Chapter 4 - "Purpose, Presence, Position"

(ok - I just realized I said "um" a whole lot in that video! :)

This week, we looked at three elements in Esther and Mordecai's lives:

1. They each had a Purpose

Just like God had a specific purpose for Esther and Mordecai, He has a unique plan and purpose for each of us as well.

2. They had Presence

I personally struggle with the part of the story of Esther where God allowed her to be forced to have pre-marital sex with an evil king. I don't understand why God would allow this, but I do understand that God is sovereign and used the place that Esther was in to bring about His will. "We know that in ALL THINGS God works together for good, to them who love God, and to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Rom. 8:28)

3. God gave them Position

God placed Esther and Mordecai in the exact positions He needed them to be in to fulfill His purpose in and through them. God will do the same for us also. In this chapter, Shelley wrote, "God puts each of us in the right place at the right time when we choose to walk with Him."

Questions to answer in the comments section below...

1. Knowing the truth that God has given you everything you need to accomplish His purpose for you today, does this change your outlook of your future? If so, how?

2. What is the main thing that God has taught you in chapter 4?

(click on the word, "Comments" below and leave your answers.)

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Week 3 of On Purpose For a Purpose

Hi Ladies! No video today~ There just seems to be so much going on these days, and I am confident you all can relate. It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, which also brings with it, lots and lots of things to do--on top of the normal craziness most of us live with every day! Am I right?

For this post, I want to do a couple of things. First, I want to ask you to please let me know who's out there. We only had 3 comments posted this past week and 1 of those one from Yours Truly. Even if you're shy or you don't have a Blogger account, we'd still love to know you're out there and with us. Feel free to comment using the "anonymous" option, and then just sign it with your first name. Jenifer and I are really hoping to help our community, even this online one, grow and we need YOUR help to make that happen. Are you with me?

Secondly, I want to let you all know that next week's Bible Study post will come from Jenifer! Make sure you check back. We won't "meet" for the week of Christmas or the week of New Year's, but we will plan to begin updating the blog with more stuff for all Chicks to enjoy--whether you're participating in the blog study or not, so make sure to keep checking back!

Okay, on to the post!

In the story of Esther, we see the sovereignty of God throughout the entire book. I don't know about you, but it is often very difficult for me to embrace the truth that God is sovereign when I see and experience things that hurt me or those I love, or when I see atrocities that take place on any given day around the world. It's often difficult to experience peace when we find experience the thoughts and emotions that we do when confronted with such realities. Jenifer and I were blessed to get to attend the Casting Crowns Christmas Concert (Check out her blog for some great pics). Mark Hall, the lead singer of the group, reminded us that Peace is a Person and His Name is Jesus Christ. With that being true, then what that also means is that if we know Jesus Christ, and if He lives in us, then WE carry peace WITH US wherever we go.

His words have continued to speak to me these past few days, and as I consider what the times were like for Mordecai and Esther, and how they experienced governmental leaders who didn't honor the One True God and as they experienced some very unfair situations, the God of Peace was sovereignly overseeing the entire thing.

That same God oversees every bit of every tiny detail of our lives as well. And just as He cared for Esther and Mordecai IN their circumstances, He cares for us in the same way as well.

So, my discussion question this week is brief: What is your response to the truth (not how you feel about what you may be going through or would like to see changed in your life) that this same God, and Prince of Peace, is very concerned about YOU and the challenges and circumstances you are facing? How do you respond to the fact that He doesn't always change our circumstances, but that He desires to do what is absolutely best for us in them?

Remember, too, that just as at this point in the study we aren't seeing HOW all of this will work out for Esther and Mordecai, they had to live this out without knowing how it would all work out either. May we be people who walk by faith when what we see isn't so convincing.

I am looking forward to hearing from you all--it's your turn. Press "comments" and type away!

Until Next Week~
Shelley

Welcome to Week 2 of On Purpose For a Purpose!

In this past week's Chapter, our topic was on how we can be women of purpose and not lose our position that God has destined us to fill. In our longing for true security and significance, which can only be found in a personal relationship with God through His Son Jesus, we often look to external sources that only leave us wanting, rather than filling us up. Have you identified some of those places you go to for security?-For significance? (We'll pick back up with Vashti in the comments' section below.)

