Category: Uncategorized

The past two years seems like the world has been falling apart and everyone is on their phones recording it and uploading it to the social platform of their choice, and then adding their expert commentating for the viewers benefit 😉. It’s sobering to watch it unfold before your very own eyes. The new seat “the sky is falling” messaging is that there will be food shortage soon in the US, UK; EUROPE, and 🇷🇺. Word is that it will be worse than the COVID food shortages. That may be so. And if so, how will the church of Christ respond? The church ⛪️ is on the struggle bus. She’s failed the test of COVID, elections, unity within the church during COVID and elections. So to ask how She will respond to something like a food shortage is a legit question.

This passage above reminds us of the ultimate truth that those in Afghanistan 🇦🇫 and Ukraine 🇺🇦 are living right now. That life is only found in Christ. Life is only found in Christ. Joy is only found in Christ. Though the wheat supply withers away, importation of goods become scarce, and the grocery store shelves become bare, God is still good. He is still strong. He will still come back for His bride. I pray she will be ready and quit playing games that have eternal ramifications.

NEW MONTH = NEW DEVOTIONS

We have devotionals available for all ages and stages of life. Click this link to find yours! https://natejstaton.com/2022/03/06/anothen-march-devotionals/

MARCH 31 SUNSET PARK

5:45pm-8:00PM we will be serving the wonderful people of Sunset Park Elementary School. We will be serving popcorn for their spring fling. If you would like to serve, please contact Pastor Nate. PN@aclife.tv

Bethel Men’s Shelter APRIL 1

On April 1st we will be serving the men at Bethel Men’s Kitchen. If you would like to serve, please contact Anita Barrett. (803) 417- 0229

APRIL FAM DAY APRIL 9

At 4pm, we will have a time of fellowship, food, crafts, and an egg Hunt. Food Truck will be present with vouchers to offset cost. More Details to come soon. Start thinking of that one family who doesn’t have a church family to bring with you!

AYA FRIDAY

AYA will not meet this week.

AC STUDENTS

AC Students will not meet this week.

DONUT I LOVE YOU THIS SUNDAY

ANOTHEN SKATE NIGHT 4.13.22

The LORD has a pattern in Scripture of matching the pursuers faith. Often times when I feel a blockade in my pursuit of God, I find myself pointing the finger at Him as though He is the issue. Shaking my hypocritical hands at heaven I ask “where are you God?!”. In reality, when I begin to have a hard time hearing His voice, it is because I have intentionally wandered off from the the sheep 🐑 pin. That is 💯 my fault. It stings to admit that. It feels incredibly uncomfortable to acknowledge that. Nonetheless, it’s the truth.

This truth is echoed through Jesus’ half brother in the New Testament.

God desires to be close to me, But He also desires that I pursue Him. He promises to match my pursuit of Him with His presence. This is an absolute promise from the ultimate promise keeper.

God DESERVES all of my pursuit. All of it. He Deserves the cravings of my heart to desire to exclusively want Him. And He deserves my undivided unadulterated love.

Hearing from God is as simple as taking a step towards Him and pursuing Him with all our hearts. I don’t have to be a super apostle to do that. I simply must be poor in spirit.

Sunday is my favorite day of the week. Hands down, zero competition. I love being around God’s people. I love hearing and seeing them praise the Lord. I love seeing Children run and scream in the building. I love it. I also love to teach God’s life changing and giving word. More than anything, this is my passion.

Every Saturday though, I fight voices of the past, present, and hypothetical future. These voices sound like this.

You’re preaching to deep.

I’m just not being fed.

We need to do what’s best for our family, were going to …… (WHAT IF EVERY PASTOR THOUGHT THAT WAY BTW).

Your preaching to shallow.

Why do you keep using Greek and Hebrew words?

My kids don’t relate to you.

I can’t connect with your “style.”

You’re too baptist.

You’re too Pentecostal.

You don’t have enough passion.

You are too passionate.

You’re preaching too long.

Why is attendance so low?

Where did this family go?

Do you still have vision?

Will anyone show up? (Never thought out of judgement or condemnation, but genuine desire to be with our brothers and sisters we love and labor with).

These are but a few that are on the replay reel as the day progresses. They usually start out dull and then amplify in sound and multiply in frequency as the day goes on. I share this for one reason. Please pray for your pastors and church leaders. Pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ you Koinonia with. They love you. They love you in a way they never thought possible. Many of us labor for 30 plus hours a week in the word to feed the people of God the weekly meal for that particular House. It’s an honor many of us take seriously.

Pastors don’t see themselves above anyone, we are apart of the body too. We are simply the feeding and shepherding apparatus of the body. So please, pray for your pastor. Be involved and engaged in your house of worship and the fellowship you are apart of. It matters. You matter.

NEW MONTH = NEW DEVOTIONS

We have devotionals available for all ages and stages of life. Click this link to find yours! https://natejstaton.com/2022/03/06/anothen-march-devotionals/

MARCH 31 SUNSET PARK

5:45pm-8:00PM we will be serving the wonderful people of Sunset Park Elementary School. We will be serving popcorn for their spring fling. If you would like to serve, please contact Pastor Nate. PN@aclife.tv

Bethel Men’s Shelter APRIL 1

On April 1st we will be serving the men at Bethel Men’s Kitchen. If you would like to serve, please contact Anita Barrett. (803) 417- 0229

APRIL FAM DAY APRIL 9

At 4pm, we will have a time of fellowship, food, crafts, and an egg Hunt. Food Truck will be present with vouchers to offset cost. More Details to come soon. Start thinking of that one family who doesn’t have a church family to bring with you!

