Inviter Event Success Story. . .

I am asked all the time how effective our events are in relation to people making a decision for Christ to become their Lord and Savior. Honestly, I cannot wait to go to Heaven to see the difference it has made in God's Kingdom. However, it has been difficult to name the specific people it has impacted in this manner. I always want to remind our skeptics that evangelism is process oriented not event oriented. Here is some anecdotal evidence for these types of events.

One of recent converts asked a family member who was away from Christ to come to her baptism. The person chose not to come fearing pressure would be applied to get their life right with God. A short time later the new convert asked the family member to a movie event. The family member said yes, because it seemed like a less threatening enviroment. Four months later the family member came forward for restoration with Christ and a friend came for salvation. Praise God!

Finding ways to allow people to come back to God or find God in non-threatening venues works. It's not the venue that changes people, it's not anything we do as we host the event that changes people. What changes people is the word of God. Bringing people close enough to hear the truth that God has given us to share with friends,family or whomever will come with us to one of these events.

Thank You God for bringing this story to me today. Make it be used for your glory a thousand times over!


Buddy Gray

Family Promise Day 2. . . .

Kudos to our first two night food hosts. The Walls cooked up some great fried chicken and made a great pot of green beans. The wings were among the best I have ever had, Sheila Walls knows how to fry up chicken. The Kelly Small Group outdid themselves tonite. We had Pork Butt cooked several different ways, the meat melted in our mouths. Pork Butt in crock pot with taco seasoning cooking all day long. Wow! It was great. Joan Ortloff shared her sticky buns with us. She made 5 pans of the delicacy for us for desert. Sticky Buns are like monkey bread just not as sweet. Last night was very uneventful and the families all seem to pull into their rooms around 9:00 p.m. Matthew, Krista and I were here last night and are here tonight also.
Pray for us as we continue on in this effort. The hardest part of this ministry is getting people to stay overnight as night hosts. The discomfort really is minimal. I hear all the time about how it is outside people's comfort zone. It is outside mine, but I continually like to go there to increase the places I can go where I have limited myself from going in the past.
Good Night!

Buddy Gray

Family Promise

4 families arrived at the church today, total people 14. 9 Children and 5 adults. It is always an interesting tranisition to get things up and running. Its like 0 to 60 in no time. It is always good to have people here for the program, however it is bad that life situations are such that they lives end up in disarray and children are left without homes. I pray that these folks find jobs and homes in the near future. It is weird in many ways to not be sleeping in my own warm bed, in a place that I am most comfortable. I know I have a home to go to tomorrow. This program allows us to have touch with alot of good people who are down on their luck. Pray that we make the best of the week with them.

Buddy Gray

Comedy Night . . .

Comedy night was great. Attendance was not what we had anticapated but it was a successful event nonetheless. Over 450 people attended the event. Tommorow I will get an account of the total number of visitors from the community. My guess at the momnet is about 150. Chris Blackmore did a great job. He put together a great presentation and show. I have heard lots of compliments concerning our congregation's hospitality. This makes me proud to hear from our guests. More comments later.

Buddy Gray

A Night of Laughter can be an introduction to Christ!

Right now we believe advanced confirmation of tickets is running ahead of last year. Last year we had 705 people at the Comedy Event and considering the weather is going to be better than last year we could have a record crowd. I would like to mention that we do not do this for numbers we do it to have an opportunity to give glory to God and for people to come to a knowledge of Christ. Pray that this will occur. Pray for the Holy Spirit to be present at this meeting of people. Pray for people who are lost to be found by a God who loves them. I am wound up about this event, can't wait to see you there.

to God be the Glory,

Buddy