October 2022 Newsletter

A NOTE FROM McDowell RobOUR LEAD PASTOR

North Metro Church,

This month we are coming to the end of the According to Mark series. I hope you have been encouraged and challenged by all that we have learned, according to the testimony of Mark and his experience of walking alongside Jesus.

If you are new to North Metro Church, I want you to know that we love to support our fellow churches and desire to be obedient when God calls us to partner with other pastors that sense the call to plant a church. This month we will have two guest teachers from local church plants of which we have been a part, and I know that we will be blessed with the word that God gives them to share with us.

With that said, our next series, Enemies of Your Soul, will be centered on what the Bible says about spiritual warfare and tactics that the enemy uses to distract us, deceive us, and tempt us. I know that this topic can bring up many feelings. But fear not, God has the ultimate victory, and we can rest assured that with God we can stand against the schemes of the devil. His word is the lamp unto our feet; His word is our defense.

My prayer is that you grow more and more in love with God's truth.

Grateful for you,

Rob McDowell Lead Pastor

WELCOME HOME

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30 | 11:30AM-12:30PM

Welcome Home is designed to help you learn about everything that makes up North Metro Church and give you the next steps on how you can belong to our family. Visit northmetro.org/events to learn more and sign up.

GROUPS

At NMC, we genuinely believe that we are better together. For that reason, we want everyone to circle up with others in

a group. We have three different types of groups that you can join. They include Connection Groups that meet over shared interests such as hiking, board games, or movies; Community Groups that meet for fellowship, prayer, and study of the Bible; and Care Groups that assist anyone walking through difficulty or life transition. If you are looking to join a Connection Group, Community Group, Care Group, or even start your own group, then we have made it easier than ever. Check out the options for joining men's, women's, and co-ed groups by visiting northmetro.org/groups.

TABLESETTERS

When we serve others, we set the table for them to experience the grace of God. That’s why around here, we call our volunteers Tablesetters. Our goal is for everyone to experience the joy of serving others as a Tablesetter and serve somewhere within our church. Regardless of your schedule, experience, or gifting, there’s a fulfilling place for you to serve here! Visit northmetro. org/serve to browse opportunities and take the next step to serve.

PRAYER

CarePrayer is powerful. It's one of the most important things we can do as a church. Our staff and leadership would love to come alongside you, fight for you in whatever difficulty you may be experiencing, and celebrate any answered prayers! To share your prayer requests, visit northmetro.org/prayer.

PREMARITAL MENTORING

Strong, healthy marriages start long before the wedding. To build a marriage that lasts and gets off to a great start, we encourage all engaged couples to participate in our premarital discipleship class, Merge. Classes meet Sunday afternoons for three hours on three consecutive Sundays. The Merge class is available to those who regularly attend NMC and are already engaged.

PURE DESIRE

Pure Desire is a men's ministry that provides hope, freedom, and healing from sexual brokenness through Jesus Christ. Through this group, you will understand how family of origin and trauma impact your behavior, how addiction affects brain chemistry, and develop a plan to create freedom from addiction. Don't let shame keep you from finding help, and know there is hope as you walk out this journey with other Christfollowers.

RE|ENGAGE

re|engage is a marriage enrichment ministry designed for couples ready to invest time and energy into building a stronger marriage. Through a mix of large group teaching and small group discussion, you and your spouse are challenged and encouraged with practical ways to apply the gospel of Jesus to your marriage. By studying and applying biblical principles within a small group structure, couples are discipled and equipped to grow in their walk with Christ

and their marriages. Our fall session is happening now. The upcoming spring session registration will open in November.

DIVORCE CARE

Divorce Care is a mix of support and learning for those currently separated or divorced. We believe that divorce is one of life's most painful trials, and while God hates divorce, He doesn't hate divorced people. Our Divorce Care ministry is led by individuals who understand what you're experiencing and will support you as you move forward. Through Divorce Care, you will learn how to deal with the heartache of the past and look forward to rebuilding your life.

STEPHEN MINISTRY

Stephen Ministry is a one-on-one care ministry that supports those experiencing difficult times. Stephen Ministers are members of our North Metro Church community who are well trained in encouraging others enduring painful times such as the loss of a loved one, a marriage, a job, or one's health. If you are walking through any of life's difficult circumstances, please consider using our Stephen Ministry to help bear your burdens.

FRESH START

If you've been hurt or wounded by someone close to you and feelings of resentment, bitterness, and hurt still crop up in your life, maybe you need a Fresh Start. Fresh Start is an interactive process with a small group of women or men utilizing biblical principles to help you become Forgiven, Forgiving, and Free.

