Access Church

Shane Witbeck's Baptism

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Barrett) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 20:02:00 +0000

On Easter Sunday, Shane Witbeck was able to publicly declare his faith in Jesus Christ. Before you watch, you might want to read a letter Shane wrote 18 months ago about his faith journey. Watch as Shane tells his story:

Faith, Hope, and Luck

noreply@blogger.com (Whittney Gilmer) — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:54:00 +0000

Our faith in God often hinges on his activity--or inactivity--in our daily experiences. When our prayers are answered or when God shows up in an unmistakable way, our faith soars. When God is silent or doesn't come through, it becomes harder to trust him and our confidence wanes.

But it doesn't have to be that way--it's not supposed to be that way. This five-part series is guaranteed to transform your thinking about faith. Join us and discover the difference between faith and hope. Andy Stanley explains what we can expect of God every time we come to him with a request. And he exposes the flaws in what some have labeled, "The Faith Movement."

Faith, Hope, and Luck is not just another message series. This content is foundational for everyone who desires to be an informed follower of Christ. Join us Sunday, April 18, for the series kick-off. See you there!

Together

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Barrett) — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 19:18:00 +0000

Where are we headed as an organization? What's our plan to get there?

I'm so excited to share with y'all this Sunday about all that God is doing in the lives of people through Access Church, and where we're headed in the months to come.

We're going to get there together. Not together like a club made up of people with common interests - but together like a group of people with a common need.

Join us this Sunday! Our service starts at 10:30am, and programming is available for all ages.

Click here for directions.

This Changes Everything

noreply@blogger.com (Whittney Gilmer) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 19:15:00 +0000

Pastel colors. Bunnies. Sugar-coated fluffy marshmallows. Egg hunts. Family brunches. These are the images that are usually evoked around the Easter holiday.

But at the heart of Easter is a celebration of a particular event—Jesus' resurrection. This Sunday, Andy Stanley will retell the original account of that fateful morning when Jesus' tomb was found empty.

"Why do you look for the living among the dead?" was the question the angels asked of those who were looking for Jesus.

Jesus was... is alive. And that has changed everything.

Join us this Sunday at Access Church, 10:30am. See you there!

If you are one of the hardy volunteers serving on Easter Sunday, we've got something special planned for you. At 9:25am we'll have a worship service designed just for you—a time to celebrate all that God is doing at Access Church through our amazing volunteers. We'll pray together and commit Easter morning to His glory.

Easter Baptisms - Register Now

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Barrett) — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:34:00 +0000

This Easter is going to be an amazing celebration at Access Church. Not only will we celebrate the historic event by which Jesus conquered death on our behalf, but we'll hear specific stories from some of you at Access whose lives have been personally changed by Christ's death and resurrection.

Baptism is a great way of showing others that you have entered into a relationship with Jesus Christ. It is a public declaration of your trust in Christ, and a symbolic representation of what took place in your heart at that time.

It's when you get to tell everyone of your acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

It represents your sharing in His death and resurrection, illustrated by going under the water (dead to our old life), then rising again (new life).

In baptism, you are symbolically washed clean, your sins having already been forgiven by His death on the cross.

Because Jesus instructed us to be baptized, baptism is an act of obedience. While it is not necessary for salvation, it demonstrates submission to God.

Have you never been publicly baptized as an adult? Would you like to declare your trust in Jesus Christ alone for salvation this Easter? You can go here to learn more and register. We'd love to have you be a part of this amazing day!

JumpStart - March 21

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Barrett) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 15:03:00 +0000

Our spring JumpStart at Access Church that is just around the corner.

Jump Start is an engaging 30-minute presentation where parents and kids learn together about what it means to have faith in Jesus Christ. We will discuss:

Who Jesus is
What faith is
What it means to have a personal relationship with Jesus
How to lead your child to faith in Jesus
What Baptism is all about. This is a must attend for your child to be baptized. We will share details about when, where, and how we will celebrate baptism for your children this spring.

Our next JumpStart will be held in the UpStreet Theater on March 21 immediately following worship at 11:45am. There is limited space and materials available. So please register by Friday, March 12 if you plan to attend. You may register by emailing Adam Flynt and letting him know how many from your family will be attending JumpStart. See you then!

New Series: Text

noreply@blogger.com (Whittney Gilmer) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 02:02:00 +0000

No matter when or where you hear the familiar "ding" on your cell phone, a text message gets your immediate attention. You're compelled to pull the phone out of your pocket and read it.

