ABS newsletter

Hope all of you are having a great day, hopefully reflecting on the encounter we had with God over the last couple of days. Can't wait til Sunday, God is not done with us, I believe He is just getting started. Here's an update from Mark on what has happened and the things that are scheduled, see you all Sunday.

Chris

THE Awakening has come and now gone. While the worship services have come to an end, God will use this past week as a spiritual marker in a multitude of ways. He has eternally changed lives and transformation has occurred. He has given the Valley View faith-family a increased vision of what He can and will do among us. He has deepened us in worship and sharpened us in our passion for discipleship. He moved in Spirit and in Power. So, the services are over, but AN awakening is never ending. Without a doubt, God is fully prepared to use us as an on-going, everyday, life-focused people who willingly submit our lives to Him and who gladly expect continuous awakening from Him. He is good and He is worthy of our deepest love and our relationship with Him should evoke deep anticipation from Him. Awaken!

Community Leader Meeting THIS Sunday @ 4:45 PM in WC 146

We have to celebrate, so get out the confetti and the party horns and praise God for…

- A prayer circle of 900 -1000 folks asking God for ‘more God’

- 18 Days of united and Scripture driven prayer

- Dozens and dozens and dozens of our children, who made decisions for Christ this week. Eternity celebrated the salvation that was springing forth in our gym this week! (Well over 100 decisions for Christ in the KidWorld of Valley View)

- Our College students recognizing that an Awakening invited us to awaken to the needs of those around us. As of this moment, Valley View has collected 29,400+ items for the needs of the poor & suffering in Tuscaloosa. Many people will be thankful that we had an Awakening!

- More than 40 students and adults making decisions to embrace Christ as Savior. It was BEAUTIFUL to see students coming out of the choir each night with a friend that they had brought. It was powerful to see adults walking arm in arm in order to walk together toward Christ.

- The numbers of people on this campus was overwhelming. Night after night, we more than maximized those who could fit on the campus. If you saw the people waiting outside the doors to get INTO the building more than an hour prior to the service, your heart was stirred. It is beautiful to see such level of expectancy! I love having people tailgate last Sunday prior to a service!! Something just seems right about gathering and laughing and playing corn-hole and throwing the football, all while waiting to get to the next encounter with Jesus Christ.

- Students filling the choir loft to over-flowing each night….

- SO many volunteers working with our kids…

- Great teaching by Scott Dawson…..

- Glorious worship led by Kari Jobe….

- Clear unity among the Valley View faith family….

God has provided an Awakening. Let’s ask for more of Him!

Things that you need to know…..

- Men at the Cross is on the horizon! Wednesday Night, March 23 from 6 – 9 PM. The Men of Valley View (and the surrounding area) will have the opportunity to be a part of a major movement. God is using MATC to raise up radically committed men serving Christ, family, church, and the workplace. Students (11 – 18 years) are free and the cost for men is $19. This will be an amazing night!

- Baptism is February 27. If anyone in your class is considering baptism as a follower of Christ, encourage them to let us know of their interest and celebrate with them.

It has been a RICH week. We are rich in Christ. We have shared richly in His presence. We have been blessed with an amazing church family. I am so thankful to be a partner in the gospel with you. It is such a joy to share in this journey of faith and common pursuit of Christ. Awaken!

By Grace… For Glory,
Mark

That's My King!

Kari Jobe - O the Blood - Gateway Worship DVD

SUPERBOWL

Rachel & Wes Chapman have volunteered their home to host our ABS Superbowl party on Sunday, Feb 6th. Kickoff will be at 5:25, so come anytime after 4:30. We figured we would grill burgers & hotdogs. Please don't feel obligated, but If you can, please sign up by Saturday with the item you can bring. Please make a comment under this post to sign up. It would probably be best if we had two people sign up for some of the items. Feel free to sign up for something even if it is not on the list. I sometimes don't think of everything! :) If you have problems, please email me and I will update the blog with what you will be bringing.

Buns
Chips
Salsa
Rotel & Cheese
Tomato (1 couple)
Lettuce (1 couple)
Cheese (1 couple)
Mayo (1 couple)
Ketchup (1 couple)
Mustard (1 couple)
Desserts
Drinks
Paper Products

If more than two people sign up for an item, please contact each other to discuss how much you will each bring.

Jenn

ABS newsletter

Please take time and read this in its entirety, some GOOD STUFF in this. Hope everyone is having a great week, see ya Sunday

Chris

A Trader – one who is willing to trade something that s/he loves for something that s/he loves more! We are asking God to raise up a faith-family who gladly and willingly trade our plans for God’s plans; who trade our infinitesimal dreams for God’s abounding plan; who trade our small investments for a life poured out for the sake of His Kingdom. How beautiful will it be for a body of Christ to trade our lives for His? To trade our fame for His? To trade our likes for one great love? There was a man who was walking along and found a treasure in a field. He gladly went and sold all that he had to purchase that field. He had discovered a first love…. an overwhelming love. He became a trader – trading things that he loved for something (or someOne) who he loved far more. (Matthew 13.44) Our ABS structure is built around the vision and passion of raising up a group of traders who become disciples living in authentic community whose lives are given for a Kingdom mission. Glory to God!

