“If you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.”

That’s what mom always said… And for the past few months, there hasn’t been much in the nice category for our building search.

• The door has closed on the opportunity to lease the space behind Hastings.
• We got pretty far in the negotiation process for another space, but that door closed too.
• We’ve visited a few other buildings with our architect and… various door-closing factors popped up.
• We’re currently evaluating and researching two locations, and we hear the distinct sound of a creaking door. Door opening or closing? The direction of door movement remains to be seen.

But it hasn’t been all bad news! Your commitment to this process has remained steadfast.

• You continue to pray for our MOVE! God really does know where we’ll have church next. This process may have outlasted our expectations, but not His.
• You continue to share the word with your friends! More and more people know we’re moving and let us know about vacant space.
• You continue to give. We have raised almost $86,000!
• You continue to think of creative ways to help:
  • The few LifeGroups got together to host a Yard Sale and raised nearly $900.
  • Jim donated a handcrafted coaster car that we’re currently raffling. You can get a closer look at the car & buy raffle tickets on Sundays at the Vineyard!
  • Darold is taking pledges & is running 5k & 10k races to raise money for our MOVE and The Box.

So… great job! Please keep praying, sharing and giving. We believe that as we pray and seek God, He will reveal his wisdom to us. And keep sharing the story. The more people that know about this, the better. You never know who will want to get involved or who will know about our next building. And keep giving. The more money we raise, the more options we’ll have. Thanks.

Questions about this news? Contact us.

You can help raise money for our MOVE while scoring some great deals on kids items! Just submit this special flyer at checkout and 10% of your purchases will be sent to our church. Flyers are available at the Vineyard. Here are the details:

Friday, March 12, 2010
10am to 8pm
7428 Kingston Pike, Knoxville (former K-Mart… need directions?)
Print the Flyer
Email Nikki Turnmire for more info

ABOUT DUCK-DUCK-GOOSE:

Duck-Duck-Goose is Knoxville’s premier children’s consignment event. This is a major event featuring thousands of children’s items from over 1,600 local consigning families including all things KIDS from equipment, toys, furniture, costumes, baby gear, videos & DVDs, books, shoes, clothes newborn to teens & maternity, and MORE!

visit www.dkdkgoose.com for more information.

Come to the Vineyard to learn adult, child and infant CPR from CPRChoice.com. This is an affordable & convenient opportunity to learn essential life-saving skills. Perfect for parents & grandparents, everyone is welcome. Best of all, all the proceeds will go to our MOVE! Here are the details:

CPR Class
Saturday, February 27 10:00am to Noon
$20/Individual or $30/Couple

Space is limited so register today to reserve your spot. Please plan to pay at the class.

Questions? Contact Teri.

Spread the Word: Email a friend or Share on Facebook

When: Monday, February 15 from 11:00am to 10:00pm

Where: Pizza Hut on Foothills Mall Drive (directions)

What: 20% of orders from Vineyardites & friends will be donated to our MOVE!

How: Submit a special Vineyard ticket with your order so that we get credit for it.

Who: Anyone can use the ticket, so give them to all your friends.

Kids are out of school and this is valid all day, so please take advantage of this opportunity to share food & fellowship while helping us raise funds.

The tickets print three per page, so use one and share two with friends. Tickets will be available at the Vineyard if you are not able to print your own.

1. The lease has been signed!
2. The commencement date on that lease, is April 1 , 2010 (not March 1)!
3. We’ve raised about 43k to date.  We need at least 100k…so we’re making pretty good progress!
4. It’s going to be flippin’ incredible!

Basic floorplans will be posted here soonish (sorry about the ‘ish!).

Thank you so much for your continued prayer and generosity!  And please continue to seek about how God’s leading you to give, and how you can encourage others to give.

Have you clicked the share button yet?
Please take a few minutes and think about who you could tell about this MOVE and this website.

-Pastor Aaron

1. Their behavior & speech change & they seem nervous. I have to work to get their guard down.
2. When I invite them to church, I have to explain where Maryville Vineyard is and why it is not in Maryville.

For the last few years, the invitation process has always gone about the same. I get to brag on God and all the incredible people that make the Vineyard great. I tell them about our service times and our address. “Where’s that?” they say. Oh boy.

Next I find myself describing the flashing yellow light on Highway 321, the guardrail on the corner of Endsley Quarry Road, and the whereabouts of Friendsville Market. At some point during the landmarks and descriptions, just before they understand where church is, the person I’m inviting checks out. Their eyes glaze over and they start thinking about pretty colors and the wallpaper pattern in their childhood bedroom. And I know I’ve lost them.

BUT not last Saturday! Right after the back & sides of my hair were clippered with guard number 3, and right before she got lost in my directions to Friendsville, I mentioned our MOVE. “Oh, I know right where that is!” she exclaimed.

And that’s exactly why this MOVE is such a huge opportunity. In just a few short months, most of the people in Blount County will drive past our location and see our sign on a regular basis. This will empower our personal invitations with clarity and credibility. We’ll be able to skip the convoluted directions and spend those moments on stuff that matters: What God is doing at the Vineyard.

In five years, we’ve learned that the number one reason people visit our church is because of a personal invitation. And when they visit, the reason people come back is because they connect with God & others. So here’s the deal: one of our biggest hurdles is going to disappear. Let’s leverage the opportunity now. Spread the word. Invite. Ask. When we take risk, God shows up.

My haircut went great, and for the first time in years the conversation moved past turning left at the T-intersection.

-Pastor Matt

At the moment, just over $11K has been given for the project.  So that makes us roughly 10% of the way to our goal!  I know that most of you are still seeking God about how you should give, and I’m so thankful that part of the process is being taken seriously.

I’ve been asked a couple of times: “Should I give now, or wait until I have saved all that I have been led to give?” (or, words to that effect). The answer: “the sooner you can give, the better!” It mobilizes us to take the steps that must be taken long before we finish the fundraising or actually move in.

Please continue to pray diligently for this project, and specifically about how God might lead you to give.

-Pastor Aaron