Urban Atlanta Church Planting is…

A cooperative effort of Atlanta Association of Southern Baptist Churches and Atlanta Metro Baptist Association to engage urban lostness by intentionally planting relevant reproducing congregations inside Atlanta’s perimeter (ITP) that produce community transformation through:

• Prayer – praying for lost and unchurched people on a daily basis,
• Engagement – engaging unreached people in small groups,
• Sowing – sharing the good news and the truth of Scripture in every way possible, and by
• Harvesting – developing contextual evangelistic strategies, conducting intentionally evangelistic events, following up and assimilating new believers into Bible Study and worship, and developing reproducing Jesus followers.

Our goals…

• Plant at least 100 traditional and cell/house churches by December 2014.
• Begin at least 75 Bible study/fellowship groups by December 2014.
• Conduct at least 100 significant servant evangelism/acts of kindness events by December 2014.

The need inside the perimeter (ITP) …

• Approximately 878,000 people live ITP with a projection of 951,000 by 2014.
• Over 500,000 people living ITP have no religious affiliation; over 600,000 people ITP are not church members; and over 700,000 people living ITP do not attend church.
• 41% of the population ITP lives in rented housing. Typically 95% of those living in multi-housing/apartments/condos do not attend church.
• 75% of the total households ITP have no children. Baptists are traditionally “better” at reaching married couple households with children.
• ITP 7% of the total population is birth to 5 years of age; 7% of the total population is 6 to 11 years of age; and 7% of the total population is 12 to 17 years of age.
• Presently 69% of the adult population ITP is not married and singles and single parents are the fastest growing people groups ITP.
• People of Hispanic origin (18,136 increase) and Whites (17,391increase) are projected to be the fastest growing ITP population segments between now and 2013.
• The median age of people living ITP is 36.1 years of age. This is considerably less than those attending most Baptist churches.
• ITP 6% of the adult population has less than a 9th grade education. 8% of the adult population dropped out of school between the 9th and 12th grade. 42% of the adult population has a college degree or higher.
• Many ITP Baptist church members do not live in their church neighborhoods, do not reflect the “people groups” living in their church neighborhoods, do not impact their church neighborhoods, do not penetrate the lostness in their neighborhoods, and do not know or relate to those persons who make the decisions that affect the neighborhood. Many ITP Baptist churches are dying, declining, or just holding their own.
• Of the 166 Southern Baptist Congregations that existed in the 1960’s in the area we now know as Inside the Perimeter, only 39 are still in existence ITP as the area has grown 24% during that time period.

Our Focus…

Our focus is to begin intentionally missionary congregations among the people (English speaking and non-English speaking) living in apartments, condos, and single family housing communities ITP. These congregations would be led by missionary pastors who have a vision and real desire to intentionally reach unchurched and lost people.

Our partners…

Atlanta Association of Southern Baptist Churches, Atlanta Metro Baptist Association, Georgia Baptist Convention, North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention, LifeWay Christian Resources

Our leadership team…

• Samuel Aleman, Primera Iglesia Bautista Hispana de Metro Atlanta pastor
• David Bunch, retired state convention executive director and retired HMB (NAMB) staff
• Joel Harrison, Atlanta Metro Baptist Association lead missionary
• Bryan Pillsbury, Mount Vernon missions pastor
• Fred Pitts, Clairmont Hills pastor
• Tony Romans, Atlanta Association of Southern Baptist Churches interim associational missionary

Our staff…

• Jim Haskell, FBC Chattahoochee pastor and UACP Strategist jimh {at} uacp(.)net
• Tim Wolfe, 1027 Church pastor and UACP Residency Leader timw {at} uacp(.)net
• Brooke Oliver, UACP Ethnographer brookeo {at} uacp(.)net

Identified Areas/People Groups for Church Plants…

• Hills Park
• Ashford-Dunwoody/Blackburn Park
• High Rise Condo Community
• Middle Eastern
• Glenwood Park
• East Lake
• Castleberry Hills
• College Park
• Collegiate
• Candler Park
• Asian Indian
• Home Park
• Hapeville Latino
• Centennial Park

