Wow. I am wiped out today my friends. I got a little worked up at church today. Preached on vision. Here are my ruminations on the day.
— Two people received Christ today. We didn’t even do an “altar call” and two people got saved. AWESOME! Love it when that happens. You really know the Spirit was working over their heart.
— Actually, more than that. Pastor Derek led one young girl to Christ after church. Then I got word that revival broke out in second service Explorers. Sounds like a bunch of kids prayed with their teacher to receive Jesus today. Tally those #’s later. LOVE seeing kids accept Christ!
— Had one lady come to church today as a result of one of our Fusion students inviting her to come while he was waiting tables at the restaurant he works at. LOVE IT!
— Someone came to church today that is next door neighbors to Pastor Grants brother who lives in Powell. They had NO idea Grant worked at this church, they just happened to come. They didn’t even know Grant but recognized the name and though he looked familiar. They were blown away and said they’ve been praying for his brother for a while now that he would come to know the Lord. Amazing how God connects people like that. How cool to “randomly” make that connection. Awesome!
— 762 in church today. Great turnout in each service.
— Started our One Prayer sermon series today. So excited for this series and the direction God is taking us. The theme for the series is “God is…”
— Today was God is DETERMINED! Each week is going to build on the previous.
— “God is determined to 1. Change our city… 2. One life at a time… 3. And it starts with me!”
— Looked at the story of Zacheus. I think it’s the first time ever I’ve preached on Zacheus.
— I led everyone who knew the song, in singing the old Sunday School song “Zacheus was a wee little man” It was funny! Surprised at how many knew it.
— The ones who didn’t know the song looked VERY scared that we DID know the song! LOL
— Really felt led to speak on vision today as we talked about God’s determination. I got worked up. I always do when I talk on vision.
— Call me a dreamer, but I truly believe God is determined to change and reach our city and He wants to do it through the local church. ALL local churches. If our dream ISN’T for God to reach our WHOLE city, WHY ARE WE HERE! For some reason God has chosen to use the local church.
— The “one life at a time” stories from Element blow me away. Told one story via video of a young guy that got saved 2 weeks ago in our Elevate program. Pastor Derek led him to the Lord.
— Told another story of Lance. Lance came to the building in October and helped Grant and I build one of our walls. He knew Grant from Grant’s Frito Lay days. He didn’t come to “church” until March in which God broke through to his heart and he accepted Christ. Lance hasn’t looked back since. I said this today “We didn’t build that wall so we could have a building, we built that wall for Lance!”
— Lance was one of the names that was written down on the name boards we did back in September. We challenged the church to write names of people they wanted to see come to know Christ through Element Church. Today, we crossed off Lances name! WOO HOO!
— We took communion today and put the name boards back out. We got a TON more names written on them. So cool.
— Grant had someone come up to him after service and said “We can cross my sisters name off”. Love that too.
— I’ve seen several names crossed of the boards recently. We keep them in the hallway that connects our worship center and e:kidz.
— Changing the city starts with me. “I can’t change the city, but I can let God change me, and when God changes me the city changes!”
— Had Leadership Council meeting today. Three very godly men from Element meet with the pastors Lead Team monthly to offer insight and guidance in the church. They look at our financial situation and give council on decisions we are making and directions we are going. It is a GREAT group of guys.
— I wish we had a camera at today’s meeting. At one point, all of us guys locked arms as we sat around the table and we prayed for a GOD SIZED miracle for our church! Can’t tell you what that is yet, but I will sometime. Ha!
— Probably should stop. If you’ve read this far THANK YOU for being a part of Element Church. I LOVE leading you guys!
Following Christ,
Jeff
