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Highlights of the last few weeks including last night’s preview service:

• We did not come out here to start “services” but our previews are a way to add people to our launch teams and invite people into community. Just wanted to clarify that. “Church” is more than corporate worship…now the hard work on the “back-side” part of discipleship, building community, house churches, and our launch team.
• Are you kidding me? We had 4 weeks to go from literally NOTHING to a full “service”. Our team literally worked round the clock to see it happen [and our family moved in the midst of this.] ONLY GOD! Think about that: 4 weeks from 0 to full throttle. If you are an experienced planter, you know our inexperienced team had a miracle from God to do that.
• We borrowed everything almost. Our 10×20 foot screen we do own  made of paper [remember, I am the "how to do a lot with a little guy"...you just have to make it happen...no excuses]…well, it fell apart so we stretched painters cloth across the brass frame, and it worked well enough to get us going! Thanks to the other churches who let us borrow their gear and people!!! [K2, South Mountain, The Journey, New Hope West Valley and Early Light Academy for their gym!]
• It’s still true…there are 25+ cities in our immediate areas  [maybe 200 or so in the entire state] without 1 church. Imagine that? We have a lot of work to do. And still need 150 partners at $25 a month minimum to launch full time this fall or early winter. Go HERE, and make it happen: We are listed under MISSION WEST.
• For a first service: I have NO IDEA how we borrowed gear from a church that packed up their gear at 3ish and we somehow got our last trailer moved into place at 5:30 and still pulled off a 6pm service? Again, only God. No one really knew what we were doing, we just did it. Planters…just make it happen, no matter what!
• Practice services were EASY this week…all our gear was ready to roll. When we have our own gear, we will set-up on Saturday AM and walk in on Sunday AM ready to roll [nice perk of being in our school who also lets us store gear there and only charger $13 an hour!!], but until then, we had maybe 1 hour and 45 minutes to set-up someone else’s gear? Thank you Jesus is all I can say.
• I have NEVER worked harder in my life than I have the last 4 weeks. And I am a pretty hard worker. With a small team, we all had to do some very heavy lifting. I found myself creating logo’s, doing graphics work and a website…all of which I really have never done or barely did 9 years ago when New Hope started. [Our graphics person puked out on me at the last minute] Really miss a full staff at this point, but wouldn’t trade the experience for the world! Thanks Aaron Floyd for filling some of the gap for us this past week!
• Our team was simply brilliant! Many of them have NEVER experienced anything like this…and our tech/worship/set-up bro [Mike Stake] just got an e-mail address a couple years back…yeah, that’s what we are rolling with, and we love it!
• Our team deserves so much credit. We needed every single hand, and the hands of a few churches who came from all over the valley to help us. Thanks guys for working long nights and long weeks to make this happen. YOU made this happen in HIS power. THANK YOU!
• So, the deets of the night?
• 110-125+ [not sure...didn't even get a real count yet...our operations person will fill me in I am sure] were with us. We had many well-wishers of course from the campus we serve at K2, so we will see who shows back up next week. That will be the true test. It was also a holiday weekend [don't try this at home]. Pioneer day [July 24th, when the Mormon Pioneers entered the valley is bigger than the 4th of July holiday here]. Still had people show up!
• Here is the kicker: when I gave the challenge to trust Christ, I was so unsure of what would happen [we were just happy people showed up]…I couldn’t believe what I saw: at least 15 people or more responded to trust Christ. [Thanks to Pastor Josh Gonzales, my good friend for tracking that one.] Hands went up everywhere.
• Now stop…you are thinking: wow, that is amazing, and I have seen that before. No, seriously. When 7 or 8 out your 10 neighbors are of a different faith background that is dominating this area and you are lucky to have 1 person show up to anything you do…this was a TRUE MIRACLE! I am not usually blown away by things, but I was blown away at the response. [Side note: The air was broken in our brand new building...it was 83 degrees after the 1 hour and 50 minute service, and people stayed and were so gracious...they loved it!]
• Best part of the night: the stories.
• I baptized my 9year-old, little girl Grace. No better way to kick off ministry in our new home. Doctor’s told us she might have downs syndrome and abortion was a possibility. Are your freaking kidding me? We wanted her however God gave her to us. She was born healthy…and her name is Grace. What a night!
• Mike and I baptized his Wife, Kym. They are true brothers and sisters to us. What an honor to see her make her decision public to trust Jesus.
• In this perfect slice of the world [it really is a leave it to beaver place]… tattoos and piercing’s were in abundance. And that is what we were hoping for. A church for people that no one else wants! No Perfect People Allowed! Our mailers said: “THIS IS NOT YOUR MOTHER’S CHURCH.” And it wasn’t! [Still not sure if or how many mailers went out...another story.]
• One lady told me afterwards that she is in “limbo” with this Christianity thing and wants to go deeper. Her husband had tears in his eyes as she was talking. Found out they live right around the corner on our street!
• Follow-up/Community? We are offering ALPHA, HOUSE CHURCHES [which meet right now as our launch team], and DINNER WITH THE TEAM [dinner with some of out launch team to get to know people better.] Again, we didn’t just come out here to launch public worship services, but to build disciples. [The GATHERED AND SCATTERED CHURCH!]
• Love this one: A younger girl had tears in her eyes as she said: “I was looking for churches on-line last week knowing I need to connect with God, but couldn’t find anything [yep, that is why we are here...]. The next day I got a door hanger from you guys. ARE YOU KIDDING ME? She trusted Christ last night. Thanks to David Bradford and Celebration Church for hanging almost 4,000 door hangers and coming all the way from Alabama to help us out! They are warriors!
• Well…time to chill out. My Mom is in from China [not planned, just happened, ONLY GOD!]. My little sis comes in today to visit from Ohio, and we are planning a very relaxed week…well, until next weekend rolls around again. One more preview to go. PRAY FOR PEOPLE TO JUMP ON BOARD WITH WHAT GOD IS DOING OUT HERE! Thanks for your prayers and support…we could not have done this without you!
• In the midst of pure chaos, I went alone on the mountain-side to pray HERE. Then I ran a quick 5K to clear my mind. It’s not about DOING, but BEING, right?
• I am a health nut now you know, but what they heck? I celebrated with a 20 piece Mcnugget at Midnight with my bride and my Mom watching Sports Center rejoicing at all that God had done!
• Will be blogging for you church planters and leaders who are wondering how in the world this could have happened. Let me start here: ONLY GOD!