Way to Go, Church!
Wow! What a day at Edinbrook Church today! Two things stood out:
Especially meaningful to me was the “Our Fast, Their Food” offering. After fasting this past week, our people brought what money they saved from that and gave it for the hungry and suffering in Africa. As we paused to pray before we gave our offerings, I was overwhelmed by the presence of God in this simple act. While we all laid hands on our gifts, we prayed for God to bring, not only physical nourishment through these gifts, but spiritual life as well. I have not doubt that these simple gifts will reap a significant harvest on the Horn of Africa.
As we closed our worship time together, we offered the opportunity for children, youth, and adults to come to the front for a prayer of blessing upon their Leaps of Faith — that of stepping into the life of someone who needs to meet Jesus. In both hours, I was grateful for those who came forward, but the second service blew my mind. At least two-thirds of the entire congregation came forward. As we prayed, and then worshiped the Lord in spontaneous fashion, I thought, “This is what church is supposed to be like!”
I’m looking forward to all of us doing three things in the weeks ahead as we choose to be Lionhearted:
- Get to know God better and determine a plan to see that happen.
- Identify our Jordans and decide how we will cross them.
- Take a leap by stepping into the life of someone who needs to know Jesus.
I’ll have some encouragement and resources beginning tomorrow as we pursue these three follow-through actions.
Way to go, church!
I, too, was wonderfully struck by the glorious tidal wave of people coming forward at the end of the second service. The beauty of this was the gentle nudging (prodding?!!) of the Holy Spirit — I sensed no human manipulation or acquiescence to the general movement of the crowd. God did this! Even our visiting guests who accompanied us yesterday came forward!
THANKS, Pastor Ivan, for letting God use you powerfully — not only by the words you spoke so eloquently, but how you said them (I do believe that’s a superb example of “walking by the Spirit”). And the same is so true of Worship Pastor Chris yesterday as well. We are so blessed to have such wonderful, godly “Level 5” leaders (Jim Collins, 2001, Good to Great) — that melding of both personal humility accompanied by a professional will which intentionally uses the very best that God through Christ has poured into you both.
I add my prayer to Pastor Ivan’s prayers and to the prayers of others as well: “Heavenly Father, as Pastor Ivan has encouraged us to do, help us determine the plan You have for us to get to know You better. Show us our Jordans, and how it is You want us to cross over; and show us who it is within our circles of influence who needs to know Jesus, and what You want us to do about that. In Jesus’ Name!”
Service was absolutely awesome this morning and your sermon was so encouraging and opened up my heart to reach out and touch someone who I would like to take a deeper faithwalk. Thank you Pastor for your love of our congregation and your words from God to deepen all of our faith.