February 2024 Newsletter

FEBRUARY 2024

HIGHLIGHT

ANGELICA AND CAMIL A'S BAPTISM STORIES Page 8

KE E PING YOU INFORME D AND CONNEC TE D

A NOTE FROM EXECUTIVE PASTOR

John Maggard

Hey NMC Family, Happy February, everyone, and as a bonus, we get

episode of Fixer-Upper. Please continue to pray for a

an extra day this year. I am still not sure I have ever

smooth project and no more surprises, follow along and

understood why we have a leap year; I'm just glad I

track our progress at northmetro.org/locations. Here

don't have to reprogram the VCR anymore. Well, this is

are a few photos from our first week of construction.

a great month where men all over the country take a day to pour out their affection, verbally express their love,

I love that we have been celebrating our 25-year

and be overcome with emotion, Super Bowl Sunday.

anniversary throughout the year. Make sure you are

Although I am joking, fellas, don't forget February 14

checking out some of our stories on the podcast and

is Valentine's Day that doesn't change because of leap

the online merch store is open until February 16. Pro

year. Pro tip - start planning now!

tip #2 for the fellas - I know what you are thinking: NMC merch store and Valentine's Day equals problem

Things are getting busy around here; we are in the full

solved, right? Wrong, although she might like some

swing of construction over at our second location, the

NMC merch - I am pretty sure that does not count as a

Sewell Mill campus. We are learning a ton about the

Valentine's gift.

highs and lows of remodeling an older space, phrases like "that's not up to code" and " I think that's asbestos"

Take care, have a great month, honored to be a part of

have become all too familiar. While our contractors

this church and serve this body.

are making great progress, it does feel like a very long

Our vision for our second location, NMC Sewell Mill Campus.

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John Maggard

Worship Devotion by Clark Beasley Clark Beasley serves as Worship Director and is in charge of music for our Sunday morning gatherings.

While Clark is passionate about leading others to worship God through music, he is also passionate about God transforming our entire lives to be in worship of Him. Read this month's worship devotion!

Maybe Not Asleep in the Boat “Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!’ He replied, ‘You of little faith, why are you so afraid?’ Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!’”

Matthew 8:23-27 Asleep? Really? This passage always blows me away when I read it. And I’ve said it so many times to so many people. … In my life, I want to be asleep with Jesus at the bottom of the boat. That’s what I’ve always thought that I wanted. It sounds spiritual, but, if I’m honest, what I think I really want is to escape the storms of life altogether, just content to fall asleep with Jesus, instead of face them.

Elijah knew all about storms, both metaphorically and literally.

(1 Kings 19). When a wicked queen threatens to hunt him down and kill him, in a moment of fear, Elijah runs for his life and finds himself alone under a bush, wishing he could just die under all the pressure. He runs from his storms, and God finds him asleep under that bush. Giving him enough food for his long journey, God leads him to a cave where he spends the night.

Seemingly alone in this cave, I can’t imagine what Elijah must have been feeling. And there, in that cave, God speaks to him.

But God’s voice isn’t in the wind rushing by the cave. God’s voice isn’t in the earthquake that follows or the fire that follows that.

No, and this is what blows me away, God’s voice is in a whisper.

How, in the middle of all of that craziness, was he able to hear that gentle whisper from God? And it hit me between the eyes. Elijah

could hear God’s voice for two reasons—because he had heard His voice before and because He was in the storm. Elijah had heard God’s voice many times before and could tell the difference between the sound of Him speaking and much stronger and louder voices. That takes time to hone in on. Times of trusting and depending. Times of listening and obeying.

But the second reason is what speaks loudest to me personally (pun intended). Elijah was so desperate for God to come and rescue that he wasn’t distracted. The voice of God was all he was listening for. I think I’m scared of being uncomfortable, scared to go through anything difficult. I want everything like I’ve come to expect here in America—fast and easy. But that is just not the way that God operates. He uses storms in our lives to teach us. And we don’t get ears that hear God’s voice without storms.

So, at the bottom of this boat, Jesus was not escaping the storm by sleeping, and He wasn’t ignoring His friends’ call for help.

