How Far God Has Brought Us!

Today was another incredible day!! We had TONS of guests, TONS of people, and very FEW seats! It was a record crowd (except for Easter)!!

After church Beth & I were reflecting on how far our church has come since we launched. Here's where we came from:

--We had 1o-year old projector of 500 lumens (that's about like a night light) projecting onto a 6x8 screen. No one could see any of the words.
--We had drums and a keyboard and that was it. No true worship leader. No one with any real experience in a band.
--I had preached only like nine times and never twice in a row. I read through some of my old sermons and think, "What was I thinking?!?!"
--We used no graphics, no banners, no signs, no creative sets, and no drama.
--Our children met in cramped rooms in the back of the theatre with no central heat or air. We had no signs telling parents where to go.
--We had to use the theatre's sound guy who was not happy to be helping us out. Our sound was sorry. I preached a sermon without my mic on. Feedback was the norm.
--Our bulletin looked like it was made out of recycled cardboard. It was dull and boring.
--I knew NO ONE who was planting churches up this way in Northwest Georgia. Everything we did was from scratch and everything we learned was the hard way. We went through the mine field of church planting alone. So many of the church plants that are starting today are years ahead of where we were and that is a huge plus to kingdom growth.
--Our Youth group met in people's houses (until they got tired of us) and then we met in an old pharmacy with one toilet that barely flushed and clogged easily.
--I was the preacher, evangelist, janitor, and secretary. Beth did children, youth, and music. We were burning the candle at both ends.

BUT we had a few things:
--BIG VISION. The Wink Theatre (seats apprx. 1100) was 90% empty which according to experts is a HUGE mistake. But we had a dream to fill-up it with people seeking God and needing Christ.
--LOTS OF LOVE. From Day #1 our Core Group loved people ... whoever came through our doors on any given Sunday was welcomed, accepted, and valued. Love overcomes a ton of the previously mentioned shortcomings.
--A CALLING. On January 12, 2002 God called my wife and I to leave Virginia and return to Dalton to start Rock Bridge. No matter how tough it was or is or will be, I know that we are 100% obedient in following God's call to start RBCC.

A day like today reminds that the journey has BEEN WORTH IT!!