The Journey Ends, Continues, and Begins Again!

Sunday was a great day in the life of Renewal Church!

It marked our first official service as a constituted church and served as a time to celebrate the mission we feel God has called us to in this city.  In many ways the day marked an end to the “core group” phase of Renewal Church. And in the same fashion, it marked the beginning of the rest of the story of Renewal. 

As I look back on the day, a few things stand out:

•  The glory of God provides an appropriate foundation for the beginning, middle and end of the church.  Colossians 1 is not a typical “launch Sunday” text, but I could not get away from it.  We are created by God and for God. My prayer for me and our church is that we would live boomerang lives.
   
• God builds His church.  I knew this before, but I am convinced of it now.  It doesn’t take the best leadership strategy, creative programming, or exceptional talent to do the work of the local church. 
   
• Loving people matters.  The majority of the people in attendance on Sunday were there because of a significant relationship with one or more of our people. 
   
• Multiplying disciples starts on Sundays but it doesn’t finish there.  The real work of discipling men and women to the glory of God is a group effort undertaken by the entire church throughout the week.  To relegate that to only Sunday morning would be foolish.
   
• Measuring “gospel growth” in the local church is a much greater challenge than measuring “church growth”.  Sunday morning stats on attendance are easy, but measuring the growth, maturation, and transformation of the body of Christ takes time and diligent labor.  I pray that God protects us from measuring the wrong things.
   
• We are one LOVED church.  The number of folks there on Sunday who have given, prayed, and loved us well over this journey was overwhelming to me.  I am so thankful to not be walking this journey alone.  We have been a steady recipient of the grace of God through you.
   
• God is doing a great work in our staff.  For a bunch of young guys and gals this whole venture is a bit overwhelming, but I am seeing God grow, stretch, sharpen, and refine my team in ways that encourage my soul.
   
• Churches partnering for God’s glory is a beautiful thing. In attendance on Sunday were the pastors of at least two neighboring churches, several denominational leaders, and other church planters.  I am thankful that this is not a Renewal thing, but the work of the church at large, being about the mission of God together.
   
• Prayer counts.  I was motivated by the number of messages of prayer that Toby and I received on Sunday. From coast to coast, we know that we have churches that were praying for us on Sunday, and we truly believe that prayer is the best place to start.
   
• The task of connecting college students to meaningful partnership with the local church is one that I feel Renewal must be about.  It was so sweet to have over 40 college students with us on Sunday, many of whom have not meaningfully connected with a local church during their time in school. We intend to be a church that fosters and encourages these relationships.

Again, Sunday was an amazing day! God’s graciousness and faithfulness throughout this journey have continued to blow us away, and Sunday was just the latest example. We will continue to seek His guidance and direction as a church, and I pray that we will always be obedient to His calling in every area of our mission.

To Him be the glory!