Jesus was just so comfortable in a storm and had such confidence in God’s voice and His power to save, that He could even sleep in the middle of it. It’s such a good picture for me, and something I want to practice this year. I don’t want to be afraid of storms in my life, but I want to learn how to hear God’s voice and respond to it through the storms that occur. And I would pray the same for you, that you could learn to hear God’s voice and respond to it because of the storms in your life, not in spite of them.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” - James 1:2-4

In addition to leading our Sunday worship teams, Clark also has organized a partnership between NMC and Rooted Music Coaching, a company providing individual and intentional music lessons to help students of every age thrive in music and life.

For more information on what Rooted is about, feel free to reach out to Clark at clark@rootedmusiccoaching.com or visit their website - rootedmusiccoaching.com/westcobb.

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Connect and Grow Care

PRAYER

Prayer is powerful. It's one of the most important things we can do as a church. Our staff and leadership would love to come alongside you, fight for you in whatever difficulty you may be experiencing, and celebrate any answered prayers! To share your prayer requests, visit northmetro.org/prayer.

HOME REPAIR ASSISTANCE NMC has a faithful group of men looking to serve widows, single moms, and other ladies in our church. These men are skilled in most areas of basic home repairs, including plumbing, electrical, and carpentry; however, they are unable to take on major renovations or projects that require county permitting. If you are a single woman needing assistance with home maintenance or home repairs visit northmetro.org/care to submit your request.

RE:GENERATION Through His Word, God offers us principles where freedom and new life can be found. Are you hurting, feeling stuck, having given up hope for change, or wanting to identify and remove obstacles for a deeper fellowship with God? Wonder why you keep struggling with the same thing day after day, year after year?

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re:generation is discipleship for the heart and teaches you how to apply the principles of Scripture to your everyday life. Participants walk through 12 steps of biblical healing in the context of authentic community. If you want to learn how to live out a "new life in Christ" and find healing in Jesus during your day-to-day life, re:generation is a great place to discover the fullness that Christ alone offers us. Visit northmetro.org/events to learn more about re:generation and sign up. To participate in re:generation, you must sign up and attend

by Wednesday, February 7.

RE|ENGAGE re|engage is a marriage enrichment ministry designed for couples ready to invest time and energy into building a stronger marriage. Through a mix of large-group teaching and small-group discussion, you and your spouse are challenged and encouraged with practical ways to apply the gospel of Jesus to your marriage. Couples are discipled and equipped to grow in their walk with Christ and their marriages by studying and applying biblical principles within a small group structure. We offer re|engage twice a year, beginning in August and January.

MERGE Strong, healthy marriages start long before the wedding. To build a marriage that lasts and gets off to a great start, we encourage

all engaged couples to participate in Merge, our four-week premarital discipleship class. Merge classes are available to those who regularly attend NMC and are already engaged. The next session begins Monday, April 15, from 6:00-9:00pm.

Visit northmetro.org/events to learn more and sign up.

FOUNDATION GATHERINGS The first few years of marriage can be difficult, but they also offer a chance to build healthy patterns into a marriage at a formative stage. Foundation Gatherings are open to married couples who have been married for three years or less. These events occur three times a quarter and include dinner, teaching, and a chance to build relationships with other newlywed couples.

Our next gathering is Monday, March 4, at 7:00pm. Registration is required to attend. The cost for dinner is $10/couple, and childcare is available with registration.

Visit northmetro.org/events to learn more and sign up.

DIVORCE CARE Divorce Care is a mix of support and learning for those currently separated or divorced. We understand that divorce can be one of life's most painful trials. While God hates divorce, He doesn't hate divorced people. Our Divorce Care ministry is led

WELCOME HOME

GROUPS

TABLESETTERS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25 | 11:00AM-12:00PM

At NMC, we genuinely believe we are better together. For that reason, we want everyone to circle up with others in a group. We have three different types of groups you can join. Connection Groups meet over shared interests such as hiking, board games, or movies; Community Groups meet for fellowship, prayer, and study of the Bible; and Care Groups assist anyone walking through difficulty or life transition. If you want to join a Connection Group, Community Group, Care Group, or even start your own group, then check out northmetro.org/groups.

