The Kick-Off event on Thursday evening was truly amazing! We had many friends and pastors there (heroes of the faith), lots of excellent volunteers, and 10 visitors... about 45 in all! It was certainly EXACTLY what needed to happen. Below I have listed some highlights, some challenges, some things we learned, and some areas to grow in.
1. The Clarity volunteer staff absolutely killed it! It was like going to war and walking away victorious with a pizza party celebration at the end. We learned what it takes to pull something like this off, and we learned that we can do it. It took hours and hours of prep, focus, and perseverance. We have a mega debrief meeting this Monday that will certainly challenge us and enable us to evaluate and grow.
2. I realized about halfway through the evening that I was literally surrounded by the heroes of the faith that gave time, resource, energy, and encouragement over the past year and enabled this vision to happen. These are the ones God used so profoundly in our lives. God has placed them around us as a shied and a sword. I was very emotional as I pointed out each person and spoke about their impact. I didn't even preach the message that I spent about ten hours preparing.
3. JR Mahon shared for a bit and blew me away. Sarah Kelly sang and lead me to tears. Our team lead some songs and totally rocked it. I spoke about the stories represented in that room, the love of our Father, and shared the vision for the next few months of Clarity.
4. No kids showed up, but we had five extra volunteers from Teen Challenge Ministry Institute who totally got it.... that if we pray for rain we should hold an umbrella. So we spent about $1,000 to create a nursery, a Clarity Kidz room, make materials, and an awesome kids program! It was an act of faith for the kids to come! I'm super proud of Dan and my wife, Jessica for pulling it off.
5. I've already found myself second guessing many things I did and said over the course of the night, but I've realized this habit is VERY unproductive. I'm convinced that EXACTLY what needed to happen did happen and that EXACTLY what needed to be said was said. God is the author of this thing. It belongs to Him. One friend said that we have now waged the war... it was indeed a prophetic act. That is to say that we mean business, and we are prepared to commit and see it through in obedience to God.
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