In Chapter 2 of Esther, the Bible tells us that Ahasuerus/Xerxes regretted what he had decreed against Vashti. When his false sources of security and significance failed him, he felt all the emotions that inevitably follow such a reality.

Pause to consider this: when your false sources of security and significance fail you, what emotions do you feel? What thoughts do you struggle with?

When Xerxes felt all of those unpleasant feelings and had all those haunting thoughts, he wanted to find a source of comfort. He wanted something or someone that would make him feel better.

A Question for this week is this: "Where am I going to find comfort when my source of security and significance fail me?" You don't have to answer this in the comments section, but I do ask that you get honest with God and yourself about this so that you can begin walking away from that false source as you walk toward the true source of comfort. (See II Corinthians 1:3-7)

I heard it said in recent days that there has never been a day when Christians were more comfortable and yet less committed than ever before. May this not be the case with us. May we purpose to lives our lives on purpose and for a purpose!

Comments' Section:

1. As a woman, what "position(s)" do you fill?

2. Where do you have influence? Try to put these in order of most influence to least.

3. How can you be more intentional in those areas of greatest influence?

4. Sometimes the most difficult choices are not between what is good vs. what is wrong, but what is good vs. what is best. How can we be careful to give our energy, strength, and resources to what is best? How can we discern what is best?

5. From the Homework Section of Chapter 2, what is the main thing God spoke to you? How will you apply that to your life this week?

Week 1 Discussion/Week 2's Assignment

***Update: See comments for Shelley's update to the questions for Chapter 1~Please leave comments so we're all keeping in touch with each other through this Winter Blog Study.***

Hello everyone! Welcome back to the blog study. I hope you all took some time to read Chapter 1 and to complete the short study at the end of the chapter. Your assignment for this post is to click on comments and leave your answers to the questions from Chapter 1.

In Chapter 1 of On Purpose for a Purpose, we read about King Ahaseurus/Xerxes and his drive for power and fame. We narrowed his behaviors down to a basic motivation that every human being has in common: a need to feel secure and a need to feel significant. This is what God placed into every human being to draw us to Himself.

I just read about another monarch who lived a very extravagant lifestyle. Her name was Elizabeth and she ruled and reigned in Russia in the 1700's. Her quest for luxury knew no bounds! Apparently she owned over 15,000 gowns (some made of spun silver, inlaid with gems). She "needed" this many gowns because she changed her entire outfit every day, 3 times each day, and refused to ever wear the same gown twice. The parties she threw were unmatched. In fact, since she appalled the idea of anyone wearing a dress twice, she ordered her servants to stamp with dark black ink the backs of every woman's gown as she left the party so no woman could ever wear a party gown twice! She owned more castles than she could ever live in or even visit. The writer of the devotion I read describing her exuberant lifestyle also reminded the reader (me!) that although Elizabeth had all of this luxury, we don't know if she made investments into her eternal portfolio or simply into her temporary one. It was Jim Elliot who said, "He who takes care of this life only is wise for a moment but a fool for eternity."

What about you? Are you using what God has entrusted to your stewardship to make investments into God's Kingdom and your own eternal destination, or like Xerxes and Elizabeth, are your resources mainly focused on the here and now? This was a sobering reminder for me today and so I simply pass it along to you all.

I can't wait to check the blog later to see what God is showing you through your time of study. My time is short today with the Holiday week, so I'll try to post a video next week! After you complete the assignment for today, your homework for next week is to read Chapter 2 and complete the short study at the end.

Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for YOU!

Shelley

It's finally here!!

Hello Everyone!!

The day we've been waiting for is finally here! The first day of our first ever online Bible Study through the Atlanta Encounter "Church 4 Chicks!" I hope you're all excited about being a part of this with me and with each other. I've posted a video here to give a little more info, but make sure to scroll down to the bottom for some more important 411 after the video ends.

Okay, please be patient with me while I get this whole video blogging thing figured out. :-) I am planning to post a video each week as long as everything is working with me (including my hair--I have my priorities!)

