CrossPoint Update

Wow! God is moving in a BIG way in Bluffton and CrossPoint Church is so thankful to be a part! In the past few months we have met so many people in the community as we worshiped at Sea Turtle on Sunday mornings, celebrated with joyful anticipation the birth of our Savior during the Christmas season, watched the movie FireProof with other couples, celebrated a New Year, and spent an evening with over 50 Children for our Valentine's Day Parents Night Out. We have been able to have genuine and authentic relationships with people as we met in our homes, coffee shops and restaurants for times of Bible study and fellowship. We have seen God transform each of our lives and continue to be amazed at all He is teaching us about Him and about ourselves!

I have been so encouraged recently watching CrossPoint attendees embrace an attitude of service. We are fully aware that we live in a world that is hurting and I am in awe of the opportunities God has given us to be the hands and feet of Jesus and love people in practical ways. I have watched time and again as needs become known and our members and attendees respond without hesitation. How great it has been to partner with each other and area churches to truly serve a lost and hurting world. It has been awesome to work as one Church to see Kingdom impact and growth!

As a church, we have also been blessed by the opportunity to be a small part in the lives of new church plants. We are watching and serving together with expectancy and hope as Godly men prepare to step out and lead churches in our area! We are so thankful to have them among us now and cannot wait to see what God has in store for their ministries!

As we enter 2010 and strive toward making a Kingdom impact, we are even more focused on our small group ministries. We are truly a church OF small groups, not just a church WITH small groups! We are excited to see the new small groups that have started and the growth of others. By having authentic fellowship with one another, we have been better able to serve and grow with each other. Eight groups are meeting in different area neighborhoods, where we will be getting to know people, developing friendships and shining the light of Christ as we serve our communities. I am excited to see CrossPoint reaching out to and inviting our next door neighbors, our colleagues, our grocery store clerks, our waiters and waitresses, our family members, and other people we come in contact with throughout the week.

Leading up to Easter, we are doing a series called 24 where we will be focusing on the last 24 hours of Christ's life.  I am excited to see what all God will teach us as we continue to focus on and celebrate the life and resurrection of Christ.  At CrossPoint things have been fast-paced and exciting. They've also been challenging. We're being stretched. We're seeking hard after God's plan for the people of the LowCountry. It's not easy, but it's what God has called us to do. Won't you join us in being the Love of Christ to Bluffton, to South Carolina, to the United States, and to the World?

In Him,
Carl Martin