 Photo: Matt Arnold, Momentum Church There have been few sports injuries that appeared as gruesome and debilitating as the October 27 injury suffered by Marcus Lattimore. Within minutes, game film was played over and over on the web and sports news television.
CBS Sports reported that Lattimore was believed to have suffered a torn ACL, PCL, and MCL. Many commentators proclaimed Lattimore’s brilliant career “over.”
The former South Carolina running back, who tore an ACL the previous year and successfully battled back, was considered one of if not the top running backs for the 2013 NFL Draft, and had been mentioned numerous times for the Heisman Award. One of the most decorated prospects in South Carolina high school history, Lattimore was ESPN RISE National High School Junior Football Player of the Year in 2008. In his senior year, he earned USA Today All-American honors and was named South Carolina’s Mr. Football.
Yahoo sports posted a youtube film and an article within minutes of the injury, and the lead sentence proclaimed “The entire college football world will be praying for Marcus Lattimore.”
It’s not over for Marcus Lattimore, and he’s pleased if his injury actually led others to pray. It has never been just about the game or the fame for this young man; Lattimore runs much deeper than that. While playing ball at University of South Carolina, he was credited with impacting the vast majority of recruiting successes, and the team came alive under his motivating leadership to national prominence.
In a February 20 interview, Lattimore stressed that he had absolute faith in whatever “comes next.”
“I have always believed, and I want people to know, that if you trust in God, and you set your mind to what you want to do -- you can do it,” he said. “I have been so fortunate in my life. I had a great family, I was always surrounded by great coaches, and we definitely were challenged to win. We loved that. But it was never about football – we were being taught about life.”
He said that he had known about God for most of his life, but his whole world changed when his life took a turn after “a certain event” at the end of his freshman year at the age of 19.
“I am going to be sharing my personal story on Easter Sunday,” he said. “I will tell the whole story then.”
 Photo: Matt Arnold, Momentum Church Lattimore will be joining the Momentum Church at the Gulf Breeze High School Football Stadium on Easter morning, and he will share how he came face to face with God and how his recovery process has been nothing short of a miracle. He will speak at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. followed by the 10,000-Easter-egg hunt known as "The Hunt" for children of all ages.
“If you’ve ever been at a place in your life where you feel it’s over, think again,” says Momentum Lead Pastor Tim Payne. “God brought Marcus through and He can do the same for all of us. It’s not over, so let the future begin!”
Payne and his wife, Stephanie, and three children moved back to the Gulf Coast in 2012. “We moved here to start Momentum Church, a non-denominational community of Jesus followers,” said Payne. “Our goal is to be an unstoppable force for good driven to change the world. I believe that God can do the impossible through audacious faith.”
Lattimore says he’s already seeing miracles.
 Photo: Matt Arnold, Momentum Church  Photo: Matt Arnold, Momentum Church "Dr. (James) Andrews came in to see me and said, 'You're doing remarkable, you're doing everything you can.' His words were, 'You're going to shock the world.'"
Not only is his surgeon, Dr. James Andrews of the renown Andrews Institute in Gulf Breeze, Florida, proclaiming the athlete three months ahead of rehab schedule according to a February 19 USA Today article, but the athlete plans to be ready for the start of the 2013 NFL season. When asked what he was most excited about – on the eve of his travel to the NFL Combine that could determine his football career – he didn’t miss a beat. “I’m most excited about what is next, what is coming this year,” he said. “Taking the next step in life in a new city: to be moving to a new city and to be able to meet new people and potentially have some influence on them for Christ in any way God leads. Just to be able to have that kind of influence is humbling. If I can help in any way to lead someone to Jesus it’s amazing.” Payne says that he has been amazed by the power and annointing that is evident in Lattimore. “Marcus is making an amazing comeback. Jesus made the most amazing come back of all time, and we celebrate that victory and hope on Easter. No message could be more powerful that day.” For more information visit the Momentum Church Easter website at www.eastergulfbreeze.com. Article by Vici Papajohn, Gulf Breeze News Co-Publisher
 Marcus Lattimore, recordbreaking running back for the South Carolina Gamecocks, suffered from a grisly injury to his right leg against the Tennessee Volunteers on October 27. Citing unnamed sources, CBS Sports reported that Lattimore is believed to have suffered injuries similar to those suffered by Willis McGahee in the 2003 Fiesta Bowl (torn ACL, PCL, and MCL).
