Issue no.
8, April 2010
Join us in thanking God for His
provision and grace in our lives in
the following ways:
• Great relationships with the hotel staff at the
Hilton Garden Inn
• Continuing relationships with other pastors/
leaders in our city
• Significant breakthroughs with our attempts to
connect at Furman and North Greenville
University
• Ten college students who have committed to
spend the summer with us as full time Summer
Link interns
Renewed Relationship with God
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to
the fellowship, and to the breaking of bread, and to
prayer.” (Acts 2:42)
February ended with an opportunity to worship the
Lord alongside Pastor Alex and the Kingdom Life
Christian Center church family! Pastor Alex taught
from Ephesians 6 and challenged us to remember
who we really work for as we are walking along our
daily paths. Thank you, Pastor Alex for reminding us
to “check our badges”, and thank you, Kingdom Life,
for not just inviting us to be a part of your Sunday
service, but for wrapping your arms around us and
lifting us up in song and prayer! It was a pleasure to
praise our Father with you!
As you know, one of the main goals of Renewal
Church is to show God’s love to our community. To
that end, our first Sunday meeting of March was
spent prayer-walking and giving out gift bags to our
friends at the Hilton Garden Inn and at Cracker
Barrel. To both the staff at the Hilton and the staff at
Cracker Barrel, we love you guys and are grateful for
your service! Thank you!
March 14th marked our very first meeting at the
Hilton Garden Inn and our practice run before
launching to the public on the 21st! Matt took this
opportunity to direct our attention to Matthew 28 in
order to remind us that the main purpose of a healthy
church is to multiply disciples to the glory of God.
Verse 19 tells us to “Go therefore and make disciples
of all nations”; the imperative command being that
we “make disciples.” Matt challenged each of us to
pour ourselves into one other person. He dared us to
invite them to “follow us as we follow Christ” and, in
• Over 200 people in attendance at our launch
service - many of them potential prospects for
Renewal.
Prayer Needs:
• Over the summer, Renewal is seeking to find ways
to love and engage our city - particularly those far
from the Lord. Pray for our next Saturday Serve,
on April 17th as we build a transitional home for
homeless families in Greenville.
• Our first partnership class on April 14th. We are
praying that God would continue to add
meaningful partners to our church plant.
• Furman University and North Greenville are both
entering the final stages of the semester, with
exams right around the corner. Pray that our
doing so, we will find 1) growth in our
relationship with the Lord, and 2) the other
individual growing in their own love for the Lord
and pouring their life and love of the Lord into
another.
Volunteers serving as greeters on Launch Sunday
March 21st was Launch Sunday! Through much
hard work, faith, and dedication to God’s word
and mission, Renewal Church opened her doors to
the public at large! Matt began our Exchange
series which focused, this week, on “creation”. He
taught from Colossians 1 and fleshed out the idea
that we were created by God to promote His glory:
“And he is the head of the body, the church. He is
the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in
everything he might be preeminent” (Colossian
1:18 ESV). Does your life exhibit a belief in a
Preeminent God who created you to bring glory to
Himself?
On March 28th, Matt continued the Exchange series
by teaching on “the fall” from Romans 1. He
challenged us to identify the places in our lives
where we exchange God’s glory for our own. He
suggested that we cannot fully appreciate the
reason for celebrating the resurrection of Jesus
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students would honor the Lord as they take
exams.
• Pray for other members that God is adding to
our team from other places in the US. Pray for
them as they transition to Greenville.
• Pray that God would prompt the hearts of our
college students to engage in meaningful
partnership at Renewal.
College students who have begun partnering with Renewal
Christ on Easter Sunday without, first, having some
understanding of our own depravity and the price
that He paid on the cross. Only against the backdrop
of our own black sin can we see the full glory of the
cross.
“…And behold, I am with you always, to the end of
the age” (Matthew 28:20 ESV).
How to Give
“Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone
as he had need.” Acts 2:45
Thank you again for your commitment to give to
Renewal Church! See the following information on
how to give:
• By check
Place a check in the pre-labeled envelope along
with a stamp, and mail to Renewal Church - 201
B. West Butler Rd. #151, Mauldin, S.C. 29662
• Online
Go to www.renewalupstate.com and click on
“Online Giving” at the bottom of the home
page. Click “Register” to give a one time gift.
• Automatic Draft
Go to www.renewalupstate.com and click on
“Online Giving” at the bottom of the home page.
Click “Register” to complete your automatic
draft.
A few reminders:
• All gifts are tax deductible
• Please make us aware of any address changes or
changes to your giving so we can make the
necessary adjustments. Send an email to
church@renewalupstate.com to update your
information!

