What a weekend we experienced at New Hope this past weekend. The many people who told me this weekend and via e-mail as I got back the office about their heartache was overwhelming. To see so many of our people who have been affected by suicide was beyond words. I had one dear lady share with me that one of her Uncles had taken his wife’s life and then his own, and a short time later, her other Uncle took his life. Some of you told me of children who had taken their own lives. Wow. So much pain, so much heartache, so much silence.

I pray that everyone who reads this blog will talk to their friends and families about this terrible tragedy that comes straight out of Hell. (The thief comes to kill, steal and destroy…BUT I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE ABUNDANTLY! –Jesus in John 10:10). If you are not a part of New Hope, please talk to your pastor about speaking on this topic. It has been kept silent too long.Copies of our message are available at our website or at our bookstore. Call 419-994-1112 to request a CD or DVD of this topic that if it hasn’t touched you life in one way or the other…IT WILL. What a powerful weekend as we all joined arms and sang a hymn of praise to God about the Blessed Assurance we all share in our Savior. I pray that God spoke to you in a powerful way and that you will also be with us this weekend as we kick off our new series…MOSAIC…beauty from brokenness.

If you desire to see where and how you fit into the story that God has crafted for us all to play a part in…this series is for you. We will be sharing some of the vision that has changed so many lives here at New Hope over the years through God’s power. How he takes the broken and crafts us into something beyond words.

I assure you that you have never heard a series of messages like what will be presented the next few weeks. It will probably tick a few people off…but that is OK (and entertaining). God’s Word is meant to do that at times. We will be laying it all on the line. I don’t know about you, but to be a part of a church that lays it open bare…one word: WOW.

Also…I misspoke in my last post. You will not have to wait 4 weeks for an amazing announcement that we will be engaging in as a church that I said I would unveil on my blog first. It will be coming on Friday, September 28th. So if you want to hear it hear first…be here next Friday afternoon around…whenever, yes, whenever I get it posted…

I can guarantee it by 6:00 pm as I have a hot date every Friday night with my Wife at that time…

This announcement is one that will blow your mind…I promise. It is a God thing I assure you, and it is in conjunction with our 5 Year Anniversary Celebration that weekend. Yes…5 years already! Our God is good…and in 1 word: WOW.