Tag Archive - community makeover

Creative Chaos: Community Makeover

July 31, 2008 in creativity with 137 Comments

Carlos over at ragamuffinsoul.com has asked his readers to chime in each Thursday with random examples of creativity in action. We call it “Creative Chaos.”

It’s been a while since I wrote a Creative Chaos post…but this week was a no-brainer.
Last week was a historical one in our community. In the year 1996—the year before our church opened its doors—there were roughly 5000 people attending church each week in Paulding County, Georgia. Last weekend, there were that many Paulding County residents at a worship service in the Sam’s Club parking lot in Hiram.
The worship service was the capstone event to a long-anticipated event that joined 8 churches (different races, different denominations, different sizes) together to do 250+ service projects in the community. There were over 3000 people serving.
I’ve already written several posts that show photos, the YouTube video, etc… I won’t rewrite it all. Here are some random facts (mainly about the worship service).
• The worship service event cost less than $6000
• We used 48′ aluminum tractor-trailer beds that were borrowed from a local business for the largest portion of our stage
• Sam’s Club was a DREAM to work with. Our liaison to the store management asked what last minute details we needed to cover before we pulled off the lot… His response was that we needed to let him know how much more of the lot we needed next time.
• Last year we did a truly “extreme” home makeover for the Weaver family. This year, they were serving on another project…cooking a huge meal for the team, painting, building. Talk about “pay it forward.”
• It was amazing to see how committed people were to their projects… Working on through word of death in the family, heavy downpours, sickness, contractors not coming through as expected. Amazing.

Added some Comm Makeover photos

July 30, 2008 in churches doing it right, photography with Comments Off

Added a few photos to the Comm Makeover gallery that were taken by my friend Matt Yung. He is a much better photographer than I.

Photos from the Community Makeover Worship Service [added photo]

July 29, 2008 in churches doing it right, wow with 2 Comments

5000 people. At least 10 Paulding County churches represented. An hour and a half of one of the most powerful moments I’ve ever experienced worshiping with other believers…and I’ve experienced some powerful moments.

It followed a weekend of over 3000 people serving through more than 250 service projects throughout the area. Click Here to see all of my posts from Community Makeover. Also visit the Engage Atlanta website.

[Sidenote... 5000 people at this one event. That is more people in one Sam's Club parking lot worshiping together than the total population of all the churches in Paulding county when West Ridge Church opened its doors in 1996.]

[Sidenote 2... I'm still waiting for some more photos from a 'real photographer'...so hopefully I'll have more shots to show soon.]

The gallery’s pages don’t work seemlessly when you click “next” at the last photo of each page. So be sure to view all the pages. there are about 60 photos here.

Community Makeover Video

July 28, 2008 in churches doing it right with 2 Comments

Here’s the recap video Jeffrey put together from the footage taken at some of the sites. Keep in mind that there were over 250 projects, and over 3000 people serving (those are confirmed numbers…not estimates), so this is a very limited snapshot of what happened.

Community Makeover…recap to come

July 28, 2008 in churches doing it right with 1 Comment

Last night was amazing… Absolutely amazing. I’ve been recovering since last night, and I’m trying to get caught up today. I’ll give an extensive recap and post tons of pictures asap.

Added Photo Galleries of Community Makeover

July 27, 2008 in churches doing it right with Comments Off

I’ve added some photo galleries to the 3 posts from yesterday’s site visits. Here, here, and here. (Scroll down to the bottom of the post)

The setup has begun… Less than 24 hours!

July 26, 2008 in churches doing it right with Comments Off

The trailer stages...almost in place!

The trailer stages...almost in place!

I am absolutely pumped that in less than 24 hours, the single largest gathering of Christians in the history of Paulding County will be happening right smack dab in the heart of Hiram, GA, and MY TEAM will be the men and women making it happen. I’m stoked.

I left the site a couple of hours ago after meeting with our logistics liaison, Jud, our technical director, Chris, a couple of super nice fellas from JLT Trucking in Cartersville (they have donated the use of two flatbed tractor trailers to be used for the main stage, and they have treated me like I was a high-paying regular customer since day one), and the guys from PDH Systems in Acworth who have gone way above and beyond what we asked for, and have donated whatever we’ve needed but couldn’t afford…they’re providing our audio, lighting, some staging, stage roof/awning thing, truss, lifts…you name it.

I can’t wait to see the completed setup when I arrive Sunday AM.

We had to change the orientation of the stage at the very…VERY last minute. But I’m very pleased with the final decision.

So at 7:30pm, if you’re driving through Hiram along the main strip in front of Home Depot, Sam’s, Target, or any of the stores or restaurants in between, you WILL see and hear a few thousand Christians singing to the One who made them.

It shall be quite spectacular. :)

Community Makeover: Melissa and Hannah Brooke’s Yard [Photo Gallery Added]

July 26, 2008 in churches doing it right with 1 Comment

Melissa lost her husband Jim to a motorcycle accident on September 18 of last year. He had only owned the bike for an hour or two when someone turned across his lane causing the accident. Their daughter Hannah Brooke was only 3 or 4.

A group of men from West Ridge brought in loads of dirt, a bobcat, a trencher, and lots of shovels and strong backs to fix drainage problems in their yard. It was a massive project that Jim had begun, but Melissa completing the project on her own was not an option. These men are taking the load off of Melissa’s shoulders. They couldn’t be more excited.

This is the body of Christ, people.

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Community Makeover: McKenna Farms [Photo Gallery Added]

July 26, 2008 in churches doing it right with 1 Comment

This is McKenna Farms. Jesse is a physical therapist and a horse owner. When she realized the need for more occupational and speech therapy centers in Atlanta, she ceized the opportunity to make a difference on the west side of Atlanta, and to merge 2 of her life’s passions.

After purchasing a friend’s horse farm, she began McKenna Farms where dozens of volunteers and therapists now work with children from all over the area.

This weekend, teams from West Ridge and a local football team are building a retaining wall (80-feet long) to make possible a future covered arena, and to keep the current barn from washing away. They are also trenching to improve water drainage from the riding fields.

A team from Church @ The Ridge is building a huge sensory. Very cool.

I think a team is also clearing a horse trail through the woods.

No small potatoes at this site. I’ll add some more photos later that show more of the facility.

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Community Makeover: Steele Cares Boys’ Home [Photo Gallery Added]

July 26, 2008 in churches doing it right with 3 Comments

Bobbie and Roger Steele retired not too long ago. What did they choose to do with their one and only lives? They decided to take in foster kids.

Right now they only have room for 2 or 3. But today, scores of volunteers arrived to change that. They added a screened in porch, a storage shed, a basketball court, paint throughout the house, a computer/learning room, picnic tables… The list goes on.

Next stop… McKenna Farms.

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