INFERTILITY & LOSS SUPPORT GROUP

When God calls our hearts to grow our families, He never promises that it will be easy. But, he does promise to lead when we are lost. Take refuge in knowing you’re not alone. If you struggle with infertility or have experienced miscarriage or infant loss, there’s a place for you. This group meets monthly at NMC on the second Monday at 7:00pm.

WOMEN'S CANCER SUPPORT

We understand that hearing the diagnosis of cancer is scary and life-changing. The Women's Cancer Support group was created to help both patients and caregivers through this challenging journey with honesty and hope. If you've recently been diagnosed, are a survivor, or are a caregiver, this group is for you. Group meetings are in-person, with digital options, and meet on the second and fourth Sundays of the month at 1:00pm.

BEAUTY FOR ASHES

Beauty for Ashes is a confidential group designed to provide encouragement and hope to women whose husbands struggle with sexual addiction. We understand the devastation of a husband's betrayal; however, our goal is to not stay in this place of wounding but to seek the Lord for healing and hope. This group meets twice a month on the second and fourth Thursdays at 7:00pm.

FOSTER & ADOPTION SUPPORT

Scripture urges believers to look after the orphans in our community. One way we do this at NMC is to come around families in foster care or adoption. In addition, this group is a place to find support and encouragement from others who understand these specific challenges. Meetings are on the 4th Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm.

For more information or to sign up for any of our Care Ministries, visit our Care page at northmetro.org/care.

What can mealtime discipleship look like?

Parents, raising children is one of the greatest blessings and joyful journeys of life, and much of your time, efforts, desire, and prayers will be focused on your children while they are under your roof. One of the ways that you can create space for deep conversations and discipleship in your home is to connect around the table intentionally. It might not seem difficult to have family meals together, but as years progress, many things will compete with the family dinner table. However, something special happens when families gather around the table at the end of the day for a meal. Statistics overwhelmingly show that children who grow up in a family with four to five meals together a week will have the personal and emotional maturity in high school and college to make good choices. So, you might be wondering, “How do I create more space for family dinners, and how do I be intentional with the little time we have around the dinner table?”

First, you have to decide if intentional family time is something you desire for your family. If your answer is YES, you will need to let go of some other things or activities to create this space. The dinner table is not the only place where intentional family time can take place, but it may be the easiest since we all need

to eat every night and your kids desire a connection with you, their parents. So, why not have four to five family meals together a week?

Once you establish the routine of eating together, think through a format that works best for your family during this time. For example, you could ask your children, “What is your high and low from your day today? What was something that you loved and got excited about, and what is something that was not so fun or made you sad?” You could even play Hot Seat. This is a time when each person in the family gets asked questions by the other members of the family for 60 seconds. The questions could be, “What is your favorite ice cream?” all the way to, “What difference does God make in your life?” You could also play a family game, do a family devotion, or even memorize some Bible verses as a family. Of course, you can always start or end your time around the table praying as a family. One model of prayer that has been helpful for kids on a Sunday morning and for my kids at home is the ACTS prayer model. Take some time using this model of prayer, and make sure to praise God for who He is and all He has done and will do in your family!

Nathan Woodward Kids Director

Upcoming Youfor

NMCU

North Metro Church University is our primary vehicle for studying the Bible together in order to form a biblical worldview. In NMCU, you'll move through a set sequence of classes and learn about the big picture of Scripture and how everything in Scripture points to and is fulfilled in Jesus. And in this learning process, NMCU will also help equip you to both understand and communicate your faith to others so that you can become a more faithful follower of Jesus; a disciple who makes disciples. Each semester offered is a 10-week period and goes in sequential order.

Our enrollment for the fall semester has closed; however, if you're interested in signing up for one of our in-person groups or ondemand options, sign-ups for the JanuaryMarch semester start November 27. Learn more by visiting northmetro.org/nmcu.

NMC PODCASTS:

WALK WORTHY & ON THE CLOCK

Walk Worthy, our NMC women’s podcast, and On the Clock, our NMC men’s podcast, are kicking off their new seasons this fall. Don’t miss any of these inspiring episodes by subscribing through Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

MOBILIZATION

SATURDAY SERVE

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 8 | 8:15AM

Saturday Serve is a great opportunity for you, your family, or your Community Group to serve consistently throughout the year. Breakfast will be provided in the NMC Cafe at 8:15am, followed by a time of prayer before we go out to serve. We will serve with Waymark, MUST Ministries, First Care Women's Clinic, and Goshen. Sign up by visiting northmetro.org/serve.

