November 2022 Newsletter

HIGHLIGHT

A NOTE FROM EXECUTIVE PASTOR

Maggard John

Hey NMC Family,

Welcome to November, fall weather, football, Thanksgiving, and my birthday. What could be better?

We have a lot going on this month. Although I loved walking through the Gospel of Mark during our “According to Mark” series, I am excited for us to kick off a new series, “Enemies of Your Soul.” This series will draw inspiration from one of my favorite books I have read recently, Live No Lies by John Mark Comer. If you are looking for a great read to complement this series, check it out.

The Thanksgiving season is a great time to serve others through action. Two ways we love to do that as a church each year is through our participation in the Gobble Jog and Hope for Christmas. If you are new around here, Hope for Christmas is our

Christmas outreach working with Marietta City Schools. We will be collecting donations throughout November, but stay tuned for a special and very unique fundraiser we will be doing this year! We will also be partnering again with Must Ministries through the Gobble Jog. I love running this race each year. Ok, truth, I walk it...ok I walk some of it...OK OK, I wear the T-shirt while I eat pumpkin pie. But I do pay my registration fee, which NMC matches as a donation to MUST. So at least signup and make the donation with the NMC match. Even if you don't run, you will look super fit buying that air fryer during Black Friday shopping the next day wearing that Gobble Jog T-shirt.

I am thankful for this church and that I get to serve here. Please let us know how we can serve you.

John Maggard Executive Pastor

Connect & Grow

WELCOME HOME

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 20 | 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 want to join a Connection Group, Community Group, Care Group, or even start your own group, then check out 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

Prayer 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.

MERGE

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 Merge, our premarital discipleship class. Classes meet Sunday afternoons from 1:00-4:00pm for three consecutive Sundays. The next session will be on January 8, 15, and 22. The Merge class is available to those who regularly attend NMC and are already engaged.

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. Couples are discipled and equipped to grow in their walk with Christ and their marriages by studying and applying biblical principles within a small group structure. An informational meeting will be held Monday, January 9, at 7:00pm, and the class will begin Monday, January 23. Register at northmetro.org/events.

DIVORCE CARE

Divorce Care is a mix of support and learning for those currently separated or divorced. We understand that divorce can be 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.

Care

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.

Are you interested in meeting other foster or adoptive families at NMC? Join us for an afternoon at Swift-Cantrell Park on Sunday, November 13, at 1:00pm. Learn more and register at northmetro.org/events.

STEPHEN MINISTRY

Stephen Ministry is a one-on-one care ministry that supports those experiencing difficult times. Stephen Ministers are members of our NMC 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 facing any of life's difficult circumstances, please consider using our Stephen Ministry to help bear your burdens.

FRESH START

Is there someone in your life that has hurt you deeply? Have you tried to forgive, but when you hear or see the person, feelings of anger or bitterness crop up in your life? If so, the ministry of Fresh Start can help free your heart. It is a process that will help you live “Forgiven, Forgiving & Free." It will help you understand what forgiveness is and what it is not.

New women's groups will begin in January on Tuesday evenings and Wednesday mornings. Men's groups meet depending on individual availability.

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; know there is hope as you walk out this journey with other Christ-followers.

INFERTILITY & LOSS SUPPORT

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. So, 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 month's meeting will be Monday, November 7, at 7:00pm.

WOMEN’S CANCER SUPPORT

Whether it's you or a spouse, parent, sibling, child, or friend, cancer hits with a terrible punch. We can't take you out of this storm, but we can walk alongside you and hold you up when the weight is too heavy. We can be that safe place to let all your feelings fall. We can have the honor of praying continually for you and your family. We can be that safe group of ladies that just get it without explanation or apologies, we just get it all.

If cancer has affected you in any way, we encourage you to reach out to NMC's Cancer Support Group. You will find an amazing community of brave, strong women that have learned to trust God no matter what because He is trustworthy. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday this month, this group will only meet Sunday, November 13, 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 not to stay in this place of wounding but to seek the Lord for healing and hope. Because of the Thanksgiving holiday this month, this group will meet on Thursdays, November 10 and 17, at 7:00pm.

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

Guatemala Highlight: Raj Shah's Story

Just say yes to God.

