Adventures In Easter Egghunt Planning

We have been blessed to have Jordan step up and volunteer to be our children's director.  Jordan has a wealth of experience and her desire to reach young children for Christ is inspiring to others and myself at Embrace.  Jordan agreed to spearhead our Easter egg hunt but she got more than she bargained for, her along with everybody else.  After spending a few weeks advertising the event at Woodland Park I was notified we had to find another location.  As we started praying an opportunity opened up for us as the Dunbar Community Center on North Upper St.  Around the same time the director of the center, Bob Owsley was also praying that somebody would host an Easter Egg hunt for his kids because they had gone through major budget cuts.  Bob was just as excited as we were about the Dunbar Center being our new location.  It was right where we needed to be, especially since the area is such an underserved part of Lexington; an area that doesn't care if we bring a petting zoo, bouncy house, and other fun things.  We only had a few days to get the word out about a change of location.  With everything we went through we still had 200 people show up which was awesome.  Everybody had a great time and we were equally as blessed watching the festivities. We passed out information on Embrace and welcomed parents as they came in with their children.  I think this can be the beginning of partnership we develop with the Dunbar Community Center. 

Embrace Concert at Al's Bar

Life is about taking risk and one person said, "there are no rewards without taking risks."  If you know me, you know I'm crazy enough to take risks.  I have always been a risk-taker.  As the pastor of Embrace we want to be the type of church that is willing to go where the people are and if that means sponsoring a concert with a secular band in a bar then so be it. 

We had two local acts, Goldenrod and Matt Duncan, along with a 15 member pop band from San Francisco, Still Flyin.  When people came into Al's Bar they were shocked there was no cover charge and even more shocked how a church was sponsoring the concert.  It was a great night for music and talking to many of the people at the concert.  It not only helped us with our visibility but also our accessibility to the community.  I was given the privilege to talk briefly in between acts, which was a cool experience.  I kept it short because I knew people weren't there to hear me.  I believe this will be something we do more often and will continue to try new things in the way of our outreach to the city of Lexington.

Jesus Loves Me!

Starting off Embrace we don't have many young families so when they come through our doors we get excited.  Jordan, Christy, and Angie have been praying for the day when our children and nursery area are filled.  As Ronnie and Morgan have been bringing their son Lucca our workers have had a great time with him on Sunday mornings.  I was joking with Ronnie and Morgan about starting a Lucca fan club because all of our Embrace girls brag on him all the time. 
Jordan was telling me about a conversation she had with Ronnie.  Ronnie was telling her that Lucca, whose only 2, has been saying to them, "Jesus love me."  Ronnie and Morgan hadn't taught that to Lucca and it dawned on them that it was the children's workers at Embrace.  To me this is an awesome testimony of not only the dedication of children's staff but also the ways that God sometimes works in subtle ways.

Bullhorn

A few months ago I applied for the Path1 media grant which is a grant given to new churches from the United Methodist Church.  I was notified that we were awarded the grant and the proposal was one of the best they have ever received by a church plant.  The next step was to find a marketing agency to help us with event planning and promotion.  Around that time I met a new couple at Embrace, Ronnie and Morgan with their little son Lucca.  After service Ronnie and I met for coffee where we talked about Embrace.  Ronnie told me how he works for Bullhorn Marketing and so I decided it would be a great idea to partner with them and give them our business.  We have been so blessed getting to know people through Bullhorn.  Ronnie, Brad, and Griffin have a vision to help the city of Lexington.  It has been a pleasure working with them and trust that it's just the beginning of our partnership.

A Little Piece of Heaven

    I have been quite blessed as a friend and a pastor to have Duke Gastos join our congregation with his two kids Gabriel and Michayla.  Duke joined us on our second Sunday morning of worship because he received one of our mass mailings.  I admire Duke for stick with us even when everything looked a bit rougher at the beginning.  Whenever I say that Duke comments how one of the things that stuck out to him right away about Embrace is the people are genuine.  
As I have become closer to Duke it has been equally natural to get acquainted with his kids.  I didn't truly understand this until last month when they both had their birthdays within a day of each other.  They asked their mom if I could come to their birthday party at Kidzone.  I came and had a great time despite being asked which kid was mine out of the twenty kids in the room ☺ A few weeks later after our Easter egg hunt a group of us from Embrace went out to lunch.  I was sitting with Duke and his kids when I noticed Michayla whisper in Duke's ear.  I couldn't help but give them a little grin but kept on eating my lunch when I hear Duke say to Michayla, "Ask him."  I looked up and Michayla asked me if you she could hug me.  I told her of course but only if she gave me a bear hug and then I gave one to Gabriel too.  And with a simple gesture as a hug I had another glimpse of the Kingdom of God.  At times I don't see it much but when I see it I don't forget, it burns in my memory.  Jesus had it right when he said we need to come to him as little children and have child-like faith.

How Far Are We Willing To Go?

I mentioned that I met a new friend at Starbucks, named James who has special needs.  James is 38 and is living at home with his parents.  James struggles with alcohol addiction.  The other night we had a painful encounter.  We have made a deal stating that he was not allowed to come to Friday dinners drunk.  When Andrew and I picked him up a few weeks ago it was obvious he was drunk and still had a bottle of whiskey in his pocket.  I told James as much as it pains me he was not allowed to come over and that we would try again next week.  We had a chance to pray with him and then he asked us for a ride to his house.  We got to his house and he changed his mind about going home and instead wanted to go to a local restaurant.  We dropped him off at the restaurant and he then wanted to go back home.  By this time it was getting late, Andrew had to get on the road to Louisville and I had to get back to the dinner guests.  James refused to get out of the car so I had to be a bit forceful with him, which is not what I wanted to do.  After Andrew and I left James, the encounter with him burned in our minds and bothered us the entire week.

Before you know it the week flew by as usual and it was Friday again.  James called me to get picked up and he was sober!  This was a huge deal for him.  While he was sitting at my house people were amazed at the difference between drunken James and sober James.  James needs some sort of long-term residential living with a Christian influence.  It's different because not only is he special needs but also has an alcohol addiction.  Andrew and I have even flirted with the idea of having him live with us when we move into a bigger place.  A prerequisite would be to find like-minded guys who would be willing to journey with James.  Please continue to pray for James and Embrace as we gain wisdom to know how to journey with him.

Winning Friends and Influencing People

I'm trying to keep a running lists of things that have been going on the past few months…oh yeah, my parents are divorced, I've had chest pains, an infection in my cornea, broke my glasses, had my life threatened, tired deflated, and bike stolen.  As the opposition has continued to grow so have the blessings as humorous as that sounds.  It's been an interesting few months to say the least but during this time I have seen 5 people I have been talking to for over a year start attending Embrace after several invitations.

The attacks and persecution we have undergone has been tremendous.  I imagine if we laid low and did not care about sharing the love of Christ with others we would be off the radar.  I've told the people of Embrace that if they hang out with me they will get a target on their back too.  The people of Embrace have been some of the most courageous people I have ever met, first to let me be their pastor!  Secondly, and more importantly the way they are living the Christian life.  I haven't seen people this serious about the Christian life in a long time.  They have been open to being servants and actually learning to live/love in community together.  Community has been something that we have all worked for with many people coming and going because expectations aren't meant in one way or another. We are not a perfect community but we are certainly a redeemed community; a community that has continued to be refined and sanctified by the Spirit.