ACTIVE Sports Camp is nearly here!

We are still looking for adults and students to help us run a great camp. See how to sign up and help us below!

ACTIVE Kids Camp | June 24th - 27th

For kids who have completed 1st-5th grade.

More info on camp here.

**ACTIVE CAMP is Full - Registration is closed!**

Students, if you're interested in serving for ACTIVE Sports Camp, please click here.

Adults, if you're interested in serving for ACTIVE Sports Camp, please click here.

We want to let you know that registration is open for for Middle School camp and High School camp! We are excited for what can happen in the lives of kids and students as they get away, have a blast, and encounter God. Make plans and register for camp and invite others to be a part!

Student Life Camp Middle School | June 3rd-9th

For Middle School students, completed 6th-8th grade.

Read More & Register

Interested in donating a scholarship for Student Life Camp Middle School? Contact Denise Keeter.

Student Life Camp High School | June 3rd-9th

For High School students, completed 9th-12th grade.

Read More & Register

Interested in donating a scholarship for Student Life Camp High School? Contact Denise Keeter.

While there would be a number of places for us to turn in the midst of one more tragedy, the 23rd Psalm is a familiar word of comfort and strength in the midst of dark days. We actually find confidence for the deepest and darkest valleys in this intimate song. For those times when evil lurks in the shadows and unsuspectingly delivers a devastating blow to people created in the image of God, we can lean into Him for hope in moving forward. His presence is what sustains, strengthens, and upholds us.

While God walks alongside us, He invites us into walking alongside those who are hurting, uncertain, and fearful of the days ahead. Genuine prayer to God on behalf of those who are being treated in the hospital, those families and friends who have now experienced the death of someone they love and value, healing for those who have been traumatized by what they have just experienced, protection and wisdom for first responders, stamina and precision for doctors and nurses, and insight for city, state, and national leaders.  

And let’s be prayerful for pastors, church leaders, and followers of Christ to dive deeply into the darkness with as many as possible to offer light, encouragement, and hope!

We weep with those who weep. And we trust God to faithfully carry us in the midst of a broken world until all is made right in the end!

Thanks for being a church who loves with both depth and width.

-Ross

We made one left turn, and everything changed. 

Driving around some parts of Houston, nobody would guess anything happened. Streets are clean, the lunch rush is strong at local restaurants, and office parking lots are full. 

But turn into the Bear Creek neighborhood on the west side (among many other areas), and you’ve turned into a different world.

Bear Creek feels like a war zone. The contents of every house are piled in mounds on the streets. The smells of mold and mildew hang thick in the air. Signage warns looters – though there is little to steal.

 The lives of residents are in full display in the mounds of trash. Tables where families gathered to eat just a month ago. Soccer balls and baby toys. Nearly everything they own is waiting for trash pickup, and what is left is being cleared out by volunteers.  

Lance Lamparter, Josiah Julin and I made the four hour drive to Houston to find the best opportunities for 121 to be involved in the relief efforts.

We not only saw devastated neighborhoods, but church buildings that were completely wiped out. This church parking lot in Dickinson was filled with the entire contents of the building -- all ruined. 

Amidst the devastation, there were very encouraging signs. There has been an outpouring of love through donations and volunteer help. Thousands of meals have been delivered and local churches have coordinated efforts and showed the compassion of Christ to their communities.

Many houses are already cleaned out, and the long process of rebuilding has started in some areas. This is a house in the 5^th Ward, a materially poor neighborhood where people who were just surviving were hit hard:

There is so much work to be done – months and months of rebuilding – but we met volunteers from churches in Oregon, Illinois, and Mexico who are hard at work in this neglected and overlooked area.

Most churches have found alternative ways to gather in worship. Pastors remarked how it was much simpler, very basic, and beautiful to see hearts cry out to God together.

The hope and joy of Christ wasn’t seen any more clearly than on the face of Pastor Ty Bo (yes, like Tae Bo a la Billy Blanks!) and his wife Kim. Pastor Ty leads a Cambodian church that was completely flooded, but in the months it will take to rebuild, they are meeting outside in a tent. Kim remarked that the church is still full of joy, and with the Houston weather it feels like church in Cambodia!

There is so much to be done. And God will use His people and show Himself faithful. The only question for each of us is, what part will we play?

There are opportunities to head to South Texas now, and in the coming weeks there will be more teams going. Everyone is needed, regardless of skill level!

Opportunities will be updated here. If you are willing to go now or at some point in the future, please fill out this form to let us know! 

We had lived in our new home just a few weeks when we got a flyer on our door about an upcoming National Night Out event in our neighborhood. Having never heard of National Night Out before, we were curious – and eager to meet our neighbors – so we attended the event. We are so glad we did! It was there that we met many of the families who live around us and had the opportunity to engage with local law enforcement. Not to mention, our son (2 years old at the time) LOVED getting to see and experience a police car and fire truck up close. 

What is National Night Out (NNO)? I’m glad you asked! NNO is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. Millions of people in communities across all fifty states take part in NNO each year. The state of Texas celebrates National Night Out on the first Tuesday in October - this year on Tuesday, October 3rd.

There are multiple ways to participate in NNO:

1. Join in an event that is already planned in your neighborhood or city  

2. Organize and plan your own neighborhood NNO event as a family        

3. Plan and host a NNO event as a life group in the neighborhood where your group meets weekly. 

Like the idea of engaging with your neighbors, but want to try something different? If you are not able to participate in an official NNO event, why not try to plan your own block party within your neighborhood. Pinterest is full of great ideas! Or host a party for your child’s sports team or school classmates and invite the families to your house. Nights like this are a great excuse to gather your neighbors and introduce (or reintroduce) yourself, get to know each other better and build a strong sense of community with those living closest to you.  

Whichever way you decide to be involved, make a choice to be intentional in conversations by asking questions and listening well. Offer to pray for people. Don’t let your neighborhood involvement end with the event. Afterward, make notes about people that you met/spoke with. Who can you follow up with? Invite over for dinner? Invite to your life group? Invite to church?

