mattfry

Free Motorcycle At Accelerate!

Just kidding but I knew that would get your attention.  I am so fired up that the Accelerate Conference is just 4 weeks away!  My prayer is that every pastor, staff member and leader that comes to the Accelerate Conference will be blessed in their relationship with God and that it will help you to accelerate your ministry to a whole new level!  If you haven’t registered you can go to AccelerateConference.com and register online.  Pastors, you can bring your entire staff and volunteer team for just $325.

Pray for the Greg Laurie Family

Thursday morning Pastor Greg and Cathe Laurie’s 33 year old son, Christopher Laurie died tragically in a car accident on his way to the church where he served on staff.  I had the privilege of working with Pastor Greg Laurie and his Harvest team when Raleigh hosted the Harvest Crusade last year.  Our church has also partnered with Harvest Church with several of his staff speaking at C3 and I spoke for Day 7 at Harvest Church last year.

You can read more here.

Please be in prayer for their entire family including his wife Brittany (expecting second child in November), his daughter Stella and his brother Jonathan.  I want everyone one from the Harvest family to know that you have friends on the east coast who love you and are praying for you!   

Summer Camp Is Still Rocking…

This week I am spending a couple of days with the children at Camp KidJam in Winston Salem, NC. And here are a few initial thoughts…

• Children love to scream… randomly.
• C3 Kids are passionate for God.
• The Camp KidJam staff are big time talented.
• Children love to scream.
• C3 Kids leaders are great.
• Martha is one of the camp leaders and is staying in the dorm with the kids and is the team leader for one of the girls groups. 
• I remember why I was a Student Minister and not a Children’s Minister.
• Have some Advil with you at Kids Camp.
• I love summer camp.

Summer Camp Rocks!

Last week Martha and I spent the week with our students at camp… and we had a blast!  The theme was “Dare To Move” and the students were challenged to step out, speak up and make a difference for God.  Not only did the students have fun going to the beach, playing volleyball and crazy games, but God moved in their lives in a big way.  The speakers for the week were Robbie Robison and Martha Fry (and I spoke for one session) and the worship was led by Jordan and Patience Leino and the C3 student worship team.  Here are a few thoughts about summer camp…

•    Myrtle Beach is a great place to have camp.
•    C3 Students are on fire for God.
•    We have an amazing team of student leaders.
•    I love the next generation.
•    The future is bright.
•    I’m still amazed at how Robbie Robison keeps his hair in an 80’s frow.
•    C3 students know how to worship God with passion.
•    Their passion is contagious.
•    My wife can preach.  Her morning sessions were amazing. 
•    I love summer camp!

These Guys Are Hilarious!

You've got to check out this video by my friends Greg and Geoff Surratt from Seacoast Church. (click here to watch it) They will be both be speaking at our ACCELERATE CONFERENCE, August 22-23 here at C3 Church. This conference is for all pastors, church staff, leaders and anyone who wants to go to the next level in their ministry to others.  If you would like to register or get more info go to accelerateconference.com.

THIS WEEKEND @ C3
We will continue our One Prayer series this weekend and it is also our KINGDOM BUILDERS update weekend.  I am so pumped to share with you all that God is doing here at C3... the lives that are being changed... and the exciting things that are happening on our campus with the new C3 Cafe and The Source, as well as what God is doing around the world.  These are exciting days!  To get some cool updates and pics of the C3 Cafe go to c3church.com/kingdombuilders.

Pastor Bono? C3 in the News...

Martha and I want to express our thanks to all who contributed to make God and Country Day so successful. I would also like to give a special thank you to the local news stations, newspapers, and radio who came out to report on Sunday's events.  The News & Observer said I look like Bono from U2! I've never been told that, but I take that as a compliment.  Some of the reports are available to view online, so click on the links to see them.

WRAL
NBC 17
ABC 11
Fox 50
News 14 Carolina: article, video
News & Observer: article
Cleveland Post
Smithfield Herald
Clayton News-Star
WQDR (94.7 Raleigh)

To listen to our services, go to our podcast or vodcast.

(Me and Marty "the one man party" from WQDR)

(me being interviewed by NBC 17)

Still Reflecting… on God and Country Day

I’m still reflecting on all that God did this past Sunday for our God and Country Day.  Those of you that have been a part of C3 for a while know that we’ve had many exciting and powerful weekends where we were blown away by the goodness of God… but I think this past Sunday was unlike any other we’ve ever had.  Here are a few thoughts…

• There’s something special about being a part of a church family that is so passionate and so generous and this past Sunday was another example! I couldn’t help but get emotional as I saw hundreds of people bringing their care boxes for the military.  I heard of many from the community that heard about what we were doing and brought boxes.  There was one family that was on their way to Catholic Mass and dropped off their care box.  It’s all about the Kingdom baby.  Another family was at WalMart Sunday morning and heard about the Dale Jr. #88 car being at C3 they came by to check it out and then they decided to fill up a care box. 

