Josh Hatcher's Blog
Sunday, July 16, 2006
the vision....
Gang, it's been less than twenty four hours since Pastor Mike announced our year end goals....
Satellite Services
A Plan for Relocation
500 in weekly attendance
and already, I've seen borderline skepticism.
Now certainly, I'm not discouraging differences of opinion. As I was told by my friend last night, "Everyone's got on, and some are stinkier and hairier than others." (ahem...)
Certainly, from time to time, Mike is going to say something that makes us think he's crazy. To be honest, I've thought it from time to time... and nine times out of ten, Mike's absolutely right.
He's a visionary leader. God has gifted him with foresight, and the ability to dream big.
And he's also made him smart enough, and teamed him up with the right people to get strategic, and make things happen. (We are ALL that team... from the oldest to the youngest...)
Worried about relocation? Don't see the need? Than you don't get the vision. Download the podcast and listen to it AGAIN.
We are a church of believers, not doubters. We are not going to try to accomplish something that we could do on our own.
Do you all realize that our church is on budget? Do you realize that three and a half years ago, we could not afford ONE person on staff, and now we have several?
Do you realize three and a half years ago, there was NO Open Arms? Now we're at about 250 people per weekend. THAT'S what God can do.
And for us to DOUBLE in a few months, is honestly NOTHING. No Problem whatsover.
Do we believe that God wants to move here? All we have to do is read His Word to see it! And all we have to do is look at what He's done to see that what's next is a drop in the bucket for God.
Now, that's not a note to downgrade practical, applicable knowledge.. as Mike says, "Don't Tell me i CAN'T do it, tell me what I need to have, or I need to do, to pull it off."
Don't say, "God can't give us a building that big. God can't bring that many people in that short a time." Say, "We're really going to have to sacrifice to make this happen. We're really going to have to lead people to Christ to see this happen. We're really going to have to pray to make this happen."
There are 30 thousand people in the area surroundign Bradford.
All 30 thousand people need to know God.
Open Arms is going to have an impact on as MANY of them as we can. That means our church should NEVER stop growing until all 3o thousand people are fully devoted followers of Christ.
So let's get busy LIVING our faith, so we can see it happen.
Let's not doubt. Let's believe God for a miracle.
Satellite Services
A Plan for Relocation
500 in weekly attendance
and already, I've seen borderline skepticism.
Now certainly, I'm not discouraging differences of opinion. As I was told by my friend last night, "Everyone's got on, and some are stinkier and hairier than others." (ahem...)
Certainly, from time to time, Mike is going to say something that makes us think he's crazy. To be honest, I've thought it from time to time... and nine times out of ten, Mike's absolutely right.
He's a visionary leader. God has gifted him with foresight, and the ability to dream big.
And he's also made him smart enough, and teamed him up with the right people to get strategic, and make things happen. (We are ALL that team... from the oldest to the youngest...)
Worried about relocation? Don't see the need? Than you don't get the vision. Download the podcast and listen to it AGAIN.
We are a church of believers, not doubters. We are not going to try to accomplish something that we could do on our own.
Do you all realize that our church is on budget? Do you realize that three and a half years ago, we could not afford ONE person on staff, and now we have several?
Do you realize three and a half years ago, there was NO Open Arms? Now we're at about 250 people per weekend. THAT'S what God can do.
And for us to DOUBLE in a few months, is honestly NOTHING. No Problem whatsover.
Do we believe that God wants to move here? All we have to do is read His Word to see it! And all we have to do is look at what He's done to see that what's next is a drop in the bucket for God.
Now, that's not a note to downgrade practical, applicable knowledge.. as Mike says, "Don't Tell me i CAN'T do it, tell me what I need to have, or I need to do, to pull it off."
Don't say, "God can't give us a building that big. God can't bring that many people in that short a time." Say, "We're really going to have to sacrifice to make this happen. We're really going to have to lead people to Christ to see this happen. We're really going to have to pray to make this happen."
There are 30 thousand people in the area surroundign Bradford.
All 30 thousand people need to know God.
Open Arms is going to have an impact on as MANY of them as we can. That means our church should NEVER stop growing until all 3o thousand people are fully devoted followers of Christ.
So let's get busy LIVING our faith, so we can see it happen.
Let's not doubt. Let's believe God for a miracle.
