2 Great Examples of Successful Churchplanting Efforts

On Sunday, Feb. 14 we had the opportunity to minister at Christian Life Assembly in Camp Hill, PA (www.christian-life.com). We led worship, did special music and assisted with Communion in their 2 morning services and had a really nice time of ministry.  We’ve had a special relationship with this church through several special connections, but it all began when Shannon’s parents helped start Christian Life Assembly 30 years ago with 25 or 30 charter members (the families of The Couriers, the gospel singing group Shannon’s dad is a part of, and several others).  There are now more than 3000 people worshiping there each Sunday, and lives are being impacted and changed because a handful of people had the faith and obedience to follow God’s call. We have many friends on staff there and the current Lead Pastor is Wayde Wilson – Shannon’s cousin.  I have had the chance to help produce recording projects for the church and for our own ministry (“Simply Exalting” and “Say So LIVE”) in their state-of-the -art recording studio.  What a blessing it’s been!

It’s interesting how history has repeated itself through our lives over the past few years.  3 1/2 years ago Shannon and I felt God calling us to take a brief sabbatical from our fulltime traveling worship ministry and help launch a new church-plant being led and pastored by our good friends, Mike and Connie Hammer (Connie is the daughter of original Courier, Dave Kyllonen).  We became part of the core launch team that helped start Celebration Community Church in Dillsburg, PA, which has grown from that team of 30 or 40 people to averaging over 300 attendees each week in the early part of 2010.  It was an awesome experience to see God’s hand at work in that young church week after week, to build relationships and form lifelong friendships, and to help lay a solid foundation with the worship and media ministry of the church.  After almost a year we felt God releasing us to return to our fulltime traveling ministry and we began turning over the reigns of ministry to those we had been training and working with.  We had the chance to minister at Celebration a few weeks ago and witnessed an exciting atmosphere of worship and hearts that are sensitive to the move of the Holy Spirit.  They will be going to 2 services next month due to being totally maxed out in their sanctuary seating and parking lot space.

We thank the Lord for privilege of being very closely connected with 2 great examples of churches that are prime examples of successful church-planting efforts.  I acknowledge that the success of both endeavors was a God-thing and done through His leading and anointing, but they were each possible because faithful and dedicated people made great sacrifices to follow God’s call.  I’m so thankful they did!!

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