“The Church of God Grill”
Hillcrest Church Office
August 6, 2003
Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them!
Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by logging on to Click here. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically
change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail.
Here is this week’s WINNING WAYS . . . .
“The Church of God Grill”
by Tom Goodman
“Hello,” said a cheery voice on the phone, “Church of God Grill.”
In one of his books, Charles Paul Conn recalls this unusual beginning to an unusual phone call. Conn had seen a Yellow Pages listing for a restaurant in Atlanta called Church of God Grill. Curious about the odd name, he dialed the number
and got the owner. Conn asked how the diner had been given such an unusual name.
“Well,” the man began, “We started a little church down here, and we started selling chicken dinners after church on Sunday to help pay the bills. People liked the chicken, and we did such a good business, that eventually we cut back on the
church service. After a while we just closed down the church altogether and kept on serving the chicken dinners. We kept the name we started with, and that's Church of God Grill.”
Churches that don’t have a clear sense of purpose simply drift toward what seems to please the greatest number of people.
So, what is our church’s purpose? We’re going to examine that this Sunday evening, August 10. I will lead a two-hour workshop entitled “Discover Hillcrest.” I’ve prepared a 40-page workbook for this special night, and the staff and
deacons have already had a chance to preview the material. We all want to encourage you to set aside time for this special evening. The workshop will run from 5-7 p.m., followed by a fellowship in the gym.
. . . Oh, and then there’s the rock climbing . . .
We’ve rented an inflatable “rock wall” for the fellowship for anyone who wants to try rock climbing. You’ll have to come Sunday night to see how this fits in to what I’ll be teaching in the seminar!
The seminar is for all ages, and preschool care will be provided. Those who are already members should come . . . and you should bring someone who needs a church home! I’m expecting people to make professions of faith, decisions for
baptism, and conclusions about membership on this special evening. Don’t miss out!
See you Sunday!
--Tom
“THE STORY” – This Sunday morning, August 10, the choir will present a musical entitled “The Story” in both services (8:30 and 10:45). Join us!
"DISCOVER HILLCREST" SEMINAR AND FELLOWSHIP – THIS SUNDAY, August 10. This is an important seminar for all Hillcrest members and those interested in joining. Each attendee will get a seminar workbook. This material will inform you
and inspire you to greater involvement in the Purposes of Hillcrest Baptist Church. The seminar will be held from 5-7 p.m. in the Worship Center, with a snack fellowship to follow.
FIRST ANNUAL LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST – Saturday, August 16, 8:30-11:30 a.m. Your Ministry Staff wants to cook breakfast for you! Following breakfast, I will take all leaders through a one-hour workshop called "Getting Your Life and Ministry On
Track." You will also receive a 2003-2004 church calendar to help you plan your own ministry program. This Leadership Breakfast is for any and all leaders – if you THINK you belong at this breakfast, you probably do! However, you
MUST pre-register to enjoy the breakfast and child care (call the church office or use the sign-up card in this Sunday’s bulletin). Come for INspiration, INtercession, INformation and IN____________ (You'll have to come to find out the last
one!).
LIVING AN ON-PURPOSE LIFE. A new twelve-week series will begin August 17 in both morning services (8:30 and 10:45). The series will provide biblical direction to practical areas of life, with topics like “The On-Purpose Family,
“On-Purpose Trials,” “On-Purpose Dating,” “The On-Purpose Job,” “The On-Purpose Single,” and more.
FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.HillcrestAustin.org
LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here
MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.