An injury of this magnitude could have ended his career. But it's not over.
Hear the powerful story of how Lattimore's recovery process has been nothing short of a miracle. Lattimore will make a special guest appearance this Easter at Momentum Church in Gulf Breeze, Florida, to share his story of resurrection at two gatherings: 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
One of the most decorated prospects in South Carolina high school history, Lattimore was ESPN RISE National High School Junior Football Player of the Year in 2008. In his senior year, he earned USA Today All-American honors and was named South Carolina's Mr. Football. On December 10, Lattimore declared himself eligible for the NFL Draft. A few days later, Lattimore confirmed in a press conference that he would enter the 2013 NFL Draft. Lattimore's rehabilitation timeline at the Andrews Institute is aggressive and has progressed rapidly. He says he plans to be ready for the start of the 2013 NFL season.
Lattimore explains, "Dr. (James) Andrews came in to see me and said, 'You're doing remarkable, you're doing everything you can.' His words were, 'You're going to shock the world.'"
"At Momentum Church, we're all about Jesus - and the story Marcus has to share reflects God's ability to heal and restore no matter how humanly impossible it seems. Get ready to hear a modern-day story of resurrection while celebrating the greatest resurrection of all time," says Lead Pastor Tim Payne.
I hope your week has been filled with God's presence and God-sized stories! I felt God's presence all around us last Sunday as we saw 3 people cross the line of faith and proclaim Jesus as their Savior! I'm so thrilled that we GET to experience this — the best is yet to come! It's a privilege to serve you each week as we come together to celebrate the overflow of what God has done in our lives! I have some exciting opportunities and important updates to share with you as we journey through the Christmas season together:
PREPARE FOR THIS SUNDAY'S MESSAGE
Matthew 1:23 (MSG)
20-23 While he was trying to figure a way out, he had a dream. God’s angel spoke in the dream: “Joseph, son of David, don’t hesitate to get married. Mary’s pregnancy is Spirit-conceived. God’s Holy Spirit has made her pregnant. She will bring a son to birth, and when she does, you, Joseph, will name him Jesus—‘God saves’—because he will save his people from their sins.” This would bring the prophet’s embryonic sermon to full term: Watch for this—a virgin will get pregnant and bear a son; They will name him Immanuel (Hebrew for “God is with us”).
CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS EVE WITH MOMENTUMDec 24 @ 3p (Mid-Afternoon) & 6p (Candlelight)I'm looking forward to celebrating Christ's birth together with worship, message and communion in 2 special gatherings on Mon, Dec 24, at Gulf Breeze Middle School. I can't wait to sing songs about our Savior and spend time reflecting on the story of Christ's birth. Spread the word by inviting someone with the invite cards we passed out last week! RSVP for one of the gatherings and let us know which one you plan to attend! We'll gather at our usual time and location this Sun, Dec 23. HELP US GIVE JACKETS, SOCKS & BLANKETS TO THE HOMELESS
Sat, Dec 22 @ 8:30a
What an amazing time we had as a community at our first annual Christmas for a Cause! The band and choir rocked, the kids danced, the food was delicious, and everyone was generousby giving jackets, socks and blankets! The rain didn't stop us from going all out! God moved the rain and we had a powerful time of singing and giving. Not only did we have a ton of individuals participate, we were given 19 palettes of blankets from a single organization! Our God is BIG! Now, we have the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Jesus by taking these items directly to the ones who need them. If you're interested in helping, meet at PayDAY (4490 North W Street) this Saturday at 8a. We'll be distributing items from 8:30-10:30a. I'm already looking forward to next year's Christmas for a Cause!
GIVE YOUR BEST GIFT TO CHRIST'S BIRTHDAY OFFERING
Sun, Dec 23 & Mon, Dec 24
We're asking everyone to give their best gift of the holiday season to Jesus during this special annual offering! This year, I want to honor our leadership team for sacrificing, serving and following God's calling to serve Momentum Church. This offering will bless Jim, Frankie, Matt and Jeremy and their families. Come prepared as we have the opportunity and privilege to give to Christ's Birthday Offering in our gathering this Sunday and in both gatherings on Christmas Eve!
