The Place To Be!

Last night I picked up my son from Lacrosse practice and brought him to Team Kid. When I drove into our parking lot.....our church parking lot and campus looked like a happening courtyard area at the mall. After checking him into Team Kid I sat in my Jeep and watched all the kids, teenagers and adults milling around and having a good time. Some were playing games in the atrium area, others watching ESPN on the flat screens, some eating pizza and having a coke, teenagers were "hanging-out" like they enjoy doing and even the parents were chatting with each other and enjoying some coffee. The whole scene looked awesome....and the night had not really started as that was just the "hang-out" time from 6:30-7pm.

At the moment I knew we were now providing something we had never really done before. Our campus was alive with relationship building, energy, fun, inspiration and learning....all in one place for the whole family. This was a night for worship, growing, and learning to become more like Christ.

1st - 5th grade were upstairs at Team Kid. A place where they learn the Bible, memorize the truth in the Bible, worship, breakout into Home Teams to discuss what they are learning and how they can apply it to their life.....all this in a fun way so that a kid wants to be there. My son came home again and showed be his Playbook (Bible reading, questions and weekly character building things to do) and said he was looking forward to another Team Kid Season. 75 kids were here for the first night!

6-12th grade were in the main auditorium at The Pursuit. A place where these students worship weekly with a Student led band, tech crew, and the like. They enjoy great music, teaching, and friendships to help them navigate these tough years. However, this group is not designed to just help them be "good" ....it is designed to help them to live a motivated and committed life to Christ that will impact their lives and this community. 133 students were here for the first night.

Many adults have chosen this night for their own personal Home Team night. So many of the rooms on campus have adults meeting in them for group time. Other adult Home Team groups go off campus and meet as they know their kids are well taken care. Still others use it as a great night to reconnect as husband and wife. ( I saw a few drop their kids off and head to dinner.....for many married couples, that is a ministry to them as they need that time.)

This is an aspect of the dream vision I shared this time last year. I shared that I felt very passionate about being a church that was more than just a place to come for an hour or so on Sunday. I believe very firmly that kids, teenager and adults need more than that if they are to be all God wants them to be!

Great job to our staff and the many volunteers that make Wednesday night....The Place To Be!

As we think about where we have come and where we are going as Team Church:

"Faith is the confidence of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see!"
Hebrews 11:1

"Faith is not the absence of fear....it is moving forward anyway!"