On Sunday, October 27th we launched two services @ Crossway! The planning, prepping and getting the word out took some time. We planned for well over 8 months, setting up meetings with all of our Sunday Morning staff helping them to recruit and get their staff ready. When Sunday came there was such excitement in the air! Between both services we saw a 34% increase in attendance which was confirmation of the vision God placed upon Nik (and the leadership team). I personally taught the younger grades (K-2nd) for each service. I was tired but it was a good tired!
The Worship Team was AMAZING! David Kennedy brought his team to a new level! We've acquired some new voices and together they brought us into the throne room! I was so blessed to see how God brought it all together!
We have seen God do amazing things this past year. We've come so far and are excited for what God has in store for our church. There is so much work to do and we are blessed with the people of our church that are ready and willing to be a part of this alongside with us!
We also just had our 2nd annual Women's Retreat. One word to describe our weekend was: FREEDOM!! That was also the theme of our retreat: FREEDOM: RECKLESS ABANDONED FAITH. Lillian Lebron came and spoke to our women and she really wrecked us - in a good way! LOL! Lillian and her husband, Rafael, are youth pastoring at The Mission Church. They have a heart for people! There was such a connection with Lillian and our women. They received her as one of our own. Also, Laura Johnson, attended and truly mothered and loved on our women. There was so much love, deliverance, and joy that came out of that weekend. I am so thankful to Jesus for showing up and setting us free! He is just getting started because as Lillian said, "The purpose of our freedom is to advance the kingdom of God." That is exactly what we plan on doing!
I am truly humbled and blessed that God saw fit to use my husband and I to do this work. I can't see my life in any other field or profession. Sure, there are times it gets hard. There are times where I just want to hide and look for cover. God never promised it was going to be easy. He never said if you do this I will never allow anything bad to touch you. Instead, He promises to walk with us, to go before us, to carry us when we have nothing else to give. Inner city living has so many perks and advantages (stores opened later, so many choices of stores, everything you need is pretty accessible by feet or by car/bus, etc.) but it also has its frustrations (parking, getting honked at the minute the light turns green, people going straight even though they are in a turn only lane, etc.). Through all of the ups and downs I am still thankful. I still praise Jesus for everything. I have learned so much yet I have so much more to learn! I am thankful for a PATIENT God who waits without getting angry at me. His grace is so SUFFICIENT! The greatest blessing of all is HE IS NEVER LATE, HE IS ALWAYS ON TIME!
