Awesome service...

Yes, God blessed our fellowship with an awesome 2nd service in our satellite location (a.k.a. - borrowed church). For those that were here last week this week was a little easier to get used to. The shock of a new setting for a worship service has subsided; however for others, you could tell they were somewhat unsettled and unfamiliar with the whole thing. I talked to one of our worshipers who has missed the last two Sundays. She said it was just too hard to adapt and get used to a new church building...but I used a little bit of every pastor's charm to help her get past that one!

God just blessed our socks off again today. We had passionate and energetic worship. The Holy Spirit was moving. People just had a great time in the presence of the Lord and they were loving it. The sound of our worship service has changed. You know why? Because we are crying out to God as desperate and dependent children call out to their father. We've lost so much...but we haven't lost Him. So much has changed @ CFA, but one thing will never change: That God is the same yesterday, today and forever. The way He touched people's lives in the Book of Luke is the same way He wants to touch people's lives in this wounded community of Columbus, Indiana!

I preached from Acts Chapter 4. There were seven principles that characterized a church of outreach and compassion that I wanted our people to recognize and reflect on. Each one is so crucial. The Flood of '08 came in by such a surprise and with such force. It left much havoc and chaos in it's wake. But we have chosen to respond to this disaster with the attitude of seeing this event as a catalyst for future ministry and further outreach into our community. We must not glide back into our comfortable shells and stick our heads in the sand, we must stay on the active ministry front to desperately needy people in our city.

My last blog post reported the generous actions of a church in Pendleton, Indiana, which brought a trailer full of goods and placed them in our inactive sanctuary. I'm happy the Rock Church, pastored by Tad Finch, thought to assist and bless us. Even their kids got in the HOPE action by handwriting little notes that were placed in zip-lock bags filled with personal hygiene goodies. This afternoon, and also early evening, we had about 10 of us working to organize and arrange these precious gifts to be used in our "HOPE OUTREACH" tomorrow all day. We've put the news release into our local paper, and with what we've done already through COH, we will see a steady stream of people come to accept these gracious provisions of blessing that is so desperately needed. (We might even hand-deliver some baskets of HOPE to those that are too tired to come out to the church ministry center!)

The Lord gave me the quick idea to utilize my empty office bookshelves (four of them...sitting idle and naked) and put them into service to hold all the canned goods and boxed goods that this church has blessed us with. So when you walk into our foyer, you will see a temporary food bank, followed up by a temporary clothes closet on the coat racks, and then in the sanctuary you will find pallets and pews filled with goodies that we will be giving away this week. Rand has even come up with a missions response pick list form that he will be using in his Receiving Ministry post. Lord, please use us to touch those that are suffering and those that are tired with your love and compassion! May we minister to their physical needs, but we ask that you touch them spiritually and transform their lives through the power of Jesus Christ!

If you are within a couple hours drive from our church let me invite you to witness what is taking place here at 10th & Iowa Streets. You won't find a perfect church with perfect carpet and perfect paint and perfect rooms, but you will find a scarred and rough-looking building filled with hope and compassion, and people that are serving multitudes in Jesus name! Give me a call and let me show you what God is doing!

A news reporter told one of our volunteers that he just couldn't get over the fact that we were still serving others in the midst of our own loss and personal flood disaster. But that is just what Jesus would be doing, right? So we are following in His footsteps and trusting Him to meet our every need. Give and it shall be given unto you...I believe just what God's Word says. How about you?

Thanks for your prayers prayed on our behalf in your services today. God has been so good. He continues to amaze me in this journey of faith. Still traveling...still walking...still looking for the guideposts along the way that He has established for us to follow.

This week continues with general contractors completing their bids and turning them in. Let me ask that you pray for God's will to be done in phase 2: rebuilding and restoration.

Let me be so bold to ask you to help us with making a contribution to our Flood Fund: www.columbusfirstassembly.org (click on the online giving feature). Every available gift that is sent to us will be taken with great stewardship responsibility and held in deepest trust. God will meet our need. He is always faithful. CFA will be back in action...stronger than ever...you can count on that!!

Anticipating another thrilling week of God's amazing provision and direction!

Thanks for staying connected with my blog and lifting us up in your prayers. It's working...it really is.

God bless you abundantly...beyond all limits!

Sincerely,

Pastor A.

(P.S. - Did you see Shawn on the front page of Convoy of Hope? www.convoyofhope.org)