Lots of things have transpired over the last few weeks.  After months of praying and searching, we have a contract on 4.35 acres of land in Grapevine on Hall Johnson just east of 121.  The whole thing is a great God story!

We are praying that the city will give us permission to build there.  If so we could have a permanent church home in about 2 years or less.

In the meantime, we have received permission to move to the new Faith Christian School facility on Dallas Street this fall.  We are so very blessed to be able to meet at Faith and the new high visibility location should help us reach even more people.

Our weekly attendance continues to grow and in some ways defy what is the norm as far  church growth goes.  We have had several peak attendances since Easter including last Sunday with 192 in attendance.  Not many churches have ever had one of their all time high attendance days in the summer but that is just the way it is at FOTP Grapevine!

Two weeks ago we baptized two more people who have committed their lives to Christ.  This coming Sunday we will have two more people baptized at our Fellowship at the Water Park.  We have several more people scheduled for baptism in August.

In his book IT, author and pastor Craig Groeschel says that some churches experience the life changing power of God which he refers to as IT.  IT is hard to describe but most of us can tell when a church has IT and when a church doesn’t.  By God’s grace and at least for now, FOTP Grapevine has IT and I pray that IT never goes away.

To God be the glory!

We had 201 in attendance at FOTP Grapevine yesterday.  It is the first time in the history of the church outside of Easter that we have had over 200.  We started 18 months ago with 10 people in our living room. 

More importantly, we had three more adults baptized.  Like many others their lives are being transformed by what God is doing through the people of FOTP Grapevine.

Please pray for us as we are now looking at possible sites for a permanent location.  This would be early in the life of the average church campus but FOTP Grapevine is not average.  It is made up of some of the most amazing people I have ever met.

We are doing a series called “Prodigal”.  Most people do not realize that prodigal means recklessly extravagant.  We want people to know about God’s prodigal love for them and to see that love change them from the inside out.

May the people of FOTP Grapevine forever passionately follow the Jesus example.

Why a New Church is going to be the title of my message at the preview service of FOTP Grapevine on July 27.  There are many resons why we need new churches.  I was reminded of that when I read the following quote:

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about the things that matter." - Martin Luther King Jr.

We need more churches speaking about the things that matter.  People need to know about grace, forgiveness, God's unconditional love and that they can have a second chance at life.  They need to know that God's grace can take a life headed in the worng direction in so many ways, transform it resulting in someone with the greatest wife in the world and three kids who are amazing in more ways than can be counted. I know because that is what I have experienced.  People need to know that if life come apart at the seams resulting in a divorce that God can give them the grace to live a fulfilling life and that their kids can still experience a vibrant relationship with Christ.  I know because I have seen more than one of my firends experience that type of grace.  People need to know that if life deals them the worst of all blows, the death of a child, that God's grace is sufficient to see them through.  I have had the rare privilege of seeing people handle this painful situation with their eyes on Christ.

I agree with the quote above that we begin to die when we become silent about the things that matter.  I pray that I will be able to lead FOTP Grpaevine in such a way that we never become silent about God's love and forgiveness and all the things that really matter.