ENJOY REST DURING OUR MOMENTUM SABBATHNo Gathering on Sun, Dec 30We will be taking a Sabbath as a church family on Sun, Dec 30 to rest and get recharged for the new year! This is biblical and a priority for us. We believe in the power of rest and getting away just like Jesus modeled for us. Even though we won't be gathering, you can continue to worship by giving online at momentumonline.org/giving that week! We've seen so many lives changed by returning their first to God! If you have a story you'd like to share related to praying, fasting, or giving, share it here! FAST TOGETHER AS A CHURCH FAMILYSunday Night, Jan 6, to Sunday Morning, Jan 27Start the year off right — discover the rewards of putting God first in all things! Remember the Triple Crown series? We talked about the 3 elements to achieving greatness in the Christian life: praying, fasting and giving! Without one of these 3 elements, you'll be missing out on what God is capable of doing in your life! We'll be fasting as a church family for 21 days from the night of Jan 6 to the morning of Jan 27. Get ready to see God do miraculous things! Discover more info on fasting and the different types of fasts here.
Sometimes people ask us why going to church is so important. That's a great question — and one that should be answered by digging into Scripture and seeing what God tells us. Here are just a few verses from the Bible that can help us understand why going to church is an essential part of the Christian life. The Bible tells us to meet together as believers and to encourage one another. Hebrews 10:25As members of the body of Christ, we belong to each other. Romans 12:5Christ's body is made of many parts, yet it is still one unified entity. 1 Corinthians 12:121 Corinthians 12:14-231 Corinthians 12:27We develop the character of Christ through bearing with one another in the body of Christ. Ephesians 4:2In the body of Christ we exercise our spiritual gifts to serve and minister to one another. 1 Peter 4:101 Thessalonians 5:11James 5:16Content found at www.backtochurch.com.
Tyler McNeely is one of the Lead Worshipers at Momentum Church. He is a Gen Y'er who leads a team of Gen Y'ers. His insights are powerful, relevant and real. You can follow him on Twitter @TheRealTylerMac.Leading Gen Y'ers is a lot like herding thoroughbreds. Although there are always exceptions, most Gen Y’ers possess characteristics that can make them great contributors and great leaders. The secret is to gently harness their passion and potential without stifling their natural gifts. Here are four leadership keys I employ to unleash the spirit and excellence of my Gen Y team: • • • 1Give them permission to have an impact on your organization.Gen Y'ers are very hands-on. They learn from seeing, and then doing. Rather than telling them how to do something, it is often better to show them how to do it, then get out of their way. This naturally leads them to become more a confident and committed team member (“Hey – look at what I accomplished.”) Also, give them permission to make mistakes. Gen Y’ers grew up believing that what they did really mattered. They may, then, have a natural inclination to see things a little different than non-Gen Y’ers. What you might call a mistake is likely their attempt at reaching the goal in a different fashion than prescribed. Here’s the kicker: their “ways” might not be the best way, or even a significantly better way, than what you have now. But how you react to their ways makes a huge difference in their commitment, determination, and motivation to succeed. Don’t succumb to the temptation to be over-protective protective of your own ideas. Give your Gen Y team permission to challenge the way things are. Don’t stifle them. Continue to encourage them to challenge the status quo. Challenging then and don’t give up on them — even if they make a few mistakes. Who knows, their next “mistake” could be the breakthrough you need. • • • 2Create a culture that is enjoyable.I’m sorry — and this might rub some the wrong way — but gone are the days where you have to be miserable at your job to remain employed. Gen Y'ers grew up in the “Google” age. They’ve been told all along that if they don’t enjoy what they do, they need to at least enjoy where (environment) they do it. Gen Y’ers recognize that many professions or career steps might be viewed as tedious, even painful at the time. They understand that not all jobs are as fun as, say, making candy, riding roller coasters, or developing cool apps. Yet even if you can't eliminate the tediousness of their work, you can control the cultural environment that surrounds the work. Gen Y'ers believe that it’s more important to be in a great environment with a tedious job, than to be in a miserable environment with a great job. Culture and environment matter in a BIG way to Gen Y’ers — just believe it! • • • 3Embrace the Twitter Bug. This may not be something important to you, but social media is HUGE to Gen Y’ers and it is not going away. Most good-to-great companies have a few things in common (passion, vision, great leadership, strong values, etc.) but they also today generally have a strong social media presence. Whether it’s LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, or even 4Square, today’s great understand the value of a powerful social networking presence. So do Gen Y'ers. They are perfectly calm within the raging hurricanes of technology. They are more than intrigued — they are in fact glued to the size, potential, and connectivity of the global community. In fact, most of them are neck deep in it and thriving! As with my teams, most of your Gen Y'ers have either an active (A) Facebook, (B) Facebook + Twitter, or (C) Facebook + Twitter + LinkedIn + 4Square + on and on accounts. And yes, they even like to check them at work. So, what should a team leader do? First, stop fighting their interest in the Internet. Gen Y’ers will stay connected to their circles whether at work or at home, but not out of defiance or disrespect to you or your company. It’s simply a huge part of our/their way of life. Therefore, why not let Gen Y’ers manage your organizaton's social media presence? Give them a leading seat at your social media table, encouraging them to participate and grow positive buzz on your company through their connection circles. This entire social media component is in reality a corporate culture issue (see #2). Recently I came across an amazing quote about culture. “Culture is like the wind, you can fight the wind as much as you want, it’s pointless, and you won’t get anywhere.” The same is true with the new Twitter Bug social media culture. You can fight it, but you won’t get very far. Instead, opening your social media sails let your Gen Y'ers navigate the digital waters to help you get to where you want the company to go. • • • 4Talk is cheap. Lead by example.This last key is huge to Gen Y’ers. Growing up in the 80s and 90s, we’ve heard a lot of people promise a lot of great things, and yet do very little of it. If you want to speak to our heartstrings and energize our souls, lead authentically. Your actions speak louder than your words, and Gen Y’ers are watching every action and listening to every word. Be sure they align — that you walk your talk. If not, don’t be surprised if those energetic, dynamic, weird, wonderful, and hopelessly tough to understand Gen Y’ers on your staff suddenly leave for a more genuine, authentic leadership pasture. Leading Gen Y'ers can be both exhilarating and exhausting. Yet when you integrate these four keys into your daily leadership, you will soon guide your stable of young thoroughbreds into an exciting and profitable future. So, what are your keys to leading Gen Y teams? Do you have some tips and techniques that work for you? Leave your comment and let’s discuss your ideas.
Hey Momentum!
It’s an exciting time right now to be a part of a movement! We are humbled at the thought of all that God has done this summer and eager to see all that He has in store in the coming weeks and months ahead. There’s a lot going on right now, so I thought I’d take a moment to update you on a few things!
AUGUST COMPASSION SERVE EVENT: Project SupplyLast week we shared the vision for our August Compassion Serve Event and the need of the local schools in our area. We believe in serving the community with compassion and I want to encourage you to participate in Project Supply! What a better way to show the love and message of Jesus then to provide for those in need as the school year approaches. Please purchase school supplies and drop them in the designated collection bins in our gatherings or in your Community Group. You can find more info on what we need here. Let's put our resources together and share the love of Christ with our community through Project Supply! SERIES WRAP-UP: Sun Stand StillI hope that you have enjoyed our series on Sun Stand Still. My prayer has been that you will be encouraged and challenged in your life to believe God for the impossible through audacious faith! Last Sunday we talked about our personal Sun Stand Still prayers. We handed out prayer cards so we can keep them before God and fresh in our minds. If you didn't get yours, simply contact us and we'll make sure you get one. NEW MESSAGE SERIES: DNA
We’ve be diving into a brand new series in 2 weeks called DNA. I’ll be casting the vision and sharing what it is that makes up our church’s DNA: Community, Compassion and Commission. We hope you can join us for this exciting time in Momentum’s history beginning August 26!
PRAYER WALK: Gulf Breeze Middle School Campus
As you may have heard, God has opened up a door for us to reach more families in Gulf Breeze. We are filled with anticipation about the future of our church and I want to personally invite you to join us for a special prayer walk on Sunday, August 19 at Gulf Breeze Middle School (located at 649 Gulf Breeze Parkway) right after our gathering at the beach. We will be praying for a few things including the school board to approve our lease for the fall. Join us in prayer — together we are an unstoppable force for good!
