February 2023 Newsletter

NOTE FROM

John

Maggard

Hey NMC Family,

Executive Pastor

Happy February! I hope your 2023 is off to a great start. Every year in February, I am reminded of one of the many things God had done through this congregation at North Metro Church and our B Missed campaign. The pastors say all the time how obedient this church is when it comes to generosity and giving, and this month is the anniversary of one of the greatest examples of that at NMC.

When we launched the B Missed campaign in 2011, Rob broke everything down into three categories: things we MUST do, like payoff debt; things we SHOULD do, like fund ministry and take care of our building; and things we COULD do like give crazy amounts of money away or launch ministries and plant churches. Being in my position at the time, I had no idea how we could ever make it to the COULD do stage, let alone the MUST do stage. But God had plans! The B Missed campaign was centered around the question of what would happen to the area, the state, the country, and the world if North Metro Church ceased to exist. See, at that time, that was a reality. NMC was in a position where our loan was coming due amidst the toughest economic times we had seen, and we had no idea how we could afford our new loan payment or even

cover our expenses. Rob sensed God saying that we would raise enough money to make the payments and telling us to pay the loan off completely. As the financial guy at NMC, I did not have this button on my calculator - it simply didn't compute!

But, as most of you know, through the plan of "praying our guts out and being fully dependent on the Lord," the church paid the debt off in February of 2015. To zero - not a portion, not paid ahead - to nothing, nada, zilch. To this day, we remain and plan to remain a debt-free church. This month is the anniversary of that amazing example of the Lord's faithfulness and you people's crazy generosity. This is a special anniversary in our church's history and a personal reminder to me that God's math is different. I love this story, and if you want to hear more, ask me - but pack a lunch.

Honored to serve this church,

WELCOME HOME

FEBRUARY 26 | 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. Merge class is available to those who regularly attend NMC and are already engaged. The next session will be Wednesdays, March 8, 15, & 22, from 6:00-9:00pm.

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. We offer re|engage twice a year, beginning in August and January.

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 second Wednesday of each month at 6:30pm.

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 a Stephen Minister 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.

Women's groups meet 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, February 13, 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. This month's meetings will be Sundays, February 12 and 26, 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. This month's meetings will be Thursdays, February 9 and 23, at 7:00pm.

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

Tse's Story

Spotlight: Broken for Purpose

“But God had mercy on [us] so that Christ Jesus could use [us] as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life." 1 Timothy 1:16

My name is Andrew. I met my wife, Katie, at the University of Tennessee in 2009. If you asked us if we were Christians, we would have said yes with very little hesitation. We both grew up in church and knew the stereotypical Christian trivia to some of life's biggest questions.

However, we both struggled with sexual brokenness. In early adolescence, we both had pornography exposure and engaged sexually (willingly and unwillingly) with other people. Where we should have been taught about the biblical perspective of sex and marriage at home, we instead found out the world’s interpretation. This created a gaping hole in our lives that the Holy Spirit should have filled.

The weight of trying to live in a Christian world and look the part while consistently giving in to worldly pleasures was heavy and hard to carry. Eventually, our two worlds collided when we got pregnant with our first child. We had been dating for two years at that point and were heavily advised to get married to “fix” the situation. So, we did. But instead of everything being “fixed,” it escalated our dysfunction and revealed how broken we both were.

In married life, we had no peace or joy that living in a surrenderedto-Christ-life produces. Our hurts and brokenness only grew and pitted us against each other. We used sex as a coping mechanism, yet we felt miles apart emotionally.

In 2015, Katie attended a group called Fresh Start. That group walked her through biblical forgiveness, and through this process, Katie surrendered her life and chose to follow Jesus as her Lord and Savior. Katie began to take her past to the Lord in prayer and began to truly prioritize reading the scriptures and biblical truths, including what God says about sex. I began to see her change, but I wasn’t willing to surrender my own control.

In 2019 I had the roughest year of my life. I made terribly selfish and worldly choices to pursue a sexual relationship outside of my marriage and hit rock bottom in every way imaginable. Katie was completely devastated due to my actions, but through the supernatural mercy and grace that Christ gave her, she helped lead me to surrendering my life to Christ. Katie showed me grace and mercy that seemed completely undeserved.

This happened to be on our eighth wedding anniversary. The irony was not lost on us. Our anniversary was always emotionally hard for us, but it is the date God chose to finally unite us together in Him and begin healing us together. The next few years were painful, but God began to heal my heart and show me the biblical truths that Katie had also found as well.

The first sermon we ever heard at North Metro Church emphasized that they were a church that accepted broken people but didn’t want them to stay that way. We had been church searching for a while, and this sermon felt like a hug from God. As we got connected, Katie began attending a group called Beauty For Ashes which focuses on the hearts of women who have suffered sexual betrayal. In this group, she found a group of ladies with whom she could share common experiences and found a community built on authenticity and the word of God. She didn’t know she needed that group, but God used it to help her heal even more.

