NewSpring Church Blog

NewSpring Live launched last Sunday, offering a live video feed from our Anderson campus at 9:15 & 11:15 a.m. and 4 & 6 p.m. We’re pumped about helping our attenders worship when they can’t make it to church, but we’re always amazed to see how many people across the world are being strengthened for service in their local churches and growing in intimacy with Jesus, too.

To celebrate, here’s a story from 17-year-old Georgia resident, Kristen, who found healing with God after the devastating lost of her friend through NewSpring on the web.

“I was at a New Years Eve party with a ton of my Christian friends and having a blast. At 11:30 I received the news that my friend, Michael, was in a car accident, he was on his way back to school in Athens, and he didn’t make it. My heart sunk. I broke down into tears and could hardly breath. I couldn’t believe that my friend, who I had spent two summers with, was gone. ... All I could think of was “Why God!? Why??” ... I was so angry at God for taking my friend away from this earth, I didn’t want to pray I didn’t even want to go to Church! Why should I when God took away that person that had changed my life.

For a while I was so distant and angry towards [God]. But I began watching NewSpring with my mom. There wasn’t a certain sermon that talked about how to handle a death of a friend, or how to be able to carry on with my life after this. But there was always a certain spirit in it. Every sermon that was given had a message that spoke to me that said it was OK to be mad; it was OK to question why, but you HAVE to trust in God who will fix everything!

NewSpring has reconnected me to God in every way possible. I know now that no matter what you are going through God conquers it all. One of my favorite verses is Revelation 21:3-4: “One day i will wipe away every tear from your eyes and will take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth.” This verse gives me strength and hope because I can’t wait for that day to come!! Thank you so much for telling me it’s OK and to hold on.”

Every believer has a story of God’s rescue. Tell us how he moved in your life at NewSpring Church by sending an email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The local church is the hope of the world, so we’re always pumped to hear when God has used NewSpring teaching available on the web to lead someone to a local church where they can build up a body of believers.

That’s the story of Carrie, a mom of three, who found out about our online teaching resources from her cousin. She sent us this thank-you from her home in Southern Indiana ...

” ... I love how “in your face” Perry and the rest of the pastors are. I am now on my sixth series. From watching your videos and prodding from the Holy Spirit, I have started attending a local church in my home town, and after watching the “Five Lies of the Devil” series, have decided to be baptized. My 8-year-old has also decided to be baptized with me on March 14, 2010. I know the glory belongs to Jesus, but I wanted to send an encouragement to NewSpring to let you know that you are reaching people for Christ AROUND THE WORLD. So thank you and God speed.”

Do you have a story about how Jesus has moved through NewSpring in your life or the lives of your friends? Send them to us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Your stories encourage us, and encourage others to give glory to God in everything.

Anderson attender Sarra Neshan sent us this story of how she met Christ at NewSpring.

“... People had kept telling me how great NewSpring was ... My doctor was actually a member of NewSpring, and I’ll never forget after my check up he asked if I was attending anywhere, and I said no, and he pulled out his prescription pad, and wrote me a prescription. It said “NewSpring Anderson” and had the times of the services. I really wish I would have kept that, because it would mean so much to me now. It was just what the Dr. ordered! That was almost 2 years ago. ...

“This (past) summer, my life starting going even more downhill than it was before. I felt completely hopeless. I had gotten in a relationship with an older guy at 16 (he was 24), I moved in with him at 17 and I had 2 kids by the time I was 22. We weren’t married but of course always said we were planning on it. It wasn’t the typical situation, he had a really good job and I got to stay home and shop, and play “housewife”. I knew that no matter how well I had it, I was still living in sin. We both had problems with faithfulness, and there was so much anger and pain in the relationship that I felt like I had nowhere to go.

“I watched a webservice and then decided to come to NewSpring the following week. I was so nervous ... I sat in the back, but not too far back, I didn’t want to look out of place or draw attention to myself.  ... After 5 minutes at NewSpring, I knew I would come back. I received Christ after “God Will Never Put More On You Than You Can Handle” (5 lies of the devil) Things were still bad at home. ... He finally left the last week in August. Here I was, 22 and with 2 small kids. I was devastated.

“Right after I got saved, I took part in the spontaneous baptism on Sept. 13. If you knew me before, you would say I would NEVER even come to church alone, much less go get baptized in front of so many people and not care. It was one of the best days of my life. I did the membership class the following week, joined the church, started volunteering with Fuse, and the LOTproject. I’ve joined an AMAZING small group/discipleship group with some of the most awesome girls I’ve ever met. I never knew true friendship until now. It’s been a whirlwind experience, so much has happened. I KNOW that this is where I belonged all along.

