From the President's Pen
As we reflect on all of the activities and events that have taken place thus far in 2008, we stand in sincere gratitude to the Lord for allowing us to be part of His work in the hearts and lives of the church in Nashville. Many new and exciting things are taking shape this year as we move forward.
We held a succesful Lunch to Learn on January 31st at Maplewood High School, beginning a new pilot project to build a coalition of believers around the school to serve and love the students and staff. We are very excited about this opportunity to demonstrate Christ's love through serving this sector of our community.
Our third Pastor's Prayer Summit took place in March, with over 30 pastors in attendance and many first-time attendees. We enjoyed powerful times of worship and built strong foundations for walking more closely together with fellow ministers in the Nashvillle area.
2008 has already proven to be an exciting year for Operation Andrew, and we know that as we continue to seek God's will for this ministry, He will lead us into deeper relationship with Him and with His church. We pray that the Lord would bless you in your endeavors to serve Him, and please consider supporting us financially this year as we continue to expand the ministry.
With warm Christian greetings,
Charles McGowan
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| "LOVE Maplewood" Pilot Project
Over 40 pastors, businessmen and community leaders packed into the dining room in Maplewood High School's Vocational Building on January 31st, 2007 to hear leaders from Metro Nashville Public Schools and Maplewood's principal, Dr. Julie Williams, explain the needs of the school system and particularly, Maplewood. The attendees went away with a clear impression that the need is great and the door is open for churches to serve.
Since then a small coalition has been meeting to plan and coordinate the "LOVE Maplewood" Pilot Project. A group of pastors and churches have committed to serve the school by meeting various needs such as beautification projects, meals for the football team and student mentoring. The coalition held its official "LOVE Maplewood Kick-Off" immediately following Spring Break, when volunteers came in to greet the students as they entered the building, showing them a warm smile and a high-five, and giving them an encouraging word. We invite you to be a part of this exciting new endeavor as we seek to show one loving face of Christ to our community, and specifically the students and staff at Maplewood. If this project is succesful we hope that it will spur on other similar efforts around the city, that would result in higher graduation rates, lower crime, and the lives of students being touched, one by one.
For more information or to get involved please call 352-1805.
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"Church Beyond the Color Line" Lunch to Learn
On February 28th at Pleasant Green Baptist Church, more than 50 pastors from the Nashville area gathered to fellowship together and hear the testimony of a young author, Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove, on the topic of race and the church. Everyone enjoyed a hearty meal from Silver Sands restaurant, followed by a powerful video clip highlighting the Covenant Partnership between The Church at Grace Park and Pleasant Green Baptist Church. Dr. Alvin Miller, pastor of Pleasant Green, shared his testimony about how this partnership and his friendship with Pastor Bob Cook has been a phenomenal blessing on his life. Jonathan shared his journey from being born in "Klan Country" in the south, to becoming a deacon in a black church in a blighted area of Durham, NC. He also shared a vision for a kingdom church, with no dividing lines, that inspired and touched all in attendance. The Spirit of the Lord was heavy in the room as each person held hands and prayed together for this kingdom church to be birthed in Nashville. It was a transformational time!
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Third Pastor's Prayer Summit Held in March
On March 10-11, over 30 pastors gathered at the Church at Grace Park to worship, pray and cast vision for the city church in Nashville. It was a very srategic time, as this is the third Prayer Summit, and many pastors have already committed to walking in covenantal relationship with one another to see God's kingdom come in Nashville.
This time together was a wonderful opportunity for kingdom leaders to find rest and refreshment in God's presence. Tom White of Frontline Ministries in Oregon guided open sessions of worship and waiting on the Lord. The aim of the Summit was twofold: 1) To seek that "one thing" David cried out for (Ps. 27:4), and the "one thing" in Mary's life that Jesus commended (Lu. 10:42), and 2) Ask God to give vision for kingdom leaders in Nashville to walk and work together.
The Prayer Summits are vital, as we believe that we are in the midst of an historic, Spirit-initiated restoration of the geographic integrity of the one Church in a city or regional context (Jo. 17:21-23; Eph. 4:1-6; 1 Pet. 2:4, 5; Rom. 1:7). We also envision leaders laboring cooperatively to shepherd and disciple souls in a city or region. We believe God is wanting, by His power, not only to revive pastors personally, but also to transform life as we know it in Nashville. While there are many modes and models of transformation, we believe that the combination of an annual Prayer Summit and collaborative city-reaching endeavors offer a model that is Christ-centered, Spirit-led, relationship-based, and sustainable over time. One Church, expressed through a healthy diversity of congregations and kingdom ministries, touching a city with the power of the gospel.
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Upcoming Events
National Day of Prayer: Downtown Expression
This event on Thursday, May 1st, is an opportunity to pray for our homes, our cities, our nation and our government leaders from 11:30am to 12:30pm at the Sommet Center Plaza in downtown Nashville. Join Samoa-born brothers, The Katinas, as they unite with clergy and leaders of cultural and denominational diversity to pray for the needs of our city and our nation. This event is co-sponsored by The Operation Andrew Group and the YMCA of Middle Tennessee. For more information and free resources, visit www.ymcamidtn.org or www.operationandrew.org.
