What a Weekend!
Though there are many turning away from the Lord Jesus and His narrow way, there are many turning to Him. We constantly hear reports about the decline of the church. As a pastor, I hear about and see people disengaging, or departing from the way of Jesus, because it is too hard or too narrow. But what I saw last weekend was not decline. It was not sad or disappointing. It was awesome and inspiring.
A Really Good Friday
About four hundred fifty people showed up for our noon Good Friday service and one hundred fifty joined us online. Did you get that? That many showed up for a Good Friday service! At noon. On a Friday. During a pandemic situation. A Good Friday service — which is more contemplative and quiet — connecting with Jesus at the intersection of His pain and our pain. Yet, we had twice as many people as we have ever had on a Good Friday service. Come on, Jesus!
That same night, from 6:00 – 8:00 pm, we had a drive-through-stations-of-the-cross-with-artwork-communion-and-prayer service on our campus. We wanted to ensure that anyone who is quarantined for any reason, or was unable to make it to the noon service, could partake. Over seventy cars drove through. Many people received prayer and left the campus with precious tears running down their cheeks. One young lady even prayed to give her life to Jesus. Woohoo!
The Celebration
For our Easter celebration we held a Saturday evening service and three Sunday morning services. We wanted to create room for anyone wanting social distancing space. I thought two of the four services would be pretty empty. I was wrong. All four filled up and we had the largest attendance for Easter services in our church’s history. Almost sixteen hundred adults attended in-person. Another five hundred fifteen joined us online. What?!
Moved to Follow Jesus
During our Easter services we baptized seventeen people. One who was baptized was a young lady who was moved to give her life to Jesus in the first service. She stayed for the second service so she could be baptized.
Three who were baptized were from the same family. In this family of five, three have severe autoimmune diseases. The family has been strictly quarantined for over ten years as they deal with major medical issues. Over the last year we have come to know them more as Covid-19 caused all of us to be quarantined for a bit. As we have learned to walk with them and learn from them, Jesus has been doing a wonderful work in their family. All three of the children decided to be baptized. We found a metal pool and took it to their house. (Because of a latex allergy an inflatable pool couldn’t work.) We helped the parents with a little “pastor baptism briefing.” Then, the parents recorded each child’s declaration of faith and baptism. We played the video in each Easter service to make sure their declaration was heard, received and celebrated by the whole family of Living Streams. It was beautiful! (I am glad we made the decision to put the Kleenex boxes back in the sanctuary.)
This Road Leads to Life
I know that in this past year opinions on Covid-19, race, sexuality, and gender have caused major relational hemorrhaging and — in some cases — death. I know the confusion caused by so-called progressive Christianity is becoming more prominent and leading to greater secularization in our cities and our churches. But I also know His truth is marching on. The narrow road still leads to life — abundant life. Jesus is on the throne. And just as the so-called sexual revolution of the 60’s gave way to the Jesus movement of the 70’s, I am hoping the sexual confusion of the 2010’s will give way to another Jesus movement in the 2020’s. Come on, Jesus!
David
P.S. Please note we have postponed our Congregational Meeting from this Sunday April 11th to Sunday April 25th at 6pm.