ritchiemiller.org

On Monday, October 4th, Avalon HOPE will host a charity golf tournament at Eagles Brooke Country Club in Locust Grove, GA. The proceeds from this tournament will help us sponsor children for our annual Christmas giveaway. This year we are again partnering with Sketchers to give away brand new shoes to children in need from all across the Southern Metro Atlanta area. Each year we invest hundreds of thousands of dollars of food, educational supplies, and clothing items into our local community. This helps us be the hands and feet of Jesus.

Here is what I need you to do.

1. Sign up to play in the tournament. The cost is $100 per person or $400 per team. Each participant will get a golf goodie bag, a chance to win some valuable prizes, lunch, a chance to participate in our charity auction, a great round of golf at a beautiful course, and, of course, the opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child.

2. Spread the word. Talk to people at your work and get a team or talk to your company about sponsoring a hole or being a major sponsor. We still need several sponsorships.

3. Consider a sponsorship. If you own your own business or are the decision maker at your business we would like you to sponsor a hole or be a major sponsor of the tournament.

4. Donate to the charity auction. We have had some great gifts donated already; things like signed sports memorabilia, sporting equipment, TVs, iPods, electronic equipment, cleaning services, tattoos, Hotel getaways, and even an African safari.

5. Sign up to volunteer for the golf tournament.

You do not have to be a good golfer to be involved. I play golf about once every two years and I plan to be there. It is going to be fun!

Ritchie

This week I am profiling four new children in the Indawo Yethemba Children’s village in South Africa. If you were at one of the services at Avalon Church McDonough Campus on Sunday, you know that Isaiah Porter is leaving in a couple of weeks to live and work at the village for a year. We are so excited for Isaiah and for Bob and Joanna Graham, directors of Indawo Yethemba.

Pray for the Grahams as they lead Indawo Yethemba. Bob is seen in this picture with Rosina, one of the grannies, and a social worker. They are in one of the homes at the children’s village. Bob and his wife, Joanna, will be coming to Avalon in January. Pray for their safety as many of the government health care workers are currently on strike in South Africa.

This week I am profiling four new children in the Indawo Yethemba Children’s village in South Africa. If you were at one of the services at Avalon Church McDonough Campus on Sunday, you know that Isaiah Porter is leaving in a couple of weeks to live and work at the village for a year. We are so excited for Isaiah and for Bob and Joanna Graham, directors of Indawo Yethemba.

Sandile came to Indawo Yethemba last week. His mother died while giving birth to him. Sandile is now four years old. Thank you for giving him the hope of a bright future, an education, health, and the opportunity to know Jesus Christ.

This week I am profiling four new children in the Indawo Yethemba Children’s village in South Africa. If you were at one of the services at Avalon Church McDonough Campus on Sunday, you know that Isaiah Porter is leaving in a couple of weeks to live and work at the village for a year. We are so excited for Isaiah and for Bob and Joanna Graham, directors of Indawo Yethemba.

Andiswa was abandoned at the hospital when she was 2 years old. Her mother just left her there because she had no prospect for giving her a normal life. She had no money, no way to provide for her daughter, and we believe she had HIV/AIDS. We are not sure, but we believe Andiswa is about 6 years old now. She came to Indawo Yethemba last week and her life has changed forever. Now she has hope and a very bright future! She has eczema, but with proper medical treatment, her skin will return to normal soon.

This week I am profiling four new children in the Indawo Yethemba Children’s village in South Africa. If you were at one of the services at Avalon Church McDonough Campus on Sunday, you know that Isaiah Porter is leaving in a couple of weeks to live and work at the village for a year. We are so excited for Isaiah and for Bob and Joanna Graham, directors of Indawo Yethemba.

Phiwayinkosi is Philasande’s younger brother. Just days ago, neither of these boys had hope for living a normal life. Their prospects for an education, health, and a loving family were very dim. Now, because you care enough to give and support these children, he will be able to have the prospect of a normal life and will hear about Jesus Christ. Thank you!

This week I am profiling four new children in the Indawo Yethemba Children’s village in South Africa. If you were at one of the services at Avalon Church McDonough Campus on Sunday, you know that Isaiah Porter is leaving in a couple of weeks to live and work at the village for a year. We are so excited for Isaiah and for Bob and Joanna Graham, directors of Indawo Yethemba.

This is Philasande, whose mother is deceased and father is mentally ill. He just came to the children’s village last week. He now has the hope of an education, food in his tummy, and, most importantly, hearing about Jesus Christ.

