New Big Give video

Support!!!

Well, here we go. I am really new to support raising so I am going to need your help. Amber and I just recently accepted a position at LifePointe Christian in Charlotte, NC. This is a church plant or a new church in that area. The church is located in the southwest corner of Charlotte and it is in a very racially diverse area. The area is brand new and there aren't many churches. I will be working with the creative arts teams. Amber will hopefully teach in the Charlotte school system. We are both excited about the kingdom work that is going on in the LifePointe community. Along with the new position comes raising half of my salary for a year or two. Since this is a church plant, they receive funds from outside sources such as other supporting churches, friends, family, and Stadia ( a church planting organization: www.stadia.cc). Here is a little information about stadia:

What is Stadia?
Stadia: New Church Strategies is a nationwide ministry that assists in starting (“planting”) new churches all across the United States. We do this by championing collaborative church planting networks throughout the United States, including partnerships with existing church planting associations and church planting churches. It is not Stadia’s intent to assume the responsibilities of, or take the place of, existing church planting associations or agencies, but to come along side those entities, when invited.

We will need your help in a couple different areas and those areas are:

1) Prayer
2) Resources
3) Funds

Amber and I understand if you cannot provide funds for our mission to work with LifePointe Christian Church. We do ask that you join us in prayer and pray that the transition is smooth for us. Pray for the lives that will be changing and the community that we will be restoring.

If you wish to help us financially you can send all checks to LifePointe Christian Church. Make sure you write for Blake or Strozyk's support on the "for check" line or place the donation in an envelope with my name on it. Here is the address"

Att: Blake Strozyk
LifePointe Christian Church
P.O. Box 38750
Charlotte, NC 28278

In Christ,

Blake Strozyk

Baptism service out of the blue

Yesterday was Sunday and at Crossing there was a baptism service planned after church. I didn't go but I did witness a baptism that day. I ran into a friend of mine and he wanted to be re-baptized which means he was sprinkled as a baby and he wanted to confess his faith now that he understands the meaning of baptism. It was an awesome experience we walked down to the French Broad River and we walked right in the crisp cold water. I felt like I was being baptized all over again because I felt refreshed and overwhelmed by God's creation all around me. I don't have a picture of the scene but just picture a wide river in the valley of the foothills of Tennessee with no highway or road insight. You had to be there. We baptized my friend and then we prayed over him. He was so excited. He knew what he wanted. He wanted to grow closer to God. He wanted to commit his life to a life of Shalom (peace and restoration). He needed Shalom in his life. It was definitely a God thing that I witnessed this act of faith. Pretty simple.

Knoxville to Charlotte

If you have been reading my blogs then you might remember reading one about Amber and I deciding to live in Knoxville forever. Well, that was approximately 3 months and 3 weeks ago. Our plan yet again has changed. Amber and I have been praying really hard and God has just made things happen. We are going to move to Charlotte, NC to work with Life Pointe Christian. I have been building a relationship with this church for over 2 years and the timing just hasn't been right until now. Amber and I decided not to make anymore plans at all because they seem to change as soon as we have it all figured out. We are both very excited. I am excited to incorporate the arts into their church/community. This is going to be a huge learning experience for me. Anyway, so if you want to pray for our transition that would be great. Also if you are interested in supporting Amber and I financially, you can just contact me on the comment section of this blog and I we can exchange information. I will have to raise half of my support because this church is a church plant or a new church. I can explain all the details later.

You can check out the church at: www.lifepointecc.com

Later

Song set-list from Life Pointe Christian

Line-up from 6/1/2008:

"Not to Us" (remix) - Chris Tomlin
"Marvelous Light"- Charlie Hall
"Majesty" -Delirious

- teaching -

"Nothing but the Blood"- Matt Redman
Not to Us (reprise)

I am going to admit that I am copying a lot of people by posting my set-lists on my blog. It really does help me when I am planning services. Anyway, this past week I led worship at LifePointe Christian, a church plant, in Charlotte, NC. It was my first time working with the band and they were great. We started the service with Not to Us because it related to the teaching series, " The Big Give". This is not the Oprah, "Big Give" but the idea was borrowed. The cool thing about the worship set was I broke a guitar string at the beginning of Marvelous Light and of course it was the G string. By the way the G string is the most important string. I had to make up chords on the spot while maintaining my composer. Oh how I wish I could just lead from keyboard all the time but I just don't have it in me yet. Overall the services went well and people connected with God.

Whats been going on with me...

Well, I guess I haven't posted in awhile and I know most say they have been busy. That is my case indeed. I have been traveling to Charlotte for the past two weeks visiting another church plant, LifePointe. I was really excited to see how this faith community worshiped and "did church". They meet in a middle school and its pretty cool seeing their set-up. The set-up is a little more intense than Crossings in Knoxville. I believe set-up is the blue collar ministry to church planting but I believe its the most rewarding. First of all its like exercising and yes I do count set-up as part of my workout routine. Second set-up is a premiere time to connect with others. It's a time to work together and build up each other and share life stories. While, in Charlotte I did just that, I got to know some folks. Here are some pics of LifePointe Christian:

Worship DVD -Old school and new school