July 2024 Newsletter

JULY 2024

HIGHLIGHT

WORSHIP AS A LIFEST YLE OLIVIA ROBERSON (NMC INTERN) Page 3

KE E PING YOU INFORME D AND CONNEC TE D

A letter from Rob Hello North Metro Church, I hope your summer is off to a great start. I am very excited to welcome our new College Pastor, Brandon Weber! Brandon, his wife Alex, and two boys come to us from Tupelo, Mississippi.

Brandon just finished a Master of Arts in Biblical and Theological Studies (MABTS) from Phoenix Seminary. In addition, he also finished a one year ministry residency at a bilingual church. Alex was born and raised in Georgia and attended Kennesaw State University. During that time she attended NMC and was involved in our former college ministry, Echo.

We are so excited to have them back at NMC. During our interview process, it was clear to us that God was calling Brandon to be a part of our staff. Let's welcome Brandon, Alex, and their boys to NMC! In addition, coming later this month are also two very big things that I ask you to pray for, attend, and invite people to.

The first is our Hunger Revival on July 25-28. This is our third year of Hunger Revival. If you haven't been a part of the first two, let me tell you that these nights are full of special guest teachers and crazy awesome times of worship. We feel like after our first Hunger Revival in 2022, God brought a new wave of revival throughout our entire church, and since then, we have been expectant of what God will do. Each year, we look to this time to come together in unity and in expectation of what God may have for NMC as we begin the new school year.

The second thing I am so excited about is that, at the culmination of our Hunger Revival weekend, on Sunday, July 28, we are launching our new campus, Sewell Mill! This is a big deal, and we ask you to pray for all the logistics, plans, and organizing that goes into "having church." Pray for the staff, pray for the volunteers, pray for our new facility, and most of all, pray for the people that we believe God will bring through the doors.

Grateful for you,

Brandon & Alex Weber and their two boys

Sewell Mill Campus 2

Worship Devotion

Worship As A Lifestyle Happy Summer, everyone! I’m so pleased to introduce our guest writer for this month and next, Olivia Roberson. She has just completed her first year as an intern here at NMC, and her interest in serving the church one day is in the area of the worship ministry. I’ve so enjoyed having her be a part of my team this semester, and I can’t wait to see how God uses her to shape corporate singing for many years to come. I’m so excited for you all to hear from her heart for worship not only as an act of singing but also as a lifestyle. — Clark Beasley

Olivia Roberson

Jonah 4 and the Mercy of Nineveh

What do we learn about God from this scripture?

The state of our current world can make it difficult to continue in life with full faith and trust in God. We experience so much war, death, division, and destruction. Not only are we fighting our own battles as a community and our own battles in our personal lives, but we also fight about other people’s fights. We decide who is right, and we want justice–or at least justice in our own eyes.

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God is compassionate. We can take comfort in this. God is even so compassionate that sometimes we feel as though certain recipients of mercy are not deserving. The reality is that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. If everyone got what they deserved, Jesus would never have taken on our sins. None of us are deserving of mercy, and we attribute our salvation to God’s mercy through compassion.

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God is just. We look around at the world and we fail to see God’s work. The reality is that God ultimately sees what we can’t and judges with impartiality and omnipotence. As faulty humans, we find impartiality impossible and we don’t see the issues of the world from all sides. That’s why we were never called to judge. If Jonah was called to judge, he would’ve taken Nineveh out without consideration of their possible salvation.

But Jonah was not called to judge. He was called to speak spiritual truth, which is ultimately the sharing of compassion and mercy.

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God cares. When we see so much war and pain in the world, we often have this mentality of “Where is God? Why doesn’t he do something? Does God care?” In this passage, we see that God is looking down on the thousands of people and aching for them to turn to Him. He is basically saying to Jonah, “Look how angry you are about this plant that you didn’t create. Now imagine how upset I am that all these people I created may face eternity without me?”

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God hasn’t changed. He cares about all the suffering people in the world and hates the evil that perpetuates suffering. That’s why the ultimate mercy has been given to all those who hear the word and believe in Jesus Christ. Suffering won’t end until we cross eternity because evil will always exist on this Earth, but there is hope that we must share. Let’s share God’s compassion and mercy with a little more willingness than Jonah.

In the book of Jonah, we catch a glimpse of God’s character regarding the fate of his creation. This gives us so much insight into what the Lord thinks of suffering and our worldly frustrations and earthly perspectives on what/who is “right” and “wrong.”

