Sunday Reflections

Today was a special day at New Day. Here's some of my reflections:

• We took a step of faith in starting a second service and it's already paying off. Last Sunday we had 258 people in our single service. Today we had 128 in our first service and 161 in our second, for a grand total of 289 people. It was insane!
• I thank God for the successful transition. I can honestly say that even after all the reading and interviewing me and my team did in investigating how to successfully switch from one to two services, there were still a lot of unanswered questions. But we did what we could and trusted God with the rest. And God came through in providing one thing after another that we needed to make this work.
• I'm also very thankful to my staff for all their hard work in preparing for a second service. Each department had to raise new volunteers and make provisions for two services instead of one (i.e. worship in two services, host team in two services, kids workers for two services, collecting the offering for two services, etc.). Everyone stepped up to the plate and knocked it out of the park. I've really got a great team for which I'm very grateful for.
• I'm also thankful for the volunteers who made the transition possible. Without the people who stepped up to volunteer, putting their hearts and hands where they were needed most, this wouldn't have been possible.
• I can't believe I'm about to write this, but I think very soon we'll be needing to add yet another service! This is a good problem to have and even though it represents untold hard work, I say BRING IT ON! I want to use my life to point as many people as possible to God.
• I really think this year is going to be a huge turning point for New Day. As we fill up two services we'll be ready to add a second full time staff member. I can't even tell you how much I'm looking forward to that! It'll be wonderful to have someone else besides me working 40+ hours a week on New Day.
• I have a strong inner sense that we're just seeing the tip of the iceberg - that we're just beginning to step in to what God has for us. This makes me celebrate what God is doing today, while looking foward with great anticipation of what he'll do tomorrow (and in thefuture).

Sunday Reflections

Today was awesome. Here are some of my reflections on Sunday.

• Our worship team is really coming along. Our worship arts director, Lester, is doing a great job, as is our new band leader, Frank Rocca. I wish newcomers could see where we started and where we are now. We have improved sooo much. Don't get me wrong. We still have room to grow, and I anticipate where we'll be a year from now, three years from now, ten years from now, etc. But I'm also celebrating the progress we've made so far. Praise God!
• Today we had 240 people at New Day (188 adults and 52 kids). Again, it's amazing to think how far we've come. I remember being so pumped when we finally reached 50 people in total church attendance (adults and kids). Now we have over 50 with just the kids alone!
• To my knowledge we have the highest number of people signed up for a growth group that we've ever had (currently 78 with two more weeks of sign ups to go). How amazing would it be to have 100+ people involved weekly in Bible study and prayer... Sign up here.
• Our growth group leaders training went awesome. Bethany, our growth group director, did an incredible job preparing our leaders to lead their groups. I got excited all over again for another round of growth groups. It's a great feeling to know you're a part of something that will help people grow spiritually.
• I was thinking today how great it is to be a part of something that's alive and growing. We're reaching lost people, we're having a blast doing it, we're making a difference. And I'm so grateful to be a part of something like this.
• I'm looking forward with anticipating to our switch to two services (starting Sunday February 6th 2011). We'll have a 9:30am service and an 11:00am service. I feel confident that we'll quickly fill up both services. I think before we know it we'll be trying to figure out what to in order to accommodate the people God continues to send our way.
• I'm challenged to dream bigger. We serve a big God and I want to believe for big things in 2011.
• I'm grateful for all the volunteers who partner with me and the staff of New Day to make possible what we do each week.