What a day!!

Today was one of those days that was a memorable marked day in the brief history of our church at the Theater Campus.  Still amazed at today and all that God did! 
It was the first Sunday back from the Kenya Missions Team being away for two weeks, and I knew that Pastor Eric - was busting at the seams all week long  - to get to Sunday to share with our tribe!
It was also Baptism Sunday and we had 13 signed up to be baptized and share their stories of God working in and changing their lives...and although 13 signed up, more people than that got baptized!

Although I think it's a fair statement from most all of us from the Kenya Team would say, that we really miss it and could still be there...it was really good to be home and back at Victory Church!
It was such a great vibe early in the morning.  Knew it was going to be an epic day!

When church began at 9a.m. the theater was really full.  More full than normal at the start of the service. (Seems like it usually fills up by 9:09 or so) :-)   I went to Pastor Eric and said "hey, we need seats!  There are still 50-60 people in the lobby!  We need to dismiss the Warehouse kids now to make room."  So for the first time, after the first worship song, Pastor Eric went to the front, welcomed everyone, and we dismissed the 1st-4th graders to continue to worship in the hallway, and 27 seats were freed up.  We were full to capacity!! People were sitting in the aisles, and in the hallways during the service.  We had a record today - OVER 300 people at VCTC!!! 

The worship band was really amazing (as always) - and the worship was awesome today!! We shared a Kenya Team video slide show, and then Pastor Eric preached LIVE today because of the baptism celebration day.  He shared the gospel, illustrated his sermon with a lot of Kenya highlights, and challenged and encouraged people to be bold and take their NEXT STEP. 

It was time for the baptisms outside in the back parking lot after the church service.  We had the scheduled 13 plus the 2 that decided this week to be baptized all lined up and ready.  After those 15 were through, Pastor Eric opened it up for anyone else who wanted to - in the moment - get baptized.  Ryan Gabers, sitting on the curb, ripped off his shoes and socks and quickly hopped up to the tub...and then they followed.  Another one. Another one. Then they were lined up. 26 TOTAL PEOPLE when were were all done.  It was special for me personally, that I got to baptize my daughter, Brooke, and my nephew Blake too!  We ran out of t-shirts and in fact I handed out my dry t-shirt to change into later, so Joyce got baptized in a Men-of-Iron tshirt!  Also the towels ran out so everyone shared wet towels - and they were wet! Some people hopped in with their denim jeans and all!

What an awesome celebration!!

We then did what all good churches do...we ate! Huge shout out and thanks to the Bower & Hurst families for helping with all the food set up and bbq-ing the burgers and dogs!  The weather, although cloudy and overcast, held off , and in fact the sun peeked through and we had an unbelievable day celebrating in big way all that God is doing in our church. 

Record day.  Memorable day.  Epic day.  All glory to where it's deserved - to God be all the glory!!

I LOVE MY CHURCH!!!


Rick Glass