Join us on Saturday May 19 from 9:00am-1:00pm as we serve in Franklin and Nashville TN.

The kick-off celebration will be at 9:00 am on Saturday morning at the Warehouse 1810 Columbia Avenue Franklin TN and will end with a debrief and wrap-up time at 12:30. Any age is welcome as many of the sites are appropriate for families to serve together. Anyone under the age of 14 will need to serve with a parent or other adult.

If you have any questions please contact Jason Hale at jason@rollinghillscommunity.org or 615-861-3663.

To register for Saturday Serve visit: Saturday Serve May 19 Registration

Some of our sites for that day include: Graceworks Ministries, community home visits, WAVES, manual labor teams and more.

There will also be a Nashville site for this May 19 Saturday Serve, so if you live a little further out and want to serve closer to home, email Jason for more information!

There is something for everyone, so come out and be the Church in our community!

Posted in Local Missions, Saturday Serve by Jason Hale No Comments

On Tuesday April 24th, a group of people from RHCC met in downtown Nashville to volunteer with The Bridge Ministry, an organization that reaches out and loves on the homeless weekly, whether rain or shine, under the Jefferson St. Bridge.

At its start, the ministry sought to alleviate the needs of the poverty stricken in their community, and over the years, they have grown to a place where they now see over 200 homeless friends and volunteers every week for a worship service, food and clothes distribution, and conversation. Although they are quite organized and experienced at what they do, they allow many volunteers to join them every week and experience the excitement and fellowship that happens as they meet critical needs of the homeless community in Nashville.

It never ceases to be amazing just how happy and kind everyone at The Bridge is. There’s something almost magical about the Jefferson St. Bridge, because when you’re standing under it, insignificant things like race, gender, and social status dissolve. There, people are just people, and everyone who comes under that bridge brings their hurts, their joys, and their needs and finds friends who genuinely care for one another.

It doesn’t matter whether you go once every couple of months or once a week; experiencing the fellowship that happens amongst those who are homeless and those who know Heaven is their one true home is something we should all be a part of.

To join us for this exciting opportunity email missions intern Jenna at jennasanders@rollinghillscommunity.org or come to The Bridge on June 26, August 28, or October 30!

Posted in Local Missions by jennasanders No Comments

Over the next couple weeks, you have some great opportunities to serve in the community with RHCC. Both of these opportunities are wonderful ways for you, your small group or family to serve and make a difference in the lives of others.

Cherokee Place Block Party: Saturday April 21^st, 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Join us as we host a community block party, complete with games, food, door prizes & fun!

This is a great opportunity for you, your friends and family to meet new neighbors, play sports and games with kids in the community and make a difference! Please RSVP or send questions to Jason Hale: jason@rollinghillscommunity.org

The Bridge Homeless Ministry: Tuesday April 24^th @ 5:30 p.m.

Want to serve and get to know your community better? Join us as we volunteer with The Bridge Ministry and serve the homeless community of Nashville on Tuesday, April 24th under the Jefferson St. Bridge in Nashville

Check out more about the Bridge here: http://www.bridgeministry.org/

Please email the missions intern Jenna at jennasanders@rollinghillscommunity.org to RSVP or get more details about this great opportunity!

Posted in Local Missions by Jason Hale No Comments

Written by Jenny Doane, College Ministry Intern

I’ve heard that to write an interesting story for yourself, you have to face your fears. My fear? Although I don’t really want to admit it, is flying. The idea of being in a flying metal tube, seven miles above the earth, does not sit well with me. But to get to Guatemala, stepping on an airplane is exactly what I had to do. And it was worth it. After a long wait at immigration and realizing our bags did not make it on our plane, we left the airport, and our feet touched the Guatemala ground for the first time. We hopped in the van and headed to lunch. If you’re looking for a quiet, leisurely, smooth ride, you won’t find it in Guatemala. Guatemalans drive very fast and very daringly. All the sudden flying did not seem so scary anymore. Driving around the country was a thrilling adventure, but that is not all Guatemala has to offer. The landscape is beautiful and it was easy to stop and get lost in the beauty when one should have been carrying piles of wood down the hill to the tool shed. The only thing more beautiful than the landscape were the people, dressed in bright clothing and full of character.