In 2022 I started attending Pure Desire, a group specifically for men suffering from sexual brokenness. I found the same - a truly honest and authentic group of men pursuing spiritual healing together based on biblical truths. These men have been an amazing community where I can share my struggles and to encourage others through theirs.

Last year, Katie and I wanted to do something together. We decided to sign up for re|engage. That gave us a common ground to experience community together as the leaders guided us through different topics that marriages tend to struggle with. We can agree that those are common struggles because of everything we have overcome with the Lord in our own marriage. It was a good experience that helped us be able to tell our story together in a safe community and learn new ways to communicate with each other.

We are thankful to North Metro Church for the attention and care they have placed on groups like Beauty for Ashes, Pure Desire, and re|engage. These groups are wonderful for a next step in healing with a confidential community. Still, we will both tell you that only a relationship with Christ and a surrendered heart can truly heal the hurts and wounds that brokenness brings. The principles Katie learned in Fresh Start help with that type of understanding and is a wonderful place to begin a journey when dealing with hurts and wounds.

Today, our marriage is imperfect - after all, we are still two humans living together - but it’s beautiful. It truly is a gift from God. No, we never wish to relive what we have been through, nor do we wish similar experiences on anyone. However, we are thankful for what we have been through because God used it to allow us to face our brokenness and to heal in his loving hands. He gave our brokenness a purpose. Our story isn’t just for us. It is to help further the Kingdom and help those going through similar situations. All glory to God our good Father.

The Tse Family

Women's Gathering and Man Church

There’s an African proverb that says, “If you want to get somewhere fast, go alone. If you want to go the distance, take a team.” We can go further if we go together; further as husbands, wives, leaders, parents, friends, coworkers, and most importantly, as faithful followers of Jesus.

This is what our Women's Gathering and Man Church are about, helping men and women go further together in faith. Take a break from your week to gather together in community, fellowship over dinner served to you, worship God, and study the Bible with guest teachers.

Dr. Crawford Loritts, who is an author and speaker committed to encouraging, mentoring, and helping

to shape the next generation of Christian leaders, will join us at Man Church. We're also excited that Denise Hildreth Jones will join us as our guest speaker at our Women's Gathering. Denise is a renowned speaker and writer, her dynamic testimony of overcoming divorce has touched hundreds of lives through her bestselling books and Reclaiming Hearts Ministry.

So mark your calendars for Women's Gathering on Monday, March 13, and Man Church on Tuesday, March 14, from 7:00-9:00pm. Registration for each event is $15 and includes dinner. Be sure to invite someone and sign up by Wednesday, March 8.

Denise Hildreth Jones

Dr. Crawford Loritts

A SUMMER THEY WON'T FORGET

A Letter from our Kids Director

Pine Cove City is no regular church camp. We go all out to make this experience one of the most enjoyable, memorable experiences for your kids. Our goal is to make the gospel exciting for them, and how do we do that? Well...Bible studies, of course. Our focus is always on Jesus! But we minister to them on their level with electrifying music and funny skits.

Then we bring community and excitement to life with rock climbing walls, inflatables, team activities, and water slides. We let kids have big fun, all while learning about Jesus!

The transformation we see every year is indescribable. We've grown from 84 campers to over 500! From 32 college-aged counselors to 96! From 10 host homes to 30!

This year, we're believing that God will impact even more families. Sign your child up for this awesome opportunity today!

Partnering with you,

Nathan Woodward Kids Director

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

February is Black History Month, and as followers of Jesus, it is a chance to celebrate the creative brilliance of the God who “made from one man every nation of mankind” (Acts 17:26) and the redemptive beauty of his Son who, with his own blood, “ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Revelation 5:9).

Over the past several years, the Lord, in His kindness, has continued to diversify our church family. And with it, a growing awareness of our role in the need for transparent conversations that lead to healing. We have become better because of it. And so it is with joy, respect, and celebration that we welcome Black History Month.

We commemorate this much needed season in which we remember, honor, and understand more fully the numerous African-American saints the Lord has used throughout our history to shepherd His people and bring honor to His name. As my studies this past year have caused me to journey deeper into the area of spiritual disciplines, I would like to highlight one of the saints that have helped me in this endeavor.

