I can't help but think of my children and their relationship to church planting this morning. As a family we planted churches long before it was cool. Here are some of the neat things about being a church planting family...
1. My son was with me when I made my very first contact for my very first church nearly 20 years ago. I'm not sure the people would have talked to me and ultimately help me start this new church if he had not been with me. Something about look at the cute little boy, let them in. I don't think they were talking about me.
2. My daughter became a Christ follower when Lynette who has a Catholic background and I had the opportunity to baptize became her Children's ministry leader and helped her invite Christ into her life after a Sunday worship celebration.
3. Neither one of my children attended church in a traditional church building while growing up until they were in their teens with the exception to an occasional visit to their Grand Pa Putt's church. They thought church building were weird.
4. My son became a Christ follower on the opening day of Summit Church. A church I planted by in the early nineties. He was the first person I baptized along with a seventy something year old man named Phil. I put both of them in the swimming pool and said, "This is the gospel...no matter how young or how old...Jesus invites us to come." It was really neat.
5. I baptized my daughter Amanda on the day my student pastor broke my leg. That's right broke my leg. He came up behind me, grabbed me,lift me up, and spun me around, and slammed me. The only problem was my left foot never left the floor. Man I can still hear that leg snap. I refused to let the doctor cast it up until the next day. So that night with someone to lean on I baptized my daughter. It was a wonderful celebration.
I could go on and on...I glad I do what I do....I am glad my kids know what it is like to go missional with your life...I am glad I am part of a movement and have been for years...I'm glad Jesus has changed my life.
This week my daughter will complete here collegiate tennis career in her
regional tournament...I'm excited...I get to see her play. By the way she kicked butt at this match...come to think of it she kicks my butt...I use to enjoy playing her...now she enjoys cutting me to shreads on the court....I've given up tennis!
Today I begin week three since I've talked with my son. Last time we spoke he was leaving for a seven day "Top Secret" mission in Afghanistan where he serves with the 82nd Airborne. I'm not sure what that meant, but I'm sure he felt more like a man than ever saying, "Dad I can't tell you!" Say a prayer for him and all of our troops. They are making a difference.
"Thank you Lord for my family...thank you for Tami she is such a wonder wife, mother, and partner...thank you for Jesus...thank you for calling and allowing me to do what I do....your son, David".
