BRANCHES August 2012

RANCHES
august 2012
#untilHUNTSVILLErejoices
THIS IS YOUR CITY
Ruling Elder Candidates
THEIR PASSION AND PRAYER FOR SOUTHWOOD

P R E S B Y T E R I A N
C H U R C H
JEAN F. LARROUX, III Senior Pastor
MELISSA PATTERSON Executive Assistant
BOB BRADSHAW Executive Director/Director of Adult Ministries
Adult Ministries
BILL NASH Associate Pastor/Director of Small Groups
SARAH NIEMITZ Director of Community Development/Assimilation
JAMES PARKER Chief Musician
WILL SPINK Associate Pastor/Director of Shepherding
SHARON DUTCHER Administrative Assistant
Student Ministries
KIM DELCHAMPS Administrative Assistant
NINA ˜ BANTA Director of Creative Arts
KEN STUART Associate Pastor/Director of Children’s Ministry
NANCY McCREIGHT Assistant Director of PreK - 2nd
CHAD TOWNSLEY Associate Pastor/Director of Junior High-Life
KEN LEGGETT Associate Pastor/Director of High-Life
KAYLA STANFIELD Assistant Director of 11th & 12th Grade
WINNIE WINFORD Assistant Director of 9th & 10th Grade
Ministry Support
PAT TRAPANE Bookkeeper
JULIA VESS Receptionist
JONATHAN BARNETTE Director of Communication
JACKI GIL Graphic Designer
JANICE CROWSON Director of Facilities/Office
LYNDA CLAYDON Facilities
MIKE MARREN Facilities
JEFF TOWNSLEY Facilities
BRANCHES
Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Barnette
Designer Jacki Gil
CONTRIBUTORS
Bill Nash
Larry Billiter
Will Spink
Katherine Spearing
Sarah Niemitz
PHOTOS
Jonathan Barnette
cover photo
Photo taken by
Jonathan Barnette of
Jones Valley.
pastor’s note
#untilHUNTSVILLErejoices
Proverbs 11:12 says, “When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices.” I still
remember the first time I heard that passage of Scripture. It was from a pastor
named Fred Harrell who had just moved from his long-time RUF post at the
University of Tennessee to San Francisco, California to “scratch-plant” a
church. For those of you unfamiliar with the term “scratch-planting,” it means
that you start a church from scratch, just you and Jesus. Fred was doing that in
San Francisco. I honestly thought he had lost it a little bit.
I assumed a city like Nashville or Birmingham might rejoice at the flourishing of
the righteous, but San Francisco is the last bus stop before Sodom and Gomorrah, right? Fred did “crazy”
things like ask random shop-owners how he might pray for their success in business. He moved toward
the disenfranchised and the untouchable. Fred believed that the Word of God was more true than how
he or others might feel at any given moment. Today the church is flourishing and it is reaching the city. In
many ways the city is rejoicing at the existence of City Church of San Francisco.
In order for Huntsville to become our “San Francisco,” we need to ask three questions:
1. Who are the righteous? 2. What is our city? 3. Why would they ever rejoice?
Jean F. Larroux, III
First, who are the righteous?
We are. I am. You are. You are righteous, aren’t you? If you are in Christ then you are. You are perfect. You
are holy. You are blameless. Your goodness is unassailable. Your perfection is unblemished. Your character
is impeccable. You have kept the Law of God in every detail. There is not one stone of obedience left
unturned in your life. As Christians we believe this because we have been given the imputed righteousness
of Christ. Righteousness was something belonging to him and it has been credited to us. Martin Luther
called it “alien” righteousness, meaning it was foreign to us. Beloved of Jesus, you ARE righteous and
this imputed righteousness has trajectory in our lives. It transforms us into men and women who are more
“righteous” than we could have ever been by simply trying to be good people or upright citizens!
What is our city?
Look around. If you are reading this at home, then put down BRANCHES, walk to your front door and look
to the left and the right. That is your city. If you are reading this electronically, then stop for a second and
look at the names in your inbox. That is your city. If you are browsing this while at work, then walk down the
hall and take note of who is there. That is your city. If you are at Starbucks getting coffee, then the Barista is
your city. The hipster guy with headphones is your city. The gal who just got out of Zumba class is your city.
And don’t miss it, the guy sitting outside Starbucks asking for change, he is your city, too.
Why would they ever rejoice?
