Our church community officially launched back On January 15. In the past 10 months our community has transformed from a core group of about 50 people to this weekend an attendance of 250. Our leadership has always said that it isn’t about numbers, it is about changed lives — but the reality of it is that that is about numbers… kinda a dichotomy.
Last night Janet and I went to a small group for the first time in about a year (far too long). The weirdest part of the evening for me personally was as people where coming in to the house of our host was the realization that I knew none of the people there. I had been introduced to the host couple a few days ago and had heard of a person or two via their kids or other interactions but the reality of the situation was that I knew no one.
That was cool and frightening at the same time, I love meeting new people but for the first time in the three years we have been at New Life and now Journey we had no previous relationship with anyone there. First impressions being what they are I think we have a great group forming.
The group will be looking at the book, The Five Love Languages of Children. So last night was more of an introduction to the book and each couple received a copy. One of the coolest moments from last night was when we went around the group and each couple shared how they came to Journey and how long they had been there. Ironically Janet and I were the last couple to answer the question and we obviously had been around the longest – one of the couples had only been connected for three weeks. The awesome thing was the hear the consistency in the stories that were shared, being new to the area or just looking for a new church home was a common theme (well duh) but the accounts of how Journey was just what people were looking for spoke so clearly to the core of what Journey is all about. From the solid relevant preaching/teaching, targeted children/student ministry, and the rockin’ house band it was surreal to realize that we helped plant a church. That is so awesomely umbling (holy people don’t pronounce the ‘H’ – at least that is what I learned). God is a pretty cool guy when you let him out of the box.