LCC REACH

Can You Belize it?

2012-02-23T15:19:55-05:00

This is it- the deadline for going on our May Belize trip is on us! March 5th is the last chance to going this amazing trip. CLICK HERE for all the info and how to apply. John Eve will be in font of the church this Sunday with one of the Water Units that we install and you can ask him any questions. If you can't make this trip, please consider joining us in November as we install a water unit in another village. If you are even interested in either trip, email john@rowkids.org and let him know.

Bumper Crop Update!

For all that participated in this last "Crop"- Thanks so much! We gathered about 220 bags of food (out of 525 bags handed out) and hope to get even more participation for our May Bumper Crop.

A Crop partner is the Bluffton Soup Kitchen. Miss Katie is the cook and I warned her that we would bring more food than she could imagine. I asked if she had plenty of storage space…they now have filled it all and are using one of their Sunday School rooms at Campbell AME to store it all. When we opened the back of the truck, she started crying. Y'll are feeding a lot of folks when you donate a bag. This week (on Wednesday) we fed over 60 guests who came hungry and left blessed.

Here is a note from the Volunteer Coordinator at the Soup Kitchen, Linda Ellis: " Dear Joe- please extend to your very generous congregation our heart felt thanks for the gift of 91 bags of food- our Chef is thrilled! Because of churches like yours we can continue to serve the Bluffton Community- those in need. The Holy Spirit is continually at work with you and your church- God Bless You!!"

Our next stop was Bluffton Self-Help where we dropped off about 125 bags of food. They sent me a long, enthusiastic letter this week, Here is just a portion from Assistant Director, Julie Del Gueicio:

"Friends at LowCountry Community Church- Thank you so much for taking a special interest in the needs of the clients of Bluffton Self Help! We expressed a need for food- and you answered the call! We are so appreciative to be the recipients of your bountiful Bumper Crop! Please know that every item you donated will go on the dinner table of a family in need. Your contribution helps us achieve the mission of feeding the hungry residents of our community! With your support, we can help our neighbors."

Good Job LCC!!!

Before...and After

2012-02-15T16:59:05-05:00

Our LowCountry Build Team traveled about a mile from the church and spent last week honoring God and blessing Miss Etta Phoneix and her family. Because of your generosity ( the the Teams hard work) we were able to complete 25 various repair/remodel projects. The house was structurally sound but had many safety and repair issues that had to be fixed for this 78 year old widow. Her children, Charles and Jackie were also very helpful, and so happy for their mom. Here are a few 'Before/After' pics

We had an amazing Team (not all pictured) and local merchants were unbelievably generous with materials. To God be the Glory!! The next Build Team is mid-May. CLICK HERE to join us as we do "missions on a quarter tank of gas".

Belize Water Mission Team Deadline: March 5th!!

This trip will go to Belize May 12-19. CLICK HERE to get info and register. Don't wait any longer!!

Before...

2012-02-09T11:46:40-05:00

Just a few pictures of our Build Team as they change the life (and house) of a dear sister named Etta Phoenix. Etta is a 78 year old widow that gives all her time at Bluffton Self-Help as a volunteer. As she serves others, her house has fallen into great disrepair. It is our privilege to radically upgrade her house and give her a safe, upgraded, remodeled house. Covert Air is coming in to volunteer their services and equipment and to give her all new heat/air conditioning systems- AWESOME! I wanted you to see a few "Before" pictures as we work to:

-Repair rotten exterior wood

- Rewire electrical on interior and exterior

-Paint exterior

-Build and screen in front porch

- Install motion sensor lights around exterior

- Landscape and correct drainage issues

-New Kitchen counters, sink, and repaint cabinets

- New interior doors and door handles

-New vinyl floors

-New bathroom toilet and flooring

-Roof repair

-Brush and tree removal

- and on and on….

All this because of the skills and hard work of the Build Team -and YOUR generous giving. Much of the material has been donated- but YOU gave all the rest when you give to the offering. Way to go! I will give you an "After" update next week.

