Capstone Church

After much debate and processing we have decided to still have our services tomorrow morning.  We are encouraging everyone to use common sense in driving in the morning.  The roads are in different conditions throughout our area, so please be aware of the conditions where you are.

We thought about moving our Dunk’d Service to next week, but we have several family members who have traveled a long distance for this very special day at Capstone.  Unfortunately we know that our crowd will be low this Sunday. But we feel like we need to follow through with our service for those who have made a special trip.  Even though the crowd will be small we will be lifting up the name of Christ in worship.

We understand if you can’t make it and encourage you to spend time in the Word or in family worship at home.  And again we urge everyone to be cautious if you do choose to come on Sunday.   We look forward to seeing everyone back next Sunday as we will be sharing about our Haiti trip and future plans with the Lashbrooks.

The past two weeks have been a blur. When we heard about Haiti’s greatest natural disaster, we knew that Capstone was called to the aid of the Haitian people. Knowing that our mission partners, The Lashbrooks, were OK was a huge relief, but we knew they needed assistance. The most urgent need was money to purchase supplies for the over 100 children they care for. We called this Phase 1 of Hope for Haiti. Within days Capstone had $5000 in the hands of the Lashbrooks so that they could get the needed items. Over the past week our friends and family of Capstone have given an additional $5000 to make Phase 1 a huge success of over $10,000 in aid to Haiti and the Lashbrooks.

Last Thursday I received an email that would have me and two others in Port de Paix with the Lashbrooks 24 hours later. We were able to assist in the aid of Port de Paix with food, water, and medical supplies. We were able to hand the money you gave to Pastor Andy who the next day caught a bus to Port au Prince and found a camp of 200 who had received no aid since what the Haitians are calling “the event”. Your funds purchased water, food, and medicine for this group. All resources we receive will continue to go to this group on the edge of PAP until they receive more help.

Phase 2 began with the collecting of much needed supplies this weekend. Wednesday night volunteers came to pack up these supplies and get them ready to ship over to Haiti. We are calling on our local community (schools, churches, and businesses) to help during the month of February to collect as many supplies as we can to aid Haiti.

Phase 3 will be a trip hopefully this summer to Port da Paix to help the Lashbrooks continue in their ministry to reach Haiti with the gospel of Christ.

As pastor of Capstone I have been blown away at how our newly established community of faith has responded to those in need in Haiti. It is an honor to lead and minister with you as we are all being the hands and feet of Christ. Just as our mission to plant Capstone isn’t a sprint, neither is our aid to Haiti. We have the mentality of a marathon. We believe that anything that is done well doesn’t come quickly, but over a long steady process. Thank You for your gifts, time, and prayers.

While I was in Haiti we were able to attend a Sunday service with our brothers and sisters in Christ. It was a beautiful time. After the service one of the Haitian visitors who also attended the service went to the pastor’s wife and wanted to give a message to us. Her message was simple: “Tell the American’s thank you for not forgetting us.” And this message I pass on to you. Thank you for not forgetting the Haitian people. Continue to pray for them and be the voice of the Haitian people.

It was another great day at Capstone Church. With Walt being in Haiti, Chris Barrineau brought the message. I love hearing everyone getting louder and louder each week. Your voices sound so much better than mine. Keep it up Stoners.

We just finished week 3 of our Transform series. Chris’ message came from Matthew 7:21-23. Unfortunately, there are churches all over the US with people who are deceived into believing they have been Transformed.

Chris gave two myths of transformation:

1. Transformation is NOT going to church. Going to church does not make people Christ-followers. When we look at the lives of the people in “church” and we look at the lives of those not in “church” there is not always a big difference.
2. Transformation is NOT being good. This is not to say that a Christian does not have to do good works, but it is the HEART behind the works. Why do you do the things you do? Why do you give? Why do you love? Why do you serve? My prayer is that you do those things because of a transformation that has happened in your life through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Hey everybody. As I am typing this post, Walt and Marvin are driving all night to Ft. Lauderdale to board a plane for Haiti. This day has been CRAZY. It started this morning with an email that involved a FREE plane ticket if Walt could get to Ft Lauderdale. Obviously this kind of opportunity cannot be passed up.