For more information, to find a NNO event or for a ‘How To’ guide to start planning one, check out the National Night Out page on the 121 website. 

Let's Go!

121 has connected with areas of significant need in Houston, and we’re organizing teams to help with the rebuilding effort.

Trip Dates:

If you would like to gather a group and go at another time, there is plenty of work to be done and we can help you get connected!

If you would like to go and help, no matter your skill level, please fill out this form!

Go With A Team

Pray!

Let’s continue to pray for those who lost their homes and are still recovering. Pray that the church would continue to love well and serve sacrificially, and that many people would come to faith in Jesus Christ in the midst of their hardships.

Give

There are many organizations doing great work. Two of those that are trustworthy and Christ centered are the North American Mission Board and Samaritan’s Purse.

If you know someone who is affected, you can find resources through Aunt Bertha’s HelpFinder or United Way’s 211 (online or dial 211 from any phone). 

QUESTIONS?

For efforts in the affected areas, contact rodney.howell@121cc.com. 

For needs related to evacuees in the DFW area, contact bryan.bundick@121cc.com.

We recently wrapped up a sermon series on What Is True Happiness? based on Jesus’ words in the Gospel of Matthew. In one of these compelling statements, which are often called the “Beatitudes,” Jesus says: 

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.” 

Truly, God has blessed our church - giving us a deep, abiding happiness - in being used to extend His mercy to people all around the world through our core value of Partnering in Ministry. Some of this impact is through projects represented by the beautiful, hand-made items in the Resource Center. If you haven’t noticed, this space in the new building has taken on a whole new feel as it is built around products that come from around the world, and each area has a different approach to living out God's call to extending mercy.  

Here is just one example from one of our partners:  

Victoria has been living in Nepal for the last five years and has a heart for the rural women and children in this country. Her mission statement is to serve the women and children of Nepal that are at risk of being exploited or trafficked while developing relationships in order to share the gospel and ultimately to see a community of believers grow in places where the name of Jesus is not yet known. One event that quickly comes to mind when asked about her work in Nepal was when a local father asked her to take two of his daughters. The family had no hope for their future and their only thought was to give away the girls so that they might have a better life.

On April 25, 2015 her plans to work in a rural area northwest of Kathmandu abruptly changed as a massive earthquake struck that area and killed over 9,000 people, injured over 20,000, and left countless others without homes, including Victoria. As aftershocks rattled the villages, Victoria became an aid worker for Samaritan’s Purse. She spent months coordinating volunteers and taking supplies to several remote villages that ministered to over 6,000 families.

This time of crisis response helped Victoria determine her next steps and she started working with an artisan based craft business called Beauty For Ashes Nepal in 2016. They are based in Kathmandu, but Victoria launched a new team in the area affected by the earthquake. She now employs women that make simple but beautiful products, like fashion jewelry, cosmetic pouches, and silk headbands. It hasn’t been easy for Victoria to get this new workshop started, but she is living out a life of compassion and bringing hope to an area that is hurting.

All of the artisan made products in the Resource Center come from teams that have similar stories to Victoria’s. People are isolated, hurting, at risk, and without hope and the body of Christ is responding with compassion, building relationships, and offering hope.

Stop by the Resource Center and check out some of the beautiful, handmade items with even more beautiful stories behind them! 

And for coffee drinkers (even Coffee Snobs!), you’ll want to try some of the best coffee you can buy -- direct trade from farmers in Southeast Asia and Africa!

This post was written by a 121er serving in the Middle East.

TODAY starts the month of Ramadan for 1.6 billion Muslims around the world. That’s 1,600,000,000 – nearly 1 out of every 4 people on earth!

Ramadan is an important month each year for Muslims as they seek to earn favor with God and increase their faith. They do this through fasting during daylight hours, praying regularly, and giving generously to those in need. Living among Muslims, I am deeply saddened to see those around me strive in vain to earn righteousness. Would you join with me in the next month in intentionally asking God to reveal Himself to Muslims throughout the world?

This year, Ramadan starts the evening of May 26, and ends the evening of Saturday, June 24.

My challenge for 121 is to choose a way to be actively involved in Ramadan this year!

Here are 10 ways YOU can make a difference during Ramadan this year:

1. Pick a meal a day or a meal each week to fast and use that time to pray for Muslims around the world (I will be fasting lunches!). 

2. Set alarms on your phone to coordinate with one – or all five – of the Muslim Calls to Prayer each day and use that time to pray. (Example: 9:15am each day)

3. Sign up for Rethinking Ramadan, a daily-during-Ramadan email from Arab World Media to learn more about Muslims and pray through the 30 days!

4. Go to a local Arab food restaurant with your family and talk about the beauty of different cultures as you pray for the nations (I recommend falafel and shish tawook!). 

5. Commit to learning more about Islam and their beliefs so you can better engage those around you! (Contact Us for book recommendations)

6. Reach out to a Muslim neighbor or coworker and show kindness and interest in their lives (ask THEM to explain Ramadan to you and how they celebrate!).

7. Pray each day for the believers who are living and serving Muslim communities (for opportunities to share, strong relationships to form, love to abound, teams to thrive, etc.).

8. Talk to your community group or fellow believers about the month of Ramadan and spread cultural awareness about the importance of this month (Contact Rodney if you want to get in touch with a 121 missionary!).

9. Partner with World Relief to serve some of the thousands of displaced Muslim refugees. (Contact Bryan if you want to connect with a refugee family!)

10. Invite 3 people to join with you in whatever you choose! (ripple effect!)

Contact us for more information about how to share the good news of Christ with a Muslim friend, neighbor, or co-worker, or how to connect to ministries in DFW and around the world!

Ross recently spoke about the biblical foundation for Welcoming the Refugee.

Many of us lack understanding of who refugees are and where they come from. There is great opportunity coming up to “get into the shoes” of a refugee and help us understand their plight and the process they go through to be resettled.

The documentary film Salam Neighbor will be screened at the Colleyville Studio Movie Grill on Monday, May 15^th (7:30pm-8:45pm).

