Wow!
I am TOTALLY AMAZED at what God is doing at Brazos Fellowship and what He has been doing with this body over the past month and a half. Do you realize that over the past 4 weeks, we had 26 new first time visitors fill out communication cards, 25 the following weekend, 16 the week after that, and this past weekend, 19!!!!! Do you know how exciting that is?! Well, it's down right Brazos Fellowship history in the making! Never before has God brought that many new visitors through the door to check what is happening here each week in our entire history, during the summer. And guess what? The Elementary Schools, Jr. High's, High Schools, and colleges haven't even started yet....I just can't wait to see what it will be like when they all return, along with the additional visitors, regular attendees, AND members. Volunteers in all areas: GET READY!
It's really not about the numbers here at Brazos. Although, the more people that come visit us, the more excited we get, it really, truly is about the love of Christ and being an extension of His hands to each person, each week. Whether it is someone who's been a member since the first service, or someone who has never been to our campus, our goal is that the love for each person is the same; bottom_line. There are so many ways to be able to reach out to those entering the doors....serving on a ministry team, attending or leading a small group, serving in the children's, media and worship ministries, or, by simply going over to introduce yourself to a new face. You don't have to be on a ministry team to make someone feel welcomed or be the hands and feet of Jesus.
I have heard many great stories over the past few weeks about people visiting for the first time.
I had someone tell me the other day tell me, "to stay anonymous at this church, well, it's almost like a full time job; it's practically impossible". I don't know about you, but wow, gives me goosebumps just to think about that statement...it really does capture in one sentence what we strive for here every week. We had the opportunity too, this week, to talk to a family on the phone and they offered us the information that they moved here from Washington State and will now be moving to Waco. The father noted that the only thing he was going to miss about being in Bryan/College Station, was Brazos Fellowship. He also noted that he was not a fan of the "contemporary" type worship that we offered here, but by the first few minutes of getting on campus, he realized that it didn't even matter, because he had felt more welcomed and at home during his time here than anywhere else ever before. He also joked that he was afraid to go into the service because he might be disappointed if the message wasn't as good as the welcoming he'd received before ever making it into the auditorium. Turns out, he wasn't disappointed at all and left very refreshed and alive.
Those are just two stories from the past couple of weeks...I can tell you tons of more if you just ask me. These two stories and comments could not exist, the welcoming could not be possible, and the love of God can't be felt at Brazos Fellowship or anywhere else, if you, if we, the body, do not participate. This is not a blog to condemn or make anyone feel guilty....it is simply a reminder of a simple matter of fact: WE ARE THE BODY. And we are not only responsible, but also, will be held accountable for not only doing whatever we can for the Great Commission, but also for our actions and sharing the fruit of the One that lives inside of each one of us with everyone we meet.
That's it. Just a little something to get off my chest that I couldn't wait to share with whoever was willing to read it and more importantly, try to apply it to their personal lives. It's challenging; it's down right HARD to do...not just some of the time, but alot of the time. Doesn't matter. We are doing it for Him, who has provided us with this ultimate gift of salvation. Him, to whom we owe all and everything. AMEN.
I am TOTALLY AMAZED at what God is doing at Brazos Fellowship and what He has been doing with this body over the past month and a half. Do you realize that over the past 4 weeks, we had 26 new first time visitors fill out communication cards, 25 the following weekend, 16 the week after that, and this past weekend, 19!!!!! Do you know how exciting that is?! Well, it's down right Brazos Fellowship history in the making! Never before has God brought that many new visitors through the door to check what is happening here each week in our entire history, during the summer. And guess what? The Elementary Schools, Jr. High's, High Schools, and colleges haven't even started yet....I just can't wait to see what it will be like when they all return, along with the additional visitors, regular attendees, AND members. Volunteers in all areas: GET READY!
It's really not about the numbers here at Brazos. Although, the more people that come visit us, the more excited we get, it really, truly is about the love of Christ and being an extension of His hands to each person, each week. Whether it is someone who's been a member since the first service, or someone who has never been to our campus, our goal is that the love for each person is the same; bottom_line. There are so many ways to be able to reach out to those entering the doors....serving on a ministry team, attending or leading a small group, serving in the children's, media and worship ministries, or, by simply going over to introduce yourself to a new face. You don't have to be on a ministry team to make someone feel welcomed or be the hands and feet of Jesus.
I have heard many great stories over the past few weeks about people visiting for the first time.
I had someone tell me the other day tell me, "to stay anonymous at this church, well, it's almost like a full time job; it's practically impossible". I don't know about you, but wow, gives me goosebumps just to think about that statement...it really does capture in one sentence what we strive for here every week. We had the opportunity too, this week, to talk to a family on the phone and they offered us the information that they moved here from Washington State and will now be moving to Waco. The father noted that the only thing he was going to miss about being in Bryan/College Station, was Brazos Fellowship. He also noted that he was not a fan of the "contemporary" type worship that we offered here, but by the first few minutes of getting on campus, he realized that it didn't even matter, because he had felt more welcomed and at home during his time here than anywhere else ever before. He also joked that he was afraid to go into the service because he might be disappointed if the message wasn't as good as the welcoming he'd received before ever making it into the auditorium. Turns out, he wasn't disappointed at all and left very refreshed and alive.
Those are just two stories from the past couple of weeks...I can tell you tons of more if you just ask me. These two stories and comments could not exist, the welcoming could not be possible, and the love of God can't be felt at Brazos Fellowship or anywhere else, if you, if we, the body, do not participate. This is not a blog to condemn or make anyone feel guilty....it is simply a reminder of a simple matter of fact: WE ARE THE BODY. And we are not only responsible, but also, will be held accountable for not only doing whatever we can for the Great Commission, but also for our actions and sharing the fruit of the One that lives inside of each one of us with everyone we meet.
That's it. Just a little something to get off my chest that I couldn't wait to share with whoever was willing to read it and more importantly, try to apply it to their personal lives. It's challenging; it's down right HARD to do...not just some of the time, but alot of the time. Doesn't matter. We are doing it for Him, who has provided us with this ultimate gift of salvation. Him, to whom we owe all and everything. AMEN.
