• Congratulations to our Middle School Pastor Josh Overton on his marriage to the beautiful and talented BROOKE MITCHELL!!!

• WE HAD RECORD ATTENDANCE THIS WEEKEND!!! For the first time in the history of our church we had over 1,4oo in attendance on a “normal” (no special event) weekend!!!  God, give us YOUR WISDOM as we move forward to expand YOUR KINGDOM!!!

• Pastor Jeremy is settling in and doing a great job as campus pastor at THE BRIDGE.
• HEY BRIDGE FAMILY!!! We are counting on you to step up and serve at The Bridge.  It’s time to get out of the bleachers and GET IN THE GAME!!  We have openings on the Hospitality Team, Kid’s Ministry team, the White Glove team!  Call today and volunteer (735-5411)!!

• CALL TO ARMS – Pizza Party – THIS FRIDAY May 28 === This is a ministry of APPRECIATION to ALL MILITARY and their families!

• ROD PROPES will be our musical guest this weekend in ALL 5 SERVICES!!!  Those of you who attended the Christmas Leadership Banquet in ‘09 remember his incredible talent.  I will be preaching in all 5 services as we conclude the BLINK sermon series.

• FIRST WEDNESDAY – June 2@ 7 pm - ALL ADULTS will gather in the worship auditorium to worship, celebrate, and hear me talk about God’s Visions for our church!  If you would like to receive water baptism or have your child dedicated in this service, please call the office at 735-5411.  IF you are graduating from high school or college and would like to be would like to be included in the “Celebration of Graduates” on this night,… IF you have attended Class 101 or Dinner With the Staff and you would like to become a member of the church,…. please sign up at the Connect Center or call the church office.  On this first Wednesday evening of each month, ALL children and teen classes will continue on their regular schedule. There will NOT be a FIRST WEDNESDAY in July.

• AWAKENING YOUTH CAMP for ages 13-college – JUNE 23-27. Pick up a registration packet at the Connect Center.
• KRISTIAN STANFILL CONCERT … June 25 @ 7 pm … WC Worship Auditorium … Tickets $10 pp @ the Connect Center … You DO NOT want to miss this!!!  Tell your friends!!!

• Click here if you missed our very first BEHIND THE SCENES video. (Tip: The best way to watch a vimeo clip – because they are higher quality – is to click “play” then click “pause” to allow it to download for a couple of minutes.  Then go click on play again.)   Please let us know your thoughts on how to improve this.  Is it too long?  What kind if info do you want us to provide in this video?  We are going to do these about twice a month.  Thanks for your input.

• BIG NEWS!!! In JULY, we will NOT have any Wednesday night activities.  We want to give our faithful Wednesday evening volunteers a BREAK for one month.

• With MEMORIAL DAY approaching…you’ll be taking vacations…grilling out with family & friends…laughing…playing games…having fun with your spouse & your children…shopping…
  AND that’s okay – JUST DON’T FORGET THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR LIVES FOR THE FREEDOM WE ALL ENJOY!!  CLICK HERE

• EASTER weekend …WOW!….WC & The Bridge offered EIGHT worship opportunities on this greatest of all church weekends…over 3700 people attended the 8 services!!!…over 140 accepted Christ!!!…TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!!

• VOLUNTEER is the wrong title for the Christ-followers who give so much of their time to serve God through their local church…THEY ARE MINISTERS! Special thanks to the ministers who serve and serve and serve and give and give and give of they time and energy…..much of it behind the scenes….often unnoticed…..often unappreciated…..BUT JESUS SEE!…..back when I had hair and a 32 inch waistline we used to sing an old hymn that said, “My Lord Keeps a Record” …. and He does! …. Volunteer Ministers, please remember this: the less you are praised down here, the more He will make up for it in heaven!!!  THANK YOU for all you do….children’s ministers, hospitality team members, music team,….YOU ARE AWESOME!!!

• People accepting Christ!!! Discipling those people!!! LIFE CHANGE!!! That is my motivation….and God has been moving so powerfully in those areas at our church….PRAISE HIS NAME!!!  Thank you Lord for helping us to keep our eye on the priorities that are YOUR PRIORITIES!  Please bring CORRECTION when we drift away from YOUR PURPOSES!!