Things You Should Know….

- Awakening!

o Invitation Cards are now available in the Gathering Area (Mall)

§ These cards are business cards and they are intended to be used as a VERY easy tool for inviting purposes

o Posters are available in the Mall. We are hoping to place posters in businesses around T-Town that will allow it.

o 18 Days Launches Sunday

§ 18 Days is a united season of prayer for The Awakening

§ 18 Days involves a prayer card (available in the Gathering Area this Sunday)

· On the Prayer Card is a daily reading from the Word that we are praying for our personal lives as well as for the life of our church

§ 18 Days involves a daily devotional on our website (www.valleyviewtuscaloosa.com) and click on the ‘Blog’ link

§ During the 18 Day Journey, you will be invited to join in with some pretty amazing things (like missional projects; prayer moments; etc) via our web blog

o Awakening Dates

§ Sunday, Feb 13 – Wed, Feb 16

· Sunday Morning will be awesome services @ 9 & 10:30 with our worship team, our choir, and our pastor bringing both barrels

· Sunday evening @ 6 PM & Mon – Wed @ 6:30 PM, Kari Jobe will be lead-worshipper and Scott Dawson will be opening the Word

- Super Bowl Sunday is February 6. It’s the Steelers vs. Packers. Steel Curtain vs. Cheese-heads. It is JUST a football game… or, is it? We are encouraging our ABS groups to enjoy a community building party around the most-watched event in America. Can we make it far more than a game? How about an opportunity for others to experience group–life? A half-time moment where we share the highest value in our lives – Christ? Lots of food?? We will not have a typical service on Sunday NIGHT, Feb 6. Our students will have an on-campus party (6^th – 12^th Grades). Our children and families will gather as an ABS community. Plan a home party for your ABS. Honestly, I don’t care whether you watch the game. See this as a GREAT opportunity to build community among your ABS! Go Steelers? Go Pack? Go Jesus!!

- Experiencing God: 7 Truths….. Wednesday Nights @ Valley View continue to be amazing nights. Over the last few decades, God has used the truths of Experiencing God to awaken people’s hearts. As a result, millions have come to know God intimately, to recognize His voice, and to understand His will. God is inviting us to experience Him. Wednesday Nights @ 6 PM will continue to be life-changing and fun-filled as we wrestle with how to know and do the will of God! Experiencing God will be a remarkable study to lead us into and out of a series of services entitled ‘The Awakening’. We are praying for a church that experiences God at all times and who willingly adjust our ways to His ways. Books available for $2 in the Gathering Area on Sunday/ Wed Nights.

Training Dates:

- February 13^th – Disciple Leaders (we WILL release by 5:40 in order to be in the room for The Awakening!)

- February 20 – Community Leaders

- February 27 – Mission Leaders

Key Dates:

- Next Steps (New Members Class) – THIS SUNDAY @ 4:45 PM

- Baptism – Sunday, February 27 – Assure that all in your class have been baptized as a believer; partner with those who have not; celebrate as a class by being present and sharing in the party as one in your class in baptized into the glorious Kingdom of God.

In our hearts, Lord, in this nation
Awakening
Holy Spirit, we desire
Awakening

For You and You alone
Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing
For the world You love
Your will be done, let Your will be done in me

In Your presence, in Your power
Awakening
For this moment, for this hour
Awakening

Like the rising sun that shines
Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing
From the darkness comes a light
Awake my soul, awake my soul and sing

Awakening!

Awakening – Tomlin

Awaken us, O Lord. Awaken us to your power and presence. Awaken us to your value and your good. Awaken us to your beauty and wonder. Awaken us to our privilege to live You out before men. Awaken us to be the church that moves as one on mission for the sake of Your glory! I thank my God for you and I am so deeply grateful to be your partner in the gospel. Pray. Expect. Awaken. Live.

By Grace…. For Glory,

Mark

West Alabama Food Bank

FYI......All activities for Thursday morning with the food bank have been cancelled. We will be putting something together soon at the Food Bank. They are still in the process of moving in and setting everything up, I know the next thing we do will be to paint and possibly build the cooler unit. Keep an eye out for info, hope you all have a great week.

Thanks, Chris

Prayer Request/Praise

Hello everyone,

I have a prayer request: Olen Kizziah is having a procedure done tomorrow where they are going to look inside his lungs to see what is going on. He went in for a routine check up several weeks ago and they detected a spot that at first they thought was cancer but later came back and said that they don't know exactly what it is. It could be a bad infection etc... He is 75 years old and is still active but continues to smoke. I work with his grandson Jeremy Cole and he and I have developed a good friendship.
Praise: Last week while I was driving to work a friend who I went to high school with was on my mind. I know the Lord put him on my mind so I could pray for him. I sent him a text message letting him know that I was praying for him on my way to work. He thanked me for that and said that he could feel my prayers! Our God is so good and longs for us to call on His name. To God be the glory forever!