God was awesome at My Church today. Every service was POWERFUL. Every service people gave there lives to Jesus and every service was almost packed. We reached an all time high and had 800 people in attendance. It’s completely mind blowing since we are only 11weeks old.

I wanted to say thanks to all our incredible volunteers. You guys are the best. You worked so hard today! You made MyChurch the most accepting place on earth. Thanks!!!

But, I have an unbelievable story to tell. I don’t know if anyone even subscribes to this blog, so I hope somehow this story finds it’s way to the right person.

Sunday, January 25^th, my team and I launched MyChurch in Columbus, GA. We were supposed to be in this awesome, new strip mall with a cool build-out planned and decorated to our specs. Six days before our launch, we found out we could not be in the building (after 50,000 mailers had gone out announcing our big day). Keep in mind, this is January. It was one of the coldest weeks of the year (low temps at 21 degrees). We had no other options but to rent a big tent and put heaters inside. I was sure people would drive up, see the tent and keep going.

Fifteen minutes before the service, I was hiding in my truck praying for God’s power to keep people from turning away. When I came around the corner, I saw a line of people all the way across our parking lot, waiting to check their kids into a Tae Kwan Do studio turned kid’s ministry. Then, I walked in the tent, and it was full and overflowing with people (and warm too, I might add). My sister told me later that my jaw dropped open and I said, “Oh my gosh (I try not to say that around my kids).

Long story short, we had 625 people come to our launch, standing room only. (We’d have never fit in our building…God is so sovereign). We had to add 200 chairs all around the tent to our 300 inside. 44 people checked off on a communication card that they were choosing to make Jesus the leader and forgiver of their life! It was the most amazing God moment of my life.

What should have been an awkward experience with a bunch of new people upset for sitting in the cold turned out to be an unforgettable adventure. People walked away exhilarated. The Spirit of God moved in an amazing way! I asked how many people would come back next week. Everyone raised their hand, so we announced we’d have two services next week!

I am on my face praising God. This is not a story of success. This is a story of brokenness. Eighteen months ago, I shut my first church plant down. It was the most painful time of my life—worse than losing my mother. I felt like a complete failure. I had people blog about our church shutting down (maybe that’s why I still hate blogging). It was the lowest point of my life.

A few faithful friends, Shawn Lovejoy at Mountain Lake Church, Brian Bloye at Westridge and Bil Cornelius at Bay Area Fellowship, wrapped their arms around us and believed in us when we didn’t believe in ourselves. God poured down His grace on me and my family! I had read about grace, talked about grace, preached about grace, but I had never personally experienced God’s grace (other than my salvation). God broke my spirit and filled me up with His grace. I would choose the pain all over again to get to experience God’s love that way again.

I love my first church. Hundreds of people came to Christ there. Many of those people helped us launch MyChurch. It’s as much theirs as it is ours. I’m so grateful for all they sacrificed with us.

One thing I have learned, “God does not delight in sacrifice, He delights in a broken spirit.” The guys at ARC and DCN who partnered with us on round two, told us that God is using guys my age who have fallen down and gotten back up. I wasn’t sure whether or not to believe them. Now, I want every pastor and every church planter who is experiencing pain to know…relish in it. Let God break your spirit. He is preparing you for the next great thing.

So don’t call me and ask me how we did this launch. I’ll have to tell you to go out and fail at something or choose the most painful circumstances you could imagine. I have no talent, no good strategy, no superstars in the wings…I only have the power and grace of God. Praise God for using broken people like me! You broken guys out there, get up off your face and do what God tells you to do, even if you think it’s impossible. There are millions of people out there who need God’s grace, and you’re the only guy who can really authentically pass it on!

PS – I don’t have time to do links to all these people I mentioned. But they all have great websites and blogs, you should look them up!

Today our mailer went out and people have been calling all day. I am fired up to see what God does…

I look forward to seeing you all Sunday.

My highlights were:

1. Seeing all our our Mychurch team come together to pull it off–You guys are Awesome!!!

2. Seeing the School principle pass out the bikes to her parents to take home and put under the tree. (the stories were amazing)

3. Being able to create a culture of “crazy compassion” and set the stage for who we will be for our community.

Yes it was crazy even a little ridiculous but in the end its just a small way to give back. God has been so good to us. I still am amazed that he sent Jesus to sacrifice and die for me…

How cool is all that.

This weekend we will ride up in a 40′ boom lift to raise 125 bikes for underprivileged children for Christmas. I will write more on this tomorrow.

Its time to eat dinner. Christy made her awesome lasagna.

                     November 2008 
 

 | mychurchcolumbus.com | mymurphys@gmail.com | P.O. Box 8925 | Columbus, GA 31907 

Here’s the answer to your prayers—My Church has a home! 

God sent us people. God sent us equipment. But, less than 3 months from our launch date, God had not yet given us a facility. Everywhere we looked, doors were being closed on potential launch locations—movie theaters, universities, schools, warehouses—everyone was telling us no! 

Then we found this incredible option in a brand new strip mall owned by a Christian businessman. Of course, the price was way out of our budget; so, we met with the owner, shared our vision, made a ridiculous lowball offer and guess what? He said “NO!” Our launch team spent the next few weeks fasting and praying. We were seriously considering setting up a tent. Then on October 24, God filled me with unexplainable boldness. I just felt compelled to call the guy and ask again. This time, he said, “YES!!!!” 

You’re looking at a 7,300 square foot miracle. The developer is going to finish the build-out to our specks for free! My church not only has a launch location—we’ve got a starter home, complete with worship center, lobby and kids rooms! How’s that for a financial miracle right in the middle of the worst economic month in 20 years? Praise God!! Come on, say it with me—“Praise God!!” 

God continues to give us favor and put people in our path who need help finding their way back to Him. We cannot wait to see the lives that will be changed in this facility! We are going to need to buy chairs, which is about a $9,000 unexpected expense. If you would like to provide a seat for someone, every $30 you donate will purchase another chair. Our plan is to start with 300 seats and add multiple services as soon as we can! 

Thank you for being a part of our miracle!

We are now accepting tax-deductible donations directly through My Church. Please make your checks payable to My Church and send to us at P.O. Box 8925, Columbus, GA 31907. If you have been giving online or by credit card, we will contact you as soon as we are able to receive online donations through our website at mychurchcolumbus.com. Your November contribution can still be accepted online through Mountain Lake Church.

MLC–You guys are awesome!!!

I pulled off the road with all my kids crying, and jumped out to help him. He was conscious but hurt pretty badly. All the doors were jammed. Soon another man showed up, and we were able to get a door opened and pull him out of the car.  As I stood there waiting for the rescue squad, I was overwhelmed with gratitude that God had protected us. It was God who caused me to look in my rearview mirror at just the right time and choose to swerve just the right way in a split second. It was also Him that caused the guy in the truck to swerve the other way and miss us.

I know God protected us today. I also know that He has a purpose for my family here. I have been called to reach the Columbus valley region. I am grateful for every day God gives us to serve Him.

Pray for the man who was hurt. I’m on my way to visit him in the hospital…