When we serve others, we set the table for them to experience the grace of God. That’s why, around here, we call our volunteers Tablesetters. Our goal is for everyone to experience the joy of serving others as a Tablesetter and serve somewhere within our church. Regardless of your schedule, experience, or gifting, there’s a fulfilling place for you to serve here! Visit northmetro.org/serve to browse opportunities and take the next step to serve.

PURE DESIRE

you up when the weight is too heavy. We can be that safe place to let all your feelings fall. We can have the honor of praying continually for you and your family. We can be that safe group of ladies who get it without explanation or apologies; we get it all.

Welcome Home is designed to help you learn about everything that makes up North Metro Church and give you the next steps on how you can belong to our family.

Visit northmetro.org/events to learn more and sign up.

by individuals who understand what you're experiencing and will support you as you move forward. Through Divorce Care, you will learn how to deal with the heartache of the past and look forward to rebuilding your life.

FOSTER & ADOPTION SUPPORT Scripture urges believers to look after the orphans in our community. One way we do this at NMC is to come around families participating in foster care or adoption.

In addition, this group is a place to find support and encouragement from others who understand these specific challenges.

This month's meeting is on Thursday, February 15, from 6:30-9:00pm.

STEPHEN MINISTRY Stephen Ministry is a one-on-one care ministry that supports those experiencing difficult times. Stephen Ministers are members of our NMC community, who are well trained in encouraging others who are enduring painful times such as the loss of a loved one, a marriage, a job, or one's health. If you are facing any of life's difficult circumstances, please consider using a Stephen Minister to help bear your burdens.

Pure Desire is a men's ministry that provides hope, freedom, and healing from sexual brokenness through Jesus Christ.

Through this group, you will understand how family of origin and trauma impact your behavior, how addiction affects brain chemistry, and develop a plan to create freedom from addiction. Don't let shame keep you from finding help. There is hope as you walk out this journey with other Christ-followers. Visit the Care page on our website to learn more.

INFERTILITY & LOSS SUPPORT When God calls our hearts to grow our families, He never promises it will be easy but He does promise to lead when we are lost. Take refuge in knowing you’re not alone. If you struggle with infertility or have experienced miscarriage or infant loss, there’s a place for you. This month's meeting will be Monday, February 12, at 7:00pm.

WOMEN’S CANCER SUPPORT Cancer hits with a terrible punch, whether it’s you, a spouse, parent, sibling, child, or friend. We can't take you out of this storm but we can walk alongside you and hold

If cancer has affected you in any way, we encourage you to reach out to NMC's Cancer Support Group. You will find an amazing community of brave, strong women who have learned to trust God no matter what because He is trustworthy.

This month's meetings will be on Sunday, February 11, and Sunday, February 25, at 12:15pm.

BEAUTY FOR ASHES Beauty for Ashes is a confidential group designed to encourage and give hope to women whose husbands struggle with sexual addiction. We understand the devastation of a husband's betrayal; however, our goal is not to stay in this place of wounding but to seek the Lord for healing and hope. This month's meetings will be on Thursday, February 8, and Thursday, February 22, at 7:00pm.

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

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Spotlight As we continue our 25th anniversary celebration, we reflect with deep gratitude on the incredible years of ministry and the lives Jesus has transformed within our community.

Fully dependent on God, we eagerly anticipate what the next 25 years will bring.

Experiencing God's Transformative Work Within Community This month, we share a story of God's kindness and goodness through the journey of Kalynn Benson. Kalynn, who first called NMC her home during college in 2006, found support and mentorship during a challenging time in her life.

Needing a place to land in college, Kalynn sought a supportive community. What began as a babysitting job for a community group at NMC turned into a powerful demonstration of God's grace and provision in her life. Through her connection with Sloane Frazer, a member of the community group, a babysitter relationship transformed into mentorship and friendship. Sloane's generosity and readiness to serve, even with a newborn, showcased God's love for Kalynn.

Sloane's impact extended beyond providing Kalynn with a job; she helped Kalynn by providing a place to live and a community to be a part of. Soon enough, Sloane knew Kalynn needed to work through some forgiveness and introduced her to Fresh Start, a ministry still at NMC today.

