Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor
I remember it well. There I was in the middle of the night involved in a nefarious scheme to fill my hungry and growling stomach. The kitchen was quiet and dark, and the storage areas were filled with endless and bountiful provisions. The cookies that I was eating were perfect--not too hard and not too soft. The end result of a baker's labor. I had never felt more guilty in my life. Or more alive. That could possibly have been the result of all the sugar.
Let me rewind. The year was 1997 and I was ending my sophomore campaign at NCSU. I had become involved in Young Life and along with several others traveled up to Lake Saranac, New York for something called "Work Week" where Young Life leaders spent time cleaning up the camp from the winter and getting it ready for the summer.
We worked hard. Cutting down trees with chainsaws, painting, putting out the dock into the lakes in our wetsuits. And we were fed well for our toil. But I hope it's not too hard to believe that one night as we lay down to sleep a friend of mine mentioned he was hungry and my stomach rumbled in response. Our options were limited. We were in the middle of nowhere, did not have the foresight to bring any snacks, and had no hunting equipment.
Fortunately, my friend had an idea, and the means by which to execute said idea. The plan was simple: as our forefathers had done long before, raid and pillage the camp kitchen. The means was also simple: my friend mysteriously had the key.
So that brings us full circle to me munching on cookies in the dead of night in upstate New York. After eating our fill we slipped out as quietly as we came in and retired to our beds with a slight sugar buzz, but feeling much better than before about the next day's work.
It was a fun memory, but every time I read Philippians 3:19 I feel slightly guilty whenever my stomach begins to growl in the middle of the night.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
The Missional Manifesto
Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor
The Missional Manifesto was put together by an incredible team of godly men and women, and represents what I hope Apex Baptist Church believes, and is moving toward, as we seek to go and love our community with the Gospel. You can read it by clicking here, and if you agree you can even sign your name to it at the bottom! It includes a Preamble and 10 Affirmations with a concluding statement of action. Check it out today!
You can also check out the following video for a little more background into the thinking behind the Missional Manifesto:
Children/Communications Pastor
The Missional Manifesto was put together by an incredible team of godly men and women, and represents what I hope Apex Baptist Church believes, and is moving toward, as we seek to go and love our community with the Gospel. You can read it by clicking here, and if you agree you can even sign your name to it at the bottom! It includes a Preamble and 10 Affirmations with a concluding statement of action. Check it out today!
You can also check out the following video for a little more background into the thinking behind the Missional Manifesto:
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
Operation Inasmuch & Letters to Soldiers
Chuck Thompson
Youth/Missions Pastor
Here's another Operation Inasmuch "thank you" from the 805th Military Police Company:
Dear Apex Baptist Church,
The 805th Military Police Company sends its appreciation to the fine young men and women of Apex Baptist Church. We received the letters of encouragement entitled "American Hero" and passed them out to the Soldiers serving this fine country. I have heard many comments regarding the letters and feel that they had their intended effect.
I also opened a letter from Alexandra (3rd Grade). Her words were warmly felt and appreciated. Please let her know that I make the sacrifices of being away from friends and family to protect the freedoms of this great nation from afar. I serve willingly and with great pride; for if I have the ability to change lives for the better, then my calling in this life is complete.
I conclude with a verse that applies to all facets of life:
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 3:14-15)
1LT Andrew Callanan
Executive Officer
805th Military Police Company
Youth/Missions Pastor
Here's another Operation Inasmuch "thank you" from the 805th Military Police Company:
Dear Apex Baptist Church,
The 805th Military Police Company sends its appreciation to the fine young men and women of Apex Baptist Church. We received the letters of encouragement entitled "American Hero" and passed them out to the Soldiers serving this fine country. I have heard many comments regarding the letters and feel that they had their intended effect.
I also opened a letter from Alexandra (3rd Grade). Her words were warmly felt and appreciated. Please let her know that I make the sacrifices of being away from friends and family to protect the freedoms of this great nation from afar. I serve willingly and with great pride; for if I have the ability to change lives for the better, then my calling in this life is complete.
I conclude with a verse that applies to all facets of life:
"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 3:14-15)
1LT Andrew Callanan
Executive Officer
805th Military Police Company
Operation Inasmuch & the Mabopane Foundation
Chuck Thompson
Youth/Missions Pastor
It's been a month since Operation Inasmuch, but we wanted to share with you a few "thank yous" you've received along the way. This is one is from the Mabopane Foundation: (Quick Note: the Mabopane Foundation is a Raleigh, NC based nonprofit organization that gives assistance to orphaned, abandoned, and disadvantaged children in Mabopane, South Africa)
Good Morning Apex Baptist Church Family,
I want to thank you for the many ways your "Operation Inasmuch" has helped the Mabopane Foundation. All of you willing, wonderful workers have blessed our ministry beyond belief.
