I miss you.

There are many things in life that I would enjoy missing:
- wisdom teeth extraction
- school (when I was younger)
- falling on my tailbone while snowboarding (happened yesterday)
- breaking my collar bone while playing football
- ____________________ (you can probably fill in your own blank)

One thing, however, that I'm not enjoying missing is church at Awaken. Tonight will be the second service that I'll miss.

The good news is: church goes on without me! That's a good reminder for everyone at church as well as for me.
Here's some more good news: you're in for a treat while I'm gone.

Last Saturday, if you were there, you got to hear from Pastor Chris Edmondson of One Church. He's a great guy with a big heart for the Lord, the city, and Awaken Church! It's very refreshing to meet a guy like Chris who is ready to help any time something is needed. If you didn't hear his message from last Saturday about "influence," make sure to get it from the podcast or the teaching archive on the Awaken website! Joining him, leading worship, was Jamie Worley, another great guy from Clarksville with a similar love for the Lord and heart for the city. He leads worship at Hilldale Family Life Center each week and plays around the city in different venues.

This Wednesday (TONIGHT), you'll get to hear from one of my best friends, Nate Witiuk, who most of you know from church. I was excited to give him a chance to teach and he's really looking forward to sharing some things that the Lord is teaching him. As you know, he and his wife, Jenn, moved out to Clarksville with us to start Awaken and they have been indispensable to the church! I'm really looking forward to hearing from him and you should be too. In addition to Nate teaching, Kevin Riner, another local worship leader and good friend, from Xtreme Church, will be there to lead worship. He's a great guy that has also been a helping hand to the church and has led worship for us once before.

Long story short, DON'T MISS TONIGHT'S SERVICE! It will be a special communion service as we look ahead to the new year and look back to Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for us!

Although I don't like missing services, I'm thankful that things continue just as well (maybe better?) without me. I'm praying for Awaken and thankful for all those who are lending a hand to help things run smoothly. I look forward to being back with you and back in Philippians this upcoming Saturday! See you soon!

Inside the Mind of a Church Planter

Church Planters are their own breed. Or at least that's what some people think. I've questioned myself before: "Kevin, why leave when you have it so good to start something that you don't know if it will work?" Great question, Kevin. Glad you asked...yourself. The answer: every church plant is different and every church planter is different.

Over the last few weeks, I've been on contact with some other guys who have recently planted churches. Some very recently, others, a couple years ago. I asked them all the same 9 questions. Over the next few days, you'll have a chance to peer inside the mind and hearts of some church planters. You'll see their vision for their church, heart for the Lord and the people of the city they live in, as well as hear their different takes on lessons they've learned so far, how people can get plugged in to their church, and more.

I've enjoyed reading their thoughts and I'm really looking forward to sharing them with you. Stay tuned here this week for some great insight into the mind of a church planter. Also, if you know of someone interested in planting a church or just a person that would be interested in reading about it, make sure they know to swing by here for some food for thought. Hope you enjoy it.

AWAKEN

Awaken Church of Clarksville - Awakening people to the relevance of God's Word and equipping them for His service.

We live in a world that believes the Bible is outdated and the church is irrelevant. Awaken Church is out to prove the opposite.

Our first Bible study will be held Saturday night, September 12 at 7pm. We're still working on a location, so stay tuned to awakenchurch.org for more info.