Me Too

I just finished reading Jesus Wants to Save Christians by Robb Bell and Don Colden.   On page 151 in the chapter "blood on the doorsteps of the universe" they quote writer Anne Lamott, "the most powerful sermon in the world is two words:  'me too'."

Me too.  When you're struggling, when you are hurting, wounded, limping, doubting, questioning, barely hanging on, moments away from another relapse, and somebody can identify with you - someone knows the temptations that are at your door, somebody has felt the pain that you are feeling, when someone can look at you in the eyes and say, 'me too', and they actually mean it - it can save you.  When you aren't judged, or lectured or looked down upon, but somebody demonstrates that they get it, that they know what it's like, that you aren't alone, that's 'me too'.

Love you guys so much.

Darrel

Christmas Party Sunday 21st

Sunday Night December 21st Southside City Church will share dinner together at Mexican Inn on 8th Ave. Just South of Magnolia.  We want everyone to join us.  So make your plans to be there at 6:00 p.m., or call us if you need a ride.

EGG Rolls from Heaven?

Last night about 50 or so folks gathered for worship and dinner - a wonderful time of worship. Catrina's tranformation story meant so much to everyone. It was great to have Jay back with us for a Sunday, along with his parents. AND THE EGG ROLLS! TUNG out did himself making home made egg rolls and spring rolls....the best i've ever tasted. AND WOW to the chicken spagetti from mom and belinda....all the great desserts and oh my goodness, the laughter....

you won't want to miss next Sunday, Dec. 14th. Join us at 6:00 for worship and dinner following.

on the 21st, we will have our Southside City Church Christmas party at Mexican Inn on 8th Ave. Everyone plan on attending....6:00 p.m.

Love,

Darrel

An Amazing First Sunday

Sunday, November 23rd, Southside City Church held our first weekly worship gathering, meeting at College Avenue Baptist Church building in the "near" Southside district of Fort Worth. We enjoyed a great meal prepared by Steve and Carolyn, desserts and salads from the crew that were amazing! Hearing testimonies from Bobby and Linda, prayer for Burkina Faso with Jennifer and Catrina....it was all so, so wonderful. Zack led us in worship that was powerful and intimate.

Look for pictures to come and plan on joining us this coming Sunday, November 30th for worship at 6:00 p.m. and dinner to follow.

Southside City Church - Sunday Worship beginning in November

I am very excited to announce that Southside City Church will be launching our Sunday worship gatherings on November 23rd, with a fellowship meal starting at 5:00 p.m. and worship at 6:00 p.m.

Everyone is invited - so mark your calendars for the special evening. SSCC worship gatherings will be held at the College Avenue Baptist Church, 1400 College Ave. Fort Worth, TX 76104. If you exit Rosedale and head West, turn left on College Avenue and head South for a few blocks the church is on the right. Directional signs will be posted so you will know where to enter the building.

Oh What a Night!

Hopefully everyone is rested after a great weekend of moving and outreach. We estimate that about 85 folks particpated in the community cookout, sponsored by Southside City Church this past Saturday. My guess is Steve and Bubba cooked about 300 sausage on a stick. Lot's of folks from Samaritan House came out for the fun and food, as well as several families and lot's of children from the neighborhood.

Thanks to SSCC team for your hard work and commitment to consistent, compassionate care and community!

I'm posting several pictures here from Saturday.

Darrel

COOKOUT RESCHEDULED DUE TO STORM

The neighborhood cookout has been rescheduled for Saturday, September 20th at 6:00 p.m. Fairmount Park. Please make note of the change and make plans to participate next weekend. We are sorry for any inconvenience - but hope to meet you there next Saturday. Remember, bring your lawn chairs.

Have a great week,

Darrel Auvenshine

Fairmount Park Cookout - Saturday, September 13th

Be sure to mark your calendars for our next night of worship at Fairmount Park. We'll gather at 6:00 p.m. in hopes of building friendships with folks in the community. There'll be food and drinks and games for the kids to play - hopefully an open house at the "girls place", (no promises) and a chance to really connect.

The next couple of Tuesday nights we'll be gathering at the park at 7:00 as usual, but will be passing out invitations to the cookout!

A mother's perspective

I received a note from Belinda this morning, sharing her perspective from last night's supper club at Samaritan house. I thought you all may enjoy reading what she wrote. Thanks for your faithful service to the residents at Samaritan House. Last night was an absolute blast!