So many of our volunteers/mission sale contributors come from Apex Baptist Church. They are always such a light in whatever they do.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the many ways you partner with us!
Blessings,
Becky Young
President, Mabopane Foundation
Youth/Missions Pastor
It's been a month since Operation Inasmuch, but we wanted to share with you a few "thank yous" you've received along the way. This is one is from the Mabopane Foundation: (Quick Note: the Mabopane Foundation is a Raleigh, NC based nonprofit organization that gives assistance to orphaned, abandoned, and disadvantaged children in Mabopane, South Africa)
Good Morning Apex Baptist Church Family,
I want to thank you for the many ways your "Operation Inasmuch" has helped the Mabopane Foundation. All of you willing, wonderful workers have blessed our ministry beyond belief.
So many of our volunteers/mission sale contributors come from Apex Baptist Church. They are always such a light in whatever they do.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the many ways you partner with us!
Blessings,
Becky Young
President, Mabopane Foundation
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Is Church Membership a Biblical Idea?
Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor
Recently, I finished a condensed version of Mark Dever's "What is a Healthy Church?" One of the issues that he addresses is the topic of biblical membership in the local church and I thought it would be appropriate to bring up in the light of our upcoming New Member's Class on May 24 and May 31.
Dever begins, "When a person becomes a Christian, he doesn't just join a local church because it's a good habit for growing in spiritual maturity. He joins a local church because it's the expression of what Christ has made him: a member of the body of Christ. Being united to Christ means being united to every Christian. But that universal union must be given a living, breathing existence in a local church."
What a perspective on membership! As a member of the body of Christ (that includes believers all around the world) it's only natural that we become a member of a local body where we can be discipled and be in community!
Dever continues with a gut check, "Committing to a local body is the natural outcome--it confirms what Christ has done [given us his righteousness through his death on the cross]. If you have no interest in actually committing yourself to an actual group of gospel-believing, Bible-teaching Christians, you might question whether you belong to the body of Christ at all!" (Check out Hebrews 10:23-27 on this point)
So, is membership in a local church a biblical idea? The answer is "Yes!" Check out the list of widows in 1 Timothy 5 or Paul's instructions to the church in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 5. What does church membership mean?
Dever writes, "By identifying ourselves with a particular local church, we are telling the church's pastors and other members not just that we commit to them, but that we commit to them in gathering, giving, prayer, and service. We are telling them to expect certain things from us and to hold us accountable if we don't follow through . . . Church membership means being incorporated in practical ways into the body of Christ. It means traveling together as aliens and strangers in this world as we head to our heavenly home."
I don't know about you, but on this journey with Christ I need all the help I can get from my brothers and sisters in the faith! I can't do this on my own!
Mark Dever ends with a challenge:
"If your goal is to love all Christians, let me suggest working toward it by first committing to a concrete group of real Christians with all their foibles and follies. Commit to them through thick and thin for eighty years. Then come back and we'll talk about your progress in loving all Christians everywhere."
Contact Tim if you're interested in taking part in the New Member's Classes!
Children/Communications Pastor
Recently, I finished a condensed version of Mark Dever's "What is a Healthy Church?" One of the issues that he addresses is the topic of biblical membership in the local church and I thought it would be appropriate to bring up in the light of our upcoming New Member's Class on May 24 and May 31.
Dever begins, "When a person becomes a Christian, he doesn't just join a local church because it's a good habit for growing in spiritual maturity. He joins a local church because it's the expression of what Christ has made him: a member of the body of Christ. Being united to Christ means being united to every Christian. But that universal union must be given a living, breathing existence in a local church."
What a perspective on membership! As a member of the body of Christ (that includes believers all around the world) it's only natural that we become a member of a local body where we can be discipled and be in community!
Dever continues with a gut check, "Committing to a local body is the natural outcome--it confirms what Christ has done [given us his righteousness through his death on the cross]. If you have no interest in actually committing yourself to an actual group of gospel-believing, Bible-teaching Christians, you might question whether you belong to the body of Christ at all!" (Check out Hebrews 10:23-27 on this point)
So, is membership in a local church a biblical idea? The answer is "Yes!" Check out the list of widows in 1 Timothy 5 or Paul's instructions to the church in Corinth in 1 Corinthians 5. What does church membership mean?
Dever writes, "By identifying ourselves with a particular local church, we are telling the church's pastors and other members not just that we commit to them, but that we commit to them in gathering, giving, prayer, and service. We are telling them to expect certain things from us and to hold us accountable if we don't follow through . . . Church membership means being incorporated in practical ways into the body of Christ. It means traveling together as aliens and strangers in this world as we head to our heavenly home."
I don't know about you, but on this journey with Christ I need all the help I can get from my brothers and sisters in the faith! I can't do this on my own!
Mark Dever ends with a challenge:
"If your goal is to love all Christians, let me suggest working toward it by first committing to a concrete group of real Christians with all their foibles and follies. Commit to them through thick and thin for eighty years. Then come back and we'll talk about your progress in loving all Christians everywhere."
