A decade

That's right we have been serving as the Lead Pastors of Crossroads Church for ten years now! Our first service was Easter Sunday, 1999. This weekend, the church surprised us by recognizing the ten year anniversary and gave our family a paid vacation: Anywhere we want to go. (We're pumped!) Devin Lantier and Spanky Arsement, two of my board members and best friends made the presentation. One of the things they did was have everyone in attendance who has received Christ under our leadership either during this ten years or the eight years I served as Youth Pastor to stand. It was SO amazing and humbling to watch as hundreds stood to their feet. We have so much to be thankful for. It's such an honor to pastor such a wonderful group of people! The thing that's even more exciting is the best is yet to come!

Proof

This past weekend we hosted an Easter Production called "Proof." It was actually a part of a month-long message series with the same title. It's our desire to provide people with the evidence that exists that proves that Jesus actually lived and died and most importantly, rose on the third day. There is historical evidence, philosophical and theological evidence, there is even scientific archeological evidence that is extremely convincing! We presented samples of that evidence through a drama set in a College Philosophy class with an atheist professor (played by Matt Avant - INCREDIBLE job!) who shares how a few Christian students challenged his beliefs with this proof. Recollections of those encounters were shared on video vignettes and featured our Master's Commission students playing these college kids. (They did awesome!) After each point we made about the different forms of proof that exists, our music team performed songs that celebrate the resurrection. (We have such a great music team!) The climax of the production came at the end of the drama as these students shared with their professor how the change Christ brings into our lives is the greatest evidence that exists. This segued into members of our church coming out one by one with 'chalkboard' testimonies that on one side declared what they were before Christ (i.e. - drug addicts, homeless, hopeless, gang members, adulterers, cult members, etc.) and on the other side declared what they are today by the grace of God! IT WAS SO MOVING!

We had 4055 in attendance over 5 performances and we had 196 decisions for Christ!

I plan to post the video on my blog in the next couple of weeks.