Renewed Relationships With
Each Other
“Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple
courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together
with glad and sincere hearts.” Acts 2:46
One of the great blessings of church planting comes
when we see the Church loving and serving each
other well. That occurred this month as members
and pastors of Crosspoint Church, Rock Hill First
Baptist, Rocky Creek First Baptist, Grace Church,
and Eternal Church came to love and support us on
our launch Sunday! Many other churches spent
time during their morning worship services praying
for us as we launched. They helped to make this
service as huge success as we worshipped our Lord
together and celebrated His goodness and
graciousness to us in building His church! We are
especially appreciative of those who came from
Crosspoint Church to serve as greeters, nursery
workers, and grade school teachers so that all of our
Renewal Partners could participate in the service.
Thank you for giving of your time and service to us!
Grade school
kids with their
volunteer
teachers during
the service
Matt and Sarah also experienced the love of the
Church through their commissioning service with
the North American Mission Board at First Baptist
Woodstock in Atlanta as church planting
missionaries to the Upstate. They were encouraged
by being able to hear from others who are going out
to serve in and around North America in church
planting, chaplaincy, collegiate ministry, and many
other areas. The North American Mission Board has
been very gracious to the Rogers’ and Renewal
Church and we are very thankful for their love,
support, and financial gifts! Please continue to
support them through mission offerings at your
local church so that they can continue to give to
ministries like ours!
Matt and Sarah’s commissioning service challenged and
encouraged missionaries going out to all parts of North
America
all seek to reach Greenville with the Gospel of Jesus
Christ, for those who came to help us canvas on the
20th and for the many tangible ways you have
blessed Renewal.
In looking ahead, Renewal is excited about serving
others. We are in the process of planning systematic
“Saturday Serves” where we go into our community
to help others meet needs with manual projects of
construction, painting, etc. Renewal’s heart is to
reach others through any means possible. We desire
Attendees and Renewal partners on Launch Sunday
to make disciples for the glory of God.
Renewed Love for Those Far
From God Meet the Boyers!
“...And the Lord added to their number daily those who
were being saved.” Acts 2:47
The month of March was a joyous time for Renewal.
We were able to see God move in so many
wonderful ways.
The trip to Restoration Church in Washington, D.C.
was rewarding as the team was able to conduct
surveys in the city, work at community centers,
prayer walk, and join in Restoration’s Sunday
evening service. Despite the fact that over half of
the team contracted a stomach virus, God used the
team in great ways. It was amazing to see how those
who were healthy on the team ministered to those
who were sick. Thank you to those who obeyed
Brooke, Carl, and Jacob Boyer
God’s call to go and join Restoration Church in
Carl and Brooke Boyer are excited to begin ministry
reaching out to the city of Washington, D.C.
to college students and young adults with Renewal
It was also a joy to serve Hilton Garden Inn and
Church. The Boyers have been in the Greenville area
Cracker Barrel staff on Sunday, March 7th. We made
almost five years, having met at Columbia
goody bags filled with bottle water, fruit, nuts,
International University. They will be celebrating
candy, and encouraging notes. Those who received
their fifth anniversary this June! Carl and Brooke are
these treats were thrilled and very appreciative that
thrilled to be the proud parents of Jacob Emmanuel
someone had remembered them.
born March 12.
Our first “Saturday Serve” on March 20th was a Carl is finishing his degree at North Greenville
great day to go out in groups to canvas a three mile University, providing him many opportunities to
radius from the Hilton and promote the launching interact with students. Brooke has worked as the
of Renewal Church. We are appreciative of the Adult Ministry Assistant of a large Southern Baptist
many Rocky Creek Baptist Church members that church in Taylors, SC for over three years.
joined us on this day of service. One gentleman
Carl will be helping the SummerLink interns have a
that someone met that Saturday morning came to
successful summer as missionaries in Greenville.
the launch service the next day. We are very
The Boyers look forward to hosting the college
grateful for all those who came out to serve.
small group in their new home starting this August.
This will allow Carl to use his spiritual gift of
teaching as well as provide encouragement,
mentoring, and accountability. Carl and Brooke are
grateful for the opportunity to serve their
community with the gospel that set them free.
The Boyers love the outdoors especially hiking and
camping which they will seek to incorporate into
their ministry. Carl is quite content to read for hours
Partners with Renewal and Rocky Creek First Baptist
and Brooke loves being creative with anything artsy.
preparing for our first Saturday Serve
They have adopted a stray cat named Tigger and an
During the weekend of March 19th-21st, Renewal abandoned hound dog named Dahlia, which makes
was included in Rocky Creek Baptist Church’s them a family of five now.
Jerusalem Mission Weekend. They have given us
their support, love, and most importantly their
prayers. The church also showered us with office
supplies, diapers, changing tables, and so many
essentials that are a tremendous help to Renewal.
Thank you Rocky Creek for joining Renewal as we
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