Oh yeah- please don't forget our Bumper Crop this Sunday (12th)

ATL Dream Center started in a crack house!

2012-01-31T15:51:13-05:00

About 7 years ago, a 'crazy' pastor and his wife heard God call them from a rural mountain community in California to one of the most notorious neighborhoods in Atlanta: The Old Fourth Ward. This is the neighborhood that Martin Luther King grew up in, and as the explosion of crack impacted Atlanta, became the center of the drug universe in the city. The "Miracle Mile" runs right through the neighborhood. this Mile stretch boasted crack sales of over 1 million dollars per week. It was on one of the streets directly off of the Miracle Mile that Paul and Patty Palmer took all the money they had and leased a crack house- on a street filled with crack houses.

Recently, Paul drove me to that house, which became the church office and base of operations for the Atlanta Dream Center. As we drove down the street, Paul told me the story of transformed lives which ended up transforming the entire block. Now, there is not a single crack house on that street. Pastor Paul stops and hugs people everywhere we drove- everyone knows and loves him.

The Atlanta Dream center has grown and now has a complex of buildings that is used to touch and care for the broken, lost, hungry, and forgotten people along the 'Miracle Mile". They are a church completely focused on taking Jesus to the streets.

LCC is taking 2 Mission Trips there in the next months. THIS SUNDAY (Feb 5) IS THE DEADLINE for our February 24-26 weekend trip. CLICK HERE to find out info or register for this trip. We will also be sending a team of our college students (and any other young at heart adults) for a week long trip- May 15-20. Pastor Rob will lead the trip in May, and I (Joe) will lead the weekend trip. Let either of us know if you have any questions.

For all you married folks:

Just a reminder that 'A Weekend To Remember' is coming to the Westin on Hilton Head February 17-19. Even if you can't spend the nights at the hotel, this weekend will rock you and your marriage. Patty and I are still feeling the impact of last year's weekend. I can't recommend it highly enough! If you join the LCC group, the cost is half-price! CLICK HERE to get to our group site and register. Your marriage is definitely worth $159!

I Just Realized…

2012-01-18T15:17:46-05:00

It just hit me- over the next 3 Sundays, we have deadlines for trips "Here, There, and Over-There". We are sending teams to all the areas mentioned in Acts 1:8. Pretty cool! Here- Build Team, There- Atlanta Dream Center, and Over-There- Guatemala. I think this is a sign of a healthy church that is "going to make Disciples of all nations" locally, regionally, and internationally.

That said, I want you to know I love you- but y'all make me a bit crazy at times! People at LCC are notorious about waiting to the last possible moment to register for trips. I guess the upside is that you all have me praying even more than normal! I am praying that God would reveal to you whether YOU are to join us on one of these trips. Guatemala deadline is THIS Sunday (22nd), Build Team is the 29th, and Atlanta is February 5th. If you have questions or hesitations- call me right away at 384-1994 and I will help in any way I can.

This would be a good time to also remind you that we are going back to Belize in May and that deadline is March 4th

EVERYTHING YOU NEED IS ONLINE!! Not only can you get all the info about all our trips at lccreach.com, you can fill out your application and pay your deposit online. We will be at the Mission Tent again this Sunday, but you can get everything filled out and payed for RIGHT NOW. After you pay the deposit, send the application back to me as an attachment- and You're In!

If God has been telling you to "Go"- get online and do it now. Don't wait to have your life forever changed. Please Pray with me about whether you, and family member or a friend should "Go".

In Him,

Pastor Joe

"Community" is our middle name…

2012-01-11T14:43:14-05:00

As a Community church, we want to be out in the middle of our community in very tangible ways. There are a couple of cool ways you can join us in showing the people around us that we are serious about taking Jesus outside the walls of our church building. Join me Monday (the 16th) for the annual Martin Luther King Day March. We will honor a whole segment of our community as every color of people walk together to make a statement of unity and support. We will meet at the Town Hall (20 Bridge St.) at 1 pm for a service that precedes the march. We will leave the parking lot about 2 pm and walk for about 45 minutes and end up back at Town Hall where there will be a little cook out to support the event. This is my 4th year to participate andI am always so glad I go. You can bring anyone, any age, any color. You will meet some great people and even get a little bit of exercise.

