Dreaming of our Dec 14 Celebration
Christ Fellowship of Memphis is a dream yet to be fulfilled.
The dream is for a church of black and white to become a City of Hope within this divided city of Memphis.
The vision is expressed best in our singular core value of love. Scripture teaches that Love only happens in hearts and minds that have been captured by Jesus.
The breadth of the vision of Christ Fellowship is demonstrated by love which overcomes the barriers that divide this demarcated city. Each Sunday our city is divided along comfort lines - I hang with the people with whom I feel safest, most comfortable, and with whom I have the most in common. Love mandates that I reach beyond my comfort into a world which creates discomfort, because each of us is to be an ambassador of Christ. Ambassadors don’t serve in their own land, but in a land that is foreign to them. This vision is for more ambassadors to cross into foreign lands.
The antithesis of this vision is seen in the followers of Jesus who protested at him stepping across His racial and cultural and spiritual dividing line into wilds of Samaria to touch the heart of the woman at the well.
The challenge to this vision is that it is not yet comfortable because we are wholly incomplete. God’s work has only begun in us and we would prefer to remain comfortable in our imcompleteness.
Satan hates this vision and throughout what people call the “Bible Belt” he has successfully dissuaded followers of Christ from meeting together as one body, in a fashion that reflects the diversity of worship found in heaven itself.
Christ Fellowship is seeking a few mature believers, white and black, who are prepared to serve outside their comfort zone. We’re seeking white families willing for your children to go to Sunday School with black children. We’re looking for black families who are willing to become prayer partners with white families. Please don’t join this effort to be served. Come in order to serve our Master, Jesus Christ.
On Sunday morning, December 7, at 10:45 we launch our first multi-cultural celebration at a cross-road of our city, where white meets black. We meet at 4000 Riverdale Road at Union University’s Olford Center Campus. Riverdale Road is an approximate dividing line where Hickory Hill ends and Germantown begins its trek down Winchester Road toward Collierville.
Christ Fellowship is led by Pastors Kelvin Bowen and Mark Morris.
If you are interested in knowing more, contact us at missionleader@mac.com.
Wed. Bible Study - God Will Use You
“God is going to do something amazing through you. He is going to use you to build His church.” Pastor Kelvin Bowen - at Wednesday Bible Study.
Each Wednesday 30 to 50 teenagers and young adults gather at the Salvation Army gym on Winchester for Bible Study. Wednesday we celebrated the fact that one of the young ladies was baptized this week. We also learned that in December, we will have a larger location to start meeting for Sunday celebration service. Until now we have been meeting in small groups in homes on Sundays. We thank the Lord for what He is doing.
Sunday Oct 25
Hello all, on this Beautiful Friday afternoon! (From Cindy.)
Trust that everyone is doing well….those out of town and those in town!
I want to send a great big THANK YOU to each of you for your help last Sunday. God brought a wonderful group together.
On Wednesday night Rollo and Beth and Mark and I went down to Winchester to support all those kids that came here for the cookout. We enjoyed another good study under Kelvin’s leadership. Because we had been with everyone for worship and food on Sunday, there was a new warmth and fellowship among us. It was great to be with the adults, too. So many of the teenagers come from families with need. Several of them asked for prayer for a parent or relative incarcerated. There were a few babies on the hips of teenage moms; they are precious! Kelvin “shot straight,” as he does and we all paid attention.
Well, Mark contacted a great facility to see what they might think about housing our church. To Mark’s surprise, the guy that he met with is quite connected to IMB missionary friends. He was very receptive to the idea of Christ Fellowship worshiping there. Mark says it will hold about 150; and that it is all set up with sound equipment and seating, etc. Wow, could it be that the Lord is opening this door? The facility is located on Riverdale and Winchester….situated in a way that is accessible to all of us. November 30 is the day, Thanksgiving weekend, that Kelvin thinks may be good for us to try it out, and then once again in December. The other weeks we will continue to meet as a small group. Look forward to 11:00 this week again at our house. I am more than happy to meet in town at Amy’s or out at Beth and Rollo’s or whatever. Mark will jump in with Heb 6. (Steve and I intentionally left that Hebrews 6 study with him! :) Try to do the study that I handed you, if you have time. Don’t worry if you don’t.
All of this to say, praise the Lord! Please join us in prayer as we all seek the Lord’s direction. May He keep drawing us to Himself and in sweeter and sweeter fellowship with one another:
“Let us draw near to God with full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on to love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the day approaching.”
Hebrews 10:22-25
Together on the journey with you, cindy
Oct 19 Celebration And Cookout
What a great celebration this past Sunday at the Morris’ home. Around thirty of us shared fellowship, Lord’s Supper, bratworts and burgers. Pastor Kelvin taught a powerful lesson from Job. And thank the Lord, no one fell in the Lake!
