10 Aug Recap and Preview
After being out for a few weeks, I’m glad to be back with you this Sunday, starting something brand new! But, before we get to that, let me quickly bring you up to speed on a couple of important and encouraging things happening around Mosaic:
1. If you missed it last week, we gave you a recap of the recent Every Nation Youth Camp, our annual event we do with other churches in our Every Nation spiritual family in the southwest United States. We took around 70 students and another dozen volunteers, who not only dropped in unexpectedly on a Chick-Fil-A on the way there, simultaneously throwing the very kind employees there into a panic, as well as helping set a one day sales record for them—but, many, many students (including my own children) reported having life-changing encounters with God. Many came to Christ, were water baptized, experienced the Holy Spirit’s power, and came back better than when they left. THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO GAVE TO THIS—you helped make it possible for real deal, face-to-face encounters with God to happen. Says Wendell Williams, Mosaic’s amazing youth pastor:
“I think one of the highlights for me this summer at camp was seeing our middle and high school students not only expect and receive something for themselves, but being actively used by God to pray and minister to one another.”
Watch the recap below to get a feel for the week and the event:
2. Continuing on with our youth, this Friday night, from 6:30-8 pm, is the grand opening of our New Mosaic Student Center. Come and check out the new space, eat some pizza, hear the great story of how God provided through you to make the space possible, and celebrate a great win all around for our local church. The Mosaic Student Center is located across the parking lot from our main building, on Jekel Circle, in our office building.
3. We’ll be starting a brand new series this Sunday called “For the Love: The Love of God in the Gospel of John”. I am so excited about diving into this amazing account of Jesus’ life, and seeing what real love looks like. “Love”, unlike even wonderful things like faith and hope, is not only something that will last forever (1 Corinthians 13), but it’s also an enormously popular buzzword in our culture as well. I hope to give both some more inspiration for and definition around the idea of love—what that looks like in the heart of God, and what that can look like in our city and church.
4. Finally, I wanted to report a final bit of good news. Last Sunday, we had another record weekend attendance (non-Easter). If you’ve been here over the last few years, you know you have been a part of a growing and thriving community of faith, and for that I rejoice. After all, asks the Apostle Paul, what farmer plants a seed and does not hope to receive a crop, or growth, back in return? That being said, just like in any growing family or community, growth comes with some stretching, and even growing pains, and that leads me to a couple of things to put on your radar:
a.) Obviously, our first two services are by far the most full, and while our third service has thankfully and consistently grown over the past year and a half, there is still room and space if you are able to consider attending it. Many of you have chosen to make that service your own and know the growing sense of connection and community within our 12:30 service, so don’t forget that is an option.
b.) Please be praying for our staff and leadership as we pray through and consider what our next growth steps will look like. We have a number of options to consider, and desire to make thoughtful, wise and timely decisions that serve our body well.
That’s it! Thank you for believing in and being a part of something great that is changing people’s lives week in, week out, and over time.
To God be the glory,
Morgan