AYA FRIDAY

AYA will be meeting this Friday to makes cards for the hospice house and for those within the body of Anothen. 6:30pm at the Holder house.

AC STUDENTS

WATER BAPTISM MARCH 13

This Sunday we will be celebrating our brothers and sisters in the faith nexts steps in their faith to follow Jesus through Baptism. This is going to be such a special and anointed time. We can’t wait to celebrate JESUS ALIVE in them.

NEW MONTH = NEW DEVOTIONS

We have devotionals available for all ages and stages of life. Click this link to find yours! https://natejstaton.com/2022/03/06/anothen-march-devotionals/

MARCH 31 SUNSET PARK

5:45pm-8:00PM we will be serving the wonderful people of Sunset Park Elementary School. We will be serving popcorn for their spring fling. If you would like to serve, please contact Pastor Nate. PN@aclife.tv

FAM DAY APRIL 9

On April 1st we will be serving the men at Bethel Men’s Kitchen. If you would like to serve, please contact Anita Barrett. (803) 417- 0229

BETHEL MEN’S SHELTER

At 4pm, we will have a time of fellowship, food, crafts, and an egg Hunt. Food Truck will be present with vouchers to offset cost. More Details to come soon. Start thinking of that one family who doesn’t have a church family to bring with you!

AYA FRIDAY

AYA will be meeting this Friday to makes cards for the hospice house and for those within the body of Anothen. All rising college Freshmen are encouraged to come as this is one of our INTRO dates for meeting the AYA community.

AC STUDENTS

Middle School and High School Students will meet this Sunday at the Alderman’s. This past weekend was incredibly powerful. The best way to keep this growth going to to stir up the faith at home, but all to keep growing at AC STUDENTS. 5:30pm. Address below.⬇️

1204 Hastings CT.

Rock Hill, SC 29732

Hey Church Family! Here are the church devotionals for this month for those who would like to join in this pursuit of Christ through Koinonia at home. Whether you are single, married, or in school, we love you and want to give you opportunities for growth in the Kingdom of God where it is most import, YOUR HOME.

All of these devotions are available on the Right Now Media app. If you need the QR Code for your free account, please email me at PN@aclife.tv.

I believe in you and love you! Keep doing great things at home! Keep training those 🏹🎯

Pastor Nate

Married Couples

Failure and abandonment, two frequent and unwanted visitors these days it feels. Thankfully, God says He is neither of that. That’s a breath of fresh air. He says “I won’t fail you, I won’t abandon you.” While I currently may live in a time where church family and friends seem to be dipping out at a record pace (not whining, actually looking in the mirror at me more as opposed to looking at others. People may go, but I want to GROW from the pain, it cry about it), this truth gives me more confidence in the hope that is the anchor for my soul. JESUS. And not just my souls, but for every Christ lover and follower out there.

What God says He means. And what He means He makes manifest in His peoples lives. Those are the words to focus on. This is the presence to rely on. This is the love that never fails and never ends.

In Christ there is anointing. In culture and clicks there is momentary and irrelevant affirmation which ultimately can lead to the very real soul punch feeling of abandonment. I’ll choose anointing over abandonment.

I admire the stubborn resilience of the Ukrainian people who are staying back not not fleeing, but fighting.

Church, take note of their courage. If we only fought for the kingdom and unity as intensely instead of packing our bags like primadonna priests every time things get hard and head the to the place of worship that will scratch our ears or run to the people who will falsely affirm that which Christ has called to be crucified in Him.

This goes for us pastors too. FIGHT the good fight! Fear God, not man. We’ve forgotten to fight for the kingdom from a place of victory and so many walk around pouting when the devil attacks. WAKE UP and MATURE UP believers.

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;”

-1 Peter 1:13 KJV ( perhaps the only time I’ll use this translation).

It’s fight or flight season. Has been for the past two years. Gird em up. ENDURE TILL THE END!

Peace and holiness, both seem out of reach from time to time. Peace seems so momentarily elusive. It is felt for the moment and then, boom. It’s attacked upon by the enemy and his agents. Holiness seems the same way. The more I experience the more I empathize and confess in prayer Paul’s words from Roman’s 7:15 “I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate.”

Thankfully feelings and my inability to understand “things” are the the anchor of the soul. Jesus is. Jesus’ heart trumps all else. Jesus has empowered me to do that which He calls me to do in His Word.

So when His Word calls me to strive for peace with everyone, I have strength and power in Holy Spirit to do so. I have the freedom to seek empowerment and anointing during tough times not an excuse to get away with avoiding obedience to the Lover of my soul.

When seeking holiness I need not rely on my good works or lack there of, but to rest and rely exclusively on His finished redemptive and reconciling sacrifice on the cross.

So while there may be momentary struggles, there is eternal hope in Christ. And He who started this good work will surely finish it. In Christ alone my hope is found.