Cookout Oct 19 at Morris Home After Worship
This Sunday Oct 19 we will have our second joint gathering of our two groups coming together. At 11am we will worship together followed by some burgers and brattworsts fresh off the grill. We will be off Walnut Grove at 18 W. Viking Dr, Cordova 38018. (Across the street from Hope Pres.) If you want to bring something to add to the goodies, contact Lee Ann or Cindy.
Remember the awesome experience we had when we came together last time!
Kelvin will teach the Word, Mark will flip the burgers, Steve will lead us in sharing the Lord’s Supper, and all will be filled!
This will be a great time to bring a friend.
What’s a Gospel-Centered Missional Church?
I read an article this morning by Darrin Patrick of the Journey Church. The article rocks! Rather than copying the entire article please follow the link and share your thoughts. How can we become missional?
What’s a Gospel-Centered Missional Church?
Schedule - The Latest
Christ Fellowship is embarking on some exciting days ahead.
On August 24 we experienced something that was extraordinary when two efforts came together in one body. Multiple cultures came together for fellowship, teaching from God’s Word, prayer, testimony and the celebration of the Lord’s Supper.
Since that time pastors, Steve Moses, Mark Morris and Kelvin Bowen have come together and agree that God is leading us to move forward as one body. The vision has been refined and we will take steps toward reaching the lost of Memphis together as one unified but diverse body. Pastor Bowen will serve as Lead Pastor and we will embark on the vision to impact the city and the world for Christ’s glory.
On Sunday, September 28 we will meet at the Morris home at 18 W. Viking Dr. in Cordova. Take a look at the schedule below.
Sunday Schedule
Date – Location – Teaching
Sept 21 – SOS Celebration
Sept 28 - Morris Home - Mark Morris (18 W. Viking Dr., Cordova 38018 - tel.438-3686)
Oct 5 – Morris Home – Steve Moses
Oct 12 – Bowen Home – Kelvin Bowen (561 Estanaula Rd, Collierville 38017 - tel.461-6262)
Oct 19 – Morris Home – Mark Morris
Oct 26 – Morris’s Home – Kelvin Bowen
Nov 2 – Morris’s Home – Steve Moses
Nov 9 – Celebration Sunday – Kelvin Bowen
Nov 16 –Morris Home – Mark Morris
Nov 23 – Celebration Sunday – Kelvin Bowen (Thanksgiving Service)
Nov 30 – Morris Home – Kelvin Bowen
Dec 7 – Celebration Sunday – Kelvin Bowen
Dec 14 – Morris Home – Steve Moses
Dec 21 – Celebration Sunday – Kelvin Bowen - Christmas
Dec 28 – Morris Home – Mark Morris
Crazy Faith - Diversity and Unity
Church this past Sunday (Aug 24) was so unlike Church on this earth. It was much more like heaven.
It was a Sunday worship experience at Christ Fellowship that I doubt I’ll ever forget. Just what was so special about the fourth Sunday of Christ Fellowship’s launch?
As we sat in our living room for fellowship, communion, Bible Study, prayer for Memphis, and worship I saw something that I rarely see in churches in the South.
I looked around and saw a diversity which oddly enough, proportionally reflected the demographics of our divided and demarcated city.
It’s appropriate that we began with an explanation of our unifying core value - “God’s Kind of Love!” It’s the kind of love that breaks down walls and sooths hardened wounds, heals broken hearts and lives.
What does it say about diversity when the first testimony was from a friend named Pancho, who set the tone of transparency. He used his own story to point to our Amazing God who takes broken lives and fills them with His Grace.
Pastor Kelvin Bowen hit us all with a powerful message some of us nicknamed, “Crazy Faith!” That’s what he preached - faith that is followed by feet to the ground. Feet of obedience and a lifestyle of trust and confidence in our Savior.
Prayer, followed communion, and we thought it was time to break up for more cake and coffee and a quick trip back to our homes. But it didn’t end there.
A wife jumped in as we were about to break up, “I’ve got something to share.”
Her step-son followed, “I’ve got something to share. I grew up in a single parent family but was really raised by my grandparents. But I want to tell you what God has done…“
And then his Dad jumped in, “My story is like Pancho’s. I’m just amazed at what God did to rescue me…and to sit here listening to wife and my son testify to what God has done. I’m just…”
One story followed the next - diverse people, united in Christ, broken physically and spiritually. All are being made whole by crazy faith and each has been saved by abundant grace.
So much for church as usual. Thank you Jesus. Be honored and glorified by your diverse body practicing crazy faith, united by Jesus’ love.
Next week, we won’t be meeting at the Morris’ home. The fifth Sunday of August is a Celebration Sunday for those who are available we will join our sponsor church at One Faith Fellowship for worship.
