January 2018 NEXT by National Community Church

/ January 2018

NCCers from our Potomac Yard campus celebrating the new year

Welcome!

Get involved. It’s the best way to meet people and make NCC your church home!

New to NCC? See you at the Connections table! We want to meet you, answer your questions, and give you a gift. We can show you how to get connected at your campus. or . . . Fill out the tearout card in the center section of this issue and drop it in the offering. or . . . Go to ncc.re/connect and fill out the quick form. We’ll be in touch soon!

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There are so many great ways to jump into the life of NCC. • Join one of our small groups. ncc.re/groups • Join a weekend ministry team. ncc.re/ministry • Join a local or global mission team or show up at Second Saturday Serve as we work together to make a difference in our communities. ncc.re/onmissioneveryday If you’re new to church or new to following Jesus, pick up a Next Steps booklet at the Connections Table and check out our Alpha groups. ncc.re/alpha

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January 2018

A Brand-New Single from NCC Worship Thoughts from our Ballston Worship Leader, Steph Andrews, co-writer of “One Word”

am not good with transition, but it seems that transitional seasons birth the best of our creativity. There’s a raw dependence on God’s voice that often results in the most honest outpouring.

We started writing “One Word” in April while three of us were in perhaps the most difficult transitions of our lives—Pastor Kurtis Parks was preparing to leave for Nashville; Chris Douglas was awaiting the birth of their twins; and I was waddling through my third trimester. As we sat down to write, Kurtis asked me, “What is God saying to you right now?” And I replied, “That’s just the thing. I keep wanting His voice to be loud, but I feel like He’s speaking so quietly.” In that moment, I was reflecting on the severe anxiety I battled the first half of my pregnancy and my deep desire for God’s voice to come screaming over the warring thoughts in my head. God’s voice is a war cry—strong, fighting for us, shouldering

our burden—but it’s not a shout. Culture believes that the loudest voice is the strongest voice, but God’s whisper sustains us, loves us, heals us, and leads us—far better than any shout. Through the process of writing “One Word,” I’ve learned that God’s will doesn’t demand to be heard; rather, He invites us to draw nearer, to walk closer with Him so He can reveal it. This song is a commitment to wait on His voice. To be patient in His process. To wait, as Pastor Mark would say, “ALAT (as long as it takes) instead of ASAP. “ “One Word” is available now to stream on Spotify and Apple Music. It is our prayer that it ministers to you in the same way that it did to us as we wrote it. Whether you are on a mountain top or in a valley fighting for your life, we believe that all we need is just one word from God. With a whisper You are leading My heart open now receiving Have Your way . . .

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What’s going on

Time to Hit “Refresh” ncc.re/events

We’re excited to announce a brand-new series of short-term groups this January. We’ll offer various topics such as soul care, leader training, and recovery. The perfect way to hit “reset” as you begin a new year!

January 13 (And the second Saturday of every month)

If you’ve ever thought about volunteering with the DC Dream Center, come to an informational session Saturday, January 13 at 1pm at the Southeast White House (2909 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC 20020). We look forward to meeting you! Questions? Contact ernest.clover@dcdreamcenter.com

Celebrate Recovery

The Best Way to Start 2018

Do you struggle with relationships, anger, food, sex, porn, drugs, alcohol, finances, gambling, family dysfunction, or the effects of past abuse? Find freedom in this Christ-centered recovery program! Join us Wednesday nights at The Miracle Theatre (535 8th Street SE) for worship, testimonies, teaching, and gender-specific small groups. ncc.re/recovery

As the new year gets underway, let’s worship and pray together! More than 400 people have been gathering for these powerful prayer nights! Intimate, acoustic setting. Join us at 7pm at The Miracle Theatre, 535 8th St SE, Washington, DC.

Find freedom in Christ

DCDC Informational Session

January 2018

Monday, January 8, 2018 ncc.re/events

Highlights

2017

every story matters to God. What a privilege to be a part of God’s work in people’s lives! On a personal note, I am still celebrating the miracle that started on July 2, 2016, when God healed my asthma. In order to celebrate and validate that miracle, I ran the Chicago Marathon. My legs cramped around mile 16, but I never lost my breath, and I finished the race! Let’s continue to pray brave prayers and believe God for the impossible!

2017 marked another year of accumulating evidence of God’s faithfulness! After years of praying like it depends on God and working like it depends on us, we opened the doors to our DC Dream Center! From community meetings to music lessons for kids to after-school mentoring, it’s already an environment where hope becomes habit. We also celebrated 130 people who marked their faith journey through baptism this year. Every number has a name, every name has a story, and

Lora and I are humbled and honored to serve National Community Church, and we’re continually amazed at the way He is writing His story in and through you. The best is yet to come!

Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor Lora Batterson

DC Dream Center Opens

2017

n the hot, sunny early afternoon that was August 21, 2017, the DC Dream Center opened its doors with great fanfare and a ribbon-cutting ceremony presided over by DC Mayor Muriel Bowser. Over 300 community members, supporters, and NCCers were in attendance. In her remarks, Mayor Bowser thanked National Community Church and the Southeast White House for their work in the community and spoke of a shared passion for caring for underserved populations in our city. Since its opening, the DC Dream Center has already put on numerous community programs, kids camps, and sports and dance classes.

