#60

This past week Joelene and I were so honored to be invited to Colorado Springs for Outreach Magazine's unveiling of the 100 Fastest-Growing Churches in America.

While I knew God had been moving at Journey Church and while I realized we were growing, I was not prepared to receive the incredible phone call from Outreach a few months back, revealing that we were on the 100 list.

So we 'journeyed' to Colorado Springs along with a couple dozen of the other 100 Fastest pastors, where we were able to meet some new friends, network with these church leaders, hear their stories of growth, and discuss issues the church-at-large will likely face in the coming years.

I'm the first to say it isn't all about numbers, but the truth is - every number has a name - and every name has a story.  Every number is a soul loved by God.

As I reflect on how Journey made this list, I'm thankful for:

- the great harmony and unity we enjoy at Journey.

- a bought-into vision by all the folks who are part of Journey.

- a great team, both pastoral and volunteer leaders.

- a generosity and passion to serve the communities we do life in.

- the various and growing Journey campuses.

- the persistent and consistent value at Journey to be an outward-focused church, putting a focus on those walking toward eternity separated from Christ.

So I am thankful for a great church - for their love and grace - for their willingness to serve and be sacrificially generous - for an amazingly gifted team of leaders who serve alongside me - but mostly, to a great God who is blessing and helping and pouring out favor undeserved on a group of folks in Beach Park, Illinois and Burlington and Kenosha, Wisconsin and Vilnius, Lithuania, where Journey has campuses today.

We are grateful.

And be blessed.