This film documents the experiences of two American filmmakers as they lived among 85,000 Syrians in Jordan's Za'atari refugee camp. These filmmakers were the first allowed by the UN to set up a tent inside a refugee camp, and they spent a month covering what the UN Refugee Agency calls “the world's most pressing humanitarian crisis.”

121 is excited to partner with Crossroads Church of Fort Worth to make the first 60 tickets available for 50% off! Regular price is $10 for this one-night, one-time screening.

Buy Discount Tickets

FAQs

How long is the film?

The full-length feature runs 75 minutes.

Is the film appropriate for young viewers?

Salam Neighbor is intended for all ages, although some sections are subtitled which can make it challenging for lower school audiences.

How can I get involved with refugees now?

There are two primary ways to get involved in the life of refugees in our area through 121’s partnership with World Relief.

• The first is by becoming a Family Friend to a refugee family. Your role would be to help them adjust to life in the U.S. and to share the love of Christ in practical ways.
• Another way to engage with refugees is to join a Good Neighbor Team. A GNT is made up of a few families that come together to create loving, mutually beneficial relationships with a refugee family through weekly visits and assisting them in the resettlement process.

Find out more and connect with World Relief Fort Worth by clicking here.

We want to let you know that registration is open for KIDS camp, Middle School camp and High School camp! We are excited for what can happen in the lives of kids and students as they get away, have a blast, and encounter God. Make plans and register for camp and invite others to be a part!

KIDS Camp | June 5th-8th

For completed 3rd-5th grade.

Read More & Register

Interested in donating a scholarship for KIDS Camp? Contact Denise Keeter.

Student Life Camp Middle School | June 4th-9th

For Middle School students, completed 6th-8th grade.

Read More & Register

Interested in donating a scholarship for Student Life Camp Middle School? Contact Denise Keeter.

Student Life Camp High School | June 4th-9th

For High School students, completed 9th-12th grade.

Read More & Register

Interested in donating a scholarship for Student Life Camp High School? Contact Denise Keeter.

ACTIVE Sports Camp | June 26th-29th

More details will be coming soon for this!

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me. Matthew 25:35

Often we detach ourselves from poverty and the effect that it has on people. We look at it as something that we are “working on” as a nation and donate to the cause when we can. But sometimes, it takes experiencing it, to really grasp the reality of poverty and what we can do to change it.

Tim Green, a 121 Member, recalls The Cost of Poverty Experience “C.O.P.E.” as being “an incredible reprogramming of his personal perspective of the daily life led by many in our neighboring communities and across the U.S.”

He remembers having a mindset, that most Americans above poverty level have, that those who live in lower standards just need to take advantage of all that America, “the land of opportunity,” has to offer. They need to “work harder, get better jobs, which would lead to better economic conditions.” But after C.O.P.E. he realized the emotion and anxiety that many experience every day.

He was surprised how near sighted those in poverty must be in order to live week to week, making sure that they obtain the funds to have food, clothing, transportation, and doctors visits.

So, as Christians, one of the best things we can do is attend the C.O.P.E. simulation to really get a better idea of what it is like to live in poverty. Pray that God will place you where you need to be in this local, countrywide, and global condition, and be prepared to leave your comfort zone. You, with The Lords guidance, can and will make a difference.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Coming up on March 5th, we'll have 2 available time slots for you to have this experience.

2pm-4:30pm - Maximum Capacity is 120 People

5:30pm-8pm - Maximum Capacity is 120 People

Space is limited so register today!

Childcare is available with advanced registration when signing up.

God delights in children. He takes great pleasure in them. They are the greatest gifts He gives to husbands & wives. Psalm 127:3 proclaims, “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him.” God loves children!!

One of my most favorite times at 121 is when we do our Parent/Child Dedications. Dedicating a child is an important part of our Worship Service. It is our desire as a church family to partner with parents on their child’s spiritual journey. It's a sweet time for parents to make a commitment before the Lord to submit their child to God’s will and to raise that child according to God’s word and God’s ways.

Dedicating a child is rooted in Deuteronomy 6:4-7 which says, “Hear. O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command your today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when your walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when your rise.”

As parents if we truly wish for our children to one day love & follow God then our lives must be an example and we should love God with all we have. This passage in Deuteronomy also makes it clear that the responsibility of teaching children belongs to parents & as parents we are to seize those teachable moments throughout the current rhythm of our day & throughout our kids’ lives. Parents have a responsibility to teach their children about God & as a church family it is our responsibility & privilege to partner with parents & families to travel this journey with them. Christian parents who dedicate a child are making a promise to the Lord before the church congregation to do everything within their power to raise the child in a Godly manner, prayerfully until he or she can make a decision on his or her own to follow God.

Our children also need people in their lives that will love & pray for them. As a part of the Parent/Child Dedication, parents are ask to select one or more godly influences. This is someone in the life of their child that they see as a person who portrays loving God with all they have & living out that example. This person is also someone they know who will pray for their child throughout the child’s life. James 5:16 says, “The earnest prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available.” By consistently praying for this special child, this selected person can make a difference in their life whether with them physically or not. The prophet Samuel said to the Israelites, “As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you.” 1 Samuel 12:23

Our next Parent/Child Dedication is coming up THIS Sunday, February 19th! Click below to register!

Register

Colossians 4:2 says, “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”

What is the definition of devote? The Latin translation means to vow. What we understand vow to mean is dedication or a promise to do something, like marriage vows or vows to protect and serve. When we set out to give our attention to or be attached to prayer, we vow our allegiance to the Lord.

To devote ourselves to prayer is a command, it’s constant, and we are not to lose concentration in prayer by being watchful (alert) and thankful (expressing our gratitude to the Lord).

Why pray? When we pray to God, we communicate our faith in Him and call on Him to work in our lives or the lives of others. As a Christian, if we don’t pray, we demonstrate independence from God. Also, when we pray, we desire God to be in control, not us.

On February 8, our women will gather together to learn how to pray and be given practical tools to guide them as we look at 2 Peter 1:5-7 for the qualities and virtues to develop prayer in our lives.