At the start of Jonah, God commands Jonah to go preach against the evil of the Ninevites and give a warning to repent. First, Jonah runs away because of his strong hate for Nineveh (hence, ending up in a fish’s stomach), but once he is spit up, he complies.

Despite Jonah’s extremely sorry excuse for a sermon, Nineveh immediately repents. After this, Jonah is upset and tells God he ran away because he knew God would be compassionate, and he didn’t like that in the case of Nineveh. Jonah prays that God would kill him because, essentially, he would rather die than live in a world where God may forgive such horrible people.

Because the Bible says it best, here is the story from that point: Jonah had gone out and sat down at a place east of the city. There he made himself a shelter, sat in its shade and waited to see what would happen to the city. Then the Lord God provided a leafy plant and made it grow up over Jonah to give shade for his head to ease his discomfort, and Jonah was very happy about the plant. But at dawn the next day God provided a worm, which chewed the plant so that it withered. When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.”

But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?”

“It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.”

But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?”

I encourage you to set your eyes on the things above. We care about this wonderful earth that the Lord created, but we hope not to become so engulfed in its things that we lose our heavenly perspective. We care deeply about suffering and people, but we are careful not to seek justice in our own eyes constantly. Reserve true justice for the Lord, but generously share the gift of mercy, compassion, and love. In this, we share salvation.

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Connect and Grow

WELCOME HOME

GROUPS

TABLESETTERS

SUNDAY, JULY 28 | 11:00AM-12:00PM

At NMC, we genuinely believe we are better together. Therefore, 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, or 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.

with home maintenance or home repairs visit northmetro.org/care to submit your request.

in Jesus during your day-to-day life, re:generation is a great place to discover the fullness that Christ alone offers us.

RE:GENERATION

New groups will begin on Wednesday, August 21. Visit northmetro.org/events to learn more.

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.

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

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Through His Word, God offers us principles where freedom and new life can be found. Are you hurting, feeling stuck, giving 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? 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

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 largegroup 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. The next

class will begin on Monday, August 19 at 7:00pm.

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 premarital discipleship class. Merge classes are available to those who regularly attend NMC and are already engaged. Our next Merge class will begin on Monday, October 14, 2024. To learn more, visit our Marriage page at northmetro.org/marriage.

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 regularly throughout the year and include dinner, teaching, and a chance to build relationships with other newlywed couples. Our next Foundation Gathering will be held on Monday, August 26 from 7:00-9:00pm. To learn more, visit our Marriage page at northmetro.org/marriage.

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 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. Visit our Care page at northmetro.org/care for more information.

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 Wednesday, July 10, 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 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 on Monday, July 8 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 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.

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, July 14, and Sunday, July 28 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, July 11, and Thursday, July 25, 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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Thursday, July 25 through Sunday, July 28 Join us for HUNGER 2024! Gather July 25-28 with our NMC family members for a revival. Mark your calendars and get ready to seek after God together. We’ll be joined by guest speakers Scott Free and Dr. Crawford Loritts.

Childcare for infants through 4th grade is offered while space is available and sign-ups are needed.

Find out more about this event and the childcare registration form at northmetro.org/hunger.

GUEST SPEAKERS

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Baptisms at NMC One of our favorite things here at NMC is celebrating what Jesus has done through water baptisms. In the last year, we have celebrated over 70 baptisms and are so grateful to witness how Jesus is the changing lives of so many people!

As we look forward, we can not wait to see how Jesus continues to bring people from death to life and how they publicly proclaim their new life in Christ.

We have classes for elementary-aged children, students, and adults that are each offered once a quarter. After you have attended a class, one of our pastors will meet with you or your child.

If you’re ready to take this step in your faith journey, we invite you to sign up for a class. For more information about our beliefs on baptism and to sign up for a class, visit northmetro.org/baptism.

Adult Baptism Class | Sunday, July 28 Elementary Baptism Class | Sunday, August 18 Student Baptism Class | Sunday, August 25

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Up

Pop Sunday!

For NMC Kids and NMC Students

SUNDAY, JULY 28

With a new school year comes a new church year! On Pop Up Sunday, all children and students two years old through high school will be promoted to their new NMC Kids classroom or NMC Students small groups. Preschoolers are promoted by age, and all students are promoted by grade level. If you have questions about your child’s new class, contact Nathan at nwoodward@northmetro.org and Derek at dmcclardy@northmetro.org.

