"...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.
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.