Our theology informs us that those who have yet to believe have no reason to rejoice at our Christian faith
itself or because of Christ himself, right? So why would non-religious people rejoice? Why would they
rejoice at the prosperity and blessing of God’s people? The next verse tells us, “Upright citizens are good
for a city and make it prosper…” Proverbs 11:11a (NLT) The answer is simple: when the righteous flourish
their blessing is understood by them as having divine intent that is greater than their own greatness. They
are blessed to be a blessing. They understand that prosperity isn’t about prosperity. They see the plight of
the poor, the widow and the orphan to be their responsibility. Only the righteous consider the church to
bring more security to society than Social Security ever could.
Why is this? It is because the Gospel is transformational. There is something about the imputed
righteousness of Christ that transforms unrighteous men and women into “righteous” men and women.
We become jaw-dropping examples of love, grace and mercy to the world. When that happens the city is
blessed and it rejoices. The whole process starts with us seeing our own poverty and is further cultivated
by a continual diet of God’s grace where we see that God loves unrighteous, ungrateful and unaware
people like us.
I have started adding a “hashtag” to my Twitter posts that reads: #untilHUNTSVILLErejoices. The point
is very simple. We must barrage our own hearts with the scandalous truth of the Gospel until we see the
hardness melt away. When we do that, then pagans, misfits, engineers and stay-at-home moms will look
at our lives and say, “we don’t know what this city would be like without you…” Keep hashtagging your
life with nourishing morsels of grace and don’t stop #untilHUNTSVILLErejoices!
1000 Carl T. Jones Drive | Huntsville, Alabama 35802
(256) 882-3085 | www.southwood.org

eyond small groups
by Bill Nash
Far too often getting involved in “church stuff” leads us to a check-the-box mentality.
I speak from experience: Been there, done that - I’ve checked the box! A Small Group
is a “church stuff” thing that can feel like box-checking especially when, chances
are, you haven’t seen the people from your group since last meeting a week ago, or
maybe you only saw them from across the church parking lot on Sunday. What does
it take to break out of the rut of check-the-box church stuff and to view the group of
people you have committed to gather with on a weekly basis as more than just people
you have committed to gather with on a weekly basis? Answer: Let your life outside of
small group come with you to your small group meetings. Let me explain.
Imagine a small group meeting where there’s a buzz of excitement in the air
because you know that one of the couples is bringing to the meeting their dechurched
neighbor they have become great friends with over the years. The
idea of introducing friends to friends is something the group has been doing
since it started meeting and so this isn’t the first time this has happened. In fact,
the group is so committed to this idea of letting their life beyond small group
follow them into the weekly meetings that once a month the meeting is held at
a different house for a party, or a game night or Saturday morning brunch where
they invite the neighbors from around the host’s home to join them.
A big challenge to connecting with the people in a small group is finding the things
you have in common beyond the small group. One thing that all small group members
immediately have in common is that they spend most of their time somewhere else
other than the small group meeting. The natural rhythm of our lives puts us in contact
with a whole other set of acquaintances and friends on a much greater frequency and
regularity - or at least it could. Much of the time we miss the opportunities we have to
create and participate in rich community with the people God has already put us among
in the natural rhythm of life in our neighborhoods,
the school your kids attend, little league, the softball
league you’re in, the book club you love, the wait
staff at the restaurant you frequent, etc.
We all struggle to see and genuinely engage
in real friendships with the people that we are
around in these natural rhythms of our lives.
Imagine if the small group you were in was
viewed as a place to connect and walk with
others who struggle with the same thing? What would a small group look like
that believed that an essential part of its reason for existence was inviting your
life beyond the small group to follow you into the weekly meetings?
Imagine a group like this that so values creating and participating in
community in and among the natural rhythms of life beyond the group,
that missing a small group meeting to spend time with your neighbors isn’t
frowned upon, but encouraged. Imagine how the common struggle we all
have to engage, love and serve the people right around us could actually be
a common thread that binds us together. Imagine then, how - rather than a
check-the-box “church stuff” meeting - the weekly time together becomes
something more. It becomes an environment
of camaraderie, encouragement and prayer as
we struggle to engage, embrace and genuinely
become friends with people who don’t normally
move within our Southwood rhythm. It’s an idea we
stole from Jesus (Mark 2:13-17).
If you can imagine yourself in an environment
like this, the next small group Next Wave
deadline is Sunday, August 12. You can take the
survey anytime in the Guest Center or online at www.southwood.org/
growingsmall. It involves checking a box, but don’t let that stop you! New
groups will be launched and existing groups re-launched after Labor Day.
temporary session update
by Stated Clerk Larry Billiter
When the Temporary Session of Southwood (TSS) was established in April,
it had two primary objectives during its season of leadership of Southwood:
1) Oversight of the reconciliation process, which is still ongoing, and 2)
Establishment of a new permanent Session for Southwood.
