choosing to embrace His perspective on life as our perspective. The words He teaches us become the very foundation upon which we build our lives.

To follow Jesus is to live as He lived. More than once in the Gospel stories, we see Jesus’ reminding us that to “follow” Him means walking in His steps - as His journey includes embracing a cross, so does ours. It is the very path of discipleship! Even though He is not physically here to “walk behind,” as John writes in 1 John 2:6, we are still called to “walk as Jesus walked” = to “live as Jesus lived.” In our basic attitudes, manners, priorities and actions, Jesus is our model of how we should live!

To follow Jesus is to embrace His mission as ours. When Jesus called His first disciples, the invitation was to “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” So it is for us. Following Jesus is about an active commitment to carry-out His will and agenda through our lives.

In response to His call, may we truly choose to FOLLOW Him in such ways!

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Erik’s Endeavors (grade school/middle school news) Believe Conference 2015 RECAP

I recently had the opportunity to go to the CIY “Believe” conference in Kansas City with the middle school students. We had a blast! From driving a van full of girls laughing at dating pick-up-lines to having a solid discussion with a group of boys near midnight about their commitment to Christ, there was never a dull moment. The worship sessions were driven by the themes of God’s love and not being ashamed of His Name. The teaching times were centered around David going after God’s heart to care what He cared about, and that little things can lead to big moments. It was great getting to know the students and adult sponsors better.

New Bible Curriculum

Cheyenne and I believe one of the best ways to know God is through reading His Word. We want students to know God better, so we will be using more Scripture in our upcoming curriculum starting on April 12. We are asking both grade school and middle school students to be bringing their Bibles on Sunday mornings. Books only, no phone apps please. We do encourage students to use Bible Apps in their personal study. We also are not against technology. However, here is why we are sticking with the book only for class:

1. Phones can easily become a temptation to other distractions, such as Facebook and ESPN.

2. Studies show that there is greater retention of information when reading from an actual book vs. from a screen.

3. Dependence on the book allows students to still be able to find verses and use the Bible effectively if their phone is unavailable.

JR Bash is quickly approaching!

Friday, April 17 to Saturday, April 18

We will leave at 4 PM on Friday and plan to return at 4 PM on Saturday.

What To Pack: a Bible, pencil, bedding, pillow, personal grooming items for 1

night, towel, casual clothing (including for overnight) and money for snacks.

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MARANATHA BIBLE CAMP DATES

June 13 Beginner Camp

(students going into K-1st grade)

June 14-17 Junior Camp

(students going into 5th-6th grade)

June 18-20 Kids’ Camp

(students going into 2nd-4th grade)

June 28 - July 3 Junior High Camp

(students going into 6th-8th grade)

2015 SCC Vacation Bible School … July 27-30

“Everest: Conquering Challenges with God’s Mighty Power”

For ages 4 through 5th grade Nursery & toddler care provided for volunteers.

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Les’ lATEST (SR. High) Group Huddle Bible Study Sunday Nights 6-8pm

Worship, Study, Dinner, Games and More!

Let Jesus Take Center Stage…

… in My Obedience March 29 Theme: March Madness

The Apostle Paul’s letter to the Corinthians gives us practical advice for choosing wisely. Our deci-sions should result in actions that bring spiritual benefit and helps spread the gospel. Join us for Bible study and an exciting night of basketball challenges.

… in My Relationships April 12 Theme: Hangin’ with my PEEPS

How can you be pure in a polluted world? By filling your mind with pure thoughts (Phil.4:8), and find-ing friends who can encourage you to walk with god (1 Cor. 5:11). Be sure to come early and partici-pate in our annual PEEPS activities prior to Bible study.

… in My Prayer Life April 19 Theme: Scooby Snack Night

If you tune into the television series Duck Dynasty, you’ll notice every episode ends in prayer. The Robertson’s believe they can call on God to give them wisdom, strength and comfort. Will Robertson explains how he discovered the importance of daily prayer.

Annual Youth Yard Sale May 15-16

In May of each year, SCC’s high school youth hold a fundraiser yard sale. To make this happen, they gather donations from the church family – clothes, books, electronics etc. - for the sale.

