10 Year Old Comedian.

Vision

Recently my heart has been motivated to complete the vision that God has placed in me. The difference between Vision and a Dream is a plan to make the dream reality! At which point it because a Vision. I love Vision, without it people die. Vision is not important, it is vital for life! So, here are a few things that we are working on for 2009.

1. Adding 6 new Connection Groups this fall.

2. Train all Connection Group Leaders.

3. Chart out a journey for growth for new believers.

4. Make room for new believers.

5. Update our office space.

6. Add Staff.

7. Have the best VBS ever!!!

8. Add new ways for people to give.

9. Raise up more volunteers in every area.

10. Build deep relationships.

11. Disciple men.

There is more, but this alone is making my head spin!!!!

Altar Calls

Last Wednesday during the "Question and Answer" time I addressed the reasoning why we made a shift in the way we lead people to Christ. If you aren't a part of Crosspointe here is a brief overview of how an altar call would have gone 6 months ago...

After the "Best Sermon Ever" was preached I would ask the congregants to stand. After giving everyone a minute to stand, I would invite anyone who wanted to make Jesus the Lord of their Lives to walk to the front of the church for a time of prayer.

As you can imagine, this made new believers very uncomfortable as there was 250 to 300 sets of eye's staring at their back-side, so after witnessing the shock and horror on peoples faces for the last several months - I thought to myself, "there must be a better way to go about this." Thus began the discussion with friends, mentors, and staff about how to make a call to salvation without singling people out. I got tons of responses and after much prayer and meditation, we decided that we must make a great change in the "style" of our alter calls.

Here is the way that the new system works in our weekend gathering. I ask everyone to bow their heads for a time of reflection and prayer. I then ask the question, "is there any one here who desires to start a relationship with Jesus? If so, please raise your hand. Please know, that I am not going to call you down front, point you out, or embarrass you. I am simply going to lead you in a prayer." After we pray together, I invite anyone who prayed that prayer for the first time to the front of the church (as the congregants are being dismissed) to prayer with myself or one of the leaders. Also, everyone who chooses to start a relationship with Christ will be asked to participate in a public baptism, which is to confirm publicly their new relationship with Christ.

By the way, I am not saying that every church should make a change in this area and if you don't then you are stuck in a rut!!! For us, it was the right thing to do and furthermore it was the right timing for us to make a change.

In addition, we are also rethinking our discipleship process for new believers and desire to create an effective way to allow people to grow in Christ. Any ideas that you have would be greatly appreciated.

Weekend Wrap

We had a really great weekend at Crosspointe! Our numbers were down, but 4 people accepted Christ or recommitted to serve Him! I have been so thankful for the many conversions that have occurred the last four weeks - more than 25!!!

If you have recently accepted Christ SIGN-UP to be baptized. For more information about the importance of baptism, please visit here.

We are having crazy growth in our nursery/children's ministries! I am so thankful for the many volunteers who help serve our children - you are the best!

We had an incredible time on Wednesday during the "Q and A" time with our church family. I am going to be posting (this week) an answer to an incredible question asked about "why" we are doing the Altar Call differently than we have in the past and is the 'new' way effective.

Happy Friday

I am really excited that I get today off. I have a wedding rehearsal tonight, but that isn't too hard. So, I am going to clean my house, put my new grill together, and watch it rain!

Thank you for praying for my grandmother who is effectually called "Mammy." She is recovering from surgery and is doing well. She may get to come home to Oklahoma next week, which is two weeks earlier than the doctors initially thought!

I am excited about what God is doing at Crosspointe Church. You are an amazing church and God is moving!!!

Incredible Three Weeks at Crosspointe

As I reflect on the last three weeks at Crosspointe I am simply amazed by how God is moving in people's lives. Here are a few highlights...

1. Three weeks ago we broke 300 with 305 in attendance.

2. We have had over 20 people accept Christ.

~ One guy was once a bouncer at a nightclub. Lost his job, his car died, and was about to lose everything. He accepted Christ three weeks ago and is now filled with Hope!!!

~ A young couple on the brink of divorce - had little hope - came at the invitation of a relative - Gave their hearts to Jesus! He is delivering them of their past.

~ On Easter 6 Children gave there hearts to Jesus in Children's Church - they will never be the same!

~ One man said with tears running down his face that our Easter Gathering was the "most meaningful" Easter he's ever had!!!

~ Thanks to the many volunteers who helped make Easter possible. With the valet parking team, to the many greeters and all the children's workers I think we had over 50 people serving!!!

3. We had nearly 300 people show up for the Children's Easter Egg Hunt on Wednesday night and never advertised it! Crosspointe, you are the best advertisers!!!

4. We are simple OUT OF PARKING. We will be adding a parking lot soon.

5. I know that we are going to grow through the summer because God is Moving!!!

P.S. I want to share this video with you that one of our awesome volunteers shot and produced!

Weekend Wrap

Today, I taught us how to "finish well!" I used the recent scandal of Ted Haggard and the recent retirement of the NFL Coach Tony Dungy. It was great. The audio will be up later this week.

Our church feels so alive. I think we have truly grown in the past few months, and I don't necessarily mean in numbers, although we have. I feel we have grown in many areas, but one that comes to mind is Praise and Worship. There was a ton of energy there today! Good job!

One man gave his heart to Jesus! After our gathering, when I prayed with him, he had tears in his eyes. He seemed really sincere about starting a life in Christ!!!

I love Easter week. Egg Hunt this Wednesday from 6:00 to 8:00 PM on our Front Lawn. We will have tons of candy, food, and prizes!!!

I have a huge meeting tomorrow with the pastor of People's Church Herbert Cooper and my friend Lynn Wheeler. I'm going to be a sponge and learn as much as possible from them. Herbert's church has grown from 17 to over 1,200 in SEVEN YEARS!!! He is an incredible leader.