Capture, Communicate, Connect May 2015 Build Bridges Not Walls For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. Luke 19:10 I grew up in a tight knit religious community where our norm was to “build walls” of safety to keep out the lost who believed differently than we did. This way of thinking proposed a significant problem when it came to obeying the Great Commission and sharing the Gospel because we were cloistered in our own community with likeminded people. Our influence was limited to the outside world. Then I met a few bridge builders and began to see the importance of building bridges to cross into other cultures. I have to admit that I still get a bit nervous about building bridges to people groups that are different than me and who do not believe in the truth that I see in the Gospel. I have no trouble crossing bridges that take me to people who believe differently than I do but there is something about reaching out with a bridge that makes me feel vulnerable. Perhaps somehow they will come back over the bridge and infect my side of the bridge with lies or something. Where is the power of God in this reasoning? As our culture challenges the truth every day, I have made a conscious decision to try building bridges to people who are very different in their view of the truth and societal norms. Although you and I may call some of those “norms” sin because they do not align with the truth of the scripture, it is important to understand where people are coming from and then decide how to minister to those you are seeking to understand. Church on the Lawn Sunday, May 24th 10:30am Join us for our annual Church on the Lawn service! Service will be followed by a potluck picnic! Please be sure to sign up to bring something in the lobby! The church will be providing hamburgers, hotdogs, and drinks! For more information contact Heather Bollinger 757.304.2079 May 2015 Serve The City June 22nd-26th To find out how you can partner and serve contact Ed Bass 757.619.6176 Monday Evening June 1st, 8th, 22nd & 29th 7pm –9pm Fellowship Hall This is for anyone who is interested in growing in their leadership abilities! May 2015 May 2015 Sun Mon 3 4 Tue 5 Communion 6 Staff 10 11 12 Prayer Cards 17 19 Staff Missions 25 Church on the Lawn Thu 7 Spontaneous Worship Fri Sat 1 2 8 9 EXT Team NextGen Training Conference 13 14 15 16 20 21 22 23 29 30 Staff 18 24 Wed 26 Staff Spontaneous Worship 27 Council 28 Foursquare Connect International Convention 31 Family Sunday Save the Date ~ June 2015 Save the Date ~ July 2015 June 1st, 8th, 22nd, 29th Summer Leadership Series June 21st Father’s Day June 15th-21st Linefork, KY Mission Trip June 22nd-26th Serve the City July 4th Independence Day Women’s Botanical Garden Trip May 2015 Connect with us on Facebook To subscribe to our e-vents emails, or to update your email account, send a blank email to: e-vents-subscribe@coastlands -church.org Contact Us Online: www.coastlandschurch.org By Phone: 757-548-6882 In Person: Church Office Hours are Tuesday-Friday 9:00am-4:00pm. 1119 Lindale Drive Chesapeake, VA 23320 Pastor Durant’s Letter (continued from front) How do we love the unlovable on the other side of the bridge? How do we hold onto our convictions that are based in scripture and converse with people who are believing things that are in direct contradiction to the truth between the pages of the Book? I certainly do not have all the answers. Matter of fact, I think I may still have more questions than answers. What I do know is this, I will not build walls out of fear and I will at least look for opportunities to build bridges with the hopes that the truth of the Gospel will somehow take root in the hearts of those I meet as we cross the bridges of connection together. Building Bridges, Pastor Durant