What if God sent you a text message?

In Text, Andy Stanley says that God has, in fact, sent you a message—it's called the Bible. In this amazing collection of writings, you'll find poetry, prophecy, biography, war, sex, and betrayal. And most importantly, you'll find the story of a loving Father who goes to incredible lengths to redeem his children.

Join us for this three-part series beginning March 14 at Access Church. See you there!

And help us choose the March 14 opening song! Text 99503 with the following to place your vote.

ACCESS1 - Beat It (Michael Jackson)
ACCESS2 - Sweet Home Alabama (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
ACCESS3 - Fly Like An Eagle (Steve Miller)

New Series: Landmines

noreply@blogger.com (Whittney Gilmer) — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 19:06:00 +0000

Join us this Sunday, February 28, as we begin a new, two-week series, Landmines, with John Woodall.

This series will help us recognize and avoid certain landmines so that we can successfully navigate our way through the relationships of marriage, family, and friends.

It's a practical guide to recognizing and avoiding anything that can blow up any relationship at any time.

See you there!

Salary Caps for CEOs?

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Barrett) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 16:19:00 +0000

There's been a lot of talk lately about CEO salary caps. I certainly understand the sentiment. It's hard to believe that someone can receive compensation in the millions of dollars while apparently underperforming.

But as I look at scripture, I'm concerned that we might be missing a bigger issue. Let's recognize a few things:

1. We're all rich. If you're reading this on a computer you have free access to, you're in the top 5% of the wealthiest people in the world. Have a car? Live indoors? With running water? You get the point. You and I getting upset with the "richer" people must seem pretty silly to the family living on $4/day.

2. The pay system on this planet is messed up. Sure, some CEOs make a ridiculous amount of money. But so do some entertainers and athletes. If we put our money where our mouth is, it'd be teachers, stay-at-home moms, and caregivers that were the highest paid. So, determining a "fair" salary is kind of like chasing a rainbow. And really, don't we all make more than we deserve? Again, don't compare yourself to the person in the next cube, but rather the person halfway around the globe.

3. Okay, here's the Bible part: God doesn't seem to be mad at rich people. He doesn't seem concerned with how much money we make. There's no salary cap in scripture, even for God-followers. But he does seem concerned with how much we keep for ourselves versus how much we give away.

Look, there will always be rich people. And, you're likely one of them. So here's a great passage specifically for us:

(1 Timothy 6:17-19) As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

Want some more practical thoughts on balancing faith & finances? Join us this Sunday for the final part of our series, "Balanced." See you Sunday!

2009 Snapshot

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Barrett) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 19:31:00 +0000

Every successful organization must have clearly defined goals and concrete ways to measure success when those goals are attained.

In 2009 Access Church moved into a new worship facility and welcomed many new faces. It was an exciting year! Having lots of people in the room on Sunday is exciting, but even more important to us is connecting people in meaningful relationships and strategic service. We feel that it's in the context of these relationships that real life change takes place.

As you can see, we reached our 2009 goal of connecting 60% of our attenders in community groups and far exceeded our goal of connecting 60% of our attenders in strategic service. Thank you for helping us reach these goals!

2009 was also significant because it was our first year of financial independence. As a start-up organization, we initially received funding from North Point Ministries. But in 2009, we were completely dependent on the giving of our attenders (reflected in the graph) and visionary givers who don't attend Access but believe strongly in our mission and strategy and believe Jacksonville needs a church like Access. It's our hope that in 2010 the priority-percentage giving of our attenders will exceed expenses and that visionary giving can be focused on strategic long-term objectives and capital acquisitions.

Road Trip, Anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Barrett) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:38:00 +0000

If you have ever wanted to experience North Point Community Church for yourself, and get a behind-the-scenes tour, join us for Sundays @ North Point! You will attend a worship service, take a guided tour of various environments, and participate in a day and a half of informal sessions and discussions. You'll get answers to your questions and enjoy face-to-face conversations with North Point staffers about how and why we do what we do. Space is limited, so please let us know right away if you would like to be included.

We'll head up on Saturday, February 13 and return Monday, February 15. Registration for the event is $50, plus the cost of your transportation, meals, and lodging. More details can be found at Sundays @ North Point.

To keep costs low we can carpool, help you find free lodging in the area, and provide you with a wicked-awesome recipe for PB&Js.