Engaging with the NMC community and the college ministry Echo, Kalynn continued to grow in her faith. As Sloane and other women of God walked alongside her, Kalynn witnessed God's transformative work within a supportive community.

Over the last 17 years, Kalynn met and married Zach Benson, a staff member here at NMC, and together, they are raising their three children. Their middle daughter is named Sloane in honor of the friend and mentor who played a pivotal role in

Kalynn's life. Kalynn reflects on her 17year journey at NMC, witnessing God's tremendous work amid leadership changes and challenges. Leadership may change, but God remains faithful.

Kalynn's story underscores the power of diving into relationships, highlighting the impact of being a friend like Sloane. She recounts the blessings found in community and the blessings her family has experienced over nearly 17 years. We're encouraged to stay rooted where God has planted us, recognizing the goodness that comes from staying where God has led us. In these moments of reflection, we are reminded of the enduring faithfulness of God and the power that friends and community can have on lives.

LIMITED TIME!

NORTH METRO CHURCH

MERCH SALE

Check out the podcast!

Join our Celebrating 25 Years podcast conversation anywhere you listen to podcasts. This month, Daniel Hicks caught up with Kalynn Benson, where you can hear even more of her touching story. Find the podcast by searching North Metro Church anywhere you listen to podcasts.

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Join in on the celebration

Grab some merch!

We have created an exclusive merchandise store to celebrate our 25 years and Be Missed Anniversary. Shop our NMC merch store now through Friday, February 16, by heading to northmetro.org/merch.

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Angelica and Camila's Baptism Stories Baptism is symbolic of the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. It's a way for us to publicly declare our new life in Christ. It is also a step of obedience based on God’s commands and allows us to follow the example of Jesus, who submitted himself to baptism to "fulfill all righteousness." We love celebrating baptisms at NMC because they show the powerful ways that Jesus changes our lives.

At our recent Hunger Night of Worship, mom and daughter Angelica and Camila got baptized! We believe stories are always worth sharing. Read

Baptism along to hear how Jesus changed Angelica and Camila's lives.

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BAPTISM

Angelica's Story I grew up in a Catholic home. I was even baptized as a baby, and I went to a Catholic school. I always thought or felt that I knew God, but I think it was very standardized. I slowly stopped going to church. I always prayed on my own, and I always talked to God. But it wasn't until I came to North Metro that I kind of reconnected with God in a personal way.

My husband, Angel, and I started to come to North Metro Church, and we became a family.

When I had our daughter, Camilla, I thought everything was fine until I started to suffer from anxiety. A lot of stuff started to trouble my life.

It was troubling that I knew that I was not in control. I knew that no matter what I did, no matter what I took, no matter what I read, it was not going to help me.

years ago. I remember the doctors came out to talk to me, and they explained what had happened. They were going to give us time to say goodbye to him, which was shocking. My family and I just started praying, and we knew that he was going to make it. The doctors would call me every day to give me reports, and I knew it was God working. Angel made it through fine against all doctors' predictions. He came out as if nothing had happened. I knew this was going to be a new chapter in our life. We knew that experience was something that had to happen to show us a perspective of how we were taking our lives. Life is something else. Life is life. Life is family. Life is friends. Life is love. I think that's why something that seemed to be tragic turned out to be something beautiful in our families.

I remember clearly one day being in my closet, putting my laundry away and just falling on my knees and asking God just to do something about it. To take what I was feeling off my chest and to help me and guide me. It was amazing.

Within a couple of hours, I started to feel better, and within a couple of weeks, I started to see things more clearly. Within a couple of months, things started to make more sense. Not everything was going the way that I wanted, but I was feeling peace, I was feeling fine, I was feeling God. I knew what I needed to do when I felt like this. I knew who I needed to go to. Ever since then, it's clicked. And every time I need to fall back, God is there. I feel Him, and I see Him and everything that He's done in my life. I am thankful for my journey with God.

Hold God's hand and trust Him because sometimes we don't think some things are fair.

Sometimes we think things are not working the way we want them to work. But in the end, it just all makes sense. I want the world to know that I am His daughter, that He is my Lord and Savior, and I want to follow, and I want to obey what we've been called to do.

m

We went through something very traumatic.

