Happy Saturday Friends!

I hope you have had a wonderful week enjoying this beautiful weather! We have some exciting news and some great opportunities we'd love to share with you -- take a look!

**REVEALED**
 

This Sunday we begin a brand new series where over the next four weeks we will take a look starting from the very beginning of Jesus' 3 year ministry, all the way up to His cross, where along the way He begins to reveal not just who He is as the Savior to humanity -- but also revealing to the world of a whole new way to be human. Join us at 10:45AM each Sunday -- we'll save you a seat :)

** WAY STUDENTS SUMMER CAMP **

DON'T MISS IT!!! ALL STUDENTS FROM RISING 7th - 12th GRADES ARE WELCOME! 

Fort Caswell and BeDoTell ministries is a dynamic youth camp at the beach on the southern coast of North Carolina. The camp week includes powerful worship, quality proclaimers, original dramas, engaging production, a hands-on missions experience, intentional discipleship for students and youth ministry training for adults. Derwin Gray, pastor of Transformation Church in South Carolina, will be bringing a challenging and encouraging message each day to our students and leaders. This is an incredible opportunity for your student to have a powerful, fun, and faith-forming experience that they will carry with them for a lifetime. 

The 2025 camp theme is REMAIN. Based on John 15:4-5, REMAIN encourages students to abide in Jesus so they would bear much fruit. This isn’t a one-time occurrence, but characteristic of a life devoted to following Jesus every day. The challenge to remain is to be there and stay there.

Students will leave on June 2nd and will return on June 6th. Please be sure to save your students spot by registering through the link below! The invitation is open so feel free to have your student bring a friend along to share in this amazing camp experience that will make an impact for a lifetime. 

https://churchofthewayfl.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2795578

For more information please visit www.bedotell.com 

** WELCOME TOBY MCWILLIAMS! **

On March 9th we made a HUGE and exiting announcement! After months of prayer and a season of waiting, we are thrilled and honored to announce our new Pastor of Family & Outreach — Toby McWilliams!! Toby will be serving and leading our kids and student ministry along with our community engagement and outreach! Here’s a little bit of Toby’s story!
Toby has been married to his awesome bride, Caitlin for 11 years. **Fun Fact** Both Toby and Caitlin are Fleming Island High School graduates! They have two incredible boys, Jude (6) and Nate (3). 
Toby has been in full-time ministry for almost 5 years serving in various leadership roles. He is currently completing seminary with one more semester to obtain his Master of Divinity with a focus in Pastoral Counseling from Liberty University. 
What Toby brings to this role is a passion for the scriptures and a heart to get the Gospel into homes and shaping families through shepherding kids and students while partnering with parents. There is a shared heartbeat and desire for the local church to be the cultural driver and the agent of change in the community it dwells within to meet great need with great love. 
Here’s what Toby had to share about this calling into a new season of life and ministry at Church Of The Way: “I desire that God would fill us with His Spirit and display us as a city on a hill that cannot be hidden so that the community can know God and His saving love, grace, and mercy. “
 God is writing a beautiful narrative through this church, and we are honored to have Toby play a part in its story. So friends, would you please join as we praise God for bringing Toby and his family to COTW, and also join with us all in saying, “McWilliams family, Welcome Home”!

Family ministry, both kids and students, is such a pivotal part of the local church -- spiritually guiding our growing little ones, and our maturing students is a big responsibility with a high calling. Jason and Bridget Doughty have done a remarkable job providing that with our little ones! As we paused to take a look forward, our heart in this process was to be still and ask the Holy Spirit to guide us in two ways: 1. Where this area of ministry is moving towards 2. Who will lead us into this new season. Because as a parent myself, I understand how significant it is to have stability, maturity, and structure for our children and students -- well, the Lord has provided! Many of you have been in prayer alongside us, waiting on purpose for God to lead and reveal direction, and WE THANK YOU!

So, here is what I will ask you to join me in now, take a massive jump forward for you and your students to come, be present, join in for this exciting new season of life and ministry within our Way Kids & Way Students!

