Part of that strategy is to build Phase 3 of our campus plan at the Ridge.  Phase 1 was built in 2005 with the help of 6-hundred volunteers from “Builders for Christ”.  We entered our 12,000 square foot facility in February of 2006.  We built a small auditorium and put our focus on building a lot of children and youth classroom space.  In 2008 we built Phase 2 of our campus plan.  This 4,000 square foot space was built, again, by volunteers.  Phase 2 was designed to make more room for children’s ministry and included a children’s worship area.

Now we are moving forward with plans for Phase 3.  In this new phase we will more than double our auditorium space.  We will also be adding a number of offices for staff, we will have special dressing rooms for baptisms, we’ll have additional restrooms, and our lobby space will be much, much larger.  The goal for Phase 3 is to allow our church to reach more people for Christ.

We will be breaking ground for Phase 3 this fall.  But before that we will be launching a capital campaign called “Crazy”.  You will be hearing much more about that in the coming weeks.  In the meantime, please be in prayer for this whole process and ask for God’s guidance for the Ridge as we try to help reverse the frightening church trends in America.

The New Year brings hope to so many, every year. What is it about the change from December to January that makes so many regain lost hope, dream again the dreams that had previously faded, and promise themselves that this year will be, somehow, different?

All year long we go through changes, stages. We go from hour to hour, day to day, season to season. And yet, the New Year is more significant than the New Tuesday, the New April, the New Summer. No one vows to change on May 7. No one counts down to June 3 as the day they quit smoking, start exercising, give up bread, or sugar, or bacon… January 1, that’s the magic day.
Last year’s struggles, sadness, failures, can all fade into the distance. The New Year holds the key.

Still, faster than ever, we break resolutions, break promises, let the dreams fade to gray and we hope that next year is better than this one.

The problem with next year is, so many of us live it the same way as we lived last year. We make the same mistakes, same choices, find ourselves behaving, reacting, thinking the same way we did last year.

The thing is, it doesn’t matter if it’s January 1, or May 12, or October 27… Any day we can choose to change our lives, change our futures, change our eternity. The beauty in that is, it’s easier than quitting smoking, it’s easier than losing 40 pounds, (I know, I’ve done both!), it’s easier than saving more money (I still can’t do that!). The results are immediate, and the change, the difference in life from the inside out is exponentially greater than any of those other things we promise to do in the new year. It changes our behavior, our reactions, our way of thinking, our way of living, our very definition of living.

No matter where we are, what we’ve done, what dreams have faded or promises have been broken, He’s waiting for us to accept His gift. No matter if we never knew Him or knew Him and turned away, His forgiveness is there. He waits patiently for us to take the step into His arms. And when we do, we know we can’t remain the same.

We change.
We are a new creation.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your continued patience and unwavering, unchanging love.

The funny thing about Boxing Day is that no one seems to know why we celebrate it. Some say it’s about “boxing up” all the Christmas loot and decorations, but you’d have to be a real Scrooge to pack a way the tinsel the day after Christmas.

In recent years Boxing Day has become known for it’s big sales, and headlines like “Boxing Up the Savings” seem to be everywhere. In fact, I’ve known some families to celebrate Christmas on the 27th so they can buy everything on sale on the 26th.

But the most credible origin for the day seems to be that the Lords and Ladies of the grand empire (British, remember) would give the help the day off and present them with gifts of food in boxes to enjoy and share with their families. I say old chap, it’s all very quaint.

At The Ridge, we’re working on a post-Christmas tradition of our own. If you do something twice, you can call it a tradition, and this is the second year we plan to celebrate communion during our weekend services soon after Christmas. Technically, we do it on the weekend closest to New Years, but since that always comes soon after Christmas, I’m naming it a post-Christmas tradition. And why shouldn’t we?

But there’s actually another good reason to call this a post-Christmas tradition, and that’s because communion is, by definition, post-Christmas. Communion is when we remember the death of Christ for us – how he gave his body and blood as a sacrifice for our sins. And that sacrifice was only possible because he was first born with that body into our world.

So while you’re doing whatever you do with boxes after your Christmas celebration, I hope you’ll put Christmas in its proper place as well, and remember that the manger belongs at the foot of the cross. And a great way to do that would be joining us next weekend to celebrate communion.

After all, it’s a tradition.

P.S. We’ve canceled the 9 AM service on Sunday, January 1, so you can enjoy a little extra sleep.

To quote a song of the season – “it’s the most wonderful time of the year”.  And it’s not just because it is Christmas…but also because of the great generosity of the Ridge Family this month.