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.”

We look to God in prayer, with the desire to please Him and not ourselves, and to pursue our growth in relationship to Him by being devoted to prayer with a heart of gratitude.

Women, we would love to have you join us at Devoted: To Prayer!

To register or for more information, click here.

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person. Colossians 4:5-6

How can we share the gospel with people who have serious objections to faith in Christ?

What questions shut down the conversation – because you have no idea what to say?

While we desire to be gracious in how we answer objections, most of us feel unprepared to respond in areas where we are not as knowledgeable.

That’s what this Sunday is about. Sean McDowell will be with us to help us navigate the more difficult issues that arise when we share Jesus with others.

“Well that may be true for you – but that isn’t true for me.” Have you ever heard that? How would you respond?

“There is no evidence that God even exists.” “Do you really believe Jesus rose from the dead?” “Don’t you realize that religion is responsible for so much pain, suffering, and injustice?”

Sean will teach about why truth matters, and address specifically the question “True for You, But Not True for Me,” in our worship services (9:15am, 11:00am, 5:00pm).

In the afternoon session (3:00pm), Sean will go into character as an intelligent, informed atheist to raise tough questions about the Christian faith and challenge believers to defend their faith.

This “Conversation with an Atheist" afternoon session is a highly interactive, hands-on experience where you will walk away motivated and equipped to more lovingly and intelligently make a case for faith in Christ.

This is a great opportunity to invite anyone to come. Sean’s presentation will be sensitive to people from all different kinds of viewpoints, and he will help everyone to with how to answer in gracious ways.

You can view more information by clicking here and sign up for available childcare by clicking here.

A new year is a great time for fresh starts and new beginnings! Rather than make quick resolutions and then watch them fade, lets pursue real growth and real change together, by getting into a Forward community group.

Starting on January 15th at 6:30pm, we’ll have multiple opportunities for growth in Bible-centered community:

Forward Out of a Habit

This will be a great, safe place to pursue real change together on things that are holding us back. The specific topics we would love to launch groups around are:

- Anger/Emotions

- Food Struggles

- Alcohol/Substances

- Unhealthy Sexual Issues

Don’t put off another day pursuing the growth God has planned for you in 2017. Cost is $10, groups will run Jan 15 - early April, and low-cost childcare is available.

Forward in Your Faith

This is the ideal group if you would like to explore faith questions and find answers in community. So if you are newer in your faith, or are not sure where you stand with Christianity, or what it really means to have a relationship with Christ, this is a great community to plug in with. Come join us for this nine-week journey! Cost is $10 and low-cost childcare is available.

Forward in Your Finances

This is a great group for if you want to finally do something about getting out of debt, having a budget you can actually follow, and saving and spending in a God-honoring way? Join us as we go through the nine-week Dave Ramsey “Financial Peace University” together. Cost for for those who register at this link is just $40 (regularly $90) when you use the discount code ‘forward’, and low-cost childcare is available.

If you’re thinking you’d like to join us for any of the above, but have some questions or hesitations, please get in touch with me at Joe.sanchez@121cc.com, and we can figure out together the best-fit for you to move forward in a community group at 121.

In Him,

Joe

PS - If you do nothing else to pursue change this year, commit to being daily in the Word. An easy place to start would be to sign up for the 121 Table for Two Daily Devotional which follows along with the weekly messages.

Next Chapter December 2016 Update | Here's our latest update showing the tremendous progress that has taken place so far for the building! For more information and how to get involved in The Next Chapter, visit 121cc.com/nextchapter

On October 22-29, a mission team from 121 traveled to Honduras to serve at the Jubilee Centers International School. The team consisted of Randy and Pam Nichols, Jay and Becky Purchase (team leaders), Paola Enriquez Avendano, Thiago and Michelle Silva, and Billy and Carole Nichols.

It was our first mission trip together and my first mission ever. I was a little anxious because I did not know what to expect, did not speak Spanish, and was unsure how God could use me. What I found out was that hugs, smiles, high-fives, laughter, and the love of Christ is universally understood.

Jubilee Centers International School was co-founded by Emily and David Romero. The school is built on the top of a hill in La Era, a poor community in Tegucigalpa. Like other cities around the world, there is some danger nearby where gangs, drugs and crime can be found. While we were there, on the Sunday before school was to resume, the local neighborhood decided to dig a deep trench for sewer pipes down the entire road leading to the school. Emily and the rest of the team were concerned how the children and teachers would be able to get to the school. What was once a narrow road, was now a small, very difficult-to-navigate path. But the school schedule went on as planned because the children were not deterred and the people of the community who live along the broken road assisted the children by offering hands and guidance. The entire neighborhood understands the good things that God and the school have brought to the community.

"My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled" Psalm 17:5

There was another experience that was a reminder to me of how the Lord can humble you. Our mission team practiced and was proud that we were able to share 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 from memory for the teachers at Jubilee. However, at a Jubilee school assembly, the children recited the first FOUR CHAPTERS of James - by memory!

Our fun and gracious hosts from Orphan Outreach staff, along with Emily and David, made us feel at home. They introduced Honduran food to us at most of the meals. During a lunch with the entire mission team and hosts, my wife was pointing out one of the dishes we were eating. She said, "This is yucca."Being the wise-guy husband, I jokingly replied: "Honey, that is not a nice thing to say about the food in another country; we are in Honduras and you should be more polite." After receiving the initial look of disbelief from my wife, she smiled and for the rest of the week we all laughed at the thought.

My point here is that there was nothing "yucca"about the entire mission trip and what the Lord is doing in Honduras and at the Jubilee School. God is working through the Romeros and the school to do amazing things.Prior to the trip, I prayed that I could show the children, teachers, and staff at Jubilee how much we cared and loved them. I hoped that I could bring some joy and happiness into their lives by helping, teaching, and playing with the children. It turns out that I was the one who was truly blessed to be with them, not the other way around. I was filled with joy seeing the smiles on the students and teachers' faces. The love of Jesus is so readily apparent at Jubilee School. My prayers now are for the safety, protection, and provisions for everyone in Honduras and that these children will continue following Christ, being beacons of light in their communities.

