North Side

Behind the Curtain

by

The City has officially launched at North Side today! This is your way to stay in the know about all things North Side. This two-way communication street for North Side. You stay updated and you can also contribute your thoughts, prayers, needs, etc. Sign up today!

Thanks so much to all the help today signing people up.  Our volunteers were awesome getting people connected, and the host team does a fantastic job at connecting people to the life of the church.

I want to say an extra special word of thanks to Jamie Strutton and Jessica Wolfe who worked relentlessly to get the City up by today – you guys are amazing and this has already helped out so many people!

We had a fantastic service today!

READ MORE

The City is Coming to North Side

by

North Side is growing.  Praise the Lord.  While we are excited about numerical growth, we also are burdened to always grow closer as we grow larger.  As we continually get busier and busier, how in the world can we truly connect people to each other in the church?

As we prayed, we believed that God led us to an answer.

The City…It’s a new communication tool at North Side Baptist Church. The City has been implemented to allow the members of North Side to connect with each other. This tool provides a unique way for members to keep up to date with each other…as well as events, happenings, prayer requests and needs of the North Side family.

It really focuses on 3 key things:

READ MORE

One Family

by

Over the years, we have been blessed to see numerical and spiritual growth in our congregation.  We are at a place where we are not experiencing disharmony, but we are experiencing detachment.  So how can we turn this many people into one functional family? It was a great day all around as we focused on One Family during our One …

READ MORE

A Church’s Barriers to Growth

by

I was told it was a bad idea.

Honestly, I was told it would never work. Young men in the ministry normally don’t find success going back and working at the church at which they were raised. Regardless of those people telling me it was a bad idea, I couldn’t shake that I felt God’s Spirit leading me back to North Side to serve as a minister when I graduated college in 2003.

As a young minister, I was eternally grateful to this church for what they had done to help me grow in Christ over the years. I wanted to give back as much as I could. At the same time, I began my seminary training through extension work.

In one of my classes, the required reading was a book called The Everychurch Guide to Growth by Elmer Towns, C. Peter Wagner, and Thom Rainer. With a large reading load that semester, I intended to rush through this reading but it didn’t happen that way. As I read the pages, I felt like someone had been watching my beloved North Side during the years that I had grown up here and chronicled some of the challenges we had experienced and had overcome.

READ MORE

Why North Side Changed to a Clover Site

by

Last week we launched a whole new site for northsidebc.org.  We have heard some rave reviews of it for a few different reasons: Sermons on video SIMPLE navigation (compared to our previous) Mobile phone viewing Removal of clutter Changing/temporary content being moved to northsideblog.org You can get your Compass devotionals in your inbox early in the morning by subscribing And …

READ MORE

Simple: the new northsidebc.org

by

The new website is finally up. With sermons on video, daily devotionals from the blog, simple navigation, mobile phone site, and so much more, you are going to be amazed and equipped! Check it out here:

New northsidebc.org (Coming Soon)

by

Our staff and interns have been feverishly working on the new North Side website and we are almost finished!  We stepped back and evaluated our website a while back, and realized a few things.  It was too busy, it wasn’t easily navigated, and it was missing some key components. So we went back to the drawing board, developed a new …

READ MORE

Pray for Your Church Staff

by

The prince of preachers, Charles Spurgeon, was once asked about the secret of his success and he stated, “My people pray for me.” In this month’s worship team training focus, availability – leading with presence, I want to focus on being available to one another through prayer.  Today, I want to challenge you to pray for your church staff. North …

READ MORE

The Internet Doesn’t Have to Be the Devil’s Playground

by

Ah, Monday.  The day full of tackling projects and trying to make a difference in the world. Today’s partial agenda: help North Side impact the world when our building’s doors are closed. Many people see the internet as the Devil’s playground.  In many ways, it is.  While you can waste a lot of time on here and get into all …

READ MORE

2009 North Side’s Series Summary

by

Wow!  What a year 2009 has been at North Side.  This week, we are reflecting back and looking forward.  One of those areas is looking back over what God taught us this year through the series at North Side.  As I have been developing sermon series with Jeff since the summer of 2006, I have never experienced such a powerful …

READ MORE

God of This Emerald City

by

I can’t begin to sum up into words what happened last night at the Greenwood Community Theatre.  Churches united under the umbrella of Emerald City Worship.  I was asked by a man last week who would be delivering the message that night.  I had a great response for him five minutes after that conversation.  We would be offering the message. …

