NewSpring Church Blog Archives

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.