5/9/08
This week Christ Chapel had the honor and privilege of hosting the Georgia District Council of the Assemblies of God.
There were several times during the week that I was overwhelmed with a sense of purpose, pleasure, pride, and awe.
PURPOSE: As we prayed together as a staff and team last Tuesday, we often come together at the end and ask “What did you hear or sense? What do you feel the Lord is saying?”. Pastor Greg (our Dublin pastor) said, “I hear the word [strategic]”, we closed asking the Lord to utilize every part of us this week. From our facilities to our gifts, from our knowledge to resources, from what is in our building to what is in our hearts.
PLEASURE: Several times during the Council I sensed the Lord’s delight and pleasure in us as His Church, His ministers, His leaders but more so as His children.
It felt like, “His house was full of all His kids”.
I sensed His pleasure in who we were, what we were doing and how we were doing it.
PRIDE: (in a good context)
We did not have a systematic plan of where everyone would be, at what times, doing specific tasks; but more “use your eyes to see, use your body to serve and use your heart to connect, and use your words to edify and heal.
Watching our team arrive early, stay late, and give above and beyond reasonable service humbled me so greatly remembering that somehow I have found myself as the pastor of this great house.
AWE: To look back at our very humble beginnings in 1995 at the Office Park @ Sheraton Drive to know hosting the Council where all of the ministers from throughout the state of Georgia came to Worship together was almost more than I could take in.
Who am I that I would ever find such grace?
Thanks again for everyone both staff and servants who made this week a pleasure to the heart of God.
One of the Executive Officials told me on the last day….
“John, I have had a part in our District Councils for almost 30 years now and I have never been to one which the host church has given more attention to detail than Christ Chapel @ Sportstowne. Every part of it was done in a spirit of servanthood and excellence”.
To which we now turn all glory to God, OUR GOD, who inhabits this place.
Glad to simply have a hat and a jersey,
john