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Why Origins Leaves it All on the Field Every Week!

In case you have ever wondered why I care so much about excellence (videos, lighting, music, decor in bathrooms, signage, OC Kids, ushers, greeters, well trained volunteers) and the gospel message of Jesus being clearly, creatively, and completely proclaimed weekly in applicable messages I preach, these two emails I got this week answer that question for you.  

Origins Church is a church that leaves everything on the field every week and we plan to stay that way because we aren't content with just getting some results we want maximum results! 

Watch Dallas's video again in my last post and then read these two emails I got this week, and then ask Jesus who He wants you to bring with you this week.

My name is xxxxxxxx and I have visited Origin's twice now.The reason for my correspondence is that I haven't been to church in yrs so when my friend xxxxxxx asked me to go to church on Easter Sunday my first reaction was to think of a really good excuse not to be able go but for some reason I felt compelled to go and I did.What I found was a community experience unlike anything I had experienced before and wasn't really sure what to make of it.So the following week I didn't go you know quickly reminded myself how much I didn't want anything to do with God or organized religion.In the meantime my wife of 10 yrs decided she didn't want to be married anymore for various reasons.In my days of despair it became apparent to me that my encounter with the community which is Origin's Church may have been a very significant first step to wellness.This past Sunday I brought my three children who I love with all my heart and they loved it as well.T he pastor took my son to meet his son and they exchanged Pokemon cards.This was huge for my overly shy son who would normally never go off without me but he said for some reason he felt comfortable with this man.Well that was enough for me.These mssg's are so applicable for me having grown up in church and as an adult turning my back onthe one who created me yet somehow He drew me close to him and reminded me that even though I have ignored him for all these years and even though my world is being shook up a bit He is there to break the fall.Whether it be through His word,or Scotty,or the people that attend Origin's church it has been fantastic timing to meet all of you.I hope to become a bigger part of your community as well as my children.Your prayers for my kids and myself would be greatly appreciated.I'm so encouraged to know there is an oasis in the desert.

Thank You
xxxxxxxxxx

Scotty, 

look at the text i got this morning from my neighbor xxxxxxxxxxx:

I just wanted to tell u that I can't wait to go to church. 
It is unbelievable how much I needed to be there and how satisfying it is to receive the words. 

I can't remember when I finally invited xxxxxx. Probably last Spring before Easter when xxxxxx and I were having our invite-athon competition and I was losing big time. xxxxx came but didn't come back until last fall and by this time she was really struggling with alot of her own the stuff. She said she wanted to come back to my church but afterwards said it was too far to drive and she was checking out other churches that were closer. I dug in and really started committing to serving in some areas. I didn't hear from xxxxx for 6 months until she called me out of the blue about 4 wks ago. She said she'd made up her mind that she needed Origins Church in her life. That it was the only thing that had made sense to her and she was going to commit to coming. She's been coming ever since.

Her text this morning reminded me of something I'd forgotten. I'd been coming for about a month or so when on a Thursday, my mind said out loud to me, "only 3 more days till church!"  That involuntary thought, that I was actually looking forward to church, was the funniest thing that proved to me this experience was different. It wasn't just another self-improvement project that I was struggling to STICK WITH. I had let Jesus into my mind and heart now he was STUCK to ME. 

Sunday Night Notables

• We had one person accept Jesus as Savior today!
• We also had some country music and Wes literally killed it...amazing for real.
• I know many of you wanted to see Lost when we covered it and now you probably want to see this one, but all I can say is you need to be at the services cause we don't capture them on video...so your best bet is to be there and be on time. :)
• Dallas's video this morning got me teared up for sure and also motivated me even more for the misson and vision that God has given to Origins, I'm so grateful for a Church that puts the gospel ahead of preference. 
• Next week Origins turns 2 and we are going to have bring in 2 years with style so don't miss it and bring friends.  
• My last notable of the day is Dallas's testimony, I hope it excites you and motivates you like it does me to continue to partner with Origins to bring people who don't yet know Jesus to a place that will accept them and show and tell them gospel as well.   
•   

Dallas from Origins Church on Vimeo.