HOPE FOR CHRISTMAS

This is our sixth year of Hope for Christmas, and we get to bless 300 families through our partnership with Marietta City Schools.

Last year we created a new process, which was a huge success and allowed anyone, anywhere, to join us in spreading hope at Christmas! Again, this year, children are getting exactly what they want to find under the Christmas tree. Parents will choose two items for each child from our North Metro Church Hope for Christmas Amazon wishlist and gift card wishlist. In addition to gifts, each family will receive a $50 grocery gift card to aid in preparing a Christmas feast.

Look for more information on our website, northmetro.org

WAYMARK JOURNEY WEEKEND | OCTOBER 7-9

This weekend camp is for teens ages 12-17 in foster care. These camps serve to create positive memories, instill a sense of purpose and value, and teach teens that they are special and loved and that God has a plan for their lives. The children participate in all the fun camp activities such as swimming, fishing, canoeing, chapel time, and team games. In addition, we celebrate with specialized activities such as “Everybody’s Birthday Party,” a Superhero Night for the boys, and a Princess Ball, among many others.

We are looking for men and women to help as counselors (Big Campers), core staff, and activity team members. Training is required for this event. Another way to make a lifechanging impact is to contribute towards camper scholarships ($300 per teen). To learn more about our two training options, how to give and how to sign up, go to northmetro.org/serve.

WAYMARK COMMUNITY4YOUTH

Another way to be involved with children and/or teens on a regular basis is through

Waymark's Community4Youth Mentoring program, which includes one-on-one and group mentoring (Compass Groups). Community4Youth mentorship program provides a support system for kids in foster care through connections made with caring adults. Connect with our Mobilization Director, Bud Darr, at bdarr@northmetro.org to get involved.

CHARACTER EDUCATION MENTORING AT KENNESAW MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL

You can invest in the next generation by becoming a mentor to encourage students on a monthly basis at Kennesaw Mountain High School (KMHS). As a mentor, you'll help facilitate the social-emotional curriculum, Habitudes, by Dr. Tim Elmore. This is an opportunity to engage students in the public-school environment, where they spend so much time - all while equipping them with tools for healthy leadership in their world and the world around them. Take the next step by emailing Rebecca Ross at rross@northmetro.org or check out the details at northmetro.org/serve.

MARIETTA MENTORING FOR LEADERSHIP

The community of Marietta has heard the voice of its young people, who identified the need for the school to not only be a place where students learn academically but also be a place where the issues of life meet real solutions. Marietta Student Life Center provides in-school services related to housing, job skill development, job placement for students and families, college admission support services, and more. This is an opportunity to engage with students in a one-to-one mentoring relationship or as a Group Mentor, which is ideal for people who thrive in a small group setting, who can build rapport with teens, and can be active listeners. Take the next step by emailing our Mobilization Director, Bud Darr, at bdarr@northmetro.org.

Upcoming for Youcontinued

KIDS

HELPING CHILDREN DEVELOP A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 9 | 1:00-2:00PM

Learn what worldview is, why it matters, and how to help a child develop a biblical worldview by teaching four foundational biblical truths. In addition, participants will learn to identify strong cultural messages that threaten to distort and destroy faith in Christ. This class will help you gain confidence and equip you to have intentional conversations with children so that they develop deep, lasting, and culture-transforming faith. This class is based on Josh Mulvihill’s book, “Biblical Worldview.” Visit northmero.org/ events to learn more and sign up today!

ELEMENTARY BAPTISM CLASS

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30 | 9:30-10:15AM

This 45-minute class is designed for you and your child to attend together. If your elementary-aged child has already taken the step of salvation, this class is the perfect next step! For more information on the baptism process, visit northmetro.org/events.

PAJAMA SUNDAY

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6

It's time for one of our Town Square & Shift favorites – Pajama Sunday! Kids and parents always love an excuse to wear pajamas to church, so why not devote a whole morning to it? No matter where you're joining us from, all you have to do is roll out of bed, brush your teeth, and maybe brush your hair. Don’t forget to tag @wearenorthmetro on Instagram to share your photos with us.

SPECIAL NEEDS RESPITE NIGHT

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11

NMC will host its third respite night for families of children with special needs and their siblings. This event will give NMC an opportunity to serve not only kids and students but also their caregivers. Parents will have a chance for a night out while their children will get to have a night of fun on the NMC campus. Are you interested in serving

our families in the special needs ministry for this respite event? Head over to our events page to see a full list of serving opportunities for this event. The deadline to sign up to serve or attend this event is November 4. Sign up and learn more at northmetro.org/events.

