4 Parts to The Greatest Story
The greatest story some still haven’t heard involves these four parts:
Creation—Fall—Redemption—Restoration
Great marriage stories have these same components. Epic sports stories and great songs, movies, and books often contain the same ingredients. Think about the best movie ever filmed, “Remember the Titans.” 
A diverse football team was created. The struggle with racism was the fall. The Titans’ beating other racist teams begins a redemption process. And when the team pulls together to win the state championship, there is a glorious picture of full restoration that goes beyond a mere football team. (That’s such a great movie…)
God’s story at Cumberland has seen these same kinds of chapters unfold. Cumberland was created 32 years ago as Buckhead Community Church. In 2004, some of the leadership gears began to grind, and the church went into decline. CCC almost closed its doors until we gave ourselves away to the community. Such stewardship started to redeem Christ’s Church at Cumberland as a diverse and growing crowd of people came through our doors. We continue to serve actively in our community and around the world as God has restored us to a healthy, vibrant, Gospel-centered, multi-ethnic, missional church. Cool story, huh?
But the story continues. This past Sunday night at our Vision Night, we revealed the elders’ decision to bring Matt McGue on board as our church-planting pastor. Matt will also pastor our first CCC site in Douglasville as One Community Church becomes part of CCC in June.
We also unpacked more of God’s story through our executive staffing. Fitz Johnson, our executive director, has served amazingly well for three years. He was the right man for the job in a critical season. Now Fitz is stepping down from our full-time staff to work 15 hours a week while jumping back into the business world with his brother A.J. Fitz and his wife Suzann will still be a vital part of CCC.
Meanwhile, our new executive pastor, Courtney Harkness, began working with us three weeks ago and has already added great leadership to our church culture. Courtney is a Georgia Tech grad with excellent ministry experience. I’m sure you’ve loved his teaching at CCC.
We also unpacked more of God’s story through our executive staffing. Fitz Johnson, our executive director, has served amazingly well for three years. He was the right man for the job in a critical season. Now Fitz is stepping down from our full-time staff to work 15 hours a week while jumping back into the business world with his brother A.J. Fitz and his wife Suzann will still be a vital part of CCC.
Meanwhile, our new executive pastor, Courtney Harkness, began working with us three weeks ago and has already added great leadership to our church culture. Courtney is a Georgia Tech grad with excellent ministry experience. I’m sure you’ve loved his teaching at Cumberland.
We unpacked a lot at our Vision Night. You can go online to the Cumberland Facebook page and watch the whole evening on video.
And the story at Cumberland continues…We are looking forward to our June and July meetings with our Smyrna City Council folks. We believe that God will open all the right doors in His right timing. We hope to move into our new transitional building by the first of October. In the meantime, we gave out these very specific prayer cards at our Vision Night:
On Sunday, we’re talking about the power of story. Jesus’s Gospel, the upper story. CCC’s story. And your story—do you know it? Can you see the four components of a great story in your story? Wait until you hear Keith Veri’s story on Sunday. Wow.
It’s a holiday weekend, but we’ll still be gathering at 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. Sunday. Before you grill out, hang out with us at church. It’s such a great place to BE. There’s a great story unfolding.
Blessings & Love,
