What an amazing 2-week run we've had! There's so much happening that it's hard to put it all into a blog post, so I'll do my best to keep it short.
• Week 2 of 2gether was focused on coming together as the church to fulfill the mission Jesus gave us. When you read the Great Commission in Matthew 28, it's pretty clear that Jesus never commissioned the church to be a common interest group for people who like church. He commissioned us to go to those who are not followers, help them to become followers, baptize them and teach them. It seems so simple that I wonder at times what happened to the church? Why do we get so inwardly focused? Why do we seem to think this thing is about us?
• We're not called to be church consumers! We're not commissioned to sit and soak it all in every week! We are commissioned, gifted and expected to be PARTICIPATORS!!
• And just in case you think you're not really needed just remember - God created you and gifted you the way you are for a reason! You are a "necessary part" of the Body of Christ, and you're necessary to the team called New Horizon or God wouldn't have brought you here.
• Weekend results? 117 people signed up for a Serving Experience!! So, over the next couple of weeks they will be spending a Sunday just following around a member of one of our serving teams to see how ministry works.
• If you didn't sign up for a Serving Experience, YOU STILL CAN!! And I hope you will. My prayer is that you will jump in with both feet and get a feel for what it's like to be used by God because when you join the team, everyone wins! (If you want to sign up for a Serving Experience, email Adam @ adam@newhorizonchurch.tv)
• WE tried something new this weekend called a Serving Tour. After each service we invited anyone who wanted or was interested to take a tour of all the serving areas throughout the church. Not only did everyone get to see our awesome ministry areas and get to meet some of our leaders, but there was a side benefit too. So many people come through our doors every weekend and see what happens on the stage, or in the kids rooms or whatever, but they don't see the "behind the scenes stuff." The Serving Tours gave them a view of what it really takes to do church the way we do it every week at NHC.
• Missed the Serving Tour? We'll be doing them again. Watch for the info and sign up. (Or email Adam!)
• Something interesting happens every time we talk about vision the way we have for the last two weeks - some "get it" and some "get out." My goal really isn't to tick people off, but the very nature of a strong vision is that it will tend to do just that. And, frankly, that's a good thing. We have way too many people in our churches today who are just sitting and soaking. They either need to get so offended that they get out, or get so offended by their own inaction that they step up and do something about it.
• Really excited to see so many of our Spiked students packing out the front rows! Yes, we are creating a "mosh pit for Jesus!" Here's what they are doing - they are helping to "lead" our church in worship! And we've asked them to do it on a regular basis. (Some of you adults could take a few worship lessons from our students!)
• IT'S TIME FOR A MISSIONARY MOVE!! Need some of you who are attending the second service to make some room for guests who are filling up the blue chairs. Would you consider making a move to the 9:30 service to help us reach more people for Jesus?
• I believe we're in for a real growth spurt this fall. Our fall kick-off series, Relationship Rehab starts in two weeks and we'll be going all out to invite our friends and get them here. More people are going to become followers of Jesus...more people are going to be baptized...more people are going to hear the gospel...that's the mission of the church!
• Finally, let me say how proud I am of 2 things: 1) Our volunteers. NHC volunteers rock! 2) Our staff. The NHC staff rocks too! Because of our volunteers and staff ministry gets done. Services are planned, people are cared for, volunteers are equipped and encouraged, prayers are prayed, ideas are generated and leadership is given to the church's vision and mission.
WAY TO GO EVERYONE!!!
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