Issue no.

1, September 2009

Join us in thanking God
for His provision and
grace in our lives in the
following ways:
• Families who sacrificed so we
could live with them this
summer
• Standing Springs Baptist
Church giving a house to the
Rogers’ for 6 months and their
graciousness to us
• Family from Standing Springs
Baptist Church allowing
Renewal’s intern, Bailey, to live
with them
• Commitments received so the
team can be established in
Greenville
• Cohesion and likemindedness
with our team
Donated office equipment
•
• Donated sound system
equipment
• Rocky Creek Baptist Church,
located on Woodruff Road,
donating a meeting space and
their Sunday morning nursery
workers for our children
• First Baptist Rock Hill donating
supplies for our weekly service
Prayer Needs:
• Financial blessing on
supporters to allow them to
fulfill commitments
• Continued financial supporters
who can provide the needs for a
meeting space at the first of the
year
• Opportunities to meet and
engage in conversations and
those who are far from Christ
• Matt as he prepares to teach
through the book of Acts
• J.B. as he gathers a team and
prepares to teach our
congregation about worship
Confirmation for those
interested in committing to
Renewal Church
• Small groups and leaders as
they begin to meet around the
middle of September
• Space for an office and a
permanent meeting space

We want to publicly thank the Armstrong and

Renewed relationship with Johnston families for allowing us the use of their lake
God house on Lake Norman for this staff retreat! You
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to blessed us with the ability to remove ourselves from
the fellowship, and to the breaking of bread, and to distraction so that we could focus on the task at
prayer.” (Acts 2:42) hand! Thank you!

We recognize that we are young, but as Paul urges

Timothy not to let anyone look down on him
because of his youth, we want to set an example for
believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in
purity (1 Timothy 4;12).
To accomplish this purpose, the core team of
Renewal Church, which includes Matt and Sarah
Rogers, J.B. and Rachelle Usher, Stephen and
Christina Rutland, and Bailey Pearson, traveled to
Lake Norman, N.C. for our first staff retreat at the
end of August.
The study of Scripture and John S. Hammett’s
Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches guided our
discussions as we made decisions concerning
Renewal Church. As a result of our study, we
brainstormed what we were trusting God to do
through our church during this first year, next year,
in five years, and in ten years. The outcome was
very lofty, but we were reminded of God’s promise
to do immeasurably more than we could ask or
imagine, and we are trusting Him to be faithful to
this promise for Renewal Church.
We accomplished many of our goals this week such
as:
• Reviewing the employee handbook and
establishing job descriptions for each elder or
staff position
• Building strong relational bonds with the staff
and their families
• Planning for our first teaching series “Saturate”
during which we will study “The Making of the
Church” (Acts 1-7) in the fall, “The Movement
of the Church” (Acts 8-12) in the spring, and
“The Mission of the Church” (Acts 13-28) in the
fall of 2010
One of the most pressing decisions revolved
around the physical location that we would use to
meet in for the fall, but God graciously provided a
meeting space through Rocky Creek Baptist
Church! We will meet each Sunday with those
interested in becoming a part of Renewal Church
beginning Sunday, September 13th at 10:45 a.m. at
The Storehouse on the campus of Rocky Creek
Baptist Church located at 1801 Woodruff Rd. Join
us in giving thanks to God for His direction and
provision!
How to Give
“Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone
as he had need.” Acts 2:45
Thank you again for your commitment to give to
Renewal Church! See the following information on
how to give:
• By check
Place a check in he pre-labeled envelope along
with a stamp, and mail to Renewal Church
• Online
Go to www.renewalupstate.com and click on
“Online Giving” at the bottom of the home
page.
We are in the process of setting up an automatic draft
for those of you who have asked for it. Look in next
month’s newsletter for information on how to give
through automatic draft.
A few reminders:
• All gifts are tax deductible
• Please make us aware of any address changes or
changes to your giving so we can make the
necessary adjustments. Send an email to
church@renewalupstate.com to update your
information!

