North Cities has always been focused on ministry.  The vision is to connect people to God through worship, to others through fellowship, and to purpose through training.  This next phase of expansion creates the spaces that our ministries need in order to more effectively carry out their mission.  There is an enlarged sanctuary, a new multi-purpose fellowship area, gym, youth sanctuary, adult training room, and expanded children’s ministry space.  Each space is designed with the mission in mind.

The presentation was met with an overwhelming response of support from the members present.  As the choir sang, “No Limits,” members came to the front in worship and placed pleges of financial support on the altar.  A beautiful presence of the Lord filled the sanctuary as the congregation prayed, gave, and worshipped singing “Enlarge my Territory!”

In conjunction with the in-service presentation, North Cities also launched a new website:  build.northcities.org.  This site will offer information and updates on the project, as well as a place for secure on-line donations.

Last summer, Pastor D. G. Hargrove travelled to South Korea on mission, and was struck with a burden to see a church planted in this major metropolitan area.  That burden led North Cities to invest in the work, and as a result, the Guro Central United Pentecostal Church is now open and conducting services in the city!

Missionary E. J. Kim writes,

Today, we had our opening service for Guro Central UPC in Seoul.  Most of our district pastors and ministers attended.  Pastor Man Bok Ko preached … [The] service was wonderful … and we were blessed by His presence and the words of God.

We thank you, North Cities UPC for your sacrificial giving.  We give special thanks to Pastor Hargrove for making possible this miracle.  Most of all, WE THANK GOD for this special blessing added to the work in South Korea.

Seoul, South Korea now has a United Pentecostal Church, where the life-changing message of the New Birth is preached.  Through the faithful support and prayers of its members, North Cities is impacting the world.

Pastor Hargrove set the tone for the New Year with a message entitled “Starting Points that Finish Well.” The message outlined five fundamentals for living that will ensure a successful finish:

(1) Principles: Build your life upon a right foundation: the principles of the Word of God. Think and live inside the boundaries of God’s Word.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. [2] But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. [3] And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper (Psalm 1:1-3)

(2) Priorities: Make God’s Kingdom the first priority in your life. Living this fundamental creates a “God gravity” that causes everything else to fall into place.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you (Matthew 6:33).

(3) Prayer: Develop a relationship with God through prayer. Fall in love with Him, and stay in continual conversation as you walk with Him.

Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2).

(4) Perseverance: Determine that you will finish the race. Discipline and manage yourself, removing any questions from your mind.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:58).

(5) Purpose: God sees the end from the beginning, and He’s calling you to the purpose for which you were created.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, [14] I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:13-14).

Start with the end in mind. Build your life around these fundamentals, and you will not only finish the year well, you will finish the race of life well!

The city of McKinney has experienced explosive growth over the past several years, and has consistently been ranked one of the fastest growing cities in America.  Recently, Money Magazine ranked McKinney as one of the “top 5 best places to live in America.”  Beginning January 2012, North Cities will become a part of the community and bring its unique culture of worship, fellowship and training.

Sunday services will be held at 2:00 PM, and will feature praise and worship by North Cities’ Worship Ministries, as well as the dynamic teaching of Senior Pastor D. G. Hargrove.  The intention is to bring to the McKinney campus the same ministry that occurs at the main Garland campus each Sunday morning at 10:00 AM.

The launch of the McKinney campus will extend the reach of North Cities’ ministries further across the North Dallas region, and will make it possible for many more people to experience and participate in the North Cities vision of connecting to God through worship, others through fellowship, and purpose through training.

If you live in the far-north region of the Dallas Metroplex, we invite you to join us for worship each Sunday at 2:00 PM, beginning on January 1st, 2012.  For a map and directions, visit:  http://g.co/maps/e64hj

For the past five years, making these lap blankets has become a yearly project for the “Girls of Grace.”  The project serves to teach the girls the valuable lessons of service, kindness, and giving, while at the same time providing an activity that is a lot of fun.  This year’s batch of beautiful blankets was delivered on Saturday, November 19th. 

The blankets were so appreciated, that Winter Park’s Activities Director asked the girls to continue making them throughout the year. The life-long lessons learned through acts of kindness and generosity will certainly serve these girls well as they grow to reflect the giving nature of God.

(1) Seek God and Know His Value – “And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place” (Acts 2:1).  Although over 500 saw Jesus ascend from the Mount of Olives, just 120 were present in the Upper Room ten days later when the Church was born.  These believers understood the value of the things of God, and had dedicated themselves to seeking Him.