Operation Andrew 3rd Annual Golf Challenge It's that time of year again... Operation Andrew will hold its 3rd Annual Golf Challenge on Tuesday, June 17 at King's Creek Golf Club! If you are interested in playing or putting together a team please call 352-1805 and we will send you a player packet. This is going to be our most exciting tournament yet, with great food, great prizes, and great people! Come out and support Operation Andrew on June 17!
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| A BIG Thank You to Our January, February and March Contributors!
15th Avenue Baptist Church
Adams Construction
Alan Lowe
Albert Lemmons
Alicia Griffin
Bethel Church of the Nazarene
Bill Turner
Bodie & Associates, Inc.
Born Again Church
Charles McGowan
Christ Church
Christ Community Church
City Church of East Nashville
Clearview Baptist Church
Corinthian Baptist Church
Daniel Herring
Danny Herron
David Gould
Dominique Miller
Don Finto
Edna Salyer
Eleanor Graves
El Shaddai Christian Church
Elisabeth Umboh
Forest Hills Baptist Church
Fred Ammons
Gene Mims
Goddlettsville Southern Methodist Church
Harpeth Hills Church of Christ
Henry Coles, Jr.
Higher Ground Church
Hope Center
Hosea Community Church
Howard Harvey
Ingraham/Jarman Foundation
Jack Faris
Jimmy Pickel
Joanna Duco
John & Janet Slayden
John Negley
Jon & Becky Davis
Judson Baptist Church
Larry Yarborough
Lee Company
Lee Jennings
Manuel Licon
Marty Dickens
Marvin Nischan
Maurice Harris
Messenger Fellowship, Inc.
Michael Hancock
Mike Arrington
New Hope Community Church
New River Fellowship
New Song Christian Fellowship
Otter Creek Church of Christ
Owen Shell
Robert Cook
Ron Carrier
Rusty Sumrall
Sharon Shaub
Steve & Karen Robinson
Steve & Mary Sparks
The Caleb Company
The Church at Grace Park
The Community Foundation
The People's Church
Thelma Fisher
Thomas & Pamela Cartmell
Willa Jan Little
Woodmont Hills Church of Christ
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GROUP WORKCAMPS
Calling all pastors!
If you had unlimited manpower for a summer, how could you build your ministry? Group Workcamps is an organization that offers intensive hands-on service projects for teenagers as an alternative week-long camp experience, and they are coming to Nashville! These kids are ready to serve you, your congregation and your community, and they are insured by the organization.
Some possible service projects are:
- residential homeowner service projects for homebound church members
- making and distributing food baskets to needy families
- organizing and leading small Bible club programs, sports camps and VBS
- Sorting food, clothes, or other donations for service agencies
For more information on becoming a Partner Organization with Group Workcamps this summer, contact Julie West at (615) 579-0104.
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PRAYER NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENT
The newly formed Nashville Prayer Network is beginning a process of calling our participating churches to gain information on the prayer activity that is taking place in each congregation. A member of the NPN council will be calling over the next 2-3 months to simply ask if there is a prayer leader in the church, and if it would be possible to speak with them briefly. This is part of an effort to build a comprehensive database of prayer activity in the city. For details on the NPN please see below. Thank you and we look forward to speaking with you about this important effort!
What is Nashville Prayer Network (NPN)?
- A network of prayer leaders serving the greater Nashville area.
- A uncomplicated organization structure, database and website facilitated by and in cooperation with The Operation Andrew Group
- A means that will allow body of Christ to be in a state of readiness in order to quickly call the body of Christ together for prayer as needed
- A means to help facilitate city-wide prayer throughout body of Christ in greater Nashville for city-wide events
- A communication vehicle for discovering, encouraging, informing and celebrating prayer in the community
- A vehicle to build more prayer in our churches so that churches would become houses of prayer
- A means to promote unity in body of Christ in greater Nashville
Who is the Nashville Prayer Network?
- A network of prayer leaders helping to connect people in prayer on behalf of the body of Christ in the greater Nashville area.
- Prayer leaders are individuals who help facilitate prayer for other groups of intercessors.
- The NPN is facilitated by The Operation Andrew Group with spiritual oversight provided by senior pastors/elders in the city.
- The NPN Council exists to support, serve and operationalize the vision of the NPN.
What Nashville Prayer Network is not?
- Another monthly or weekly prayer group
- An attempt to stifle what individual groups and churches are already doing.
- An attempt to get everyone doing same thing or coming to one big group
- An organization that directs the activities of any individual prayer group
- An authority group over prayer
NASHVILLE PRAYER NETWORK FOUNDATIONAL PRINCIPLES
- Connecting people for purpose of prayer
- Built on relationships
- Built on inclusion, unity and diversity
- Built on trust, integrity, humility and mutual respect
- Representative of all denominations and styles of prayer
- Supports the preservation/integrity of existing prayer groups
- Built on simplicity
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