Darrel - Last night, as always, was such a blessing to me. I just love being
at Samaritan House with our new friends.

I want to share something that was sooo cool. Hannah and Andi..recognizing
some of the residents by name and giving hugs. Residents knowing their names
and getting hugs. It's awesome. Reminds me of us when we were kids. Mom
and Dad visiting the elderly in our church and the nursering homes. We got
to know those people and love them like our own family and they needed and
loved us back just as much. I'm so thankful that my kids are getting to
experience that kind of love. God is sooooo good. Love you.
Have a great day.
Belinda

A great night in Dripping Springs

Want to give a shout out to our friends at Church of the Springs in Dripping Springs Texas, south of Austin. Steven, Kim, Michele and I headed out to Dripping after morning worship and enjoyed a great time with Bob and Robbie Cave, Laura and her family, friends, Carol and Brian Burns....awesome....then that evening we worshipped at COTS where I shared about our mission opportunities in Burkina Faso. The church was alive and the Spirit of God brought tremendous blessing. The youth there are on FIRE! Guys and gals, hope to see you again soon.

I'll give a full report on Tuesday night at Lifegroup.

Tuesday Nights and Upcoming Supper Club

We will continue our Tuesday Night Life Group at Fairmount Park at 7:00 p.m. Make plans to join us soon. Bring something cool to drink and a lawn chair.

Our next Supper Club at Samaritan House is on Wednesday, August 13th. We plan on serving Taco Salad and all that goes with that. We're also looking to provide a special gift for each resident. Mark your calendar and join us. More information will come soon.

Reflecting

So today I'm in North Carolina at a great conference where people are getting real with God and with one another. It's an opportunity for me to rest and be refreshed as I set aside extended time to be quiet and wait on God. The corporate times of worship have been glorious. And so while others are attending workshops in the morning and afternoon, I'm taking time to process a great deal of what happened in my life while in Burkina Faso West Africa. I'm so thankful for these days away from the normal busy schedule to have opportunity to really consider all that God is doing.
I've thought about the last Supper Club a week ago when our team joined with the Nstep team from Alsbury to provide dinner and friendship for the residents of Samaritan House in Fort Worth and realize more and more that we must continue serving in Christ name those who have such great needs, here at home and also in places like Burkina Faso.
When I return home, I pray that we will have an opportunity to share together face to face.

Darrel

The end of a day

Hope this post doesn't go too long - as I am quite ready to head home and to bed for the night. It's been a long weekend, a long day. You know what I mean? I'm looking back over the events of the weekend have to say of all the wonderful times I shared with friends, times in worship and hearing the the Word of God taught, the most special time was the couple of hours where I just got alone again with Jesus and heard His pleasure in my life. Have you ever had someone ask you the question, "what's your pleasure"? That's what I found myself asking the Lord this weekend. "What is Your pleasure with me?" Whew! It's a little overwhelming. On one level to really believe that Father God takes pleasure in me. I can't comprehend it. I'm not down on myself, but I do know me pretty well and, well some of you know me pretty well also...and there's definitely reason to question how God can take plesure in me. But I trust HE really does.

On another level, and more so what was happening in my heart this weekend is that God can and will do what He pleases with me. I hit a place of wanting to just return to safety. You know the feeling - vision and call and ministry and obedience is so, so thrilling and frightful all at the same time - I'm a go go go go go kinda guy and then I hit a wall....like I did on Thursday night...I think it was Thursday. I just wanted to retreat back to what is safe and familiar...no Africa trip, no starting new churches and ministries.....so I told the Lord that, and the Spirit responded to me as I lay there in bed, "do you want to go to sleep tonight? or would you like to wrestle through the night?" I surrendered quickly - I really do trust Him with my life and I really don't want to return to "safety" you know....so anyway.....the next morning I woke with a refreshing word from the Lord.....he's opening doors and allowing me and others who are close, to enter into Kingdom ministry here and all over the world. I must walk through those doors. To come to the end of my life one day and say, "I had the opportunity, but chose safety", how sad.

O.K. I hope this makes at least a little sense......and even if it doesn't you get a glimpse into what's going on in this boys heart.

Love yall.

d.

Change of Date for Worship Gathering

We scheduled a worship gathering for the 14th of June, well that evening several of us will be in Waco for Noah and Natalie's wedding rehearsal...which is on the 15th....so.....we will reschedule for another special time of worship and prayer prior to our team leaving for Burkina Faso West Africa. We leave on the 20th, so watch for an email regarding a time of worship....