This second objective was the primary focus of the Session’s July meetings.
The TSS spent considerable time and prayer laying the groundwork for
formal examinations of all elder candidates. Reconciliation Committee
Chairman Alan Judge reported on the status of his Wednesday evening
meetings with the elder candidates to discuss peacemaking. Members of
the TSS reported on individual interviews they had conducted with each
of the men, and this spurred discussion of how to conduct the formal
examinations. More information on the men approved for potential election
to the office of elder and on the Congregational Meeting called for August
12 to elect the new Session follows in the rest of BRANCHES.
In addition, Diaconate Chairman Rick McCann reported on the following
deacon resignations that were approved by the TSS: Dale Bowen, Jack
Duncan, Bryan Johnson, Joe Scrip, and Jon Wren. These were all
approved as a dissolution of the formal deacon relationship between
them and Southwood, so all of these men remain deacons in the PCA
and members of Southwood. The TSS also received the resignation
of Dee Petcher as nursery coordinator with great appreciation for her
years of service at Southwood.
Shepherding Director Will Spink provided an update on the progress
of the shepherding plan, in which Southwood elders are meeting with
families of the church. The shepherding report also included discussion
of discipline cases and the approval of new members.
The August stated meeting of the Southwood Session will be on
August 20, following the installation of the newly elected Session. The
members of the TSS intend to attend this meeting as invited guests to
help the new Session determine priorities going forward. Please send
all correspondence to tempsession@southwood.org.
august 2012

uling Elde
Mark Baginski
Ruling
Elder
Candidates
Age: 51
Family: Melissa (wife), Laura, Anna Lynne
Membership: 2005
Deacon
Elder
Provisional Session, The Village Church
Sunday Seminar Teacher
My passion and prayer for Southwood moving forward: I enjoy seeing
people mature in the Lord, and especially that the more timid
ones such as me are given space to contribute and grow. This has
been a difficult time in the life of Southwood, however I have been
through similar experiences as an elder in my past, and I am eager
to see Christ’s work through to completion. If I am elected again to
serve in this capacity I solicit your prayers for wisdom and grace in
our time of need.
Greg Carter
Age: 56
Family: Deborah (wife), Jenna, Blake
Membership: 2000
Deacon
Elder
Sunday School Teacher
Adult Small Group Leader
My passion and prayer for Southwood as we move forward is for us to
unite, as true brothers and sisters in Christ, under the influence and
leadership of the Holy Spirit and the whole counsel of God’s Word, to
joyfully and passionately pursue and fulfill Our Lord’s Good, Acceptable,
and Perfect Will, and His Eternal Purposes for us as His saints, for
Southwood as His church, and for Huntsville/Madison County as His
community. I am persuaded that The Lord Our God is about to do a
mighty work among us as He redeems the suffering and conflict He has
providentially permitted. May we one day declare, with one voice, “the
Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes!” Ps. 118:23
Todd Gandy
Age: 45
Family: Amy (wife), Abby, Anna, Parker
Membership: 1990
Deacon and Elder
High-Life
Sunday Seminar Teacher
Host Team
My prayer and passion for Southwood moving forward: That God will
continue to use the people of Southwood to build up His kingdom.
That Southwood would truly be a church where people would come
to experience the Grace of Jesus Christ, and be so changed by the
Gospel that their natural response would be to offer the Grace of
Jesus to others. My passion is that Southwood would be a place that
loves sinners (not sin), and that people from all different stages of life
and maturity would desire to be part of our community because of the
Gospel and our love for each other.
Mike Cash
Age: 54
Family: Karla (wife), Heather Morris,
Jessica, Joshua
Membership: 1992
Deacon
Elder
Sunday Seminar Teacher
My great desire and longing for Southwood as we move forward
is to continue to faithfully preach the gospel to ourselves and our
community, to see God’s peace reign in the lives of the members, to
promote unity among the community of believers, and to have each
member grow in the knowledge and grace of the Lord. I desire to see
fellowship and depth of relationship expand within our congregation
while also welcoming and caring for those God brings to join us. May
God tune our hearts to his grace so that we in turn long to share it
with others.
Vinit Mahesh
Age: 52
Family: Marcelle (wife), Thomas,
Benjamin, Kellyn, Jenneca
Membership: 2002
Deacon and Elder
Provisional Session, The Village Church
Adult Small Group Leader
Nursery Committee
My passion and prayer for Southwood is that we will always remain in a
broken posture before God and our community. The essence of a church
should not be large numbers and excellent programs. Our reputation
must be first and foremost as needy recipients of God’s grace before we
are known as a benevolent resource for others. I believe we have grown
closer to and more dependent on God during this recent season, and we
can best move forward, love one another, and advance His kingdom in
our current humble posture.