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden." Matthew 5:14

In His service,

Billy Nichols

Join us this Christmas as we celebrate everything Jesus has done for us and how we are Forever Worshippers!

Christmas Eve Services | 2pm, 3:30pm, 5pm, and 11:15pm

Christmas Day Services (Online Only at 121cc.com/live) | 10am, 5pm

Wow, what a great response this past Sunday! Thanks to everyone who took grabbed a bag to fill for a local refugee family and to all those that will participate by purchasing Walmart gift cards. I love to see the generosity of our church body and desire to serve the vulnerable. Please return all bags and gift cards to 121 by 5pm on Wednesday, November 16th.

Then, on Saturday, November 19th there will be an opportunity to help deliver the Thanksgiving bags directly to the families that are receiving them. Join us at the World Relief office (4059 Bryan Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76110) at 9:30am where there will be a brief orientation from the World Relief staff before everyone is dispersed to deliver the bags to refugee families living in nearby apartments communities. This is great opportunity for the whole family to experience the richness of different world cultures! You won’t want to miss it!

Here's the vision behind The Next Chapter and how to get involved! To learn more details, visit 121cc.com/nextchapter

Here's how we can maximize the use of our time, talents, and financial resources on mission while leading people to live for Jesus Christ.

To learn more details and to get involved, visit 121cc.com/nextchapter

Watch this video as Joe talks about the vision behind Dual-Use and Tyler shares some cool opportunities we'll have to reach students and families in the area.

To learn more details and to get involved, visit 121cc.com/nextchapter

Watch this video as David walks us through the new building and explains more about the vision behind The Next Chapter!

To learn more details and to get involved, visit 121cc.com/nextchapter

Watch this video as Ross shares the vision behind The Next Chapter!

To learn more details and to get involved, visit 121cc.com/nextchapter

Here are two 12 month Scripture memory plans listed by verse and listed by passage. You can view them below and also download them by clicking here.

4 Scripture Memory Tips

1. Write and re-write it.
2. Write on a flash card or use a memory verse App.
3. Emphasize one word at a time when repeating it.
4. Pray it.

12 Month Scripture Verse Memory Plan

Trust - Proverbs 3:5-6

Anxiety/Fear - Isaiah 41:10

Despair/Overwhelmed - Jeremiah 32:17

Grief - Psalm 34:18

Word - Psalm 119:105

Prayer - Colossians 4:2

Cross - 1 Corinthians 1:18

Temptation - 1 Corinthians 10:13

Forgiveness - 1 John 1:9

Confidence - Romans 8:28

Pleasure - Psalm 16:11

Salvation - Romans 6:23

12 Month Scripture Passage Memory Plan

Word - Psalm 19:7-14

Love - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Prayer - Matthew 6:9-13

Comfort - Psalm 23:1-6

Children - Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Marriage - Ephesians 5:22-33

Nations - Psalm 67:1-7

Christ - Colossians 1:13-20

Character - Colossians 3:12-17

Humility - Philippians 2:3-11

Forgiveness - Psalm 51:1-10

Community - Acts 2:42-47

We don’t always have to understand everything God is doing. God gives us a little bit at a time because we wouldn’t be able to handle everything at once. He gives us what’s appropriate for where we are as we follow Jesus. Excerpt taken from Sunday's message, “Word-Centered Living."

What is reviveTX?

reviveTX is a movement to unite the many congregations of Texas (starting in the Dallas/Fort Worth area) as the one Body of Christ for the sake of seeing our community revived by the power of the Gospel. reviveTX events consist of a time of equipping for believers, followed by an opportunity to go out in the community and actively practice the sharing of our faith in Christ, through prayer and personal connections.

The main reviveTX event is set to take place in Spring 2017, but 121 is hosting a September equipping event in preparation for this metroplex-wide initiative.

Please join us on the evening of Friday, September 16th and the morning of Saturday, September 17th as we pursue revival in a very practical way. reviveTX is calling the Church of DFW together and is equipping believers through Biblical evangelism and discipleship training, and then taking believers by the hand and leading them out into the streets to share the Gospel and make disciples. Below is the schedule for the weekend events.

You can view the event by clicking here.

Schedule

Friday, September 16th

7:00 to 9:00 pm - Time for worship, video, prayer, encouragement and training

Saturday, September 17th

8:00 to 11:00 am - Time of going out into the community to pray for people

11:00 am to Noon - Prayer teams check back in and share about their time in the community

"For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." - Romans 1:16

Low-cost childcare is available to families on the evening of Friday, September 16th. Childcare is limited, so please register by Wednesday, September 14th. Register for childcare here.* Childcare is not available on the morning of Saturday, September 17th. As a part of the training, ReviveTX encourages families to go out together in the community to meet, pray and share the Gospel.

*Please note, registration is only needed for childcare. No registration is needed for adults or teens to attend the actual seminar.

For more information or for frequently asked questions about reviveTX, check out their website. (http://www.revivetx.org)

Want to travel the world, but only drive to Arlington? It’s possible this Sunday night! Join 121’s local partner ISI (International Students, inc) in hosting “The Big Howdy.” It’s the perfect way to welcome over 1500 students from over 100 countries to the great state of Texas. The food, music and fun, including internationals learning to line dance, will stick in your memory forever.

These are the future leaders of their countries, the best of their generation. And God has brought them right to our doorstep! They’ll experience some of their most formidable years here in our homeland. Yet few ever visit American homes and even fewer make it into a church.

What a great opportunity for us as a church to serve, initiate relationships and demonstrate the love of Jesus! This Sunday evening, August 28 from 6-9, Big Howdy volunteers are needed to bring and serve food and meet students. For details about this event or “adopting” an international student, email Bryan Bundick.

Community Groups are gatherings of people centering their lives on the Word.

LifeGroups

LifeGroups are made up of 5 or more people and meet in homes, workplaces, coffee shops, gyms, restaurants and other places in the communities where we live, work and play.

