Will I be welcome?

I got a call yesterday from someone who received a flyer for NORML and wanted to know whether or not his friend would be welcome. Apparently his friend got his hair shaved into a mohawk recently and also now has a few noticeable piercings. I told him to look at that little gray seal on the bottom of the flyer... the one that reads, "You will not be rejected." Once he found it I told him, "We really mean it."

This is going to be awesome... keep passing out those flyers and we'll see who comes on May 6th!

May 6th 2009

WAYCROSS, GA -- NORML begins May 6th heralding the promise that all "You will not be rejected!" That promise echoes the Bible in 1 Peter 2, "As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious..." A church with a history of ministry to young adults, Norml is hosted by The Eagle's Nest. Jeff Fuller will be leading NORML. Jeff has lived in Waycross off and on since the 90's and works as truck driver for a local dairy company. "Since I was a teenage heathen", he says, "I've had a relationship with the Pastors of Eagle's Nest Church. They have the integrity to do the right thing. That type of integrity is important because it causes them to stand up to social pressure. When everyone else is against you, they stand with you!" Jeff came to Christ in 1996 while in the Air Force. When he returned home [to Waycross] he began attending The Eagle's Nest. "I was there from the very beginning. in a rented storefront on Elizabeth Street." Smiling he recalls, "And of all things they had me teaching children. I wasn't very experienced in the Bible so whatever details of the Bible stories I didn't know, I just made up!" Jeff is now schooled in theology, apologetics, and evangelism. He has preached more on streetcorners and in jails & prisons than behind church pulpits. "NORML will definitely be non-traditional like me. Don't get me wrong, I love our history and heritage as Christians! However, the Gospel trancends tradition and culture. Jesus Christ didn't die to transform us from tshirts & jeans to suits and neckties. He redeemed us from our sins. That powerful message of the cross is just as much for ganstas and goths as it is for religious people." God has big plans for NORML, but for now young people are invited for small group fellowship on Wednesdays at 7:00pm at the church. Download the flyer here. (PDF)

Norml has Got Talent!

Watch the new YouTube video introducing NORML.

You'll find that prejudice isn't just an American thing, you'll find people prejudging others all over the world. Matter of fact, religious people often think they have everyone figured out just by the way they look or how they act. Prejudice can sometimes be found in Church too! NORML is coming soon to The Eagle's Nest and we'll do our best to accept those the Holy Spirit draws. Better yet... we'll do our best to show them brotherly love too!

A Framework

Since NORML is still being developed and hasn't actually taken full shape, I want to share a few bullet statements and a brief framework of what I hope NORML will become:

+ There are many reasons God could reject us -- we’ve broken His laws and been satisfied in things instead of Him. But He doesn’t reject us! That’s good news. He adopts as sons & daughters all who come to Him (in repentance and faith).

+ While everyone in God’s family is unique, we all fit into some type of ministry or service to one another. God’s family is made up of people who serve Christ by serving others.

+ At times our lives are difficult but we have hope! We will not lose heart because Jesus has paid our sin debt so that we can freely enjoy eternity with Him in heaven.

+ Because of all God has done to accept us and give our lives meaning and hope, we have no good reason to reject Christ. The Bible is full of answers to life’s most difficult questions.

"NORML is a ministry to young people and their parents."

NORML uses the same Biblical methods as the rest of the Church (preaching, worship, prayer, & discipleship) but contextualized to a younger culture. It is an outreach to young skeptics & unbelievers, as well as a supplement to participation in a local church body for young Christians who are growing in the faith.

What makes NORML unique is that it provides opportunity for Christian adults to sincerely demonstrate extravagant love to young people! The same love Christ modeled for us on thecross. While we were sinners and our lives were messed up, Christ died for us. The Holy Spirit didn’t make us better looking, He changed our hearts. In that same way, NORML doesn’t seek to judge the appearence of young people... but is concerned with the heart. Pray God uses NORML as a tool to conform young people to the likeness of Christ!

Young people live in a variety of parental situations. While recognizing such diversity, the Bible teaches young people to honor their parents and love their neighbors. The Bible also holds parents responsible for their children. NORML encourages parents to participate and seeks mentors for children without parents.