Week 2 of OTR happens this Sunday.  We have had over 150 First Time Guests in the past 3 weeks.  You have done such a fantastic job inviting friends and family – and I know you will keep it up! People far from God are experiencing life in Christ because of your investment in their lives!  What a privilege!

Don’t forget that I need 100 of you to make the switch and begin attending at 9:30 and partnering at 11. The 11:00 Worship Experience is the most opportune time for First Timers.  Let’s make sure we have room for them!

Sunday is going to be an incredible day!  See you at 9:30 or 11:00!

• Great day on Sunday.
• We’ve seen over 150 first time guests the past 3 weeks.  Invite people – they will come!
• Last week we needed 50 people to move from 11 to 9:30 to free up seats.  You did that.  Thank you!
• Now we need an additional 100 people to do it again.  Attend 9:30 and partner at 11.  All the “empty” seats at 11 filled up and then some.  Will you make the switch?  Thanks!
• Once the big switch takes place – we are going to have to start thinking about an additional option to free up seats at both worship experiences.  What a great problem to have.
• First time we have had a gospel choir in the house.  Wow!
• Rumor has it that it won’t be the last time.
• Engage this past Saturday was fantastic as well.  First time having rappers on the stage.  Much fun.
• Pray with me over the course of the next several weeks for God to continue to do what only He can do!  Prayer is powerful!
• I talked with a couple on Sunday that drives over an hour each week to Freedom.  They sold their house and are moving here to be part of what God is doing.  Incredible!
• Be praying for the goals we laid out a couple weeks ago.  Going to be the greatest season of ministry we have ever experienced…perhaps.
• I am so honored to be the Pastor at Freedom Church!  Can’t wait to see what God has planned!

Loved this blog from a friend and mentor who has gone out of his way to invest in my life and the life of Freedom Church.  Didn’t want to just link it – so here it is in it’s entirety.  Enjoy.

What makes a church come alive?

CHANGED LIVES…when dead people are being brought to life a church cannot remain on life support.  Changed lives change a community!

THE GOSPEL…when the Gospel is THE agenda instead of some ridiculous issue that happens to be the “fad of the year.”

HIS PRESENCE…when He becomes UNDENIABLE!

WORSHIP…when the goal isn’t to see how little of the song we can sing but rather to sing with everything we’ve got.

GIVING…when God is honored because Christians don’t just trust Him with what they can’t see…but are willing to trust Him with what they can see.

SERVICE…when believers are unleashed to serve Christ by using their spiritual gifts rather than depending on the “paid professionals” to do it all.

DEDICATION…when people in the church are way more passionate about pursuing Christ daily rather than showing up on Sunday and getting their attendance star on their chart.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY…when people in the church begin to accept responsibility for where they are in their spiritual journey…and then are willing to do something about it.

LEADERS WHO FEAR GOD, NOT MAN…leaders who know that God called them and will take care of them…and refuse to let the threat of not getting a paycheck stop them from doing what God has called them to do.

UNITY…when a church can truly celebrate when a church…ANY CHURCH…sees something great happen for the Kingdom.

BAPTISM…it’s NEVER a bad thing to see hundreds of people go public with their faith.

SINCERITY…when people show up with hearts ready to hear, repent and be brough near rather that people checking out the fashions of others.

DESPERATION…for Jesus to show up and make Himself known.

EXCELLENCE…for people to be willing to give their very best effort to honor the God who saved them.

TECHNOLOGY…embracing it and using it rather than fighting it.  (Find it funny and sad that there are churches who say that using lights and video is “not in the Bible,” yet those same churches use air conditioner and heaters…which are not in the Bible either!)

Love watching Twitter to see what God’s doing all over the country in local churches.  Here is some of the feedback that came in yesterday during and right after the worship experiences at Freedom…

@tylerorr IN-FREAKIN-CREDIBLE weekend at #freedomchurch!!!! God is HUGE!!!!

@chelstaff #freedomchurch just amazed me even more than I thought could be possible! Oh my word it was fantastic today!

@malthegal wow wow wow if you missed it… just wow #freedomchurch

@ecros GREAT day at #freedomchurch today. You know it’s good when the video team is singing at the top of their lungs from behind the drape!

@BlakeGoss No words can explain the worship experiences today at #freedomchurch

@maysville Wow! That’s all I can say. #freedomchurch

@ryrobo #Freedomchurch was amazing…wow

@leann_kay #freedomchurch you never cease to amaze me!!!

@Andreworr This is why i love my church! #freedomchurch

@goian Unbelievable. No words. #freedomchurch

@brianbrown #freedomchurch this AM may very well be the greatest corporate worship experience ive ever been a part of

@goian Throw back at freedom today! Bringin back those old school hymns! #freedomchurch

@goian I just got chills… Holy crap. Get yourself to freedom church. #freedomchurch

@littleBigRed Ready for some #freedomchurch action!!

Can’t wait for this one!  Seems like it’s been forever since we planned this series and I can’t wait to roll it out.  Check the info below…