Long before the Dream Center opened—more than 20 years ago, in fact—the Southeast White House was founded as a place where the community could come together— where the presence of Jesus could be made known. The dream of its founders, Sammie Morrison and Scott Dimock, the house served as a beacon of hope in the community.

From prayer breakfasts to afterschool and mentoring programs, this house made real and lasting impact in so many lives. As Morrison and Dimock continued to dream for more, National Community Church partnered with the Southeast White House in a shared vision to open the Dream Center, which would be an extension of the work and ministry of the Southeast White House. The DC Dream Center is a safe place where kids can be kids and boasts of a dance studio, art center, basketball court, computer lab, and more. The mentorship program, which pairs kids with responsible adults who want to make a difference, continues strong. There’s no telling the extent of the impact those future dreamers who set foot in this space will have! There are plenty of opportunities to become a part of the work of the DC Dream Center. To give or to get involved yourself, visit dcdreamcenter.com.

Sermon Series

2017

Long Story Short

2017 What a fantastic journey it was as all of NCC experienced the entire Bible together in 13 weeks this past spring! Our teaching team presented a compelling flyover of the Bible each week. Adults in small groups completed the Long Story Short readings and devotionals, which touched on every book of the Bible. Kids memorized a poem and received a custom storybook. We even spotted fellow Metro riders doing their lessons in the morning! Long Story Short sermons were downloaded and watched over and over. And what emerged for each of us was one seamless story—the story of a passionate God on relentless pursuit of those He loves. Even our custom graphics and trailer told the whole story of the Bible memorably. NCCer Chasey Gambale took the time to write to us: “I have to let you know how much I appreciate the Long Story Short graphics. I am a visual person, so it creates in my spirit a sense of excitement, wonder, and awe. It also generates a sense of expectancy and joy. Thank you for all of the hard work that went into this piece of art that encourages and prepares me to receive the Word with anticipation.” Long Story Short was a group effort by everyone at NCC as we studied, learned, and celebrated God’s story—together.

Find all the Long Story Short resources here: ncc.re/lss

Baptisms

2017

“I am overwhelmed by God’s love for me and I want to serve His church by helping others to know and experience the power of God to transform our lives. God has given Lynn, my wife, and me this gift in retirement. We have time to care for those that He places in our lives. He is faithful.”

David Weatherby Barracks Row Campus

“I’d always prayed and always declared Christianity as mine but I lacked that real bond with my Lord. When I struggled with severe depression, life-consuming anxiety, and PTSD, I found myself on a ledge ready to give up. I didn’t want to live anymore and I had no strength left to give. As I fell to my knees, I knew in my heart if I couldn’t live for me I had to live for God. He deserved that, so I cried out for Him and He answered. It hasn’t been an easy journey, but I’ve had to push aside everything I thought I wanted and let Him take complete control of my life. With severe anxiety, that really hasn’t been easy. But God has never forsaken me and I’m ready to declare my commitment to follow Him through this life He has blessed me with.”

Tiffany Taylor Lincoln Theatre Campus

The Bravest Prayer

2017 What is the bravest prayer that you could pray? Healed from a lifelong battle with crippling asthma, Pastor Mark ran the Chicago Marathon October 8, 2017 without losing a single breath. It’s not about the MARATHON, it’s about the MIRACLE. “I don’t have the emotional capacity or the verbal ability to put it into words. It’s so unbelievable and unexplainable to me . . . and that’s what a miracle is, right?”

Pastor Mark Watch the video at ncc.re/marathon

Kids

Youth

During our BRAVE missions series, kids were serving all over our city! They even raised money to provide more than 100 Thanksgiving dinners for families in our community. Kids did sidewalk sales, asked for donations, and gave money out of their own piggy banks to give to those in need. We love seeing kids develop a heart for service!

Julia had been coming to Uprising Youth regularly, but after Mission Camp she started stepping out in big ways. Unprovoked by any leader asking her to do so, she began to hand out lunches to people experiencing homelessness. She is an incredible example of how the things we teach week in and week out overflow into the actions of our students.

DC Dream Center Music Camp

Eggstravaganza

We just finished the third semester of our after-school music program at the DC Dream Center. What started as a week-long music camp has expanded into a 13-week program where kids can come discover new passions for music and learning while building community—all under the mentorship of the NCC Worship team.

Claire had never been to church in her life. She heard about NCC through Eggstravaganza and decided to give church a try. She picked up her first Bible on her first Sunday and eagerly flipped through it, asking what all the books and chapters meant. Eggstravaganza is an opportunity to bring people into our community so that we might get the Word of God into their hands.

Refugee Care

Small Groups

From Family Friends to ESL classes to soccer teams and apartment setups, over 300 NCCers have come alongside refugee families resettling in our community in 2017. Our vision is that each family resettling in our community feels supported and cared for. To get involved, email refugeecare@theaterchurch.com.