With that AWESOME NEWS -- it leads us to...

** WAY Students Pool, Pizza, and Karaoke!!! **

 Next Sunday, March 30th we will be welcoming Toby and his awesome family into the Church Of The Way community as he jumps in to serve and lead our Family (Kids & Student) and Outreach ministries, so let's do it in COTW fashion with open arms!

We will be meeting at the Marquis' home from 5-7:30PM for an awesome night with no agenda but to hangout, have some pizza, sing some karaoke tunes, all poolside to get to know Toby our new COTW Family & Outreach Pastor!!

If there is anything we can be in prayer for, then please never hesitate to let us know. We are here for you!

Grace & Peace,

Lucas Johnson
Lead Pastor - Church Of The Way
www.cotw.church

Happy Saturday!

I wanted to send a quick message to invite you to join us tomorrow at 10:45AM as we continue the journey through the book of Acts in our series A Heart For The House!

TABLE GROUP LUNCH & LEARN! The scriptures give us the timeless formula to build, grow, and strengthen meaningful relationships and community while together drawing closer to the person of Jesus -- around the Table. Table Groups are designed to be the place where common interests or seasons of life gathers us, but the relationships and the journey of being formed by Jesus together, keeps us. If you are interested in learning more about joining, hosting, or leading a Table Group then we would love for you to join us around the table for a meal. Immediately following the service tomorrow (3/9/25) we will share a meal together and talk about the upcoming Table Group Season. You were built for relationship and made for community -- come and see! To register follow the link below -- lunch will be provided :)

https://churchofthewayfl.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2809833

**BIG ANNOUNCEMENT TOMORROW!!** Lastly -- we are SOOOO excited to share some very BIG news with you tomorrow! So, do all you can to join us at 10:45AM as we gather in prayer, worship, in scripture and the presence of God -- to give Him glory for all He is doing in COTW as we move forward into this new season of life and ministry -- don't miss it! We expect great things from God, as we attempt great things for God. 

Have a wonderful and restful weekend, and I hope to see you tomorrow at Church Of The Way!

Grace & Peace,

Lucas Johnson
Lead Pastor - Church Of The Way
www.cotw.church

Greetings Friends!

I hope you've had a great start to the week and enjoying this beautiful weather! Here are a few things coming up at Church Of The Way that we would love for you to know and be a part of!

This Sunday, March 9th immediately following the 10:45AM service we will be hosting a lunch for those interested in learning more and/or wanting to host or lead a Table Group for the upcoming season! Table Groups is a great way to build relationship and community with one another while drawing closer to heart of Jesus together. They are also designed to be the simple and easy invitation for friends and neighbors that may not be connected to the local church to come and experience a real love and sense of community that they are made for. There is freedom and creativity within our groups - whether its gathering around a common interest (board games, gardening, running, dog lovers, knitting... the sky's the limit!) or even season of life, (mom's of little ones, empty nesters, single, married, young adults or simply young at heart!) we want there to be a place for every single soul. We were built for relationship and made for community -- our Table Groups are where we live that out. If you would like to attend the lunch & connect this Sunday please register with the following link to give us a good idea of how much food to provide :)

https://churchofthewayfl.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2809833

**WAY STUDENTS IS GOING TO FORT CASWELL SUMMER CAMP!!**

We are SUUUUUUPER excited to be heading to Fort Caswell, North Carolina this year for our Way Students (rising 7th - 12th grade) summer camp!

Fort Caswell and BeDoTell ministries is a dynamic youth camp at the beach on the southern coast of North Carolina. The camp week includes powerful worship, quality proclaimers, original dramas, engaging production, a hands-on missions experience, intentional discipleship for students and youth ministry training for adults. Derwin Gray, pastor of Transformation Church in South Carolina, will be bringing a challenging and encouraging message each day to our students and leaders. This is an incredible opportunity for your student to have a powerful, fun, and faith-forming experience that they will carry with them for a lifetime.

