What way to close out the first month of 2010. Here are my ruminations on the day.
— Might as well start off with the big announcement huh? Let me set this up as I did at church today…
- Today we shattered the previous non holiday attendance high. The last two months we’ve pushed the attendance limit at Element. We are quickly running out of space. SO, what are we going to do? We’re going to do what everyone expects us to do. Today we launched our first ever building campaign. ONLY this one is different.
- A few months ago, I was gripped with the fact that right here in our city, there are families who are legitimately trying to get back on their feet…some of them homeless. I was moved by the fact that there are 18,000 applications for affordable housing in our city. I was challenged by the fact that Cheyenne Interfaith Hospitality Network (ministry organization) is trying to help homeless families get back on their feet but simply needs “more space” to house them.
- SO, for our first ever building campaign…for the first piece of property we own, we are going to purchase, rebuild, restore and redeem a home in our city for people who don’t have one. That’s right, we are in the process of pursuing a four-plex apartment (two 2 bedroom, 2 one bedroom) that will be used for affordable, homeless transitional housing. I know that brings up TONS of questions, I explained the plan in the sermon. You’ll have to watch it to find out otherwise this will take forever.
Updates will be coming soon on the blog. (www.elementweb.net) You can watch it right now HERE if you want. (select the service from the 8:30 hour. The other two had technical difficulties) - Imagine a single mom having a place to care for her family or a family being able to start life over again. What kind of difference could it make just being able to have a place to START?
- Why are we doing this? Because THIS is the kind of fasting God wants (Isaiah 58:6-7)
- You’ll have to catch the sermon online cause I’ll just keep going.
- And like I said 2nd and 3rd service, I personally give you permission to SLAP anyone who says “Is that all the announcement was?” WHAT OTHER ANNOUNCEMENT WOULD YOU WANT but that we are living for SOMEONE ELSE!?
— We launched ninety-days.com today too. I called out Element Church to a challange today for the next 90 days (Feb. 1 – May 1). I asked, what will you do to break out of your status with your time, your talents and your treasure for the next 90 days. I shared in service what I personally will be doing. At ninety-days.com you can download the three Bible reading plans for the 90 days. (1 chapter a day, through the NT in 90, or through the BIBLE in 90)
— Make sure and log onto ninety-days.com and let us know what commitments you are making so we can pray for you. Would love to hear what God is challenging you to do to break out of your status. You can make a comment to the post on the web0-s
— Can’t say enough about what Adam and the creative team pulled off today. AMAZING creative element during worship that was EXTREMELY powerful. Steve Doolin did a live painting during the last song of worship (Surrender). He painted the words “chained” on 2 canvases that were displayed on the platform. At the climax of the song, he then ripped them to shreds with a razor knife only to reveal behind them to lit up signs saying “Breaking Free”. It was a POWERFUL moment.
— During that song we showed the live video of the creative element on the screens. It worked PERFECT. Thanks Adam and Jeremiah for all your hard work. And thanks Steve for the OUTSTANDING job doing it. So good.
— I couldn’t get a good shot of the finished project off my phone. It was moving!
— We showed the sermon live online today. I believe there were over 20 viewers during first service. Glad we could offer that today to people who couldn’t be here.
— Like I said above, we shattered a previous attendance high today (from last week). I guess we’ll have to address space issues pretty soon too. (And trust me, we’ve already been talking about solutions there. Excited about the possibilities right where we are at)
— That’s about it for today. Announced the purchase of a home for the homeless, kicked off our 90 day challenge of breaking free, AND we WILL trust God to provide ALL along the way. Sounds like a pretty good day to me.
— Don’t forget. How do we continue to advance? 1. Respond to the standard ; 2. Get over yourself ; 3. Live for someone else ; 4. Work hard at what you want to be known for.
— Element Church, I LOVE being your pastor. Truly humbled, honored and privileged to lead you. Can’t want to see what’s next. The BEST is yet to come!
Till the end,
Jeff