Potential Planters…

• Thomas Busby
• Jeff Reams-Dunwoody Apartment Community
• Justin Craig-Vinings
• Danny Presten
• Deane Johnson
• Nate Mutispaugh

Planters in Preparation…

• Greg Riner
• Nathan and Carrie Dean-Edgewood Community
• Jimmie Jordan-Washington Road Neighborhood
• JB Brown-Clairmont/Buford Community

Planters/Church Plants…

• Bill and Kitti Murray-Connections
• Nathan/Christina Tran-Reflection Community
• Cameron Ford-Upper West Side
• Rusty Couch-Journeys Church at East Atlanta

Church Launches…

• Faithful Friends Vine City-Carnell and Barbara Thomas
• First Christ Cares Church-Don Lockhart
• Bezalel Church-Kerry Jackson, Missionary

Churches…

• Blueprint Church-Dhati Lewis
• Calvary Russian-Andrev Ryzhkov
• Empowering Christian Life-Gregory Sinkfield
• First Nepali Church–Santosh
• North Peachtree Vietnamese Missio-Hau Le
• White Stone Somang Mission-Ciseon Kim

Church Planting Centers…

• First Baptist Church Chattahoochee • Northwest

Familial Churches…

• 1027 Church-Tim Wolfe Midtown Bridge-Larry Grays
• Midtown Church-Todd Briggs

Visit UACP.net to learn more.

32 Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals-one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. 35 The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.” 36 The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar 37 and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” 38 There was a written notice above him, which read: THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. 39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:32-43)

I still remember the play…a double reverse and my responsibility in the defense we were running was for me to “stay home.” In other words I was not to pursue the running back who was running away from me…I was to stay in my area in case the play came back my way. I did pursue and I hadn’t stayed! After a long gain we finally tackled the runner and I had to face my coach. I just knew he was going to substitute for me, but he didn’t. He said, “Jimmy, go back in there and don’t ever let that happen again.” I never did. I was given a second chance.

The criminal on the cross beside Jesus on that dark Friday we call “Good”, got a second chance when he asked for it. His belief assured that. But interestingly, the soldiers who would crucify Jesus were given another chance even though there is no recording of their request. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” was the recipe of a second chance. Whenever we forgive anyone it also ushers in a second chance… in our case sometimes we, the forgivers, are actually the recipients of that new beginning.

Easter is all about Second, and many more, chances. It is about forgiveness. It is about new beginnings. It is about a close companion that denies knowing Him on the night of his betrayal yet is given the first great preaching assignment some 50 days later at Pentecost. It is about a woman at a public well who is living in an adulterous relationship but is given the opportunity to change her life and she shares this change with her many “friends.” It is about a murderous Rabbi whose mission in life was to destroy all Christians and how he would become the first great Christian missionary. It is about the young man who left the first missionary journey in defeat but would one day write a Gospel which we read in our present day Bible. SECOND CHANCES are written all over the face of Christianity. And Easter is here to make sure we never forget it. Hallelujah!

The new sermon series in which we are in the midst is “Who Is Jesus?” As you can see below, we are looking at what different people and documents say who Jesus is. We will conclude with seven self-identity statements Jesus said which are recorded in the Gospel of John. This Easter Sunday I will preach a sermon which has as its focus the sensibility of our belief in Jesus as Savior. I hope you will attend and bring someone with you.

