We did a direct mail campaign when we launched NCC @ Ballston in 09.03 and you always wonder about the efficiency and effectiveness of those kind of marketing efforts. Do people actually come as a result? I got a cool email from an NCCer who is moving soon, but it was neat to hear about the way NCC has changed their lives and it all traces back to one of our mailers. They gave me permission to share part of the email.
Well, the time has come for us to move to a more suitable climate for us northerners, namely the Twin Cities in MN. We have spent 3 wonderful years here in DC, and it’s been great sharing our time here with all of y’all (we’re practicing the y’alls this week, so we can sound real southern when we go back). You have all had a big impact on our lives, and we are so grateful for the memories we will take with us from National Community Church.
Before finding NCC we spent one pretty miserable year here, on the 16th floor of Skyline Towers, not finding a church we liked, and without a car and long bus-commutes and a very busy 1st year, we didn’t have much time to seek out new friends. Then we moved to Ballston and got a flyer in the mail about this new church opening up a few weeks later. We decided to try it out, and what a blessing it was! Instantly we had people surrounding us, welcoming us to small groups and sports, and it didn’t take long before we felt like NCC was really family. God put us in Ballston for a reason! Even if the church was big and busy, people really took the time to help us feel like we were a part of it. We truly appreciate that!
Some of the things we really enjoyed: Smallgroup (which became big group) and Leslie’s, football on Sundays, an amazing baptism in the ocean last October, awesome worship, great movie nights at Gavin and Philips, Girls’ nights at Mexicali Blues, never getting what we ordered at Mexicali Blues…, craft nights, dessert nights, Club events, and most of all getting to know so many God-loving people have really made moving from here so much harder than we ever imagined. We will really miss you, and should you at any point find yourself traveling to/through Minneapolis, you’re more than welcome to visit.
Every once in a while it’s so healthy and so important to step back and marvel at the lives that are being touched because of what NCC is doing. It’s not about one person. It’s not about one ministry. It’s about a group of people being the church! It’s so tough to see people move away from NCC, but I’ve always felt like we are a “missionary-sending” church! We can’t control when people come or go, but we can bless them while they’re here! And, oh yah, I think we’ll keep sending out direct mail pieces 
