March 8, 1998...after months of planning, praying and preparing we finally launched our first service. We met in a movie theater, which was pretty cutting edge at the time. We were out of our minds with excitement and fear.
At the time I worked in children's ministry, so unfortunately I missed the whole "adult" service. I was bummed that I missed it, but unfortunately when you start out you have to do whatever you can to fill positions. I've been asked by several cp wives whether they should be in the lobby before and after service with their husbands. I tell them that ideally that would great, but it's just about impossible when you first start out. Because of other needs in the church we're often separated from our husbands on Sunday mornings.
560 people showed up and we were amazed at what God was doing. People were excited and eager to get involved. To be honest I was shocked by the whole thing. I kept having thoughts run through my mind like, "No one will show up." "It's raining; people don't go to church in the rain!" "Who are we kidding?" Thankfully God was much bigger than my fears and irrational thoughts.
I love what Kim McManus says about the first Sunday: "Here's to the first Sunday when everyone is together in one historical service. The hard work, the sacrifice, the love and the teamwork is beautiful to behold. Nothing is comparable to that first Sunday of the birth of a new church. It is the compilation of dreaming and the movement of the Spirit of God that is glorious to experience. It makes that solo guitar sound orchestral. All resources and hearts have been pooled to this one experience of faith and hope, God and future. Wow. Drink it in because not all Sundays will be like the first, but let that special one set the standard of excellence for all the rest. Being on a team, one that works and is ready to risk everything, is luxurious. I love every minute of a team that serves together because their core is the same."
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Monday, February 4, 2008
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6 comments:
Jen,
Thanks for the series. It's great to see things from the perspective of the wife.
It's been interesting to read your blog and Vince's at the same time, though at times, I get confused by the details...
For example, on your move to VA, he says that he puked out the window of the van, and it came back and went all over him and you. But you wrote that you were in your car with your dog...ummm...how did that work again?
Anyway, on this post, I thought I had read on his blog that you started with 89 people that you picked up from the picnic, but you say it was 560. Maybe I misunderstood. Was the 89 the launch team, and the 560 the actual attendance on the launch date? 89 is a lot for a launch team. Maybe not all 89 were on the launch team?
I'm sorry to nitpick! I just get curious about these sorts of things... ha ha.
Here are his posts:
vomit story
89 people
I love a detail-oriented woman! Being one myself I understand your confusion.
We moved to Virginia Beach with Tim and Lisa Cole and their two kids. After the picnic we had a core group of 89 (mostly made up of non-Christians). On our opening Sunday we had 560.
The week we moved to Virginia Beach we had to go back for my best friend's wedding. The vomiting story happened on the way home from the wedding. He lumps the two stories together because they happened within days of each other.
Hope that helps!
Love,
Jen
Jen,
Thank you so much for your blog, you really gave me an idea of what is to come. I do believe that I will be one of your faithfully readers.
And what an amazing day that first day of Forefront was! Such a privilege to be there and get to cheer you guys on and see the realization of something we had prayed for and supported for so long. At this point I've gotten to be there for the first Sundays of three church plants (our own and those of two friends) and I must say that it is EXACTLY as Kim McManus describes it. Where did you get that quote, Jen? I'd love to read it if she has a book. Hugs...
I got Kim McManus' quote from a book called, "My Husband Wants to Be a Church Planer...So What Will That Make Me" It's a compilation from different planter wives. I just started reading it; I'll let you know how I like it!
Jen,
Thanks for the clarification. I feel bad now that I brought it up! I get nit picky at times...
Anyway, I have that book about church planting wives, and it is great. I found somewhere where it can be downloaded and read for free, but I can't remember where now. Maybe if someone searched for on google they could find it.
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