Mike Edmisten Follower of Jesus. Husband of Nicki. Father of Ryan & Brock. Communicator of the Word.

Celebrating Victories

We had an amazing Easter at ACC. But we're not alone.

I love the way that technology allows me to experience what is going on in other churches. This week, through websites, blogs, and Facebook, I have heard so many incredible stories about how God moved in different churches this past weekend.

• I loved hearing that my home church (Georgetown Church of Christ) had five baptisms on Sunday! Awesome!
• I loved reading how Loveland Christian Church (where my buddy, Brian, preaches) had their biggest attendance ever! The comments on Brian's Facebook page were stellar. God moved in a big way at LCC!
• I loved hearing that NewSpring Church in Anderson, SC exceeded 15,000 in attendance this weekend. That church is an unbelievable move of God!

And that's just a handful. I could list many more, but you get the idea.

Now, a couple of things to note…

First of all, how can you possibly compare what is happening in our church to a church like NewSpring? Simple. Both represent a powerful move of God. Both represent people meeting Jesus. Both are unstoppable forces because Jesus promised that nothing can stop his church.

Secondly, some people (especially pastors) would see what is happening in other churches as competition. That is stupid, prideful nonsense. I celebrate everything that God did in every one of these churches (and the many more that I didn't list).

Dang it, we're on the same team! Let's stop the prideful comparisons and start focusing on kicking down the doors of hell! We'll be a lot more effective when we stop competing against one another and start cheering for one another!

Easter Recap

Yesterday blew my mind. So many good things happened yesterday…it's hard to put it into words. But I'll give it my best shot. Here are some of my reflections from yesterday in rapid-fire form. The blogging gurus would say that his post is too long. Oh well.

Sunday Night Reflections…from Brian

I sat down to do a little blog reflection about today…then I read the latest post on Brian's blog. I'll save my reflections for tomorrow. Right now, you need to read his post.

We Couldn't Have Done It Without You – Brian Morrissey

Volunteers are the lifeblood of the church. The day volunteers quit serving, the church stops existing. So I join with Brian…I love all our volunteers.

If you served at ACC in any way today, THANK YOU!

A Video from Easter Past

Here's a video that we used in our Easter worship services last year. The principles expressed in this video that we shot a year ago are still true. And they'll be true next year…in ten years…in fifty years…in a thousand years…until Jesus comes back.

He is alive…and you and I will never be the same.

Last Minute Easter Prayers

Will you take a minute today to pray for God to work in a God-sized way at ACC tomorrow? (If you don't attend ACC, you can pray the exact same thing for your church.)

Pray for our staff.

Pray for our volunteers .

Pray for my message.

Pray for a God-honoring, church-edifying worship service.

Pray for the best day ever in our children's ministry.

Pray for people to be powerfully impacted by the gospel.

Pray for God to take our meager efforts and do something incredible through His power.

Pray that God is pleased by every single thing that happens tomorrow.

Good Friday Thoughts

If our greatest need had been information,
God would have sent us an educator.

If our greatest need had been technology,
God would have sent us a scientist.

If our greatest need had been money,
God would have sent us an economist.

If our greatest need had been pleasure,
God would have sent us an entertainer.

But our greatest need was forgiveness,
so God sent us a Savior.

(Author Unknown)

Easter Reminders 3

A third post with some Easter reminders…

Attitude is everything. When someone visits a church, they evaluate everything…but nothing more than the attitude of the people in the church.

Were the people warm and friendly?

Did they exude the love of this Jesus that they claim to follow?

Those are some of the things that run through the mind of a guest. Experts tell us that a first-time visitor decides whether or not they will return to a church within the first seven minutes of their visit. That seven minutes starts the moment they drive onto the parking lot.

Here's what that means…a person has decided whether or not they'll return to ACC before I ever set foot on the stage. It's not about me. It's about the people that make up our church family.

ACC, you're not just "coming to church" this Sunday. You are coming to represent Jesus to people who need to know Him.

The attitude you bring with you on Sunday could have eternal consequences.

Put Up Your Dukes

Holly Furtick has a great post on her blog that everyone in the church needs to read. She speaks about a truth that I've seen play out countless times…when something big is getting ready to happen in the church, the leaders get hit with something in their personal lives.

Check it out here.

Put Up Your Dukes – Holly Furtick

My Easter Prayer

Thought I'd post the simple prayer that I prayed today about this coming Sunday.

God,

Amen.

Easter Reminders 2

We'll have a lot of guests in our church this Sunday. (We have first-time guests every single week at ACC. But there will be a lot more this week.) There are a few things we all need to remember as we welcome guests into our church.

Please allow our guests to have the best parking spots and the best seats. How do you know which is which? Simple. Park far and sit close.

The best parking spots are the ones closest to the building.

The best seats are aisle seats near the back of the auditorium.

Will you serve our guests by giving them the optimal spots and seats?

Also, will you arrive a few minutes early? With the extra people, the limited space in our facility is going to be stretched. There is likely to be some congestion as parents check-in their children in the nursery and in KidZone. Hallways and restrooms might be crowded.

Much of that will be alleviated if people in our church family don't walk in two minutes before the service starts. Come a little early so you can be ready to help our guests find their way.

Another reminder coming tomorrow…