Do you remember?

The following email was sent out by me on January 9th, 2012 after our first meeting in the basement of Jim and Sue Ebersoldt's home.

Last night’s fellowship group aka "The Flash Mob church" was a gathering inspired by the Holy Spirit. People thru the ages have been brought together by Gods calling for many reasons. One story that comes to mind when I think about our new beginning are the Hebrew people who left Egypt and started a journey to the promised land.

I like that analogy for our group because that is exactly where we find ourselves at this moment in time. We have stepped out in faith into the unknown on a journey that promises to be exciting.  Yet, we are not sure exactly where it is we are going. One of the lessons to be learned from the Hebrews flight from Egypt on their journey to the promised land is: Listen closely to Gods prompting and direction. Pray for guidance, be patient, and watch and listen closely for the opportunities that God will show us. It was the straying from God's directions that kept the Hebrews from entering the promised land for 40 years. 

Let me share with you something I have learned over the years about praying and listening for God's direction and this is very important. " Do not have a pre conceived idea of what God wants this group to do or become!"

God's ways are not mans ways. God will, through all of us, bring into focus what our mission will be. It could be something that we have not even considered and may be something that we least expect. Whatever it is you can rest assured that it will bring huge blessings to many as long as we do our part by staying close to God’s word and the prompting of the Holy Spirit. We will talk about all this more as we move forward. In the mean time we will continue to gather to sing, worship, fellowship and listen for Gods direction. 

To everyone who attended Last night. Blessings to you, be uplifted and excited. Let love, compassion, forgiveness and healing fill all of your hearts and dominate your life. And most important, talk with God every day and ask Him for direction. He really does hear and answer, but we must keep an open mind and willing heart to know His direction.

 Love, Kent

Do you remember the excitement, the commitment, the blessing we all received?  Well get ready for Chapter 2 of Praise Community Fellowship. On June 1st we will be moving to our new location, The Crystal Garden located at 1230 University Drive Edwardsville, less than 1/4 mile from where we are now. This is a fabulously unique facility to have our worship services and to reach out to the unchurched. See what I underlined in my first email to all of you in the letter above? God is in control of this journey! Write that on your hearts. This journey is about fulfilling what God wants this unique, crazy bunch of people to fulfill.  And guess what? God has a plan for your life.  Now is the time I need people to step up. We are  being given another very unique opportunity to lift up God and His son Jesus to people who do not yet know Him. Do you know what all of us are? Salesmen and women for Jesus and all that He offers.

We are going to need creative energy and effort, and prayers, as we continue to do Gods work.  So let me re-use a line or two from the letter I sent out after our very first meeting:

Be uplifted and excited. Let love, compassion, forgiveness and healing fill all of your hearts and dominate your life. And most important, talk with God every day and ask Him for direction. He really does hear and answer, but we must keep an open mind and willing heart to know His direction.

Love, pastor Kent