We got to sit down with Raj Shah, who joined the NMC team on a trip to Guatemala in September to serve with the church's international ministry, Orphan Prevention Community (OPC), and hear about his experience. The team's focus was on painting a structure and building a roof on top of a foundation NMC had poured in 2019 in the city of Panajachel, Guatemala.

Raj shared how nerves started growing as he watched the weather forecast before they left. "Rain and paint don't mix," Raj said as he explained how the weather was a worry for the team and the projects they were hoping to accomplish. The list of potential obstacles included landslides, being unable to transport roof supplies, danger while running electricity, and more. However, as a team, they started to ask God to remove the rain, and day by day, they saw God answer their prayers. This stood out to Raj because, while he has followed Jesus for the last couple of years, Raj explained that he hasn't really heard God or felt a uniquely personal connection to Him until God started to answer their very specific prayers.

On top of watching the weather turn, Raj has a long list of ways he and the team watched God move. The OPC staff shared with

our team that they were praying for Christ-following, native speakers to step up in the town of Panajachel to help move the ministry forward. This has been a large need in the community as the OPC staff does not speak the native Mayan language. So, the team did what they knew they needed to do—pray. A few days later, one of NMC's team members, Connie, shared her story of following Jesus at the ribbon-cutting celebration of the new roof and invited those listening to follow Jesus. There, six people raised their hands to acknowledge that they wanted to follow Jesus! Praise be to God. Again, Raj explains, they watched God answer their specific prayers for native-speaking followers of Jesus to increase in Panajachel despite many obstacles, including language barriers, gender disparities, religious confusion, and more.

So, when asked what Raj was thinking when he signed up to go to Guatemala and saw obstacles in the way, Raj says he felt unqualified. Newly following Christ and never having gone on a mission trip, Raj was nervous. But Raj said it best, "Just say yes to God." Serving God does not require years of following Jesus, all the right answers, or seamless paths that lack obstacles. For Raj, all it required was saying yes.

Upcoming for You

NMCU

North Metro Church University (NMCU) is our primary vehicle for studying the Bible together 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 10 weeks and goes in sequential order.

Our spring semester enrollment begins on Sunday, November 27. Class dates are January 22-March 26. We offer in-person groups or on-demand options. Learn more by visiting northmetro.org/nmcu.

BAPTISM CLASS

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4 | 11:30AM

One of our favorite things to do here at NMC is to celebrate life change through water baptism. If you’re ready to take this step in your faith journey, we invite you to attend the next adult baptism class. For more information about our beliefs on baptism and to sign up for the class, visit northmetro.org/baptism.

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 these inspiring episodes by subscribing to Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

MOBILIZATION

HOPE FOR CHRISTMAS

DONATE BY SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 27

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 to join us in spreading hope at Christmas! Again, this year, children will experience the excitement of finding a present 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.

Get involved today by purchasing toys from Amazon or donating money towards gift cards or a holiday meal. All donations are needed by Sunday, November 27. Look for more information on our website, northmetro.org/ hopeforchristmas.

GOBBLE JOG

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24

On Thanksgiving morning, more than 10,000 runners will come to the Marietta Square to participate in the 20th Annual Gobble Jog, benefiting MUST Ministries. Join in on the biggest fundraiser for our local partner using our NMC code: NMC22. The code will take $10 off the race registration, and NMC will match all donations for MUST Ministries. For more details and to register, visit northmetro.org/events.

SATURDAY SERVE

DECEMBER 3

When we think of serving our neighbors, we often imagine yardwork and community organizations, but another way we can serve our community is by sharing the Gospel. This Saturday Serve will be a training to equip believers with simple, biblical, reproducible tools to share their faith and to equip others to do the same. Just as we are called to have a spiritual discipline of prayer and reading the Bible, we are also called to have the spiritual discipline of sharing the Gospel so that we can help people find and follow Jesus. Sign up by visiting northmetro.org/events.

BLUE SKIES LUNCH & LEARN SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13 | 1:00-2:00PM

NMC Families, come enjoy a free lunch and hear about how you can love on and support families going through pediatric cancer. We will be going to the beach in the summer of 2022 to work alongside one of our mobilization partners, Blue Skies. Sign up by visiting northmetro.org/events.

WAYMARK COMMUNITY4YOUTH

Another way to serve and connect with teens and kids 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 every month 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 not only to be a place where students learn academically but also to 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, 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.

KIDS

PAJAMA SUNDAY

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 6

It's time for one of our Town Square and 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, 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.

