Out of the Box Initiatives

There is a verse in 2 Thess 1:11 I absolutely LOVE and really try to keep before our church at all times:

"....that by His power, he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith."

I love that verse!!!

It tells me that God is just WAITING to bless those who will step out in "acts of faith"!  "...may he fulfill EVERY good purpose.....EVERY act prompted by our faith..."!!

This is where we are with Craig going up to Norfolk.  If you weren't in our CORE meeting a few Fridays ago, here is what we are attempting, working with the church elders and district supervisors up there who are ready to step out with us at Harvest:

• Nothing will change as to our 'ministry flow'.  Our 2 churches will be doing the same series at the same time and Craig will be leading via Skype (which we have set up) our Monday Creative Team meetings.  We will continue to do our annual fasting retreat, seeking to pray and plan out the next preaching year, as we have done for 2008.
• We are putting in a professional grade camera and lighting up in the church in Norfolk.  They will film Pastor Craig's messages, which will then be sent down here on Mondays to be edited for use on the weekends.  He will be moving up there June 1 and as of our meeting yesterday, he will be on video for the series we are starting in a few weeks (Harvest @5) "God's Will".  We will try to give about a month for them to get adjusted up there, then starting in the end of July, he will do a 4 week series that we will do at the Harvest @ 5 service called "Friendship with the Holy Spirit".
• We are committed to this direction, as we see this as a great opportunity to expand our influence.  All we are asking is that you really give it a chance, and let us know your perspective as we enter into this new initiative.  We have never played conservatively at Harvest.  We never will.  But....we will play smart,.... listening, .... adapting... as we need to.  We want whatever will make us the most effective for King Jesus!

I am headed out to a lunch at Marcus Pointe Baptist, so gotta run.  We will try hard to communicate, communicate, communicate as we go.......!

1 Tim 1:11....!

PB

Comments

[Josh Lipscomb]

I am praying for you guys with this next venture. It's exciting to see how technology can be leveraged to advance the kingdom. The idea of connecting the two churches sounds great. I will pray for a continued open-ness by the people of harvest to embrace new ideas and initiatives. Keep pushing the barriers.

[Angela Barrere]

Thanks for committing to communicate! Even those of us out in the "land of desolation" (Nebraska) as Joel once called it want to be in the loop! We are praying for you and yours. My heart leapt when Tracy Waters told me about Papa Craig and Lezli's upcoming move. Good stuff.