The first few minutes of each day are some of the most important minutes of the day. Join us every Monday – Friday as we spend time applying God’s word to our lives. It’s just 5 minutes a day, 5 days a week.
In a season when God seemed silent and visions were rare, a young boy named Samuel heard his name called in the night—but didn't recognize the voice. In this episode, Pastor Chuck Allen concludes the story of Hannah by introducing us to one of the most misunderstood figures in Scripture: Eli, the aging priest whose own life was marked by failure, yet who taught Samuel the words that would change Israel's history. Through Eli's example, Pastor Chuck reveals what mature faith looks like—the spiritual generosity to position someone else to encounter God, even when your own story hasn't gone the way you hoped. Whether you feel like Samuel, unsure if what you're hearing is truly God's voice, or like Eli, aware of your shortcomings and wondering if you have anything left to offer, this message invites you into the same posture: "Speak, Lord. Your servant is listening." It's the bravest prayer you can pray—and it might just change everything.
Chuck is the Lead Pastor at Sugar Hill Church. He’s been the Lead Pastor since 2011, but he’s been around Sugar Hill Church since 2008. Since day one, Chuck’s passion has been to encourage others with this one big belief: “You can do this! You can love God with all your heart, mind and soul and be normal!" You will often hear him say, “the Bible is a very big deal, Jesus is the very biggest deal and living that out always involves serving people here and around the globe.” Chuck's passion is to graciously lead people to Jesus and create a simple path for them to grow in their faith. Some of his goals are to reduce the dropout rate in our local schools, serve with our missions partners well, lead our church and families with a healthy fiscal plan, and in the future, to provide transitional housing for single moms. Chuck and his wife, Jenny, stay plenty busy with six daughters, three son-in-laws, five grandkids and an awesome dog, Kirby. They are foodies and enjoy eating through the Atlanta Magazine Top 50 Restaurants. Chuck’s favorite things to do include fishing, reading, writing and cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs!
Bobby serves as both the Associate Pastor and the Teaching Pastor at Sugar Hill Church. He has been on staff here since December, 2008 (where he started part-time in Student Ministry). Bobby’s passion comes from a love of seeing the light-bulb go on for folks. Whether it’s in a small group, a NEXT gathering, or during a weekend message, he loves seeing people “get it” and apply the truth to their lives. As one of our pastors here, Bobby helps individuals take the next steps in their faith, he helps the church fulfill its God-given mission, and he gives day-to-day direction to our Adult Ministries, Communications, and Finance teams. In his spare time, you can find Bobby riding his motorcycle, working out, reading, or eating gas station tacos. He and his wife, Laura, have been married since January, 2011, and they have a very “manly” 10lb cockapoo named Ollie. He would love to connect more, so find him on social media (@bobbymcgraw) or check out his blog at yourbetterstory.com.