• HISTORY WAS MADE AT WC ON SUNDAY!!!! …..  YESTERDAY, FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME …. WC OFFERED A 3RD Sunday worship opportunity!!!  …. it went VERY well …. we had 91 attendees … total attendance for the weekend exceeded 1260!!! … about 30 people accepted Christ!!!

• 4:12 Middle School Ministry is about to be LAUNCHED by Pastor Josh Overton!!!  Email Pastor Josh if you have questions or need more info:  joshuaclay.overton@gmail.com.

• This past weekend we talked about the PRIVILEGES of Pilate in our sermon series “JUST DO IT” … this coming weekend we’ll talk about the PRESSURES that we’re on Pilate.

• THE BRIDGE — OUR NEW KID’S MINISTRY SPACE OPENS THIS THURSDAY – When the square footage of our ministry space increases, it automatically means that our VOLUNTEER (minister) BASE must simultaneously increase.  Are you attending The Bridge?  You are?!  Great!  Then my next question is WHERE ARE YOU SERVING????? Get out of the bleachers and GET IN THE GAME!!

Hello Leaders!
Please read the quote in blue from John Maxwell.  If you don’t know who John Maxwell, is, please click HERE.  Please note a few comments I have at the end of John’s quote.
Thanks!

Leaders, as your people get to know and like you, their desire to follow your direction and learn from you will increase.  If they don’t like you, they will not want to learn from you, and the equipping process can slow down or even stop.

To build relationships, begin by listening to people’s life stories — their journeys so far. Your genuine interest will mean a lot to them, and it will also  help you to know their personal strengths and weaknesses. Ask them about their goals and what motivates them. Find out what kind of temperament they have. You may not want to equip a “numbers person” for a job that deals primarily with disgruntled customers.

And one of the best ways to get to know people is to see them outside of the world where you lead them (i.e. work, whether paid or volunteer). People are usually on their guard at work. They try to be what others want them to be. By getting to know them in other settings, you can get a glimpse of who they really are.

Try to learn as much as you can about your people and do your best to win their hearts. If you first find someone’s heart, they’ll be glad to offer you their hand.

So remember, it is not primarily our talents or gifts that cause people to follow us….it is our love. RELATIONSHIPS FIRST.  LOVE PEOPLE FIRST.  And one more thing – it’s easy to love and lead the healed and healthy, but the true test of leadership is how we love and lead the wounded, the rebellious and those who have messed up lives.

Thank you for being great leaders.  I love you.

Pastor Ferrell

• The Whitley Church Choir won the choir competition at The Paramount Theater on Friday night!! Congratulations to our director Betty Grantham, and her assistants, LeAnn Poole and Richard Phillips!!  They won $3000!!  Great job guys!!

• THE BRIDGE was packed out in both services!! It was so good to see everyone, especially so many first-timers!

• Between THE BRIDGE and WHITLEY CHURCH, 1,470 people showed up for church!! That was RECORD ATTENDANCE for our church!!

• MARCH MINISTRY MADNESS kicked off at WC on Sunday!!! Hey everybody – Listen up!  We are going to THREE SUNDAY SERVICES on April 11th.  To do this successfully, we have to broaden our leadership base by adding volunteers to our various ministry teams.  Are YOU serving God through the church? It is our hope and prayer that more people will get out of the bleachers, and GET IN THE GAME!!  Volunteer this Sunday!  If you don’t feel like waiting until Sunday, call the office at 735-5411 and ask for Catherine.

• SEVENTEEN celebrated their new life in Christ by being baptized at WC on Sunday! It was a very emotional time for our church family as we watched dads baptize their children and whole families come into the pool together.  Those who celebrated baptism were:  David Allen Casey, Jennifer Moore, Jackson Porter, Madison Tinker, Cory Anderson, Kielah Odem, Jeff Vick, Brian Haynes, Susan Haynes, Lauren Haynes, Kenzie Stovall, Drew Stovall,   Makayla Allen, Kristal Corbett, Stormy Kelly, Leia Daniels, and Evan Daniels.

• I heard that parking was a challenge at WC Sunday. We’ll try to make the traffic flow better this weekend.  The 2nd service time change kind of threw things off a bit.  We’ll get more “big hand gloves”!  That’ll solve everything!!  After first service we had cars lined up all the way down Whitley Church Road waiting to come into our parking lot.  The Parking Attendants did a fantastic  job getting all those cars onto our campus and safely parked!  Many cars being parked meant many people were coming into God’s house and they all needed a place to sit, which brings me to my next bullet point.

