Block Party

Last Wednesday, we pulled off our first ever youth service in the community.  It was a huge deal!  We literally took Renew and planted it in the middle of Veteran's Park.  Estimates put us at 250-300 people showing up (most of whom I've never seen).  

The attendance was great, the worship rocked it out (the actually had a company offer them to do a couple of events later this year), the food was good, the energy was awesome!  

For so many things that went well, I felt one thing didn't...my presentation of the gospel.  

I understand all the issues: an open park is not a controlled environment; the attention span in that atmosphere it's only about 10 minutes; there were about 1,844 distractions.  I know all these things, but I couldn't help but be frustrated.  

I hate to hear the words, "If one or two hear the message, it was all worth it" or "Good seeds were planted tonight".  As bad as I hate to hear those type of statements, I know they are true.  Why?  Because it's scriptural (1 Corinthians 3).  And I'm thankful for those people who speak that truth into my life.  We do what we know to do, God does the rest.  That is what got me up on Thursday morning to go after it again.  

To be effective in ministry, a person has to be tenacious.  The results might not of been what we hoped for, but we will go on.  We will learn from our mistakes.  We will continue to invade our city.  We will continue to make a different for Jesus.  Me and my team will choose to die trying!

Thanks to a few special people:

My Beautiful Wife for her pushing me past my nervousness, when I wanted to vomit.

Annalee for taking pictures (even though I haven't received them yet).

Bre for serving them drinks like crazy.

Churukian for being there through the entire process.

Aundrea for sacrificing her time.

Diddy & Crystal for singing their hearts out (diddy?  yes, he did).

Jenni for saving my life media-wise.

Nathan for using the chimes.

James & Nick for their ninja-like blitzing skills.

Shabelly for getting all the food (without breaking down emotionally).

Jason for MAKING the projection screen work.

Becca for being available for the little things.

Drake for his muscles (I wonder if he's over that hernia yet).

Anna, Jules, and Nessa for chasing people down.

Lin for bouncing from person to person all night.

Susan & Gloria for directing.

Brentferd for resetting the sound system.

Brian & JP for working until midnight.

Austin & David for cookin' it up.

June & Georgia for servin' it up.

Last, but not least, that random City of Callaway worker who fixed the breaker problem.

And a whole host of others who made this thing happen!

Thank you.  I love and appreciate you all!