You can bring your donations to the church. To arrange for Les to pick-up your donations at the house, contact him at (417)773-1650. Donation receipts for tax purposes are available upon request. All proceeds help our youth attend the Summer MOVE conference.

Sunday, July 5 – Saturday, July 11 Total Cost: $339 ($50 pre-registration)

MOVE Conference at the University of Nebraska

for incoming freshman through Graduating Seniors

Graduation Recognition As we prepare for graduation season, we are trying to make sure we have not left out the names of any graduates (high school or college) who are part of the Southland family. Our current list includes: Allie Banks, Jacque Graham, Jordan Marsh, Lauren Marsh, Jeffrey Stewart, Kendall Wooldridge, Jessica Worthy & Wes Yielding.

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southlandwomen

The group will depart for Joplin from Southland at 3 PM

on Friday, April 10 and then return at approximately

5:30 pm that next day. For more information about the

conference, check out this link from OCC’s website

(http://occ.edu/Events/default.aspx?id=2197).

The 61st annual Ozark Christian

College Women’s Conference

April 10-11 in Joplin, MO

Box Top Girls The next BTG meeting will be held on Friday, April 10

from 6:30-8:30 at Southland. Note: this is not the typical 1st Friday night of the month because of Good Friday on 4/3.

Ladies bible study 2015 SPRING session Tuesdays at 9:30 AM … as always,

childcare is provided.

This 7-week series is about the transformation journey. Deb is teaching, using a book called Renovation

of the Heart by Dallas Willard. It’s a discussion of what it means to re-program our defaults and truly put

on the character of Christ so that our lives better reflect Him. The session started on Tuesday, March 17,

but it’s not too late to join in!

Moms Set Apart M. S. A. Mornings – March 5 & 19 (9:30-11:30am)

Contact Danielle Keeton … msamornings@gosouthland.org

M. S. A. Nights – March 3 & 17 (7:00-8:30pm) Contact Kristie Martin… msanights@gosouthland.org

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

Story behind the Song: “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus”

It is one of the most well-known “Altar Call” songs of all time. And no matter what one’s church

background or denominational affiliation may be, its melody is about as familiar as the Star-Spangled

Banner is to any adult American citizen. However, have you ever stopped to think about why it was

written? Sometimes it is easy to just look passed the intention behind a song and just assume it was

written for the sole purpose of adding another such “response song” to the index of our hymnals. Yet

when we do, we miss out on so much meaning and potential power that songs may have on our own

lives and the lives of others when we worship.

The song I have Decided to Follow Jesus was not written to be in our hymnals, that’s for sure. In fact, I

don’t believe that at any point the author ever imagined that it would be sung by another individual in

the church.

The year it was written is unknown — sometime in the late 19th century. The place was Assam, India,

located in the north-west portion of the country. The name of the author is unknown, but his impact

touched generations of Indian men and women.

As the story is told, a man and his family had just been recently converted and baptized by a Welsh

missionary. However, the Chief of this man’s tribe (a tribe known for the use of violence and head

hunting) was completely against the man and his family’s decision to follow Christ. The chief threatened

that the man’s wife would be killed if he would not denounce his faith in Jesus Christ. He did not. His

wife was murdered right in front of him and his children. The chief offered him one more chance, and,

in front of his family and fellow tribesmen, offered him his life in exchange for his denial of Jesus Christ.

The man did not deny his faith. Instead, it is recorded that he spoke these words in his native tongue:

“I have decided to follow Jesus. No turning back.

Though none will go with me, still I will follow. No

turning back …”

And just seconds before he was killed, it is recorded he

stated these last words:

“The cross before me, the world behind me.

No turning back …”

The chief then ordered him to be killed.

Now, when I first heard this story, I wondered what you

may be wondering— how did the story ever get passed

down? Well, I continued to read on. As it turns out, the

chief of the tribe was so extremely moved by the faith of

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If you miss a sermon, you can catch it online! Go to the "Sermons & Media" tab on the home page of our website. Once there, click "Launch Sermon Player" to find the one you want to

this martyr that he began to ask questions and eventually committed his own life to Jesus Christ, as did

several of the tribesmen and women. Shortly after, the words of the man were written down and placed

with a melody which became very well-known in that particular region of India. In fact, the title they

gave to this “new” song was “Assam,” simply because of where it originated.