Another great new opportunity to serve our community is with the Bluffton Soup Kitchen. This is Bluffton's first (and only) feeding program for the homeless and hungry. You may have seen in the paper that a number of churches have joined together to make this happen. Patty and I went by today and got on the volunteer list. As soon as I get more detailed info I will publish it here. They will need volunteers to help from 11am to 1:30 pm on Wednesdays. They actually serve folks from noon to 1 pm. If you know of someone who is hungry, tell them to get to the Campbell AME Church (Boundary St- just past the 4 corner stop). Jesus taught that feeding the hungry was one of His (and therefore our) greatest priorities. You can email me if you are interested in more info and I will send it on to you: jfriesen@lowcountrycc.org

Strengthening marriages is a high priority for LCC. If you, or someone in the community want a fantastic marriage retreat, join many of us at " A Weekend To Remember" held at the Weston on HHI February 17-19. With our LCC Group rate you get HALF OFF the price!! You can get all the info on the retreat HERE. If you want to register as part of our group CLICK HERE.

It's time to 'fish or cut bait' as I like to say. Mission Trip deadlines are upon us. The Guatemala deadline is on the 22nd! Once again, here are the critical deadlines. I hope you are praying about which of these you can join….I know I am praying!

Go to lccreach.com to find out all the details. We will have a Mission Tent on the lawn the next 2 Sundays to answer questions and help you apply for any of the upcoming trips.

Here's what you can pray about:

January 22- Deadline for Guatemala Trip (Training starts on 22nd) CLICK HERE for info

January 29- Deadline for Build Team trip to Bluffton (Feb. 7-12) CLICK HERE for info

February 5- Deadline for Atlanta Dream Center (Feb 24-26) CLICK HERE for info

March 5-Deadline for Belize Water MissionTrip (May 12- 19) CLICK HERE for info

If you have any questions, again, go to lccreach.com or call me at 384-1994.

Feeling Tumbled?

2012-01-06T13:43:35-05:00

Our family lived in Hawaii for nearly 3 years and loved the warm, clear waves. We played, boarded and surfed in them whenever possible. One of my favorite beaches was Makapuu as it was one of the only ones with sand under it instead of coral. It had a steep sand beach which made the wave stand up and were amazing for body surfing or bogey-boarding. Only one problem: when you didn't catch the wave just right, it would throw you in front of the wave on to bare sand- then crash on top of you! You would get mercilessly pounded, tumbled, and then it would leave you in a heap far up the the beach. Makapuu reminds me of Christmas: I love it, but when December hits, I feel like I am tumbled until after January 1st when I come up for air and find myself lying in a heap. I look forward to it coming again next year, but now I am looking around saying, "Man, that was some wave!"

Like you, I am looking at my calendar and realizing that major Mission Trip Deadlines are right on top of us. Please stop right this second and ask God if He is calling you to go on one of the upcoming trips. If He is, you need to register/apply ASAP as we need to know who is coming on these adventures.

The most critical deadline is for our Guatemala Trip (March 17-25) and the registration deadline is January 22nd. Go to lccreach.com to find out all the details. We will have a Mission Tent on the lawn the next 2 Sundays to answer questions and help you apply for any of the upcoming trips.

Here's what you can pray about:

January 22- Deadline for Guatemala Trip (Training starts on 22nd) CLICK HERE for info

January 29- Deadline for Build Team trip to Bluffton (Feb. 7-12) CLICK HERE for info

February 5- Deadline for Atlanta Dream Center (Feb 24-26) CLICK HERE for info

March 5-Deadline for Belize Water Mission Trip (May 12-19) CLICK HERE for info

If you have any questions, again, go to lccreach.com or call me at 384-1994.

Marissa Hunsberger is one of YOUR missionaries in Belgium and she will be with us this Sunday (the 8th) and we are hosting a Dessert Open House for her at our house on Sunday night from 7-8:30 pm. Bring a dessert to share if you want, but come regardless!! We live at 87 Muirfield Dr. in Eagle's Pointe off hwy 278.

