Launching 101

What I learned from launching a church...

1. Spending 5 hrs at school and 10 hrs at church two days in a row is not the most amazing thing on a new marriage.
2. Being able to celebrate the very first service of a new church with your wife is an amazing thing!
3. Find committed musicians, so they can be there every week, not one week on, one week off.
4. I get crazy nervous, to the point I can't even talk because I feel like I am about to explode, when this happens, find a time to be alone.
5. Practice makes perfect, but nerves can take that perfection and make it look like nectefroip. It's all there, but it doesn't look anything like it should.
6. I love hearing the voices of God's people sing to him, and I can't believe God has allowed me to be a lead worshipper.
   
7. Lauren being right next to me helps calm "post-nervous feeling" nerves.
8. I want to be a rock star.
9. There is a hurting side of Joplin that no one sees. Recovering addicts... people burned by the church... ministers burned by the church... people who are shunned because they look funny... People just looking for something different. I met all of these today. My heart went out for them in a way I never knew before.
10. Life-on-life with people is an amazing thing. I love hearing people stories about how they are "looking for the right church." And I love it even more when after the service they have found it.
11. There are numerous churches in Joplin that don't ask a visitors name. We were the first church to ask Teneza's. She's been church searching since moving here in June. We were the first to ask her name........!!!!!!!!!!!
12. Aaron Payne and Joanna Gardner (soon to be Payne) are awesome.
13. Even though ^they^ hound me about doing things I know I shouldn't, but still do.
14. Full time ministry is the life for me.

I'm sure there is so much more that I have learned, these are just the things that have gone through my mind since this morning. There is so much more to digest though!!

All in all... an amazing day! Music went pretty well... 80ish in the main room + 31 kids + kids workers = 125. First Sunday... Brand stinkin new church and we are already averaging what just about every church I have attended over the last 5 years is averaging. Granted one Sunday isn't an "average" but with all the people that said they'd be back.... plus the people they are going to drag with them next Sunday, i'd say we are looking pretty good!

Number one lesson--- God is freaking amazing for doing everything he does as only he can. Thank you, Father! Continue to work in and through me to reach the hurting in Joplin!
Number two lesson--- Lauren is freaking amazing for allowing me to be 100% focused on just about everything except her these last 3-4 days. Thank you, Princess! I will love you forever!

Greater things have begun...