I am almost positive that I do not have the words to describe what has taken place at NewSpring during this past month in our “Illuminate” series. God has BLOWN ME AWAY...there is no way that any one person OR group of people can take credit for what we’ve seen…only Jesus could have done this. Here are some of the highlights from today…and from this month.
- On Saturday night our student ministry team did an event called Pulse…we had over 1,300 teenagers there and 270 received Christ!
- Then today at NewSpring we saw 106 people receive Christ!!!
- This month during this series we have seen around 800 people cross the line of faith!
- THANK YOU to everyone who made today run smoothly…you guys REALLY stepped up BIG TIME…we had room at 9:15 and 11:15 because SO MANY of you moved to 4:15 and 6:00!!! (And the energy this evening was incredible!)
- Today’s attendance was 9,147…this Sunday last year we had 5,769…that is a 58.5% increase in a year—IN ANDERSON! Like I said…ONLY GOD could do that!
We will conclude the series this coming Sunday with a message on how those who have crossed the line of faith can take the next step in their walk with Christ. And, of course, I am PUMPED about it!
Thanks to all who have prayed for this series and invited friends…for those who did invite friends and they didn’t come…or maybe they did come and didn’t receive Christ…DON’T GIVE UP! Jesus said in John 5:17 that God is always at work!!!
On a personal note…
I’ve got to be honest…and I am trying to choose my words carefully. This weekend was tough for me from a spiritual point of view. I didn’t sleep well…and I fought battles in my mind that haven’t been around for quite a while.
When God works—so does the enemy…and he has been working overtime to seriously discourage me. I’m not asking for sympathy but rather your prayers…I will tell you what most pastors will not say…ministry is hard and carries with it a spiritual aspect that many cannot understand. I struggled this week with discouragement—which may come as a surprise to many.
Every pastor struggles with this—EVERY PASTOR! I want to use what I’ve learned over the past week to encourage a fellow pastor who may have been going through what I’ve been through…keep in mind…
- Stay faithful…God will fight your battles.
- Stay focused on what God has called you to do…do not come down off the wall!
- God is faithful…if you find yourself fearing the future then reflect on the past…He’s been so good!
- Stay in the fight…one day you and I will stand in front of someone who’s assignment was much tougher than ours and He never gave up—neither should we!!!
- The best days for the advancement of God’s kingdom are ahead of us…NOT behind us!
NewSpring—let me say this so everyone can understand it—I am HERE…I am dedicated to this church and to this community. I DO NOT EVER PLAN ON LEAVING…and the more the enemy tries to discourage me the more it FIRES me up and fills me with passion to continue to impact this area with the Gospel.
I know that some of you are used to pastors who come and then are gone in 22 months…NOT ME…I am not a hireling…God has called me to lead this flock…and I am trying my best to learn how to do this from the ONE who set the model in place...and no amount of discouragement or criticism is ever going to cause me to quit
NewSpring…I will lay my life on the line for you…I LOVE YOU!!!
I am more passionate about this church and the vision than I have ever been…it is UNDENIABLE that God is at work! Let’s continue to work together to do all we can to reach this community and this nation…I’m in, are you?