Jack Deardorff's Page

Hello, on the South Carolina Organic Church Network we have been discussing a get together on April 4th of everyone on simplechurch.com from South Carolina for the purpose of meeting one another, hearing each other's journey, encouraging one another, worshipping together, and to just have some fun together. The initial idea for this from my perspective was that most of us seemed to be in the very early stages of the process of trying to figure out what it means to pursue simple/organic church. I know that we often feel isolated/lost and I thought it would be great to be able to have others to go down this path with.

I want to reiterate that the goal is not to push an agenda or to recruit anyone for anything. The early house churches in a given city got together for larger gatherings to hear a letter from Paul or another apostle and the Jerusalem Church gathered together at Solomon's Colonnade for prayer and to listen to the apostles, so there is a biblical basis behind doing something like this. I am very eager to learn from what God has been teaching you all and I feel we can greatly be of mutual encouragement to one another as it seems like South Carolina has been slow to grasp the concept of simple/organic church.

Here is what I have been thinking. There is a Panera Bread Co. on Harbison Blvd (off I-26) that has a glass enclosed room that can be reserved. I was thinking that I would reserve it and we could meet there around 9:30-10am on April 4th. We could meet there and get to know each other a little over a cup of coffee and a bagel or pastry. I was thinking that after that we could all do something together. I suggest going to Riverbanks Zoo as it is a really fun place. Tickets are $9.75 ($7.25 for ages 3-12 / $8.25 for 62 and up).

After that, I thought that we could go back to someplace where we could spend time in prayer and worship, with an emphasis on celebrating the resurrection with Easter Sunday being the following week. I have tentatively plans to use the USC Baptist Colliegate Ministry (BCM) building as it has a lounge and a kitchen. We (Tom and Ashlea) would provide dinner and we could finish up maybe around 6-7pm so everyone can head home at a decent time.

I wanted to make sure that the BCM building would be ok with everyone. I used to be on staff at Baptist churches so I have contacts that would allow us to meet there at no cost. If anyone is uncomfortable with meeting in a denominational building, we can look for a place that we could rent. Let me know what you think.

Finally, please confirm or re-confirm if you will be coming so that we can plan accordingly. Also, feel free to invite others who you think might be interested.

His Kingdom Come,

Tom and Ashlea

Jack, I did not get any emails from you, I'm not sure why. I would enjoy getting together for lunch with you as well. I will be out of town next week, so perhaps we could do something the first week of March. There is another guy in West Columbia, David Gregory, and I mentioned getting together on march 3rd to him. Would that work for you as well?

Where's Jack?

Jack, what's up?

Jack, that is awesome. Let's get together soon. What does Monday 6/8 for lunch look like?
We have been doing well. We were in Greenville last week for my job. We have committed to co-sponsoring a Burmese refugee family that has just come to Columbia from a refugee camp in Thailand. They know no English and speak a dialetic that none of the Lutheran Family Services translators know, so it is very interesting. If you guys are interested in helping out with that, we can talk when we meet. They are animist. We are very excited.

Dear beloved brother Jack Deardorff, I am requesting to you please pray and bless my children home and churches and you are welcome to visit my place and preach in my churches and Pastors conferences.