BRANCHES September 2014

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SOUTHWOOD contents ABOUT THIS ISSUE This is a special edition of BRANCHES celebrating the tenth anniversary of the Lodge. As we sat down to plan for this issue, the peculiarity of writing about a building quickly became apparent. This beautiful structure functions well, attracting and serving... people. If it weren’t for the students that were drawn to our youth ministry, High-Life, as well as the congregation that was bold enough to support it, the Lodge probably wouldn’t be worth celebrating. Whether you are new to Southwood or remember when shovels were put in the ground, we hope that we are able to paint a picture of why the building was built, who it has housed, how it has served, and what we hope for in the future. From all those who have enjoyed its accommodations to those that made it possible, thank you. If you haven’t had an opportunity to visit the Lodge, join us for lunch on September 7th. Then consider how you can connect with the ministry of High-Life. You’ll quickly see that its purpose is to foster relationships with God and others, and why so many people fondly think of the Lodge as home. BRANCHES LODGE EDITION 2 about this issue 3 pastor’s note 4 southwood's vision for students Where and how it all began 6 perspectives Reflections on the Lodge's impact 8 a place. a people. a home. Experiences of two former students 10 many faces of the lodge Connected to church and community 12 what's in your lodge? Its use and decor 14 a decade of lodge staff A look at where they are now 15 more than a building Anticipating the next decade Jonathan Barnette, Editor BRANCHES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Jonathan Barnette DESIGNER Phillip Lackey CONTRIBUTORS Will Spink Chad Townsley James Parker Kim Delchamps Winnie Winford PHOTOS Jonathan Barnette Kim Delchamps Winnie Winford Southwood Staff and Members FEEDBACK! We want to hear from you! Please send your suggestions and comments to branches@southwood.org 1000 CARL T. JONES DRIVE | HUNTSVILLE, ALABAMA 35802 (256) 882-3085 | WWW.SOUTHWOOD.ORG JEAN F. LARROUX, III Senior Pastor MELISSA PATTERSON Executive Assistant ADULT MINISTRIES SARAH NIEMITZ Director of Community Development/Assimilation JAMES PARKER Chief Musician WILL SPINK Associate Pastor/Shepherding STUDENT MINISTRIES KIM DELCHAMPS Administrative Assistant NIÑA BANTA Director of Children NANCY McCREIGHT Assistant Director /Children/Nursery CHAD TOWNSLEY Associate Pastor/High-Life WINNIE WINFORD Assistant Director/High-Life MINISTRY SUPPORT TERRI GOOD Accountant/Bookkeeper JONATHAN BARNETTE Director of Communication PHILLIP LACKEY Graphic Designer JANICE CROWSON Director of Facilities/Finance LYNDA CLAYDON Facilities MIKE MARREN Facilities ELIZABETH BUTZ Receptionist UPCOMING EVENTS Lodge 10-Year Anniversary September 7 Sr. High-Life Resumes September 7 Christian Education Classes September 7 Jr. High-Life Resumes September 10 2 SEPTEMBER 2014 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG
PASTOR’S NOTE What's the Lodge got to do with it? When people from other churches hear that I work at Southwood, they often say to me, “Aren’t y’all the church that has that thing for youth?” I say, “You mean ‘the Lodge’?” And they reply, “Yeah, like that ski lodge thing!” I proudly respond, “Yep, that’s us!” At the end of all those conversations, people always marvel at the vision it took to build the Lodge and how much they wish their church would do something like it. Last week I got a text from a pastor who asked me to send him some pictures of our "youth room." He is talking to people at his church about their commitment to their students and how they need to be planning for the future. He knows what it would mean to have a "Lodge" at their church. As we celebrate the tenth anniversary of the Lodge, I think it is appropriate to ask the question, "What’s the Lodge got to do with it?" Why is having something like the Lodge a big deal for any church, but particularly for Southwood? First, the Lodge isn’t just a building, it is a symbol of commitment. Lots of churches have youth rooms. In many churches some older house in close proximity to the church property goes for sale, is purchased "for the youth" and a key is given to the youth guy so that the kids can have Wednesday night church there. Lots of big rooms in big churches have cool signs and are decorated in cool ways for the kids, but I am not aware of any church anywhere that has invested in a building as unique and "cool" as the Lodge. The Lodge is a really well-designed and aesthetically pleasing building but it is much more. It is a monument to a church’s commitment to students. Southwood is committed to and has always been a church that believed in reaching students with the transforming news of the Gospel. The Lodge’s existence tells the story of a church that was willing to literally put their money where their heart was—with students. Second, the Lodge is not a "church" on purpose. Our commitment to students is two-fold: we have covenant kids (those who have grown up at Southwood or attend church here) and community kids (those who are connected to the student ministry at Southwood through peer or leader relationships). The Lodge provides a place that does not scream RELIGION at the non-religious nor does it carry the stigma of being CHURCH for those children who are regulars in church. Even the coolest youth rooms in churches are still in churches. The Lodge is unique. It is onsite, but offsite. It is Southwood’s but it is also the students'. It is a place where spiritual formation takes place, but it is not formally spiritual. Those elements make it a unique and safe place to allow students the freedom to consider the claims of the Gospel in a neutral context. Third, the Lodge is a perpetual gift to each generation of students. The Lodge wasn’t built with one class of students in mind. In many ways student ministry is like church planting every 4-6 years. The entire congregation, community and core group changes. The perpetual inclusion of the Lodge in our budget and the student ministry focus reiterates and underlines our passion for the current generation of kids. The Lodge has "alumni." The Lodge has future Freshman classes. The Lodge has former staff members. The Lodge has former students who have served her as staff members. The Lodge has crew members who have graduated, come back to serve and then dance at their own weddings under her roof. That is more than a youth room, it is a place of identity and ministry incubation that cannot be overestimated. Finally, the Lodge is a symbol of His Kingdom far beyond this church. An RUF campus minister once told me, “You have the only youth building in the country that YoungLife is jealous of.” Jealousy is too strong, but appreciation is certainly true. However without sister ministries like YoungLife who have camps like Windy Gap and Wilderness, dreams like the Lodge would have likely remained dreams. God has used people who currently attend Southwood, who have previously attended Southwood and who have never attended Southwood to inspire, challenge and walk alongside our people for much longer than the last decade. One of our former Student Ministries Directors, Ken Leggett, used to regularly remind me that Southwood was "in the community, for the community." The Lodge has always been a picture of that commitment because the Lodge is the result of people living out "community" in the midst of His Kingdom. For more from Jean, check out his sermons at southwood.org jean.larroux@southwood.org @jflarrouxiii Jean F. Larroux, III Senior Pastor SEPTEMBER 2014 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG 3
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BRANCHES September 2014

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