I’m Here To Stay December 6, 2006

When I went to seminary…and I am just being honest here…I began to HATE the ministry. Why? Because I would listen to pastors BASH the people they were supposedly called to serve. I would see pastors carrying around resumes in their briefcases. I witnessed how pastors used churches as stepping stones to “the next best thing,” not giving a rip about the people in their church. There was literally a time where I remember telling God, “If this is what the ministry is all about…I’m out!”

Fast forward to about 2003. NewSpring was experiencing tremendous success…and Lucretia was about to finish the residency program here in Anderson. The “buzz” in the community was, “Once Lucretia graduates they will be leaving & moving elsewhere.” People figured that ‘Cretia and I would chase the almighty dollar…but they were wrong.

Fast forward one more year…I was having lunch with a friend who smiled and asked me, “So dude, tell me, when are you leaving?” I asked him to clarify & he said, “I know you are getting other offers…when are you going to take one?”

I had to let him know that first of all I had never really gotten an offer from anyone to leave NewSpring and come on staff elsewhere. I knew that a church would NEVER hire me as a pastor & so if I ever wanted to pastor a church then I would have to start one.

So I told him that I hadn’t gotten any offers & that if I did that I would turn them down because I LOVE what I do…and I LOVE where I do it. He laughed and told me that I didn’t have to say that if I didn’t mean it…but I just looked him in the eyes and said, “I’m not going anywhere dude!!!”

And here we are in 2006, about to finish another year. We’ve seen God do some amazing things this year…and NewSpring…I wanted to let you know something…I am as committed to this vision to reach Anderson, the Upstate, and eventually the world as I have ever been. I love Anderson, SC…and I love NewSpring Church. I have NO plans to ever leave–EVER. I am not saying that God could not ever change that…but I am saying that I don’t think He will because the vision He has given me is so strong.

I’m here…are you? You can count on me through good times and bad times…can I count on you? You can trust me to work my rear end off and serve this church with the gifts God has given me…can He trust you to do the same? You can count on me to invite as many people to church as I can every week…can I count on you to do the same?

I am here…and never want to be anywhere but here. I am so privileged to serve this church as pastor. I will have to be honest–MOST days I feel SO unqualified to do this job…and feel like I am WAY over my head…but with God’s help and your continual support…there is NOTHING that can stand in our way…NOTHING that can hold us back…NOTHING that can stop us…because we serve a God who is ABLE!

I am here…are you? This is a teamwork thing…and the teamwork makes the dream work…we are God’s team…this is God’s dream…and together we are experiencing on one the largest moves of God to EVER hit the upstate…and this is only the beginning.

I am here…are you? It takes us all…everyone is created on purpose, with a purpose, for a purpose…and that means you! You are WAY too valuable to sit around…you need to be in the game, serving, connecting into community, giving, doing all that you can with all that you have to make Jesus famous.

I am here…are you? You can count on me to pray…to seek the Lord & His direction for this church. Will you do the same? You can count on me to NEVER bash you…I don’t “slam” the people of this church to other pastors…I love you guys…and there isn’t a better group of people on the planet. You can count on me to always have your back…can I count on you? (I know I can–I hear the stories of how you guys respond when people talk smack about me!) :-)

I am here…are you? I am here to serve…and my passion is to see as many people as possible meet Jesus. I don’t care about political issues or what the next STUPID Christian boycott is…OR what the naysayers might be saying…I want to see people allow Jesus into their lives…to see what happens when He powerwashes their soul and makes them into a brand new person.

I am here…are you? I love you guys…it is the greatest privilege in the world to do what I do.

Two more things…

#1 - Don’t forget First Wednesday!!! 6:30…I promise it will be different.

#2 - Sunday–Chelsea Stewart–WOW! I sat with our video editor this afternoon and watched the presentation that he designed. HOLY COW! It’s one of the best things he’s ever done…and that is saying a lot considering some of the stuff he’s pulled off.

If you are coming this weekend…I want to recommend a few things…

• Get here early–we expect all three services to be FULL!
• Please do not save seats
• Please turn off your cell phone
• Invite as MANY people as you can that do not know Christ
• Bring Kleenex!

See you Sunday!