A Good Year!

2011-12-20T12:57:31-05:00

The world is different because LCC existed this year. Through our Body, Jesus was shown in amazing ways: here, there, and over-there. He gets all the glory for anything we did right this year. Here are just a few of the highlights from this last year (not room to list them all)

We started the year with a trip to flood ravaged Nashville with Samaratin's Purse

Our first Water Mission trip with Rowkids in February

Many of you helped build a needy family a house in February

God use YOU and Easter Egg Hunts to change lives at Easter

Our Bumper Crops fed a ton of people in 2011-

Kairos Prison Ministry- your cookies, prayer, and our BBQ KREW impacted Ridgeland Prison twice this year

Our LowCountry Build Team impacted 3 families by repairing their homes- in Jesus' Name

Our High School ministry sent 23 students to Jamaica with Rowkids

The Clothing Connection put clothes on thousands of people

The November Belize Team brought safe water to Bullet Tree Falls for the first time in history

Pray and consider how you could be in one of these pictures in 2012. Go to lccreach.com to see all the ways you can help us change the world this next year. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

It Could Have Been You…

2011-12-14T15:50:51-05:00

Sometime around Thanksgiving, the Brabham Family of Ridgeland had an electrical fire in their home and lost everything they own- other than what they were wearing. Times were tough before the fire, and with no insurance, have gotten immeasurably worse. They have a grandmother living with them and their small girls.

Some great folks have decided to collect everything they possibly can by the 20th of this month. If you bring it- they will deliver it. Download Bradham Family needs to find out all the details of what they need and where to drop it off. Anything you can give will touch this family with the love of Jesus

Not only do I invite you to touch families right HERE, I want you to consider helping some families OVER THERE in Guatemala by going with our Team in March. We will spend half of our time working in a village as we rebuild their homes and lives after a catastrophic hurricane. We will build pre-fab metal homes that the owners will be able to take with them should they move. We will then work in a number of ministries in Guatemala City. One of those is a ministry called 'The Oasis' which is an amazing outreach to prostitutes. CLICK HERE to see a video about The Oasis and see a bit of the crushing need there. You can find out all the details about the trip by CLICKING HERE. Remember, the deadline is January 22- only one month away!!! Call me with any questions- (843) 384-1994.

Merry, Merry, Merry Christmas!

Joe

Writing You From New York....

2011-12-08T11:18:45-05:00

Thought I would drop you a note from the most "global city" in the world. New York is a microcosm of the planet as I have seen people from every continent on the planet. It is fun to taste all the cultures here, but I am still very glad to live in Bluffton.

I am here hanging out with Jimmy Taylor as he recuperates from surgery. He is doing better every day, and in a few minutes, we are hoping to hop the subway and check out the Apple Store! For all of those that have been praying for him- don't stop. He really appreciates it. If everything goes well, he will come home with me on Saturday the 10th.

Jimmy was with our team that first went to Guatemala 3+ years ago and the experience is still impacting him in a big way. Jimmy and I both want to invite you to consider going with us in March as we serve the people of this beautiful country. We will spend half the time in a village rebuilding homes destroyed by a recent hurricane. We are constructing pre-fab metal homes that will allow the owners to disassemble them when they one day move. The other half of the trip will involve ministry in Guatemala City (the 'City of Eternal Spring'). For all the details of this trip-CLICK HERE. The Deadline is on us quickly: January 22nd. If you have questions- call me at: 384-1994 or jfriesen@lowcountrycc.org

Please check out all the 2012 Mission Trips at lccreach.com and notice the following deadlines: Guatemala- January 22, Build Team- January 29, Atlanta Dream Center- February 5th

I was struck this morning by how easy it is for me to be a Christ Follower. This is not the case for most of the rest of the world. Take a second and go to: Voice of the Martyrs website and look at what is happening to our Brothers and Sisters all around the world. May it make you thankful, grateful, and prayerful

In Him…Joe