Some People Just Get It, and Some Don't!

I have had two conversations in the past few days that shows me that some people get it, and some don't. It was actually a surprise as to which one got it.

A few days ago, I followed up with a pastor that I had spoken with about ministering to new believers. I had sent him the materials that we use here at Palm Valley Church and wanted to see how things were going. I speak with people from churches about our ministry to new believers every couple of months and I like to see how they have implemented a similar ministry where they are. This pastor shared that he wasn't able to implement anything because his elders thought they were doing just fine as they were. They just don't get it!

Yesterday, I got a call from an eighty year old lady who was so excited she could hardly stand it. She was at a friend's house this weekend and some other friends came and brought the Fresh Start Packet that they had just received at PVC that morning. In all of her years walking with Christ, she shared that she had never seen such a wonderful resource for new believers. She wants to have her pastor contact us to learn more. She gets it!

Ministering to new believers is different! It's often messy, and your heart will break hearing the stories of lives messed up by sin. But, it is so rewarding when you see the joy they have received in Christ! To see God work in people's lives and change them so completely is amazing. Most who come to us to grow in their faith have never even picked up a Bible, or if they have, they haven't read much and don't know much about it. What a privilege to come alongside these people to partner with them as they take their first steps in faith. It is humbling and often overwhelming to be used by God in this way.

The reward is walking around the church campus on a weekend and seeing the many who have come to Christ here and are now growing and serving. They are connected to Home Teams and Ministry Teams in every area of the church. To me, that is success. Unfortunately, there are still many who make a decision, but never begin walking with Christ. We still have so much to do! Fortunately, our ministry team gets it!

The Navy Has Arrived in Arizona!

OK, not the whole Navy, but one particular Navy Seal. Yesterday I had the privilege to pick up Chris from the airport and help him surprise his family with an unexpected visit. He shared with me how many people, when told he was heading to Arizona, asked him if he knew that we don't have an ocean here.

Chris has spent time in my home. He is a friend of Josh's, and he accepted Christ here at Palm Valley Church. He attended a New Believer Growth Group in my home and was baptized here. His father accepted Christ and was baptized at PVC too.

Chris is now in the Navy, going through Seal training. He told me that he may soon be sent to Iraq. There isn't much waterfront in Iraq, but I guess they make the most of it! As we drove, he shared his experiences and assured me that he is still strong in his faith. He shared the many ways his faith has been challenged, and how Satan had tried to convince him that he wasn't doing what God wanted him to do, and how he overcame those thoughts.

I am so proud of him! I am certainly proud that he is serving our country, but more importantly, he is serving God in what he does, and there is nothing more worthy than that, no matter what the job is!

It is such a privilege to get to see how this young man has grown in Christ. Praise God!

God Is Into Numbers

God is into numbers! That's why there is a book in the Bible entitled, "Numbers". Numbers matter because each number is a person whom God loves. Numbers matter because they represent the lives God has called us to serve and to minister to. It's not about the numbers, but the numbers remind us what it's about.

Having said that, here are some numbers that are important in my life right now:

15 - people are interested in the New Believer Growth Group starting Wednesday night
12 - people who are confirmed that they are coming to the NBGG
2 - people who were signed up for the NBGG one week ago

318 - people who have made some sort of decision at Palm Valley Church from the beginning of the year to the end of August
137 - people have gone to the Fresh Start table to learn more about their decision through August
70 - people have attended the Fresh Start Class through August
22% - of all decisions that have attended the FS Class
51% - of people who came to the FS table that have attended the FS Class
40 - people per month make a decision to connect or re-connect with God at PVC
17 - people per month come to the FS table to learn more about their decision
9 - people per month attend the FS Class

I know that our numbers for the New Believer Growth Group attendance are incorrect, so we will be working on those.

What this shows me is that God continues to change lives at Palm Valley Church! It shows me that people want to grow in their faith. It shows me that if they will come to the FS table, more than half will continue to the next step in their walk with Christ.

What these numbers also show me how much work we have still to do!

The numbers show me that 181 people didn't come to the FS table. The numbers show me that 67 people didn't take the next step after coming to the FS table.

Then, I am reminded that it is our job to plant seeds, and to water, as the Lord provides opportunity, but it is He that causes the growth. We are to be diligent in doing everything He leads us to do, to create opportunities for people to connect and grow in their faith, but it is God, working in the hearts of these people who draws them to Himself.

Our job is to remain faithful!

O Ye of Little Faith!

Early last week we only had two people signed up for our next New Believer Growth Group which begins Wednesday, September 17th. I sent an email to a couple of leaders asking them to think and pray with me about moving it back a couple of weeks.

I no sooner than hit the send button that the Holy Spirit nailed me for my lack of faith! People usually sign up at the last minute for these groups, so why was I giving up? I began to pray, first for forgiveness, then for God to bring people who wanted to grow in Him.

Every day since, we have had people sign up. How cool is that! Add to that the fact that we had 11 people come to the Fresh Start table after just the 8:30 and 10:00 services!

God continues to move in a big way around here and I just need to remember that the best place for me to be is on my knees. I need to continue to learn to trust the Holy Spirit's leading. When he leads us to set a launch date for a group, I need to trust that he will take care of who will be coming.

Praise God for his faithfulness!

Ultimate Fighter

Our new series here at Palm Valley Church is Ultimate Fighter. I'm not much of a UFC fan, though I have watched a couple of bouts. Having said that, I am a huge fan of this series! It gives us the opportunity to show men that they don't have to check their manhood at the door in order to follow Christ. Men who would never otherwise attend church are coming.

We had more men than women make decisions this week. That is so awesome!

The staging is spectacular. You really feel like you are at a UFC event. Putting the drums and guitar on 6' high platforms behind the octagon is huge!

Greg is so pumped about this series and you can see it in his preaching. Not that he ever takes a series off, but I know that this series has been percolating in him for a long time. It's cool to see it play out as he envisioned.

The vibe around church right now is cool. People are so excited to be inviting people, and when those people make decisions for Christ, they are really pumped.

I can't wait to see what happens next week!