If you've purchased your book and have it with you, please read Chapter 1 and then complete the "Going Deeper" section at the end of the chapter. Be prepared to share your answers when you come back to the blog for Week 2 on November 25th.

Your assignment for TODAY is:

1. Click "Comments"

2. Tell us your name (or how you'd like to be known in our blog community)

3. Children? Husband? Single? You don't have to tell us everything, but tell us a little something about you to help us know you better.

4. How did you find out about the Atlanta Encounter Blog Study?

5. What is the single greatest thing God has shown you in your life this year?

Bible Study Starts TOMORROW!

Hi Everyone,

I just wanted to stop in and wish you all a great Monday and remind you to check back in tomorrow for the first post of our online Bible Study. If you've not yet gotten your book, there is still time to get it and get started. Tomorrow will be an introduction that will include more instructions on what to expect from the study and such. Probably the quickest way to get your book ordered would be to go through amazon.com. (Click the link and it will take you right to it.) We will read Chapter 1 before Tuesday, November 25th, so you still have plenty of time to jump in with us.

I'm honored to be on this journey with you through the story of Esther. I know God will use it in each of our lives as we listen for His voice to us personally and as a group.

See you tomorrow!

Shelley

Shelley is hosting Atlanta Live November 11th!

Check it out on WATC TV in Atlanta, Channel 57 or Comcast Channel 2. The show airs live from 7-9 p.m. and will re-air on November 12th from 7-9 a.m. on the same channel. If you are outside of the Atlanta area, you can go to www.watc.tv to find local showtimes.

Blessings!

And don't forget to sign up for the winter blog series by leaving a comment in the post below.

Winter Blog Series Begins November 18th!

Hello Ladies! It's almost time to begin our new online group through the winter! We will all be reading "On Purpose For a Purpose" based on the story of Esther found in the Old Testament of our beloved Bibles. If you don't already have your copy of this book (On Purpose For a Purpose) and would like to join us (we have women from several states already planning to be a part of this, so you don't have to be in Atlanta to participate), you can get your copy online from Amazon.com or ShelleyHendrix.com. We will begin on November 18, 2008~more info to come in the next few days, so help us spread the word!

***UPDATE***Please leave a comment in the comments section to let us know that you will be participating. Let us know a little about you as well. We are really looking forward to getting to know one another better in the coming weeks through our online community. Can't wait to "meet" you all!! ~Shelley

Fun with Beloved!

Major, huge, uproarious, gi-normous, THANKS to the gals of Beloved for making our last night of Fall 08 Atlanta Encounter so wonderful!

"So, you think you can dance?"

Yep, these chicks can dance!



Thank you to everyone who had a part in making the first season of The Atlanta Encounter "Church 4 Chicks" such a great start to a new ministry to the women of Atlanta.

Our next info meeting will be on November 18th at Cumberland Community Church at 7 pm, so if you're interested in helping us make the Spring '09 Season even better, please let us know you'll be joining us that evening. We want to hear from you! Bring your ideas, your energy, your excitement, and a friend!

***********

Also, our winter blog series begins on November 18th as well. Please read Chapter 1 of "On Purpose For a Purpose" prior to that date and then check back for our weekly 'check-in' with one another as we study the Word of God together through the winter and Holidays.

Need a copy of the book? You can order it on Amazon.com very easily and affordably.

*****************
Hope to see YOU on Tuesday, November 18th at 7 p.m.!

Our final night for fall 2008 was a great one!

While many were spending time in front of a TV set or radio fretfully awaiting the outcome of the most historical US Presidential election of our generation--perhaps of all time--there was a group of people worshipping the One who truly holds all things together and is sovereignly in control.

Our prayer as leaders of the Atlanta Encounter is that we would unite behind our President-elect and lift him in prayer, and that we would pray fervently for his leadership and his family, as well as for the other elected officials of this great nation.