“Assam” (or “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus” as it came to be known) didn’t appear in an American

Hymnal until 1959 when William Jenson composed a similar but more westernized arrangement in The

Assembly Songbook. But the song really took off when Billy Graham first heard it and made the decision

to use it as the primary “Altar Call” song within his crusades and evangelistic meetings.

So next time we sing I Have Decided to Follow Jesus, I hope we can remember this young man in Assam,

India who truly understood what it meant to follow Jesus, even to his own death. It’s not just another

song in the hymnal. It’s the anthem of a man who sacrificed everything to follow his Savior.

UPCOMING PREACHING CALENDAR One thing clear about Jesus’ life is this: He was on a mission! He didn’t come wander aimlessly - meandering, but with a “laser-like focus” on the task that was set before Him. It’s a key part of the overall JOURNEY that Jesus’ embarked on beginning with His incarnation, what we celebrate at Christmas. In this series that surrounds and includes Easter, we are picking up with the story focusing on Jesus’ movement: to the cross, to death and back, ascending to heaven and someday in the future, descending back to earth. Throughout it all, Jesus was Himself choosing to take intentional steps, steps that would allow Him to carry-out the will of the Father in heaven … hence the sub-title: “Jesus’ PATH for God’s PURPOSE.” In this series, we want to consider the path He travelled and, even more, its significance for our lives. Every step of the way, we see Jesus embracing what the Father placed before Him to bring salvation.

Alex Cobb began this series on March 22 - here’s where we will go from there March 29 Jesus’ JOURNEY to the Cross - from Gethsemane to Golgotha April 5 Jesus’ JOURNEY to Death and Back (Resurrection Sunday) April 12 Jesus’ JOURNEY to heaven - His Ascension April 19 Jesus’ Future JOURNEY back to earth - His Second Coming

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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 and consider how God’s Word applies to our lives. Please see the "CONNECT Counter" in the foyer for information about where these groups meet weekly (mainly 9 and 10:30 on Sunday mornings), and for more details about any upcoming events (also listed below).

As the name suggests, a CONNECT Group is a place where we can discover Christian community — a place where we

can build relationships with others in Christ. Of course, part of that means growing and learning together as we

strive to know and LIVE OUT God’s will for our lives. We do that better when we’re TOGETHER! That’s a key part of

these groups.

CONNECT Groups will complete the “On MISSION” series on March 29. All groups will meet on Resurrection Sunday,

April 5. Some groups will be launching their next series (details listed below) on that day, while others will wait until

Sunday, April 12. Here is an overview of the content that each of the groups will be using in the next session:

CONNECT Groups that meet at 9 AM on Sunday mornings:

Free at Last (Fellowship Hall) … “Luke, Gospel of Reassurance” with Michael Card. A journey that looks at Jesus’

life through the eyes of Dr. Luke, author of the 3rd Gospel.

The Refuge (the Gathering Room – off of thde Great Room) … “The Easter Experience.”

During these sessions, the group will be reflecting on the story of Jesus’ “Passion,” His

death and resurrection. Easter is more than just a random holiday; it’s the celebration of

the events that changed human history!

The Morning Branch (the Great Room) … “Galatians.” This will be a study on the New

Testament book — a letter written by Paul to believers challenging them to remember the

Good News of grace.

CONNECT Groups that meet at 10:30 AM on Sunday mornings:

Free at Last (room #6) … “What’s So Amazing about Grace?” This is a series that reflects on God’s truly

“amazing grace.” Not only is it something that we embrace as God’s gift to us, when we truly embrace it,

grace changes how we live in relationships with others.

Empty Nesters (in the Fellowship Hall) … “Until I Return - 12 Things Jesus Wants Every Believer to

Know.” Danny Houser will be leading this session through this book written by Jeff Walling. It will be a look

at what we call Jesus’ “Farewell Discourse” in John 13-17. Based on those chapters, Walling highlights

12 significant messages Jesus wished to teach His followers.

CONNECT Groups that meet outside of Sunday mornings:

242/Sync will not be meeting for the near future. The group will re-launch in the months to come on some night

other than Sundays. Check with Jon Carmichael for more details.

