If there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past four years of church planting, it’s that Ecclesiastes 3:1 couldn’t be more true!

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens”

As I sit by the beach typing this in a season of rest, I am reminded of how the past six months have highlighted Ecclesiastes 3:1 even more in my own life and at OneLife.

Christmas was a HUGE season for us at OneLife. More people than I could have dreamed came to our Christmas Eve services, and the entire month was highlighted by people giving their lives to Jesus and being baptized. It was an amazing season!

Then the winter months came and brought a season of stability. And man did we need it. In the midst of new staff, tight finances, and snowy weekends we found ourselves in a season of plateau numerically, but huge growth spiritually. More people were baptized in the first three months of the new year than all of 2012! On top of that, we put a great deal of effort into improving some core areas, including Kidz and student ministry for the younger ones and worship, home groups and discipleship for the older folks. It was an intentional season that at times was discouraging for me, if I’m honest, because of the “superficial” lack of numeric growth. But God used that to be a season of maturity for me as I learned to truly value what HE values – changed lives!

The results have been God blowing our minds again in a crazy season of growth. Over 800 people came on Easter, our Halls campus started a second service, and our Powell campus is almost back to pre-Halls attendance when they sent nearly 80 people off to start that new campus. Total attendance over the past few weeks is up 25% over the same time last year, leading to more people serving, joining home groups, getting involved in discipleship, and learning to truly worship than ever before.

For me personally, all of these seasons have led to new seasons in my own life. Most recently, I’ve learned that in the fast-paced seasons of growth I have to get focused. So the blog goes silent, meetings tighten up, and focus on my family gets intentional (ie. VACATION!). Otherwise, this crazy ride of changing seasons will get the best of me.

I don’t know what you are going through, but I hope you can take heart in knowing that – good or bad – it’s only a season. This too will pass! And God will bring you through to the next season.

Because seasons come, and then seasons go.

Yesterday we announced something I am PUMPED about, and something many of you have been asking us to do for a long time.

Next Wednesday, May 1 at 7pm at Powell High School we will have our next Night of Worship AND record our first ever worship album! The songs on the CD will be some of your favorites from the past 3 years since our church launched, as well as one or two new ones.

The CDs will cost $10 when they are here, but you can pre-order TWO for $15 next week at the event! Why do we want you to pre-order two? Because we want you to keep one, and give one away to a friend! So we’ll cut ya a deal to do that.

Mark your calendar now to be there next week so you can be in the choir – aka everyone at OneLife – on our first ever worship recording! And spread the word…we want to pack the house for this monumental night of worship!

This morning marked a milestone announcement for our second location. Drum roll please!

Starting next Sunday, and going for the next six weeks until summer, OneLife Halls will be in two services!

Last week’s Easter attendance maxed the building out – and then some – followed by another day today with nearly 200 in attendance. On top of that, OneLife Kidz has been maxing out the children’s area for several months! So starting next Sunday, the Halls location will have two services at 9:30 and 11:15!

That means if you know anyone in the Fountain City, Halls, Corryton, etc. areas, invite them to come to the first day ever in two services at OneLife Halls NEXT Sunday! And if you already attend that location, it’s time for you to get involved and help us make it happen! Email dylan@onelifeknox.com to be one of the 20 new volunteers it’s going to take to make it happen.

This is a big step, but one that I KNOW will lead to more and more lives being changed!

This past week has been amazing. We had over 800 people celebrate Easter at OneLife, 30 raised their hands to start a relationship with Jesus, we made a HUGE decision for OneLife Halls that will be announced on Sunday, and we released our first ever annual report.

The 2012 annual report was mailed out with first quarter giving statements. If you did not receive one, check it out online here.

As great as all of this is – and to God be the glory for it all! – this is no time to stop. We need to keep the pedal to the metal! Hell is too hot and eternity is too long for us to let up now. As a church, we are daily seeking God to lead us where he wants us to go next.

As individuals, we must do the same. One way you can do that is to keep inviting and bringing people with you. Don’t just do it on Easter! Call the people who came with you and tell them to come back. Call the ones that didn’t come and let them know you’d still love to have them. Even better than that, just tell people what God has done for you and is doing in your life!

If we all continue to live on mission, 2013 will be the best year yet – and Easter will only be the beginning!

Let’s not stop now!

We’ve been talking a lot lately about bringing people with you to Easter services. My friend and fellow pastor Bobby Williams wrote a great blog about why that is so important. And then I noticed another blog of his that I am going to COMPLETELY rip off in the remainder of this post!

He gave his church some great ideas on how to invite their friends and family to church with them this Sunday. Here are some of those. But at the end of the day, you just need to quit being a pansy and invite someone! 8 out of 10 people in a survey a few years ago reported that they would go to church with a friend or family member if they were simply invited.

What are you waiting for? Here are some quick ways you can do it.

1. Use an Invite Card | We gave these away to you Sunday as you left the building. If you need some or more, come by the office this week and we’ll load you down. Always keep a few handy in your pocket or wallet. You never know when you need give one away. These are simple: Simply walk up to someone you want to invite and say, “Hey here’s an invite to my church. I’d love for to come on Sunday for Easter. I will save you a seat.” The invite card has our website on it so just tell them to check out the website for all the info on the church.

2. Buy a drink or lunch | If you hit up the local Starbucks then pay for the order of the person behind you and ask the Barista to give them an invite card when they come to pick up their order. Try it out at the fast food joint, too. You might start a chain reaction. You never know what the Holy Spirit will do with that.

3. Go on a Social Media Mission Trip | This is the one week you should PLASTER Facebook and Instagram with invites to church. But don’t just post to your own timeline. Post an invite to a friends timeline. Take 5 minutes to open up your Facebook chat and message a few people to invite them. Get creative on Instagram and make a picture inviting those who follow you there. The possibilities are endless.

4. Change Your Timeline Cover Photo | Download THIS and make it your timeline cover photo on Facebook. It has already been sized for Facebook.

5. Shoot a video and post it to Facebook or Vine | On your camera or computer, post a 60 second or less video inviting your friends to Easter services. People love videos. Put your kids in it for a few extra views (Hey- whatever it takes right)

5. Send an Email | Send a personal email to some friends, family members or coworkers. Be sure to make the title something they’ll want to open and read like “A personal favor to ask”. You don’t have to share the Gospel here, so just be honest and clear about what you’re asking. You could say something like – Hey! I really LOVE my church and since Easter is coming up Sunday, I’d love for you to come see why I love it so much. I’ll even save you a seat. Will you come to church to with me Sunday? I go to the ______ service and would love to just meet you at the door and go with you from there. If you have questions, just let me know! And you can check out our website at onelifeknox.com

6. Do it Old Fashioned | You could always go old school and have a real conversation with someone or pick up the phone and call them. You don’t have to explain the Trinity to them, just ask them to come to church with you. Chances are they’ll say yes. But you’ll never know til you ask.

Regardless, just do SOMETHING! Stop being a pansy and just invite someone. We are celebrating a weekend where Jesus DIED for you! He’s not asking you to die. Just step out on a little faith! And let’s see what happens as a result.