We have much to share about last night's fun at the Atlanta Encounter, and announcements to make, so they will be posted soon. Check back often and let us know you stopped by by leaving a comment. Some aren't sure how to do this, so I'll give those instructions to help. Just click the link at the bottom of this post that says "comments." This will take you to a page with instructions on how to go about leaving a comment to the post. Let's keep our Atlanta Encounter community of Chicks in touch through this blog as we enter into the Holiday Season and New Year. :-)

I love and appreciate you all--remember to check back soon for photos from last night and more announcements on what's to come!

Shelley

Don't forget!!

It comes around every year and can catch you by surprise. So here’s a friendly reminder to set your clocks back one hour before going to bed this Saturday!

AND.....do not miss BELOVED on November 4th at The Atlanta Encounter!! Bring your girlfriends for a fun night out! We'll end the evening with dessert and coffee and hanging out. We've had a great first season of Church 4 Chicks and have more to come, so keep checking in to see what's happening!

Enjoy this beautiful song that goes so well with our series...

Carried to the Table from Leeland on Vimeo.

Only 2 Weeks Left! Don't miss a moment of it!

WOW! What a night we had this past week with Ashley Smith Robinson, Kristi Walker, and of course, that delicious cake and fun birthday party afterwards!

The Atlanta Encounter is getting better and better and you don't want to miss a moment of it. We added lots of new ladies just this past week, so if you've never been or if you've even missed some weeks, don't let that stop you from coming out to our final 2 evenings together for '08.

On October 28th, local rock/blues' recording artists, Lost & Found will be with us to lead worship through music. One of the ways God has surprised us all is by leading us to different talented folks to lead us in our worship times. You'll miss out if you're not there, so make sure you don't let anything keep you from coming and hanging out at "Church 4 Chicks!"

On November 4th, Beloved will be our featured guests as we wrap things up for winter break. What a great way to spend election night. When so many are allowing anxiety, worry and even fear grip them in this election year, we have the opportunity to come together and worship the One who truly provides our security and hope. You are going to LOVE this fun, energetic, hilarious, and very REAL trio of women. We'll end the evening with dessert and coffee as we say so long to the Atlanta Encounter until Shelley is ready to come back out of hibernating in the spring.

Also, time is running out for getting registered for the 1st Annual Cruise 4 Chicks in January! Please go to www.thecruisechic.com for all the details. Don't let this opportunity pass you by!!

This week at the Atlanta Encounter

Hey Chicks!

We hope you all have had a blessed week! We are so excited about this Tuesday's "Church4Chicks"! We have two very special guests who will be coming to share with you ladies.

The first is Ashley Smith Robinson...

You may remember Ashley as the hostage of Brian Nichols, Atlanta's courtroom killer, who persuaded him to surrender to the police. Some of her appearances include Oprah, Larry King Live and the Women of Faith conferences, and she is giving of her time to come and share her story with all of you! However, there is so much more to her story than what you may have heard. You won't want to miss her powerful testimony of how God brought her from a place of brokenness and completely transformed her life. This would be a great week to bring some lost friends with you to hear her testimony.

Our second guest is Kristi Walker...

Kristi is an incredibly gifted vocalist/recording artist who will be leading our worship time this week. You all will be blessed to hear her! Kristi will have her CD's available for purchase at the event.

We hope to see all of you Tuesday! Keep checking back on the blog for more posts during the week...

We love you all and are praying for you!

You found it!

Hi Chicks! For those of you who made that "covenant" to go to the blog, I welcome and thank you! :-) I hope you're all sensing the presence of our savior in your life today regardless of your circumstances. Have you taken some time to get into His presence today?

As we try to get everyone used to coming to the blog, I want to ask you to take a minute or two to leave us a comment so we know you stopped by.

Remember, we'll be using this blog to communicate with one another during the "off-season" of Atlanta Encounter. We'll be working through the book together, "On Purpose For a Purpose", which can be purchased on October 21st only AT our meeting for $10. After that, it will be back at its regular price of $15. I hope you'll take advantage of this opportunity to stay in the Word of God with your girlfriends as we move through another Holiday season. I'm still working on details of how our blog Bible Study will work, but I know it'll be a blessing to each of us. And, hey, why don't you invite someone you know to join you for the blog study? You won't even have to leave home to participate!