Choose One Series @ Christ Fellowship (Aug 10)
We’re off to a great start!
Please continue to pray for God’s work in our midst. Pray that God will build the right team to multiply His work through us.
In addition to studying Hebrews, I’ve been reading T.W. Hunt’s Bible study, The Life-Changing Power of Prayer. I’m learning that critical to prayer is crying out to God.
We become free in Christ as we learn to cry out to him, truly seeking His will.
We can pray for healing, knowing that His will, is best, whether deliverance comes now or in heaven.
We can pray for safety, but temporal safety is nothing compared to “security.”
I am praying for God’s guidance in connecting with the community - friends and neighbors - to seek to impact for Christ. After Cindy and I prayed yesterday about that very thing, the Lord put three different people in our path or on our hearts.
Are you praying for God to open your doors and shed light on your path, to show you whom to touch, whom to invite, and with whom to share a story?
There is great freedom in praying, seeking and trusting God with His will in our lives.
This Sunday we will have a season of prayer for the new church plant. Come asking God to work in our midst.
Last week we looked at Hebrews 1 - 2:4 - “One Son of God.”
This Sunday we’ll examine “One Perfect Sacrifice,” from Hebrews 2 and 3. Read up and let’s see what God tells us from his Word.
Can’t wait to see you on Sunday. Feel free to bring a friend.
That All May Hear
Mark Morris
Christ Fellowship of Memphis
www.christmemphis.com
The Latest @ Christ Fellowship (aug 1)
August 1
CFM - Diversely connected, mission-ally distinct, culturally engaged
The past six months have been days of sweet refining for Cindy and me. As you know, Cindy’s battle with Multiple Myeloma moved us temporarily to Nashville, which meant we had to suspend our summer involvement with the new church start in Memphis.
Steve Moses spent the summer mentoring eight mission interns. He just returned this week from a great trip to Turkey; we will hear a report from some of his interns this Sunday.
It’s a good time now to kick in gear this new church under a new name with a renewed commitment to impact the City and the World.
We begin this Sunday with a season of prayer for the new church plant. Not only will we hear from the Mission Interns and Pastor Kelvin Bowen, we will also start a study of the book of Hebrews, share a meal and fellowship together.
It’s been a while since we all met, so let me summarize a few things that have happened over the summer.
1. New Name - Our new name is Christ Fellowship of Memphis. This comes with a new website www.christmemphis.com.
2. New Partnership - Steve and I saw a long-time friendship turn into a partnership with Christ Community Church, which is a network of churches working together to transform part of the city of Memphis. We took the summer to worship with them and learn about the awesome way in which their network of churches has been doing incarnational ministry in Binghamton.
3. New Schedule in August - We decided to come back together in the fall in a new way. See the schedule below. We begin this Sunday, August 3 gathering for prayer and study of God’s word in the Morris’ home at 18 W. Viking Dr, in Cordova.
4. Old Friend - I want to introduce you to an old friend of mine - Pastor Kelvin Bowen, who is also The Executive Vice President of Memphis Athletic Ministries. Kelvin and I referee basketball together - I’ve been observing his character and his witness for the past decade. This Sunday I want you to meet Kelvin, his wonderful wife and his ministry. We’re praying for God to speak to us regarding an ongoing partnership with Kelvin.
5. Renewed Spirit - Our family’s personal journey this year has been one of suffering and refining. God has drawn Cindy and me closer to Jesus and strengthened our dependence upon God. What lessons has God been teaching you?
Aug-Sept Schedule
Weekly Worship
August 3, 10, 24
10 am Sundays Home Fellowships (1st, 2nd, 4th Sunday)
August 17 Celebration with Christ Community at SOS (3rd Sunday)
August 31 Celebration with One Faith Fellowship (5th Sunday)
Weekly Discipleship, Prayer, Encouragement
Enjoy time with someone or several people from the fellowship outside of our weekly gathering.
Fall Theme ONE: From Religion to Relationship
(A Study from Hebrews)
Hebrews is a penetrating study that draws out a theme of ONE: One priest, One Lord, One (more on Sunday). The audience to whom Hebrews was written had religiosity mastered. What they, and we need to learn is that Christ came to provide an intimate relationship.
August 6th @ Salvation Army 6:30
Why meet at Salvation Army this Wednesday? Because you will want to see and experience what the Moses’ and the Morris’ experienced the past two weeks. Come meet Kelvin and his friends. Come casual. Bring your friends and family. Enjoy fellowship and interacting. The Salvation Army is one block from One Faith Fellowship at 4741 Winchester Rd (the gym in the back lot of the Salvation Army).
That All May Hear,
Mark Morris
Christ Fellowship of Memphis