Sunday, July 28, also marks the day of some exciting changes for our Next Generation Ministries. Here are five things to know:

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Until Su nd ay, July 28, the NMC Kids and NMC Students mi nis tries wi ll remain the same. Infants through 4th-grade students wil l be in NMC Kids, and Sh ift (5-7th grade) wil l continue to meet on Su nday morni ng s in the Sh ift room du ring both ser vices. Compass (812t h grade) has taken a break for the sum me r and resumes on Su nd ay, July 28.

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Spotlight As NMC celebrates its 25th anniversary, we're not only looking back at what God has done over the years but also looking ahead at what God has in store for us in the future. As a way to celebrate, each month, we meet a new face of NMC and hear their story of how God has used NMC to help them become more faithful followers of Jesus.

Brian Ellison If you've been around NMC on a Sunday morning or have a student in middle school, you've been lucky enough to meet our Middle School Pastor, Brian Ellison. Brian and his wife Courtney, have been around NMC for the last seven years. Years ago, Brian got involved in serving as a small group leader in the student ministry.

While Brian was faithfully serving as a group leader, NMC was also simultaneously searching for a Male Student Coordinator. After many crossed paths, prayers, and conversations, it was evident that God had brought Brian to the student ministry for a particular reason, and he soon joined the NMC staff.

Brian and Courtney's story and the impact that God has had on their lives through NMC are built upon the years and efforts of other family members who were at NMC long before the Ellisons.

God was working 25 years ago through a group of people who called

NMC their home, and look what God has done and continues to do now!

Today, Brian serves as our Middle School Pastor, and he and Courtney are raising their children here in hopes that their own family faithfully follows Jesus. As a Middle School Pastor, he is passionate about helping students grow in their Bible literacy and, in turn, grow in their knowledge and love of God. Brian sat down with Daniel Hicks to reflect on how God has used NMC to change his story in the best way. Listen to this whole conversation anywhere you listen to podcasts.

As we look to the next 25 years, pray with us that God will use our prayers, ministries, and efforts today to be a blessing to future family members of NMC.

Check out the podcast!

Join our Celebrating 25 Years podcast conversation anywhere you listen to podcasts. This month, Daniel Hicks caught up with Middle School Pastor, Brian Ellison. Find the podcast by searching North Metro Church anywhere you listen to podcasts.

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Man Church and Women's Gathering

Cultivate community, dive deep into God's word, and be refreshed mid-week at our Man Church and Women's Gathering.

For the first time ever, our Man Church and Women's Gatherings will be held in three environments: our Auditorium, the Theater, and our second location, Sewell Mill. We are so excited to welcome more men and women to jump into community and hear about Jesus. So rally your friends and join us. Head to northmetro.org/events today!

Former University of Georgia Football Coach and now author Mark Richt will join the men at Man Church. The men of North Metro Church will be challenged and reminded to "Remember the big picture." Whether you root for the Dawgs, or not, this night is for you. Join the men of NMC for a car show, optional barbeque competition, outdoor games, dinner, worship, and a message from Mark.

Mark Richt Former UGA & University of Miami coach and College Hall of Fame recipient

6:30-9:00PM

Tuesday, September 3

Our women are in for a treat as Katherine Wolf is joining us. At age 26, Katherine survived a catastrophic stroke and has since used her second-chance life to champion the truth that suffering and joy can coexist in your good/hard story. Katherine is an author, speaker, mother, wife, and so much more. Join the women of NMC for dinner, worship, and a timely message.

Katherine Wolf

Guest Speaker & Author 10

6:30-9:00PM

Thursday, September 5

Leadership Candidates The North Metro Church fiscal year comes to a close on June 30, and during that time, our leadership teams begin interviewing and selecting new candidates for service.

The Council of Elders has carefully interviewed candidates to serve on the leadership team who have

met the Biblical qualifications for leadership outlined in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. At this time, we bring these prospective candidates before the church for 30-days.

During this period, any member(s) may show cause as to why these prospective leaders should not serve in leadership. In keeping with

Matthew 18:15 and Matthew 5:24, any member with concerns must first express them directly to the individual and then to the Council of Elders (elders@northmetro.org) At the end of the 30-day period, the leaders will be confirmed in their new leadership role.

