September 7, 2010

I Heart The Plaza

Posted by Alastair

What is behind “I Heart The Plaza?” It’s quite simple really. Our transition from an overflow venue for Herndon to its own multi-site campus is an expression of our love for the community that is forming at The Plaza. We want to do, and will do, everything we can to equip and love this community. That is why treating The Plaza as an overflow venue was not enough. We definitely need to open up more seats at Herndon, but our love for The Plaza is not solely for our own people.

Sure, we love The Plaza as a location. It’s a little messy and a little worn, just like us. Its vibe is naturally welcoming which creates a unique opportunity for inviting people to, or back to, a community of faith. But our love is not for the venue itself.

Our love for The Plaza is a natural expression of Summit’s heartbeat. We want to create biblically functioning communities that reach people with the love of Christ. The Plaza is a strategic landmark and a symbol of a community that needs Jesus. Herndon’s services continue to fill up quickly. Do you know someone that needs to hear the message of Jesus? That is why we love The Plaza.

We’re asking a team to join us in ‘hearting’ The Plaza. This is not merely a tricky ploy to open up seats at Herndon (although it is a helpful side effect). We recognize the unique opportunity that is before us. Everyone longs to be a part of something greater than themselves. We are invited to participate in God’s mission of reaching the world. We can join God in the renewal of all things (ourselves included). Who wouldn’t want to be a part of that?

We hope that every single person who commits to “Team Plaza” (or Team Awesome) gets to experience the joy of helping someone take their next right step towards Jesus. We hope for a community that will multiply to twice its size in the next year. But this is not for the sake of numbers. That is too small of a dream. No, we long to see this happen so that we may join the rejoicing in heaven when a person returns home to God. I don’t know about you, but I get excited at imagining this and long to see everyone reunited to God through the love of Jesus.

This is no easy calling, but we are excited to witness how God will move in the next year. I can think of nothing more exciting, or more worthy of dedicating my life to, than the gospel. Jesus is alive. We must pass this message on.

May 27, 2010

Eight Reasons Why

Posted by Garry

Eight reasons why I love Summit Waterford:

8. People are coming early, and staying late to set-up and teardown so that people can come to worship together. Galatians 6:9-10

7. People are worshiping together. Psalm 22:22

6. People are taking the steps to deepen their relationships with Christ and each other through connecting in groups, and making their faith public through baptism. Ephesians 4:15-16

5. New people are coming to check out Summit at the Waterford campus every week. Acts 2:42-47

4. New faces are becoming familiar faces. Matthew 20:29-34

3. People are giving of their time, talents, and resources to make Summit Waterford the place it was intended by God to be. Philippians 2:5-7

2. Children are being told they matter to God and have a part to play in his story. Mark 9:36-37

1. Adults are being told they matter to God and have a part to play in his story. John 1:1-14

May 4, 2010

Waterford and niceSERVE

Posted by Garry

Being in community with you is an absolute joy. I am so amazed to continue to see God moving and people responding at Summit Church Waterford. Your willingness to serve, and take next right steps in learning, loving and living the way of Jesus is so impressive. Very early in the process of moving Summit Waterford from vision to reality we said that for us to be the community we are called by God to be we all needed to pour in and roll our sleeves up and get to work. That is being done. I am blessed to see it every week. You are being the hands and feet of Jesus to establish Summit Waterford as a place where people can come and be shown they matter to God. Thank you.

But the work continues. There are more people yet to meet Christ. There are still people in our community that are hurting and need someone to reach out to them. That is why we are not comfortable staying within the four walls of our Sunday services. We want to live our faith out (Micah 6:8). We want to engage in a lifestyle of attaching to the needs of others in the Waterford area. To that end, we continue the process of building relationships with organizations on the east side of Orlando in hopes of participating in the work to improve our city and glorify Christ.

This leads to two questions:
1. Do you know an non-profit organizations who we could partner with for our next niceSERVE event on Saturday, July 10th?
This could be an organization that you have volunteered with. As a community of faith, we want to be a part of your efforts, and the efforts of the organization.

2. Do you know of any needs in your community?
These could be great projects that address the specific needs you see around you.

No thoughts are bad thoughts, and no suggestions are bad suggestions. Consider this your opportunity to shape the niceSERVE and the local service of Summit Waterford.

Email me!

April 21, 2010

Serving at Summit

Posted by Jessica

This past Sunday we hosted our second Volunteer Preview at the Herndon campus and The Plaza. It was a wonderful day. We had 122 people attend and over 90 of those turn in interest forms letting us know areas they would like to serve.

Helping people get plugged into serving at Summit is one of my favorite parts of my job. This is because there is a volunteer opportunity for everyone. We want you to use your unique gifts and talents when serving at Summit. Do you like getting to know people? Are you an actor or performer? Are you technically savvy? Do you enjoy administrative work?

There are still opportunities to serve! Check out the SERVE NOW tab on our website. You will find the categories of service opportunities and you can sign up right there!

I look forward to helping you take your next right step in serving at Summit!

January 8, 2010

Go To Africa!

Posted by Communications

A few years ago Isaac challenged all of us to Pray, Get Educated and Go, and since that charge, nearly 200 people have faithfully journeyed to Africa with Summit Church! It’s super exciting to look back through the years and see how ordinary people were used in extraordinary ways to bring about remarkable change, and it’s even more exciting to look ahead to this year and get pumped about what this missions season will look like in the life of our church!

Did you miss the November Africa Interest Meeting?
If you’re thinking and praying about going to Africa with Summit, and were unable to attend the November 2009 meeting, please meet us in the Annex at 1:45 p.m. on Sunday, January 10th.

There will be another Africa Interest Meeting, where you’ll be able to learn more about Malawi and Sierra Leone (the two African countries to which Summit is sending teams in 2010), Children of the Nations (our ministry partner), what to expect from your time in each country as well as dates and costs of each team.

Malawi: March Team
The March Team to Malawi is gearing up! Our first team meeting is this Sunday, January 10, at 4 p.m. in the Annex. If you’re going to Malawi in March, please attend this meeting with your application and deposit in tow.

Download an application.

Please email missions@summitconnect.org if you have any questions, and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday!