Issue no.

19, March 2011

Join us in thanking God for
His provision and grace in our
lives in the following ways:
• Revelation of God through His Word
and the Spirit’s work in our hearts to
hear and respond
• Whole narrative of Scripture taught
at Secret Church to over 100 people!
• 115 to 135 consistently attending
Renewal each Sunday with new faces
of friends and neighbors,
nonbelievers and unchurched
• Missional relationships furthered
through Super Bowl parties
• Continued open door at Mitchell Road • College students as they travel to Boston over
Elementary School with service Spring Break to work with a new church plant,
opportunities this month Redemption Hill Church
• Financial provision through supporters • Brunch for Renewal’s women March 26th as we
and growth in the generosity of Renewal’s connect women in Titus 2 discipleship
members relationships and encourage them in Biblical
womanhood
Prayer Needs:
• Discernment, wisdom, and courage for our
pastors as they direct Renewal
• Healthy marriages and families as we seek
to reflect the relationship between Jesus
and the church
• Growth in boldness for our partners as
they engage in gospel conversations with
coworkers, neighbors, and friends

Renewed Relationship with God
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to
the fellowship, and to the breaking of bread, and to
prayer.” (Acts 2:42)
Toby kicked off this month by preaching on one
of Renewal’s core values: the Gospel. We strive
to hold the gospel, the good news of Jesus’
perfect life, sinless death, and powerful
resurrection, high in the life our church and our
individual lives. We consistently remind our
partners of the reason we exist as a church: to
multiply disciples to the glory of God. In order
to live out this purpose, we all must know and
love the gospel, experience its effects in our
lives on a daily basis, and clearly communicate
the gospel to those in our sphere of influence.
Toby’s sermon prompted our hearts to deeper
love for the gospel, and we were able to express
that love through communion as we
corporately affirmed Christ’s broken body and
shed blood on our behalf.
The “Blueprint”
series continued this
month as we
examined the
aftermath of the
Exodus and
observed the ease
with which the Israelites wandered away from
God even after His glory and grace clearly
revealed to them. The Israelite’s view of God in
Exodus 16 & 19 and their view of themselves
were skewed as they became weighty and
glorious in their own eyes and God became
insignificant. In spite of that, we observed in
Exodus 19 & 20 God’s great grace to the
Israelites to give His presence, to choose
them, and to reveal the law that would guide
them in living like His “treasured
possession…kingdom of priests…holy
nation.” We worshipped God for His great
grace to us in giving us the Holy Spirit who
wrote these laws on our hearts and gives us
power to battle sin and live the way in which
God has called us. The last week of February
we examined the heinous treachery of
idolatry in Exodus 32, and God’s great love
and grace in calling us to worship the One
True God. Continue to pray that God uses
this series to give us a love for His Word, a
right view of ourselves, and proper worship
of our Great God.
February also brought the long awaited
“Secret Church” event where Matt taught
through the entire narrative of Scripture in
six hours from 6 pm to midnight Friday,
February 18th. We were blessed by the
attendance of over 100 people who gave up
their normal Friday night at home to come to A few reminders:
East North Street and hear the Scriptures
taught. Our prayer as a church is that we
would hold tightly to the Scriptures so that
we would “be equipped for works of
service…built up until we all reach unity in
the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of
God and become mature, attaining to the
whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed
back and forth by the waves, and blown here
and there by every wind of teaching and by the
cunning and craftiness of people in their
deceitful scheming.” Ephesians 4:11-16
How to Give
“Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone
as he had need.” Acts 2:45
Thank you again for your commitment to give to
Renewal Church! See the following information on
how to give:
• By check
Place a check in the pre-labeled envelope along
with a stamp, and mail to Renewal Church - 201
B. West Butler Rd. #151, Mauldin, S.C. 29662
• Online
Go to www.renewalupstate.com and click on
“Online Giving” at the bottom of the home page.
Click “Register” to give a one time gift.
• Automatic Draft
Go to www.renewalupstate.com and click on
“Online Giving” at the bottom of the home page.
Click “Register” to complete your automatic
draft.
• All gifts are tax deductible
• Please make us aware of any address changes or
changes to your giving so we can make the
necessary adjustments. Send an email to
church@renewalupstate.com to update your
information!
• Should you desire to give to send our first
exploratory team to Scandinavia, please not that
on your checks.

