The Preacher's Wife

Code Orange Christmas

Last night we began our Christmas worship experiences.  The first 2 of 30! 

We are calling it Code Orange Christmas.  Code orange means there is a heightened since of urgency.  We are using it to say that God has rescued us in our most desperate need. 

The worship experience was amazing.  I don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just say, the gospel is presented in a powerful, life changing and creative way.

I hope you will be a bringer not just a consumer this Christmas no matter where you live.  People's hearts are so open to the gospel at Christmas time.  I am praying for each and every person who will be bringing their friends and family members to church over the next several days.

And Elevation, here's the best part... we are releasing more tickets at all of our campuses and worship experiences.  You can get tickets at CodeOrangeChristmas.com.  I will see you there!

#30DaysofThanks

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina - This beautiful Thursday morning, as every morning, there were more than 200 people waiting in line for assistance outside the doors of Crisis Assistance Ministry.

At lunchtime, Urban Ministry Center will serve more than 300 hungry people their only meal of the day.

At dinnertime tonight, a working single mother will weep because she doesn't have enough decent food to feed her children.

Hunger is real in the Charlotte area.  You know it.  You want to do something about it.

But you worry the need is so great, that no amount of effort on your part can make any sort of difference at all.  And especially now, as the holidays are approaching, you're wondering - how can I make THIS season different for my family?

Our staff at Elevation has been working to help you make your holiday season more meaningful than ever before.  Our church gives away 12% of everything that comes in back out to serve the underserved in our community.  But to really change this city, it takes more than our money.  Jesus calls us to a life of service.

This week, we are launched a month long outreach initiative called  "30 Days of Thanks"- 72 opportunities for you, your family, your eGroup, or your eTeam to serve the hungry in Charlotte.

Click here for the list of opportunities.  In many cases, we’ll provide the food, and all you have to do is show up and see how God might work through you.

One of my favorites is shopping with the kids for “Turkey Tuesday.”  For less than $40, you can provide a family all the fixings for their Thanksgiving meal.  Together, our goal is to provide 200 meals to families in need through our strategic outreach partner, Matthews Help Center.  It’s a great opportunity to share with your kids about gratitude and God’s provision, and how he calls on us to share with those in need.

You know can't do everything.  You know you must do something.  Not "one day" - but today.  Sign up now, and let me know where YOU will be serving during #30DaysofThanks this month.  I hope to see you there!

Elevation Staff in LOVE Week action

I thought I'd leave you with a quick look at what some of our staff and staff spouses have been up to this week during LOVE Week.

 

Urban Ministries

The Elevation staff spent the morning touring Urban Ministries, serving breakfast and jumping in on the work.

 

Ladies Night Out

Volunteers spent the night pampering the girls at One7, Right Moves For Youth and Safe Journey.  My husband and I stopped by this event last night after our date, it was amazing!

Hope Haven

Elevation Staff and volunteers spent the morning remodeling and serving breakfast to the residents.

Piney Grove Elementary School

Elevation Staff spent time reading and donating books to the students at Piney Grove Elementary.

Youth Homes Inc

Some of the band spouses got together to make Project Hugs Care Kits for moms at Youth Homes Inc

Bright Blessings

Staff Spouses got together to make gift baskets for children at Bright Blessings.

 

Stop Hunger Now 

Volunteers packaged 20,001 meals that will be shipped to Haiti.

If you haven't had a chance to get involved yet, there are still many opportunities to serve tomorrow and Sunday (go to LOVEWeekCharlotte.com) AND don't forget to stuff the truck when you come to your campus this weekend.

Matthews Campus- Clothing
Blakeney Campus- Food
Uptown Campus- Books
Providence Campus- School supplies 

Tell me what LOVE Week projects have you done!

There are only 4 more days left in LOVE Week, and many more opportunities still open, it's not too late to get involved. Our goal for the week was to reach 25,000 volunteer hours. And we have already reached over 18,000 hours!!

I'm so proud to be a part of a movement that is making such an impact in our city. And I know you are too!  I want to know what you have been doing.  Leave a comment telling us where you have volunteered this week!

This morning Elijah and Graham volunteered at Bright Beginnings (see below).  They are making birthday packets for homeless children.

 

Here's a quick look at some of the projects that have been going on through out the week.

Samaritan's Feet

Our goal for Samaritan’s Feet was 10,000 shoes processed. In one weekend we processed 17,279 pairs of shoes! That is 5 months worth of work for Samaritan's Feet!

 

   
  

Stuff The Truck 

We contacted our Outreach partners to see what their greatest needs were. Starting with last weekend, at each campus we have been collecting everything from clothing to books for schools. This is a great way that we can provide for our outreach partners in a big way. The trucks will be there this weekend so it's not too late to bring stuff with you!