The 2025 camp theme is REMAIN. Based on John 15:4-5, REMAIN encourages students to abide in Jesus so they would bear much fruit. This isn’t a one-time occurrence, but characteristic of a life devoted to following Jesus every day. The challenge to remain is to be there and stay there.

For more information please visit www.bedotell.com and to register your student please use the following link:

https://churchofthewayfl.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2795578

**The cost of the camp will include meals, lodging, and gas for transportation.**

If you have any questions or if there is anything we can be covering in prayer, then please never hesitate to reach out any time -- we are here for you!

Have a great rest of the week and I hope to see you this Sunday at Church Of The Way!

Grace & Peace,

Lucas Johnson
Lead Pastor - Church Of The Way
www.cotw.church

I hope you are staying warm and dry out there today!

This past Sunday we held our annual "Family Meeting" where we took a moment to look back and thank God for all He has done, we paused in the present to acknowledge what is doing right now, and prayerfully look forward with expectation for ALL the amazing He has planned in our tomorrow.

We were able to celebrate and honor the appointments of our new Fellowship of Deacons by the laying on of our hands and prayer over each of them. Our Fellowship of Deacons are the dedicated team of congregants serving in all areas of ministry within the church to identify great need, and help meet it with great love. With hearts committed to living out the communal and servant-driven values of Acts 2, and the character and integrity outlined in Titus 1 and I Timothy 3, these leaders are champions of service and collaboration. Here is the list of our Fellowship of Deacons with the area of ministry they will be serving:

• Gail Whitehead - Hospitality
• Jim & Eva Dion - Benevolence & Generosity
• Charlie Robinson - Outreach
• Michela Tavolieri - Family Ministries (Birth - 5th grade)
• Loren Murwin - Student Ministries (6th - 12th grade)
• Matt Maynard - Worship and Production
• Ken Marquis - Administration (facilities maintenance/enhancements)
• Mike Speer - Administration (stewardship)

Please join me in continued prayer over each of one them as they lead us through acts of service to one another and our community. I would also invite you to pray about how you can play an amazing role in the beautiful story the Lord is writing through Church Of The Way by serving one another, the neighbor, and stranger in one these areas of ministry alongside them. It's the high call Jesus gives for all those who follow Him, and we will never look more like Him than in the moments we serve one another. There's always room and plenty of opportunities for you express God's love through serving others here at COTW: Here is a link for more information of how you can take this incredible next step in the journey of following Jesus together!

Serving Opportunities: https://churchofthewayfl.churchcenter.com/people/forms/833330

Lastly, this past Sunday was the launch for our Fellowship of Elders Nomination process. If you call COTW home, we invite you to be a part of this exciting and pivotal moment in the life of this church. Below you will find a link to the nomination form -- if there is someone that you feel exemplifies the qualities the scriptures outline as one who may serve in this role, then through prayerful consideration we would love to hear your heart through your nomination of them. Nominations will be accepted through March, 2nd. 

This is an exciting season and we are expectant of the great things God has planned for COTW! If there is anything we can be praying for, or any way that we can help then please never hesitate to let us know. We are here for you.

Yours In Christ,

Lucas Johnson
Lead Pastor - Church Of The Way
www.cotw.church
"Church Of The Way exists so that people will meet, follow, and live in the ways of Jesus"

Happy Saturday Friends!

I just wanted to send a quick reminder of some important things coming up at Church Of The Way!!

Way Students is back with a splash!!

This Sunday night our middle and high school students will meet at the church at 5:15PM for some pizza and an encouraging message, then head over to the amazing family of Bryan and Cassi Wolski's home just around the block for an awesome pool party! So if you have a student make sure they bring a bathing suit and towel because it's going to be a blast!

COTW ANNUAL FAMILY MEETING

We will be holding our annual "Family Meeting" tomorrow afternoon (Feb. 16th) at 4PM. It will be a time for us take a look back and celebrate all of the incredible things the Lord has done this past year in COTW and give Him thanks -- a time to be present, right now and pray for the vision and direction that He gives us to steward
-- to then look towards our tomorrow with great expectation to grow into the vision and move into the direction that He has given.