During this month of December the Ridge Church has given generously…and cheerfully…to three projects–

• The Ridge Youth gave money to help pay medical bills for Geoff & Tabitha Justice.
• The H.O.P.E. Team at the Ridge led the way to buy gifts for a large number of local children for Christmas.
• The entire Ridge Family gave generously to our 2012 WoW Missions Offering.  The money will be used for next year’s missions initiatives.

Even in the midst of a busy, expensive month the Ridge Church spread the Good News of Jesus Christ to many in our community.

Thank you so much for your generosity.  I am so proud to be your pastor.

- Pastor Darrel

WOW serves to remind us of the Wide-Open World that God has given us the opportunity to impact. At The Ridge we plan on kicking off 2012 with Acts 1:8 in mind, “You will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” If you missed Pastor Darrel’s message you can listen to it HERE.

In 2012 at The Ridge we are focusing a lot of energy and effort on missions, local and international. The church is so dedicated to this idea that on the weekend of December 17th & 18th we are taking our entire regular offering for that weekend and putting it toward missions in 2012. We are also asking you to prayerfully consider giving above and beyond on this weekend to help add to our missions budget. Not only do we plan to add to our ussual missions projects with this money such as Lottie Moon, Annie Armstrong and our Acts of Kindness but we also plan to help others go on missions trips nationally and internationally.

Why does all this have me excited? I am thrilled that The Ridge is headed in this direction and reaching out beyond our own community to spread God’s Word but also because for the past year I, personally, have felt the call to go on an international mission trip. I recently took an assignment to blog for Compassion International which has also been an interest of mine for the last year. All these things combined are a clear message to me that this is what God is calling me to do in the next year and I can’t wait. I can’t wait to open myself up to Him and what He has in store for me. What He wants me to learn and experience. The relationships He is designing for me and for all those involved in this venture.

Please be in prayer for what this may mean to you and for all those involved and all those that will be able to be reached for Christ in the next year.

As happens so often though, God’s plans were not in line with mine. As I thought of how to arrange my blog, my eyes fell on a potted plant, and my Thanksgiving blog was gone. I considered the plant, it’s health, it’s vibrance on a cold November day. I remembered the story of Jonah, when God sent a plant to spring up and provide comfort to a weary Jonah… And this blog wrote itself…

But the LORD said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight.” Jonah 4:10

In the above verse, the Lord is speaking to Jonah. He had placed a plant near Jonah to provide shade from the sun for one day. At dawn the next morning, God placed a worm in the plant that attacked and whithered it.

Jonah cried out at the loss of the plant that God had provided the day before. Jonah was tired and full of discomfort. He said to the Lord, “It is better for me to die than to live.” Throughout the story of Jonah, he showed himself to be more concerned with his own comfort than the fate of Ninevah, or the importance of the mission set before him by God.

After God saw that Ninevah had turned from their sinful ways, he chose not to set calamity upon them. Jonah was angry that Ninevah had been spared, he told God that He would have spared them no matter what.

I have found myself in the same mindset as Jonah lately. I find myself telling God that I know He’s going to do what He’s going to do, whether I participate or not. I ask Him why send me to make some insignificant effort when everything is as He wills it. I thank him for the opportunity, then politely decline. Or, to be honest, I flee, much in the fashion of Jonah.

Even after Jonah was given a second chance to participate in God’s work, he was still angry and bitter. He was not concerned with the salvation of Ninevah, he was concerned with his own comfort, his own judgements, his own agenda. However, when he cried out to God from the belly of the fish, God was there.

God is there to any who call out to Him, no matter where we’re calling from.

Whether we’ve fled from him and found ourselves in trouble, whether we’re in the midst of a sinful environment, in our darkest days or our brightest, God is there when we call on Him.

As we should be ready when God calls upon us. As we should be ready to make the difference God calls us to make – no matter how small it may seem, or how it may not line up with our personal agenda. God calls upon us to help Him answer the calls of those in need.

To be a voice, to be a hand, to be a smile, to be a storyteller. Yes, everything is as He wills it, whether we answer the call or not. But what a wonderful gift He is giving us, to allow us to participate in His will.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the invitation to take part in Your work. I know You don’t need me, rather You choose me to be a part of the plan, to witness Your power and glory and grace, to be a living testimony of Your love. Help me to see beyond my fear into the purpose You have given me.

- Jeanne Roberts

Ridge U takes place on Wednesday nights when classes will be offered at The Ridge in Brookville year round (except for breaks around holidays).  These classes will give us a chance to dig into God’s Word in ways we can’t during our weekend messages and LifeGroups.

The first class we will offer is Experiencing God, taught by Pastor Darrel.  It begins on January 4 and runs for 12 weeks.  Experiencing God is an intensive examination of what the Bible tells us about where God is working and how to get involved.  Many who have taken the class say it radically changed their lives.  Pastor Darrel hopes to teach Experiencing God every two years or so.

