| Insider Tips for Simulcast Hosts Posted: 14 Apr 2014 10:15 PM PDT 
Good Friday is nearly upon us, and in preparation for Secret Church this Friday evening, we thought we’d offer up some insider tips for those of you hosting a simulcast. In no particular order… - Schedule: We’ve got an updated (albeit, flexible) itinerary for the night to give you idea of what’s ahead. Be sure to log into your account up to an hour early to ensure everything is connected and working well. And make the most of the breaks by grabbing snacks, refilling your coffee cup, and using the restroom; they are long enough to accommodate even large groups.
- Prayer focus: As you may already be well aware, our prayer focus this year is the Peoples of Turkey. You can give the folks who’ll be attending your simulcast a heads up about them by referring them to HopeForTurkey.com, but then make plans to join us in prayer that evening when we take time to focus on the Turks and Kurds together. Additionally, talk to your group about potentially joining us to commit to pray for them during the month of May.
- Food: Some people who host at home (and even some who don’t) make a point to share a pre-simulcast dinner with their group. This could be a great way to engage in fellowship and open lines of communication for topics that may surface over the course of the night. And for the sake of energy, you may want to provide some small snacks that people can munch on throughout the night.
- Additional study guides: If you order study guide immediately and expedite the shipping, we might be able to get them to you before Friday. However, you will get them nonetheless, so you can always watch later if they don’t arrive by the 18th (see #10 below). If someone shows up at your April 18 simulcast last minute, we’re putting a PDF of the study guide in your account a day or two before the simulcast so that those without study guides can either print off a copy or follow along digitally.
- Offering: Each year, we take up an offering that goes to assist believers who are being persecuted and/or struggling to grow the church where it is not yet present. We would encourage you to participate in this as well. If your group is large, you can go in together and have one person send a check (made out to “Radical” with “SC14″ in the memo) to Radical, ATT: Secret Church , 5511 Hwy 280, Suite 215, Birmingham, AL, 35242. You can also donate online if that’s more convenient.
- Technical difficulties: Pray with us that this tip is not needed, but should you experience any technical difficulties or connectivity trouble, get help at LiveStream’s FAQ page–they are our simulcast provider. You can also call them at 1.877.977.8732.
- Mandatory test: Thursday, April 17th, from between 3PM and 9PM Central, take 40 mins to an hour to test your connection and make sure everything is up to speed.
- Delayed streaming: This option allows you to start late (which may be nice for those of you on the east coast who have trouble beginning at 5PM Eastern). You can pause and rewind with this DVR-like feature so that whatever the speed you don’t miss a blank.
- Post-simulcast answers: If you do miss a blank, no worries. We’ll post the answers both throughout the night via Twitter (@Secret_Church) and afterward on our website.
- 30-day replay window: Remember, if you are unable to participate in the simulcast on Good Friday, you’ve got a 30-day window after Secret Church to register (if you haven’t), view, and receive study guides. This is also an option if you’d simply like to re-watch it. After that 30 day period, we’ll put the teaching portion only (no prayer emphasis, breaks, or music) on our website.
Can you still REGISTER for this SC 14: “The Cross and Everyday Life”? Yes! At this point, we can’t absolutely guarantee that your study guides will arrive on time, but if you choose an expedited shipping option, we’ll do our best. The study guide PDF that we’ll put in your account the day before the simulcast will be your backup option, and remember … you can always watch it later. You’ve got 30 whole days! |
| On the Outside Posted: 14 Apr 2014 10:01 PM PDT In the coming weeks, we'll be sharing a wide range of information about the Secret Church 14 prayer focus, the Peoples of Turkey. The following blog post can be read in its entirety at the prayer focus website, HopeForTurkey.com. 
Imagine your father has just passed away. Imagine that as the oldest son or daughter in the family your responsibility is not only to make arrangements for the funeral, but also to help lead prayers in the service at the church and graveside. Most of us might find that difficult, but if pressed we could do it. Now imagine that you are a Christian, the only one in your family. And imagine that instead of a church, you are expected to lead the Islamic prayers in the mosque for the funeral … READ MORE |
| Sacrifice = Good Works Posted: 14 Apr 2014 08:21 AM PDT In the coming weeks, we'll be sharing a wide range of information about the Secret Church 14 prayer focus, the Peoples of Turkey. The following blog post can be read in its entirety at the prayer focus website, HopeForTurkey.com. 
As I stood in the local grocery store parking lot, a great sadness covered my soul. Blood, animal excrement, body parts, and busy people surrounded me as I stood there praying. Some men, women, and children carried their freshly sacrificed meat to their vehicles. Others posed for family photos with the sheep they were about to have sacrificed for them. As they dragged the animals to the designated slaughtering area behind large blue tarps, the animals resisted with all their might. It seemed they knew death was coming. Although the bloody image was disturbing, what gripped my soul was that the state of the people. Their "good work" of sacrificing animals and giving portions of the meat to family, friends, and the poor was a desperate attempt to avoid a certain eternal punishment … READ MORE |
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