homegroups, ministry teams, and first time guests
Homegroups went really, really well on Sunday night. We launched them full time with 4 homegroups spread throughout the area and had a total of 48 students and leaders involved. I'm so excited about the possibilities for each hg. They are all set up with great leaders and a core group of students who want to make a difference in Thrive and in the lives of their friends and schools.
Wednesday night we focused on serving on ministry teams in Thrive and using our gifts for God. We had 30 currently uninvolved students sign up for a ministry team. Now, the process begins for assimilating these students on teams.
At Thrive we are going to measure our progress by the number of students involved in homegroups, students serving on a ministry team, students crossing the line of faith to accept Christ, and the number of first time guests in our services. Over the last 3 weeks, 18 first time guests have attended Thrive. I'm so proud of our students for stepping up and bringing their friends.
Labels: thrive
homegroups all out
Tonight is the official launch of our homegroups here at Thrive. We ran a test launch on them this summer, and we had a lot of good reports from what happened.
I know each homegroup is going to be able to care, connect, and disciple so much better than just meeting in a big setting on a Wednesday night. I'm so excited to see the groundwork of Thrive being laid to really be able to handle hundreds of students that will come through our doors and find God.
Homegroups will serve as a basis for all that we do here at Thrive and be focused on evangelism and fellowship. They are going to provide a great environment for God to truly change students' lives.
Ignite. Impact. Elevate. Fusion.
Have fun tonight and enjoy.
Labels: thrive
god is working in thrive
Last night was awesome and difficult at the same time.
There was no energy at all... like none. It was just dead, and I don't really know why. Students talked throughout the entire service; no one worshipped; and students didn't respond to an alter call that involved everyone. I'm thinking why don't my student leaders at least respond.
But through it all, we had a record attendace. 72 total, including students, leaders, and visitors. We had 8 first time guests. I'm so proud of two of our students for bringing 6 of them from their school. They even made their own flyers and passed them out. (I'm thinking we've got some really sweet, professional ones made that you can have as many as you want... but oh well.) And our giving has continued to steadily increase or stay consistent. So that part was good.
But the best part was, 3 students gave their hearts to God last night. That's so awesome! That's why we do what we do every week.
It's ironic that service seemed to go so terribly in my thought, and God still showed up and made Himself known. A few of our guests said, "I've never been to a church like this before!" (And that was a good thing.)
Keep praying for us. We're moving forward. God is working in us, but we have such a huge job ahead of us.
Labels: thrive
who knows
I feel so overwhelmed right now in taking Thrive to the next level. I feel like there is just so much to do, but I don't know what to do to do an adequate job.
It's very frustrating.
I'm working hard, but I feel so lost.
I need God's wisdom and help.
Who knows what to do?Labels: ministry, thrive
recent reads
I love personal growth. I love personal development and evaluation. I love to read books and blogs to constantly challenge and push myself further along.
In the past few months, I've struggled to consistently read because of the craziness of my schedule. I currently have 3 books in my bag; they have just been there longer than I would have liked.
But I have finished 3 books lately that I wanted to highlight.
1. Making Vision Stick by Andy Stanley
2. The Leadership Game by Tom Mullins
3. When Leadership and Discipleship Collide by Bill Hybels
Making Vision Stick was such a quick read, but it was packed full of tips and reminders concerning vision casting. It was a huge help for me because this is something I've stumbled through the past 8 months trying to find my way around doing it. I think I've grown in it a lot though, and this book was great for that.
When Leadership and Discipleship Collide was just refreshing for me because I've struggled with some of the questions Hybels poses in the book. I know leadership principles, but sometimes God doesn't operate by these principles, even though I believe He gave the creativity to those who developed them. He is just bigger than any idea or natural principle. Labels: ministry, personal
the arrival
New Thrive on Wednesday night was so incredible. God provided everything we were asking Him for and He came through in a big way. I'm so thankful that we can ask God for needs and He is quick to answer our prayers.
There was so much connection happening during pre-service... people just hanging out and having fun with one another and developing relationships.
Service then kicked off with a bang and tons of energy. That room hasn't ever had that much energy in it. And the energy continued throughout the entire service. We started a new series called I am Thrive, in which we are casting vision and giving opportunities for involvement and making Thrive who we are and not just what we do.
There's nothing like momentum, and it is going to help carry us to where God wants to take us and help us reach so many students for the Kingdom.
I'm so thankful for what God did for us. Wednesday night was such a huge win for us and everything we are working to do.
I'll post pictures next week. Our lights didn't come in thanks to a dumb move by the shipping company, so pictures won't show the complete transformation of the room at this point. I'll post some next week though.
Thrive has arrived, and we are going to make an impact in our world.Labels: thrive