TOWN SQUARE TABLE TALKER OCTOBER/NOVEMBER

The Town Square Table Talker is a discipleship tool designed by the NMC Kids team to equip families to intentionally connect around the table. The activities and devotions you'll find in the Table Talker come from the Gospel Project curriculum that we use in the classrooms. This means you can connect what you do at home with what your kids do in the classroom! But it's not all curriculum; you'll also find silly games, get-to-know-you questions, and family challenges.You are your child's first teacher and the first person to disciple your child! We hope the Town Square Table Talker is just the tool you need to take your family relationships to the next level! Grab yours today in the NMC Kids Ministry, Town Square.

STUDENTS

MIDDLE SCHOOL - SHIFT

9:30AM & 11:30AM

Shift is our environment for 5-7th grade students. Through teaching, worship, games, and connections in small groups, we help students find and follow Jesus. We meet during all Sunday morning worship services in the Shift Room.

SHIFT NIGHTS

SECOND AND FOURTH WEDNESDAYS | 6:30-8:00PM

We believe friendships and incredible community can profoundly shape our students' lives. We want to invite our 5-7th students and their friends to our Shift Nights on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month to have time to build extra community and stronger friendships with other students in Shift. Join us for everything from movie nights to large group games.

These nights are always free, and dinner is provided. Drop off your student at the Cafe doors and have them meet us in the Shift Room.

HIGH SCHOOL - COMPASS

7:00-8:30PM

Compass is our environment for 8-12th grade students. Through teaching, worship, events, and small groups, we help students find and follow Jesus. Follow us on Instagram @nmcstudents to stay in the know of upcoming services and events, or check out the schedule online at northmetro.org.

COLLEGE

COLLEGE BIBLE STUDY GROUP

THURSDAY EVENINGS | 6:45 - 8:45PM

College students, join us for our NMC College Bible Study Group. We will experience community, dive deep into Bible study, and share a meal together! No matter what your walk with God looks like, this is the place. For more details, visit northmetro.org/ college.

NEW! PAID COLLEGE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM BEGINS SOON!

The College Internship Program is a paid internship designed for enrolled college students. This program is for students who want to understand and experience all the inner workings of the local church to decide if they want to pursue vocational ministry. It’s designed to make them more aware of their character, competency, strengths, and weaknesses while increasing their understanding of the disciple-making process. They will have the opportunity to explore different ministries behind the scenes and what is needed to make each ministry function and thrive. The application deadline is fast-approaching, so apply today. Check out northmetro.org/intern-program or email Rebecca Ross at rross@northmetro.org for more details.

As we head toward the year 2025 we are praying our guts out and being fully dependent on the Lord! He has entrusted us with our vision, to “Be Missed,” and our mission, “We Help People Find and Follow Jesus.” To live that out, we have set three God-sized goals to aim for as a church.

GOAL #1: HELP 1,000 PEOPLE FIND JESUS

We’re telling our friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers about our great God who loves us immeasurably more than we can imagine. We want to celebrate with you if you’ve played a part in helping someone move from death to life or if you came to faith in Christ! We invite you to share your story by visiting the Contact Us page at northmetro.org.

GOAL #2: 1,000 PEOPLE ENROLL IN NMCU

Before Jesus left the disciples, He said, “Go make disciples.” A tangible way to see that hope realized is through our discipleship program, NMCU. We’re looking to see 1,000 people faithfully following Jesus, equipped with knowledge of Scripture, to ultimately share their beliefs with others. NMCU creates disciples that make disciples.

GOAL #3:

EXPAND THE KINGDOM OF GOD THROUGH FIVE NEW CHURCH PLANTS NATIONALLY AND/OR GLOBALLY

Church plants are an expression of our multiplication strategy, multiplying the mission to help people find and follow Jesus.

YTD August 2022 1,015,311.12 797,253.16 218,057.96

October at a glance

North Church Marietta, GA

Sunday, October 2

According to Mark Week 30 9:30am & 11:30am

Saturday, October 8 Saturday Serve 8:15am

Sunday, October 9 According to Mark Week 31 9:30am & 11:30am

Helping Children Develop a Biblical Worldview 1:00pm

Sunday, October 16 Guest Speaker 9:30am & 11:30am

Sunday, October 23

Guest Speaker 9:30am & 11:30am

Sunday, October 30 Enemies of Your Soul 9:30am & 11:30am

Elementary Baptism Class 9:30am

Welcome Home 11:30am

Adult Baptism Class 11:30am