What I’m excited about . . . What I’m bummed about
By Stovall's Blog
What I am excited about
Another monster attendance weekend at Celebration Church – 7,237 people attended Celebration Church this past weekend.
Nearly 150 people gave their lives to Christ this past weekend (that brings our monthly total to 450+ decisions for Christ).
Groups are kicking off this week. This spring semester of groups is going to be our best yet.
But I am even more excited about our group leaders and the level of leadership and leadership training that now exists in our leadership pipeline. We are on schedule to have nearly 300 well trained, qualified, high capacity group leaders by the end of this spring semester which means for the first time we will have the capacity to have over 50% of our adults attending a group.
We have been working very hard on this (especially Pastor David Branker, Jenny Huang and all of our faithful group leaders that are currently leading) and I am so grateful to them and to God that this is about to become a reality.
People are encountering God. People are getting saved. People are getting healed and freed from addictions. People are getting breakthroughs in areas they have struggled in. People are getting really grounded in the Word of God.
The services and church life have been incredible in the month of January. In the 9 year history of Celebration Church, I don’t think I have ever seen this many people in our congregation really getting on fire for God and going to the next level in worship.
Something is happening. You can feel it in the atmosphere and life of the church. I pray that God would continue this throughout the year. If the start of 2008 is any indication of how the rest of 2008 is going to be . . . WOW!
What I am bummed about
Believe it or not, even though I am so ready to eat a huge cheeseburger, I am bummed that our 21 days of prayer and fasting comes to an end this Wednesday. (Don’t miss the Wednesday night service, it is going to be great.)
This time of prayer and fasting has been so powerful.
I agree with what many people have been saying: we need to do some smaller versions of this throughout the year in addition to the big one in January. Therefore, it looks like we are going to do a 3 day fast in April, a 3 day fast in August and possibly a 3 day fast in early November. These 3 day fast weekends will include the Friday night worship and prayer meetings (with breakdancing – ha, ha – you had to be there to see it) and some other special components.
We are thinking about calling these 3 day fast weekends with the Friday night prayer meeting and weekend services FURNACE WEEKENDS.
Let me know what you think.
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14 Responses to “What I’m excited about . . . What I’m bummed about”
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I think the 3 day fasts through out the year is a great idea! I believe it will also get people prepared for the big one in January of 2009. I am really looking forward to the up coming one in April. You are such an AWESOME Pastor Stovall! I am honored to say that I attend to “Celebration Church!”
Cindy and David-
Yes! I am believing with you! 2008 is going to be an incredible year.
Bill-
We almost have Flex finalized. It looks like it is going to be in early August. We needed to move it to the late summer/early fall to help balance the events on the calendar.
Q-
You need to fast another 22 days.
Lee-
Bring that cheeseburger to Q so he can at least have 1 meal before he starts his next 22 day fast tommorow!
I see that you’re still on that cheeseburger. Matter of fact, I’m going to bring you one tonight with some fries. And I’m going to Super Size it so we can give the burger a standing ovation. Turn our burner up. Keep doing what God told you do because we need people like you in the body of Christ. Love 4 life!
Pastor,
Through the fast I know I must connect (accountable) to my Christian brothers. What’s up with Flex? God has been incredibly merciful and faithful to me. I am excited about where we are moving on/beyond as a Church and the power of Christian men in our community
I just want to say that I’ve enjoyed all 22 days of the 21 days of prayer and fasting……lol. In all seriousness, As we fast and pray in 2008 I pray we would believe God for the things people continue to tell us are impossible in our lives. Nothing is impossible for God
Pastor,
This has been a life changing fast, the Lord has blessed this Church with many new Christians with a great hunger for more of the word and breathe of God’s plans for their future.I also believe we should pray for church unity all over the city; I believe that this is a new lease on my life for 2008. Bring on the Fire of God, I believe that to change anything in our Christian walks that fasting for a 3 day weekend is the best way to have Jesus change us form the inside out. I honor the authority of this year from a new President to changes in the economy to changes in each of our leaders in Authority in churches cities and countries. May this church change every tribe, every tongue, and every leader. May the leaders of this church receive a 30, 60 or 100 fold blessing. Amen
Do you receive the Goodness Jesus has for Us! My prayer is more workers for the Harvest!
This has been an awesome time in the Lord! I am so excited about what God is doing at Celebration. I will soooo miss the Friday night worship and can’t wait for the furnace! It is so amazing to be in the presence of God and so very refreshing. It has revitalized me to be Jesus’ hands and feet in the world! Thank you!!!!
It sounds like everybody is pretty hungry. John Wyatt you are hilarious. Thanks for your comments. Long live the FURNACE!
Date: Wednesday, January 30, 9PM
Dear Jesus,
Thanks for this big, fat, juicy steak I’m about to receive. You totally rocked my world during this past few weeks! I can’t wait to pull into the furnace again with my Celebration family in April! Now, please bless my digestive system with Your supernatural power to become a carnivore again!
And all God’s fasting Jesus-Freaks shouted, “AMEN!!”
I have to say that I too am bummed about the fast ending, even though a slice of deep dish pan pizza sounds yummy! I know in my heart of hearts though that this was a fast that God called and I consider it a priviledge and an honor to be able to participate. I am so looking forward to the Furnace weekends!
Pastor, I agree, I’m kind of sad that the fast is ending, too. (I also agree that I’m ready for some meat, lol). But the Awesome thing is that if anyone knows how to keep the fire burning and the passion alive it’s God. So, I’m ready for an INCREDIBLE year full of His goodness, blessings, and breakthroughs that we never even imagined! Our record numbers are so encouraging and…man, just AWESOME. Go God!
This “Fasting” period was the first one I have really taken seriously since being a member of Celebration Church 2+ years now, and let me tell you one of my biggest regrets is: not doing it before. During this fasting, life in these 21 days was clear and with purpose. When reading Scripture it was understood on the spot, bad habits in my diet were easily rejected where before temptation and a weak will easily overtook me. The Love for others was instantaneous instead of constantly reminding myself WWJD. Miracles for people that I prayed for came true, pastors during their sermons were “bringing it ON” like never before and this is just a few. So, YES it is an awesome idea that we will have these a few times a year. I have never experienced the HOLY SPIRIT like I have since being a member of this incredible church. So yes!!!!! Let it burn baby . . . let the Furnace burn!!!!!!!!
Wow!
What an awesome weekend!
John Bevere! Both Honor’s Reward and God’s Custom House were life-changing messages!
Thanks for bringing him here to bless and teach us!
Bring on the Furnace!
This has bee a wonderful fast for my wife and I!! So many of our prayers have been answered by God. We both feel that we have drawn so much closer to God.
Thanks