Today I am hosting a few dozen pastors at Avalon Church McDonough Campus. This is a part of our Pastors Coaching Network that is through Avalon HOPE. We are able to coach church planters and pastors on leadership, church growth, best practices, breaking growth barriers, and a host of other growth issues. I am so thankful for the men who poured into my life and I am grateful to be able to give back to others as well. Please pray for the men and women who are attending today. Pray that God blesses them, grows them, challenges them, and encourages them for the task He has assigned them.

Ritchie

A lot of people have been asking me how the running is going. For those of you who do not know, I am preparing for the Comrades Ultra Marathon in South Africa. This is a race that is 89 kilometers (54 miles) and I will run it on May 29, 2011. I am doing this to raise money to build more houses for our children’s village in Ashburton, South Africa. I am trying to get 1000 people to sponsor me at $1 per kilometer.

The training is going well. I am running six days per week and lifting weights one day per week. I am on a training regiment for running the Atlanta Marathon on Thanksgiving Day, which will be my second marathon. This is a qualifier for the Comrades Marathon. My schedule includes cross training one day per week, running 3-5 miles two days per week, running 5-10 miles at a set pace two days per week, and running a long run one day per week. My long days are on Saturdays and look like this between now and November: (in miles) 8, 13, 14, 10, 16, 17, 12, 19, 20, 12, 20, 12, 20, 12, and 8. Wow, that made me tired just typing it.

Until it gets cooler I have to run indoors (which is really boring running 110 laps at Gold’s Gym) or really early in the morning. I ran 11 miles this past Saturday between 10:00 AM and 12: PM and I nearly passed out. I had to walk part of it. I did have a church member stop and offer me a ride. Then he started playing “Eye Of The Tiger” to motivate me. I became highly motivated…to get away from him. Thanks, Clint.

Keep on running.

Ritchie

I want you to come to the pastor’s leadership roundtable that I am hosting August 19, 2010 at Avalon Church. At the last roundtable we discussed How To Grow Your Church In A Bad Economy. We had around 30 pastors and it was very helpful. Many of the pastors asked if we could discuss Church Systems this time, so I would really like for you to come and be my guest. Once again, this event is absolutely free and is a part of the Avalon HOPE Pastor’s Coaching Network. I really believe that you will be encouraged by the fellowship and the roundtable discussions. We will start at 10:00 AM and will end at 12:00 PM. Pastors, staff, and business people are invited.
Here are a few reasons you should plan to attend:

• You will be encouraged and challenged
• You will learn how to set up effective church systems
• You will learn systems that will help break through growth barriers
• You will grow personally in pastoral leadership skills
• You will learn systems to help reach your community more effectively
• You will learn systems that will help maximize your finances and increase giving
• You will learn systems that will take your church to the next level
• You will learn systems to increase evangelism and baptisms in your church
• You will meet new pastors
• Your staff will be challenged and stretched
• You will learn ways to beat the summer slump
• You will love the small group learning environment

I hope to encourage you on August 19th. I know I need some encouraging words! If you plan to attend just send me an e-mail @ ritchie@avalonchurch.net or call my office at (770) 320-7008 and let me know. Please respond and let us know if you are coming. By the way, bring your staff and if you know of any other pastor who could benefit from this please invite them too.

Have a great day!

Ritchie

We had a tremendous weekend at Avalon Church. On Saturday we hosted the Avalon HOPE Back to School Backpack Giveaway. We had over 1500 children and parents on campus. Our volunteers and leaders did an amazing job! There were competitive games, inflatable games, water games, hot dogs, snow cones, and even the fire department. It was so hot that around 20 people got over-heated and had to be assisted. We gave away book bags, school supplies, and dental hygiene products as well as an iPod Shuffle and a Play Station 3. Here is a picture of a few of the boys planning various acts of mischief.

We had baptism at the McDonough campus during the 9:30 and 11:15 services. I do not know how many were baptized but it about wore me out! The testimony videos were amazing! In addition to those baptized on Sunday we also had nine students baptized at the beach during camp last week.

Greg Reed spoke at the South Campus yesterday and told me that we had even more new people checking out what is going on at Avalon South. I am so excited about what God is doing there. Remember, for the month of August we will combine both campuses for training purposes and then we have preview services in September and then launch officially on October 3rd.

You do not want to miss the new series we start next week called, “I Want A New Marriage.” It is going to be ground-breaking and life-changing.

Have a great day.

Ritchie