Contact Tim if you're interested in taking part in the New Member's Classes!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Embrace Hope
We just wanted to give a quick shout out to all of you who gave and collected money for our Baby Bottle Fundraiser for Hand of Hope Pregnancy Resource Center this past winter. You gave an amazing total of over $4300 that will go to helping young women with unplanned pregnancies in Southeast Wake County. Not only that, but you made an investment in the Kingdom as each of these girls and their families are presented with the truths of Jesus Christ! Thank you for your generosity!
Check out this video to learn a little more about Hand of Hope:
Check out this video to learn a little more about Hand of Hope:
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Tetherball Nightmares
Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor
I have tetherball nightmares. Seriously. I was reminded of them as I drove through carpool the other day and saw a few kids playing tetherball. There was a girl who was brutally taking a little boy to school. I started to feel the trickle of a tear make its way down my cheek.
Let's start with a confession: I am extremely uncoordinated. (Case in point: if you ever see me trying to clap during a song in the worship service I will not be clapping on the right beat much to the enjoyment of my wife.)
When I was a kid I used to play tetherball all the time at the Triangle Swimming Pool. It didn't matter who I played, they would hit the ball and I would flail unsuccessfully at it every time it came around the pole. As the ball would pick up speed, the rope would wind tighter around the pole, and my hopes for my first tetherball victory would be crushed yet again. Swing and miss. Swing and miss. Swing and miss. The crushing agony of defeat.
I experienced the same emotions in my early years of being eligible to play on one of the ABC softball teams. Don't worry, I won't mention any names here, but let's just say I probably led the league in strikeouts. That's right, in softball. I was so bad that whenever I even made the slightest sort of contact with the ball my team (and sometimes the opposing team) would cheer for me. But mostly it was swing and miss. Swing and miss. Strike three!
So, that's me opening up and being honest with you. Sharing some of my deepest humiliations with you. Now, let me ask you a question:
When was the last time you led someone to Christ? When was the last time you shared the Gospel with someone who didn't know Christ? I mean, really shared the entire Gospel with them, and gave them a chance to respond?
If you are like me these are not comfortable questions. I can feel guilty and get defensive real quick. But the bottom line is this: if Christ has loved me and I believe He is the only way to have a restored relationship with God why would I ever hold that information back? Now, it's true, I might share the Gospel with a friend and be totally rebuffed or even ridiculed. It might seem like a swing and a miss--just like I used to miss all those tetherballs and softballs.
But in reality, when we share the Gospel, WE NEVER SWING AND MISS. We are being faithful--as ministers of reconciliation--and we leave the results up to God.
So, let's get to it! Let's make a difference in our community as lights that shine in the darkness! Swing for the fences!
Children/Communications Pastor
I have tetherball nightmares. Seriously. I was reminded of them as I drove through carpool the other day and saw a few kids playing tetherball. There was a girl who was brutally taking a little boy to school. I started to feel the trickle of a tear make its way down my cheek.
Let's start with a confession: I am extremely uncoordinated. (Case in point: if you ever see me trying to clap during a song in the worship service I will not be clapping on the right beat much to the enjoyment of my wife.)
When I was a kid I used to play tetherball all the time at the Triangle Swimming Pool. It didn't matter who I played, they would hit the ball and I would flail unsuccessfully at it every time it came around the pole. As the ball would pick up speed, the rope would wind tighter around the pole, and my hopes for my first tetherball victory would be crushed yet again. Swing and miss. Swing and miss. Swing and miss. The crushing agony of defeat.
I experienced the same emotions in my early years of being eligible to play on one of the ABC softball teams. Don't worry, I won't mention any names here, but let's just say I probably led the league in strikeouts. That's right, in softball. I was so bad that whenever I even made the slightest sort of contact with the ball my team (and sometimes the opposing team) would cheer for me. But mostly it was swing and miss. Swing and miss. Strike three!
So, that's me opening up and being honest with you. Sharing some of my deepest humiliations with you. Now, let me ask you a question:
When was the last time you led someone to Christ? When was the last time you shared the Gospel with someone who didn't know Christ? I mean, really shared the entire Gospel with them, and gave them a chance to respond?
If you are like me these are not comfortable questions. I can feel guilty and get defensive real quick. But the bottom line is this: if Christ has loved me and I believe He is the only way to have a restored relationship with God why would I ever hold that information back? Now, it's true, I might share the Gospel with a friend and be totally rebuffed or even ridiculed. It might seem like a swing and a miss--just like I used to miss all those tetherballs and softballs.
But in reality, when we share the Gospel, WE NEVER SWING AND MISS. We are being faithful--as ministers of reconciliation--and we leave the results up to God.
So, let's get to it! Let's make a difference in our community as lights that shine in the darkness! Swing for the fences!
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