NewSpring Church Blog

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

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.

At NewSpring, we believe in using whatever tools we have to reach the world for Jesus, including the web, and calling on each of our attenders to do their part in inviting friends and family members to hear the word of God. Below is a fantastic story from Dustin Diede of his changed life thanks to an obedient brother and a convenient NewSpring podcast.

“Two weeks ago I was visiting my brother in Williamston. It was just suppose to be a weekend of riding bikes and getting reacquainted ... On Sunday morning my brother and I went for a ride in the hills and he asked me if I wanted to go to church with him. I really didn’t want to go but I love my brother and I didn’t have the heart to tell him no. I look up to him more than he know and even though I haven’t told him in years, I love him. I was scared.

As soon as the service was over we went home and the first thing I did was call my wife to be. I was so excited. I told her about this wonderful place that make me realize that there was something missing in my life. The next day, I called my girl and told her to get on a plane and get down here. She arrived 2 days later and we spent the weekend talking about our commitment to God and our commitment to each other. We watched several of your older service in an attempt to get caught up. We cried and laughed all at the same time. God is amazing.

This Tuesday I went for a bike ride and I decided to take Perry with me. (I love Podcast. Don’t ever stop) I was listening to the Sunday sermon for the first time and it was good, right up until it got great. Perry finished the sermon and said bow your heads. So, I stopped my bike and did what he said. You told me to open my heart, but it was already open. Here I am a 35 year old man (in spandex) crying and asking Jesus for another chance. My body was warm all over and I had never felt so peaceful. I gave my heart to Jesus right there in the middle of the rode, standing over a bicycle, with several people staring at me like I was crazy. But I didn’t care.

I want to say thank you Jesus, thank you New Spring and thank you Tony (brother). You have helped give me new direction.”

Perhaps you didn’t have the time to make it to one of our campuses in Anderson, Greenville and Florence to take the Financial Learning Experience? Maybe you’re an attender of our Web Service?

We’re now offering the FREE personal finance and budgeting class online Sept. 15 at 7 p.m. EST at http://www.newspring.cc. You’ll be to join the nearly 1,000 NewSpring attenders who have already attended and learned how they can live free of debt, save money and live generously by putting God first in their finances.

Don’t take our word for it! Here’s the response to the class from Cindy Gowan, a member of NewSpring in Anderson:

“My husband and I would love to be able to travel, reduce stress and do some mission trips, but with money as tight as it is, these goals did not seem accessible. I was constantly worrying over how to pay unexpected bills, take vacations with the kids, and any other “extras” we needed. ... There was so much information and advice given to us at the Financial Learning Experience ! I can see that it is now possible for me and my family to be debt free. All we have to do it take advantage of it, and to be willing to follow these guidelines that Joe has laid out. ... Now, if I put these instructions to practice, I believe that God will bless our finances and allow us to move past this type of stress.”

One of the most powerful aspects of the NewSpring Web Service is offering people a new way to reconnect with Jesus and restore their faith, especially when they have felt rejected or uncomfortable in local churches. That’s why we were thrilled to receive this encouraging message from NewSpring Web Service attender, Brad Adams.

“I just wanted to tell you how very grateful I am for your ministry. The NewSpring Web Service has supplied a very real need in my life. Week after week for several months now, you have cheered my broken Spirit and mended my battered Soul. Your upbeat banter in the chat room coupled with your sincere worship of our Lord Jesus Christ have made me feel loved and renewed. How is this possible through the Internet; to feel loved through media? The Holy Spirit comes through and allows us as Brothers and Sisters in Christ to connect through this wonderful niche. I love you guys.

My wife and I were bi-vocational worship leaders for the past 18 years and we have really been mistreated and beaten down by “church folks.” ... NewSpring has allowed us to worship and continue learning ... because we didn’t have to face people who may know us and get distracted answering questions and putting on a smiling face and possibly not just “heal”. We hope to visit in person sometime in the future, but for now we are so very thankful for the opportunity to worship at our house where we can just be free of outside influence and scrutiny.”

What’s the story behind your decision to attend the Web Service? We’d love to hear it. Drop a note to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) with text or video.

Every week, we receive stories from NewSpring attenders that are so encouraging, we HAVE to share them. Below is a post from Shawn McClung, who gave his life to Christ after attending the Web Service. It shows what happens when one person is bold enough to invite someone to church. With the Web Service, that’s never been easier!

“It had been about 17 years since I last attended a church service, outside of a wedding, funeral, christening, or a trip with my grandmother during a visit. ... Since my time in the military, I’ve had so many questions about God, Christ, and forgiveness. I’ve done some pretty bad things in my life (especially during my time in the military), some that even non-believers would regret. I had been lost for a very long time and I really just want to be “found”, I just didn’t know how or if it was possible.

