in case you're wondering what happened at group link...

A week or so ago blogged about the fact that Group Link was coming up and that we didn't feel prepared because way more people signed up than we expected. Here's how it turned out: It was awesome! Over 150 people attended. 16 small groups were represented by new leaders. The cappucinos and lattes were flowing--the cheesecake was incredible, but most of all almost everyone who attended got connected to a starter group. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. The room (the warehouse) was buzzing with energy. It was easily our best (and biggest) Group Link ever. As usual, Celeste Honigford was delightful and funny as my co-host. Teresa Raber, our Group Life coordinator did an amazing job as usual. And we had tons of volunteers who helped us pull off one incredible night.

The thing that I find most amazing, though, is the number of people who are brand new to NewPointe who attended. I spoke with literally dozens of folks who've been attending NewPointe for a month or less. One couple didn't even know who Dwight was when he came up on the Group Link video. Another couple asked me if I was the "main pastor." They wouldn't know otherwise because the previous Sunday was their first Sunday at NewPointe--and I was the guy who spoke that day. How cool is that? One Sunday visiting NewPointe, the following Saturday they're at Group Link, getting in a small group.

One guy I introduced myself to had come to NewPointe just once, six days earlier. He's brand new to church! (he even cussed during our conversation--he didn't know any better). That fires me up! He's getting in a small group!

So basically, in one evening, we ushered about 150 new people into small groups.

Man, I love what I do.