Upcoming for You (continued)

SPECIAL NEEDS RESPITE NIGHT

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 11 | 5:30-8:30PM

NMC will host its third respite night for families of children with special needs and their siblings. This event will allow NMC 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 to our events page to see a complete list of serving opportunities for this event. The deadline to sign up to serve or attend this event is Friday, 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 connect around the table intentionally. The activities and devotions you'll find in the table talker come from the Gospel Project curriculum 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! So grab yours today in the NMC Kids Ministry, Town Square.

TOWN SQUARE OFFERING

The Kids Clean Water Project is now receiving 100% of our Town Square offering. This project brings clean water and Christ's love to those in desperate need of both. By doing this, they experience love and hope. We want to help provide clean drinking water for families who may have never had clean water before. Every $10 we raise means another child can have clean water for ten years.

FAMILY CHRISTMAS GUIDE

A season of anticipation, a time to both look back and look ahead, a month of the year when we eagerly await a celebration of what has happened while hoping for things still to come—that's what advent is. The goal of this year's Family Christmas Guide is to help families engage with the story of Christmas while looking forward to the promises that God has made to believers. Enjoy a storybook geared towards kids from three years old to

fourth grade, as well as podcast episodes that will read the story aloud. Each story within the book will include verse references, activities, and questions to help facilitate a family discussion. As you and your family read about the hope of Jesus, our prayer is that you grow closer to God and make memories that last a lifetime! Gather your hot chocolate, sit around a fire together, and share the joy of Christmas with one another! Pick up your Family Christmas Guide from Mobi outside of the Cafe starting on Sunday, November 27.

STUDENTS

MIDDLE SCHOOL - SHIFT

SUNDAYS | 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

2ND & 4TH WEDNESDAYS | 6:30-8:00PM

We believe friendships and an incredible community can profoundly shape our students' lives. So 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 additional community and stronger friendships with other students in Shift. Join us for everything from movie nights to large group games.

*We will not have a Shift Night on Wednesday, November 23, as we celebrate Thanksgiving break.

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 SUNDAYS | 6:45-8:30PM

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 know about upcoming services and events, or check out the schedule online at northmetro.org.

COMPASS FRIENDSGIVING 2022

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 13 | 6:45-8:30PM

Join us for our annual Friendsgiving celebration and worship night. Of course, we're going to eat together, play some games, and worship to end the night. Bring a friend, and we'll see you there!

COMPASS WINTER RETREAT 2023

FEBRUARY 3-5

Join Compass for our Winter Retreat on Friday, February 3, through Sunday, February 5, as we head off-campus to Camp Grace! We will have incredible speakers, worship, zip lines, late-night games, and so much more! Don't miss out as we dive into community and talk about how we serve a good God, giving good grace to undeserving people. For merch information and to see what else is up our sleeve, be sure to check out our Instagram, @nmcstudents. Sign up before December 18 to get your merch! The cost is $135 per student and the deadline to sign up is Sunday, January 22. Scholarships are available. To learn more and sign up, head to northmetro.org/events.

COLLEGE

COLLEGE BIBLE STUDY GROUP

THURSDAYS | 6:45-8:30PM

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

PAID COLLEGE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

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. In addition, they will have the opportunity to explore different ministries behind the scenes and what is needed to make each ministry function and thrive. If you're interested in applying for the 2023-2024 school year, check out northmetro.org/intern-program or email Rebecca Ross at rross@northmetro.org for more details.

2025 GOALS

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 GOAL #2: HELP 1,000 PEOPLE ENROLL IN NMCU

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.

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 September 2022 Income: $1,453,807.27

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

Expense: $1,229,553.12

Over(under): $224,254.15

November at a glance

Sunday, November 6

Enemies of Your Soul 9:30am & 11:30am

Pajama SundayDaylight Saving Time Ends 9:30am & 11:30am

Sunday, November 13

Enemies of Your Soul

9:30am & 11:30am

Foster & Adoption Support Group at Swift-Cantrell Park 1:00pm

Blue Skies Lunch & Learn 1:00pm Compass Friendsgiving 6:45-8:30pm

Sunday, November 20

Enemies of Your Soul 9:30am & 11:30am

Welcome Home 11:30am-12:30pm

Sunday, November 27 Sunday Teaching 9:30am & 11:30am

NMCU Spring Semester Enrollment Opens