Another class in Ridge U will be Christian Beliefs, taught by Pastor Gary.  This class is based on a book by the same name, and looks at the essential beliefs, or doctrines, of our faith. The entire course consists of three units that are 6 sessions each.  The first will begin on January 25, the second on April 11 and the third in July.

And this is just the beginning.  We are looking forward to offering other classes with other teachers.  And we are still offering LifeGroups and our core classes on Sunday mornings.

As you can see, we’ve got a lot planned for classes at The Ridge, so we hope you’ll take the opportunity to get in a class and be part of Ridge U.

Living the Christian life is not designed to be a solo act.  We talk about this at the Ridge all the time.  Christ-followers need one another…for support, for accountability, for encouragement…and so on.

But we also need each other in order to further the Kingdom of God, to impact our communities for Christ.  God certainly can use individuals – but there is something special about people and churches strategically working together for the cause of Christ.

A great example of the power of 2 at the Ridge can be found in our recent “Single Parent Car Winterization” events in Brookville and Greenville.

Alone Brookville serviced 77 cars.  Alone Greenville serviced 43 cars.  Together, the Ridge Church serviced 120 cars.  That’s 120 cars along with 120 single parents plus their children.  You can also add in all the friends, families, and neighbors who heard about this powerful outreach event.

Jesus commanded us to spread the Gospel “in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”  By working together…Brookville & Greenville…we can see our efforts at spreading the Gospel doubled.

That is the Ridge’s goal for being a multi-site church.  So that we can link arms with Christ-followers in nearby communities to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in a powerful way that we could not do alone.

Brookville & Greenville…The Ridge…one church – two locations…demonstrating the power of 2!

by Pastor Darrel Schick

(A BIG THANKS to everyone who served at both campuses for this incredible event – to God be the Glory!)

A few weeks ago the Ridge held our annual Single Parent Car Winterization where we serviced over 75 vehicles and ministered to parents and kids while they patiently waited for the Ridge Pit Crew to change their oil, top-off the fluids and replace burned out bulbs. As if that wasn’t cool enough, the Ridge youth jumped into action by vacuuming the carpets and cleaning their windows.

Now the job of vacuuming a vehicle’s carpets is no easy chore especially if it’s like my car. You never know what you’ll find lurking in the shadows under the seats, Cheerios, pre-chewed gum or a french fry from McDonalds that looks almost as good as the day you bought it two years ago. Thus a good shop-vac is must! So I was more than happy to lend the youth a couple I had in my garage.

Upon their return I decide to empty the contents in the trash can on the side on our house. As I opened the first vacuum I discover hair, dirt and lots of it, pony tail holders, candy wrappers, the tops of pens and several other unidentifiable objects that would make most people a bit squeamish. As I looked closer I noticed something dark brown buried in the debris. Did I dare stick my hand in the toxic waste, where was hand sanitizer? I chose to risk my life and plunged in. The object that caught my eye was a penny, not a very shinning or clean penny, but a penny none the less. As I continued to use my fingers to flick through the dirt and hair I started to discover more and more pennies along with an occasion silver coin.

As I was searching for more pennies I started wondering why so many people seem to discard them like trash. After sorting through all the junk in both vacuum containers I found 42 pennies, 8 dimes and 1 nickel. Not a single quarter! Why is that? Why don’t people throw them away? Is it because their bigger? Maybe, but my guess is it has to do the value we assign to them. We can get more stuff with a quarter, better candy from the old style gum ball machine, or with a turn of knob a cool rubber ball. I remember when a few pennies went a long way at the baseball park concession stand, but somehow they’ve lost their value to many of us. The maker of these little gems, the US Mint still values them, so much so they keep making new ones all the time. I don’t know about you but I pick up every penny I see on the ground. I don’t care how dirty it is, how scratched up it may be or discolored, it still has the same value as the day it was made.

Sadly this same type attitude can creep into our hearts and minds when it comes to the people around us. We assign a value to them; it could be based on how much money they make, how they talk, where they live or how they’re dressed. We ask ourselves what I can get by being their friend, how will they increase my net worth. Other times just like with the pennies, we decide certain people are too scarred up and aren’t worth the trouble. So we ignore them and discard them like all those unwanted pennies I found. What we fail to realize is that we are far more value to our Maker then the penny is to the US Mint. He looks past the all the stains, crud and imperfections. He sees our true value, so much so that He not only reaches down into the dirt to find us, but gave His life to save us.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” Matt 10:29-31

“The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbor as yourself” Gal 5:14

So the next time you look at a penny, I encourage you to think about how much Jesus values you and how much He wants us to see the true worth of others, your life will be richer for it.

Pastor Rollie