Good intentions aren’t always enough. And my good intentions of keeping the blog updated more often have not been met! So instead of weekly recaps for the last two weeks, here’s a quick recap on the “Healer” series we just wrapped up.

• I think this series caught some people off guard. Because of the name, I think some thought we would talking about physical healing, relational healing, etc.
• However, even though we hit on those subjects from time to time, each week pointed us back to the ultimate healing we all need – healing in our relationship with God.
• Jesus is the only thing that brings this healing!
• We started two services during this series and it was the best thing we’ve done yet.
• The mornings seem so much less stressful. That seems strange because we doubled everything.
• But I think it’s because we all get there 30 minutes later and because all of our volunteers get to attend a “real” service.
• I’ve been amazed at how evenly the two services break down. The attendance is pretty much identical at each.
• The one big difference is the 10:00 crowd is rowdy! Then the 11:30 seems to be the sleepy gang. We’re working on that, though
• Our volunteers have stepped up over the past 4 weeks in incredible ways. All of our children’s areas are fully staffed for both services, set-up and tear-down are both happening in 30 minutes or less (which is MIND BLOWING!), our greeters and parkers create the perfect balance of welcoming without smothering, and most of all they have fun!
• We’ve also started working on some pretty big initiatives for the coming months. Student ministry small groups are about to get fired up, two huge missions opportunities are about to be announced, and adult small groups are in the early stages of being planned for a Fall launch.
• OneLifers, the best is yet to come!!!
• See ya Sunday for the start of a FUN series I am PUMPED about! “All  American Family Feud”
• Be there! Powell HS @ 10 and 11:30 a.m.

I often wonder what ministry would have been like if Jesus had been born in the 2000s. Would he have been born in a homeless shelter instead of a barn? Would he have first started preaching in the synagogues at 12-years old or would he have Skyped it? And instead of riding a donkey on Palm Sunday would it have been a really pimp stretch limo Hummer?

I don’t know. But it would have been different!

And then what about spreading His message? Would Paul have been a mult-site, video preacher? Would the Bible have been written through emails instead of letters? And how would discipleship look different?

That last question is one we’ve been wrestling with at OneLife. We’ve had dozens of people start a relationship with Christ but the follow-up process has been a struggle, just to be honest. And then it hit me. We embrace our culture in every aspect except this one. So let’s try something. Let’s think outside the box.

So over the past couple of weeks we’ve developed a next-step for new believers or for people who just want to start learning about Jesus from the ground level. Using a series of 25 emails over an 8-week period, subjects like prayer, reading the Bible, church, and basic questions about God will be covered. Individuals will also be followed up with throughout the process to make sure they are growing and given an opportunity to meet with someone one-on-one, should they choose it.

If you’re church is interested, check out www.getresponse.com. It is a program that allows you to plan the emails at intervals so once someone is entered, it will automatically send the series of emails at the interval you determine. And if you are a OneLifer or someone who would like to learn more through this new tool, go to www.onelifeknox.com/contact, fill out the form, and put “Sign me up for the devotionals!” in the message box.

Who knows, this may work or it may not. But we’re giving it a shot. Maybe just maybe this is a first-step of discipleship that the Apostles would have tried when their new-found faith spread like wildfire…had it all happened in the 2000s.

This past Sunday was another incredible day at OneLife. Record “normal” attendance, hosted a church planter we are partnering with to reach another part of town, great worship from the OneLife choir (aka the congregation!), and - best of all – two more people started a relationship with Christ.

That’s an awesome day!

But this recap is going to be a different one. Often we don’t celebrate the intangibles enough. We get distracted by numbers, details, and nuts & bolts. Not that those things are bad, but they can distract. So I want to share an awesome story.

A 21-year old single mom came back this week for just the second time. She told one of our staff guys that the night before she really debated on whether or not she should come again but she did. After the service she told him that after a second visit she really felt like OneLife was the place for her.

“This is the first time I’ve walked into a church and didn’t feel like everyone was staring at me,” she told him. “Other places I’ve been have made me feel like I needed to walk in and do a ring check and say ‘No, I’m not married and I have a baby.’”

It’s sad that Christians would make someone feel that way but reality is, we often do. I am excited beyond what words can describe that in just two visits a young lady came to OneLife and found a place that loves her right where she is. And not a superficial love – one that is real and showed we truly care about her and her child discovering God and how their one life can make a difference.

OneLifers, that’s what it’s all about. Jesus said that it’s not the healthy that need a doctor, but the sick. He said he didn’t come for the religious, but for the irreligious. Let’s never forget that and keep sharing the love of Christ in a way that people will come in off the streets and immediately feel a difference.

Wow. What a weekend. That really sums it up! But here are some of the details.

• Saturday was our first ever community-wide event as we hosted the Powell Egg Drop.
• This was our way to introduce ourselves to the community and give back.
• We also used it to raise money for Powell High School. They have been such great hosts to us over the past 7 months even though our rent money goes to the school board and not the school. So we’ll be taking them a check for $500 to use however they see fit.
• I personally didn’t expect what happened to happen. With it being Spring Break in Knox County and lots of other churches hosting egg hunts, I would have been happy with 500 people coming.
• Nearly 3,000 showed up.
• Unfortunately we could only accomodate around 2,300 people including all of our volunteers. So as much as it broke our hearts, we had to turn about 500 people away to simply keep it safe.
• But for those that were there, it was a great time! Lots of happy kids faces and families thanking us as they left.
• A huge thanks to Drycon, Cars Etc., and Panache Salon for their sponsorship! Also several great local businesses sponsored our inflatables. We couldn’t have done it without you!
• We also couldn’t have done it without 110 awesome volunteers spending their entire Saturday there. You guys amaze me.
• And as if that wasn’t enough, we had our first Sunday of two services as we celebrated Easter.
• 190 showed up for the first service, which had me thinking that would be the “big” service. But then there were 170 at the second one too!
• Tons and tons of first time guests. And most of them came to the table to get our first-time guest gift, which is always a good sign.
• But even better than that, several gave their lives to Christ! That’s what it’s all about!
• The worship was absolutely incredible. It was by far the best we’ve experienced as a church. The band absolutely rocked it and I have no doubt that it made God smile.
• We also had a lot of new volunteers helping out. Tear-down was the fastest yet at less than 30 minutes! Unbelievable! OneLifers – we can’t do it without you. Thanks for stepping up. Keep that happening!!
• This week is part 2 of the Healer series. Really looking forward to seeing more lives changed!
• See ya Sunday but don’t come alone! Invite someone to be there with you!