Milestones

I am hoping that this Saturday night is a milestone in my ministry career, and that of the members of my team. God has led me to spearhead a service on Saturday evenings to reach the lost in my city and radically advance His Kingdom. It will be a unique service including times to connect via a late night cafe’ and social activities following the service. The music will be powerful and progressive, the teaching will Gospel-centered for the non-Christian, and challenging for the Christian. The experience, marketing, and promoting will be geared to a young adult audience. There are 20,000 young adults between the ages of 18-40 within a three mile radius of our building. Not much effort is being put forth to reach them. I want to- badly.

We sent out 5,000 promotional postcards, are setting up booths at local college campuses, hanging up posters, handing out invites, and attempting a Facebook, Craigslist, website marketing push complete with a promotional video.

Lots of work has been done. Lots of work is being done this week as people from our church are putting out great efforts to complete the remodel of our old kitchen and fellowship hall into a cafe’.

But all of the vision, effort, and work mean nothing if God’s not in it. No matter how great the music or how good the message, it doesn’t matter, if God’s not in it. And people cannot be reached if people do not show up.

I’m tired of hearing of all the crazy success stories of God reaching thousands through new churches in random places across the nation. I’m thrilled about it too, but I’m tired of hearing about it happening in random places small and large around this nation and around the world, but not here. It’s (revival) starting to take root in Seattle, and is in the beginning stages in Portland- but it’s Salem’s turn! I want to see a movement birthed in this city that will flow South to Albany, Corvallis, and Eugene. I want to see changed people make a difference to the East in Bend and Redmond. I want to see God’s Spirit begin to take a foothold in the Portland metroplex up into Vancouver. I want to see the Northwest meet Jesus. If God uses me in great or small ways; so be it, I just want to take part!

I am praying that the Spirit will begin to call people to show up and be changed! I’m praying that non-Christians will encounter authentic worship to the King of Kings! I’m praying that my words can be anointed to change lives! I’m praying for relationships to be formed! I’m praying for a “buzz” to surround what’s taking place so that people will “come and see”! I’m praying that we’ll have to practically turn people away! I’m praying for a new facility to use for our worship experiences immediately as we have outgrown ours! I’m praying big-audacious prayers!

I understand that this (my plans and my ministry) could all be a big flop. I’m a realist. But I’m unreal enough to believe that God is actually big enough to do His thing and accomplish His work on earth through insignificant people like me! And I’m going to make sure that my life counts…

One Responseto “Milestones”

1. Crystal says:

   September 20, 2010 at 11:41 pm

   I think God will do great things through this, but I am impressed with a heart that is willing to be a flop in order to be available to God.
   We’ll be praying – and waiting to hear reports!