Over the past year we’ve had more than 500 NCCers lead small groups. We launched more than 200 groups this fall—the most groups we’ve had at NCC in one semester. We want to ensure that there is a place for all NCCers to make friends, be discipled, and make a difference. Spring small groups begin this February. Learn more at ncc.re/groups.

NCC Families

Crosswalk Kids (birth - 5th grade)

Big changes are coming to Crosswalk Kids. Stay tuned for a big announcement later this month! Make sure that you are signed up to receive our emails and follow us on Instagram and Facebook. We provide resources that you don’t want to miss!

Subscribe to the monthly Parent Insider:

kids@theaterchurch.com

Uprising Youth

Learn, be inspired, get encouraged:

parentshareblog.com

(6th-12th grade)

crosswalkncc therealuprisingyouth

Winter ESCAPE 2018 Retreat

February 16-19, 2018 Discount available through Friday, January 12 For all students in middle and high school. For many students, Winter Escape is the beginning of a deeper faith and God-sized dreams! Get all the details here: ncc.re/escape

Small Groups

A1:8 Missions

Pray about Joining a 2018 Mission Team

Introducing REFRESH

Take some time this month to prayerfully consider going on a 2018 Mission Team. As you plan for the coming year, pray through whether a Mission Team may be an opportunity for you to invest your time and resources. Go to aoneeight.org/missionteams to find more information on how to go and how to give.

New to Following Jesus?

January 2018

Ministry Highlight

First Impressions volunteer@theaterchurch.com “You are seen, you are valuable, we love you exactly where you are, and you belong here with us!” That’s what the First Impression Team communicates each week to everyone at each NCC campus. We create a welcoming, inviting, prepared, and safe place for people to encounter Jesus and find community at each NCC campus. We’d love to have you join our team!

Let us help you take your next steps! Visit the Connections Table and we’ll make sure you get your own Bible and our Next Steps guide. You can read this workbook on your own, but we encourage you to do it with a group of friends or in a small group. Want to talk with someone about your new faith? Contact your campus pastor and consider joining an Alpha group. More info here: ncc.re/alpha.

Coming Up at NCC

Learn more at ncc.re/events

Monday, January 1, 2018

Happy New Year!

Monday, January 8

Deeper Prayer & Worship Night

Monday, January 8

REFRESH begins

Saturday, January 13

Second Saturday Serve

3 Ways To Give “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2 Corinthians 9:7

theaterchurch.com/giving TXT “$(amount) NCC” to 45777 Cash or Check

(Find offering envelopes at the Connections Table)

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Sozo is simple, fast, Spirit-led, and effective prayer for inner healing. Sozo prayer helps people better hear from the Holy Spirit so they can walk through a process of freedom and wholeness. Get trained in effective Sozo prayer from one of the country’s leading practitioners, Dr Margaret Nagib.

Sozo Inner Healing Prayer Training

Saturday, September 16, 9am - 5pm Ebenezers Coffeehouse

Your NCC Campus Community Sustainable apprenticeship to Jesus, effective mission, and real relationship—that’s our deepest desire for every person who’s part of NCC. This happens best in community at your campus. Here are a few ways to stay informed about what’s going on at your NCC campus.

Barracks Row

Saturday Nights, 5pm Pastor Mike Whitford Sundays, 9, 10:30, and noon Pastor Joel Schmidgall theaterchurch.com/barracksrow E-news: ashley.anderson@theaterchurch.com

Ballston - Sundays, 9:30 & 11am Pastor Mike Whitford theaterchurch.com/ballston Crosswalk Kids at 9:30am E-news: ncc.re/enewsBallston

National Community Church - Ballston

National Community Church - Barracks Row

Gainesville - Sundays, 10am Pastor Marion Mason theaterchurch.com/echo E-news: echostage@theaterchurch.com

Pastor Robb Schmidgall theaterchurch.com/gainesville E-news: ncc.re/gvemail

National Community Church - Gainesville

National Community Church - Echostage

Georgetown - Sunday Nights, 5:30pm

Pastor Jeremy Steffens theaterchurch.com/georgetown E-news: jeremy.steffens@theaterchurch.com

Kingstowne - Sundays, 9am & 10:30am Pastor Joshua Symonette theaterchurch.com/kingstowne E-news: ncc.re/enewsKT National Community Church - Kingstowne

National Community Church - Georgetown

Potomac Yard - Sundays, 10am Lincoln Theatre - Sundays, 10:30am

Pastor Dave Schmidgall theaterchurch.com/lincoln E-news: lincoln@theaterchurch.com

Pastor Jon Vaughan theaterchurch.com/potomacyard E-news: ncc.re/enewsPY

National Community Church - Potomac Yard

National Community Church - Lincoln Theatre

theaterchurch.com

205 F Street NE, Washington, DC 20002

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@theaterchurch

202-544-0414

@NCC

Virginia

Washington, DC

Echostage - Sundays, 9:30am