One more thing: Mark your calendars and make sure you don't miss our last 3 weeks of Atlanta Encounter.

October 21st: Guest speaker, Ashley Smith Robinson
Guest Recording Artist, Kristi Walker

October 28th: Guest Recording Artist: Lost & Found

November 4th: Special Guests Beloved !! You won't want to miss our last night of the Atlanta Encounter as we say so long until next year. We'll have a wonderful time with Beloved, teaching from Yours Truly, and dessert & Coffee afterwards. Plan to stick around for a while to hang out and enjoy some girl time before the craziness of the Holidays are upon us.

You have no idea how much I love you! I'm praying for you all today,

Shelley

Ashley Welborn coming to Atlanta Encounter!

Hey Chicks!

You won't want to miss this coming Tuesday as we begin the second half of our Fall Atlanta Encounter Bible Study. We are thrilled to be having recording artist, Ashley Welborn as our special guest Worship Leader this week. Ashley has so graciously volunteered her time to come out and minister to all of us. She will have her new album available for purchase, so be sure to stop by her table and pick one up. (You can listen to some of her music online at http://www.ashleywelborn.com/).

Invite some friends to come with you this week! See you all Tuesday!

Info and Updates

Hi everyone!

I wanted to remind you that we will NOT meet on October 7th, but that does not mean you have the "night off". ;-) Please use those 2 hours or so you have devoted to the Atlanta Encounter to pray, pray, pray for all of us involved in "Church 4 Chicks."

• Please pray for wisdom, encouragement, and whole-hearted commitment by those in leadership and those who are coming under this ministry's teaching.
• Please pray for provision financially especially in these difficult days of our nation's economy.
• You have probably noticed we no longer have a band. :-( We are saddened and disappointed by this, but we trust God is making a way for us. Please pray for Shelley, Jenifer, Debra and D.D. as we seek God's will for this.
• Please pray for our remaining 4 weeks of Fall Atlanta Encounter. It is definitely NOT too late for new friends to join us for our series, so please pray that God will bring them!
• Please prayerfully consider joining our volunteer staff. Email us at atlantaencounter@shelleyhendrix.com if you are interested.
• Please pray for us as we begin to make plans for our next season of the Atlanta Encounter beginning after Valentine's Day, 2009.

Invite, Invite, Invite~ Please think of at least 3 women whom you know would be blessed by what you're enjoying at AE and then take some time on October 7th when you would normally be at AE and invite them to join you on the 14th.

One last thing--if you didn't do the "online" homework assignment from September 23, we'd still like to hear from you. See the post below, and go to the comments section to participate.

Blessings!

Heather Mangum's Band ROCKS!

If you missed last night, you missed a treat! Heather and her band are awesome and then some!

They were so gracious to offer themselves as a gift to the Atlanta Encounter, so I hope you'll check out their website and invite them to your next event or to your church. You can find them at www.HeatherMangum.com

This is Heather and her band warming up before all the ladies arrived...We also found out their good news. Heather and her hubby, Matt (on the white guitar behind her), are expecting a little girl in a few months. Congratulations Heather and Matt! We hope you'll bring your little "chick" to the Atlanta Encounter Spring 09 so we can meet her.

ALSO: Chicks--don't forget about this week's Homework. The assignment is posted by Shelley in the comments section, so make sure to leave your answers before week's end if possible. (Even if you're not involved in the Atlanta Encounter, please feel free to join us for this week's assignment...we'd love to hear from you!)

See you at Atlanta's Best Kept Secret on September 30th when we'll hear from our own worship leader and band and teaching from Shelley Hendrix.

Don't miss it!

Don't Miss Heather Mangum and Band on 9-23!

Hey all you Atlanta Encounter “Chicks”!

This coming Tuesday we will be having guest recording
artist and songwriter, Heather Mangum join us to lead in
worship and share some of her original songs along with
her band. You don’t want to miss this!

This would be a great week to introduce “Church 4 Chicks”
to your churches, friends, family, co-workers, etc.

“Church 4 Chicks” is one of Atlanta ’s best kept secrets.
Let’s all work together on getting the word out so we can
pack the house out this coming week in support of Heather.