2 Great Reads

I read these two posts today and I had to pass them along because they are amazing.  Enjoy!

If you are feeling betrayed, hurt, and abandon while you continue to have strong integrity, I have been there and I agree with Craig, God will use it in a mighty way in your life.  Read the post here.

This post is about marketing but I think if you are a Church Planter or any kind of ministry leader you should take a few moments and read this blog and then ask yourself "Are you trying to make the market bigger, or just grow your share?" or in the ministry context ask it this way "Do I really want people closer to Jesus, or closer to me?".  Read the post here.

A Good Resource

If you lead any Bible Studies, Community Groups, or any type of Small Group then you are going to want to check out this new website that has compiled tons of resources to benefit the leaders.

I am going to be writing some content for them as well, my first contribution you can find here.

Sunday Night Notables

• Two first time guests indicated on their cards that they wanted to know how to accept Jesus, I'm looking forward to those conversations.
• We had Matthew Paul Turner  who is the author of Churched, he did an outstanding job of sharing his experiences and reminding us why we do what we do at Origins.
• Babies keep popping up, or out I guess I should say at Origins, and I absolutely love it, because I am seriously a baby freak, so if you have a new born be aware. 
• Speaking of kids I went on a date with Shaye this week and she gets prettier (she looks like her mama) and more sweet each day I think. 
• My boys are in baseball right now and I enjoy watching and being with them, but can't find myself to yet enjoy the long and drawn out games, kind of reminds me of long winded preaching. :) 
• All of you that thought about me when I made that last statement......shame on you :) 
• I got to hear some amazing stories after Church about how Origins has made a huge difference in peoples live, I honestly am so humbled every-time I hear it.
• A buddy of mine brought his mother-in-law and told me that she had stated that this was her last time trying Church.....I'm so glad we are seen as the Church to bring people to when they are ready to quit and give up altogether.
• I think I got some of my country friends upset with me when I said I was still for burning country music.....expect some country flavor coming to Origins soon, just to show you all that I love you more than my own preferences. :) 
• I actually didn't get to enjoy the music as much as I normally do because I was so out of my normalcy with Matthew speaking, I could tell that it was awesome though. 
• We had Life @ the OC after church and I when I am teaching the class I am just looking out there thinking wow, God continues to bring us such amazing people, this Church is seriously going to be unmatched. 
• Dallas's story is really striking a nerve with so many people. 
• I knew it would and am so grateful that he had the courage to trust me and present it. 
• Joel has done an amazing job with the editing of the video to, Matthew Paul Turner thought it was professionally done. 
• I loved what Dallas said in the video when he asked his daughter if she wanted to come to Church and she said what should I wear, he said you can wear what you have on and it was pajamas....we actually have a few ladies that did wear pajamas once, I won't tell you who. 
• Wes my bassdog almost killed me last week when he was doing a rockstar move on the close of a song he put the neck of his bass right into my temple as I was walking back onto the stage, Im afraid after my country comment last week that he might do it on purpose this coming week. :) 
• I had to finish two papers by midnight, I made it by 230 so pray that my professors are merciful. :) 
• We filmed some baptism videos last week and I am getting really excited about Baptism coming up, if you want to sign up email brock@originschurch.tv 
• I love Origins with all my heart, and I am so very grateful for what God is doing, but I know that the best is yet to come!