Candidates
Chris Morris
Jeremy McCoy
Age: 37
Family: Chandler, Lexi, Camp
Membership: 2006
Deacon & Pastor (Southern Baptist Churches)
Children’s Ministry
VBS
Sunday Seminar Teacher
Age: 42
Family: Heather (wife), Luke, Clara
Membership: 2003
Sunday Seminar Teacher
Children’s Ministry Small Group Teacher
Adult Small Group Leader
My passion and prayer for Southwood is that we as a church would
be excited about what God has begun in our church and what God
is going to do in and through us in the coming months and years. I
am encouraged by the direction that God is leading us and about the
myriad of opportunities that we are going to get, moving forward as a
family, to experience and express grace to others in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ for his glory and for our joy.
My passion and prayer for Southwood as we move forward is that we
would continually grow in love for Christ, that our faith and reliance
on Him would increase, and that more and more we will repent from
all the idols we build in our lives. My prayer is that, as we do this, we
will humbly and thankfully grow to love all the things He loves, shun
the things that He hates, and love each other and our neighbors more
deeply and effectively.
Ray Sheppard
Age: 41
Family: Heather (wife), Sam, Evan,
Peyton
Membership: 2001
Affinity Group Facilitator
VBS
My passion and prayer for Southwood as we move forward is that we
would experience the grace and love of God in a way that we would
“comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height
and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that
you [we] may be filled with all the fullness of God.” I know that as this
occurs, we will have the intense, true, unbreakable union with each other
because we are all joined to the Father just as Jesus prayed in John 17.
One of the effects of this will be that we have the mind of Christ, and
will think and love like God thinks and loves. Then we will notice that we
will “do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to
the power at work within us” and He will be glorified in the church to all
generations, forever and ever. Amen? Amen!
Josh Treen
Age: 31
Family: Leah (wife), Lake, Molly
Membership: 2002
Deacon
Children’s Ministry Teacher
Adult Small Group Leader
A/V for Worship
My passion and prayer for Southwood as we move forward is.... That
we would see redemption. That we would humbly see our brokenness
and understand that we have a desperate need for God. So that within
Southwood, we run recklessly, headlong into the arms of our Father
knowing that we have been robed with Christ and stand justified. That
we would use our position as children and heirs to obtain a boldness
to share our redeemed brokenness with our neighbors, schools,
workplaces and communities so that Huntsville will see in and through
us the glory and love of Christ given to us through his gospel so that
he may be glorified.
Brock Warner
Age: 45
Family: Jana (wife), Hannah, Sarah,
Elle, Kate Duncan
Membership: 1989
Deacon and Elder
High-Life and High-Life Small Group Leader
Reconciliation Committees
My desire for Southwood is that we continue to move towards Jesus
Christ with reckless abandonment. I realize this statement may seem
reckless in and of itself, but is there anyone and anything safer to run
recklessly toward than Christ himself and the Grace he offers? I believe a
congregation that is willing to trust Christ and his finished work so much
that they can own their sin will be prepared to transform a city. I believe
this because a congregation like that will not see itself as a church that
fixes, but as a church that can love without the need for the fig leaf of
perfectionism or the false promise of a victorious life. A congregation like
that can rest in the reality of the righteousness of Christ for them and live,
work and play harder because they are free from the bondage of religion.
Brad Woods
Age: 30
Family: Kristen (wife), Jason
Membership: 2008
Nursery Volunteer
Sunday School Teacher/Facilitator
Adult Small Group Leader
My passion and prayer for Southwood as we move forward is....to see
God glorified in the midst of a season in which Southwood would see
the mercy of God as He restores broken relationships and uses them
as a new solid foundation rooted in the truth of the Gospel from which
God would make known His love to a hurting city. I pray that God
would use me, a broken jar of clay, to always point to the sovereignty
of God the Father, to the beauty of Jesus Christ the Savior, and to the
wisdom of the Holy Spirit in every situation we encounter as the Bride
of Christ.”
august 2012

election on august 12th
Below is a sample copy of the ballot that will be used
on Sunday morning, August 12th for the election of new
Ruling Elders. Behind the names are hundreds of hours
of prayer, contemplation and the leading of the Holy
Spirit. Your Temporary Session has examined each of
the men on this ballot and encourages you to vote
for each of them. Their personal qualifications,
background and history with the church were
all considered before their names were given
final approval. The next chapter in the history
of Southwood is as significant as the previous
pages that have already turned. The men elected
will lead, love and pastor the sheep of Jesus’
beloved bride, Southwood Presbyterian Church.
