• Saturday February 25th
•  1:00pm until 8:00pm
  At Take Hold

We want to wish you a Happy New Year from Take Hold Church!

The last 2.5 years here in Grand Rapids have been amazing!

We are anticipating yet another awesome year in 2012!

Will you spend this year in love and service with us?

Together, let’s see and experience what God unfolds.

]]> http://www.takeholdchurch.org/take-hold-fest-2011/feed 0 http://www.takeholdchurch.org/artprize-here-and-gone?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=artprize-here-and-gone http://www.takeholdchurch.org/artprize-here-and-gone#comments Mon, 24 Oct 2011 16:41:05 +0000 tiffany http://www.takeholdchurch.org/?p=142 ArtPrize 2011 is complete! Thanks to all the people who volunteered for the event at Take Hold! You’re help and sacrifice is greatly appreciated.  Its definitely a community job.

We got to be host to Pete Tabberer’s The Old and the New which was a collection of 9 photographs. It was a contrast of old, neglected, manmade structures and the beautiful new growth of nature around it.

Carole Kabrin’s Where No Man Has Gone Before was the only other Artprize artist in our space with her 5′x16′ chalk pastel drawing of the cast of different Star Trek series. It was a sight to be seen.

We look forward to next year!

Our ministry school group posing with the drawing!

]]> http://www.takeholdchurch.org/artprize-here-and-gone/feed 0 http://www.takeholdchurch.org/august-2011-update?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=august-2011-update http://www.takeholdchurch.org/august-2011-update#comments Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:24:38 +0000 saintshane http://www.takeholdchurch.org/?p=134 Greetings in the name of the Lord! Yes, it’s been some time since we have updated our website.  Our apologies for the lack of inspiration/motivation.  The summer flew by and we were caught in the whirlwind.  However, we are taking this opportunity to pause, reflect, and update you on some new and exciting news in the Take Hold camp.  Here are a few things we would like to share with you…

• WORSHIP: We now have two worship services (we know we are crazy)!  Currently, we hold worship services (prayer, Scripture, music, testimonies, etc.) on Sunday evenings at 5:00 pm and 7:00 pm.  Our space isn’t that big and hosting two services grants us some breathing room and room to grow.  We are excited to share that we have children’s church (ages 4-10) at the 5:00 pm service!  Now, you have two worship services to choose from.  Feel free to come on down and worship with us!  Also, we have a new facebook community page.  If you like to use FB for all your social media needs…check us out right here http://www.facebook.com/takeholdchurch and if Twitter is your thing…follow us here http://twitter.com/takeholdchurch
• OPEN HOUSE: On Tuesday, August 30 we will be hosting an “open house” from 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm.  This will be an excellent opportunity for you to come and check out the space, hear about our ministries, meet some people, and eat some goodies.  We have been rolling for two years and we thought it might be a good time to open our doors and invite you to see where we minister, hear how we serve, and know who we are.  If you would like to attend you can either rsvp to info@takeholdchurch.org or click “attend” on this link http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=263161637029435 We hope you can make it!  Please let us know if you are planning on attending so we know how to best host you and others.  Thanks!
• MINISTRY SCHOOL: Do you want to know more about the Bible?  Have you considered attending Bible school?  Do you want to know God’s purpose for your life?  Would you like to study Scripture with a cohort of people?  If you can answer “yes” to any of these questions…please pray about joining our ministry school.  On Tuesday, September 6 at 6:00 pm we will offer an information/orientation meeting down at the Take Hold space.  Then, we will begin classes on Wednesday, September 7 starting at 6:00 pm.  The courses we will be offering are Old Testament Survey, New Testament Survey, Systematic Theology, Spiritual Formation, and Mission/Discipleship.  We will also be serving on a short-term mission trip next summer.  Classes will take place every Wednesday evening starting in September of 2011 and ending in May of 2012.  We will have breaks for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Spring Break.  Each course will cost, but scholarships will be available.  If this is something that you are interested in…please come to our information/orientation meeting on September 6 at 6:00 pm.  Hope to see you there!
• ARTPRIZE: We will be a venue again this year!  ArtPrize is an awesome event that our city hosts which has become a national phenomenon and has reached the entire globe!  You will see some amazing art displayed all over Grand Rapids.  This event will begin September 21 and conclude October 9.  If you live in Grand Rapids…you cannot miss it.  If you live in Michigan…try to make it here.  Don’t forget to check out our space.  You can check us out online right here http://www.artprize.org/venues/public-profile/401 We don’t want to give anything away, but all we can say is we will be showing something from Star Trek (yes, it’s true)!  Also, we will be showing pieces from people within our community.  We hope to see you downtown!
• UNIFIED UNDERGROUND: This fall, We will be making our third trip to Maryland for the annual Unified Underground conference http://www.unifiedunderground.com/2011 and we are getting stoked for this!  The UU conference will take place September 30-October 2.  This is always an excellent time to meet new people, be encouraged, receive teaching, and worship Jesus.  We will be having a UU meeting down at the space on Tuesday, August 23 at 7:00 pm.  If you are even thinking about attending the conference…please come to the meeting for more information.
• TAKE HOLD FEST: Our annual diverse FREE music fest will take place on Sunday, November 20!  Save this date…you will NOT want to miss this.  More information on bands and times will be coming.  Check back soon.  For now…check here http://www.facebook.com/takeholdfest