Interested? Shoot me an email or leave a comment here to let me know you want in and we'll start planning for transportation and lodging.

February 13-15. It could be the perfect romantic getaway!

Help Haiti

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Barrett) — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:06:00 +0000

The need in Haiti right now is great. This Sunday at Access, we'll be directing you to give through two organizations we know and trust, Compassion International and Samarian's Purse.

New Series: Balanced

noreply@blogger.com (Whittney Gilmer) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:10:00 +0000

Can we be unbalanced financially and still be devoted followers of Christ?

In Balanced, a new six-week series, Andy Stanley makes the case that, in order to be free to truly follow Christ, we must have our finances in balance.

We'll learn the three laws of financial balance and how to apply them to our lives.

Join us Sunday, January 17, for the series kick-off at Access Church. See you there!

GroupLink This Sunday!

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Barrett) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:03:00 +0000

Success at Access Church is defined by how many of us move from large environments into community groups.

At Access, the community group is the best place for sustained life change to occur. In community groups, we study the Bible together and discuss the issues and challenges of life. It's also where we pray, care for one another, and are missed if we don't show up.

Practically speaking, there will never be a way for all of us to personally connect with everyone who attends a church the size of Access. That's why we place such a high premium on group life. It's how we develop meaningful relationships at Access. To find out more about community groups we encourage you to join us at our next GroupLink, January 17, 4:30pm.

Click here to register and get directions.

What if I can't make it?
The success of GroupLink depends on everyone's participation. The best groups start strong when everyone is present at GroupLink. If you cannot make it to the upcoming GroupLink, please contact me directly via email. Our next GroupLink isn't until March.

What happens at GroupLink?
You will be greeted by a facilitator who will direct you to a part of the room based on your stage of life. Dessert and coffee will be served while you meet others with whom you could potentially be in a group.
After meeting with the other people in your stage of life and perhaps even your area of town, we will form groups. With your new community group, you will watch a short video and spend some time getting to know each other.

Is childcare provided at GroupLink?
Childcare is not provided, but we do reimburse (at a predetermined rate) for babysitters needed in order to attend the GroupLink event. Childcare reimbursement forms are provided at GroupLink.

New Series: Just Ask

noreply@blogger.com (Whittney Gilmer) — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 03:32:00 +0000

Organizations mature as they evaluate the effectiveness of their strategy and mission. By examining where they currently are and where they intend to go, churches can gauge whether they have stayed the course or strayed from their original dreams.

How is your church doing?

And how are you participating in what God is doing in your church?

Find the answers to these questions as Andy Stanley presents the two-part series, Just Ask, beginning Sunday, January 3, at Access Church.

See you there!

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Barrett) — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 15:25:00 +0000

Merry Christmas!

Here's a sample of our Not-So-Silent Night. Thanks for inviting so many of your family, friends, and co-workers.

And thanks to all the great volunteers who made 2009 an outstanding year. See you in January!

2009 is in The Bag!

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Barrett) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 06:44:00 +0000

Not-So-Silent Night was incredible. Thank you for leveraging your influence with family and friends and inviting them to be a part of what God is doing through Access Church!

Years from now, tonight will be one of those nights we look back on as a pivotal event in the life of this organization.

To all of our amazing volunteers who made Access Church the best church I could possibly be a part of in 2009 -- THANK YOU! Have a Merry Christmas. I look forward to serving with you in 2010.

Remember, there will be NO SERVICE this Sunday. We're giving our volunteers and staff the week off. See you January 3 for the start of a new series, "Just Ask."

Little Drummer Boy

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Barrett) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:01:00 +0000

If you wonder how we celebrate Christmas at Access Church, here's a little taste.

And if you've not yet made plans to be at Not-So-Silent Night tomorrow night... Figure it out! We're going to start promptly at 7:00pm, and you will be so, so sad if you arrive even one minute late.

Praying Big?

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Barrett) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 20:37:00 +0000

I just intercepted this email from Stephanie as she was sending it to some friends:

Rich just told me Accessibles have invited 1,670 people to Not-So-Silent Night on Facebook alone! Accessibles blew the doors off the challenge to invite (just) 1,000. A.MAZ.ING. Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Now, we wait to see what God will do, and pray BIG--for the "greater things still to be done in this city." Will you take a minute or two when you are done reading this and ask God to do "above and beyond what we could ask or think" on Wednesday night? Not in the numbers , but in the heart of every person that comes? Please ask His favor over all the details/production/environments. Pray that we as a church would be prepared for what God will do. And, that above all, He would be delighted in and glorified by everything that happens.