(2) Prayerfully Approach God’s Plan – “These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren” (Acts 1:14).  The early Church was born in an atmosphere of prayer.  To stay on course, the Church must stay connected to God through the power of prayer.  Prayerful obedience to His plan will result in purposeful living.

(3) Allow God to Work – “And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting” (Acts 2:2).  The early Church experienced the supernatural.  To stay on course, believers today must embrace the working of God’s spirit in their lives.

(4) Be Filled and Led by the Holy Ghost – “And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance” (Acts 2:3-4).  Nothing equals the experience of being filled with God’s spirit and allowing Him to live in us and through us.  To stay on course, believers today must still be filled and led by the Holy Ghost.

(5) Desire Truthful Preaching – “But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words” (Acts 2:14).  On the birthday of the Church, the Apostle Peter stood up with the other apostles and preached the truth of God’s Word.  The Church will stay on course as believers continue to desire truth preached from the pulpit.

(6) Always Respond to God’s Word – “Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?” (Acts 2:37).  The response of those who heard the truthful preaching of God’s Word on the Day of Pentecost was an open question of response.  Those believers readily applied and obeyed the word preached.  To stay on course, believers must always respond to God’s Word with willing obedience.

(7) You Will Have God-Produced Results – “Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:41-42).  The application of these guideposts in the early Church resulted in a dynamic community that turned their world upside down.  As believers today remain faithful to these guideposts, the Church will be what God has called her to be, and the world will be forever changed!

The Varsity team put a lot of effort into each game and worked in unity. Their hard work paid off at the competition as they won 2nd place in the Region. Hanna Littlefield (Captain), Kirsten Phillips (Co-Captain), and Kaci Wright also won All-Region medals. Hanna Littlefield, Kirsten Phillips, Nicole Lal, and Madelyn Herbst won All-District medals. Congratulations girls!

The Junior Varsity also worked very hard this year and played together as a team. As a result, they won 1st Place at the Regional competition. Shanna Merritt (Captain), Bailey Shaffer (Co-Captain), and Kayleigh Phillips each won All-Tournament medals.

We are thankful for the Lord’s protection and favor–both on and off the court. We are also thankful for the leadership of our coach, LaGene Ross, and the support of parents, family members, and friends. A special “Thank you!” to our number 1 fans: Ken and Wanda Smith (Kaci’s grandparents).

It did “go down” in a mighty way.  As service started, students worshiped, prayed and were ministered to by special guest Rev. Irvin Baxter.  The message was titled, “A God to Die For.” At the close of the service, Bro. Baxter invited everyone who wanted to receive the Holy Spirit to come to the front.  The altars filled with students, and by the end of the evening, four new students were filled with baptism of the Holy Spirit, evidenced by speaking in tongues!

Reflect “goes down” every Wednesday at 7:00 PM at North Cities’ Kingsbridge Annex. For more information on ISM, visit http://www.northcities.org/image-student-ministries/

Through the efforts of last year’s drive, 25 families were blessed with food donation boxes for Thanksgiving.  Every non-perishable item collected by the students will go to those in need. Lend a hand and bring a can!

Items for the food drive are being collected, organized and managed entirely by ISM Junior High. The food drive ends November 20, so it’s time to come together, clean out our pantries, hit the sales at the supermarket and ask all your friends to participate.  If everyone brought one can each Sunday for three weeks, we together would surpass our goal of 2,011 items in 2011.

All non-perishable items can be dropped off in the church foyer… just look for the big red hand drop box. The food boxes will personally be delivered by the students to the homes of the families in need the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

Be a blessing to fellow members of your church this holiday season through the Helping Hands Food Drive.

26 Children received the Holy Spirit baptism!

After a Saturday Children’s Ministry workshop with evangelists Mike & Vickie Oliver, a special “Power Hour” children’s worship service was conducted on Sunday Morning. Over 80 children, ages 4-11, were present as the Olivers—along with North Cities’ Children’s Ministry and Dallas S.A.L.T.—ministered the Gospel message. When the children responded in faith and began to worship the Lord, the Holy Spirit was poured out. Just like on the Day of Pentecost, these children received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and spoke in other languages as the Spirit enabled them (Acts 2:4).

How wonderful to witness God’s faithfulness to His promises! His promise of Life is available to all who will turn to Him with child-like faith, and respond to the simplicity of the Gospel.