READ MORE

NS’s Big Announcement: Student Pastor Hire

by

Last Sunday night, we had a meeting for parents of teenagers at North Side to make a big announcement – the person the elders are recommending for Student Pastor.  Yesterday, in our services, Jeff presented this couple to the congregation.  I am so honored to be share that selection with you now: Ben & Christina Hjalmer. Ben stepped up during …

READ MORE

What’s Big in the Works?

by

A lot of exciting stuff is going on in my world right now.  Very exciting times with some things coming to a close and other things just beginning.  Thought I’d give you an update on some of them: Light at the End of the Seminary Tunnel – My approved draft of my dissertation is due September 1 to graduate in …

READ MORE

NS New Website

by

North Side has launched its new website!  While some of the look is similar, the layout has completely changed to help you navigate through it easier. Here are some of the highlights: Updated Homepage – The homepage is updated every time you come back.  You will see the most updated videos, sermons, events, and blog posts every chance you visit. …

READ MORE

New Homepage Design

by

We have been talking about making our website at North Side more user friendly lately.  I decided to design a sketch on my anointed whiteboard and see what came up for a constantly updated homepage.  Here goes: Here’s the concept: Main Image – one image that is the ongoing series or big announcement – the image could be clicked and …

READ MORE

Now & Then

by

It is so easy for God’s people to drift from God’s ideal. As a church, are we in danger of drifting away from what God desires us to be? Every now and then, it is important that we remind ourselves that our standard can only be God’s Word. We must be a church that pleases Jesus according to his standard …

READ MORE

Point of Grace and Phil Stacey

by

Armed with a new album, Point of Grace heads to Greenwood for a full concert with special guest, American Idol finalist Phil Stacey. The concert will be preceded by a special Girls of Grace event for teenage girls and their Moms (details below).  You don’t want to miss this! It’s all happening on Sunday November 9 at North Side Baptist …

READ MORE

Spiritual Life Notebook

by

This Sunday is going to be a special one for many reasons.  One of those reasons is that we are making our Spiritual Life Notebook available in the bookstore at North Side this Sunday.  Here’s the reasoning and info behind it: Discipline without direction is drudgery.  Most Christians are told that they need to incorporate spiritual disciplines into their lives.  …

READ MORE

NSU + Impact Teams = 1 Worldchanging Summer

by

Sunday is the last NSU for the summer.  We have one more Impact Teams Wednesday (unless you are doing a yardwork site at another time). This has been an incredible summer of going deeper and serving more!  I thought last Wednesday of how gracious God has been to our congregation.  You know, oftentimes, when a church parking lot is empty …

READ MORE

God’s Show and Tell

by

Yesterday was another great Sunday at North Side. As Jeff continues to lead us through this Experiencing God study, I am constantly amazed at what God is teaching me and what He is doing in the lives of the people in our church. I am hearing daily what God is doing Jeff’s challenge to be still and listen to God …

READ MORE

Remaining Weeks for Impact Teams

by

Here’s the remaining jobs for our impact teams: Wednesday, July 30 Ashley House – meet at Ashely House @ 6:30 for Bingo, activities, and just befriending the clients there Piedmont Agency for the Aging -meet at the agency @ 6:30 to help paint and clean up their facilities McCormick Children’s Home – meet at the home for recreational events for …

READ MORE

And Away They Go!

by

Our Southeast Asia team left around lunchtime today.  They will have a long plane ride to pray and prepare before they touch down for two weeks or changing an entire nation with the gospel.  Please pray for them by name over the next few weeks.  Pray that they spread the gospel.  Pray that a nation is changed. Here are the …

READ MORE

Shake-n-Shine Recap Video

by

For those that went, prayed, gave, or who just want a great video, here is our recap video for our Shake-n-Shine camp made by our ever-so-talented, Dave Wright:

Mega Relay

by

I led an eager Impact Team over to Erskine tonight to lead the Mega Relay for Shake-n-Shine.  We had a blast!  Mega Relay is this crazy, intense team game of team challenges that come right after each other.  Leading the kids and the counselors was a blast! I will say that God is answering your prayers – keep it up.  …

READ MORE

Pray for Your Camper!

by

Just a reminder to pray for your Shake-n-Shine camper that you go this week.  If you were at North Side on Sunday, you got one camper’s name to lift up – hope you placed that card somewhere where you could remember it and pray for him or her and his or her counselor! All the crew got on the buses …