Renewed Relationships With
Each Other
“Everyday they continued to meet together in the temple
courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together
with glad and sincere hearts.” Acts 2:46
We have clearly seen God begin the process of
building a team of Christ followers in Greenville
intent on living out the mission of God together.
August 9th, Standing Springs Baptist Church
honored the Rogers’ family with a Hot Dog and
Homemade Ice Cream Social after their Sunday
evening service. Their graciousness has been
evident in this event, in the tomatoes found on their
doorstep, and in other goodies that have been given
anonymously. They also taught us the definition of
a “Poundin’” by giving the Rogers’ non-perishables
to stock their pantry! We are so grateful to them for
their willingness to give and serve!
August 15th, the Rogers’ hosted a cookout at their
home for everyone interested in becoming part of
Renewal Church. There were 25-30 college
students, single young professionals, couples, and
families with young children who came to eat
burgers and play together. We were able to spend
time getting to know each other as we built
relationships that we pray will last for years to
come. Please join us in praying for these
individuals to have clear direction from the Lord as
to whether or not they should join with Renewal.
August 16th, Matt spoke at the morning services of
East North Street Baptist Church in Greenville. HE
challenged them with Jesus’ words in John 17 to be
sent as He was sent. After the service, we were able
to spend time with the pastor and his family as well
as a few members of the congregation over lunch.
We are excited that God is developing relationships
not only with those who want to be part of Renewal
Church, but also with other churches in the area!
“The church comes into being not by any human
initiative but in response to a divine call.”
Biblical Foundations for Baptist Churches by John S. Hammett
Renewed Love for Those Far
From God
“...And the Lord added to their number daily those
who were being saved.” Acts 2:47
Our prayer from the beginning has been that God
would build His church through the sharing of
the gospel and seeing people come to faith in
Jesus. As a result of their newfound faith, they
join the church. Here are a few ways this has
already begun:
• Single Mom’s Day
Renewal Church, in partnership with four
other area churches, was able to provide over
300 bags of school supplies to single moms to
help them prepare for the start of school. We
prayed with each mom and were able to
encourage many with the love of Jesus.
• Praying in Specific Locations
A group of 12 people drove around Mauldin
and Augusta Road in Greenville to stop at
specific locations and pray for the
advancement of the gospel there. We prayed
on the Millennium Campus where a number
of corporations are located, on J.L. Mann High
School’s campus, and on the campus of a
church on Augusta Road. Please join us in
praying for these specific locations as well,
that God would pave inroads for the gospel.
• Neighbors and Colleagues
One of the most exciting ways we’ve been
able to share the gospel is through
opportunities to tell our neighbors, colleagues,
and strangers why we’re here. Curiosity
drives most people to ask why so many of us
would move to Mauldin. We are prepared to
answer by telling how Jesus has changed our
lives and how His gospel compels us to take
radical steps of faith to share Him with others!
Meet the Rogers’ Family
For the next few newsletters, we will introduce the
families that make up our core team and then begin to
give updates from each family on a monthly basis.
Matt and Sarah Rogers lived in South Carolina for
the majority of their lives and in the upstate of
South Carolina for much of their married life.
Matt graduated from Furman University in 2001
with a degree in Psychology. He then went on to
Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary where he
received a Masters in Counseling, and to
Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary where
he received a Masters of Divinity. He worked on
two church staffs while in Greenville, and most
recently on a church staff in Clemson, S.C. He has
spoken around the state at different churches and
youth events, such as Summersalt, and is passionate
about fulfilling Matthew 28:19 by making disciples
in Greenville and around the state.
Sarah graduated from North Greenville College in
2004 with a degree in Elementary Education. She
taught middle school for three years and an adult
G.E.D. class for two years. She now uses her skills
as a homemaker primarily and will pursue being a
tutor in Greenville.
Matt and Sarah married in Greenville on August 2,
2003. Corrie, their first daughter, was born
December 26, 2006 and Avery, their second
daughter, was born February 26, 2006.
Matt loves to spend fun time with his wife and two
girls as well as fishing, college football, and college
basketball (in that order).
Sarah enjoys date nights with Matt, baking with
Corrie, making Avery laugh, and a good novel.