Check out Heather’s music at www.heathermangum.com

September 16th--Jesus is our Redeemer, and we'll never look at yellow Post-It notes the same way again...

"...I'm so glad my friend invited me here..."

"...I had no idea where (Shelley) was going with this illustration when I first saw those giant notes, but I needed this message tonight!"

"Thank you for taking the time and energy to offer this Bible Study--it is meeting me right where I need it most..."

These are just a few comments we've heard and received since last night's meeting of the Atlanta Encounter. We had a smaller group than we've had the previous weeks, but we all agree that this was one of the sweetest nights of the felt presence of God we've all experienced. The night started off for most of the staff and volunteers with a very rough day. We could sense that the Lord was up to something because there just seemed to be so many things working against us.

Shelley started off the evening's message by praying for the presence of the Lord to fill the auditorium and explained that the message was one she had struggled to prepare more than any other ever before. It didn't take long for God to bring us all into a place of focusing on Him.

Shelley shared a personal story of redemption from her own life (AKA the "Post-It Note Story") as we studied John 4's "Woman at the Well." What a treasure redemption is--that God won't change our history, but He will redeem it and take those painful memories, regrets, sins, losses and more and will redeem them to the point of completely changing how we look at them, how we feel about them, and what they mean to us. WOW! Only a God like ours will do something like this: take our broken pieces and shattered dreams and make something of extreme beauty and value.

Will any of you ever forget heading out to the lobby and to your cars and finding those Post-It Notes with messages of God's Love for you?

Jenifer and the girls on the Praise Team did an amazing job leading us into the presence of God and announced a special guest singer and band for September 23rd's Atlanta Encounter!!

Heather Mangum will be our guest and you DO NOT want to miss her and her band!

She will rock the place with praise and worship, so bring your friends and make sure you're there by 6:30 to get all the announcements and so you won't miss a thing.

Shelley is working on another special message that goes along with the theme of "Broken & Beautiful." Who could you invite this week?

Remember, the lobby area is set up for you to come early and bring your dinner, meet with your girlfriends, and even do some shopping, so come on when you can, and come as you are.

Need Childcare? We need to hear from you by the Friday before each meeting so we can plan accordingly. Child care only costs $5 per family, so let us reserve your spot for your child.

First Night of Atlanta Encounter was a huge success!

Even with traffic on the roads, rain clouds in the sky, and technical difficulties, God showed up and we were all blessed! Read what a few of our attendees have already said about the first night of Atlanta Encounter~Church 4 Chicks:

"I was at the church4chicks last night and I really enjoyed it. Something like this is what I really need! The music was uplifting and Shelley was interesting as well as funny and entertaining. The time went by so fast.

Even though I'm a native Georgian I feel as though I have few friends. I moved away for 8 years and then moved back. I knew from a friend's experience that this would be tough. I left behind some really close friends in Missouri. I had kept in touch with some friends here in the Atlanta area but of course in 8 years their lives had continued on and they made more friends, etc. Now I seem to have such a hard time reconnecting. Besides, most of my friends are spread out and live in all different directions from me. I'm hoping to meet a lot of new people each Tuesday and make new friends in my area as well as learn more about the word of God. I felt this was an awesome opportunity. God dropped this right in my lap. An all girls bible study AND right in my back yard! I could not say no!

I look so forward to attending next Tuesday!"

" WOW! It was great! Your message was great Shelley! I really needed to
be there last night! Even though I was super late and had a CRAZY
day. I almost just went to have dinner with a friend since I was so
late, but I'm glad I didn't.
Thanks for all you shared and for being so authentic!"

"Shelley-You did a fabulous job last night! I'm looking forward to next Tuesday!"

"Thanks for tonight. It was awesome. You are truly a blessing in my life!"

"Thanks for everything you said tonight at C4C. I'm looking forward to attending next week as well!"

This is just a sample of what was said after the first night of Church 4 Chicks and we truly believe the best is yet to come! If you haven't joined us yet, it's not too late! Tell a friend and get registered online at www.church4chicks.com

Leave us a comment and let others know about the blog so we can continue to build this community of women in the ATL.