“I still don’t have a job, or an education because I never needed one before now, but I’m not worried. I know my Lord will provide. My kids are coming to KidSpring every week, my 4 year old memorizes his bible verses, and I just cry. I cry because I’m happy, and I know that they will have more abundant life by me knowing Christ and leading them on the right path. So thank you to you, and all of the staff for your dedication, and the heart you have for those who do not know Jesus.”

Perhaps you have a story like Sarah’s? Or perhaps you have known others whose lives have been transformed by the love of Christ. Send us your stories in text or video to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

The 10-year anniversary service at the BI-LO center more than anything displayed the power of Jesus to change lives.

You saw that in the 360 people who stepped into eternity that day, and the thousands of others who wanted to celebrate how Jesus had touched their lives through NewSpring Church. You can see photos here and here and you can check out the reactions from some of the 15,000 in attendance on our Facebook page.

When we asked on our Facebook page how far some had traveled to share in the celebration, we expected some long drives from the midwest and west coast. But not HONDURAS.

We asked Adelfa Ortega to share her story with us. This is what she told us:

“I’m more alive than ever ... Since I was born, I had been going to church, and I kind of fulfilled the rules pretty well, so I thought I was OK. I was baptized when I was 14 and thought everything was OK. Then I don’t really know what happened, but I started going out (a lot). I started drinking, smoking, and everything was party time for me. I was good student, I woke up every Sunday to go to church (which was my concept of being a Christian.) ... I was having fun in a way, but I was so empty, so sad, and to me my life was nothing. ... I didn’t have a good reason to live. I thought about dying.

“I thought I was not good enough. That God had already given me so many chances. That he quitted on me. I thought I was not good enough for all this Christian thing, and on the other side, I saw all the other religious people. I could never make it. I am never going to fulfill all the rules and things they have. So I decided I was better just the way I was. ... I needed Jesus. I knew that, and I wanted him but he was just so unreachable for someone who was so unclean and unworthy like me. ... By the end of 2007, my dad was diagnosed with leukemia, and the doctors had only give him 3 months. That was it: I was destroyed completely.

“Almost all my family live in Florida. ... I was so desperate. I couldn’t deal with anything. So in 2008, I went to visit them, and one of my cousins was studying at Anderson, and she was going to NewSpring, so I went to visit her on a weekend, and she invited me. ... I put one step in that church, and I was officially speechless. ... I was in complete shock. It was the “You Asked For It” series, and I guess what he was talking about alcohol and Christians, and all the judgements that religious make, and I’ll never forget what he said, ‘Who was worse: Someone who drinks a beer, has a nice time with friends or family, leave a great tip and goes, or a “Christian” who is gossiping with their church clothes.’ I was like ‘who told that pastor my story?’ Then I knew it was him. It was God calling me back, letting me know that, yes, I had sinned. I was defeated. I had made many mistakes through all my life. But he was still there, full of love for me. That was it. God set me free of the chains that where holding me that day at NewSpring.

“I’ve been following you all online, and I really wanted to be there for the anniversary, and God gave the way. I made it, and it was one of the best days of my life. I was trembling since I got there, then the place was full, worship crazy, and I was shaking. Jan. 24 was a reconfirmation, over 300 people get save in one day! That was awesome. And God is full of love, and so faithful with me, and if heaven is going to be like that service at the BI-LO, I’m more than ready for everything. If it wasn’t for you all and your church I probably be dead by now, thanks for everything.”

We want to hear your stories of how your life has changed after meeting Jesus at NewSpring. Send them to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Serving the kingdom doesn’t get better than this.

Our upcoming 10-year anniversary service and Unleash 2010, our one-day church leadership conference, offer unique opportunities for volunteers from any of our four campuses in Anderson, Greenville, Florence and Columbia to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

We need your help to demonstrate the love of Christ and make each event special and memorable to our guests from across the South Carolina, the United States and the world!

God has poured out his favor on NewSpring Church because of the selfless sacrifice of our volunteers each week. They understand that everyone has a role to play in keeping our church body healthy, growing and full of love.

Without our volunteers, our church would not have grown from 15 to 15,000 on four campuses—and 7,000 people may not have crossed over from death to life.