• Thank you to Kelly Johnson who week after week continues, somehow, to find seats for all those people coming through our doors!  Let’s not forget all of YOU who were already in your seats, but you cooperatively moved into the center so others coming in wouldn’t have to step over you.  You put others first!  Some willingly gave up their seat so a guest could sit down!  You, Whitley Church family, are a great example to others!  The staff is so proud of you!

• Pastor Jimmy is thankful for OVER 30 MEN & WOMEN who showed up to help us on Sunday afternoon!! They cleared the stage and brought in the set for The Cross & The Crown.  THANKS TO THE GOOD MEN AND WOMEN OF WC & THE BRIDGE!!

• Thanks to our Prayer Ministry for leading the Prayer Vigil at The Bridge on Saturday.

• Pastor Jared reports that ENCOUNTER STUDENT MINISTRIES is experiencing spiritual and numerical growth.  After Sunday’s Illuminate, he emailed me this message, “Pastor, we had 3 first time dedications and numerous re-dedications at Illuminate last night!!  God moved in a powerful way!! We will soon begin our next teaching series called Sex, Love and Dating.  We will study what the Bible says about these sensitive topics.  The secular world is talking about them, so it’s time for the church to speak up!  Parents can contact me with any questions that they have.  YOUTH SUNDAY will take place at WC on April 11th. Our gifted students we be leading worship, doing drama ministry, and I will bring the message.  Our teens will also serve as the Hospitality Team and other ministries on that day!”  Illuminate gatherings are each Sunday night from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and is for our teens 13 years old through college.
• The ESM Drama/Dance Team did an amazing job at both worship locations this weekend!!

• One of the many things I enjoy about our church is THE CHILDREN! I just love it when the littlest ones come up and want a hug from the pastor.  I am so very thankful for the amazing team that teaches, leads, loves, and takes time to minister our precious children every Sunday and Wednesday.

Our Myrtle Beach MARRIAGE RETREAT was a huge success!! 94 attended!!  Scott & Sherry Jennings did an incredible job.  Many excellent reports and testimonies are coming in from those who were present.  Special thanks to Ashley & Jamie Cooper and Pastor Andy & Kirsten Stovall!

Next Sunday at Whitley Church the Financial Peace University Class is FREE and open to the public. Dave Ramsey is talking about dumping debt. Starts at 4:00 pm! You can attend this life-changing class and still make it to….

DENNIS SWANBERG - THIS COMING SUNDAY @ 7 pm – $10 per person – Worship Auditorium – For tickets call 919-735-5411.

THE CROSS & THE CROWN —- Easter Weekend!! —- FIVE PRESENTATIONS this year!!! —- March 31 – April 3rd (7 pm) and Easter Sunday morning April 4th (10:30 a.m.)  Admission is FREE…BUT we are asking everyone to bring a non-perishable food item that will be distributed to needy of our community.

ARE YOU NEW to Whitley Church or The Bridge? If so, make plans to attend DINNER WITH THE STAFF on April 18th at 6 pm in the over-flow seating area at the rear of the WC worship auditorium!!  Child care will be provided at no charge.  Sign up today at the Connect Center or call the church office (735-5411) if you would like to attend.

BEHIND THE SCENES: When an organization primarily functions through the generosity of volunteers (like a church), there are unique challenges.  Sometimes, people who were scheduled to serve, call cancel at the last minute. We just wanted to say a big THANKS to those who joyfully step up to serve during those times!

THINK YOU’RE POOR? CLICK HERE and enter your annual salary in US dollars.

COMING UP SOON:

• THIS FRIDAY at 7 pm our CHOIR will be in a choir competition at The Paramount Theater in Goldsboro.  This is a FREE event and the audience will be one of the judges!  PLEASE come out and support the choir!
• MARCH MINISTRY MADNESS starts Sunday at WC…..follow the balloons….talk to the balloon people…. and your life will be changed forever!!
• ****TIME CHANGE**** == The 2nd service will begin at 10:30 a.m. at WC instead of 10:45 a.m.  Don’t be late!
• Make sure you pick up your Dennis Swanberg tickets….they are selling fast….”The Swan” will be at WC on Sunday MARCH 14th at 7 pm….our very own local Christian comedian Freddie Pierce will open up the show and introduce Dennis!
• Before you turn in for the night on March 13th, turn you clocks ahead 1 hour.