August 12th is a very significant day.
As a congregation member, your vote is more
than just a vote. It is further affirmation in the
lives of these men of God’s calling to this
significant task. It is reported that when
Earnest Shackleton recruited men for his
expedition to the Antarctic he placed
the following words in an advertisement
in the London Times, “Men wanted for
hazardous journey. Low wages, bitter
cold, long hours of complete darkness.
Safe return doubtful. Honour and
recognition in event of success.” Over
5,000 men responded to his ad. Men
have always longed for challenges
and adventure even in the face of
great obstacles. In the Kingdom
of God men are no different, but
in this undertaking ‘safe return’ is
actually guaranteed, not because
of great men, but because of
their great God. Please be
in prayer as we anticipate
embarking on the next leg of
this great journey together.
Don’t forget!
No Christian Education
on August 12th. The
Elder Election will
take place during
a Congregational
Meeting at 9:45am.

oth sides of me
by Katherine Spearing
I am two different people. First, I am
the person who rises to a challenge.
If someone says “you can’t,” that
automatically means “try it.” “Don’t”
is the best way to get me to “Do.”
But then I see the second person
who is my own worst enemy. I have
pushed myself beyond my limits
and failed miserably. As a result, I
like very much to wrap myself in the
comfortable and the easy, staying
safe and warm with nothing to bother or scare me. Feelings
of embarrassment springing from moments of vulnerability or
weakness are on my Top 10 Biggest Fears list.
Last week, I did a short gospel presentation in Spanish. Sounds
simple enough. However, I had noticed with other team member’s
presentations, that the children had difficulty focusing when we
used a translator. As soon as the team member would begin
speaking in English kids would begin picking on one another or
rolling around in the grass.
So, I determined that I would try and do my whole devotional in
Spanish. Without a translator. Once I had the idea, I knew I would
not back down. I could not let myself; this was a challenge and
person number one would rise to it.
Unfortunately person number two was right on my heels, and the
fears assailed. One hundred things went through my head in the
days before my presentation. Phrases like, “You are only doing this
to show off,” or “You are only doing this to practice your Spanish,
you don’t really care about presenting the gospel to the kids”
sounded like sirens as I mulled over the presentation and jotted
down ideas for what I was going to say.
The worst part about these voices
in my head was they were all saying
the truth. For that reason I was sure
I would fail. Fully aware that I was
undeserving of help, I simultaneously
assumed this would be a perfect
opportunity for God to show up and
perform a miracle that involved me
speaking in tongues.
Like I said at the beginning, I am two different people.
That morning, as I stood in front of the kids asking them questions
to begin my presentation, I thought things were going well. Then I
looked down and saw that my hands were shaking. The fumbling
began and the rest of the presentation was unpolished and
fragile.
When it was over no children rushed forward to ask for more
information. Only one team member made the effort to tell me
that I did well, while the rest said nothing.
This was it - the moment
of weakness that I usually
try to avoid. At one time
I might have seen this
episode as a type of
failure. But instead, it
reminded me of the part
of God’s character that I
love so much it makes me
ache - the fact that God
redeems “both of me.”
He takes weakness and turns it into an opportunity to display
His strength. He takes the impossible and creates possible. He
chooses to use those who do not deserve His mercy or His grace
as a very vessel for displaying that same undeserved mercy and
grace to His world.
He takes our failures and our “but dust” physiques to show us
who we are and how much we can do nothing of ourselves. And
at the same time, through Christ, we can do all things.
This summer Katherine Spearing is
working with our partners in Monterrey
Mexico. She is serving Vida Nueva and
other church plants in Monterrey by
coordinating the short term mission
teams and assisting in a variety of
other roles as needed. Katherine has
volunteered with Vida Nueva in previous
years, and is currently exploring God’s
call to missions or vocational ministry.
FAMILY
MOVIE
NIGHT IS
AUGUST
10TH
6PM AT
THE
LODGE
$3/$12 DINNER
august 2012

AUGUST 19
Ordination/Move-Up
One service at 11am
for Ruling Elder
Ordination/Installation.
Southwood Kids “Move
Up” to their new school
grade in Sunday School.
SEPTEMBER 9
High-Life Continues
Senior High-Life
Sundays at 7pm.
Junior High-Life
Wednesdays 6pm.
@southwood.org
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