As I type this I’m outside on a very windy, very beautiful March day here in mid MO. I’ve had several conversations about our church starting a second campus here at this coffee shop with people who aren’t connected to Forum. Questions connected to, “Are you nervous?” Comments like, “What a great opportunity.” Inquisitiveness such as, “Now, why are you doing this?” I welcome the questions for a lot of reasons:

1. Am I nervous? Yes and no. Yes, because we’ve not done anything like this before. No, because the confidence possessed is not confidence in self, staff, or church body – those things factor in, but the confidence I have is in the Lord. God is so very good and He wants to save people. We are in alignment with that mission.

2. New Opportunity? Yes and no. Yes, because we are trying to reach people in a part of town that we’ve not tried to target before. No, in that – and I hope you realize this – this is not a change in the mission of the church. This opportunity never changes for you and me on a personal level. You have had, and will have, opportunities even today to share Jesus with people around you. To help people to experience the goodness of God with your life. To add a smile to another person’s face by looking them in the eye and sharing the joy you have in Christ with your facial expression.

3. Why are we doing this? My favorite question because it is the total door opener. It opens the door wide open for me because it’s then easy to say something to the effect of, “We’re doing this because we know that God loves people and we are taking church to people. Just like God sent Jesus for me – we are going to a different part of town to share God’s love. God wants people to know that He loves them. God loves you and I hope you know that.”

Let me encourage you to hit the prayer mat really hard over the next two weeks. Here’s how I want you to pray:

1. Pray for this Sunday for us to work out as many kinks as we can (and trust me, we’ll have many that we haven’t thought of – this is a very, very fast learning curve).

2. Pray for the flyers that are going out to make a visual invitation to people.

3. Pray for all the workers and staff as this is all new places and rooms, etc. to operate out of.

4. Pray most of all that God be honored and glorified. Jesus words are so very clear, “But when I am lifted up I will draw all men to me.”

Scott