Thursday, March 25, 2010

We Don't Just Play, We Work


“Jesus traveled through all the towns and villages of that area, teaching in the synagogues and announcing the Good News of the Kingdom. And he healed every kind of disease and illness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He said to his disciples, the harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His field.” - Matthew 9:35-38 NLT



By Pastor Kris Freeman
Lead Pastor, Revolution Church

I watch them, working diligently. Many of them are tired, sore, sleepy and ready to turn in a long day. Yet they work, they finish, they prepare, all this after they play.

I am not talking about churches or ministry workers, I am talking about high school baseball players. But while standing in front of the dugout at White House High School’s baseball field, God gave me a tremendous vision for a working church and the verse above immediately spoke to me though the Holy Spirit.

See, it was several years ago that our home field was awarded the National Field of the Year, a nationwide award by the NABF for high school baseball. But this is not a field that is pampered, babied or restricted. It’s played on, sometimes almost year-round, by high school, middle school, junior varsity, and summer tournament teams. Not until this year did I pay as close attention to why the field is kept in such spectacular shape.

I moved back to White House to plant a church, and have spent the last seven months working very closely with White House High School. Coach Mark Mills gave me a blessing, an opportunity to be an assistant coach for the Blue Devils and it was my first time to coach baseball since 1998, when I gave it up for ministry.

Every day, we either practice or play on that field. But at the beginning and the close of each practice, there is an army of players and coaches who work hard to put the field in excellent shape. Rakes, hoses, mowers, four wheelers and drags, brooms, trash cans , water jugs, spray paint, chalk, bases, turf tools, sod cutters, dirt, clay, sand, field mix, rolling cages, screens, buckets, bases -- like a toolbox emptied, all become the pieces of the puzzle.

And then we play. And people come. By unwritten rule, opposing teams admire how spectacular the field looks before each game. But amazingly, after the game is done, the work is often repeated, when these same players have just given their all between the lines for the game.

I have begun to wonder if churches across America have become so enamored with their “field” that all they do is play on it. But the work necessary to make the Gospel of Jesus Christ come alive is being ignored for the gratification of satisfaction.

I am not satisfied with the status quo. I am not willing to sit back and hope that a church pops up on the corner and people just come. It takes work, effort, determination and many times those church volunteers are weary from their day and still give of themselves to make it the very best.

Do what we do with excellence, for nothing is more worthy than our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. But when people are presented with a life-changing message that turns their lives around, I hope they are not enamored with our field, but they notice our work.

Volunteers like an army swarming through the ministries of the church. Long hours, hard days, but enjoying every moment together because it’s like a family. Some rake the dirt, others pull the weeds, some drag the ground and many sweep and clean-up. There are leaders and followers, workers and servants, all waiting for that moment.

That moment we play...that moment when we worship.

Gathering together in God’s house for a time of celebration, to hear from the Holy Spirit and proclaim truth. To be a team, fighting for purpose and picking one another up. One struggles, another excels and both stand side-by-side for the same cause.

And when it’s over; we continue our worship...when we work.

See, as a church plant, you might say we don’t have a “field.” We are using a school building, and we will set up and tear down every week. So our field is our community. Where unchurched, dechurched and hurting, searching people live. They are our friends, our family and strangers to us all important to the kingdom of God.

Are we willing to come early and stay late? Are we willing to give the extra time and effort it takes to reach them? Are we willing to serve them without judgment, reach them without fail, go to them and work the field so that worship becomes a time of life-changing celebration? Are we willing to do what Jesus would do and eat the table of sinners without sin; talk to the left-out, the let-go, the lost and looking and the little and the last?

I am reminded that in the movie Field of Dreams, the fictional voice spoke and said “if you build it, they will come.”

Taking a look at scripture, I am compelled that if we work it, we can play.

“Go quickly into the streets and the alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame. After the servant had done this, he reported, there is still room for more. So his master said, Go out in the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.” - Luke 14:21-23

I’m going to get the rake. Don’t just sit in the bleachers and wait for the game to start.

LIVE, LOVE, SERVE

Pastor Kris Freeman
Revolution Church
Launching Sept. 12, 2010

Would you like to know more about becoming a part of the Revolution Team? Email Pastor Kris!

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Big news! We have a location!




Good evening (or morning, as it may be!)

