h2o's kickoff service
I don’t give numbers to give some kind of illusion of success just because butts are in seats, but because I know that each and every one of those students has an opportuniy to join an amazing movement of God on that campus as a part of a close-knit community of believers. And for that I rejoice. I think the reason we can get so excited about the numbers reported in Acts 2:41 is because it’s immediately followed by Acts 2:42-47. I feel the same things for what’s happening at Ohio State.
Those numbers are especially encouraging because I know that the leadership at h2o has no desire to steal away students who are already involved in other campus ministries. Their heart is to reach students on campus who aren’t experiencing any form of church community, so I know their growth hasn’t come from luring Christian students away from other ministries to their own thing.
The drastic movement of God at OSU makes me more dedicated than ever to campus church-planting. It was a huge sacrifice for our church to send so many dedicated staff to OSU, but when I think of the life change happening in that place and that ways in which God is transforming that campus, I cannot doubt it was worth it. It’s been a joy to see how our students have strengthened this partnership by their constant prayer and encouragement for this church. Only in the Kingdom of God have Wolverines ever cheered on Buckeyes, and I absolutely love it! And if they keep growing at this rate (653 in 2010, 1591 in 2011, 3876 in 2012??), pretty soon they’ll need to be cheering us on.
Please continue in prayer for our brothers and sisters in Columbus. Wherever God is at work, there is forceful opposition. Pray that their four house church communities this year would be incredibly strong, intimate environments for students to experience the love and grace of Christ through relationship. Pray that God would radically work out breathtaking redemption stories among them this year. And pray that they would see their vision for the year come to life: that they would be established as a strong and secure church community on that campus. I have a feeling we’re going to be hearing a lot more amazing stories out of this place.
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