One of our core ministries here at Southside is the HOPE ministry, which is designed to assist people who have made unwise and unhealthy choices in their past, but are…

Last weekend was our third annual ELEVATE Discipleship Conference. We began this conference at Southside in 2016 because there was a felt need for young adults to think deeply about…

We are all constantly faced with new challenges and new opportunities in our life. Often times though the biggest difference between an opportunity to grow and a challenge we grumble…

Jan Hegi relayed a good story to me recently. On Wednesday nights, we have been sending out two vans to pick up children for our Kids Hope ministry. As the…

To the brokenness of our world we often offer our “thoughts and prayers.” At times, that may seem a lame and anemic response to the horror and heartache that surround…

God is always sending us people; people who want to engage in God’s mission in this neighborhood. This past year God blessed us with some incredible new partners and it…

Our theme verse this year talks about the importance of trusting in our Lord. Isaiah 40:31, “Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all…

Have you ever built a brick wall? It is something that is tedious and repetitive. The whole process takes a long time and at the end you get to see…

I have often discussed the unique faith challenges that arise for many people during their college years. It’s not uncommon for a person to fall away from the faith in…

Our theme for this year is to be a people moving from disappointment to hope. Each of us experience disappointment in this world either because of our own sin or…

It’s everywhere. On the roadways and in offices. On the schoolgrounds and church parking lots. And especially in our homes. 3.3 million children are exposed to domestic violence annually. 4…

By guest author, Bekah Vickers Over New Years, our family got a puppy (because sometimes having three kids causes insanity), and I insisted on naming him Samwise Gamgee. This is…

As a young boy growing up, one of my favorite television shows was the Andy Griffith show. Living and growing up in a small town, I saw many parallels in…

We spend our time taking care of ourselves and the ones we care about. We pray for our families, work for our families, and protect our families. However, we often…

“SURELY GOD IS GOOD TO ISRAEL, TO THOSE WHO ARE PURE IN HEART. BUT AS FOR ME, MY FEET HAD ALMOST SLIPPED; I HAD NEARLY LOST MY FOOTHOLD. FOR I…

In his book Every Good Endeavor, Tim Keller talks about a little-known short story by J. R. R. Tolkien that comes with a deep, spiritual truth. In the story, the…

One of the unsung heroes of Jesus’ birth story was an older lady named Anna. We know very little about her and she just pops into the story and back…

For many, this season of the year is not “merry” at all. No, they are not the proverbial “bah-humbug” scrooges. Instead, they are in pain — the pain of grief….

The birth narrative of Jesus is one of my favorite stories in Scripture. I love the earthly scene: two scared parents, farm animals, and shepherds. But even more I like…

One of my favorite illustrations is about a young boy who wanted his father’s attention. He repeatedly approached his father begging him to play ball. His father was in a…

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or…

I’m embarrassed to say, it’s happened to me more than once… During the AM hours, I am awake but lazy, piddling around the house, watching TV in my pajamas, wondering…

My parents gave me many opportunities and privileges as a child, from living in a warm, loving home to being able to pursue academic and athletic accomplishments. But of all…