• The Valentine’s Dinner Theater ROCKED! About 350 people attended…..lots of people from the community….GREAT JOB Betty Grantham and her creative team….Betty is our Director of Creative Arts…..watch for pictures coming soon!  Special thanks to those in the cast and crew who hung around a couple of hours longer than everyone else just to get the sanctuary and classrooms cleaned and set back up for Sunday worship!
• Some of our Encounter Students Ministries kids delivered Valentine’s Day gift bags to the hospital today for children who are patients….including an 18 year old……so proud of Pastor Jared and Amanda for leading at teens to put SERVING OTHERS FIRST!  Servolution!!!
• Our Outreach Team is serving at the Soup Kitchen today…..Mpact Girls’ Club made cookies for the homeless!
• Thanks to Jim Gillikin and Joey Lancaster for getting our parking lot cleared of snow so we could be safe at church today.
• We had 2 great services at The Bridge on Thursday and Saturday.  Please keep in mind that we are ONE CHURCH WITH TWO LOCATIONS.  (CLICK HERE: www.BRIDGECHURCH.cc )  I love it when people come up and have questions about the message.  Some people are still checking Jesus out.  They have questions about who He is,  the Bible, church, etc.  I LOVE IT!!
• We announced this weekend that WHITLEY CHURCH will be starting a 3rd service on April 11th.  Beginning on the SUNDAY AFTER EASTER, our worship  schedule will be 9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m.
• Some people have been asking for the song that Kendra Britton/Collette Sherrod and the Mime Team did a couple of Sundays back.  Click HERE for the song.
• Did the choir raise our worship to a new level today or what?!?!?!?! Thanks to Betty Grantham and LeaAnn Poole and the entire WC choir.
• Jamie Cooper, our office manager, is constantly going above and beyond the call of  duty and we really appreciate her passion for her church!  She says, “Please give a shout out to my wonderful office volunteers (and maybe mention that we could use a few more as I lost a really good one this week).   Also big thanks to Robin Moran for the wonderful lunch this week!!!
• HAITI MISSION TRIP ….  We are trying to set something up for after Easter …. We’ll keep you posted
• I thank God that I serve as senior pastor of a church that will allow me  to preach without compromise!  This FAITHBOOK series has been a back-to-the-basics message for me, and I believe, for our congregation as well. This has been an emotional series to preach.  It has reminded me of my early days as a preacher and my Bible college days.  I want my life to be MOLDED…MOTIVATED…and MANAGED by God’s Word.  At WC/Bridge we believe the Bible is the infallible, inerrant Word of God – TRUTH WITHOUT ERROR.  No apologies.
• THANKS TO Kim Browne who has done a great job building our DivorceCare Ministry. She is going to take a break.  Kim, you have taken this ministry to an HNL!  (For our new attenders, that means Hole Nuther Level.)  This ministry will come under Intentionally Yours, our marriage and family life ministry.  Scott & Sherry Jennings, who serve as directors of IY, will be overseeing DivorceCare.
• You can still get in on the MARRIAGE RETREAT in Myrtle Beach! It’s February 26-28.  Call Jamie at 735-5411.  LISTEN to your pastor: DO NOT miss this retreat!  It is FUN and it will have a VERY POSITIVE impact on your marriage and home life!
• You can still get in on FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY. First class is THIS SUNDAY at 5 pm to 7 pm.  Email Matt Chestnut at mwchestnut1@aol.com or call Jamie at 735-5411.
• “SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE  - New Years Revelation” is this coming Sunday. 6 pm – DO NOT miss it!  FUN!  Relaxed atmosphere!  This is a great way for new attenders to get more connected!

COMING UP:

Financial Peace University -– Classes begin on the Feb. 21 – You can still get in!

VALENTINE’S DINNER SHOW — February 12 - The Love Train Goes to New York

MARRIAGE RETREAT (Feb. 26-28) – A few more rooms at Group Rate

SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE – February 21 – FREE EVENT!

CROSS & CROWN — SIGN-UP to serve!

Christian Comedian DENNIS SWANBERG – March 14^th Tickets $10

NEED MORE DETAIL?  919-735-5411 …OR… www.whitleychurch.com …OR… www.bridgechurch.cc