The Evening Branch (6 PM @ Ben and Debbie Jennings’ house) … “On MISSION: Living Out a Faith that Makes a

Difference.” This group will be finishing up the sessions they missed from the February-March series.

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Empty Nesters Wednesday breakfasts – 9 AM … currently at

Ziggie’s on Republic Road near the church building

On the second Tuesday of every month, the group gathers around 12 or 12:30

for lunch (the specific location varies) and then until 4:30 or so at Southland for

games. All are invited to join them. For more details, contact Dave & Karen

Duncan, Sue Malina or Pat Burge.

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).

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

To be a part of a “D-Group,” please fill out one of the GREEN CARDS found at the Welcome

Center, and we will make sure we contact you about the opportunity.

A thought from Matt about GROWING DEEP - for your consideration ...

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

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 or because it helps me personally develop a heart and attitude more like Jesus. I grow in Christ because it helps me face the struggles of life 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, a different perspective comes 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!

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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 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.

A Specific OPPORTUNITY to SERVE & “BUILD UP” the BODY

WITH SPRING COMES THE START OF THE MOWING SEASON!

The Southland Lawn Sharks mowing teams are being

formed and will begin serving soon! If you can serve

on a team, contact Dennis McCann (417-827-3699) or

sign-up on the sheet at the Welcome Center.

There will be a breakfast for all those serving with the “Lawn Sharks” on Saturday, April 18

@ 8:30 in the Fellowship Hall.

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

It takes many hands working together to pull off

an event like the Kids’ Olympiad! Thank you to

everyone who helped, make it happen from teens

and youth sponsors to those who served the food. A special thanks to everyone who came to

encourage and cheer the kids on to victory! It is one of Southland’s favorite events.

A bit “THANK YOU” also to Malia Turney and her kids for painting Erik’s newly renovated office.

They took two days to come in and paint the hallway and office so that Erik could get moved in and

set up. THANK YOU AND WELL DONE!!

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SHOWCASING A SERVANT: MIKE OWEN

God-fearing, dependable, focused, committed,

generous … these are just a few of a long list of

adjectives that could be used to describe Mike. Over

the years Mike has been one of our “go to guys” when

guidance has been needed for various decisions. His

ability to step back and objectively analyze a situation

as well as his ability to read people for what lies

below the surface are skills God honed over many

years serving on the Springfield Police force. As a

detective, Mike saw and heard things most of us can

only imagine. And yet, he was able to use those things

as a motivation to always keep his own eyes on Christ

– to pursue Him with an even greater level of effort.

Mike has spent countless hours serving our church.

He has sacrificed hours and hours putting together

playground equipment, building fence, spreading

mulch, fixing sanctuary chairs, cleaning and repairing.

He has served on a crisis team, meeting with individuals and couples who have lost their godly

perspective. He has served several terms as an elder, helping to shape our church into the body

Christ would have us be. Currently, Mike also guides our security team. As sad a reality as it is that

even churches must think about such things as security, there is no one more skilled to offer a great

perspective for this area. You will often find Mike doing a “walk around” on Sunday mornings,

perusing the parking lot or checking on classes. On the rare Sunday when a situation needs Mike’s

attention, his professionalism and steady demeanor have diffused tension and allowed people to

move on. One of the greatest things about Mike is that he does not see anything as being

“beneath” him. Ask any of the young ladies from Box Top Girls about the nights Mike has done a

self-defense class with them. They had a blast! Rather than see that evening as just another thing

that must be done, Mike took the opportunity to teach not only some practical self-defense skills,

but also to instill some good spiritual lessons.

There are other ways Mike serves God – many of them are done quietly without anyone knowing

about them. He and Carolyn have generous hearts and a desire to help others. Their generosity has

been an anonymous blessing to people both inside and outside Southland. Together, they are

people who look at all God has given him and try to determine how to use those resources for the

good of others.

You will find Mike sitting at the back of the sanctuary with his family each Sunday. Take a moment

to find him there and thank him for all he does.

