Simply Grateful this Easter
Here is what I’m grateful for…
The New Campuses…Highland and Walkerton celebrated their first Easter services ever. I read an update from Walkerton early this morning…the crowd (almost 150) was incredible & the spirit was even better.
The New Stories…It’s a Facebook world and we had a newcomer post on the church’s Facebook page last night, “I loved the church!! It was amazing— I plan on going again. Everyone was wonderful.”
The Collective Effort…It is not an exaggeration to say Easter was possible at Suncrest because volunteers gave THOUSANDS of man hours to make it happen. Children’s ministry and hospitality shined, not to mention our incredible teams that make the worship services happen.
The Baptisms…They are awesome all the time (Highland Campus had their first 5 last week!). Doing them on Easter makes this verse come alive…We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:4)
The Truth…We landed on a teaching focus that I felt was critical if we are going to be authentic in our faith. The Resurrection doesn’t promise God will fix your circumstances, but it does promise his Peace and Strength through anything. Among the comments…(from Hobart) “Awesome message at church today… Keeping it real!” and (from St. John), “It’s just not going to be about the “answer” to the prayer anymore for me. It’s going to be about the love that’s flowing from the God I am praying to.”
The Numbers…Suncrest, you went all out inviting. Thanks for caring so deeply for people and their walk with Christ. I think we probably have our highest attendance ever on Easter each year so that isn’t really new. This year that number surpassed 2000 people for the first time. God is giving us a great responsibility.
Beyond us…I’m reading updates from lots of pastor friends around the region and the country with updates that are just as powerful. Never forget we are part of something much larger than ourselves. And we work from this posture: I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection…(Philippians 3:10)
.Real.Greg.Lee. 