Who IS Jesus?
“Questions and Answers about the True Identity of Jesus Christ”
March 29 CULTURE SPEAKS: Jesus Is Confusing (Matthew 16:13-16)

April 5 RELIGION SPEAKS: Cheers Can Become Jeers (John 12:12-19, 19:15)
April 12 EVIDENCE SPEAKS: It Makes Sense to Believe What’s All the Fuss about Easter?
(Matthew 28:5-7, 1 Peter 1:3-4, 1 Corinthians 15:3-8)
April 19 JESUS SPEAKS: I Am A Need Satisfier (John 6:25-35)
April 26 JESUS SPEAKS: I Am A Journey Director (John 8:12-20)

May 3 JESUS SPEAKS: I Am A Life Fulfiller (John 10:1-10)
May 17 JESUS SPEAKS: I Am A Sacrificial Lover (John 10:11-18)
May 24 JESUS SPEAKS: I Am A Death Destroyer (John 11:17-27)
May 31 JESUS SPEAKS: I Am Inclusively Exclusive (John 14:6)

June 7 JESUS SPEAKS: I Am A Growth Stimulator (John 15:1-4)

Expectantly,
Jim

We are so blessed as a church to be a servant to our community and other churches. We will be hosting two of our Neighborhoods Association meetings this month. Our Glenlocke Grove neighbors will meet in our facilities on Tuesday February 10th while the Whittier Mill Village Neighborhood Association will meet in our Fellowship Hall on Thursday February 19th. Another great opportunity we have to help a new Baptist Church in our community will occur on Sunday February 15th at 6:00pm in our Sanctuary. Midtown Bridge Church, a new church sponsored by FBC Woodstock and our state convention, will have a worship/baptism service. They meet on Sunday mornings in the movie theaters in Atlantic Station and have no other facilities. Larry Grays leads this wonderful cutting edge ministry and I am delighted that we can serve them with our Kingdom mindset like this.

Other ways of service that we have as opportunities in the near future are connected to the Georgia Tech Baptist Collegiate Ministry (Former BSU). The first venue of service is to provide refreshments on campus for about 125 Tech students after the BCM Worship Service on Tuesday night March 3rd. At this time we have commitments for 20 dozen of the 25 dozen home baked cookies needed and $45 of the $75 needed for water and soft drinks. Please let me know if you can help with either. We are also helping to facilitate a Saturday work day on March 28th for the cleanup of the Spink-Collins Park, just down the road from where the Barnetts live. It will be a joint effort of the Georgia Tech BCM and neighborhood volunteers. It will be a great opportunity for church volunteers to build relationships with these college students and neighbors. I hope you will consider participating.

The Easter Egg Hunt is off and running! We have had a tremendous response from our neighbors so we will proceed to have the best Upper West Side Easter Egg Hunt in history! It will be held on Saturday April 11th at 2:00pm in the Whittier Mill Village Park. Joy Gilbert and Mitsy Austin are working on a steering committee with me from our church along with volunteers from three of our surrounding neighborhoods. You will be hearing more in the days ahead.

Two other ways that we might be able to use our facilities to connect and help those that live around us are being discussed at the present time and will be coordinated with our Building and Grounds Committee. The first opportunity came out of our discussions with our neighbors concerning the Easter Egg Hunt. There seems to be a great need for a Mother’s Day Out ministry a few days a week. Mitsy Austin is going to work with me to discuss with our neighbors ways in which our church can be of assistance in seeing this happen. Personally, in addition to the service we would provide it would be exciting to see our building become a center of community activity. In addition to that possibility, I was contacted recently by representatives of the Fulton-Atlanta Community Action Authority who are interested in having a location much closer to our community for the help they provide needy senior adults. At this time a person in our area who doesn’t have transportation has to change busses three times to get to their offices on the other side of the city. Their director is coming to our campus soon to meet with Bob and me in order to investigate the possibility of them using some space in our facility to receive requests from our community residents.

One of the greatest Kingdom assets we have is our building. Isn’t it wonderful to see how God is using it?

Expectantly,

Jim

In the New International translation of the Bible the word “new” is found 192 times. Most of the passages where this intriguing word is located are words of encouragement and challenge. One of my favorite messages of encouragement is found in the Apostle Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17 NIV) WOW! I can’t even fathom what that truly means. I do understand that to really know fresh living we can only find it in a relationship with Jesus. All else might seem to offer the same but only Jesus can be counted on…all other relationships are falsely advertising. I also understand that Jesus offers us this newness by telling us that through a relationship with Him we can put all our past failures behind us and not be held back or sidetracked by them. We really can start all over again!

