Our Newest Members

      (Not Pictured: Doug, Debbie, and Darcy Parker, Cooper & Kate Borden)

   Last Sunday was a special day for Sovereign Grace Church as we welcomed our newest members!  Each of these individuals completed the ten week New Members’ Course and then met with one of the pastors to discuss their intention to proceed with the membership process. Jesus said He would build His church and He is doing that right here in our midst.  We are so grateful for these brothers and sisters who are committed to active involvement in the local church and thus have chosen to join us in our mission to glorify God by knowing, applying and proclaiming the Gospel of Christ.  As a way to honor them we prepared a special luncheon held after our Sunday meeting.  The home of Brian and Teressa Andrews was transformed into a beautiful French Café’ complete with a “French” maître d from Philly, and pictures in front of the “Tour de Eiffel”.  Thanks to Chuck and Vikki Walters and their hospitality team for the excellent job they did in making a memory! 

7 Bridges to Recovery

7 Bridges to Recovery is a non-profit organization that reaches out to the homeless and broken of Atlanta and beyond. We are based off of Isaiah 58:6-8 where God responds to the Israelites in saying, " Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard." 

It started with God capturing the heart of a man in solitary confinement and giving him the gift of reading as he opened up the Bible for the first time. This man goes by Seven because God told him he was no longer who he used to be but is a new creation and is complete in Him.  Since that day, he has gone by Seven.  Seven was released from prison 11 years ago, took the Bible literally, and started going under the bridges and into the streets of Atlanta, telling those about the Jesus that had rescued him. He was given a home and started bringing in men right off the streets into the home with him, discipling them and training them up in the Lord.  Then women and children started showing up wanting help and God provided the Garden, an old church that has been turned into a home for women and children. Currently today, we house 65 women and about 39 children from all different walks of life.  We also have 17 men in a disciplship program that commit a year to the program and serve  as our leaders when we go out on the streets. We continue to reach out to those who live out on the streets and our goal is to first and foremost, share Christ with them and also get them off the streets. We pass out food and hygiene items because we know that Christ met physical needs as he met their spiritual needs but we are not an humanitarian group. We know that change can only come from God and His Word. 

There are many ways to serve and get involved with 7 Bridges to Recovery if you are interested.  It is a family-centered place so people of all ages are welcome. You can help come serve/provide a meal or just hang out with our kids and ladies here. We go out on the streets every Saturday and then sporadically through out the week in the evenings.Recently, some of the ladies from Sovereign Grace made some blankets and I distributed them to an apartment complex that has no heat or electricity and where the residents are just "squatting" and living there without paying rent.(See photos)   There are many kids there that we so grateful for a handmade colorful warm blanket.We run completely on faith and donations so keep us in mind when getting rid of things/clothing from your homes. Whatever you have or use in your home, we could use it too, just multiplied by 100!  Whatever gift you have or creativity to serve, we would be glad to find a way to get you connected! Thanks for praying for us and looking forward to serving more in the future!

Please check us out at www.7bridgestorecovery.org or contact Melissa Ehrhardt at church for more information. 

The Garden-Items Needed for this Week

Needs List:

• Kitchen needs: Sugar, brown sugar, cooking oil, fresh mint, evaporated milk, condensed milk, basil, pecans
• Items for new house: plunger, Tupperware, cutting board, aluminum foil, mop, and toaster oven
• Basic ministry needs: cleaning supplies, grocery/t-shirt bags, zip lock bags, aluminum foil, plastic forks/spoons, paper plates, paper towels, toilet paper, cereal, hygiene items (both travel size and regular), cold/flu medicines for adults and children, garbage bags, etc.
• 20 New King James Study Bibles for the men in the ministry
• Long Johns for the men sizes Large and up
• Bibles and notebooks for the women and children at the Garden and the streets
• Monetary gifts and gas cards (You can donate online at www.7bridgestorecovery.org or send in checks made out to 7 Bridges To Recovery to 2840 Plant Atkinson Road Smyrna, GA 30080. All donations are tax-deductible so just ask for a receipt!)

Items Needed for The Garden

Needs List: February 13-17

• Long Johns for the men of the ministry: Sizes large and up
• 15 Passenger Van and 28 Foot Box Truck with lift gate
• Commercial trash bags
• Cleaning Supplies: air fresheners, bleach, Lysol, Lysol wipes, carpet fresh, laundry detergent, liquid dish soap, etc.
• Items for the new house: We almost have it together and just need a few odds and ends- blender, pot holders, place rugs, vacuum, etc.
• 20 New King James Study Bible for the men of the ministry
• Kitchen Needs: brown sugar, cooking oil, sugar, lemon pepper, condensed milk, evaporated milk, olive oil, soy sauce, green olives, pine nuts, chicken broth, paper plates, plastic forks and spoons,
• Cough/cold medicine for adults and children
• Monetary gifts and gas cards (Donations can be made online at www.7bridgestorecovery.org through PayPal or made out to 7 Bridges to Recovery and mailed to 2840 Plant Atkinson Road Smyrna, GA 30080. All donations, monetary and physical can be used as a tax-deduction. Just ask us for a receipt!)

Baby Shower for Mary Salsberry

Let's welcome Abigail Esther!
Ladies, please join us for afternoon tea at a baby shower honoring Mary Salsberry.

The shower will be held on
Sunday, March 4th, from 2:00-4:00 p.m.
Anita Padgett's house.
324 Nesbin Court, NE
Kennesaw, GA 30144.

Mary is registered at Babies 'R Us.

Resurgence: Free Babysitting Night

 In honor of Valentine’s Day, the Resurgence Parent-Teen Ministry would like to serve you! If you would like to spend an evening with your sweetheart and need care for your children, we will be hosting a free babysitting event on Sunday, February 12 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at TKA. We will have fun playing games, doing crafts and enjoying time together. If you have friends, neighbors, or co-workers to whom you are reaching out, we would encourage you to invite them to take advantage of time with you and/or time to enjoy free babysitting as well. Please sign up at the Member’s Service table. Any questions, you may email Ronda Schlosser at ronda.schlosser@sgcatlanta.org.

God's Grace and Our Obedience

Jeremy Pierre provides some helpful counsel to parents who are seeking to faithfully train and discipline their children in godliness.  Even if you're not a parent I think you'll find his article beneficial in your pursuit of holiness.  The Gospel Coalition blog, by the way, is well worth bookmarking.  

Click the link to read:

     http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/tgc/2012/02/01/watch-your-conjunctions-in-parenting/