Please keep them in your prayers as they travel. Check back on this blog or over on my blog for any updates as we receive them. PREPARE yourselves Capstone as God leads us toward our partners in Haiti.

Capstone has begun the long term mission of “hope for Haiti”.  This week we have seen thousands of dollars come into Capstone for the Haitian people.  The idea of hope for Haiti is continue to give hope to the hopeless.  That hope comes not only through giving, but the greatest hope comes in the Salavation from Jesus Christ.

Phase 2 of “hope for Haiti” will be collecting supplies to ship down to the Haiti in the upcoming months. The first shipping container will be leaving Miami Feb 1.  Head to and send your family/friends to Capstone Church Website to download the needs list.

Here are some encouraging words this morning from Keith Lashbrook in Haiti.  This was what the first service after this biblical sized disaster hit.  The Lord is working already in the lives of those in Port de Paix in which the Lashbrooks have been ministering to the past 13 years:

And speaking of church, as Andy and I got together this morning to talk about moving the church outside because of the damage to the church building, he thought we’d be OK and said, “Keith I’m not going to. We’re going to go in and worship our God.” He said that we were even going to continue to run the generator during church service because we were going to “be a light to our community.” We had well over 300 people in our 40×60 church this morning. During worship I went up and talked to pastor because we had a phone call from one of the officials here in town asking us if we can help buy fuel for buses to go to Port-au-Prince and get more refugees. Because we are totally out of cash till the bank reopens, I took this need to Pastor who offered to take up an offering in the church.

He shared with me that he didn’t know what message to bring to his people and asked if I would share from my heart. I read Philippians chapter 2 and really focused on the idea that we were “in place for a time such as this,” to put others needs before our own. When I got done sharing Pastor went up and took the offering. Pastor called me later. It was the biggest offering that we’ve ever had, $900 Haitian. Pastor said that we usually only have about $100-$200 a week.

As a missionary, how I rejoiced to see our people give today. Today people gave out of their reserve, they gave their food money for this week. They gave their all to help their people. And most of all, Pastor and I watched the church take it’s place. What an honor to be a part of that. At 5:00 p.m. this afternoon 7 buses were able to leave to go get refugees in Port au Prince and bring them here.

Please remember the Lashbrooks in your prayers as we support them in many ways here from SC.  We also are in the beginning stages of Phase 3 of “hope for Haiti”.  The next several weeks we will have more info on taking a team this summer to aid in the recovery of Haiti.  There is nothing in stone yet, we are just now begining this process, but if think this is something you are being led to help with you will need a passport.  If you don’t have a passport, apply now for one.  It takes many months to get your passport. You can go here to begin the process.

Email sent out to Capstone Family this am:

It is with a heavy heart I send this email out with images from Haiti still on mind from the last news report.  As many of you know this fall God put Haiti on our hearts as the place we felt we needed to plant churches, help the orphan, and bring light the only third world county in our Hemisphere.  We annouced two weeks ago we were partning the Lashbrook Ministry ( http://www.lfmintl.com/)  in Haiti.  Keith and Cindy have been missionaries in Haiti now for 13 years.  They have started a church, a school, a boys home, girls home, care for over 100 orphans and reaching out to the many lost in the name of Christ.

Last night was able to contact the Lashbrooks and they are OK.  They aren’t in Port Au Prince, but in northern Haiti.  The issue for the Lashbrooks is that everything come from PAP – gas, food, water.  And with PAP in chaos there is no way to be certain when or how supplies will reach them.  They are also expecting many refugees to come over the mountain to their area fleeing from the devastation of Port Au Prince.  Here is a part of the specific email to our family at Capstone:

“Right now we know that there are still some supplies available on the store shelves in our town so our goal is to purchase what we can while it it available. We want to not only be able to feed our children and staff but also have enough to provide for the needs of some of the refugees that we know will be coming our way from Port au Prince.  That is why we are pushing so hard to raise money right now. It is important to get the money to the mission just as quickly as possible so that plans can be made to meet the most needs. We know this is a perfect opportunity to speak Christ’s love into needy lives and we want to be ready to do just that. We thank you for being willing to help us in this work God has given us.”