• God and Country Day went way beyond our 47 acre campus!  Not only are we sending a couple of thousands care boxes to Iraq and Afghanistan but several local tv stations reporting and I believe a total of 4 local news stations highlighted C3 and God and Country Day in their Sunday and Monday news.  Marty, the one man party, from WQDR Country 94.7 was there all morning doing a live remote broadcast.  We also had an article in Raleigh’s News and Observer.. front page of their Triangle and Co. section.  I want to thank John Murawski for doing such a fantastic job writing this article!  And I have to admit I don’t remember anyone telling me I look like Bono from U2 but I take that as a compliment.  You can check it out the article here.                                             

(John and I talking before the first service)                                                                           

• THANK YOU to hundreds of Volunteers!  I want to thank the hundreds of volunteers that made this past Sunday so amazing.  To have so many things happening (helicopter, 88 car, snow cones, Amp drink give aways, flag give aways, care boxes collected, live cam)  Everyone did a fantastic job… from parking cars, greeting thousands of people, worship band rocked, tech teams did a great job, students put flags out, children’s ministry served snow cones and provided a great program, etc.  I also want to thank Glenn Robertson from Fairway Ministries for partnering with us as we provided care boxes for the military and for bringing us the #88 car! It is so true that Teamwork makes the Dream work!

Gentlemen (and Ladies)...Start Your Engines!

Not only is today the Coke Zero 500 at Daytona Beach, FL but in less than 24 hours we will be celebrating God and Country Day @ C3. Dale Earnhardt Jr. is in the 3rd position today, and tomorrow you will get to see his #88 National Guard car here in Clayton. 

  Let me tell you a few cool things about tomorrow and some ways that you can get ready…

Cool Stuff…
• Several media outlets will be at C3 tomorrow including NBC 17, News 14 Carolina and the News and Observer.
• At approximately 7am and then again at 8am News 14 will be interviewing us LIVE.  You can watch it on Time Warner Cable channel 14.
• AMP Energy Drinks and other Pepsi products will be given away all morning.  (AMP is another sponsor for Dale Jr.)
• Snow Cones will be provided for all kids (and want to be kids) after both services.
• You Can get your picture taken with the #88 car before and after each service (gotta bring your own camera)
• Marty from Q-Morning Crew on 94.7 QDR will be there all morning with a LIVE remote broadcast beginning at 8am.
• We are going to have a “kickin” worship service at 9:15 and 11:15am. 

Here’s How You Can Help…
• Bring your NC National Guard Care boxes to the truck that will be parked near the front door.
• In order to provide our guests with the most convenient parking we are asking all C3 members to park in the back or at the outside edge of our parking lot.
• If someone sticks a camera in your face and asks you a question… be sure and say really, really nice things about your bald headed pastor ☺
• Bring your Bible and a Friend…. It’s going to be a day we will never forget!

 

Over 2000 Boxes!

As we prepare for God and Country Day this Sunday, C3 Church is collecting care boxes for the NC National Guard that is currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am amazed at the response... over 2000 boxes have been distributed and will be filled with essential items to bless our men and women serving.  If you’d like to participate you can come by C3 and pick up a box and bring it back this Sunday. 

It’s exciting to be a part of a church family that is so generous and has a passion to reach out to others. 

Hot Dogs, Baseball and...

Tonight our family went to the Durham Bulls baseball game. There’s nothing like a nice warm (ok it was HOT… 97 degrees) summer evening eating a hot dog and watching a minor league baseball game. Durham Bulls (AAA team for the Tampa Bay Rays) played against the Lehigh Iron Pigs (AAA team for the Philadelphia Phillies). Before the game we enjoyed Hawk Nelson in concert and later my favorite group of all time… Veggietales.

By the wayour God and Country Celebration! is only one week away. Sunday, July 6 at 9:15 and 11:15am we will be having a big time party at C3. The Dale Earnhardt Jr. #88 car will be on campus at C3, we will have free snow cones for the kids, awesome music and I will be speaking.

The reason why Dale Jr.’s car will be here is because his sponsor is the National Guard. As a part of the celebration we will be collecting care boxes for the NC Guard serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. I believe this will be one of the most amazing weekends we have ever had at C3.