 

 

 

Christ Our Shepherd

Christ Our Shepherd ministries exists to empower single parents to reach financial and spiritual security by providing quality children's programs, education and life skills in a Christian environment, and provide quality Christian resources and children's programs to the community at large. 

 

 

 

Jackson Park

Jackson Park is an incredible ministry with a vision "to see the families, children and all individuals of Jackson Park, Charlotte and surrounding communities come to know Christ as their Savior and Lord; becoming productive citizens in the community and serving others as a disciple of Christ." Our volunteers spent time cleaning up their facilities this week.

 

 

 

Bright Blessings

Bright Blessings vision is to bring joy, recognition and support to homeless children and families during difficult times.   Volunteers spent time this week putting together birthday gift baskets for kids who otherwise would not be getting anything on their birthday. It was a great way for children to get involved with LOVE Week and volunteer with their parents.

 

 

 

Check out the LOVE Week website to find out how you can still get involved!

And leave a comment to tell me what you have been involved in!

Hope Haven

All week long LOVE Week volunteers have been serving at Hope Haven working to remodel their building. Hope Haven is a foundation of recovery that provides life skills for homeless, chemically dependent adults and families within a supportive residential environment, leading to independence. They offer counseling, vocational training, parenting classes, money management and job placement.

The work started at Hope Haven on Friday night with an overnight student project and has been continuing throughout the week. Yesterday a team of about 70 LOVE Week volunteers spent 2 hours painting, putting furniture together and remodeling. Here's a few pictures of our volunteers hard at work!

 

I am so proud of all the work that is going into loving our city! 

Today I want to hear what you have been doing.  There are so many projects going on, I would love to hear what you have been involved in!  If you have participated in LOVE Week leave a comment telling me what you have done.  I can't wait to hear from you!

 

 

 

Extreme Home Makeover, Elevation Style

Over the past few months, community outreach teams from Elevation have been working really hard on a very special project.

Jackson Park and Safe Journey (a program within CIS) are two of Elevation's outreach partners.  Jackson Park exists to help families with children who need financial aid and temporary housing.  Safe Journey is a program to help teen moms graduate high school (I have written about them here). 

Over the past several months Elevation volunteers have been working really hard to remodel several apartments for a couple graduates of the Safe Journey program who needed a place to live.  Then we all came together to present the girls their new homes.

I have never felt so proud of my church, our amazing volunteers, and our generous givers.  Here are a few pictures from the day...

Love Week Book Drive

 
There are so many great opportunities going on this week.  One more that I am really excited about is our book drive.  We are collecting new and gently used books for Freedom School Partners.   Freedom School Partners is an organization that provides summer and after-school activities for underprivileged children.

Tonight, as a family, we cleaned out our books.  We filled up a whole box and a bag.  I was proud of my children's generosity (although I'm not sure Graham understood because he kept saying "I wanna give this book to Ella.")  We had a great time and I love knowing that our books will go to great use.

You can do it too.  Here are the details...

Freedom School Partners: Book Drive - Matthews & Providence Campuses
Collecting books for Freedom School Partners Libraries. Volunteers Needed: Unlimited
Time: Drop off before or after Worship Experience normal times
Special Notes: Books should be appropriate for elementary aged readers.
Point Person: Matthews: Kristi DeMeritte, kdnoles1@yahoo.com Providence: Amy Carr, acarr@elevationchurch.org

We joined the club

Yesterday we joined Costco.  We have been members at Sam's Club for the past few years and decided to change it up.

We ate lunch (pizza and sprite) next to a lady who told me her 3 year old twins had never had soda because the sugar would ruin their teeth.  The girls were destroying some vanilla ice cream while she was talking to me.  Hmm... I'm just saying.

Anyway, here's my new card, I love it.

Photo Journal: Friendship Trays

My friend, Amy Corbett, and I have been delivering Friendship Trays on and off for the past 2 1/2 years.  This past Wednesday was our last day to deliver our summer route (which we did every other week).

Volunteering in the community is such a great tool for teaching kids to serve others.  Friendship Trays (here in Charlotte a division of Meals on Wheels) is perfect for kids.  They enjoy bringing the people their juice and food and have a great time together. 

It takes us a little more than an hour and then we usually go to a fun place to eat.  This week we visited the train in Matthews after lunch.  We're taking a break for the fall but we will be back at it again soon I am sure.

Worth the trip

A while back, my husband and I had the privilege to visit the Billy Graham library here in Charlotte.  The trip was inspiring.  Billy Graham is an amazing man who was used greatly by God.  Our son, Graham, is named after him.

Billy's wife, Ruth, is the perfect example of the phrase behind every man is an even better woman.  She is being honored this summer at the library.

This month and next month, the library is featuring an exhibit on the late Ruth Graham.  After reading this book, Ruth quickly became one of my heroes in life.  I cannot wait to visit the library next month.

If you have never been, you need to make the trip.