To write about everything we experienced, saw, and learned while in Guatemala would be a very long post, so here are the highlights. We spent several days working with Engadi Ministries doing construction work. We wheel barreled materials up and down hills, moved a shipment of wood, worked with rebar (that will later be put on the roof of the guard house), and spent some considerable time in some mud. The other part of our time was spent with children. We went to a school, made bracelets, crafts, and handed out gifts. Handing out presents to children who have next to nothing was humbling, watching their faces light up and getting excited opening gifts that included clothes and tooth brushes. One day we went into Zone 18 in Guatemala City, known as Paradise. This Paradise is far from any vision you may have of that word. It is the slums of the city; it is dirty, and very dangerous. On this day, my favorite day, we got to go into the homes of several families, hear their stories, and play with their children.

It was an amazing week for us in Guatemala. We were challenged early on to make the most of the week we were given, and that if we didn’t let our experience there change us, what would have been the point of going? We no longer can claim ignorance about the poverty, violence, and pain in Guatemala. Now we must ask ourselves not, should we do something to help, but rather, what are we going to do? It is our turn to share Nathan Hardeman and his family’s story, (the man behind Engadi Ministries) about how they are reaching out to young boys in Guatemala, to give them a better hope and future than the one currently before them. Every time Nathan told us stories, I cried, about the violence he had seen, the process to grow Engadi Ministries, how God had changed lives, provided, and the restoration that has come from the Lord. His obedience has spread the love of God and given hope to so many. That is something I / We should all be a part of.

Posted in Guatemala, Guatemala 2012 by Matt Robertson No Comments

We had an amazing day yesterday getting to visit a local school and sharing presents with kids.

Posted in Guatemala 2012Tags: Guatemala, missions, RH College Ministry | by Matt Robertson No Comments

We are so blessed to have so many wonderful organizations that we partner with and serve alongside here at RHCC. One of those partners, WAVES, is part of a unique fundraiser through the United Way, and we think it’s a great opportunity to support the community and a good cause while having some fun!

This year the Taste of Williamson Co. has been moved back to March.   If you have never attended this event, let me give you a short description.  This is a fund raiser sponsored by the United Way of Williamson Co. and Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Since Waves receives funding through United Way, they can sell tickets to the event and earn some extra money in the process.

The ticket gets you into the event where you can roam around the mall sampling the best fare of area restaurants.  At this time over 40 restaurants are participating!  It’s a fun evening – the hardest part is not eating too much.

Tickets are $35 and Waves earns $20 of each ticket we sell.   So, they’re asking if you would consider buying a ticket and supporting them through this event.  Feel free to invite a friend and have an afternoon of fun while supporting a good cause!

Date: Sunday, March 11^th

Time & Location:  7-9pm at Cool Springs Mall.

If you would like a ticket, contact Marilyn via e-mail at mkruse@wavesinc.com or call her at 794-7955 ext. 121.

Posted in Uncategorized by Jason Hale No Comments

Today was an amazing day in South Africa on site.  It was Day 3 on site in Red Hill, and we were privileged to share with some of the cornerstones of the community in communion.  Every Wednesday, Lesli meets with Nadine (the chef at the team house), Lumpka (one of the Life Skills Educators), and Philis (the best way to describe her would be “Mayor”) and they spend an hour worshiping by means of prayer and communion.  It was such an incredible experience to be able to pray over Red Hill and the influential leaders of the community.  To be able to encourage them and share with them in praying for God to move in their community was a great start to the day.

Then we broke off into our teams and the construction team continued patching holes in the roof and insulating the walls of the shelter where the Kid’s and Teen’s Clubs are held.  The other team spent the morning chicken-proofing the perimeter of the Philis’s garden and building a gate for the entrance.  Just before lunch, Philis was able to begin placing seeds into her garden.  It was such a cool thing to hear her talk about all the people who would be able to eat because of her garden.  She is an incredible woman who lives to make others’ lives better.  After eating lunch, some of our team joined the construction team in putting insulation in while others went prayer walking.

At 4:30 Kid’s Club began, which is my favorite part of the day.  Getting to dance around with those kids and share in their joy is one of the most satisfying feelings I’ve felt.  Hearing those precious kids sing “How Great Is Our God” brings tears to my eyes every time, but today they sang a song that basically recited Ephesians 3 and it took everything to keep the waterworks from coming.