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SERVING SCHEDULE – April 2015

Communion Prep: Amy Ritz (Weeks 1&2) and Dennis & Kay McCann (Weeks 3&4)

GREETERS WELCOME CENTER FOYER HOST

4/5/15 - 1st 4/5/15 - 2nd

10:30 Free At Last (8:45-9:10) 9:00 Branch (10:15-10:40)

Shirley Bloss/Sue Malina Jay and Kim Tyler

Terry and Brenda Ochs Ernie and Charlotte Emmerton

4/12/15 - 1st 4/12/15 - 2nd

Empty Nesters (8:45-9:10) 242 (10:15-10:40)

Dennis and Kay McCann Steve and LeeAnn Marsh

Mike and Carolyn Owen Ken and Debbie Nelson

4/19/15 - 1st 4/19/15- 2nd

10:30 Free At Last (8:45-9:10) 9:00 Free At Last (10:15-10:40)

Pat Burge/Dorothy Marti Scott and Judy Schiller

Pat and Debbie Little Jay and Kim Tyler

4/26/15 - 1st 4/26/15 -2nd

Empty Nesters (8:45-9:10) The Refuge (10:15-10:40)

Keith Wall/Catherine Correll Tony and Kim Flatt

Bob and Liz Wood Bill and Pam Foster

SERVERS 1st SERVICE 2nd SERVICE

4/5/15 Various People Mark Miller Team

4/12/15 Various People Doug Graves Family

4/19/15 Various People Ben Jennings Team

4/26/15 Various People Les Londeen & Youth Ministry

NURSERY CHECK-IN 1st SERVICE 2nd SERVICE

4/5/15 Amanda Miller Susan Graves

4/12/15 Jill Sims Debbie Gray

4/19/15 Donna Lillard Amanda Miller

4/26/15 Linda Jones Jill Cobb

NURSERY 1st SERVICE 2nd SERVICE

4/5/15 Dustin & Lacey Shumaker/Amanda Miller Graves Family

4/12/15 Cheryl McAnally & Girls Jenelle & Ezri Smith/Debbie Gray

4/19/15 Stacy Gambill/Donna Lillard Amanda Butler, Abbi Miller,

Meghan Stewart and Amanda Miller

4/26/15 Joy Shearin/Linda Jones Cobb Family

Wee Cruisers’ LEADER Li'l Cruisers’ LEADER Cruisers’ LEADER

4/5/15 Kristin Londeen

Elizabeth Kubitschek Sara Emmerton

Shelby Ritz Erik/Les

4/12/15 Debbie Jennings

Victoria Kubitschek Ceci Drake

Linsey Drake Erik/Brad & Ashley

4/19/15 Katy Carmichael

Linsey Drake Brad and Marsha Foster

Alexis Simpson Erik/Les

4/26/15 Tammy Worthy Jessie Worthy

Sara Emmerton Brittney Shearin

Erik/Brad & Ashley

COMPUTER 1st SERVICE 2nd SERVICE

4/5/15 Alexis Simpson Sonya Simpson

4/12/15 Dan Gray Dan Gray

4/19/15 Simeon Martin Jay Butler

4/26/15 Cameron Flatt Sonya Simpson

17

"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 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. Maybe it's

with your own family. Maybe it's with a D-Group or Connect Group. Maybe it's by yourself. However it is, we want to provide you with some very specific ways you can participate in Kingdom work as you LIVE OUT your faith!

LIVE OUT Ministries

... a path for putting faith into action.

Another OPPORTUNITY for you to LIVE OUT faith …

Please HELP us restock The Salvation Army food pantry!

The Easter canned food drive runs from through Sunday, April 12. Drop off your cans at the G6:10 table at the south end of the Fellowship Hall. This is a great and easy way to get the whole family involved in serving and showing love to others.

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 infor-mation 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.

To be in prayer for the country of Tunisia, we encourage you to “like” the Pray4Tunisia Facebook page and/or visit the website (www.pray4tunisia.com) to be added to their e-mail distribution

list. It’s a great way to be aware and in prayer.

One of the ways we try to cultivate a global Kingdom mindset is through information about the persecuted church around the world. We have recently updated the map on the wall in the alcove to match the 2014 “World Watch List.” It provides updates about countries around the world where persecution of Christians is at its worst. At the website http://www.worldwatchlist.us, you can find the same basic information as well

as more some suggestions about how you can pray for fellow brothers and sisters in Christ in these places.