Yesterday was our second week of WHITEWATER. I was excited, expectant, and a bit cautious in anticipating the number of people who would come for week two.
In our first week we had 680 people. This was after a big promotional push that brought over 40 visiting families. We also had dozens of well wishers who came for one reason or another, family of band members, etc... So, statistically we should of had about half of the people in week two that we had in week one. That is what usually happens in things like church plants, etc... having half of the people come back is a big win!
However, I believe that some good things are being done and that God is really in this whole thing so I was hoping and praying for 400-500 people to come week 2. In my mind that was being pretty bold! Ha!
God had other plans. We had more people this week than we had at our grand opening - 748 to be exact! That is a 9% increase over grand opening! It does not make sense to me, but I know that it makes sense to God.
Our services opened with the following songs:
- Making Melody (Matt Redman)
- The Time Has Come (Hillsong United)
- Look To You (Hillsong United)
- Dancing Generation (Matt Redman)
and closed with:
The message was about God's provision and came out of 1 Kings 17. We gave everyone towels and challenged the to choose God in the peaks of life and also in the valleys of life. For the people who were in a peak season of life, where all is going well, I asked them to fold their towels and create a "mini-altar" and fall to their knees and thank God and recognize God as their provider. To choose God even in these good times when they are not driven to God out of desperation. Hundreds did this.
For those who were in a valley season of life I asked them to wad up their towel and grab it as tight as they could. Like they were ready to throw in the towel. Then I asked them to stand and choose God in the midst of this valley, and to turn their hand over and loosen their grip and give the crud over to God. To focus on God more than the circumstance of the valley.
The room was full of people standing and indicating that they were choosing God and giving over their crud to Him and depending on Him to provide. There was a real sense of people dealing with hurt and brokenness. We prayed for these individuals. It was powerful moment.
I feel like we are accomplishing one of our goals for WHITEWATER - a place to be real. Like I told everyone on Sunday. You can do almost anything when you come to WHITEWATER. You can embrace God or doubt God. Hide. Reflect. Ponder. You can sit, stand, jump, dance, cross your arms, or lift your hands. You can question God or thank God. You can be mad, happy, sad, up, or down. You can do almost anything - but play games.
BE REAL WITH OTHERS, BE REAL WITH YOUR STUFF, AND BE REAL WITH GOD!
As C.S. Lewis said - "Pray what is in you, not what should be in you".
Within the next two weeks we should have the WHITEWATER podcasts available!