American Idol

O.K. So i started watching American Idol this season for the first time, somewhere around the top 12. Never interested before - I have to admit I was hooked this go round. And so last night was the final night with David Cook who I was personally rooting for) the winner! I was amazed to see the amazing celebration at the end as David sang, "time of my life". Applause, standing ovation, confetti, screaming...it was awesome and I was equally as thrilled for him....and yet I really no nothing about David.....

My heart was a bit overwhelmed on two levels so I thought I'd share those with you this morning. First of all, I immediately thought of the celebration in heaven when one person comes into the kingdom of God.....such as my 6 year old niece Hannah who recently gave her life to Jesus.....WOW! Is there anything greater? I don't think so.

Secondly, I was moved to think of all of the people in my life who mean the world to me.....my family, my close friends, all of those the Lord has allowed me to connect with through ministry and especially those who I know struggle so terribly and all for the glory of God....I want to celebrate all of you today and if I could fill a room with 7000 people all cheering as you take the stage I would do so.....I deeply believe God wants us to celebrate one another more extravagantly and more often.

Upcoming Worship Gathering and Supper Club

Our next Supper Club at Samaritan house is June 11th. Be sure to set that evening aside. We'll make special plans for the evening, working together as a team to make it a wonderful evening for the residents and staff.

Our next worship gathering is Saturday, June 14th at Fairmount Park. As always, we will gather early for prayer walking at about 5:30, followed by a meal (I'm thinking let's have some watermelon and fried chicken) and then worshipping together.

As you meet folks out and about in the southside community, be sure to invite them to join us.

Have a great week,

Darrel

The sound of rain

Wow! So i'm sitting here in my office just taking care of detail things, and the storm is blowing in, and the sound of the rain is amazing - it's like relaxation for free - and as quickly as the rain comes, so also comes the refreshing presence of the Lord when we quiet ourselves and stay still long enough to know He is with us.....

Let it rain! Open the flood-gates of heaven.

Worship Gathering/Cook Out Saturday May 10th

Everyone make plans to join us on Saturday May 10th at Fairmount Park. If you plan on prayer walking, meet at the park at 5:30 p.m.....others will begin gathering around 6:30 to prepare the hotdogs/hamburgers etc. We'll eat at 7:00 and then have a time of worship. Be sure to invite friends to join us....

Fairmount Park is easy to find, from Rosedale turn left on Henderson and just stay on Henderson for several blocks until you come to the park.....

Tuesday Life Group at Fairmount Park

Starting last Tuesday, we have moved the Lifegroup that was meeting at Kim's apartment, to Fairmount Park. The weather has been perfect, so come enjoy and evening together with friends. Stop by and pick up fast food - and meet us at the park at 7:00 p.m.

Fairmount Park is easy to find. Come west on Rosedale, turn left on Henderson. Cross through Magnolia - the park is about a block south of Magnolia.

Invite a friend to join us.

Darrel

New Friends

I came away from Samaritan House Supper Club last night with new friends. That's what I was hoping for. Our paths have crossed with some amazing men and women through this connection. Dinner was great - but the friendship was life-giving. By the way, thanks to the great team from Southside City Church for giving it all you got.....we ended up with 20 adults, 3 youth and 3 children serving...love that it was a family thing. I'd like to hear some of your thoughts about the night...so post away....

Who's life will be changed?

So Wednesday this week, our Southside team will be hosting our first "supper club" for Samaritan House in Fort Worth. SH is a place where people who are infected with HIV/AIDS can live as long as they need a place. It's cool that SH allows outside groups like ours to come in and prepare and serve dinner to the residents. Wondering who's life will be changed by serving dinner? I think the answer came to me this morning - MINE. Isn't that so true - when we think we're the one's serving, it usually turns out that we walk away changed from our experience. Here's a quote from my friend Robbie Cave who is praying for our time at Samartian House tomorrow...I think she sums it up....
Darrel,

Just wanted to tell you guys that I am praying for you and rejoicing with you as you head into Wednesday's dinner with Jesus. This is going to be an emotional time and I am asking the Lord that you will all see the angels that are walking through the building with you and ministering over you and those you are serving. This blesses God's heart in ways we don't have words for. Thank you.
Robbie

More to come

Morning all! By the end of this week - we'll have things together here so you can read about Southside City Church as well as share your experiences and comments with us.