More Information on LifeGroups

Search LifeGroups

222 Groups

222 Groups are groups of 4 or less that have a more intensive focus with the intent that at some point those being led would lead someone in the same way they have been taught. These are based in 2 Timothy 2:2.

More Information on 222 Groups

Forward Groups

Forward Groups are designed for a season of time to focus on a particular aspect of life and to be encouraged from God’s Word to reach our full potential in Christ.

More Information on Forward Groups

For more information about Community Groups, visit 121cc.com/community.

Reflect on the image of Jesus on the cross, with twisted thorns on his head, blood stained and beaten, and linger on the fact that He hung there because of our sexual immorality. When lingering on Christ, maybe that can be the new motivation to flee temptation because you know how great His Love is for you.

Excerpt is taken from the sermon "Our Bodies Are Not Our Own" from our #TrueNorth series which is available here.

At the beginning of the summer, we launched the “Say, Yes!” Volunteer Invitation. We are inviting all of you to be a part of what God is doing through 121 by volunteering in one of our many different ministry areas. At the beginning of the summer we announced that there were 143 roles that needed to be filled across all of our different ministry areas. At this time 58 of those roles that have been filled! Thank you to those that have said “Yes!” to volunteering! Thank you for answering the call to use the gifts God has given you to be a blessing to others!

There are still a variety of roles and time commitments for everyone to find a place to serve. God has created each one of us with different gifts and talents that can be used at 121. You might be thinking that you don’t have anything to offer or that you are too busy to commit to serving a lot of hours every week. Great news – everyone has something to offer and we have roles for all kinds of schedules.

• Do you like to hold babies?
• Do you like to do crafts?
• Are you organized?
• Are you handy and would like to do things around the building?
• Do you enjoy talking to people?
• Do you like making coffee?
• Can you use a computer?
• Do you play musical instruments or sing?
• Do you like to play games?
• Do you enjoy teaching a bible story to kids?
• Do you like planning meals and events?
• Are you passionate about reading?
• Have only an hour in the middle of the week?
• Do you have a heart to counsel others?
• Can only serve a couple of times a month?
• Does a Boy/Girl Challenge sound fun to you?
• Would you like to wave to people and direct traffic?
• Do you like using sharpies?
• Do you think goldfish are the best snack ever?
• Do you have a desire to invest in our students?
• Do you have a heart for teaching?
• Do you know you want to do something but just now sure what?

As long as you are willing, we can find a place for you! We are offering Volunteer Tours every Sunday during the 11:00 service. This 30-minute tour will give you a behind the scenes look at all of the different volunteer opportunities 121 has to offer. I would love to visit with you to figure out the best place for you to get plugged in and start using your gifts to be a blessing to others.

So what is holding you back?

God’s Kingdom is growing and we have the privilege to be a part of it and be used by Him. My prayer is you won’t wait for someone else to take that opportunity but you will join in as well. God is going to do what God wants to do, He has invited you to be a part of it! “Say, Yes!” and be a part of God’s greater plan at 121!

If you have been in our building during the last couple of weeks, you have seen the orange and white baseball tees and the big kiosk in the lobby urging you to serve. During the course of our 8 years in this fellowship, my husband and I have volunteered in several different capacities, but currently we are choosing to serve alongside our children. My husband and 11 year-old help out in a Pre-K class in CreationLand. My daughter takes her duties very seriously and can’t get enough of loving on those littles. My 16 year-old and I greet at one of the doors of the sanctuary.

Did I mention that my oldest girl is severely physically and mentally disabled? But she is a champion hugger. When Shelby entered high school, we decided that greeting was the perfect use of the gifts God gave her. I was reminded today that even this is important to the kingdom of God. While taking Shelby to the restroom, a lady I did not know said to me, “You won’t remember this, but your daughter gave me a hug the first time I ever came to this church; and it meant so much to me.” I can’t begin to tell you the joy it is to know that my girl, who cannot even feed herself, can reach out to another with the love of Christ.

What is the reason you have not said, “Yes!”?

Don’t think you are particularly talented? Me either.

Short on time? Aren’t we all?

There is something at the kiosk for everyone. Don’t miss out on the blessing of being involved. And don’t let your children miss out. Our kids need to know that they don’t have to be on church staff to be a minister of the Gospel. And that they don’t have to wait until they grow up!

Visit the kiosk and say, “Yes!”

In the month of June, our ladies met to study Hebrews 4:16. This verse says,

“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

Over the course of three weeks, we broke this one verse down together.

The first week, we learned how we can draw near with confidence to the throne of grace. The definition of audacious is to have boldness, a daring spirit, and confidence. Grace is defined as favor or the free unmerited love and favor of God. We used the illustration in Luke 7:36-50. The “sinner woman” audaciously approached Jesus, humbly washed his feet with her tears, and received forgiveness from Jesus of her sins because of her faith. We studied the background of Hebrews and discovered at the throne of God, Jesus made atonement for our sins.

The second week, we discovered how to receive God’s mercy and extend mercy to others. The Old Testament Hebrew term for "mercy" is chesed or hesed. It is often translated as "lovingkindness". By comparing Jonah to the Samaritan woman, we saw just how gracious and merciful our God is. Jonah was reluctant and judged the Ninevites, and fought God every step of the way, but the people in the city believed. The Samaritan woman desired her sins to be gone, her thirst to be quenched and she believed. She goes back to her town and cannot contain the excitement from encountering Jesus. From her testimony, many believed. In both stories, many believed in God because of God’s grace and mercy. Not because of what they had done, but because of God revealing His plan.

“Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:13

In the final week, we took time to understand how to find grace to help others in times of need. In Hebrews 4:16, we see four key elements taking place in this verse: A PROCEDURE, A PLACE, A PERSON, and A PURPOSE.

A PROCEDURE – How do we approach His throne of grace? With confidence supplied by God.

