This Sunday

“It is our duty and our privilege to exhaust our lives for Jesus. We are not to be living specimens of men in fine preservation, but living sacrifices, whose lot is to be consumed” – C.H. Spurgeon

Akron/Kent Stats

As we head into the New Year, here are some new Akron/Kent metro-area statistics to chew on:

• 418,032 Summit County residents do not darken a church door
• That comes out to 77.6% of the county being unchurched

• 22,809 Portage County residents do not darken a church door
• That comes out to 84.5% of the county being unchurched

Source: David T. Olson, TheAmericanChurch.org

* 80% of regular Catalyst attendees live outside of Kent

New Years Eve PARTY

Join us this Wed evening for our New Years Eve PARTY at the125!

This is your chance to hang out, make new memories with new friends, eat waaaaay too much junk food, and make jokes about the musical acts on Dick Clark.

Join us from 9pm-1am – - let us know if you need childcare.
* * * RSVP required: sealsb1@gmail.com

Spotted on Facebook:

“…I started going to Catalyst church back in August and loved the services. With time I became part of a small group that has become really my source of support and community. Also, we all have the same zany sense of humor that makes for CRAZY groups sometimes. We laugh too much I think, surely church can’t be this much fun. …”

Year-End Giving

As 2008 comes to a close, we want to thank you for your support.

Every dollar given to our young start-from-scratch church goes directly toward rental space, staffing, and strategic outreach in the Akron/Kent metro-area.

2 Corinthians 8 tells the story of the Macedonian churches giving generously in the midst of great trial and extreme poverty.  Similarly, though not as severely, our country is in economic flux, yet the challenge for the church is to “excel in this grace of giving…  For if the willingness is there, the gift is acceptable according to what one has, not according to what he does not have.”

As we wrap up 2008 receipts, our prayer is to enter the new year with strong financial backing. With that in mind, we truly appreciate your help in fueling the vision of Catalyst during this holiday break.

You may give securely online or mail your tax-deductible check supporting Catalyst Church to 125 South Water Street, Kent, OH 44240.

Logos Bookstore’s Catalyst Night TONIGHT

Just a reminder about something cool to let area family & friends know about:

Logos Christian Bookstore in Kent will donate 10% of all sales (books/CDs/cards/etc) to Catalyst when anyone shops there from 3-8pm on Wednesday, Dec 17th (TODAY!).

We’re giving away all the proceeds to J.D. Senkbile’s family as they begin a new church planting movement in South Africa with Acts 29 International.

Wow…

Wow – one of the mail carriers who delivers Catalyst’s mail came to Catalyst yesterday, curious about what we’re all about…

Wow – Christina Hazel drove all the way from Michigan (3 hours+ driving!!) where she is on winter break from KSU so that she could sing with the Catalyst Band… and she’s doing it again this coming weekend!

Wow – A KSU junior discovered Catalyst 3 weeks ago and is already connecting in a new small group. She shared that Catalyst came into her life at just the moment she was needing God the most…

Wow – our God is doing amazing things in the lives of the people around us on Sunday mornings!

1st Time Guest’s Thoughts on Catalyst

This past Sunday (Dec 7th), a Christian leader in his fifties from an area mega-church came to Catalyst – - I asked him to evaluate the entire experience from beginning to end.  We are always seeking to learn and improve our efforts at reaching people far from God!  Here are some of his observations:

“I liked that the theater where worship is held is next to a tattoo place personally-it feels a little edgy…”

“Everyone I encountered who was in a volunteer capacity was pleasant, smiling and enthusiastic. (big plus).”

“Worship team/music/AV-excellent! I wish more people got to experience them. AV would be even more effective with bigger screen, but you’re probably limited by your equipment and the building. Quality was what I’d expect from a church 10-20 times the size of Catalyst. I’m assuming your New Spring experience heavily influenced that.

Teaching: You obviously have a gift as a teacher and communicator, in being able to present the Gospel in a way that seekers and newbies to the faith get the main message, but more experienced Christians can get new insights at the same time. That was a pretty challenging passage you taught on yesterday, and I thought you were able to communicate the theme in a nuanced, but effective way, without clubbing folks over the head with the main point.

I noticed there was no offering taken (seeker-sensitive, I assume), but it would have been very easy to miss the collection basket in the dark of the theater on the way in.

I thought it was encouraging that so many folks stuck around to talk after the service. Felt like your younger folks were developing community.

Overall, I really liked the experience. In Craig Groeschel terms, you guys seem to have “it” (the sense that God’s present and doing something through Catalyst).“

“Obviously, you’re the expert on church planting, so take my remarks for what they’re worth, but my primary takeaway was that Catalyst has great content from a worship experience standpoint (music, teaching), but the location and nature of your physical space may limit the potential for growth and diversity of attendees at the church.

I was privileged to experience Sunday morning in the early days of what will be a great church. Thanks for having me!”

Save these dates…

Dec 14:  Catalyst + Catalyst KIDS
Dec 21:  FINAL Catalyst + KIDS for 2008!
Dec 28: NO CATALYST – Break for our Core Team
Dec 31:  NEW YEARS EVE PARTY @ the125
* 9pm-1am w/food, board games,
Dick Clark on big screen, and CHILDCARE!
* RSVP required: sealsb1@gmail.com

JAN 4: Catalyst + Catalyst KIDS
JAN 11: NEW VISION 2009 SERIES launches
* Core Team Quarterly immediately after Catalyst at the125.  Noon – 1:30pm; Lunch & childcare provided.  RSVP to churchlaunch@gmail.com

* Vintage Jesus small groups launch in homes during the week.  Get more info in the Lobby this Sunday

JAN 18: New Series continues @ Catalyst + Catalyst KIDS
JAN 20: Financial Peace classes launch at the125, 7pm
JAN 25: Catalyst + Catalyst KIDS
* Newcomers Luncheon immediately after Catalyst at the125.  RSVP to churchlaunch@gmail.com

Logos Bookstore’s Catalyst Night

Here’s something cool to let area family & friends know about:

Logos Christian Bookstore in Kent will donate 10% of all sales (books/CDs/cards/etc) to Catalyst when anyone shops there from 3-8pm on Wednesday, Dec 17th.  We’re planning to use this toward our new J.D. Senkbile/A29i Africa missional support…