All in all, today was an amazing from beginning to end.  God continues to blow my mind in how He shows up in various ways, even in helping to build a garden.

Nathan

Posted in Uncategorized by Jason Hale No Comments

One of my favorite moments of today happened while prayer walking through Red Hill from Middle Camp to Upper Camp.  A group of about five 3 year olds came running full force towards us with their arms extended and wide grins on their faces.  My heart was so encouraged!  Hope is alive in Red Hill.  In the midst of the struggles, there are children running around with smiles, laughter, and joy.  My absolute favorite part about coming back year after year, is seeing first hand how the investment of Living Hope in the lives of children and families grows and grows and grows the hearts of His people.  It matters.  My first year traveling here, looking around at one of my first Kids Clubs, I thought – these children are the future of Red Hill.  Through the Living Right program, Living Hope is raising up the leaders of tomorrow.  Tears are literally coming to my eyes now as I realize that I am privileged and honored to be a part of God’s plan for Red Hill, in the week that I get to spend with them each year and from an ocean away throughout the year.  We get to participate in God’s plan to raise up these leaders – children with Jesus living in their hearts.  I get to see kids who are now teens, who were 8, 9, 10 years old when I first met them.  Six, 7, 8 year olds were babies when I first met them!  And they know me.  And I know them.  And they know that the reason I keep coming back is because I love them.  And they know that I pray for them all year.  My drive to work each morning is about the time that Kids/Teen Club is happening.  I pray for them right along with my babies at school as I make my way to work each day.  I am excited to think about how I will get to see those little bitty 3 year olds grow up and grow to love Jesus.  These children are learning to dream big because they know that with Christ, all things are possible.  It really matters that we are here and that we keep coming back.  It’s a testament to the love of Christ that unites the Church, regardless of differences in geography or culture.  I love that! It matters that Lesli is here, living real life in Red Hill day in and day out.  Her relationships allow us to stay connected in real and meaningful ways all year to the community of Red Hill that we love so much.  Her obedience to GO has deepened and strengthened our relationship with Living Hope and the precious people in Red Hill in ways that we could only have imagined, and that are only possible by BEING here.  It matters that we come alongside and say, we are here to do whatever it is that you need us to do to help further your ministry, and ultimately our Father’s Kingdom.  We’re here to stop rain from pouring into your meeting place for Club, to prepare and help plant your garden, to encourage you and love you, to sing songs and dance with you, to pray with you, for you, and over you, to share the Word with you, to share life with you.  It matters.

- Written by Emily Simpson

Posted in SA 2012, South Africa by Sara Ingmire No Comments

What an amazing day here in South Africa! We spent the entire day ministering in a place that our church dearly loves – Red Hill. For over six years, Rolling Hills has been coming South Africa and much of our ministry has centered in this special place. Red Hill ranges from 800 to 1,200 people all living in conditions that you will see below. This is definitely a place of poverty, but there is something powerful happening just below the surface…

When we arrived in Red Hill we divided into three teams – Garden, Construction and Preschool training. The Garden team took on the task of developing a large garden to provide food for the community. Phillis and her husband, William (pictured below) live in the home by the garden. Phillis already feeds 27 people in need in Red Hill, and her dream has been to have a garden to feed 100+. There was a look of grateful joy and sheer amazement as she watched her dream come true. Our construction team spent the day building out the roof on the Living Hope club facility. They are doing a great job working with people in the community to see this come together. In addition, our preschool team spent time training leaders of the two preschools in Red Hill.

One of my favorite parts of the mission trip thus far is seeing what God is doing through our very own missionary, Lesli Crawford! She is truly the “Mother Theresa” of Red Hill. Whenever she drives into the community, the kids immediately flock to her. Here is Lesli pictured with Phillis and Lumpka (one of the Life Skills Educators we, as a church, help sponsor in Red Hill). Lesli is a true gift from God, and she is making a huge difference for the Kingdom! I am so thankful for her heart and her ministry!
After this work, came the kids! Kid’s Club today was absolutely incredible! About 94 kids ages 3 to 10 came bounding to the building ready to sing, dance, and hear about Jesus! It was so fun! The kids immediately jumped into our arms only to find love and acceptance. They sang songs about Jesus, listened to our Bible Story, carefully worked on their craft, prayed with sincerity and waited patiently for us to give them a meal – which might be their only one of the day. God was there! As we all sang “How Great is our God,” tears filled my eyes. To look around and see the difference God is making through His church in Middle Tennessee in the lives of precious children half-way around the world. I truly thought, “Only God!” Only God can do something like this!