Candidates under consideration are:

Elders Steve Haskins • Ryan Reeser

Board of Advisors Daniel Hager • Ro Sparacio • Tony Fuentes • Michael Boland • Shon Valdry

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Upcoming for

GROUP LEADERSHIP BRUNCH AND LEARN

SUNDAY, AUGUST 25 | 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.

MOBILIZATION SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE

SUNDAY, JULY 7, 14 & 21

As a way to serve our community, we're hosting a school supply drive to benefit students from Hayes Elementary and Lockheed Elementary Schools. We will work together to supply uniforms to students at Lockheed and school supplies to Hayes. All that is collected will help provide hundreds of students with the items they need to be successful this upcoming school year. Shop our Amazon wishlists by visiting northmetro.org/serve or use our shopping list to go to a store and dropoff the supplies in the bins on our Outdoor Pavillion.

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you

CIRCLES USA Did you know that here in Cobb County, over 17% of our children live below the poverty line? Have you wondered how you can make a lasting difference in helping a family move from poverty to financial stability? Circles has a proven model that combines mentorship, financial literacy training, and connections to existing community resources all while building intentional friendships through weekly meetings. The result? Families increase their income by 75% on average.

To serve with Circles USA, go to northmetro.org/serve.

CHARACTER EDUCATION MENTORING AT KENNESAW MOUNTAIN HIGH SCHOOL 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.

NMCU NMCU CORE North Metro Church University (NMCU) is a primary vehicle for studying the Bible together to form a biblical worldview. In NMCU Core, you'll move through a set sequence of classes and learn about the big picture of Scripture and how everything in Scripture points to and is fulfilled in Jesus.

In this learning process, NMCU will also help equip you to both understand and

communicate your faith to others so that you can become a more faithful follower of Jesus, a disciple who makes disciples. Each semester offered is ten weeks and goes in sequential order.

Our fall semester enrollment opens on Sunday, July 28, and closes on September 1. Please note the new times as fall semester dates on the Barrett Campus are Sunday afternoons, 3:00-5:00pm, September 15-November 17. We offer in-person groups or on-demand options. Learn more by visiting northmetro.org/nmcu. At our Sewell Mill Campus, the first core class, NMCU 101, will be offered on Tuesday evenings, 7:00-9:00pm, September 17-November 19.

NMCU 201 LIVE! NMCU 201 launches on Sunday afternoons at a new time. This class is solely for Core Graduates (students who have completed 101-104). Having established a foundation of the Bible, we will discuss matters of internal life and how, through a biblical perspective and worldview, we address and respond to them. In this, we will discuss things like salvation, atonement, the Creeds, the Trinity, scripture reading and memorization, spiritual beings, and sexuality.

Our fall semester enrollment opens on Sunday, July 28, and closes on Sunday, September 1. Fall semester dates are Sunday afternoons, 3:00-5:00pm, September 15-November 17. We offer in-person groups or on-demand options. Learn more by visiting northmetro.org/nmcu.

NMCU WORKSHOPS Join us for one of our North Metro Church University (NMCU) Workshops, designed to give people practical ideas for being effective in how they live, learn, and love. Attend one of our many unique

your

family

workshops led by our very own pastors.

Registration is free and open to anyone in the church or community. Students in high school are invited to attend as well.

Check out the schedule and sign up for our final 2024 workshop for the year at northmetro.org/events. *Childcare is provided for infants through fourth graders for a small fee; however, early registration is encouraged as space is limited.

CULTURE INDEX - NMCU WORKSHOP

cost or sign-up for this event, so invite your friends and family and stop in anytime.

ELEMENTARY BAPTISM CLASS

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18 | 9:15-10:00AM

This 45-minute class is designed for you and your child to attend together. If your elementary-aged child has already taken the step of salvation, this class is the perfect next step! For more information on the baptism process, visit northmetro.org/events.

SPECIAL NEEDS PARENT BRUNCH

SUNDAY, JULY 21 | 2:00-4:00PM

SUNDAY, AUGUST 18 | 11:00AM-12:00PM

With Culture Index(TM), you get to be a part of an individualized survey that will exhibit traits and behaviors specific to you. After the survey, you will be provided results that help identify how you are wired to perform, grow, and succeed. Come learn more about how God has gifted you and how you can use those gifts more effectively in your relationships - whether at work, in your personal life, or in ministry. We will have time dedicated to understanding the traits, reviewing your individual results, and discussing with other attendees in this hands-on workshop. This class is open to those who did not attend last year's workshop. Registration is open through Sunday, July 7.