Revolution Church now has an official launch location. Go here to read more!

http://www.myrevolutionchurch.com/Get_Started_Blog/Get_Started_Blog.html

Praise the Lord!

Pastor K

"If we really believe that the church belongs to Christ, and that He has a plan for His church, then all vision must begin with prayer coupled with a passionate desire to accomplish God's will. The greatest and most important lessons in ministry always come out of intense times of prayer and yielding to Christ." - Adam Hamilton in Leading Beyond the Walls

Thursday, December 17, 2009

Revolution Church update

Good evening!

I hope you are having a blessed Christmas season. This has been one of reflection and prayer for our family as we prepare for an incredible vision and mission in 2010. We have not made one single gift purchase to this point for the Christmas season and our kids are doing a really good job at keeping the focus on Jesus for this Christmas season.

We are so thankful for our ministry partners for Revolution Church. As Jennifer and I continue to contribute to National Missions to help us reach our first-level goal of $40,000, we have sent 129 letters to family, friends and individuals asking them to partner with us as:

1. A prayer partner
2. A core team or launch team member
3. A financial contributor

Thus far, we are 62 percent of the way to our goal - but that is based on some projections of giving that still need to come in. We need you to pray that God continues to open the hearts of some wonderful people to partner with us. Some may give one dollar; others have the potential to do so much more - on into the thousands, as we have received some large gifts already.

But we cannot sign our ministry contract until this goal is reached, so December is an EXTREMELY CRITICAL month for us.

We can make it, God can do it and we thank you for praying and partnering with us!

Pastor K

Sunday, December 13, 2009

White House Football Banquet - Live Blog

The following is a blog from the White House football banquet for our fans. If you are a ministry partner for Revolution Church, please disregard this post.

Thanks!....Pastor K

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Sunday, December 13, 2009
White House High School Football Banquet
WHHS Cafeteria

The banquet began at 3 p.m. with opening statements from head coach Jeff Porter and Pastor Kris Freeman, with the invocation led by Pastor Jonathan Finch of Temple Baptist Church.

The meal was served to all guests and Coach Jim Grantham opened with a thanks of the Cafeteria Staff.

The awards presentation:

THE BLUE DEVIL NETWORK (Randy Cline and Lee Smith)
The following awards were voted upon by the Blue Devil Sports Network and presented during the banquet. Each week's award is voted upon during the broadcast and the player of the year is presented today.
Week 1: Bryan Dixon
Week 2: Zack Byrd
Week 3: Kevin Jackson
Week 4: Jonathan Duke
Week 6: Trent McEwen
Week 7: Cole Elrod
Week 8: Aussie Light
Week 9: Walt Wages
Week 10: Tyler Davis
Week 11: Cody Adair
Player of the Year: Zack Byrd (Linebacker #32) - "Overall, the kind of White House football player we are looking for. Career 245 tackles rnaking him 8th all-time at White House. This season, 106 tackles, 16 tackles against Sycamore is the sixth best in White House history for one game. Five games with double digits. Second-longest INT return in White House history. On offense, led the running game as starting fullback. Our 2009 Player of the Year, Zack Byrd."

THE BLUE DEVIL ADVOCATE AWARD (DeWayne McDaniel)
The following award is selected by Blue Devil football historian DeWayne McDaniel, the author and creator of The Blue Devil Advocate newsletter.
"The award generally goes to the player's character. As such, this award is earned not presented. The winner through his attitudes and actions has brought nothing but pride to his team, his pride and his family. I don't know this young man personally, I don't think I could pick him out of the crowd. It's the anonymity that deals with the offensive linemen. Without your offensive linemen, you will not have success. From everything I have heard from fans, Coach Porter, and Mr. Cordell, this young man is well deserving of this award. I salute the winner of this year's award:"
The Blue Devil Advocate Award: Jacob Knight (Tight end, #88)

Reflections
By Eddie Ray Anderson, Blue Devils public address announcer
"Potential has to be worked to do something with it. I am not talking about this year's team. They fulfilled their potential by facing setbacks, adversity and injuries and still kept their head up and kept going. There is always a possibility that next year will not be that way. What we hope next year's team not only has great potential, but great success. Next year's team has the potential to be very successful. Choose your role models, work hard and be successful so that we can be here in January next year instead of December."

