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What on Earth is God Doing at Heart of the Lakes Church? (Spoiler: A Lot.)

Look, I’m not saying God has a favorite church family, but if you’ve been hanging around Heart of the Lakes lately, you have to admit—He’s kind of flexing here.

Whether you call the Brooklyn Campus home, frequent the Jackson Campus, or just stumbled across us online while avoiding your inbox, there is so much good stuff happening right now. Let’s break it down before my coffee runs out.

Happy 5th Anniversary, Jackson Campus!

First off, huge milestone alert! We just celebrated our 5th Anniversary at the Jackson Campus, and it was incredible. To make it even better, we invited Pastor Todd to come back and mark the occasion with us. Five years of life-changing ministry, community, and seeing God build something truly special in Jackson—and honestly, we’re just getting started.

God is Moving (And Here's Proof)

Speaking of what God is doing... GOD IS MOVING. Full stop.

I have to share a quick personal story because it’s just too good to keep to myself. I brought my sister to church last weekend. Now, she is not a super social person by nature, and to be completely honest, she hasn't had the best experiences with church in the past. But after the service, she looked at me and said she felt like that message was meant directly for her.

That’s not clever preaching or great staging—that is the Holy Spirit meeting people right where they are. That is why we do what we do!

Wisdom Drop: Pastors Cyle & Todd Tell It Like It Is

If you caught our recent reel clips (and if you didn't, please go watch them on Instagram or Facebook), Pastor Cyle and Pastor Todd dropped some truth bombs:

  • God is writing the story—and He’s a way better writer than any of us. Every test, every weird season, every plot twist is just God setting up something bigger. He’s building faith, changing lives, and honestly? We just get to be along for the ride.

  • God works through people. (Yes, even you. And yes, even lawyers.) From unexpected life advice to people being placed literally across the street at the exact right moment, God is in every single detail.

Iron Sharpens Iron: Going the Extra Mile & Hosting a Life Group

Pastor Cyle hit the nail on the head recently when he talked about going the extra mile on Sunday and getting plugged in yesterday at our 330x3 update. Here’s the reality: fellowship is just as critical to your spiritual health as reading your Bible, praying, and showing up on Sunday morning. God didn't design us to do faith solo. Iron sharpens iron!

Right now, our single biggest need at Heart of the Lakes Church is LIFE GROUP HOSTS.

We literally have people standing around, waiting for a group to open up so they can get connected. You don't need a seminary degree or a pristine house that looks like a Pinterest board—you just need a heart to host! You can host at your house, or you can even host right at the church building.

Ready to step up? Click here to sign up as a Life Group Host today!

140 People, Endless Carbohydrates: The 330x3 Update Dinner

Can we talk about the 330x3 update dinner for a second? Over 140 of you showed up. One hundred and fourty!

We brought the chicken, you brought a legendary array of sides and desserts, and together we worshipped, caught up on the vision for both campuses, and proved once again that our church family really, really knows how to cook. Thank you to everyone who made it out—the room was buzzing, the vision is big, and the future is looking incredibly bright.

The "Get Involved Before Fall Passes You By" Department

We have a lot of awesome stuff planned, and quite frankly, it’s just not as fun without you. Here is your official checklist of things to do next:

Newish Around Here? Come Eat Our Pizza.

If you’ve been coming to HOTL for a little while and still feel like "the new guy/gal," let’s fix that. Join us for Pizza with the Pastors! It’s casual, zero-pressure, full of delicious free pizza, and the absolute best way to hang out with our pastors and meet other folks who are also trying to figure out where the extra coffee cups are kept.

Men’s Discipleship with Pastor Ryan

Gentlemen, it’s time to step up and grow deeper in your walk with God. Pastor Ryan’s Men’s Discipleship Class is officially kicking off, and trust me, you want in on this.  Click here to sign up and claim your spot!

Women’s Bible Studies are BACK

Ladies, your Tuesday routine just got an upgrade. Women’s Bible Study is back in full swing on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month. High-level Scripture study, genuine community, and great conversation. Get all the details and times over at hotlstrong.com/events.

Grandparents Day: Step-In Grandparents Needed!

Grandparents Day is this coming weekend, and we want every single kid in our church family to feel surrounded by love. If you’ve got some extra love (and wisdom) to give and want to be a step-in grandparent for a kiddo this SUNDAY the 13th, reach out to Pastor Cody right away. You’ll make a kid’s whole month—promise.

The Lodge Schedule Update ("Falling Back")

Quick heads up for everyone involved with The Lodge: we are officially shifting our hours! Starting now, meeting times will be 5:30 PM – 7:45 PM until further notice. Adjust your alarms, tell your friends, don't be late!

See You This Weekend!

Listen, God is actively moving through Heart of the Lakes Church, and there is a place specifically saved for you here. Whether you’re jumping into a new study, stepping up to host a group, or just walking through the doors for the first time—we can’t wait to worship with you this weekend.

Now go hit those event links before you forget!