Angel suffered a cardiac arrest almost three

Camila's Story Before becoming a Jesus follower, I didn’t know much about Jesus or the Bible. Now that I am a follower of Jesus, I want Him to know that I desire to obey and trust Him always. I now recognize that I am a child of God and loved

by Him. I am choosing today to get baptized because I want the world, my family, and my friends to know that I have turned my life completely to serve my Heavenly Father!

If you are ready to get baptized, whether a child, student, or adult, we'd love to celebrate with you. Learn more about baptisms and sign up for one of our baptism classes at northmetro.org/baptisms.

HUNGER NIGHT OF WORSHIP Experience more stories like Angelica and Camila's at our next Hunger Night of Worship, on Thursday, April 25. Each summer, our church spends a unique time hungering for God and seeks revival for our church and community at our Hunger Revival! We love these revivals so much that we now have regular Hunger Nights of Worship, where we celebrate baptisms and worship through music.

We hope you join us for Hunger Night of Worship on Thursday, April 25.

You can learn more and register for childcare at northmetro.org/events.

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BLACK HISTORY MONTH Reflecting On Giants of the Faith by Rob McDowell

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The month of February is a significant month for many reasons in our country, one of which is that we get to celebrate Black History Month. As followers of Jesus, it is an opportunity for us to recognize and appreciate the incredible diversity that God has created in the world. Acts 17:26 reminds us that God has made every nation of mankind from one man, and Revelation 5:9 reminds us that Jesus has redeemed people from every tribe, language, people, and nation through his sacrifice.

In recent years, our church community has been blessed with increased diversity, and we are grateful for the Lord's kindness in this regard. As we continue to grow together, we have become more aware of the importance of having open and honest conversations that lead to healing and deep friendship. This journey has made us a better church, and we welcome Black History Month with joy, respect, and celebration.

During this significant month, we take time to remember, honor, and gain a deeper understanding of the many African-American saints who have played crucial roles in shepherding God's people and bringing honor to His name throughout history.

As I have spent time in the past year broadening the scope of preachers to whom I listen, one particular saint seized my attention … Reverend Dr. Gardner C Taylor. I have listened to his sermon “Our Great Savior” several times. If you ever want to be inspired and encouraged, put it in your Google search and sit back and listen to this eloquent and masterful preacher.

Reverend Dr. Gardner Calvin Taylor, celebrated preacher, scholar, and former pastor of The Concord Baptist Church of Christ in Brooklyn, NY, was born in Baton Rouge, LA, on June 18, 1918.

In his early years, he was a part of the fellowship of Mount Zion Baptist Church, where his father served as pastor and where, years later, Dr. Taylor would also serve. After finishing at Leland College

in 1937, Dr. Taylor earned his Bachelor of Divinity at the Oberlin School of Theology. In addition, he was awarded numerous honorary doctorate degrees throughout his ministry.

In 1948 Dr. Taylor was called to pastor The Concord Baptist Church, one of the most influential Christian churches in America. During this time, notoriety spread as he preached nationally and internationally, lectured, and served as president of the Progressive National Baptist Convention. Dr. Taylor lectured at numerous seminaries and served at Concord Baptist Church until his retirement in 1990.

Known as "The Dean of American Preachers," he was a mentor and close friend to Martin Luther King Jr. and was a prominent figure in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. He preached the sermon for President William Jefferson Clinton in 1993 and, in 2000, was awarded the nation's highest civilian honor by President Clinton, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Over 2000 of Dr. Taylor's sermons are archived at the Robert W. Woodruff Library in Atlanta, GA. On Resurrection Sunday, April 5, 2015, Dr. Taylor breathed his last breath and went home to be with the Lord at the age of 96. Hundreds of thousands, if not millions, have been impacted by the Gospel through his preaching and teaching.

So, as we walk into this second month of 2024, we remember and honor our brothers and sisters of African descent who lived their lives with the aim of helping all of us see, understand, and love our great Savior who sees, understands, and loves us first. May we continue to strive to be a church that is known for our unity in diversity as we help others find and follow Jesus. May God get all the glory!

