Howdy NewSpring Church, SEVEN things I would love to share with you today…
#1 - I thought this past Sunday was the best opening Sunday of a series that our church has ever experienced…and if that was just the beginning then what in the world is God going to do as we continue to dive into Revelation over the next seven weeks?
#2 - I want to celebrate the fact that this past Sunday three of our campuses (Greenville, Columbia and Charleston) set non-holiday attendance records for the year. (AND Anderson and Florence were not far away from doing the same thing!) AND…I really do believe the best is yet to come!
#3 - A student who went to the Gauntlet brought her dad to the Anderson campus this past Sunday…and after the service he prayed to receive Christ! Hearing stories like that NEVER gets old.
#4 - FOUND PEOPLE FIND PEOPLE!!! Once again, I’m asking everyone in our church to beg God for HIS salvation to fall on every campus on August 21…and as we pray to also do all that we can to get people here on that day. Last year when we made this same particular effort on a Sunday we witnessed over 500 people surrender their lives to Christ, and this year we’re begging Jesus for more.
#5 - In reference to point #4…take just a minute or two to read what Jesus Himself said in Matthew 9:35-38. Folks…that text is amazing. Jesus said that the harvest is plentiful…but the workers are few. I’ve often heard it taught that the “outside world” simply isn’t interested in Jesus or Christianity…but Jesus actually said that the problem IS NOT that they are not interested…but rather that there are not enough workers to go and get them. So…once again…let’s ask God to set our hearts on fire with what is already burning in His heart…and then do all that we can to get people to church on that day!
#6 - Several people have been emailing and asking when our church will talk about the subject of homosexuality. So…so you will know on Sunday, August 28 we will be addressing the subject of marriage and sexuality…and then on Sunday, September 5 we will dive into the cultural distortions in regards to what God has in mind for sex in marriage that will include (but NOT be limited to) the subject of homosexuality. I am looking forward to taking our church through the Scriptures to see what God’s Word clearly says regarding these things.
#7 - One more time…a HUGE thank you for the outpouring of love this church (and many outside the church) have poured out on my family and me since the passing of my dad. One of our core values is, “I can’t do life alone” and there are times that the Lord allows that reality to become so plain to us…the past 10 days have been that for me. I have sincerely felt the prayers of my church family and the overwhelming love and genuine concern that you guys have poured out on me…and I thank God for you. Personally, I am still grieving…but I am also moving on. As I said at the end of the service Sunday…God took my father’s life, He did not take mine, and until He does I plan on living my life everyday as an exclamation point and not a question mark. As long as He gives me one more day…I am going to try my best to honor Him by making the most of it (see Ephesians 5:15-20)