A PLACE – God’s throne of GRACE

A PERSON – advocates sent by God

A PURPOSE – ordained by God

A key verse highlighted this week was 2 Corinthians 12:9.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

We also had the privilege of hearing from three of our missionaries and discovered how they approach the throne of grace with confidence. Our ladies then wrote letters to our women serving, both locally and globally, extending grace and mercy (lovingkindness) to those serving God in different ways.

What an honor it was to study God’s word together, approach God in confidence, and receive His mercy. We are still hearing stories from those who attended that are choosing to extend God’s grace and mercy as a reflection of Him in their lives. We are continuing to pray for those either getting to know God for the first time, or for those building a deeper relationship with God, discovering Audacious Grace.

121’s past three blogs have been fun and challenging reads of 121ers in foreign lands loving and living among Muslims during Ramadan. If you have not already, please take the less than 10 minutes needed to read the stories and pray for our brothers and sisters and all their new friends.

Ramadan is a time when a new excitement is expected or a reinvigoration is hoped for in a Muslim’s connection to God. There is a great reliance on the importance of dreams and visions within the Muslim heart. Ramadan can be a time of increased awareness of dreams. Ramadan can also be a heavy burden to fast all day, heavier still when they have no assurance that it actually helps them gain acceptance by God…

My wife and I have seen Jesus doing amazing things here in DFW, refugees with Muslim backgrounds turning to faith in Jesus and away from the heavy burden of works set by Islam. Three new stories and their prayer needs have arisen this Ramadan:

A Muslim background believer from North Africa, whom Jesus brought into our lives about 1 year ago, has been growing in his own daily quiet times. He just returned from a week conference that fully set his heart on fire to reach Muslim friends and particularly those in his home country. He has a lot to learn and yet his plan is simple: don’t belittle Mohammed, make friends, don’t try to defend Jesus just focus on who Jesus is and what He did… love his Muslim friends. Will he let the Holy Spirit keep that fire blazing or let it be doused by some difficulty?

A Muslim friend invited us to break the daily Ramadan fast with him and many friends and family one day this week. He calls us friends. We are honored. All we have done is be alongside, provide advice and opportunity where we can. How can we bring God’s one answer to assurance of salvation more to their minds when their minds are full of what they get to eat on what will be day 27 of 30 days of daylight fasting?

A second Muslim friend truly grabbed onto our hearts when he said we entered into his dream. We are astonished at how God connects people even when we have not regularly seen one another. We love them and look forward to extending and deepening that love. What more will come out of that and new dreams?

As Ramadan closes on July 5th, please join us in praying:

1. Christ’s church in DFW, filled with American background believers and Muslim background believers, will love and befriend Muslim refugees whom Jesus daily brings to our cities;
2. That we all see how we can live in simple ways around Muslim friends where they look to include us in their important events;
3. That God continues to bring dreams that deepen friendships and lead to seeing Jesus for Who He truly is.

As we continue praying for Muslims and those bringing the good news of Christ to them during Ramadan, this week we hear from a 121er experiencing her first Ramadan in the Middle East.

“Listen for the sound of the forks.”

After a full day of abstaining from all food, drink, and water, the evening Call to Prayer signifies to fasting Muslims that it is now acceptable to break their fast and eat. And, sure enough, for several minutes in neighborhoods all around me, nothing is heard other than the sound of forks tapping against plates.

I wasn’t sure what to expect out of my first experience of Ramadan living in the Middle East. Beginning in May, “Ramadan” became sort of a buzzword around town. People prepare for and anticipate Ramadan the way we get ready for Christmas. Lights are hung on balconies, new outfits are purchased, special food is prepared- all for the month of Ramadan. Muslims around the world celebrate this holy month and participate in a season of increased spiritual seeking through fasting, prayer, and giving.

Some friends of mine and I went out together for Iftar, the time people gather to break fast. We arrived at the restaurant about an hour before Iftar, were promptly seated, and asked for our order. Other families and groups of friends were streaming in until the restaurant seating spilled over into the street outside. Still 30 minutes before the Call to Prayer, our food was on our table and ready for us to…wait. We sat and stared at our food and watched as other tables did the same. No one ate, no one drank. Kids and adults alike craned their necks to look around and see if it was time to eat yet. It wasn’t.

After waiting and waiting, we finally heard the sounds from the nearby Mosque. The Call to Prayer came on the loudspeakers and, almost in perfect unison, everyone picked up a date from the table and ate it. The fast was broken. And just like that, the fast from the day turned into the feast of the evening. People reached across the table for bread to eat with their hummus, Arabic coffee was served all over the restaurant and, just as predicted, the sounds of forks on plates rang out like a joyful chorus.

While there is a lot of festivity around me during the month of Ramadan, a sobering reality has been really present on my heart. As believers, we have full security in our eternal salvation through Christ. We celebrate, fast, and feast out of a response of what has already been fulfilled on our behalf. For my Muslim friends, all of the spiritual disciplines they practice are to try to earn or gain a favor with God. They are seeking what we have already been given. God’s freely given us His favor, and because of that we are free to fast…and feast…and celebrate.

Would you take a moment right now (and maybe write a reminder to do so again in the future!) to pray for Muslims in my community and around the world? Please pray that:

The fast of spiritual longing and seeking would be broken once and for all for Muslims throughout the world through Christ.

In this month of heightened spiritual activity, God would reveal Himself to Muslims through visions, dreams, and in conversations with believers in their lives.

This year there would be true celebrations in heaven and on earth as Muslims around the world come to know Jesus for the first time!

Here's our latest building update for The Next Chapter as our Worship Pastor David Parker shares our future plans for the baptistery.

This is from a 121er serving in a Muslim country in Central Asia:

Our first summer in Central Asia, I was riding to language class squished on the back row of a hot, humid, and overly packed bus. In my discomfort, I started to notice many of the other ladies on the bus—heads covered and wearing long coats. Only their faces and hands exposed. Modestly dressed in jeans and a short sleeve shirt, I was sweating just imagining the amount of body heat bundled up inside the polyester ovens they wore.

