A True Sanctuary

Did you know that every Friday night here at our church we have a great ministry for those who are struggling with different kinds of addictions, dependencies and other personal challenges? It is called Celebrate Recovery and we have one of the largest groups in the city! People meet here for a time of worship, learning and of course peer group encouragement in their specific challenge. This ministry is open to anyone and all are welcome. The success rate with our recovery group is awesome and more lives each month are being impacted as we reach out to more and more people.

Friday afternoon and evening is another a great example of why we sacrificed so much to construct this TOOL called a building......

Each Friday:

At 2pm a great team of volunteers show up to set and prepare the pre-game meal for the Butler High varsity football team. At 3pm 65 players and 10 coaches show up for a meal. However, the best part is that after they are done eating about 80% of the players join us in the kids auditorium for a pre-game devotion and prayer. It is great to have these young men come for this devotion as they are hearing a message of God's saving grace and how He wants them to live their lives. In the midst of the rigors of a public high school, high profile team, and the normal teenager challenges...they are able to come here for a brief time of challenge and encouragement.

Then, as soon as they leave, our volunteers clean it all up and within two hours the Celebrate recovery group is meeting in the same place! They stay here and have a true "sanctuary" of hope as they have a place that encourages them to stay the course of recovery on a Friday night.....the night that is very hard for them to honor the commitments they have made. This is a safe place for them on Friday night.

As you know, we have a large vision for our 60 acre campus that is strategically located on the corner of the I485 loop and Hwy 74. Always remember that this vision is about reaching, helping, changing and impacting our city. It is a vision that reaches far beyond Sunday morning.....it is a vision that changes people lives and then gives them the opportunity to give back and change their world.

Today's Bible Reading Luke Chapter 9

I love verses 18-27 because it calls for courage. When people ask you who do you believe Jesus was and is......what do you say? When people ask you if you believe that there is any other way to obtain salvation what do you say? When people ask you if you think other religious beliefs will also get them into heaven....what do you say.

Today, we have pastoral leaders and politicians who are afraid to proclaim that Jesus Christ is the only true way to eternal life. They don't want their TV ratings to go down so they stamper around the truth and give "spin" answers. Listen.....if you believe the Bible is true...then you must believe that what Jesus said about Himself is the only right answer. It is the answer that Peter gave here. It is the answer that cost Peter and the other disciples their very lives.

Their is only one way to eternal life.......we will be talking very clearly about that this Sunday.....