Since this is my official last service @ New Hope this weekend [insert tear hear]…I want to devote this blog space to sharing about how God has changed my life through this gathering of some of the most amazing people I have ever shared life with. [i will be at the ashland campus in 2 weeks for a final hoe-down].

Next week I will get back at journeying our travels and also will rock a series on Multi-Site Landmines and Goldmines that we have discovered in 5 years of thinking, planning and doing multi-site. I presented this stuff last week in Orlando, where yes, the sun lives.

Let me start with this: the top 10 things we will miss most about New Hope [in no particular order].

1. OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY. Yep. Enough said. Painful.

2. THE PEOPLE HERE WE DON’T EVEN KNOW. Who have rocked the mission at all our campuses without having to be our best friends. We don’t even know your names. Maybe we know your beautiful faces, but no recognition had been asked for. Quite warriors praying, giving and serving behind the scenes for the MISSION of CHRIST, not NEW HOPE.

3. OUR STAFF. I have said it before…find me a group of people who are more talented, gifted and passionate about small town ministry…I’ll fight you any day. I will miss this family I have walked with over the years.

4. OUR VOLUNTEERS. Dang. They have freaking bled for this thing. We don’t drive an easy train around here. I didn’t say it enough: THANK YOU!

5. THE PASSION. Second to none. Top to bottom, side to side, passion drips for Jesus and HIS KINGDOM off of this place and it’s people. It’s like BRAVEHEART on steroids around this place. No challenge has ever been to BIG. And together with each other and our GOD, we have conquered them ALL!

love you all…more tomorrow.