East Campus Update

Hey everyone.  Thought we had a great Sunday.  Here’s some thoughts:

• It was great to have Bobby Jackson leading us in worship.  I think switching things up like that where Bobby leads at East while Kevin leads at West is a great reminder that we are ONE Church in two locations.  We’ll be doing the same thing with the teaching in January where I’ll be preaching at West in while Greg is at East.
• The whole team (Dave, Tim, Jason, Sheila and Bobby) did a fabulous job.  I especially like “All Because of Jesus.”  I’ve been waiting for us to do that one.  I love that song;
• Kevin was leading over at West Campus.  I haven’t heard yet how it went but I’m sure they had a great worship experience.  Sorry West Campus, you can’t have him.  He’s all ours;
• I really have to give some props to Lonnie (on sound), Tonia (on Media Shout), Sheila and Randy (worship coordinator) for making setup and tear down go seamless;
• Greg’s message was a good cap on the Thirsty series.  I loved it because it wasn’t standard fare on Bible reading.  God has indeed intended His Word to be so much more.  I think the message “TXT” was a great primer on receiving God’s Word.  I was even talking to someone at lunch about how thorough Greg is.  His analytical mind really explores a topic;
• The Jesus Juice video was a riot.  I heard some great feedback on it.  More than one person in 2nd service told me someone from 1st told them to make sure they got in the theater in time to catch it.  I think it was particularly funny because we knew the faces in the video.  Can someone say “typecast” for the actors?
• Let me be a little revealing…Ever since we launched I have wondered what attendance would do.  I don’t want to paint the picture that attendance is everything.  It’s not.  But it is a measurement of whether or not we are actually reaching people.  Every week, without fail, I pray that God would bring who He wants to our campus.  And I have been consistently pleased that we have landed at a good solid attendance around 250.  I am thrilled that God has blessed us with a solid attendance to grow from.  I love seeing new faces.  And I love seeing the faces of people who are connecting;
• I was thrilled to see 3 new teens back again!  I had briefly spoken with these three particular teens but, I had not really connected with them.  No problem, because Chris, our Student Life Direct had!  They have been connecting in SLW for a couple weeks now.  We have around 25 or 30 teens each week in Student Life Worship!  God is doing great things in the Student Ministry;
• We ran out of newcomer gifts today.  I’m so sorry about that.  If you didn’t get yours, please come back next week and we will have yours waiting!
• Today, I was thinking about “What’s next” more than ever.  I really believe God has some great things in store for Suncrest-East.  I’ll put some of my thoughts to digital form this week;
• In the meantime, don’t forget about Pie-appalooza.  Next Sunday from 4-6pm at West Campus.  Hope to see you there!

doug

Wow, I’ve been bad about this.  Better late than never, right?  We have had two awesome weekends since I last reflected.  Here are some thoughts:

• We are still seeing new faces.  It has not ceased to amaze me that new people are still walking through our doors;
• Maybe more important than that is that we have people connecting with us.  I see it on Sunday mornings, in groups that have started and in some special events we are hosting;
• We have an awesome Children’s ministry.  I already know this but it is great to hear this from parents dropping off and picking up their kids;
• This past weekend’s message may have been one of the most helpful in awhile….to me anyway!  I don’t really know if it helped anyone else, but preparing it was extremely helpful to me.  The Holy Spirit is the most mysterious person of God and yet serves such a central role to our connection with God.

Peace,

doug