Thank you for joining me in praying--an essential part of leading people in a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. I can't wait to see what He will do!

Will you join us in praying for Wednesday night? We are so thrilled that those who attend Access are so excited about the way we do church that you are willing to invite so many others to experience it as well.

What might God do in the hearts of those we love this Christmas?

Doing Life... Together.

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Barrett) — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 13:34:00 +0000

Some of us are already reflecting on 2009 and thinking about changes we'd like to make for 2010.

If you aren't meeting weekly with a group of of people who encourage you and challenge you, why not make that a key priority for 2010? Few things could improve your quality of life more.

Michael & Zoie Morales, Brad & Sherri Law, Ryan & Tina Dollar, Jeff & Ashley Hilley, and John & Christi Munns made that decision last spring, and it's been so cool to see their group develop. In fact, when Jeff was recently deployed to Guantanamo Bay, the group kept right on meeting--with Jeff on Skype! Each week Jeff joins the group via video chat, and participates in the entire discussion, live.

The same group has a men's bible study every morning--via email. They each read the same few verses, then journal their thoughts and email them to each other. This allows everyone to participate regardless of schedule or location.

So, this is not your mama's bible study group! These are real people juggling real-life responsibilities, but they have learned that being part of a group of others who are encouraging them along the way makes a huge difference.

Join a group at GroupLink, next held on January 17. Click here to register today!

Not-So-Silent Night

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Barrett) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 21:20:00 +0000

Join us December 23, at 7:00pm, for a community Christmas celebration at the University of North Florida.

Childcare is provided for children aged six-weeks to five-years-old. Elementary-aged children are welcome to join us in the 45-minute service.

Andy Stanley will be sharing, "The Christmas Story," and we invite you to stay after the service for hot chocolate and cookies.

Click here to sample our Christmas music.

You might want to send a friend a link to EverybodysInvited.com.

After Party
Middle- and high-school student and their families are invited to stick around for a 30-minute, VIP-style after party with free food, music, and games.

North Point Live: Awake

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Barrett) — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:50:00 +0000

North Point Music released a new CD today on iTunes. Featuring North Point (and Access Church) worship leaders like Todd Fields, Eddie Kirkland, and Steve Fee, you want to pick this up right away! In fact, I'm listening to it right now.

If you're a bit old fashioned and like to hold the shiny disc in your hand, the CD will be available at the Access Church Resource Center this Sunday.

The album includes many of the favorites we've been singing for the last six months at Access, including, "Rise & Sing," "It is Well," "God is Alive," "Glory to God Forever," and "No One Higher/The Stand."

Umm, you're gonna love it! It makes a great Christmas gift, as well.

What's the Worst?

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Barrett) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 03:14:00 +0000

What's the worst thing someone might say about your church?

Recently, a few people were overheard in conversation about our church. Several positive things were said. One person, however, threw out this objection, "I mean, they even have, like, atheists going there!"

So what do you think? Is that a bad thing? What would you think about a church if you heard that at a party? What's the worst thing someone might say about your church?

Be Rich: Shalom Church

noreply@blogger.com (Whittney Gilmer) — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:17:00 +0000

Since Access' earliest days, we have felt passionate about and had the privilege of helping to plant Shalom Church in Merida, Mexico (located on the Yucatan Peninsula). It is home to approximately 800,000 people and is the largest city in the Yucatan.

Shalom Church has successful ministries for children, youth, and singles. They have been growing in all of these areas, but most importantly, they have many stories of life change among people who have come into the church.

Since 2007, Access Church has given financially to support Shalom Church. Over the next year, we plan to send a team of people to Mexico to meet with the leadership and people of Shalom Church, build our relationship with them, and serve them through training in the areas of UpStreet, Waumba Land, and worship.

We want to support this globalX partnership through our Be Rich campaign, which is helping us "to be rich in good deeds." This Sunday, mark your gift, "Shalom Church" and we'll see that it goes directly to this organization and the city they reach.

Thankful for You

noreply@blogger.com (Rich Barrett) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 11:49:00 +0000

As our staff has looked back on 2009 and all that God has done, I couldn't help but share recently at Access Church some of the successes of the past year and the challenge that's ahead of us.

Please take a moment and listen to this four-minute message.