This past weekend was a GREAT WIN for the Celebration Congregation. To begin with, many of our people did a remarkable job of bringing friends and family members with them. As a result, we had our highest non-Easter attendance ever – 4323 people - in our weekend services. And by the expressions on their faces and the comments that were shared with me and our pastors afterwards, it was obvious that many of those new attendees had a great experience in our worship services and children’s services.

I need to give a big “shout out” to several of our groups that did an exceptional job in bringing other people with them to BACK-2-SCHOOL WEEKEND. Our Children’s ministries at all 4 local campuses (Metairie, River Parishes, St. Bernard and Westbank) did a great job of inviting children to our services, and then ministering to them during our services. Our Metairie Campus Youth Ministry had a great attendance on Saturday night, and a great time of fun afterwards (I need to note that the boys beat the girls again this year). Also on Saturday, we had a great turn-out from our Crescent City Christian School students, faculty members and parents. It was great to see those folks connecting with our church family.

Our River Parishes Campus is continuing to grow, and had a powerful day of worship and ministry on Sunday. They’ve baptized 16 people in the last several weeks. Our Westbank Campus almost doubled their attendance this past weekend from the previous weekend. And our Metairie Campus had 1000 more people in attendance than the previous weekend.

Another part of the BIG WIN was that 125 people this past weekend made Life-Change decisions in our worship services. That means that those people either prayed to make Jesus their Savior, determined that they want to become members of the Celebration family, or were baptized. Most churches around the world don’t have that many people making Life-Change decisions over a period of several years, much less in one week.

A third part of the BIG WIN this past weekend was the incredible response of our people at our Metairie Campus in bringing furniture, clothing, shoes, food, small appliances, kitchen-ware, toys, gift cards and cash to give to recent victims of the big Metairie Fire (58 apartments were destroyed on the evening of August 14). When some of the Fire victim families came into the Warehouse to pick up some of the supplies, they were blown away by the amount of resources and supplies that had been collected. They said, “We’ve never seen a church that did this kind of thing for people they didn’t even know.”

We also received a great response in regards to donations from the community at-large. After dropping off her donation, one lady said, “I want to participate because your church helped us so much after the storm” (and we all know what storm she was referring to).

So what are the lessons we can learn from this past weekend? One, people respond to invitations to come to church and connect to God when their friends invite them to come. So keep inviting your friends. Even those who didn’t come to BACK-2-SCHOOL WEEKEND will be open to attending future church events with you.

Two, when people attend our Celebration worship services they are “blown away” by the friendliness, excitement, love and acceptance shown by our people, as well as the diversity we have in our congregation. One young man I invited who had tattoos all over his body (he didn’t even want me to know what some of the tattoos meant) felt accepted and comfortable – and wound up praying to receive Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

Three, when people participate in a service where there is joy, enthusiasm, powerful testimonies, creative elements, a powerful and relevant teaching from the Word of God, and the presence and power of the Holy Spirit – they will respond and give their hearts to the Lord. Or they will be willing to begin a journey of drawing near to Him.

Four, when there is an excellent and loving children’s ministry, people’s hearts will be touched and they will want their children to continue to have such experiences. Thanks again to all of you who minister and serve in our Preschool and Children’s ministries at our campuses.

Five, when people see the generosity of individuals and of a church, they themselves are moved with compassion. And they want to be connected to a group of people (like a church family) that is doing something to help the less fortunate people of the world.

There are other lessons we can learn as well, but the main thing is – KEEP DOING WHAT YOU’RE DOING. As we all continue to grow in the Lord, serving Him by serving others, sharing with others what He is doing in our lives, and giving generously to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of others, the Lord will use us individually and corporately as a church to make a great and positive difference in the lives of others, and in our world.

I’m so proud of our Celebration family. Thanks for being who you are and for doing all that you do for the Lord and for others.