Monday, August 27, 2007

How's It Going...

It is rare that a day goes by that I don't have the question asked me several times a day - in person, by phone, via email. How are things going at Spring Meadows. Well, with the glory and praise to God I must say - unbelievable! It is His work and what is happening is solely to His glory.

Attendance wise: Five of the last six Sunday's we have been over 225 and have pushed 250 hard three of those days - we've been having to put chairs out every week lately. Last week we had slightly over 90% of our worship crowd stay for Bible class. We have had four of our members go on foreign mission trips this summer. We recently had nearly 200 on a Sunday night. In the month period between late July and August we had 9 baptisms. A few weeks ago we had over 60 children ages SIX AND YOUNGER! Wow. There is a remarkable spirit of unity, energy and love here.

On the building. As you know we are building on the first phase of the 35 acres on the corner of Duplex Road and I-65. We have our building permit and are beginning to move dirt. It is our hope to start work on the foundation next week or the week after. The building will be a multipurpose facility that could possible eventually be a part of a Christian school. It will seat between 3 and 5 hundred and will have 17 classrooms.

Our five elders are shepherding so very well. They are growing themselves. I often pray that they (and we all) will be bigger than we are - for this work!

But the best stuff is evangelism - it seems to be becoming rather natural here. A young school teacher invites a friend to her church - the friend ends up at the "wrong church" - which turned out to be the right church and ends up bringing her husband, the friend who'd originally invited her to the other church, who bring her husband, she later invites a her hair dresser, who comes and brings her child and her mom, and then brings tells a customer about this "neat church she has found" who comes and brings her husband and three children. Another lady is having a medical procedure and tells one of the nurses about the church and she comes and then brings her two children and now her husband. Another brings a friend from work. Isn't that how it should be? Natural. People in love with the Lord and His church talking to others about it...THAT'S THE GOOD STUFF!

We don't know what will happen in the future - only the Lord knows that and as we like to say around here - "don't limit God." None of us would have ever predicted anything like what has happened so quickly here.

Personally, Melaine and I feel blessed (we always have felt that way), we are loving this new challenge and enjoying it. The Lord willing we will close on our house sale next Tuesday (September 4), the same day our Andrew will be flying out for a semester in Italy. Thank you all for caring and for praying (how could it have gone any way but this way with so many of God's People praying for this work?)

Remember: "The future is as bright as the promises of God!" Amen.

3 comments:

Sarah Dugan said...

A big AMEN to feeling blessed. We are so thankful to be a part of such a loving family with such a strong servant attitude. It was so encouraging to be a part of the over 80% who helped prepare for VBS and to see the willingness of our children to work so hard for Bible Bowl, Lads to Leaders, etc. and having fun at the same time.

Can't wait to be a part of however the Lord might use us in the future!

Matthew said...

I love reading your stuff. You motivate me so much. You are one of the best ministers that I know of.

Heather said...

I second Matthew's comment!