The three part sermon series which is being offered during these first weeks of 2009 is aimed at the opportunities of a new, fresh start. Last week we talked about the Road to Newness being the road to becoming a Follower of Jesus and how we can take the first step in that journey. This Sunday, January 11, we will answer the question, “Which Rule Will You Live By This Year?” We don’t like to talk about rules but we all live by them whether we know it or not. There is one rule though that is a freeing revelation of relationship based on the kind of love God continues to show us. I hope you will be present for this message. It has the potential to revolutionize your life.

Great things are happening at First Baptist Church Chattahoochee these days. We received more than our budget goal for 2008 for the first time in people’s memory. When other churches and “not for profits” are having to cut their budgets and are cutting back services, God has been so gracious to us that we have increased our budget goal for 2009 by 6.4%. This does not mean that we are in any way better or more faithful than others it simply communicates that God is entrusting us with an opportunity with which we must be faithful stewards of priorities, resources and vision. We also were ecstatic that we were allowed to be a helper in our community filling 4 barrels of food for the Atlanta Community Food Bank. And our Christmas Eve Service was well attended with at least five families attending that have never attended any of our services before.

The year 2009 offers some great and challenging opportunities. My prayer is that we will soon have the money needed to proceed with the playground at Scott Elementary School on Hollywood. We are helping to facilitate a Saturday work day for the cleanup of the Spink-Collins Park, just down the road from where the Barnetts live. It will be a joint effort of the Georgia Tech Baptist Campus Ministry (BSU) and neighborhood groups. It is also open to anyone else that might be interested in helping. It will take place the last Saturday of January, February or March. We are working out the date at the present time. We will also be providing refreshments for about 100 Tech students after the BCM Worship Service on Tuesday night March 3rd. If you would like to help me with this please let me know. Another opportunity we are praying about and trying to discover if there is a community desire for it is to offer an Upper West Side Easter Egg Hunt the Saturday before Easter. The ladies in our WMU and Circles will be leading out with this if we feel there is adequate interest from our neighbors.

Another great idea that we are looking into is to make our library more accessible to our neighbors. We are going to get some help to know how to best make our library more children friendly then possibly this summer have open hours and “story telling” times. Please be thinking how you might be able to plug into this promising venture. Another Idea that I am nursing along right now is how we might have some Sunday Evening concert type events off the porch in the back of fellowship hall that might be a super time for our neighbors to gather on our back lawn on blankets and even picnic baskets. Chastain Park “Upper West Side” if you get my drift.

Whatever happens in 2009, I’m sure it will be some kind of ride!

Expectantly,
Jim

ADVENT…a coming into being…an anticipation.  How do you prepare for Christmas? What do you do that helps build anticipation for that glorious celebration?  Through the years many things come to mind in my case.  As a young child we would receive a calendar from Uncle Jack who was stationed in Germany.  Each day leading up to Christmas we would tear off the tab with that day’s date on it.  It was Christmas Countdown for me.

In recent years I have collected Christmas Movie DVDs and watch them leading up to Christmas…”It’s A Wonderful Life” is not only the best Christmas Movie but the best movie ever made! Each Christmas Eve after the church service our family opens gifts and watches that great Frank Capra classic…whether they want to or not…and loves it.  Maybe you anticipate Christmas by shopping or going to parties or simply riding around and looking at the sights.  We all need to prepare for the celebration of the Christ Event.

I hope we will be able to assist your preparation this season by offering some opportunities that should help us “get ready” for Christmas.  First, I will begin a three part Christmas Sermon Series this Sunday titled Christmas Presents…watch the syllable where you place the emphasis because it can change the meaning of this word.

On December the 8th we will begin collecting can goods for the Atlanta Community Food Bank.  We need your help in manning the collection center.  Please contact Kerri Wakefield or Jimmie Jordan to volunteer.  On December 14th you are invited to our home anytime from 2-4 for an Open House.  You had better come since Linda is wearing me out getting things ready for your arrival.  Maps are available at the church facility and on our web page.  And on Christmas Eve we will gather for a wonderful time of carols, communion and candles.  I can’t wait…sounds like I have a lot of anticipation already present.

