It’s Official
Throughout the entire evening, through dinner, dessert, laughing, stories, introductions, all of it, there was a sense that something special was happening.
We began with dinner around the dinner table. Brad, Laura, David, Jilaine, Samuel and I (Jeremiah was already in bed). Pizza, chips & salad. It was good, light hearted discussion. Before long we were joined by Jason Jumonville. Jason was in our Comgroup in College Station and will join us here in Irving whenever he’s in town visiting his parents. It was very special to have him here.
Dessert followed and then we went into the living room as the conversation continued. At the first lull in the discussion, I pulled out a piece of paper that had all the blog comments and emails we had received today from our family in College Station. What a blessing to know that so many were praying for us at that moment. We challenged each other to listen to the Spirit when he quickens us to engage with people, even if it feels awkward. We talked about the importance of being vulnerable even if there are people here we don’t know very well. We talked about some of the people God has already put in our lives. And we dreamed about what this may all look like in a year or 20.
We followed this discussion up with communion. What a sweet time to remember why we are here. To remember that without Jesus, we’d just be another club or social group. And to remember those times we sat around our living room doing the same thing with another part of the Lord’s body in College Station.
We prayed for each other and then had to end the evening with the monumental picture (we even discussed it’s use in the slide show at the 20 year celebration of Comchurch Irving).
It was good! It felt legitimate. It was comfortable yet challenging. It was exciting and confirming. Who knows what will happen next or where this road will lead, but we look forward to it with anticipation.
Thank you for your prayers! They were definitely felt. If ever you’re in Irving on a Thursday night, please stop by (actually you can stop by any time– but you know what I mean).
top left: Jason Jumonville, David Park, Brad Tilton
bottom left: Jilaine Sandlin, Shelley Park, Laura Tilton
Sounds like y’all had a great time tonight…now go multiply!
Typical Ken, always pushing the numbers game. And I thought it was understood that there would be no Christmas trees in any of our franchise locations – pagan origins and all.
Seriously, this whole thing really thrills me. Thanks for being you, for being us, and for being you and us wherever the Lord sends you. We love you all.
Praying for you and thrilled that your first official meeting was wonderful. God is good!