Rob McDowell

REVEREND DR. GARDNER C. TAYLOR

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Upcoming for

BAPTISM CLASS

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25 | 11:00AM One of our favorite things here at NMC is celebrating life change through water baptism. If you’re ready to take this step in your faith journey, we invite you to attend the next adult baptism class. For more information about our beliefs on baptism and to sign up for the class, visit northmetro.org/baptism.

GROUP LEADERSHIP BRUNCH AND LEARN

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18 | 11:00AM We all desire to have a great community in our lives, but let’s face it, finding your people and the perfect group can be hard.

So we invite you to come help be part of the solution to these circumstances by learning about what it would look like for you to start and lead your own Connection and or Community Group for a semester by attending the upcoming Group Leadership Brunch and Learn. We believe God uses groups to change people’s lives, and as a leader, you get to be a part of that. At this Brunch and Learn, you will hear about the expectations of a Connection and Community Group Leader, as well as the training and ongoing coaching you will receive to ensure that you have everything that you need to make your group leadership journey as successful as can be. Leading a group is not as scary as it may seem, and it can be life-giving for the leader and for those who are being led, so do not miss an opportunity to step into this exciting new season by signing up at northmetro.org/events.

GROUP CONNECT

SUNDAY, MARCH 3

Looking to have some fun while connecting with others at NMC? Then, come meet all of our Connection Group leaders and learn more about their groups after the 9:15am and 11:00am services on the Pavilion.

Connection Groups are groups that meet at least once a month to build community

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you

over shared interests and hobbies such as hiking, golf, board games, movies, or coffee.

CHARACTER EDUCATION MENTORING AT KENNESAW MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL

MOBILIZATION

You can invest in the next generation by becoming a mentor to encourage students every month at Kennesaw Mountain High School. As a mentor, you'll help facilitate the social-emotional curriculum, Habitudes by Dr. Tim Elmore. This is an opportunity to engage students in the public school environment, where they spend so much time—all while equipping them with tools for healthy leadership in their world and the world around them.

Take the next step by emailing Jill Stewart at jstewart@northmetro.org or check out the details at northmetro.org/serve.

CITY SERVE WEEK

FEBRUARY 18-24

Invest in the renewal of our city and love others at City Serve. City Serve is a weeklong mission project that offers multiple ministry opportunities across our city at different times and locations. Grab your family or a few friends, and sign up for a project.

City Serve is a short-term mission project in our city that will include multiple projects with varying start times, lengths, and locations. This church-wide event will allow NMC members to love others.

You can serve our Mobilization and Serve partners through outreach projects, including sharing the Gospel, homeless outreach, landscaping, light construction, distributing food, and much more. Find an opportunity for you and sign up at northmetro.org/events

CIRCLES USA Did you know that here in Cobb County, over 17% of our children live below the poverty line? The ramifications of poverty are heartbreaking and can include homelessness, food insecurity, and children being removed from their homes and entering the foster care system simply because their families cannot afford to care for them adequately. Circles USA works to move families out of poverty.

You can be involved in this work in many ways, including offering a meal, becoming an ally, and so much more. To serve with Circles USA, go to northmetro.org/serve.

KIDS TOWN SQUARE TABLE TALKER

JANUARY/FEBRUARY DISCIPLESHIP TOOL The Town Square Table Talker is back!

This is a discipleship tool designed by the NMC Kids team to intentionally equip families to connect around the table. The activities and devotions you'll find in the table talker come from the Gospel Project curriculum we use in the classrooms.

This means you can connect what you do at home with what your kids do in the classroom. But it's not all curriculum; you'll also find silly games, get-to-knowyou questions, and family challenges. You are your child's first teacher and the first person to disciple your child. We hope the Town Square Table Talker is just the tool you need to take your family relationships to the next level. Grab yours today in the NMC Kids Ministry, Town Square.

HELPING CHILDREN DEVELOP A BIBLICAL WORLDVIEW

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4 | 12:30-1:30PM

Learn what worldview is, why it matters, and how to help a child develop a biblical worldview by teaching four foundational biblical truths. Participants will learn to identify strong cultural messages

your

family

that threaten to distort and destroy faith in Christ. This class will help you gain confidence and equip you to have intentional conversations with children so they develop deep, lasting, and culturetransforming faith. This class is based on Josh Mulvihill’s book, Biblical Worldview.

