Posts by Rich Barrett

I thought you might enjoy this post from Stephanie, who spends most Sundays answering questions at the information table: During the service this past Sunday I was sitting at the information table watching Andy on the hall monitor, and I confess, I got distracted. In my view, past the monitor and outside, there was a…

Recently we spent some time on a Sunday morning asking the question, “Are you IN?” The premise is simple. Access church began with a group of people praying that God would do something amazing in Jacksonville. Then, that group of people began to give from their income—to a church that didn’t even have a name…

Lately I’ve been in some discussions about our particular model of church with a few really bright critics. It’s good to allow others to ask challenging questions, and to ask them of ourselves. Some people just don’t like big churches. Others really resist the idea of one church having multiple campuses. And the idea of…

Thought you might be encouraged to see how North Point is continuing to look for innovative ways to reach the community of Atlanta. A bunch of people are loving the fact that they can invite unbelieving friends to an environment like North Point. But, what happens when those people have friends who don’t speak English?

If you wonder what we mean when we talk about creating “irresistible environments” on Sundays, the following letter from one of our attenders should help answer that question. As you read this, keep in mind that Shane, like you and I, is on a spiritual journey, and we’re all at different points on our journey.…

One of the things I love about the culture of our staff is that they are always seeking to learn from the best. Vernon Rainwater is an old friend of mine, and last week he and his staff graciously hosted our team at Northland Community Church. When I say, “graciously”… Wow! You can’t imagine how…

I’m not sure if there’s a group of people I’d rather hang out with than the Access volunteers. What a cool group of folks! Intense “ladder ball” competition, surfing lessons, hunting for shark teeth, catching sand sharks, and just hanging out, enjoying the fine company—these consumed our day. Kevin & Darin made a little gift…

Access Volunteers! (Yes, that includes those who’ve just signed up to serve at the point of greatest need.) Summer’s here, and there are only eight remaining off-Sundays. Spend this one with us at Sawgrass Beach Club! It’s a simple, casual beach day. Bring your own footballs, frisbees, sand toys, and beach chairs. We’re just going…

Baptism is an incredible step in the life of a believer. It’s a symbolic time to identify with Jesus Christ and publicly acknowledge that we place all of our hope in him alone. Some are intimidated by the idea. Maybe it’s the thought of being in front of a group of people dripping wet. Maybe…

We had a great morning at Access today! We talked about our DNA, and where we are headed. But first we had to remember how we got here. If you’ve ever wanted a fairly succinct version of the Access story, look no further… In the spring of 2005, a few Jacksonville natives began to discuss…