Extension Gatherings Update
By Guest Blogger John Scott
It was only about eleven months ago that we started hosting Extension Gatherings as another service option for people to attend Celebration Church. The vision: package the entire church experience, and take it outside the four walls of our building into our communities to reach people that otherwise might not have the opportunity to attend a service at one of our campuses. The response has been absolutely incredible. At first, we hit areas throughout Jacksonville, including neighborhood club houses, foster homes, nursing homes, prisons, rehab centers, homeless ministry outreach points, businesses and coffee shops. Services have been going so well, and as most of you know, two of those Extension Gatherings successfully became 2 of our most recent campus launches.
The momentum has only been increasing since then and we are now holding extension gatherings not only in Jacksonville, but also Valdosta, GA; Columbus, Ohio; San Jose, Costa Rica; Belfast, Ireland and Iraq! We also have teams getting ready to start up in NC, GA, KY, NE, as well as Johannesberg, S. Africa! It’s been incredible. People are being reached for the kingdom and the presence of God is moving in a powerful way at all these services.
Here’s a short excerpt from the team in Belfast, Ireland after their first service:
“Not only did we have 21 people, but they were all from different nationalities as well. We had Polish, Portuguese, Latvian, Brazilian and Irish people worshiping together. Everyone had nothing but praise for the service especially the worship and teaching by Pastor Stovall.”
This is how it all starts, with people just like this team in Ireland, fired up for Jesus with a passion to share the gospel in their community. It’s so exciting to see what God can do if we just have a willing heart to be used by Him.
For more information on Celebration Extension Gatherings, click here.
Pastor John Scott, Extension Gatherings Pastor
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14 Responses to “Extension Gatherings Update”
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Can’t wait! - Patricia Powell: Today was AWESOME!! Pastor Stovall- It’s so great to have you back, our family is praying for...
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Brother Stovall, it has been an honor to share your teaching with the community at The Terrace of Fleming Island. When I first attended EG training last summer, I wasn’t sure how or where I would host one. But God did and I’m grateful that he is using me to spread His love and His truth to His people. Many blessings! You Rock Bro.
Pastor Stovall. We miss you so much at the 6pm OP Service. Your wife, Kerri, was just awesome and I was so excited to get to hear her live. My best friend has been saved recently and she came with me to enjoy the first Friday night women’s conference in OP.
God speed on you getting well. Thank you for always firing me up to serve the Lord. You have inspired me to have the Holy Spirit in my heart and I thank you and pray that God will continue to inspire you to save souls.
Thanks Pastor Stovall for allowing us to take the sermons God has laid on your heart that you share with us in Jax to Pensacola so that we may share it with others out there. We already have 4 people waiting for us to move next week to join us in starting our extension services. We pray that your messages and the worship service will reach others for Christ.
OK so four weeks have past since our EG started in Craigavon, Ireland and its been the most amazing four weeks..Ive never felt this excited about anything before and it fills me with excitment for the future..I just want to say a big thank you to Pastor Stovall for your UNBELIEVABLE and INSPIRING teachings, I know they have taught myself and many others soo much in the past month and that our hearts are filled with desire to learn soo much more..you are amazing and so is GOD..also thanks for your continued suport and prayers from everyone at Celebration Church
its nice to part of your family.
Absolutely in agreement with all the comments so far! From the first time we went to a Celebration Service (South Campus shout out), I could envision the families and people of the community I grew up in experiencing God in real way through Celebration’s God first, real love presentation of the Gospel of Jesus. We had no idea that four short years later, we would be provided with the perfect vehicle in which to take it straight to their backyard, the Extension Service. We went from church in a box to church on a disc! Thank you Stovall and the Celebration leadership for this innovative way for us to stay planted in the house in which God put us and to be able to spread that soil in as many places as we can think of!
Pastor, I’m so excited that Celebration Church is leading the way in taking the Gospel outside of our walls and to the ends of the Earth. I had the honor of hosting an EG on my submarine, the USS WYOMING. It was AWESOME! I saw people get fired up about their relationship with Jesus, and it blessed me to be a part of it. I believe that the EG concept will grow and one day will be a part of every Navy ship that sails out of Jacksonville and Camden County! Thank you for your vision and leadership in this area!
First, we give all the glory to God! Second, we give Pastor Stovall and Kerri praise for fostering an environment that is based on the premise of God’s kingdom, others, and then self. As we have the privelege to start an extension gathering in Columbus, OH, we are overwhelmed by the love and support we are receiving from the pastors,support staff, and members at Celebration Church. We are greatful for the work God has done in us through this church, and are excited to see the work he will do in our community through our extension gathering. May all our extension gatherings go forth in faith and love!!!
It is so great to know the fire is burning HOT with the EG services! I knew down in my spirit that it would from the first time I found out what you had on your heart Pastor Stovall! Going with Pastor Wade to Gateway Detox and the other drug & alcohol rehabilitation centers here in Jax. has been a real joy. After many months of talking to and ministering to Peachford House (halfway house) staff and clients, the door opened for us to do an EG service there every Monday night. In the first 5 weeks of holding the meetings there have been 7 men that have given their hearts to Jesus. We average 12 to 20 guys out of 42 in the program. They are expanding to 62 beds now so pray for 62 in attendance on Monday nights. Go God, go Pastor Stovall, great vision, lets shorten that line!!
Thank you Domingo and the Daniel Team for your hard work! There is no doubt the EXT’s are a real way to reach at-risk youth and bring them into the fold.
Phil- you are missed big time here…but your travels along with ministry alongside Judith and Debs has been amazing in Ireland. Can’t wait to see what happens in the weeks to come!
5 weeks ago hosting an Extension Gathering was only an idea. But little did I know stepping out and taking a chance would be so rewarding. Our extension gathering in Ireland has been active for 4 weeks now. It feels like a year, not because it is boring(completely the opposite), but because it seems that we have accomplished so much. People are so excited about the potenial of what has started, the hype and buzz has gave them a natural desire to spread the excitement to others. I love that!!! Thank you Pastor Stovall for introducing this new EFFECTIVE Initiative which helps us further the Gospel, and to be apart of something so much bigger than ourselves. Phil
A few of us host an EG @ the Daniel campus and it is truly an amazing experience. I want to thank the pastors and Celebration church as a whole for encouraging us to reach people that might otherwise be forgotten. On a selfish note I want thank you for the experience of watching these kids grow in Christ. All the Extension Gatherings are really just that “extensions”, the kids know they are part of the Celebration family, no matter where the service is held! Thank you for pushing forward with this vision!!
Thanks John and Q- Pastor Darren and Pastor Wayne put a lot of work into the getting the effort off the ground….and really set a great plate for our extension hosts this past year…Anyone reading this who is interested, fill out the interest form in the link on the blog and we’ll get some info to you.
AWWWWW YEAH!! The EG here in Costa Rica this weekend was awesome! Pastor Jorge pumped the fact that at Celebration Church, EVERYONE is welcome. Drug addicts, prostitutes…EVERYONE. Celebration church here in Alejuelita is a huge lift to the community. God is doing great things! GO JESUS!!
Wow, I love the heart behind the EG’s, reaching people!!!! It is raw, organic and simple. Great job Pastor John and thank you Pastor Stovall for always seeking new ways to reach people with the gospel