Sunday Night Notables

• 7 people accepted Jesus as Savior today!
• Aaron and the band did a incredible job today, they honestly left me speechless.
• I can honestly say that the entire band (including our percussionist Kevin today) are a complete blessing to me, I have spend countless hours praying for our music and band and I believe we have the best team we have ever had, they all love playing and love Origins.
• David killed the JayZ rhyme today, I don't even know what to say about it except I am a super music critic and he totally blew me away.
• The energy in the service today was electric from start to finish, it was almost as if we were celebrating someone coming back from the dead. :) 
• I know some of you moved to the 9 and I am so grateful, I promise everything is the same, there is just a little more room right now, but not for long cause we are going to fill that service up to. 
• I had people coming up after the service giving me their post-its to put on the cross which was very cool. 
• People have been buzzing about how awesome the experience was yesterday Joel dazzled me with the programming aspect for sure, which makes since considering 7 people accepted Jesus.
• Dallas shared part of his story yesterday, and I am so blown away by how Jesus has used Origins in his life, its a great reminder that what we do each week matters. 
• Casey gave the bathrooms a refresher in case you didn't notice and they looked fabulous.  
• Twitter was blowing up yesterday with everyone talking about the service I like it alot that a bunch of our Origins peeps are on there, if you not yet get with it.
• Joel did an amazing job on the Egg Hunt on Saturday, we had tons of volunteers out there parking cars, hiding eggs, and corralling kids.
•  I talked to some of the trustees of the township and it sounds like because of how well we represented that we are going to be able to play a much bigger role next year, and believe me we already have plans that are blowing their minds.
• Baylor was up all of Saturday night which is never the greatest way to start Easter Sunday, but Stacy is amazing and took care of him and still got all of our children to Church by the 9 oclock service. 
• I woke up Saturday morning with a serious sore throat and it really had me concerned but my voice made it through both services with no problem, thanks to cough drops and throat spray. 
• When I was putting people's post-its on the cross I kept thinking in my mind how amazing it is that Jesus really did take all of those sins on Himself for us, WOW, what an amazing Savior we serve. 
• I was so pumped up to hear that Jeff and Lifepoint had an amazing weekend in Wilmington, you have to head over to his blog and read all about it, they had at least 10,000 people at their egg drop; thats 10% of the entire population of Wilmington.....wow God. Jeff's friendship to me is priceless for sure, even after having such a huge weekend there in Wilmington he still took the time to call me Sunday afternoon and check on me and Origins.
• Tons of people were sick, Shannon had 6 OC Kids workers call in not able to work, but she is awesome so she handled it well and didn't miss a beat which makes me proud. 
• Our ushers had their game on yesterday to, Brock and Chuck have been tweaking up that entire area and I have been impressed. 
• Stacy had a lady tell her how much better her marriage has been since attending Origins the past few months....it never gets old to hear that. 
• I am loving getting the stories back from the reverse offering if you haven't let us know what you did let us know. 
• Next week everyone needs to bring everyone they can because we are having Matthew Paul Turner the author of "Churched" and besides being hilarious he can relate to any bad church experience that you or anyone that you know has had.
• I love Origins and I am so grateful that God allows me to lead such an amazing Church. 

Sunday Night Notables

• Today was a day that I think Origins will remember forever it was so awesome.
• Scott was back for the week from Cally and filled in great for Aaron I wish he was going to be here longer so they could lead together a few weeks.
• I was fired up this morning because the message was so important to me and I felt God leaning hard on me for the past few days.
• I didn't drink any coffee or red bull before the message because I knew if I did there would be no way I could stay seated during the message.
• Justin our lead guitarist got sick during the run through and had to go home.
• We've already hear several really cool stories as a result of our reverse offering. Go here and tell us how you used yours.
• Channel 12 came and filmed a portion of our first service. They showed the wrong footage during the 6:30 news but fixed it by 11 and it was a great piece.
• This Sunday is going to be amazing. Invite everyone you can, espescially those that need Jesus.
• We're starting a new series called CHURCHED and will be addressing the negative feelings that outsiders have towards church.
• My message this Sunday is called "No Perfect People Allowed."
• On the second week of this series we're having a guest speaker, Matthew Paul Turner. He wrote a book called Churched. If you or anyone you know has had a bad church experience, it doesn't touch this guys so make sure you're there.
• We could still use some volunteers for the Deerfield Township Easter Egg hunt this Saturday at Cottel Park. Email joel@originschurch.tv and he'll give you some details. 
• Get ready for an amazing weekend Origins, and by the way, we need some of you to switch from the 10:15 to the 9am service to free up some seats for people that need Jesus.