I tried asking other religious figures throughout my life the questions I had, but every time, I walked away without an answer and feeling like I was looked down on for, lack of a better term, being “God stupid”. I know they weren’t doing it intentionally, but they made me feel like I was wrong for it. Ever since then, I was always afraid to ask anyone because every part of me told me I shouldn’t question or have doubts when it came to religion.

Earlier this year, a friend of mine, Kristen, which I work with, tried to get me to go to church with her. She kept going on and on about how great Newspring was and that I would like it. Shortly after Easter, I gave in and she asked me to just go online and just look around. I called her when I got to the site and asked what I needed to look at. She told me to watch the Easter service that Perry did. I loved it and I haven’t missed an online service since. ...  Every online service that I watched, and every time Perry asked people to say that prayer to receive Christ, I did. I said it with him, and I wanted to receive Him, but while I was saying it, I keep thinking about all of the bad stuff I’ve done in my life and I started to cry. After saying that prayer and wanting Christ in my life, I didn’t feel like He accepted me or that it happened.

Then I got in touch with Web Pastor Nick. He agreed to meet with me to discuss my issues. I have to say, when I walked into NewSpring, I was a little intimidated. I hadn’t been to a church that big before. But once I sat down with Pastor Nick, I felt this sudden calm come over me. We talked for over an hour, and when I left, I felt like those unanswered questions just disappeared. ...I’m looking forward to my first steps in the right direction and can’t thank Newspring, Kristin, and Pastor Nick enough for finally pointing me in the right direction! Thank you NewSpring, for being there when I had no where else to turn.”

Remember to invite your friends, family members and anyone who needs to know the love of Christ to one of our campuses or the Web Service. Here’s a link to the latest message and video clips from our current series, Five Lies of the Devil, that you can share with your friends by email, Twitter and Facebook.

Pastor Perry offered a bold challenge to everyone this week to personally invite people to a NewSpring service for the start of our new series “Five Lies of the Devil.”

It’s never been easier. We have campuses in Anderson, Greenville, and Florence, and the Web Service is a powerful way that you can introduce people to the Good News of Jesus no matter where they live in the world.

It’s as simple as updating your social network status or sending an email and sharing the link: http://www.newspring.cc/webcampus.

One of the ways that Web Service attenders are reaching out and sharing their faith is by holding gatherings in living rooms, dorm rooms and other spaces, streaming the service from their computers to big screen televisions.

Asheville attender Sandi Dyer dropped us a line this week, reporting that “I’ve started inviting my friends on facebook to join me online for Church.  I’m making cards with my address on one side and the web address on the other, so I can invite folks to the house or just to join in online.”

Tell us what you are doing to make the name of Jesus famous through the Web Service. Send your story in text or video to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and we’ll post them to this blog.

Shannon LaFrance is a NewSpring Web Service volunteer focused on using social media to build relationships for Jesus, and in this post, she talks about how she used her Twitter account to support a missionary trip to Kenya for fellow NewSpring Web Service volunteer Rhonda Evatt.

Kenya: I want to go there. But physically, I can’t! Mentally I can’t. I know your not supposed to use the word “can’t,” but I really can’t!

So through the hum of my coffee roaster while rosting Kenya AA coffee for @Newspring, I heard in a whisper over the hum “your right, you can’t go, but you can help @coffeechicka get there.” Eureka! I sure can! My spirit was energized; my creative juices flowing.

We started DM back and forth, how much do you need, what’s the deadline, etc. 140 characters @ time I got the digital details to use my aroma therapy to get Rhonda and I both to Kenya by roasting Kenya AA and offering it to @ folks connected through twitter. Anyone to donate to @coffeechicka $100 would receive a free pound of Moon Monkey Coffee Kenya AA for a year!

Not sure how many folks took me up on it…but it created buzz for @ coffeechicka online through @Newspring. WE leave for Kenya on August 20th, Rhonda Physically, me mentally and in spirit!

Eureaka! Live dangerously, outside of the box, and be found faithful write/right where you are. You just never know what the Lord has in store for a heart that says: “Here I am send me!”

Whether it’s Facebook or Twitter, the phone or simply walking the neighborhood, all of us have the power to reach out and touch people for Jesus. All it takes is a little imagination, a lot of determination and the faith that God will fulfill whatever we resolve for good in faith. Got an idea for using social media for ministry? Get in touch with Web Pastor Nick Charalambous at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

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.