So there you have it…some updates for you.  If you have any questions feel free to email info@takeholdchurch.org or comment here on our website.  Thanks for checking us out…and thanks for reading…God Bless.

Matthew 5:27-30 - You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.

Our Battle: Culture has trained us to think about porn in everything we see. Billboards, TV shows, commercials, magazines, emails and internet ads.  Everywhere we look we are bombarded with images. On the television we are slowly becoming desensitized by the male and female images the networks and consumer companies feed us.  On the internet we are sometimes just one click away from a website with pornographic images.  This is an epidemic.  This is our battle.  This is serious.

Pornography Statistics[1]

• Internet pornography sales = $4.9 billion
• Pornographic websites = 4.2 million (12% of total websites)
• Pornographic pages = 420 million
• 260 new porn sites go online daily
• 89% of porn is created in the U.S.
• The average age a person first views porn = 11 yrs.
• 1 of 3 visitors to all adult web sites are women
• 40 million adults visit pornographic websites daily
• Nearly half of all divorces list porn as a contributing factor

Effects of Pornography[1]

• Effect on the Mind: Pornography significantly distorts attitudes and perceptions about the nature of sexual intercourse. Men who habitually look at pornography have a higher tolerance for abnormal sexual behaviors, sexual aggression, promiscuity, and even rape.
• Effect on the Body: Pornography is very addictive. The addictive aspect of pornography has a biological underlying layer, with dopamine hormone release acting as one of the mechanisms for forming the transmission pathway to pleasure centers of the brain.
• Effect on the Heart: Pornography affects people’s emotional lives. Married men who are involved in pornography feel less satisfied with their marital sexual relations and less emotionally attached to their wives. Women married to men with a pornography addiction report feelings of betrayal, mistrust, and anger.

Confession/Forgiveness: Listen, no matter what you have done or what you think controls you today…there is always forgiveness available to us. Scripture says that all we must do is simply confess our sin, repent (turn from it), and we will be forgiven.  The question is this…do we want to quit?  Do we really want to be forgiven?  I know that it’s a daily struggle with temptation.  Perhaps, today you need to confess, repent, and be forgiven.  All we have to do is ask.  We can destroy the appetite for destruction.  It will take much help from the Holy Spirit.  It’s going to take a ton of self-control.  You can do it.  The victory has already been won because of Christ.  The daily battles are what we face.  Don’t face this fight alone.  Please pray, ask for help from a trusted friend, be held accountable, smash your computer.  Do whatever it takes!

I John 1:9 - If we confess our sins to him (Jesus), he is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from every wrong.

James 5:16 - Confess your sins to each other so that you may be healed.  The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results.

Resources/Information/Help:

• www.xxxchurch.com (Christian)
• www.pureintimacy.org (Christian)
• www.throughtheflame.org (secular)
• www.oneangrygirl.net (secular)

Further Bible Reading:

• Galatians 5:16-17
• Ephesians 4:20-24, 30
• Colossians 3:5-8

[1] The Effects of Pornography on Individuals, Marriage, Family, and Community by Patrick F. Fagan, Ph.D. (2009)

[1] Taken from Why Porn? www.xxxchurch.com

• Date: Friday, April 8th
• Place: 222 S. Division Ave. Grand Rapids, MI 49503
• Time: 6:00 pm (show) / 5:30 pm (doors)
• Cost: $5 (This also pays for your admission into the conference on Saturday.)

