Thursday, May 22, 2008

A sad day for Steve Curtis Chapman's family



MARIA SUE CHAPMAN, DAUGHTER OF STEVEN CURTIS CHAPMAN, DIES IN ACCIDENT AT FAMILY HOME

NASHVILLE, TN...5/21/08... At approximately 5pm on the afternoon of Wednesday May 21st, Maria Sue Chapman, 5 years old and the youngest daughter to Steven and Mary Beth Chapman was struck in the driveway of the Chapman home in Franklin, TN. Maria was rushed to Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital in Nashville, transported by LifeFlight, but died of her injuries there. Maria is one of the close knit family’s six children and one of their three adopted daughters.

More than five years ago, Chapman and his wife MaryBeth founded The Shaohannah’s Hope Ministry after bringing their first adopted daughter, Shaohannah, home from China. The ministry’s goal is to help families reduce the financial barrier of adoption, and has provided grants to over 1700 families wishing to adopt orphans from around the world. Chapman is a five-time GRAMMY ® winner and 54-time Dove Award winning artist who has sold over 10 million albums and garnered 44 No. 1 singles.

The Chapman family is so grateful for the incredible outpouring of love and support at this difficult time.

Note from Andy:
I know first hand what its like to loose a daughter. My thoughts and prayers go out to the Chapman family. Please join me in prayer, as you read this, for the family and friends.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

The Shoes are Counted

So if you read the last blog, you will understand this blog a lot more. After an amazing service were the people at Riverside gave away their shoes.
So here is the totals:

179 pairs of Men’s shoes
5 pairs of Men’s boots
229 pairs of Women’s shoes
22 pairs Kids shoes
8 pairs of baby shoes

What a great sight to see.

Sunday, May 18, 2008

Leaving Your "Shoes" At Church


I love going to a church that is willing to step out on the edge and make a difference. Today at church was no exception. The service as a whole was an "ok" service until my dad (Pastor John King) challenged people like never before. He had been speaking on "Sacrifice." It's a hard subject to speak about in this day in age as many people don't live lives of sacrifice. The message had been challenging. Speaking about Abraham and Issac and the ultimate Sacrifice that he was willing to do, to kill his son to God.

Then dad switched gears and talked about how Moses was reaminded of his Sacrifice and calling to God by his shoes or lack of them. When Moses was asked at the burning bush to take off his shoes, he was never told to put them back on. Interesting. The rest of his days as he walked with the children of Isreal he would always be reminded of his call and sacrifice by the pain and scars he would feel on his feet.

The Challenge - Then dad challenged the people in the nice comfortable church to make a sacrifice today for someone else who was in need. He asked the people at church to come forward and take off their shoes and leave them at the alter as a sign of Sacrifice.

All the shoes then were going to be given to families and individuals that come to The Hope Store, a free clothing and household store at Dream Center Peoria. The Hope store helps over 1000 families a month with items.

The alter was full of nice shoes that people sacrificed for people that they never knew. What a sight seeing people walking out of church in just socks or bare foot. www.riversidepeoria.com

Thursday, May 8, 2008

Marketing Genius = D?


Over the past ten years I have built a great friendship with a few guys and their families in England. Every year or so they surprise me by there imaginative marketing ideas that they come up with for the band that they are all in. Tim, one of the guys, sent me there latest cd which also came with a book. He had told me it was coming but when I got the package i thought he had forgotten about the book. Then I looked closer and in the vacuum packaging, there was the new cd with the book also. I look even closer and saw that every time someone bought the cd/ book, the money from the cd would feed someone in a thrid world country. Brilliant. The new cd is amazing and is just up my street with what we do at Dream Center. The cd is all about how the church and individuals must reach out to the hurting of this world. Its another killer cd, not only musically but also lyrically.
For those who have no idea who I am talking of the band is called "Delirious" and the new cd is called "Kingdom of Comfort"
I dare you to listen to it. It will challenge you to the core
www.delirious.co.uk