NewSpring Church Blog Archives

This blog post is from Scott DeCiantis, one of our service hosts.

As I considered volunteering with the NewSpring Webcampus, I had feelings of excitement over what God could do through a ministry that could reach people across the world every week.  The Webcampus got off to a flying start, as we immediately had hundreds of people joining us from all over the world on week one.  The excitement continued as I saw people sharing prayer requests, praises, and even decisions for Christ.  But, as often happens in ministry, I found that I was being blessed tremendously.

It is easy for me to lose focus when I see and hear disheartening things in the world, such as wars, crime, and scandals in the news.  But I was seeing God work through technology to encourage, teach, and evangelize.  Every single week I am encouraged by seeing God’s hand in our lives as we chat with people across the country and across the globe. 

I believe that everybody involved in this ministry has been encouraged in numerous ways, and has in turned praised God for revealing Himself to us all through the worship service and the relationships we are building.  I am thankful for the opportunity to serve on the Webcampus, and I praise God for showing us all that He can use His people in so many ways for the good of His Kingdom!

If you want to volunteer on the Web Campus, you’ll find all the details and the volunteer application here.

This blog post is a story of how Web Campus attender Lee Dempsey found a way back to Jesus through NewSpring’s online ministry.

“I’m originally from Anderson, S.C. and was once very involved in a large Baptist church serving as Chairman of the Deacons, teaching children and adults and actually preaching as a lay
preacher.  My son was educated in their Christian school and from all appearances we were the perfect Christian family.

I worked very hard for my employer who gave me a chance to prove myself in spite of being confined to a wheelchair at age 28 as the result of a spinal cord tumor.  I transferred to New
Jersey on January 5, 1997 to climb the Corporate ladder.  Our marriage grew further and further and I devoted to much time to my career.  Finding a good church in NJ was difficult but we did
and things seem to improve but quickly deteriorated.  We separated in 2004 and ended our marriage.

This devastated both of us.  I was abandoned by my Church friends in Anderson and New Jersey at a time I desperately needed compassion and spiritual guidance.  I grew bitter and dropped out of church.  Looking back, it was a very wrong move.  I took my eyes off of Jesus.  I’ve since remarried to a wonderful lady who is disabled herself from a disability incurred in the
United States Navy.

A girl named Misty Moore had dated my son in High School and connected with me on Facebook She had gone through a troubling time in her life and told me all about New Spring and the web service.  I watched and fell in love with Perry, Clayton, Nic, and all the New Spring staff.  I had to get use to the music but I’m 60 years old now.  I love the music now and the way it prepares my heart for worship.  God never left me alone even though I felt I had been abandoned. I heard the still small voice calling me to a right relationship.  God used a human to share her love and the love of my global church family.

I’m not where I want to be but I have a refreshed spirit.  I had a stroke in January 2008 which ended my 38 year career with this large chemical company but God even used this experience for His glory. The most wonderful is all bitterness is gone!  I laid it at the foot of the cross.”

Do you have a story of healing and restoration to share? Send Web Campus Pastor Nick Charalambous an email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with text and/or video. We’ll post it here to encourage people and show the greatness of God.

This blog post is from Gloria Whitfield, one of our volunteers who handles Live Prayer at our 6 p.m. service.

Sometimes we get so caught up in our “day-to-day” that we are oblivious to the reality of pain, sorrow, loneliness, and desperation of people around us ... people who may look perfectly normal on the outside, but are dying on the inside. Satan wants us to pass them by. I believe that God continues to draw these souls to Him through believers. It is no “coincidence” that someone stumbles across the NewSpring website while one of our services is rolling, or sees a Facebook comment to “come and join us for worship”. It is not “by chance” that a tweet gets the attention of a friend who may be unchurched and just curious to check things out. My own faith is strengthened each week as I see more and more finding their home in Him through this ministry.
There are so many people who have a hard time being in a social environment yet they are able to be outstandingly expressive through words and conversation by way of a computer. Some may have trouble openly discussing important issues in their personal lives, but they are able to write them down and ask for prayer. There are also a gathering of those who haven’t been able to find a church home in their area, but HAVE found one at Newspring and are submersing themselves in the opportunity to volunteer and become active in online small groups. And, most importantly, there are the ones who have a void in their heart, and in their lives, that can only be filled by Jesus. They are seeking Him and that day, it is no accident they are a part of our worship. It is just awesome to see such a work of God through the technology he has given man!!
Serving in Live Prayer has allowed me the chance not only to open my heart to the needs of others but also, to be humbled by the powerful presence of God in me. It is growing my relationship with Christ in a remarkable way. That is the reward of this ministry. We have a pastor, staff, team of church volunteers, and a church family that is passionate in growing a relationship with Christ each day and reaching out to the world is our command from our Father to bring glory to Him.

Serving in the Web Campus ministry is a way to draw closer to God and the people on the Web Campus who can help you stay strong in faith and spur you to good works. There’s an opportunity for you. Check out the volunteer application form.

In this guest post, Web Campus regular Tammy Johnson talks about how the relationships she’s made on the Web Campus have grown outside Sundays.

“I have been hooked ever since because it is soooo much more than I ever imagined ... I found myself not only being at one service but returning for the other services as well, not only because of the messages but for the fellowship ...  I was so overwhelmed with the connections that I made there that I became a volunteer within a few weeks. I honestly believe God lets folks cross each others paths for a reason and nothing feels better than to lift up others & encourage each other not only on Sunday, but 24/7 and that literally is possible on the web. It doesn’t matter if it’s in the middle of the night that I’m emailing, facebooking or tweeting because, well, God doesn’t mind what time He calls out to us and neither do I. Now of course, I don’t get to add all the folks that join in to my social networks, but even being able to just greet EACH & EVERY person that comes into the service is a true honor & that’s something I love.”

If you want to connect with people on the Web Campus, it’s as easy as sharing your instant message/email address, your Twitter or Facebook IDs. Try it in the chatroom on Sundays. You’ll never know how God will use it!

Are you a new believer in Christ? Do you have a friend or family member who has recently accepted Jesus? The journey has just begun and we want to guide you through your next steps as you learn the basics of following Jesus. New Believer’s Class begins Thursday, July 23rd from 6:30–8:00pm at the Greenville Campus offices and lasts for 3 weeks.

You can sign up Here or at Guest Services on Sunday. If you have any specific questions, send us an email and we’ll do our best to get you the information you need.

This blog post was written by Cheryl Hughes, a web campus volunteer for our 2 p.m. service.

“First of all I am so amazed that God is using me in the ways that He has. About twenty years ago God gave me the scripture Proverbs 11:14: “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety.”  So to be able to talk to people from all over the world is beyond anything I could have imagined.

A few weeks ago I was talking to a lady from Canada. She was not sure if she was truly saved. She was told she had gotten saved at the age of 3. We talked for a while and she then decided she needed to get this nailed down. So I lead her in prayer and she received the best gift of her life. We have spoken a few times. She is still going through some things, so please remember her in your prayers. I told her we are all in this together. 

I pray this is just the tip of the iceberg. I believe with all of my heart that God is getting ready to do many ... many amazing things in our church.”

If you want to be part of our live prayer team, you can fill in our volunteer application.. If you simply want to help pray for our ministry, drop Pastor Nick Charalambous an email at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)