Visit northmetro.org/events to learn more, and sign up today!

BABY DEDICATION

CLASS: SUNDAY, MARCH 17 | 9:15-10:00AM DEDICATION: SUNDAY, MAY 19 | 3:00PM The Baby Dedication Class will prepare you to participate in our next Baby Dedication Service, which will be on Sunday, May 19, at 3:00pm. This family-friendly service is an intentional environment, with the message and worship focused on the celebration of life and your child's dedication to God’s teaching and instruction. If you want more information on dedicating your child or signing up, visit northmetro.org/events.

TOWN SQUARE OFFERING The Kids Clean Water Project is receiving 100% of our Town Square offering. This project brings clean water and Christ's love to those around the world in desperate need of both. By doing this, they experience love and hope. We want to help provide clean drinking water for families who may have never had clean water before. Every $10 we raise means another child can have clean water for ten years.

STUDENTS SHIFT

SUNDAYS | 9:15AM & 11:00AM Shift is our environment for 5-7th grade students. Through teaching, worship, games, and connections in small groups, we help students find and follow Jesus. We meet during all Sunday morning worship services in the Shift Room.

SHIFT SPRING WEEKEND 2024

MARCH 1-3

Join Shift for our Spring Weekend on Friday, March 1, through Sunday, March 3, as we take over the North Metro Church campus! Don’t miss out as we connect in the community, play fun games all weekend long, and learn how to stay Father-Focused.

This event costs $60, and the deadline to sign up is Friday, February 16. Scholarships are available. To learn more and sign up, head to northmetro.org/events. Please note that this is not an overnight event.

SHIFT NIGHTS

2ND & 4TH WEDNESDAYS | 6:30-8:00PM Friendships and an incredible community can profoundly shape our students' lives.

We want to invite our 5-7th students and their friends to our Shift Nights on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month to have time to build additional community and stronger friendships with other students in Shift. Join us for everything from movie nights to large group games. These nights are always free, and dinner is provided. Drop off your students at the Cafe doors and have them meet us in the Shift Room or Theater.

COMPASS

SUNDAYS | 6:30-8:30PM Compass is our environment for 8-12th grade students. Through teaching, worship, events, and small groups, we help students find and follow Jesus. Follow us on Instagram @nmcstudents to know about upcoming services and events, or check out the schedule online at northmetro.org.

COMPASS SPRING RETREAT 2024

APRIL 19-21

Calling all 8-12th grade students! From Friday through Sunday, April 19-21, join us for an unforgettable experience at our upcoming Compass SPRING Retreat.

This will be an incredible opportunity for powerful worship, lasting connections, and spiritual growth. From ziplines to crazy shenanigans, this retreat will encourage you to stay Father-Focused. The last day to sign up is Friday, April 5. You won’t want to miss it! The early bird pricing for each student is $165. Be sure to sign up before the price increases in March. Scholarships are available. To learn more and sign up, head to northmetro.org/events.

COLLEGE COLLEGE BIBLE STUDY GROUP

TUESDAYS | 6:45-8:30PM

College students, join us on-campus under the outdoor Pavilion for our NMC College Bible Study Group. We will experience community, dive deep into Bible study, and share a meal! This is a place for you, no matter what your walk with God looks like. For more details, visit northmetro.org/college.

PAID COLLEGE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM The College Internship Program is a paid internship designed for enrolled college students. This program is for students who want to understand and experience all the inner workings of the local church to learn more about vocational ministry.

It’s designed to make them more aware of their character, competency, strengths, and weaknesses while increasing their understanding of the disciple-making process. In addition, they will have the opportunity to explore different ministries behind the scenes and what is needed to make each ministry function and thrive. If you're interested in applying for the 2024-2025 school year, check out northmetro.org/intern-program or email Rebecca Ross at rross@northmetro.org for more details.

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Ivan Mijango Casa del Redentor Director

An update from Ivan Mijango.

Redeemer's House, or Casa del Redentor, is North Metro Church's international ministry in Panajachel, Guatemala.

Greetings to all our dear friends and supporters!

