BRANCHES September 2014

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SOUTHWOOD lodge edition SOUTHWOOD'S FOR In 2000-2001 High-Life Ministries consisted of around 20-25 kids who met in different homes. The youth staff was smaller and less resourced. Beginning in 2001, through the leadership of the Session and the vision, enthusiasm and faithfulness of Southwood’s newest Youth Director, Ken Leggett, High-Life experienced a tremendous amount of growth. Within a very short span of time 20-25 students grew to 100-150 students & adult volunteers. High-Life quickly began to outgrow the homes it met in. The desire for a youth facility had been present with Southwood's leadership for sometime, but now the need for a large enough space was very acute. God was doing something unique. These kids and leaders all seemed to be speaking the same language. And there was a gospel-centered transparency among the students and adults that became attractive to their friends and peers. So pursuing the construction of the Lodge got pushed to the forefront. High-Life clearly needed a bigger place to live. In 2001 a vision for a youth facility was presented to the Southwood Session by Ken Leggett. A building committee was formed and the Session approved money for architectural drawings in 2002. In January of 2003, Session approval was given to build the current structure and groundbreaking occurred in August 2003. By late summer of 2004, the Lodge was completed. It is an incredible building and the students love it for sure, but more than that, it represents so many things that make High-Life what it is. Southwood Presbyterian Church was formed Don Admire hired as Southwood's first youth director Southwood's main building erected Jamie Sanders hired as Southwood's youth director Youth ministry meetings began in members' homes Ken Leggett hired as Southwood's youth director and visionary for the Lodge The Southwood Session approved Lodge construction Groundbreaking on Lodge Construction Lodge Grand Opening Weekend 1989 1993 1995 1998 2000 2001 Jan. 14 2003 Aug. 3 2003 Aug. 13-15, 2004 4 SEPTEMBER 2014 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG
lodge edition SOUTHWOOD As one considers the philosophy of building the Lodge, a very important caveat needs to be made. It is common to find evangelical churches that launch building campaigns so that more new people will then want to come. Sort of like the movie Field of Dreams, when James Earl Jones delivers the famous line, "If you build it, they will come." What happened in the lives of the students that led to the construction of the Lodge was exactly the opposite of this philosophy. Ken Leggett explains, "The Lodge was an outward manifestation of what God was doing in the lives of students and adults in Huntsville, through Southwood... We did not build a building [simply] to attract students." "The Lodge was an outward manifestation of what God was doing in the lives of students and adults in Huntsville, through Southwood." There are two particular emphases that High-Life represented in the construction of the Lodge. The first is a Ministry of Presence, or, simply put, relational connectivity. The painting just inside the front door of the Lodge was made by Brian Oaks to represent the parable of the mustard seed. The mustard seed is the smallest seed in the garden that grows into a large tree, providing shade and rest for the birds of the air and the beasts of the field. High-Life has always sought to be this. The tiny seed of faith that God plants in the lives of our students will grow out and become shade and rest to the students of this city. And the Lodge is a physical representation of High-Life's outward focused, relational philosophy. It has been an amazing thing to have kids from all different schools and neighborhoods pass through the youth ministry. High-Life is common, neutral ground for students, and the Lodge helps to make this more of a reality. The Ministry of the Word has also been kept as a priority in the Lodge. High-Life has always held to the centrality of Christ and sought to be faithful in preaching and teaching the Word to students. When ground was broken for the building, a Bible was buried in the ground directly underneath the stage/fireplace area of the family room in the Lodge. This is the place where the Word is taught. The symbolism of the building physically being "built on the Word" has served as a strong reminder that Christ is the center of all that we do. Without Him, the Lodge, High-Life, Southwood, and all associated programs wouldn't really matter at all. At Southwood the students are a priority, and that can be seen through the Lodge. For the congregation and our Session and staff to take such leaps of faith requires courage and hope in what God will do. Southwood is a place where our leaders will not be content to simply "go through the motions" but rather desperately seek to see lives changed from the inside out. The Lodge is a great place, and the story behind it is an encouraging reminder of how God uses all of us to orchestrate his plans. The part that we play is small but exciting. Praise God that He is among us, moving and working in the lives of our students. August, 2014 Resolution from the Southwood Session: The Southwood Session praises God for the many ways He has used the Lodge to see students impacted by the gospel over the past 10 years. We are thankful to serve Christ with a congregation so committed to the youth of Huntsville that they would invest in such a facility. We want particularly to express our deep gratitude to the many adults—both staff and volunteers—who have shown the love of Christ to students within those walls. We look forward with great anticipation to the young people of this church and this city who will be transformed by their experience of God’s grace in the Lodge in the years ahead. SEPTEMBER 2014 | SOUTHWOOD.ORG 5
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BRANCHES September 2014

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