BANDS:

• Desiring Dead Flesh http://www.facebook.com/desiringdeadflesh
• My Heart My Stronghold http://www.facebook.com/pages/My-Heart-My-Stronghold/148188008531631
• Heartside Hooligans http://www.facebook.com/pages/Heartside-Hooligans/210796735601267
• Gateways http://www.facebook.com/gatewaysmichigan
• The Tuffingtons http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Tuffingtons/136690549683147
• The Crowned Virgin http://www.facebook.com/TheCrownedVirgin
• Mountain Goat http://www.facebook.com/MOUNTAINGOATBAND
• Avenmore http://www.facebook.com/pages/Avenmore/95282136378

NOW FOR OUR FEATURE PRESENTATION…

RELIGION vs. RELATIONSHIP:
>What is true religion?
>Can we have a relationship with our creator?
>Is there anything wrong with tradition?
>How do we relate to Jesus Christ?
>These are some of the questions we will ask.
>These are some of the questions we will wrestle with.
>Please join us for this event this Friday.

• Date: Saturday, April 9th 2011
• Place: Take Hold Church
• Time: High Noon (doors)
• Cost: $5.00 (advance) & $10.00 (door)

SPEAKERS:

• Tommy Green (http://www.myspace.com/sleepingxgiant)
• Krissi Green (http://revolutionreality.org)
• One More Special Guest
• Shane Cox (take hold church)

MUSIC:

• Micah Hill
• Lenski Llorens
• Tommy Green (White Flag)

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE:
>Noon – Doors/Registration
>1:00 – Session One
>2:30 – Break
>3:00 – Session Two
>4:30 – Break
>5:00 – Community Dinner
>6:00 – Q&A
>7:00 – Session Three
>9:00 – Movie
>11:00 – End

INFORMATION:
The cost of the event includes…
>The Friday Conference Pre-Show
>The Saturday Conference

RESERVATION*:

• In person @ Take Hold Church
• By mail // send name & $5.00 to Take Hold Church 222 S. Division Ave. Grand Rapids, MI 49503
• Paying through PayPal with the ‘Donate’ button below

*Please place your reservation so we know how to best host you and others best.

PARKING:
>FREE on Division and Sheldon Street
>FREE in the Goodwill parking lot (Saturday after 5 pm)
>$ parking garage on the corner of Ionia/Cherry St.

JOIN US ON SUNDAY FOR WORSHIP

• Date: Sunday, April 10th
• Place: Take Hold Church
• Time: 7:00 pm
• Cost: Nothin’

wsg Speaker Tommy Green (Sleeping Giant/Revolution Reality)

• http://myspace.com/sleepingxgiant
• http://revolutionreality.org

FEEDBACK:
Any Questions?  Comments?  Concerns?
Feel free to contact info@takeholdchurch.org

Electric Boogaloo

WHEN: Sunday, March 6th

BANDS:

• All Became New (https://www.facebook.com/allbecamenew)
• Empty Lies the Tomb (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Empty-Lies-The-Tomb)
• Beyond the Gates (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Beyond-the-Gates)
• Abide with Me (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Abide-With-Me)

HEY ALL*,

I hope this note finds you well and serving Jesus!  I wanted to write a short blurb and give you some additional information regarding this coming Sunday…

THE SHOW: I hope you are ready to come boogie w/ us this coming Sunday night! All four bands rule. All the members have true hearts. This night will be rad. This night is FREE!!! We will have a can at the door. The can will say, “Donations Please”. Do not feel like you have to put anything in the can, but only if you can. The money you donate will go towards things like rent, utilities, toilet paper, etc. I want to thank you in advance for your donations!

THE CAUSE: I am wondering if you might be willing to search your homes or communities and bring down some warm clothes for cold people? We are currently accepting winter clothing/items for our Heartside community members. We are looking for gently used coats, hats, gloves, scarves, sweaters, boots, etc. for men, women, and children. Will you see if you have an item (or two) to donate? If so…bring the items to our space this Sunday. Believe me…we will find a home for your donations!

THE WORSHIP: I also want to invite you to join us for worship before the show. Will you think about coming down early to worship Jesus with us? Some boys from All Became New will be leading us in music and I am preparing a timely message on Jesus taken from the Gospel of Mark. I hope you can join us for an open and honest time of worship. We will have a time of community prayer before worship.

THE SCHEDULE**:
5:00 pm – Band Load In (optional)
6:00 pm – Community Prayer
7:00 pm – Worship
8:30 pm – Show

*I want to see you ALL here on Sunday!!!
**Donations will be accepted throughout the entire evening.

In Him,
Pastor Shane