This is an opportunity for parents who have children with special needs to get together and form community. Pastries and coffee will be provided during the 11:00am service. Register at northmetro.org/events.

NMC KIDS NMC KIDS AT THE PARK

SATURDAY, JULY 13 | 10:00AM-12:00PM We're taking Town Square out of the building for some games, popsicles, a balloon artist and a whole lot of fun.

You'll find Mobi and us from 10:00amto 12:00pm at Lost Mountain Park (4845 Dallas Hwy, Powder Springs, GA 30127), and we'd love to see you there! There is no

BABY DEDICATION

CLASS: SUNDAY, AUGUST 25 | 9:15-10:00AM DEDICATION: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16 | 3:00PM The Baby Dedication Class will prepare you to participate in our next Baby Dedication Service, which will be on Saturday, November 16, 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.

NMC KIDS 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.

COLLEGE COLLEGE BIBLE STUDY GROUP

TUESDAYS | 6:45-8:30PM

College students, join us on-campus in the Shift Room 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. We only have 4 spots left!

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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.

CDR'S MOTHERS DAY Mother's Day is very important to Guatemalan culture; perhaps it is the most anticipated and celebrated nationwide event after Christmas. It is celebrated on May 10, regardless of the day of the week. Each year, children in schools prepare a special program, a meal, and a craft for their mothers well in advance.

Casa del Redentor takes advantage of this celebration to strengthen relationships with the mothers of the children in a tribute and party we organize every year to show our appreciation and gratitude for the enormous work mothers do in raising their children, some even with more than five children and working full-time.

On this occasion, we gathered the mothers from Xecotoj (one of the villages where we

serve) and Panajachel (our base) to share a breakfast in a beautiful garden by the lake.

We started with a time of worship, then we had a guest who shared a message focused on the importance and value of a mother's prayer for her children. After that, we ate and had raffles and games. It was the first time we managed to gather mothers from two different places to celebrate on the same day. In total, 50 mothers attended and we were able to share the Gospel and the love of God with them.

Also, in the community of Chuitziyut, this year, we wanted to do something different.

We came up with the idea of organizing a breakfast buffet for these mothers to experience for the first time. It was a great surprise for them as most had never been to a

similar activity. We also had the opportunity to hold a service after eating, where we worshiped and listened to the Word of God. We also had some raffles and games. About 15 mothers (one from each family in the village) and some grandmothers attended.

The smiles and expressions during and after the activity were completely worth it, and we felt very satisfied to have been able to celebrate Mother's Day once again.

For Casa del Redentor, these activities are very important as they allow us to connect with the adults we don't usually see during the year but who trust us to care for and assist in the education of their children.

Many thanks to all the collaborators of this ministry and to NMC for helping us bring joy, love, and hope to the children's homes.

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

PEOPLE FOUND

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God, who loves us immeasurably more than we can imagine. We want to 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 Expand the Kingdom of God through five new church plants nationally and/or globally. Church plants are an expression of our multiplication

We currently support six church plants, including Take Hold in Scotland, Grace Auburn in Auburn, AL, Creekside in Dallas, GA, Heirloom Church in Kyle, TX, Oaks Community Church in Naples, FL, and Compassion International in Guatemala.

strategy, multiplying the mission to help people find and follow Jesus.

YTD May 2024 Income: $8,048,442.98 Expense: $5,370,401.86 Over(under): $2,678,041.12

FINANCIAL SUMMARY

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As we approach our Hunger

Pairing with our series, Lord

Revival, we want to prepare well

Send Revival, we are inviting

for it. On Sunday, July 7 we are

our entire church to pray and

starting our newest teaching

fast with us during the 21 days

series, Lord Send Revival.

leading up to Hunger 2024.

Stay in the loop with all things NMC. Join our email mailing list!

Our aim is to examine revival

Our staff has written a daily

movements found in the Bible

Prayer Guide for these 21 days.

and revivals that have happened

On Sunday, July 7, grab this

( SCAN CODE TO BE ADDED )

in the history of the church.

guide on campus and join us in

Through this examination,

preparing well for revival.

identify three key elements of any revival, which include

Follow us on Social Media! @wearenorthmetro

repentance, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and profound personal, communal, and world change. Join us as we ask, "Lord Send Revival."

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