Dad Date @ Dunkin Donuts

This is when it's nice to live in Florida

Getting out of the office for some studying.

Surreal

Sunday was very cool and very surreal.  Though we've certainly been functioning as a church, there was something cool about the official, Sunday morning launch.  This has been something we've been praying about, planning for and anticipating for a few years now.  To have this morning finally arrive was pretty amazing.  And yet I know that the point has never been to have a "smooth running" service...though I am thankful that it did run relatively smoothly.  I was just incredibly encouraged to see our launch team serving and inviting people.  I was so encouraged by the people who showed up, genuinely looking for a church community.  God was very good and gracious to us...not only last Sunday, but throughout this entire process.  Despite all the craziness of getting ready and feeling like I'd been hit by a truck, it was a really enjoyable morning!  

Thanks to all who have made this possible...people praying.  People giving financially.  People serving.  People inviting.  There is a genuine sense of partnership in this whole endeavor.  

Lastly, if you haven't seen it, the new website launched last week as well.  Very happy with how it turned out, knowing we still have a few tweaks to make.  Check it out at http://crosspointewinterpark.com

An encouraging start

I'm too tired to blog, but here's a pic from this mornings kickoff.  Very encouraged.  Will write more hopefully tomorrow.

CrossPointe Launches this Sunday

Lots still to do, but really looking forward to Sunday.  New website should be up and going in the next 24 hours as well.  

A good kick in the pants quote...at least it was for me

The church exists both through the gospel and for the gospel. At one level this is a motherhood-and-apple-pie declaration. Few Christians are going to object to being gospel-centered, just as no one is against mothers or apple pie. The problem is the gap between our rhetoric and the reality of our practice. The continual challenge for us is to apply this principle to church life and ministry without compromise.

A woman once told me about the difficulties she faced as a Brit fitting into American culture. One of her struggles was with people who said, “Let’s do lunch.” She expected them to phone and arrange a date. They never did. “Let’s do lunch” was just an idiomatic way of saying farewell. We all say, “Let’s do mission,” but does it carry any more intent than “Let’s do lunch”?

--Total Church, Tim Chester & Steve Timmis

Church on Wheels Story

here is the video.  
Fox35 Story | Church on Wheels from CrossPointe Winter Park on Vimeo.

Fox35 Story

UPDATE...You can now watch the story online by clicking here (thanks Ryan).

In case you are interested, Fox35 Orlando is airing a story today at 5:00 on the concept of mobile church, featuring CrossPointe Winter Park. I'll try and post a link if it shows up on the web as well.

A Florida Girl

It's a balmy 45 degrees in orlando. Good excuse to bust out the winter accessories.

Birthday dinner...a day late

A Great Morning

Yesterday morning we transitioned to Sunday morning worship services at CrossPointe Winter Park.  I'm still amazed the way it all came together!  Though our public launch is not until January 25, yesterday and this upcoming Sunday were scheduled as services to mobilize our launch team and to work out some of the logistical details.  The launch team was incredible!  People gave up their Saturday night to be trained on being a mobile church.  People came a couple hours early on Sunday morning to help prepare and set up.  It was an amazing thing to behold...just seeing people take ownership and them wanting it all to be done well.  People seemed to be genuinely excited, not only about yesterday, but about our public launch and the weeks to come.  I could compile a long list of all the details that God caused to come together, but for now, it's sufficient to say that God knows what He is doing.  I couldn't have asked for a better start.  

As an interesting aside, Fox 35 was there shooting footage for a story they are doing on the concept of being a mobile church.  Members of our launch team were interviewed, including yours truly.  I'll let you know when the story airs so you can check it out...maybe you'll be in it!  

If you think of it, please continue to be in prayer for our launch on January 25.  Peace.