by David Docusen | October 6, 2009 | Uncategorized
We sent off our missions checks for this month and we are so excited! We absolutely love this time of the month at Center City Church. We were able to send off two checks to organizations that we believe in a great deal.
The first one was Run For Freedom. This ministry is headed up by Pat and Maryann Manzo (former colleagues of mine at Calvary Assembly in Orlando, FL). They are now neck deep in reaching out to the victims of human trafficking here in America. This is a huge problem in our country, yet it is largely unnoticed. They have just purchased a home that will serve as a restoration center for individuals that have been terrorized by this horrible crime.
The second check went to the North Carolina Church Planting Endowment. This endowment is in place to help churches (like Center City) get up and running in the early stages. They blessed us when we first started Center City and we wanted to bless them back as they help start churches all across North Carolina.
This is one of the most exciting times of the month for us. Thank God for his continued provision in our lives, in our church and through our church to others!
by David Docusen | October 5, 2009 | Uncategorized
I feel like I’m still in the “getting to know you stage” with Uptown Charlotte.
Dara and I feel such a calling to serve this city. I am working one day a week at the Caribou Coffee in Uptown Charlotte. There’s something so incredible about working in one of the skyscrapers (BB&T Building) and serving the community God has called us to serve. I love giving our customers drinks that they love. I love getting to know people every time I’m here. I love working with great co-workers.
I was walking from one building to another today and looked out across the skyline. It’s starting to feel normal. It’s starting to feel as natural as breathing. This is the town that God has called us to serve. And I love living, breathing, walking and learning more about it as the days pass.
Lord, help us to understand our culture. Our distinctive traits. Our personality. Our needs. Help us to meet those needs both practically and spiritutally. Help us to get to know Charlotte.
by David Docusen | October 4, 2009 | Uncategorized
Dara and I enjoyed an entire day with just us and the kids. Such a great day. We spent the whole day hanging around the house, playing with the kids, talking, laughing and enjoying each other’s company.
It’s been a pretty crazy past month. This was a much needed family day. There is nothing more peaceful in my life than spending quality time with my wife and kids.
Great day!
by David Docusen | October 2, 2009 | Uncategorized
I’m spending some time at home today working/watching the kids while Dara connects with one of her friends for a while. It’s so funny working from home. I can go from one moment studying the deep truths of God to the next moment breaking up a toddler skirmish over who gets to pick their morning snack first. Such is the life of a church planting daddy! Wouldn’t trade it for the world!
by David Docusen | October 1, 2009 | Uncategorized
We had a great gathering last night at our house with our Center City family. God has blessed us with a phenomenal group of people that we love dearly and share a common vision and direction. I shared the vision and direction of Center City that will never change. We talked about the Center of Center City.
There are amazing symptoms of being a Christ follower. Love. Generosity. Compassion. Community. Accountability. The list goes on and on. However, none of these are the center of who are are as Christians. And none of these are the center of who we are at Center City Church. These are all amazing symptoms that stem from a committed relationship with Christ.
You won’t hear us talking about being an outreach church (although we will serve our community). You won’t hear us say that we are a community-based church (although we will encourage and practice friendships, accountability and the sharing of life). You won’t hear us say that we are a missions church (although we will, and already have, support missionaries both stateside and abroad). All of these amazing symptoms of our faith come from the same source: the Gospel.
The Center of Center City Church is, and always will be, very simple and clearly defined: the Gospel. Defined, the Gospel means “the teaching and revelation of Christ.” We will teach about Christ. During our weekly gatherings, small groups and at coffee shops one on one all throughout our community. We will encounter the revelation of Christ during times spent reading his Word. The Center of Center City is the Gospel. The Center of Center City is the message of Jesus Christ. And from this central point of our lives will flow amazing symptoms.
We are generous because at the core of our being lives a generous God. We are compassionate because the author of compassion lives in us. We will preach, teach and model the same message that Paul taught all throughout Scriptures: the Gospel.
There is no greater aim than the Gospel. There is no better strategy than the Gospel. There is no more clear path to freedom and life than the Gospel. And the Gospel is the Center of Center City.