Dr. James Melvin Washington, who was a professor of church history at Union Theological Seminary and adjunct professor of religion at Columbia University, wrote a very compelling book titled Conversations with God: Two Centuries of Prayer by African Americans. In it, he reflects on the significance of spending quantitative as well as qualitative time with God. Both aspects of being in God’s presence are necessary and valuable for an intimate relationship with him. While it is wise and beneficial for us to carve out extensive time alone to be in God’s word, it is also a glorious event to be in the moment with Him, just appreciating a conscious, fresh breath of His presence. Dr. Washington refers to it as a “selah” moment. A pause to praise. A time to stop and be with your Creator, your Savior, your God. How precious it is to rest in His presence, rest in his arms, rest in him. Just being. No doing.

Dr. Washington was very much aware of how busy schedules sap spiritual intimacy, and he encouraged men and women of God to be intentional about preserving sacred times. He writes: “Far too often, many of us do not miss you. We yearn to feel your presence. But do not comprehend the nature of absence which we often call emptiness. We have been absent from you for so long that we either never knew, or have forgotten, that the soul must be nurtured and nourished. Spiritual malnutrition besets us. We have become servants of instant gratification that is devoid of both thought and purpose. We are hurriers with narcissistic agendas.”

So as we walk into this second month of 2023, let us allow our faithful brother to encourage and inspire us to keep the urgent things in our lives from crowding out the important things. May we, as a church, carve out the necessary time to commune with our Holy God to simply be still and know that He is God. We will all be better because of it. Glory be to God!

Grateful for you all,

Lead Pastor

Upcoming for your you& family

CHURCHWIDE

DADDY DAUGHTER DATE NIGHT

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10 | 7:00PM

�� NMC Dads, you're in for a treat! We're going all out for our annual Daddy Daughter Date Night! We're talking music, dancing, delectable desserts, candy, and glam stations for your princess. We've even got photo booths to capture the fun! So break out the suit, and join us for a special night out with your daughter to make memories that will last a lifetime!

Registration is open until Sunday, February 5. Sign up today at northmetro.org/events.

BAPTISM CLASS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26 | 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.

MOBILIZATION

REDEEMERS HOUSE

GUATEMALA | APRIL 23-29

We are leading an adult trip to serve our ministry partner, Redeemers House, in Guatemala from April 23 - April 29. On this trip, the team will focus on building a pergola and a covered shelter and assist with the local community programs. You can learn more and sign up for this trip by heading to northmetro.org/serve.

WAYMARK COMMUNITY4YOUTH

Another way to serve and connect with teens and kids is through Waymark's Community4Youth Mentoring program, which includes oneon-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.

KIDS

HELPING CHILDREN DEVELOP A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5 | 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, MARCH 5 | 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.

SPECIAL NEEDS RESPITE NIGHT

FRIDAY, MARCH 10 | 5:30-8:30PM

NMC will host its fourth 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 March 3. Sign up and learn more at northmetro.org/events.

PJ SUNDAY

SUNDAY,

MARCH 12

It's time for one of Town Square & Shift's 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.

BABY DEDICATION

CLASS: SUNDAY, MARCH 19 | 9:30-10:15AM

DEDICATION: SUNDAY, MAY 21 | 3:00PM

The Baby Dedication Class will prepare you to take part in our next Baby Dedication Service, which will be Sunday, May 21, at 3:00pm. This family-friendly service is an intentional environment, with the message and worship focused on the celebration of life and dedication of your child to God’s teaching and instruction. If you would like more information on dedicating your child or to sign up, visit northmetro.org/events.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY TABLE TALKER

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

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 WINTER WEEKEND 2023

MARCH 3-5

Join Shift for our Winter Weekend on Friday, March 3, through Sunday, March 5, as we take over NMC’s campus! Don’t miss out as we connect in community, play fun games all weekend long, and learn about God’s good grace He has freely given us (even when we don’t deserve it)! For t-shirt information and to see what else is up our sleeves, check out NMC Student’s Instagram. The cost of this event is $55, and the deadline to sign up is Monday, February 27. Scholarships are available. To learn more and sign up, head to northmetro.org/events. Please note that this is not an overnight event.

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 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. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Church plants are an expression of our multiplication strategy, multiplying the mission to help people find and follow Jesus. We currently support three church plants including Take Hold in Scotland, Grace Auburn in Auburn, Alabama, and Creekside in Dallas, Georgia.

February at a glance

Saturday, February 4 Saturday Serve 8:15am

Sunday, February 5

Asking for a Friend 9:30am & 11:30am

Helping Children Develop a Biblical Worldview 1:00pm

Monday, February 6 Pine Cove City Registration Opens 10:00am

Friday, February 10

Daddy Daughter Date Night 7:00pm

Sunday, February 12

Asking for a Friend 9:30am & 11:30am

Sunday, February 19 Sunday Teaching 9:30am & 11:30am

Sunday, February 26 Sunday Teaching 9:30am & 11:30am Welcome Home 11:30am

Adult Baptism Class 11:30am