Church, thank you for your prayers, your time, your giving and your constant investment. God is using us in a mighty way for His glory! Your obedience is making a huge difference! I am so thankful for Brent, Jason, Lesli, Ethan, Mark, Zach, Emily, Sam and Nathan who have come year after year to serve in this place. I am thankful for Sara, Steve, Tama, Conner and Claudia who are here now investing in God’s work. And, I am thankful for each of you! It takes all of us working, praying, giving and serving together to make this kind of impact.

As Galatians 6:9 says, “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” We are planting seeds here in Red Hill – not just seeds in garden that will feed over 100+ people, but seeds of the Gospel that will impact generations! Many of these seeds we are already seeing sprout up in Christ. God is alive and moving Red Hill! And, I believe, the best is yet to come!

- Jeff Simmons

Posted in SA 2012, South AfricaTags: Cape Town, Living Hope, Red Hill, South Africa | by markahlberg No Comments

This is my third time coming to Cape Town, and even though we’ve only been here 4 days, I’ve already had several things that I had determined were myths proven to be, in reality, very real:

Myth #1: Robben Island does not exist.

We plan, year after year, to visit Robben Island. And, year after year, we’ve been hampered by weather, maintenance, and culture. It had reached the point where I decided that Robben Island was just something they told tourists about to convince them it was real and then make fun of them behind their back. Even as we sat on the ferry waiting to leave the dock yesterday, I fully expected a voice to come over the loud speaker to inform us that the water was too choppy and we would not actually be disembarking.

But that voice never came, and I finally got to experience Robben Island. If you want to read more about Robben Island, you can get the full history here, but in short Robben Island is where many of the political prisoners fighting against Apartheid were held in the second half of the 20th century, including Nelson Mandela. We received a guided tour from a former inmate, and were taken on a driving tour of the other buildings on the island. This place holds a very important place in the history of South Africa, and the weight of that significance could be felt everywhere on the island. A very memorable experience to say the least.

Our team on Robben Island, with Table Mountain in the background

Myth #2: Avril and John Thomas don’t exist

John and Avril Thomas are the founders of Living Hope, the incredible organization that we have the privilege to work alongside here in Cape Town. I had heard every year that we would hopefully get a chance to spend some time with John and Avril and hear the story of Living Hope firsthand. And every year we were told they were visiting partner churches in America while we were over here. There was even one year they spent a Sunday at Rolling Hills while we spent the morning at their church, King of Kings Baptist.

But last night we were visited by Avril and had the opportunity to hear the story of Living Hope, and what a story it is. Such an incredible testimony to the faithfulness of God when we follow His leading in obedience. Living Hope has so many exciting ministries working to provide the hope of Christ to the disenfranchised across Cape Town, I couldn’t even begin to tell you all about them. If you haven’t already been, I strongly encourage you to visit the Living Hope website and see what they are doing and how you can partner with them.

Myth #3: The Church is different all over the world

OK, this one is just partially busted, but we had the opportunity to attend three different church services today with three very different styles of worship, and yet it was even more apparent by the end of the day that the God we serve is so much bigger than a style of music or a brand of preaching.

Our day began at King of Kings, which is about as close to traditional Baptist that you can get. It was a wonderful time of worship and teaching, and we left the service feeling refreshed. We then headed to River of Life Church in Red Hill, a charismatic African church with impassioned preaching and regular opportunities for congregational response. This was our first time attending church in Red Hill, and it was so wonderful to spend some time worshiping with the people we’ll be ministering to this week. Lastly, we live-streamed the Rolling Hills service, and were challenged and inspired by the worship and teaching from half a world away.

Services and churches may be different around the world, but the Church and the God we serve is the same, and the call to minister to a dying world is equally the same. May our hearts break for those in our backyard the same way they do here.

Cape of Good Hope, as seen from the Cape Point Lighthouse

Posted in SA 2012, South AfricaTags: Cape Town, Living Hope, Red Hill, South Africa | by markahlberg 1 Comment