ELEVATE - Christ’s Church Leadership Blog

It is amazing to see how God uses our ministries to change families and bring healing to lives and relationships. He is using our Celebrate Recovery program as a tool to do just that.

Below is one example we received this week via email. (Note: Some of the personal info has been removed to protect the privacy of the family.)

-David Lawson - Executive Minister

Hello!

I’d like to take a minute to express my thanks to your church for your Celebrate Recovery program.

Even though we have always lived hundreds of miles away from my family in Jacksonville, we have experienced great pain and heartache as a result of the addictions that bound my brother and sister. My Mom and Step-Dad have tried for years to help them and their families, exhausting their resources as well as minds and bodies.

Now, however, my heart is filled with joy and hope as my years of prayers for their recovery are being answered because of the Celebrate Recovery group at your church. My Mom, Sister and Brother all attend with their families and are involved with the program. I have witnessed their emotional freedom and the restoration of relationships because of their small groups, step programs, and the genuine worship they experience together every week. They are beginning to see and experience the love and mercy of Christ as they cut through the chains and shackles that have bound them for so long. And they are doing it together and with others who accept them as they are!

It is a slow process to be sure but it is happening in a way that I can see is real. My children are seeing this wonder as well and are encouraged about the prospect of having healthy relationships with their Aunt and Uncle! They have also prayed for this for a long time.

I am so grateful. It is impossible to express its depth. I praise our God and Savior for His work and ministry through others. I have been praying for a Family of Faith like yours that offers a place for the healing of my family and others. I will continue to pray for you all. I pray God’s richest blessings on your church family for supporting the work of Celebrate Recovery. It is with tears of joy that I write this to you. I want you know you all have had a part in the restoration and hope of at least 15 people (3 families) and 4 of us are 738 miles from you!

Please keep this ministry available. You are indeed affecting a lost and hurting world!

In the Hope of Christ our Lord!

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There is a great line in the movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? Delmar looks at Pete and Everett just after he has been baptized and says, “Come on in, boys, the water’s fine.” Boy, is he ever right!

I have always been very encouraged by the early church and the record of its explosive growth found in the book of Acts. Thousands were responding to the truth and power of the message of Jesus. Verse 47 of the second chapter says, “The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.”

Jesus began a revolution that has never ended. His message of love and forgiveness has never slowed down. His message of eternal life has never dwindled. The power of the cross is as real today as it was 2000 years ago!

It has been exciting to watch the baptisms over the past few weeks. We have had 104 baptisms this year and 35 over the past 5 weeks, just at the Mandarin Campus alone. Fleming has had 15. God is working hard in many lives…DAILY.

If you do the math, God has added more than one per day to HIS number!!

As a church, we all play a part in these decisions. Thank you for all you have done to lead these 104 new brothers and sisters to the most important decision of their lives. Whether you answered the phone, sent an e-mail, sorted tear-offs, taught a child, said a prayer, parked a car, sent a card, talked to someone in the hallway, gave someone a bulletin, led a small group, invited someone to Growing Strong, made copies, sang a song, preached a sermon, passed communion, turned on the heater, made a call or led someone to salvation, you have all played a part in making a difference for eternity. You never know what part you played or who else was or will be impacted.

Thanks for the hard work. This is exciting. This is what it is all about!!

Let’s keep adding to HIS number daily!

-Jason Cullum, Lead Pastor

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