Remember, this a FREE event for you and your friends to enjoy with other women in Atlanta.

See you Tuesday!

PS-Shelley will be posting the Homework questions later today, so check back if you want to get those.

Tonight's the night!

We will meet for 8 weeks and you can join us at any time! We hope to see you at The Atlanta Encounter--Church 4 Chicks!

It's coming!!

Hey everyone!

September 9th at 6:30 p.m.

Be there!! Bring your friends!!

Don't miss the first night of Bible Study at the Atlanta Encounter!

Register online at www.church4chicks.com or simply register at the door. This is a *free Bible Study.

*(Love offering will be taken each week to help cover costs.)

What a night!!

Well, it's official:

The Atlanta Encounter

has arrived!

What an amazing night we had together on August 26th with

special guest, Ginger Garrett, seen here with

Shelley Hendrix, teacher for the Atlanta Encounter:

And, you can't get girlfriends together without also have presents, food, and chocolate, can you?

Of course you can't--that's why we had plenty of all of that!

Thanks to the gals at FAVOR Events of Atlanta & Chick-Fil-A Vinings, we had a tasty meal, a wonderful atmosphere, and even a CANDY BAR at the end of the evening as everyone exited the building....what a treat this night was for everyone!
Jenifer Smith and a few "chicks" from the Atlanta Encounter band kicked things off with a bang! And some dancing...and some laughing...and a lot of FUN!
Jenifer Smith is an amazing vocalist, but even more so, she is an incredible woman who loves the Lord and loves people. WOW! I don't think anyone was expecting the dynamo she is! Atlanta--look out: Jenifer has arrived!!

Going in reverse here for a bit to show some of the before pics of chicks just hanging out...

There were lots of chicks...and even a few helpful "dudes" as well!

Here is Shelley with her product table and Church 4 Chicks t-shirts (which sold out!)
Don't worry, we're ordering plenty for our first night of Bible Study on September 9th, so come prepared to get yours!
These pictures just don't do justice to the fun we had, but we wanted to share a few on the blog so you could see a glimpse of the amazing night we all had. We had so many ladies tell us they had only made plans to come to the girls' night out, but are now SO excited about attending the Bible Study as well!

If you haven't already made plans to join us, we hope you will.

just go to

www.church4chicks.com and sign up!

Spread the word!

The Chicks of

Church 4 Chicks!

Get Your tickets and get 'em TODAY!

Hi!! Time's flying and we're having a ball as we prepare a phenomenal event for "CHICKS" on August 26th to kick off our first season of the Atlanta Encounter for Women!!

Go to www.church4chicks.com and order your tickets before time runs out!!

Also, watch Shelley Hendrix and Jenifer Smith on WATC 57's Atlanta Live on August 20 from 7-9 p.m. and then on August 21 from 7-9 a.m.

Ginger Garrett, our featured speaker for the Kick Off, will be on WATC 57 on Friday, August 22 from 7-9 p.m. and it will re-air Monday, August 25th from 7-9 a.m.

You DO NOT want to miss this event!! Get your tickets and tell your friends to get online today and get those "chix tix"!

Girls Just Wanna Have Fu-un!!

Kick-off with
Ginger Garrett
Author of the new hit,
“Beauty Secrets of the Bible”

At Cumberland Community Church
August 26 from 6-9 p.m.

Special music by Atlanta Encounter Worship Leader, Jenifer Smith

Atlanta Encounter Teacher, Shelley Hendrix,

will be unveiling the fall series as well!

Tickets $10.00 w/o meal
$15.00 with meal

Please register and purchase your tickets online at
www.church4chicks.com
Or call us at 770-877-0007

Atlanta Encounter Meetings
Begin September 9, 2008 From 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Meets for 8 weeks with a break October 7

Invite your friends, co-workers, neighbors, sisters, cousins, moms, teachers, students, (you get the picture!) to join you for this FUN night out with the girls!!

Sorry, no child care will be provided for the Atlanta Encounter Kick-Off. Please make alternate arrangements for your children.
Thank you!