We are praising God for the incredible year that was 2023. We served over three thousand meals and attended to nearly 300 children each week. Additionally, we had the pleasure of hosting three NMC teams, where we met amazing individuals and forged new friendships. God has blessed our ministry in a truly special way, and we are humbled by His grace.

In the last week of December, we had the touching opportunity to visit a children's home—a sanctuary for kids facing extreme poverty, violence, and even abandonment.

Despite the hardships they've endured, the smiles, enthusiasm, and positive attitudes

of these children touched our hearts profoundly. They inspired us to deepen our commitment to their well-being. Therefore, in 2024, we are thrilled at the prospect of including them in our programs, sharing God's love with them, and contributing to their spiritual and academic growth.

This children's home operates independently of any government organization and is located just five minutes away from Xecotoj, where we also conduct our operations. They aim to provide a home for 10 to 15 children from various parts of the country this year.

We eagerly anticipate resuming our programs in February, once the school year officially begins in the country. We also look forward to the visits from NMC mission teams and the new opportunities that will unfold for our ministry. We extend a warm invitation for you to consider joining one of this year's trips. We want you to have the chance to see and experience firsthand the impact we are making and to meet the inspiring children from all the communities that fuel the mission of Redeemer’s House.

Thank you for being an integral part of this beautiful journey of love and service. We are excited for all that 2024 has in store for us!

We get to partner with Redeemer's House to help people find and follow Jesus in Guatemala because of your obedience in giving. To get involved, you can go to northmetro.org/serve.

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2025 GOALS

As we head toward 2025, we are praying our guts out and are entirely dependent on the Lord! He has entrusted us with our vision to “Be Missed,” and our mission, “We Help People Find and Follow Jesus.”

To live that out, we have set three God-sized goals to aim for as a church.

GOAL #1: HELP 1,000 PEOPLE FIND JESUS We’re telling our friends, family, neighbors, and coworkers about our great God, who loves us immeasurably more than we can imagine. We want to

PEOPLE FOUND

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celebrate with you if you’ve played a part in helping someone move from death to life or if you came to faith in Christ! We invite you to share your story by visiting the Contact Us page at northmetro.org.

GOAL #2: HELP 1,000 PEOPLE ENROLL IN NMCU Before Jesus left the disciples, He said, "Go make disciples." A tangible way to see that hope realized is through our discipleship program,

PEOPLE ENROLLED IN NMCU

1,428

6

NMCU. We're looking to see 1,000 people faithfully following Jesus, equipped with knowledge of Scripture, to share their beliefs with others ultimately. NMCU creates disciples that make disciples.

GOAL #3: EXPAND THE KINGDOM OF GOD THROUGH NEW CHURCH PLANTS NATIONALLY AND GLOBALLY Church plants are an expression of our multiplication strategy, multiplying the mission to help people find and follow Jesus. We currently support six church plants including Take Hold in Scotland, Grace Auburn in Auburn, Alabama, Creekside in Dallas, Georgia, Heirloom Church in Kyle Texas, Oaks Community Church in Naples, Florida; and Compassion International in Guatemala.

YTD December 2023 Income: $4,260,487.63 Expense: $3,021,156.42 Over(under): $1,239,331.21

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

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FEBRUARY AT A GLANCE Sunday, February 4 Stay in the loop with all things NMC. Join our email mailing list! ( SCAN THE CODE TO BE ADDED )

About That Thing You Do 9:15am & 11:00am Helping Children Develop a Biblical Worldview Class 12:30-1:30pm

Friday, February 9

Daddy Daughter Date Night 7:00-9:00pm

Follow us on Social Media! @wearenorthmetro

Sunday, February 11

North Metro Church

Group Leadership Brunch 11:00am-12:00pm

2305 Ernest Barrett Pkwy Marietta, GA 30064 info@northmetro.org 678.290.7830

Mind Your Business 9:15am & 11:00am

Sunday, February 18 Mind Your Business 9:15am & 11:00am

Sunday, February 18Saturday, February 24 City Serve

Sunday, February 25 Mind Your Business 9:15am & 11:00am Welcome Home 11:00am-12:00pm Adult Baptism Class 11:00am-12:00pm