I received an email this week from the Scott Elementary Principal, Roxianne Smith concerning the status of the playground project.  She wrote, “I just wanted to update you on the status of the Atlanta Falcons’ grant that was to be used for the funding of the playground at Scott Elementary.  Originally, the Falcon Family Foundation was planning to fund 10 grants to various organizations.  Scott was one of the ten projects chosen for funding.  Unfortunately, the effects of the nation’s economy can be felt by all.  When the foundation took the proposals to the Board, they were told that the foundation would only be able to fund one playground at this time.  Of course when we heard the news we were heartbroken, but John Bear, from the foundation, has assisted us with another route.  He has nurtured a partnership between Scott Elementary and Safeplay Systems to install a starter playground.  While the starter playground is smaller than our earlier vision, it can be added upon as future funds become available.  We are even attempting to include Hands-On Atlanta with the playground installation to further cut down expenses.

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for your hard work and commitment thus far with helping us secure the funds that the grant required.  Although the path has changed, I continue to request your support and financial support toward the new plan for a starter playground.  Many of you have already given checks to the school while others have committed to sending your donation by December 15th.  I wanted to inform you that we did not secure the grant and also ask if the funds you already committed to donating could still be used for the starter playground?”

The total cost of the starter playground is $19,428.00 which is almost $5,000 more than the $15,000 that needed to be raised for the matching grant of $35,000 from the Falcon Foundation.  We are trying to facilitate the raising of $10,000 of the $15,000 originally needed.  We have received $1800 and have a commitment of $5,000 from an endowment.  It would be great if we could raise even more than the goal we had since the cost has increased.  Can you think of a better Christmas present than providing a safe play space for these deserving children?

Finally, remember to check your stewardship records and make sure you have returned your whole tithe to the church this year.  We will need a huge month of giving in December to reach our budget goal.  Also remember that this is the season we support the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions.  Our Goal this year is $5,000.

Expectantly,
Jim

The first time a person or family joins us for the meal it is free. If you are a guest and haven’t made a reservation this first time…don’t worry about it…come on. We look forward to seeing you.

At 6:45pm we then move to the Sanctuary where we will have a time of Worship led by Bob Shaw and Bible Study led by Pastor Jim Haskell. This time of study is an informal time of dialogue and discovery. Also during this time we will also hear a report on the prayer needs of our congregation from Rev. Bernard Weaver.

Our choir then meets for rehearsal at 7:30pm. During this time they prepare to lead our time together on Sunday and also work on any special presentations that might be ahead.

You are invited to participate in either or all of these times of fellowship and inspiration.

When you arrive on our campus enter the building on the west side of the Sanctuary toward the back of that building. There you will find someone to welcome you and help you find your group. If you are a parent you will have an opportunity to also meet the people who will care for your child as you leave them for their specialized time.

At 11:00am we gather in the Sanctuary for our Worship time. During this time we hope you will be inspired and encouraged. Our music is heart-felt and spiritual. We use various forms of music and are open to all styles as God brings people to us that are gifted and passionate in those styles. At the present time you will find us to be more traditional gospel with great enthusiasm. But more importantly you will find it to be a sincere expression of our love for our Lord.

Our Pastor preaches biblical messages that are relevant to the needs of our lives. Each of his messages is full of inspiring illustrations and practical applications. His hope is that you will find answers to your questions and help for your hurts while we celebrate God’s Goodness. While we do not offer a public invitation, you are encouraged to either fill out a communication card you will find in the pews, speak to the Pastor following the service or contact the pastor by phone (404.794.4922) or email (jimh {at} fbcchat(.)com) about a need or decision you would like to make. The reason we handle decisions this way is so we can personally communicate with you about our church and so you will be totally knowledgeable in your decision.

Please know that we would love to visit with you about your decision or need and if you are being led to join us in our journey, we will be ecstatic.