A Little Church in a Big Wide Ocean.

Our church is tiny ~ but we are having a huge impact.  We have upset all the other churches on the island.  Not deliberately.  Not from malice aforethought but simply because we are.

They said we wouldn't last 6 weeks.  When we did they said we wouldn't last 6 months.  We have.  They said we wouldn't last a year. *sigh* We are still here.

We set up so as not to be in competition with anyone else.  We join in where we can.  We do what we believe God has called us to do.  And therein lies the crunch.  All the churches know they are called to evangalise but they don't.  We do.  Every month we are down in the park pumping out Christian music & the word of God.  Initially I was preaching but the Lord reminded me that faith comes by hearing & hearing by the word of God so now we let the Lord decide on a book from His word & we just read straight through.  This removes the stress completely from what we are doing but what is truly fascinating is how many people have never heard what the bible actually has to say about anything at all.

This week we read from Acts ~ the 1st 3 chapters.  Stunningly there was a huge anointing on the reading ~ first time I've sensed this just from reading the word.  People are pausing on their way to & from the boat, which makes me giggle because it is the Holy Spirit's job to convict.

And apparently we could be heard as clear as a bell in the Community hall where 2 other churches meet ~ & who should have been finished with their services before we began so they got a massive dose of the Word as well.

Our Sunday numbers are fluctuating wildly.  Being so tiny if anyone misses it is immediately noticeable ~ but God isn't half so interested in the numbers as some of His people seem to be because they have been taking pot~shots at us.  Sad really because the Lord has made it abundantly clear He is far more interested in our faithfulness, obedience & trustworthiness than in how many bums are on seats Sunday morning.

We are still working towards our children's ministry but what is also interesting is how many don't want to leave the church they are presently attending [because all their friends go there] but find their way to our prayer & bible study.  They are finding our teaching is giving them tools & providing a rock solid foundation on which to build.  I plonk down T~Rex steaks & let people take what they can digest.

Those that do come tend to return because they see that we are getting results.  They see answers come.  They see that God is talking to us & if there is anything in them that wants to grow in God they want what they sense we have.  I am always shattered by how many Christians love God yet have no real sense of intimacy with Him.  They believe ~ but do not experience Him.  And God so desires to be known!

Now we are starting to see those we have been teaching apply that teaching & it is bringing results.  It is bringing salvations. It is rooted deep in prayer. It is spreading outwards like an ink blot.  And all I can do is grin madly like the Cheshire cat.  Go God!