FOOTBALL SUNDAYS: Aug 26 & Sep 2
Are you ready for some football?! We want to celebrate the upcoming football season in style! Where your favorite NCAA College (Aug 26) and NFL Pro (Sep 2) team’s jersey or colors at our upcoming gatherings at the end of the month.
Enjoying the Breeze,
Tim Payne
Lead Pastor
Hey Momentum! UPDATE: Weekly Gatherings
Just in case you haven't heard yet, we are now gathering weekly on Sundays at 9:30a! We're so excited about what God is doing in the life of Momentum and those around us! Light up social media so we can spread the word about our gatherings through Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, etc!
THIS SUNDAY: Sun Stand Still - Part 4
We're looking forward to our gathering this Sunday at the Pirate's Cove Oyster Bar at Pensacola Beach Pier at 9:30a! Jim Whitten, Teaching Pastor, will be continuing the Sun Stand Still message series, so prepare your heart for a powerful message!
COMMUNITY GROUPS: There's Still Time to Sign Up!Some of our Community Groups have filled up, but there's still time to join a few. If you'd like to be a part of what God's doing in our groups, sign up here! See the schedule below: COMPASSION SERVE EVENT: Project SupplyThis month's Compassion Serve Event will be focused on collecting school supplies so that kids in the area can start the new year off right. This back-to-school supply drive will happen every Sunday at our gatherings and every week in our Community Groups for the month of August. Please purchase school supplies like those listed below and drop them in the designated collection bins in our gatherings or in your Community Group. Let's put our resources together and share the love of Christ with our community through Project Supply! Thank you for your generous support. - Backpack
- Crayons, Pens & Pencils
- Notebook Paper
- Marble Composition Books (wide ruled)
- Spiral-Bound Notebooks (wide ruled)
- 2-Pocket Folders
- 3-Ring Binders
- Children's Scissors
- Pencil Sharpener
- Pencil Box
- Index Cards
- Highlighters
- Erasers
- Glue
- Rulers
We're looking forward to seeing you soon! Enjoying the Breeze,
Here's just another snapshot of what God is doing in Gulf Breeze! The local news gave us some serious ad space in their latest issue to arrive in all Gulf Breeze homes this week! We placed an ad on the front cover, wrote a 350-word article and included 2 photos in the Lifestyles section. Notice the unrelated article just below our ad on the front page entitled "Totally depending on God" — gotta love how God works! Praise Him for making it all possible! Stay in the loop of our news and updates by subscribing to our weekly Enewsletter! New Church Experiences Momentum in Gulf Breeze
In an area where churches are on every corner, why would there be a need for another one? That’s the question many of Momentum’s team asked before moving to Gulf Breeze, Florida, to start a new church.
In 2004, God placed a dream in Lead Pastor Tim Payne’s heart for a relevant and accessible kind of church — a church that would attract those who don't go to a church by removing barriers that often repel them. This would be a community of unity that focuses on intentionally connecting with the unchurched as well as grow followers of Jesus. The past seven years have been a classroom to turn that dream into reality.
Tim and his wife, Stephanie, and three children recently moved back to the Gulf Coast to start Momentum Church, a non-denominational community of Jesus followers who together are an unstoppable force for good driven to change the world. Tim believes that with momentum the world can be changed. “If you've been hoping for more, then Momentum is for you. Hope has a name — and His name is Jesus,” says Payne.
“At Momentum, we’re all about Jesus — and the only way to get to know Jesus is to understand what the Bible says about Him, which includes what he said about Himself,” says Matt Arnold, worship and innovation pastor.
The Momentum staff team was united through a series of connections made over the years. They reflect on how they came together through a series of events leading them here and collaboratively agree that “God is the author — we just play a small part in His epic story.”
Momentum Church desires to reach those who are far from God, but rather than run from culture, they have chosen to harness it to connect with people. Each Sunday features a live band, relevant message and a community of people who genuinely care about each other.
Experience Momentum every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. at the Pirate’s Cover Oyster Bar connected to the Pensacola Beach Pier. Everyone is encouraged to come in t-shirts, shorts and flip-flops and bring a friend to this growing community of faith.
For more info, visit www.momentumonline.org.
Creatively serving,
|
RSS Feed