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Renewed Relationships With
Each Other
“Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple
courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together
with glad and sincere hearts.” Acts 2:46
We, as North Americans, are known for being
avid football fans.
Whether we're supporting local high school
football, our favorite collegiate
team or professional football team, many,
many Americans claim some type of football
team at some point in their lives. In the month
of February, the biggest gathering by far
across the nation was the Super Bowl. What
better opportunity for believers to reach out to
the community of our lost and dying world
than with a jam up Super Bowl party?  Even
those who don't know one single thing about
football usually head to someone's house or to
a restaurant to simply be a part of the
festivities, since it is such a social event.  Renewal is continually looking for ways to
Considering this great opportunity, Renewal
Church did not want to miss out!  Daily we each have moments to share God’s
Renewal ladies
Our reGroups were challenged to host a Super
Bowl Party at each small group leader's home,
with the hope of meeting those around us in
our everyday lives: neighbors, those we
frequently see at the local grocery store, and
any others in our sphere of influence.  We
loved seeing this fleshed out and the
excitement that Renewal had in desiring to get
folks connected to groups, in meeting that
quiet neighbor, and in building gospel-
minded relationships. Those who are lost
seldom decide to head to church on Sunday
morning on their own initiative. They are
more inclined to accept an invite into a
neighbor's home for a party, dinner, or weekly
small group gathering. Our desire is to
always live this way, opening our homes up to
those around us, with the hope of sharing
Christ in those relationships. A great time was
had by all!
The first Wednesday of each month, Renewal
partners come together for our Connections
Meeting where we pray together, update on
the direction of the church, and enjoy
fellowship together. We had much to be
thankful for as we were updated this past
month on the health of Renewal. We rejoiced
to see how God has provided financially
through the generosity of individuals,
churches, conventions, and through our own Looking ahead towards the month of March,
congregation growing in generosity. We were Renewal is excited to be able to send 11
encouraged by the 78 partners and their college students and two adults to Boston.
children who are currently apart of Renewal The team will be leaving on the 5th of March
and we were blessed yet again with a great and returning on the 13th. These partners will
showing of people desiring to go through the be serving Redemption Hill Church through
process of becoming a member of Renewal working at a boys and girls club. They will
Church. We had twenty people in attendance! have an opportunity to survey individuals in
We were also encouraged to see that 90% of the community to gain information for the
our partners are meaningfully connected to a church that will inform how they minister to
reGroup, and we are pursuing the last 10% to their community. Street evangelism, as well as
reach our 100% meaningful participation goal. inviting people to Redemption Hill’s launch
We are so thankful for the great provision of service are the other items on their itinerary.
our Lord to continually build HIS Church and We are thankful for the work God is doing in
draw people to Renewal for His name's sake. the lives of these students who are choosing to
spend their Spring Break on mission instead of
Renewed Love for Those Far in leisure. Please pray for this group’s safety,
health, and opportunities to minister in this
From God city.
“...And the Lord added to their number daily those who
Renewal is thankful to now have five small
were being saved.” Acts 2:47
groups. Each group is encouraged to find an
area of service where they can minister in on-
share the love of God to those in our paths. going and short-term ways. The Roger’s
group has consistently met with the girls at
love and extend this to those in our lives. the Connie Maxwell Children’s Home. Please
pray for the other groups to continue to seek
In looking back to February, the Super Bowl
where their on-going partnership needs to be.
was a great opportunity for Renewal to
Also pray for each group to be able to meet
connect with nonbelievers and those
the needs that arise frequently. To God be the
disconnected from the church. Each small
glory for all He continues to do!
group had their own gatherings at different
locations all over the city. The groups met to
fellowship with food, laughter, and the
enjoyment of watching the game together. All
groups were encouraged to reach out to invite
others to a great time with believers. Sarah
Rogers remembers, “There were at least 10
people out of the 45 at our house who were
disconnected from church or unbelievers.”
This American tradition and celebration
proved to be a success for sharing God’s love
by simply asking others to come be involved
in their lives. Please pray for opportunities to
speak the gospel as these relationships are
furthered.
Secret Church at about 10:30 pm
On February 17th, the Rutland small group Over 100 people attended this event!
was able to love on the teachers of Mitchell
Road Elementary School. Four from this
group took bagels, milk, juice, and fruit to
physically nourish the staff and teachers.
Christina Rutland commented that, “Even
though there were just a few members of our
group there, it was good to not be
overcrowded in the room with the teachers.
They were very grateful as always!” The
relationship that has begun with the staff and
teachers of this school has developed quickly.
As a young church, it is rewarding for each
partner to be involved where God is leading
us. Christina continues her thoughts by
saying, “It was good for our group to have a Some of Renewal’s preschoolers during our
set time that we could all contribute towards gathering
financially and with their time, especially to a
place that we have an ongoing relationship
with.”
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