FRESHMAN AWARDS

The following awards were voted upon by the players of the 2009 freshman team. Presented by head coach Ryan Hamilton and assistants Joe Draper, Chad Broadrick, Shane McDonald, DeWayne Dotson.
All freshmen were recognized in numerical order and given their "WH" letter for the jacket.

Offensive Player of the Year (presented by Coach Shane McDonald): Chris Mullins (Quarterback, #7)

Defensive Player of the Year (presented by Coach Chad Broadrick): Bryce Bumbalough (Defensive Lineman, #74)

Most Valuable Player (presented by Coach Ryan Hamilton): Grant Wicker (QB/TB/DB, #9)

ACADEMIC AWARD (Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Jeff Bennett)
"This award is given to a senior football player who has exemplified themselves as a student athlete. We have a young man who has a perfect grade point average and scored a 35 on his ACT and has never received a B."
Academic Award: Jacob Lamberth

GEORGE C. NASH CITIZEN'S AWARD (Principal Jeff Cordell)
"This man is a graduate of White House High School and he knows everything there is to know about White House High School football. He is also our number one fan and he does not miss a game and on the 50 yard line every game."
G.C. Nash Citizen's Award: DeWayne McDaniel

QUARTERBACK CLUB AWARD (QB Club President Keith O'Neal)
"On August 2nd, 54 football players, 19 hours and two hours of sleep. Lots of food, team building, 14 decisions, eight to receive Christ for the first time and six recommitments. This led to a revival with a service of over 700 people and this spread to two other schools and 24 other conversions. This would not have been possible without someone willing to serve and be obedient. I want to thank this person for their willingness to give back to these young men and this program."
Quarterback Club Award: Jonathan Finch

Coach Porter recognized the sophomores in numerical order.

Coach Porter gave special thanks to community and football program supporters.

ERIC BLAYLOCK SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD (Coach Mark Lamberth)
This award is presented in memory of the late Eric Blaylock, a former White House High School football player in the 1980s. This award is given to a person who cares more about other people than themselves. This individual is the first to congratulate someone else on their success. This award is voted upon by the players.
Eric Blaylock Sportsmanship Award: Jacob Lamberth and Ryan O'Neal

DEFENSIVE BACK AWARD (Coach Jim Grantham)
This includes linebackers, safeties and cornerbacks. This award is voted upon by the players.
Defensive Back Award: Zack Byrd

DEFENSIVE LINEMAN AWARD (Coach James Honeycutt
This includes defensive tackles and defensive ends. This award is voted upon by the players.
Defensive Lineman Award: Aussie Light and Jonathan Duke

SCOUT TEAM AWARD (Coach DeWayne Dotson)
This includes all players and is given to a player who best exemplifies work ethic in practice and preparation for each week's game. This award is voted upon by the players.
Scout Team Award: Caleb West

OFFENSIVE BACK AWARD (Coach Ryan Hamilton)
This includes quarterbacks, fullbacks, tailbacks and receivers. This award is voted upon by the players.
Offensive Back Award: Trent McEwen

OFFENSIVE LINEMAN AWARD (Coach Mark Lamberth)
This includes offensive tackles, offensive guards and tight ends. This award is voted upon by the players.
Offensive Lineman Award: Walt Wages

SULLY AWARD (Principal Jeff Cordell)
This is a new award in 2009, given in honor of Cody and Cory Sullins, who played at White House from 2001-04 and then walked on at the University of Tennessee as offensive linemen before becoming starting offensive linemen for the Vols by their senior year in 2009, and will graduate as four-time members of the All-SEC Academic Team.
Sully Award: Joey Smith

WAYNE GOURLEY AWARD (Coach Jim Grantham)
This award is given to a football player who best exemplifies the utmost in character, work ethic and commitment. This person strives always to commit all they have to the team. He exemplifies the hustle, desire and dedication of the true athlete. This is not an award of popularity, but of tribute. This award is voted upon by the players.
Gourley Award: Cody Adair

MOST VALUABLE PLAYER (Head coach Jeff Porter)
This award is voted upon by the players.
MVP: Bryan Dixon

TEAM CAPTAINS
Each year, the players elect two permanent team captains.
Team Captains: Aussie Light and Zack Byrd

Juniors were recognized in numerical order.

Senior were recognized in numerical order and gave closing comments.