This Sunday, The Journey baptized 4 more people. That brings the total baptisms to 54 since The Journey began in 2005. So far this year, we have baptized 10 people. Did you know that the average for church baptisms each year in our country is 3? What an incredible privilege to have God moving in our midst! In 2007 only 24 of 94 churches in the Baptist Network baptized more than 10 people. Last year, the Journey was number 83 out of 94 churches in terms of average worship attendance, yet was number 30 in number of baptisms.
I throw out these numbers not to cause you to compare one church with another, but to encourage you with evidence that God is moving among us! Our average attendance in worship in 2008 has increased by over 25% and our number of baptims has already surpassed our total for 2007. And if you are encouraged by those statistics, just wait! Wait to see how God blesses this church family when we begin our neighborhood outreach efforts next month. God is about to show out! Just wait and see.
“God is about to show out! Just wait and see”. Pretty strong stuff from a Pastor, but okay, I am waitng with baited breath.
Let me rethink that comment, I will not wait with baited breath, instead I will join you in following our Lord, Jesus Christ. I’ll be dogged if I want to be on the sideline watching when God reveals himself by what he will do, I want to be smack dab in the middle.
I remember a line from some obscure song I’ve heard (haven’t heard it for a long time) goes something like “Im traveling where I once feared to go, I’m taking with me anyone who’ll go,I’m reaching higher for a better life, come with me and enjoy this life.”. Hint, Hint.
None of us are waiting. If someone stands on the board we will dive in from the side. Its sometimes scary to do what God puts into our hearts to do. But then I remember God’s pulling the real weight i’m just there to show the world world how much he can do with so little.