Yesterday they cleaned out there bank account to purchase as much as possible.  They only have supplies for 4 days. So with that said, Capstone has taken $5000 out of our saving and will be sending it this morning to allow them to buy as many supplies as they can.  But we think this is only a small amount to what will be needed.  Sunday we will be sending everything taken up on Sunday Morning to the Lashbrooks as well.  We need to you spread the word.  People will be talking about Haiti much this week.  Talk with your neighbors, co workers, family, etc and tell them your church has partners there and you know someone by name who needs help.  And people will want to help! They can help by giving to Capstone and designate it “Haiti”.  We plan to be asking the city of Fountain Inn to help and will begin to take up supplies next week to send down there as soon as they are open to shipments.

I don’t think it is by coincidence that we as a community of faith were lead to Haiti right before the greatest disaster in this country’s history. Capstone WILL BE apart of rebuilding Haiti in the next week, month and years.  Thank You to all the Capstone Family who have called and emailed asking how the Lashbrooks were and your heart was breaking for the people of Haiti- an extension of Capstone’s family!

So lets get on it.  Pray hard that the Lord works in the chaos and devestation.   And lets not just watch the world help, but roll up our sleeves and be the voice for our friends Haiti!

Walt Tanner
Lead Pastor
Capstone Church
www.capstonechurch.net
www.capstoneblog.net

Sunday we spent most of our time talking about new doors the Lord has opened up for us in continuing our mission:

Capstone is Authentic in who we are and Relevant in what we do so that Christ can Transform lives and Impact a city.

Biker Church USA
Capstone and Biker Church USA have partnered to provide a time for those who ride motorcycles to gather together to eat, worship, fellowship, disciple, and invite those who might be far from God.  Chappy Smith contacted us several months and inquired about using the Capstone Building to help reach and disciple Bikers in the Upstate.  We thought this is exactly what we want to be a part of, so a partnership was begun. If know someone who rides or you ride, stop by on Friday Evenings to take part in Biker Church USA. So on Friday Nights when you ride by Capstone and see the parking lot full of motorcycles know that God is working in that place.

Haiti & Lashbrook Ministry
In the fall we mentioned that God had placed Haiti on our hearts and place we would begin to seek out a partnership to help minister to the Haitian people in the name of Christ.  Through a lot of God moments we have partnered with Keith and Cindy Lashbrook who have been Missionaries in Haiti for the past 13 years.  They have started a church, a school, a boys home, a girls home, a feeding program, and adoption agency.  We are excited to come along side of the Lashbrooks and help them impact Haiti.  We are hoping to take a team down this summer to help out any way we can. Until then we will be supporting the Lashbrooks through prayer, resources, and raising awareness of the needs of Haiti and her people.

2010: Year of disciples
This next year we really want to be intentional that we are raising up disciples, not just people who go to church.  So we have some different things planned to make sure that Capstone is providing the tools needed to  make sure our family is becoming more and more like Jesus.  We know that spiriutal things can be overwhelming and we often give up because we don’t know how to pray, or where to start reading in the bible.  This year we are planning to till the ground and praying that as we do that, and the Lord waters it we will see great fruit in 2010.

Capstone’s first Christmas Eve was one to remember.  We began by 40 volunteers going down to Salvation Army to serve over 125 men and women a hot breakfast.

After a great morning of celebrating Christ by being his hands and feet at the Salvation Army, we had our Christmas Eve Candle Light Service.  The service was an acoustic time of reflection as a community of faith.

More Pictures from Christmas Eve can be found from both of these events on our Flick Page.