Sign up and brace yourself for a life-changing service experience.  It’s incredible how God touches the hearts and lives of those who selflessly serve and love others. 

We here countless stories of how God has used the web to bring his children back to him. This is just such a story, from Emily, a 16-year-old living in South Dakota, who emailed us to share her great news.

“I lived in Anderson and attended Newspring when I was 12 or 13 ... When I started going to the services, I suddenly had a new desire to learn more about Jesus and all of his doings. [But] I had to move away soon after I began changing. Ever since then, I’ve slumped back into my old habits of ignoring God. I’m stubborn and have found it difficult to want to learn more. I think Perry and his services made it enjoyable for me. I mean, I’m a teenager. It isn’t an excuse, but it’s hard to be focused on a religious topic if I’m not somehow entertained. Pathetic, but true.

Anyways, I was browsing around online [one] night. And I don’t know, but I Googled NewSpring just to see if there was a web site up. I was happy when I found it! I sat at my computer desk and watched the full 97 minutes of the current video on the website, [Home For Christmas, Week 1.] I can’t explain it, but certain things just hit home, almost like I felt my heart twisting inside my body. Towards the end, when Perry was going into prayer, I was reluctant to do so. I felt embarrassed to be sitting at my computer desk praying. Stupid. But I did it. I got a weird tingly feeling and my hands started shaking just a little. I know I was about to start crying, and I did. Again, I felt so lame doing this. But it was like I couldn’t stop. I didn’t want to stop because though I was crying and shaking, I felt surrounded by love and faith and hope. I stood at my computer desk whenever Perry asked me to. And I repeated the prayer out loud to myself. I’m a loser and even clapped for myself, haha. Thank you for doing what you do and for caring. It’s going to be hard for me, but I’m more than willing to give a new life with God in my heart a try ... I feel like I’ve just turned my whole life around.”

An amazing God does amazing things. If you or someone you know has a great story of God’s amazing grace, share it with us! It’s a gift of encouragement that doesn’t cost you anything. Send an email to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or record your story here: http://tokbox.com/vr/cbt5vo7bcy

We’re planning to celebrate Jesus in a big way this Christmas. What else should you do when you worship the God who created the heavens and the earth?

We plan to present the good news that God sent his son to rescue us from a life lived without hope in a clear, creative, relevant presentation that will blow you away.

Join us for services at the following times and locations. Invite your friends. Please RSVP at http://newspring.cc/rsvp to help us plan for your attendance.

Anderson Campus (Map, directions)
Dec, 23:  4 p.m., 6 p.m.
Dec. 24: 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. 

Greenville Campus (Map, directions)
Dec, 23: 6 p.m
Dec. 24: 2 p.m., 4 p.m

Florence Campus (Map, directions)
Dec, 23: 6 p.m
Dec. 24: 2 p.m., 4 p.m

Columbia Campus (Map, directions)
Dec, 23 6 p.m.
Dec. 24 2 p.m., 4 p.m

Web (http://newspring.cc/webservice)
Dec, 23: 6 p.m.
Dec. 24: 10 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m

Christmas is more special than ever for the Bonney family, who, thanks to God’s working through NewSpring, are now able to celebrate together God’s gift of grace in Jesus. Here’s Arlene’s story, sent to us in an email recently to give you some early Christmas cheer:

“I just wanted to say that my family and I are so grateful to God for putting NewSpring in our path.  The greatest of all the good things is that my family is now all saved including my husband, who on Dec. 22 will be saved for a year!!!  The marriage between my husband, Zavone, and I had been through a tornado due to various sins and obstacles. But with a joyful heart, I am happy to say that this year has been one of the greatest years in our marriage!  My children are overjoyed with the love and affection shown in our home as that is truly what it has become: a Godly home. 

Since truly committing to Christ in 2005 at NewSpring, I always said that when all my family is saved that I would put a plaque in our home that says, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)  We are currently searching for that special plaque because that verse has so much meaning to us now!  Having a family that claims salvation through Jesus Christ is the best thing that has happened to us while attending and becoming members of NewSpring.  Again, we are truly grateful for God putting NewSpring in our path.”

We’re in a season of celebration here at NewSpring about what God has done through our ministry. Send us your story at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Or if you’re braver, record your story via video through your favorite video service or by following this link: http://www.tokbox.com/vr/cbt5vo7bcy

NewSpring saw 104 people come to know Jesus Sunday through Pastor Perry’s “Home For Christmas” sermon on Jesus as “Mighty God.” We received this amazing story from Greenville campus member and volunteer Jenna Morgan, who couldn’t attend because of work but ended up giving her life to Christ during the NewSpring Web Service.

