Joint Service/Town Hall/Third Elder & Spouses Gathering
God loves new beginnings.
So do we.
So it made sense that we would gather together on the first Sunday of 2025 TOGETHER in ONE Gathering to worship King Jesus as 2 churches at 3221 West Pioneer Parkway. It would be a rich, long, full day of worship, learning, community and dreaming.
The room was full with people, singing, laughter, good coffee and a sense of excitement that 2025 could indeed be the best year that our churches have ever experienced.
I had the joy of opening God’s Word and reminding us that, honestly, in this New Year that tough times were probably coming. In this world we were always going to experience trouble, but Jesus promised us he had already overcome the world, so that should bring us hope. And the hope of Christ is enough to get us through ANYTHING.
The Spirit of the LORD was kind, people received the message. It was a sober time, and yet still a joyful time. God had a plan, and we were confident that whether that plan included a struggle or a sweetness, Jesus was enough. And as we say at Mosaic often, “Jesus plus nothing equals everything.”
Immediately after the Gathering, we held a Town Hall meeting where our elders fielded questions from the saints.
I remember asking each person who asked a question their name, how long they have been at their current church and where they were serving. It was important for me to learn names, and see how invested they were at their church.
The meeting went fairly long. I believe almost 20 questions were asked, all were great. Most were positive, and at one point I want to say that we took an impromptu show of hands of how many people were ready to start worshipping together every week (as one church right now) and over 90% of the people raised their hands.
It SEEMED the Spirit was moving among our people to come together. Now.
But good leaders slow down. Even when we want to speed up. (I have learned this the hard way. Sadly.)
As we closed I reminded our amazing people that their voices mattered. Every. Single. One. Of. Them. And if they didn’t feel comfortable in sharing out loud today, they could approach an elder or leader, and we would listen to them. No one would be disregarded. God wanted to speak to them, and through them.
Later that evening, all the elders and our wives came together again for our 3rd meeting at Tyler and Dee’s house. It was another great evening of encouragement, sharing our hearts, asking good questions and learning more about what we are hearing from the Holy Spirit.
During that evening we also brought in front of all the elders the hard work Melvin Canales had committed to the Mosaic Home Groups, and asked the Crossroads elders to approve his work to use in all the new Home Groups for the combined Home Groups that were to start in February. After reviewing the work, all of us were excited to use Melvin’s work, and ask Melvin to lead us in making disciples in the “circles” of our Homes.
Getting the Arp kids and Ownby kids involved in the discussion and prayer time by far was the highlight of my full day. As I listened to each of these teens and pre-teen share of what they desired in a future church, and hear their hearts, I couldn’t help but think everything we are doing for the LORD right now can’t just be about me or even my family. It MUST be about the next generation.
And it will be.
It must be.
It’s going to be a great New Year, because Jesus has overcome the World, ya’ll.
-Stephen Hammond
