• Amber and I were both excited and humbled by the turnout and response to our first informational meeting for our church start-up.

• It was amazing to watch an empty room organically fill-up. 
  There's something special about starting with zero and ending the night with nearly 30 people.  All night we were joking about how we had experienced 3,000% growth - - now that's a fast-growing church!  :)

• Late last night, Am & I were reflecting on our first church planting adventure in Ohio.  It took us 9 months to get to 31 people on our original launch team (only 10 showed up for the first informational meeting in Ohio).  And last night God brought together nearly that many for the very first info meeting.  Blessed.

• Honored to dedicate Shaun & Jessie Dunham's infant daughter, Madison.  Such a delight.  Life Church began with a celebration of life!

• Unpacked Luke 5 and our heartbeat as a church start-up. 
  Jesus (who attracted "pressing crowds") has gotten into our boat and is telling us cast out into the deep.  God's Agenda = Bursting Nets + Broken Boats!

• Lots of conversations about our Code - - I've discovered over the years that people love and respond to clear direction and unapologetic leadership!

• Saw lots of eyes light up when I shared a bit about our designs for kids ministry in this area. 

• Biggest question of the night: location!  God is orchestrating some AMAZING (not hype, just TRUTH!) details on this in the background, but we're not ready to announce things publicly just yet.  All I can do is echo Amber's words: God is being true to His word, doing more than we could ever ask for or even imagine!

• Our next Informational Meeting will be in two weeks - Sunday, January 22nd at 5:30pm.  We'll have more vision-casting, another Q&A time, and we'll be dedicating another infant: Angel Czykyski's little one, Ahna!  So many baby dedications - - love it!!  Register here!

• I'm flying out to Phoenix this week.  I was invited by the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention to speak to a couple hundred teens over the weekend.  Phoenix in January?  Why yes, I can make that happen!

• Besides unpacking what discipleship looks like in the 21st Century, I'll also be doing a late night improv-comedy set.  Looking forward to that!!

• I'll be back in Phoenix in March for the Ignite 2012 church planting conference. 

• The Lighthouse in Caro has also invited me to speak soon to a couple hundred of their employees about biblical stewardship and financial planning.  Excited to equip the team!

• For what its worth, I understand the challenge of finding the right speaker for conferences and retreats.  What I've discovered is that a quality speaker shapes the success of an event.  I want to be your guy.

• Alright, that's enough for now - time to go.  So many giants to slay, so little time.  Thankful that Goliath is always within range of a good slingshot!

 

Comments

[Teresa Davis]

The future sounds exciting..

[Joe Beedle]

The Beedles are excited and on board !

[Becky Beery]

I'm super excited for you guys. I'm not exactly in Saginaw but am in Mid-Michigan so I'm pumped that you guys are in the area. Can't wait to see what God has in store for you guys, Life Church Michigan, and the area!

[Kelly Clark]

this is awesome

[Chris Fritz]

Im so excited about this new church, John you have done alot for my family and you didnt even know it
I want to thank you for it, my husband would never go to church after going and hearing you he goes all the time but since you have been gone he lost all hope again......See you Sunday ..