Don't Forget!!!

Hey everyone,

PLEASE make sure, whether you've been to a planning meeting yet or not, that you (yes, if you're reading this and you're interested in The Atlanta Encounter this includes YOU!) to an info meeting THIS Tuesday, July 29th, from 6-8:30 p.m. at Cumberland Community Church. Get the scoop and give us your ideas as well! We're only 4 weeks away from our kick-off and we need YOU to be at this meeting!

Grab a bite to eat on the way and meet us for this fun and informative time AND see the CCC Campus! God is really blessing us with a wonderful place to hold the Atlanta Encounter (aka Church 4 Chicks)!!

Let us know you'll be there and how many will be with you by email: atlantaencounter@shelleyhendrix.com

See you Tuesday!!!

Have you seen this car?

Church 4 Chicks logos and banners!

Hey everyone! Here is a great way to advertise and spread the word! You can use the logo (top) or the banner (below) and post them on your website, emails, blogs, etc. Get creative and help us spread the word!!

From Stephen

We need to get the word out. God is doing a great work in the city of Atlanta and you can be a part of it. Ask yourself “What can I do to get the word out about The Atlanta Encounter ‘Church 4 Chicks’?” We have the best Teacher, an incredible vocalist and the best news (the Gospel) ever to be offered to mankind (or in this case womankind). This is an opportunity to reach women who may never step foot in a church. The website church4chicks.com is the best way to get the info to people. Think of ways you can get this website in front of others.
-I put it in big letters across my back window of my car. It cost $25. (pictured above)

-You can send emails to friends and family, email, email, email.
-put church4chicks.com on your blog
-respond to someone else’s blog with the website
-make a blog if you don’t have one and put church4chicks.com on it
-You can let your church and women’s ministry know of the event
-As soon as posters and cards are made, you can distribute them
-you can raise funds to help with advertising costs
-you could put church4chicks on a billboard on I-285 (this one might be a bit much, but it doesn’t hurt to ask)
-you could call churches in the Atlanta area to let them know about The Atlanta Encounter
-Everyone can pray for God’s Favor for this ministry

Can you give one day between now and August 26 dedicated to getting the word out?
Can you give $25, $50, or $100 to pay for printing and mailing?
Can you fast and pray one day between now and August 26th?

Hit the comments button if you have other ideas to let everyone know.

We only have 5 weeks until the big kick off with Ginger Garrett, Shelley Hendrix, and Jenifer Smith, I can promise you don’t want to miss this event, go ahead and register and get others registered at church4chicks.com. Your friends will thank you.

Stephen D. Hendrix, CADC
Director of Clinical Programs
HopeQuest Ministry Group Inc.

SO much to do, SO little time!

Been meaning to update this for over a week--sorry for the delay!

Make sure you get yourselves, your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers, fellow chick students, etc. registered for the Atlanta Encounter kick off on August 26th!

The Kick Off will be Tuesday, August 26th from 6-9 p.m. at Cumberland Community Church in Smyrna, GA with special guest speaker, Ginger Garrett, Atlanta Encounter Worship Leader, Jenifer Smith, and Atlanta Encounter Teacher, Shelley Hendrix. We will be "unveiling" this season's theme and enjoying some great fellowship as well--what more could you ask for? PLUS, there will be some fun surprises that evening as well. You do not want to miss!

Go to our website www.church4chicks.com to register! Can't wait to see you there!!

Coming to the ATL in 2008!!

Welcome to the Atlanta Encounter Blog!! We are thrilled that you've stopped by, and hope you'll leave us some comments letting us know who you are and how you heard about the Atlanta Encounter.

We are working diligently all summer long to bring to the women of Atlanta something unique and exciting--a place where we can come together for dynamic praise and worship, powerful teaching, and authentic relationships.

The Atlanta Encounter will be hosted by Mary's Vineyard Ministries, and will meet at Cumberland Community Church in Smyrna, GA--very close to Cumberland Mall and the Galleria. We hope you'll stop by our website at http://www.shelleyhendrix.com/ to find out more and that you'll bookmark this page and drop by often for exciting updates as they come in!