“I have been down in the dumps lately and couldn’t figure out what was wrong. The message today finally told me that I have been living an unclean life. I thought I was saved but never was. I got “saved and baptized” at my old church when I was 6 or 7 years old. All of my friends were doing it, so I did as well. I do not remember it. And it did not change my life. Growing up, I went to every youth event, mission trip and church camp there was. I went for all the wrong reasons. I went to have fun and not to worship and grow in God’s word.

People do a lot of dumb things for happiness! I am one of them. I have been living a lie this whole time. I tried to impress people by being holy, but I wasn’t. God has been tugging at my heart for months now. I thought it was just to rededicate my life, which I had done. But what he wanted was for me to come home—get saved and become a child of His. He put my stomach in knots today, and my heart was pounding out of my chest. I could not put it off any longer. Today, I asked Jesus in my heart and got saved!

He loves me and wants me to be happy—and I can through him! I was going about it all in the wrong way. Today that lady who had been bleeding for 12 years and been unclean, touched His clothes and the bleeding stopped. She confessed and it stopped!!! Today I confessed my sins and asked Jesus into my heart. I know he loves me and died on the cross for me. He can make things better for me! I can’t believe it took me 25 years to realized He is the only way! I don’t have to fake happiness anymore. I can truly be happy because God is in my life for real this time and not for show! I want to get baptized and make it public that I am saved and a new woman. I want everyone to know that Jesus is in my life and I was lost but now I am found.”

Do you have a story to share? Let us know by emailing us at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or you can post on our Facebook wall.

Recently, certain events occurred that Pastor Perry and the Church’s leadership feel the NewSpring Church family needs to know about.

Earlier this year, a critic of the church from the Anderson community created a critical blog site and posted numerous blogs disagreeing with the methods of NewSpring Church and the messages that Pastor Perry has preached, including basic theological doctrine. 

In February an employee of the church met with this individual in an attempt to resolve any misunderstandings and listen to his concerns. Since that meeting, the frequency and intensity of the critical blogs have increased.

In the summer of 2009, one NewSpring employee and two volunteers, acting on their own accord and unbeknownst to the Church, began a wholly inappropriate campaign directed at the author of the blog site. None of their actions were known to, or condoned by, the Church or its leadership in any way. 

When the Church’s leadership was contacted by the author of the blog site regarding the activities of these three individuals, the Church requested proof substantiating his claims. None was provided. However, he claimed he felt there was a conspiracy by the church’s leadership causing and encouraging this harassment.

When the church later found out that inappropriate activity had taken place by an employee and two volunteers, the employee was immediately terminated and the two volunteers were removed from service to the Church. 

Around the same time, a NewSpring executive pastor and his wife adopted a child that, coincidentally, the author of the blog site and his wife were also seeking to adopt. The decision with whom to place the child was made solely by the birth mother and was what she considered to be in the best interest of the child. Adoption is a legal process and it is a matter of public record that the Church was not a party to this adoption nor did the Church attempt to influence its outcome in any way.

On October 31st, the author of the blog site emailed the Church broadly outlining complaints of harassment and interference with his adoption efforts, and asking to meet with a Church representative. On November 17th, counsel for the Church met with the blog site author in an effort to resolve any conflicts he had with Pastor Perry or the Church. In the course of that meeting, the blog site author outlined a detailed list of grievances against the Church and his contention that there was a conspiracy by the Church to interfere with the adoption of a child.

Those grievances also included his belief that the church knowingly and willingly allowed this harassment and even encouraged it. 

The blog site author ended the meeting with NewSpring’s counsel with a demand for payment of one and a half million dollars ($1,500,000.00) if he was allowed to share the pulpit with Pastor Perry during the Church’s weekend services or through various other “public options” in order to denounce the Church, its leadership, and its “culture of hatred.” Alternatively, the blog site author demanded payment of three million dollars ($3,000,000.00) from the Church in exchange for him to not reveal his complaints against the Church to the public. The Church, of course, rejected both offers.

NewSpring Church will not be subjected to hollow and exaggerated threats by critics of the Church seeking outrageous sums of money.

The Church is offering ministerial counseling to its former employee and two volunteers and is hopeful that it will, over time, result in their complete repentance and spiritual restoration. Pastor Perry and NewSpring continue to pray for all involved in this unfortunate situation.