PHOTO Blog: Relive Sojourn’s 2011

Exterior framing work at the future Sojourn Midtown Campus building

God has lavished his blessings on the Sojourn community this year, taking our nothing and turning it into something. Something big. We’ve seen the miracle of salvation and baptism again and again. We’ve seen more and more people come, so we’ve added service times at East and J-Town and launched a new campus with two services in New Albany. And as you can see from the picture to your left, we’re preparing the former St. Vincent’s Church to become our Midtown Campus worship space by Easter 2012.

When we ask you to serve, it’s easy to forget the tangible rewards that come to Kentuckiana through your service. When we ask you to pledge to the vision of Sojourn, and when we ask you to be generous with your year end giving, it’s easy to forget about the blessings that come about because of your generosity.

So take a look here at just a portion of what God has done for and through Sojourn in 2011. And know that greater things have yet to be done in this city, if we are faithful.

Ash Wednesday service at Sojourn East, above. Many of you tell us that our Ash Wednesday service is one of your favorite services each year. We reflect on our sin and the brokenness of the world, and the price Christ paid to restore and renew.

And we see a sign of that renewal all year long, in the many baptisms we celebrate across campuses.

Nothing beats the reality of new life in Christ

The winter CD release party for our worship album that featured Jamie Barnes and Brooks Ritter was one of the most joyful nights this year. Jamie and Brooks direct worship at Sojourn East and Midtown, respectively.

Pastor Robert Cheong on the 94.7FM Just Ask Joyce show. I am so grateful to Pastor Robert’s counsel to me, to our church, and to many others in our community and around the U.S. None of us probably realize how blessed we are to have so many godly leaders like Pastor Robert.

And how about all those baby dedications we’ve had this year? Over 100 babies dedicated to Christ by their parents and their brothers and sisters in the Sojourn community.

On Good Friday, the largest group of Sojourners to ever gather in one place packed Memorial Auditorium. This worship gathering featured songs from our brand new album, The Water And The Blood: The Hymns Of Isaac Watts, Volume Two.

Sojourn Music songs aren’t just “feel good” songs. They teach deep gospel truths — which of course is the ultimate “feel good” vibe for those who put their trust in Jesus. This is why people all over the world sing our songs in their churches.

Easter marked the first time over 3000 of us worshiped together at Sojourn campuses. As you can see above, even the overflow room at Sojourn Midtown was packed, which is why we so desire to have the St. Vincent’s building ready by Easter 2012.

Sojourn Kids learned about Christ’s resurrection on Easter, and hunted for easter eggs.

Throughout the year we’ve hosted free health clinics at Midtown. And our J-Town Campus has helped with clinics in Jeffersontown.

Hundreds of you have served in these clinics. Many of our neighbors in this city can’t even afford basic checkups and care. At these clinics, we can meet peoples’ physical and emotional needs, and even preach the gospel of salvation.

Christ commands us to tend the sick, comfort the afflicted, serve the poor and love our neighbors. We want to do even more of this in 2012.

Summer is a great time to meet our neighbors and share the love of Christ. Members of Sojourn East did that at “Art In The Park” in Lyndon.

We’re not a church that stays in a “holy huddle” inside our buildings.

In fact these Sojourners went on mission for Christ all over Europe this summer. Europe, you say? Yes, it’s a society that has largely rejected Christ. There are very few evangelical Christians in Europe today.

But people throughout the world need to hear the gospel. And to be honest, there are many Sojourn International photos I can’t show you, because some of your brother and sister sojourners are serving in dangerous places. They could be deported, imprisoned or even murdered if we gave away their identity or location online.

Here, Sojourners pray for one of our missionaries as we commission her for service overseas.

We love our children at Sojourn. Here are a few of them, at one of the two VBS week’s we offered this summer.

SojournKids exists to help you instruct your children in the ways of the Lord. Let’s be faithful to our mission today, so we can hand the baton to them and hear our Father say “Well done, good and faithful servants.”

Meanwhile, Indiana Sojourners worked throughout the summer to help transform the former Silver Street Elementary School into Sojourn New Albany, as we planned for a fall launch. They also reached out to the community and embraced community events like school registration and Harvest Homecoming.

Speaking of fall — The Midtown Campus Fall Festival always draws a couple thousand neighbors, and this year was no exception.

Facepainting, balloons, free food, music, dunking booth, games and our Affordable Art Show — all in one day.

And then came our biggest campus launch ever. Led by our new pastor Michael Fleming, Sojourn New Albany kicked off October 16 with over 600 in attendance.

The city of New Albany warmly received us, and many new people from the neighborhood have become part of our family.

The Courier Journal published this photo of our Benediction, in a big article about the campus launch.

Meanwhile Kevin Jamison became the Lead Pastor at Sojourn East. Kevin’s passionate, insightful preaching and steady leadership have already made us stronger.

Speaking of Sojourn East, hundreds of our neighbors in the east end enjoyed our Trunk Or Treat on October 30.

We show hospitality because God has shown hospitality to us, through His Son. We give generously because God gave generously to us, through His Son. We share the news of salvation because God brought salvation to us, through His Son.

Meanwhile the baptisms continued to roll on, as God kept adding to His church throughout 2011.

Every campus, every member celebrating the gift of new brothers and sisters in Christ.

Dead to sin, raised to life.

A strong church family means strong marriages. Robert and Karen Cheong led several hundred couples in two Redeem Marriage events this year, one at J-Town and one at Midtown.

And shortly after Sojourn New Albany’s birth, we celebrated a slew of baby dedications there.

Then it was time for the Sojourn Women’s Gift Exchange at each campus.

Friendships form and discipleship begins as our ladies invite neighbors and coworkers to share gifts and companionship on this yearly event, and afterwards.

Oh, and there’s lots of good food, too.

In 2012 we want to see more baptisms …

More health clinics and free medical supplies for our communities …

More babies wandering on stage …

More community outreach …

And more people who are hungry for God and passionate to praise Him with their prayers, their song, their emotions, their intellect, their money, their time and their whole lives. May each of us continue to be among them.

Stand with us in 2012, and help us end 2011 well. We’re behind budget right now, so for ministries to move forward let’s finish this year strong. Your year end gift to Sojourn must be postmarked or received by December 31 in order for you to claim your tax deduction for this year.

If you don’t want to wait till Sunday you can give online right here, or mail your check to:

Sojourn Community Church
930 Mary Street
Louisville, KY 40204

Please write the name of your campus on your check.

Praise be to God for his blessings on us in 2011. May we honor Him with all of our lives in 2012.

As always, a huge thanks to deacon Chuck Heeke and all the Sojourn photography servants, who took these photos. Thank you so much for using your skills to tell the story of our community.