One of the ladies a couple rows ahead caught my attention; her hand twitched repeatedly. At first I thought she might have some sort of nerve tic, but her hand’s movement was rhythmic while the rest of her body stayed perfectly still. As I observed her, she stood up to press a button indicating her desire to exit the bus. As she waited for the bus to reach the stop, I noticed that her lips where moving in rhythm with her hands—lip movement, hand twitch, lip movement, hand twitch, lip movement, hand twitch. I, then, realized that she had some sort of device that looked like a tiny pedometer attached to her index finger. It dawned on me that her rhythmic hand twitch wasn’t a tic. She was pressing a button on the small device—lip movement, press the button, lip movement, press the button, lip movement, press the button. Over and over and over.

This was incredibly odd and something I had never seen before. When I arrived at language class, I asked our teacher what she was doing. She explained that during the month Ramadan many Muslims, especially women, spend most of their free time praying the 99 names of Allah. According to their belief, prayers during the holy month of Ramadan are worth exponentially more than prayers in other months. So important are Ramadan prayers that the traditional prayer beads are not sufficient. Truly religious individuals will opt for the digital counters, like the one carried by the lady on the bus, to ensure that they have said “enough” prayers during the day.

Later that week I was perusing a local market where women sell inexpensive costume jewelry, small household trinkets, and cheap plastic toys, and I noticed the digital counters were sold alongside these items. As I reflected on the day, I realized the sad irony of those products being sold together. Like the cheap, hot-glued necklace and the wind-up toy, attempting to earn God’s favor through works will only disappoint. Cheap toys and jewelry may meet a temporal need—like a digital counter might give momentary comfort to someone thinking they have done enough to please God through good deeds—but in the end both are worthless.

In our local Central Asian church, we have been reciting Ephesians 2:8-9 together in our Sunday services. “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” This idea of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone is completely counter-cultural to Islam, which preaches that one must do “enough” good deeds to earn one’s way to heaven.

During this Ramadan season, would you join us in praying for Muslims around the world? Ask that God would open blind eyes to see that our only hope of righteousness before God is through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Pray that many would realize that they can never do “enough” to earn God’s favor—that we can never be saved by a number on a digital screen.

Today begins Ramadan, a 30-day holy month celebrated by Muslims worldwide. This is the most important time of year for Christians to pray for Muslims, as they are more intensely focused on spiritual things.

Below is a post by a 121er living in the Middle East, describing what Ramadan is like and how you can pray for her today.

For a great introduction to Ramadan and to understand unique opportunities to build relationships with Muslims during this month, read this post. To pray daily, pick up a 30 Days Prayer Guide in the 121 lobby or email Rodney.

From a 121er in the Middle East:

"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water." - Psalm 63:1

I understand the Psalmist.

Where I live the temperatures easily reach above 125° F in the summer. The first week of June starts Ramadan, and life as we know it will change for one month.

Work schedules are amended. Fines and jail time are punishments for drinking or eating in public during the day. Most businesses and government offices are closed. Even if they are open for a few hours each day, no work gets done.

My local friends will essentially flip their schedules during Ramadan. They fast during the day from food and water, smoking, and sexual relations. They break the fast following sundown and evening prayers. They eat dates and drink labneh, a yogurt-like drink. Then they will prepare a large dinner, with many special foods they only cook during Ramadan.

They will stay up all night, eating and drinking, listening to sermons, visiting friends and neighbors. Before the sun comes up, they will eat another meal before the morning call to prayer that marks the beginning of the new day’s fast. Most people will sleep during the day. Women will start cooking around 4 pm, as it takes several hours to prepare the food.

They will recite the Quran. They will share their beliefs with everyone they know is not a Muslim. They will feed the poor. There are extra prayers during Ramadan, and I will hear the haunting melody of their recitations and petitions all through the night.

It is a month of fasting, but also one of celebration and expectation.

How can you pray for my friends here? They believe that during Ramadan all the evil spirits are bound, their prayers are heard by God, and all their good deeds are multiplied. They seek God during this time. Pray that God will reveal Himself to them.

Pray for those of us here. Generally during Ramadan families “adopt” us foreigners. My friends expect me to basically live with them so they can care for me during Ramadan. It is a great opportunity. Please pray that we would be faithful in these friendships God has given us. Pray for wisdom in sharing, especially in Arabic!

Three 121 families who serve full-time in Cambodia are here for a summer break.

Last week we got to hug Alf & Kelly Evans (kids, Trey and Shaefer) and John & Ashley Phifer (son, Luke), and this week brought Chris & Jen Sain (kids, Hannah, Caleb and Jacob).

They’re excited to reconnect with their families, church family at 121, and taste buds at Whataburger.

The time will go fast – contact them through Facebook (or email me) to plan a visit with your LifeGroup, family, or just meeting over coffee to hear what God is doing halfway around the world!

"Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous works among all the peoples!" - Psalm 96:3

"Because summer reading loss is compounded over years, the cumulative summer losses for low-income students amounts to a two-year achievement gap by middle school." 
- Center for Professional Development & Services, Bloomington, Illinois

Read any good books lately? Whether you have or not, do you take for granted that you have the ability to read? The very fact that you are reading this post is the result of the time invested by parents, siblings, and teachers that helped you learn to do so.

We have an awesome opportunity to help 1st-8th graders in the Mustang Community retain or advance in their reading ability while on summer break. The Grapevine Community Outreach Center’s Summer Reading Program will take place every Tuesday and Thursday from 12pm to 1pm starting June 14th. Lunch will be provided for the kids participating in the program, so bring yours and plan on eating over a good book!

In order to volunteer as a summer reading tutor, you must attend one of the two training dates below:

• Tuesday, June 7th - 12pm-1pm
• Thursday, June 9th - 12pm-1pm

The training will include hands-on training from GCISD reading specialists and there will also be a calendar of all of the reading dates. All you need to do is sign up for the dates that you are available. The training meetings and Summer Reading Program will be held at the Community Outreach Center (3010 Mustang Dr. Grapevine TX 76051).

Please email Colby Mowery, Outreach Center Director, to sign up for one of these two training dates or contact Bryan Bundick for more info.