Also, this time is FOR YOU. We have reached a milestone moment in the life of COTW and you have a major part to play in the story that God continues to write. If you call Church Of The Way home -- meaning this is the place you gather, you serve, you give, and you grow in relationship with Jesus and community with others, then we want to hear your heart and your voice to speak into this vision and new season. This meeting will also serve as the launch for the Fellowship of Elders nomination process that will be placed in your hands. So please come to learn more about this process and be a part of this special moment.

If there are any questions you have, or anything we can be in prayer over then please never hesitate to reach out any time.

Have a wonderful weekend and I hope to see you tomorrow at Church Of The Way!

Lucas Johnson
Lead Pastor - Church Of The Way
www.cotw.church
e. lucas@cotw.church

Good Afternoon Friends!

I hope you are having a great start to your week!

As we continue journeying through the scriptures by walking through the Book of Acts, I am being reminded daily at just how simple, yet deeply relational the local church was designed and purposed to be. A community of belonging -- gathered in the name of Jesus, devoted to His teachings and practicing His ways in our daily lives -- serving the family, friend, neighbor and stranger, while growing in relationship with one another as we deepen our relationship with Christ, what a gift! I am honored and grateful to be able to do this alongside you at Church Of The Way!

He have a few things coming up that we would love to pass along to you! 

February 21-22nd North Florida Christian Camp will be hosting a women's retreat that several of our worship leaders from COTW will be leading! It's going to be a great weekend of unwinding and refreshment so don't miss out on this great opportunity. For more information or to register you can follow the link here:

https://nfcsc.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2224536

Spots are limited so be sure to register soon if you would like to attend!

**COTW ANNUAL FAMILY MEETING!!**

We would love for you to join us at 4PM on Sunday, Feb. 16th for our annual family meeting. We have some exciting things happening that we would like to share and invite you to be a part of as the Lord continues to give fresh vision for Church Of The Way to steward and grow. We will be sharing with you some of the amazing ways of how through you and your faithfulness, have strengthened the local church, advanced the Gospel (hear, near, and far away), and met great need with great love to the neighbor and stranger out in our community. We are pumped to also share a very important update on the formation of both our Fellowship of Deacons and Fellowship of Elders so please don't miss it.

I am humbled, grateful, and honored to be able to serve and worship alongside you in the beautiful story that God is writing here. We give thanks for all the great things that God has done, and expectant of all the great things He WILL do through COTW! See you there!

The invitation is always open -- if there is anything that we can be praying over for you or anyone you know, then please never hesitate to reach out any time. We are here for you.

Have a great rest of the week and I hope to see you Sunday!

Grace and Peace,

Lucas Johnson
Lead Pastor - Church Of The Way
www.cotw.church
e. lucas@cotw.church
c. 703.618.0912

Happy Saturday Friends!

I hope you had great week and having a restful weekend so far!

This Sunday we continue in our walk through the book of Acts in our "Heart for the House" series! Join us at 10:45AM as we take a look at the first church with it's timeless, simple practices, the profound impact it had on the world, and how those same practices through the guidance of the Holy Spirit and the love of Jesus are more relevant today than ever before within the local church. Through this beautiful story we see how those marked by the life-changing love of Jesus, His local church and by His design, became the catalyst in the spiritual formation journey by inviting us to draw closer to Him through gathering around the scriptures, worship, prayer, and the table as this simple practice deepened relationships with one another, and advanced the Gospel to the ends of the earth and through time.

IT'S BAAAAAACK! This Sunday evening starting at 5:30PM our Way Students (6th-12th grade) will gather for a night of laughs, games, snacks, worship, and community! So, if you have a student, know a student, or are a student then we'd love for them to be there -- Doors open at 5PM!

If there is anything we can be praying for you then please let us know -- prayer is powerful and we are honored to partner with you and approach our Good God with expectation.

https://churchofthewayfl.churchcenter.com/people/forms/836168

I hope you have an amazing afternoon and I look forward to seeing you tomorrow at Church Of The Way!

Yours In Christ,

Lucas Johnson