READ MORE

92 Degrees on a Flatbed

by

Amy got our praise band a place to serve on this lovely Saturday.  The Salvation Army Church was throwing a neighborhood party and wanted some musicians on a flatbed truck.  I am so thankful that they picked it on a day that is supposed to get up to 92 degrees!  That means I got to sweat five pounds off! We …

READ MORE

Impact Team List

by

Alrighty!  We had a great first week at Impact Teams, and we have new assignments for tonight (Wednesday).  Many of you have been asking what the needs are, well here is the list for tonight: Yard Work Team – Mowing, weed-eating, raking, cutting, and everything in between (for a bunch of houses)  Epworth Camp – We need some people to …

READ MORE

NSU – Night #2

by

Thanks again for another great night at NSU in our Hermeneutics class. Your insights in our breakout time digging into Romans 12 were fantastic! You guys are really understanding on how to 1) grasp the text in their town, 2) measure the width to cross, 3) cross the connecting bridge, and 4) grasp the text in our town. I think …

READ MORE

NSU – Night #1

by

We had a great first night at NSU. A lot of people showed up for all of the six classes. I had a blast in our Hermeneutics class. Your attendance showed that all of you really want to understand the Bible better. That’s fantastic! You guys listened so great through the beginning foundational stuff and it was just a good …

READ MORE

NSU This Sunday

by

North Side U is starting this Sunday, and I’m so excited about the class that I am teaching: Hermeneutics. Don’t let the big word scare you, it’s about reading the Bible for all its worth. I mean it can’t be hard if I’m using stick people to teach it. Have you ever read a passage that you thought could no …

READ MORE

Shake-n-Shine Needs

by

Shake-n-Shine is coming around the corner!  Below is a message from our Project Love guru, Rick Hendricks.  Read to see how you can help out: Hello: Shake N Shine, our camp for children in Greenwood, will take place July 14-18, again this year at Erskine College, and we need your help. We’re asking C-groups, Sunday School classes to assist us …

READ MORE

“No More College Ministry?!”

by

Since my last post on Fusion, I’ve had some good feedback concerning future ministry plans. I’ve even had some people say they were sad that we weren’t doing college ministry anymore. But that couldn’t be further than the truth. If anything, we are going to do more college ministry than ever before! We’ve just got to figure out what that …

READ MORE

Theological Survey Results

by

A couple of weeks ago, I conducted a theological survey of our adults at North Side. This is for a requirement for my next degree, but I tailored the questions to help our staff discern teaching and directional needs for our church in the area of evangelism and missions. Concerning conducting this survey, I was hesitant. A number of our …

READ MORE

Overshadowed Past (Week 3 of GBION)

by

God is a lot more concerned with your future than he is your past. Sometimes we keep a distance from God due to a sinful past. Some people keep God at a distance because of their self-proclaimed “righteousness.” But God isn’t concerned with yesterday. He’s really concerned about what you do today. That’s what North Side was all about this …

READ MORE

Hermeneutics for Kids?!

by

I am currently working on another degree through Southern Seminary.  Southern’s president is Dr. Al Mohler who you may have seen debating it up on the Larry King Live show or other talk shows.  He is a brillant man and also has a blog that he updates everyday. Today’s entry is a great read for our Hermeneutics Class since we …

READ MORE

Final Hermeneutics Class

by

Tonight was our last Hermeneutics class for NSU. Sigh, lil’ tear. I had a great time with our class over the last six weeks. I felt like we attempted a pretty daunting task – looking and trying to learn how to interpret all the different genres of the Bible. It was my first time trying to teach all of this …

READ MORE

I’m Afraid of the Old Testament

by

Session 5 of NSU was Sunday night in our Hermeneutics class. This week we dealt with the Law and the Prophets in the session: “I’m Afraid of the Old Testament.” Remember: the Law was given to show that it was impossible for them to keep it – even in the OT, people were desperate for grace and a Savior. The …

READ MORE

Hermeneutics Weeks 3 & 4 Notes

by

Sorry, I didn’t post on week 3, but I wanted to write a couple of things from the last two weeks. Our class is the absolute best! You guys are learning so much, and you are getting the information and able to apply it so well. It is great to see everyone seem to grasping the Bible even better than …

READ MORE

Session 2 – Occasional Documents

by

Thanks again for another great night at NSU in our Hermeneutics class. Your insights in our breakout time digging into Romans 12 was fantastic! You guys are really understanding on how to 1) grasp the text in their town, 2) measure the width to cross, 3) cross the connecting bridge, and 4) grasp the text in our town. I think …

READ MORE

+ MORE POSTS