Donuts were a hit! Vince and Liz Aguilar have been around the CCC family for a long time. A couple weeks ago, Vince came up to let me know that Serafini's in Frankfort (where Vince is a chef) was sponsoring some donuts for the church. I was super grateful! But after we ATE those donuts yesterday?!?!?! WOW! Sometimes it's the little things.. But those donuts sparked some awesome conversations in the lobby. So much so that between them and the new wall into the worship center, most everybody missed the gathering starting. I LOVE being part of a big 'ol family that likes donuts!
People who invest in our kids are beyond valuable! I could tell about 10 examples of things that I'm still blown away by this weekend, but I'll try and keep it brief. Sarah Golden followed through on her commitment to Community Kids even as her husband Shawn was being voted in as the new pastor of Cropper Baptist Church (more on that below)! After church, we hosted several folks from Midland including one of their leaders, Shawn Crowe. Long after lunch was over and people were hanging out, Shawn was playing gaga ball with my kids who had patiently been waiting to go home. My kids talked about it the whole way home.
Did you know that research has shown that the greatest predictor of a young person staying connected to the church in college is having 5 intergenerational relationships outside of their family from their church?
It matters y'all. And I'm thankful for each of you investing in the next generation. You're going to hear Sunday about our need for more of you this fall!
Celebrating with Shawn and Sarah Golden and the Cropper Baptist Church family! It's been said that a rising tide lifts all boats. That applies to the larger family of churches in our community too! Shawn & Sarah Golden (along with their kids Meg and Mike) have been a part of the CCC family for a while now. Yesterday, Shawn was voted in as the new pastor of Cropper Baptist Church! I can't wait to see how the Lord uses the Golden's and Cropper Baptist to make an impact for the kingdom! GO BE THE CHURCH, GOLDENS!
Midland Community Church has been the epitome of our mission; and now we get to welcome them back. Several years ago, CCC followed the Lord's call to send out a group of people to plant a new church. They joined Jesus in going out to make disciples - the epitome of the mission. At the end of May, Midland Community Church will cease gathering together, but after lunch yesterday, I can promise you there's a great commitment to the mission. Several of them will come back and be a part of the CCC mission in June and we have an incredible opportunity to welcome these missionaries home, invite them over for dinner, hear their stories and celebrate how God has worked in them and through them the last several years.
Jesus is the headliner. As I sat this morning and spent time with the Lord, he kept bringing this idea through my thoughts and readings: Jesus is the headliner. Whether we're telling our stories, serving in the community, loving our neighbor (or our enemy), or sitting still as he removes our sin, Jesus is, and must be, the headliner.
The Lord was even gracious enough to give me some specific application as I was reading from Fan the Flame by Jim Cymbala:
It's probably best, as a general rule, not to make too much of ourselves, our ministries, or our churches. "Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips" (Prov. 27:2). Let's focus instead on Jesus and the marvelous things he has done for us. I tell new members publicly, as they join the church, "We're so happy God sent you here to join us. But please don't go around talking about our church. That could grieve God's Spirit, and then where would we be? By all means, invite people to services. But lift up Christ, not the pastor or the church." Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all forgot about highlighting our church, denomination, or "brand" and focused instead on boasting only in the Lord?
Amen. Jesus is the headliner.
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