We Resolve: to Pray More!

Praise God for what took place yesterday at FHCC! We kicked our "We Resolve..." series with "Pray More;" and boy, did the people respond. People prayed and sought God yesterday at church and it was amazing to see Him work.

To start off the service was packed yesterday. We typically run around 50 each week, but yesterday we hit over just 60. Not a HUGE jump in numbers, but given it was the first weekend in January, we did very little promotion of this series, and the weather has been "iffy" at best; to be above normal in attendance was a MIRACLE. Second, we seriously prayed before the service.

Yes, we always pray before a service, but for the past two weeks the Leadership of FHCC has been getting together, setting aside more than 30-seconds, and really digging in and seeking God in prayer. The results of these efforts are obvious and they are not only blessing our services, but our leaders are getting blessed at the same time. This past Sunday was no exception, but what made this week more unique than the previous was that EVERYTHING/CIRCUMSTANCES/ETC. was trying to keep us from praying. Set-up took twice as long, worship practice was having sound issues, the sound system was acting up, etc. But, we knew we had to pray so we said forget setup/practice; let's pray, and we did!

Thirdly, God has given FHCC a vision of the future and the people are responding to that vision. What I mean is this: because we have laid out a vision of what FHCC is called to be, given evidence that we are serious about the vision, and because it IS God's vision, people are accepting the challenge and eager to prepare for it and carry it out. If the FHCC vision was just a pipe-dream of Jeremy's, then people might smile or give a dollar, but they are NOT going to sacrifice or become uncomfortable to fulfill it. FHCC has a mandate from God to be HIS real, relevant, and empowered church.

Again, the proof of this is that when we concluded the service at 11am yesterday, I also dismissed the crowd, but invited those who wanted to stay and pray with us at the front. Over 75% of the church stayed to pray, with 40% coming down front to pray corporately. It was AMAZING, powerful and humbling. Let's never forget that FHCC is made up largely of new Christians and non-charismatics; staying to pray is not normal for most of us, but yesterday we all did it and God moved.

There are so many other signs and wonders that took place yesterday, but they are too numerous and personal to share. All I can say is that I am proud to be the pastor of FHCC, and humbled that God could work so mightily though such a lowly guy. I mean it. What happened in church yesterday and over the past 4-months is not because of me or any of us; it's because of Jesus and His love.

So to all of us: let's keep making room for Jesus in our lives, keep trying to live right, and keep being utterly desperate for Him and His glory. If we pray, seek, ask and knock; He will answer.

Best is yet to come!