ONE SERVICE thoughts: I will try to be brief and remind you that words cannot paint the picture of what took place!
1. Yesterday was an amazing day that only GOD could orchestrate. I am still amped and was up early. (well, fairly early). The weather was beautiful, the technology held fine and all was so smooth for a large event! (1 slideshow of each location to browse. Thanks to all who sent pics. I could only use the ones that were compatible and viewable for now. Thanks TOM for L-ville!)
2. The newspaper article said I spearheaded the event. No…I mentioned the vision to a few other pastors, leaders and our staff, and we ALL spearheaded the event. We had great leadership at all levels to pull this one off. Paid, unpaid, lay staff, ministerial associations, etc. This would have never happened without EVERYONE stepping up! THANK YOU!
3. Singing Tomlin’s: GOD OF THIS CITY was a highlight in Ashland (I helped @ that event). WHY? As I held my hands up and screamed it out…for ONCE I wasn’t staring at the back of my eyes or the dark weird ceiling @ New Hope, but the blue skies and I pictured the skies being pealed back and GOD SEATED ON THE THRONE accepting the ADORATION and INTERCESSION of that song. WOW. I can’t wait until our ASHLAND CAMPUS launches in a few short weeks!
4. Communion, and the messages from both locations were AMAZING, BIBLICAL and ANOINTED. Another highlight was fellowshipping with others from all churches @ the free lunch afterwards. Breaking bread together in communion and fellowship is also mandated!
5. DIFFERENCES are OK. We need DIFFERENT churches and ministries and focuses. He calls us ALL to UNIQUE callings. But UNITY is mandated in John 17. And no, we are not universalists. SALVATION through CHRIST and FAITH in HIM ALONE was our UNIFIER. Not all the other categories that we think we have nailed down.
6. The attitudes and beauty of all the churches coming together at both places were amazing. Why did I ever fear? We truly were ONE yesterday and it is a day I will never forget. It was truly up there as a LIFE HIGHLIGHT for Tiffany and I.
7. I pray that this is just the beginning. NO…we don’t have time to do every little thing together as the church community. But I pray that a REVOLUTION was started and a FIRE was lit, and that what HE Started will spread.
8. I am thankful that many other churches will join us next year in both locations and that WOOSTER will experience their first ONE SERVICE next year. We are setting the date in the next 2 weeks for next years event. Thanks to those churches who sent delegations and those who will be PRAYING about joining us next year.
9. 1,600-1,800 people from around 17+ churches came together on a SUNDAY MORNING to worship HIM! No count on decisions for CHRIST yet…that is one of the MAIN REASONS we did this EVENT. Will update that when it comes in. And a HUGE THANKS to our SAVIOR! Without HIM we would be heading to HELL. HE PROVIDED THE WAY. So glad that yesterday (and those in all the other CHRIST preaching, BIBLE BELIEVING, RADICALLY SOLD-OUT churches around the county and the WORLD jumped on that PATH!) And I would love to talk to OTHER PASTORS who would like to do THIS in their CITY!!!
Goin’ out old school: TO GOD BE THE GLORY…GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE…so loved HE the world that He gave us HIS SON. Who yielded HIS life an atonement for sin and opened the LIFE GATE that ALL may go in! Praise the Lord…let the EARTH hear HIS voice…!!!!!!!!!!
