So excited about this Sunday and what is going to happen with the future of Forefront. 
But, you might be asking some questions…

If you’re wondering what’s happening this Sunday, missed a service, been serving with the kids, missed one of the combined Gel Celebrations, did not receive a What If… Prayer Guide, haven’t seen the What If… FAQ Sheet, or just want to remind yourself about all the great things happening at Forefront as we start this great new chapter…

This is post is for you.
We put together everything you need to know, and even filmed a quick video to explain everything. So, check out this video directly below and if you have any questions, please email me jason@forefront.org and I’ll get back to you asap.

Downloads:
- What If… The F.A.Q. Sheet
- What If… Campaign Commitment Card

Sermons:
- What If… Everybody’s Welcome? [listen via website/listen via itunes]

- What If… Nobody’s Perfect? [listen via website/listen via itunes]

- What If… Anything’s Possible? [listen via website/listen via itunes]

Videos:
- Series Intro: What If… Everybody’s Welcome? Nobody’s Perfect? Anything’s Possible? As a church we want to dream big, not be afraid of failure, and help lead people who are far from God to a place where they can feel safe to encounter Him without all the religious pretense. This is Forefront. We will do anything short of sin to reach people who don’t know Him. Let the dreaming begin…

What If… Series Intro from Forefront Church on Vimeo.

- Week 1, Everybody’s Welcome: We firmly believe and practice that no matter what background you come from or what you’ve been through, doubts you have… you’re welcome here. This has to be a safe place to share fears, doubts, failures, and triumphs.

Everybody’s Welcome from Forefront Church on Vimeo.

- Week 2, Nobody’s Perfect, But Transformation Can Happen w/ God: What if we really submitted to God in realizing that we are not perfect and He is our only source of being loved, experiencing grace, and being redeemed. Transformation can happen for anyone- and it’s happening here at Forefront all the time.

This Is Transformation from Forefront Church on Vimeo.

- Week 3, Anything’s Possible. The Power of Seven: We are focused on ministry daily. But, what if we had access to tools and resources everyday to be a beacon of hope in a community in need of Jesus? Having a facility all the time can help in that goal (we’ve already seen a glimpse of that with our warehouse space being used nightly for all sorts of events and outreach).

The Power of 7 from Forefront Church on Vimeo.

Every time my daughter Chloe comes to the office she checks my desk.
She runs in, looks, and makes sure that the Incredible Hulk is there…
With jelly bracelets on his head.

I’m not quite sure when this started.
But I do remember her being in my office, taking off her bracelets and putting them ever so delicately on top of the Incredible Hulk’s head. I didn’t think much of it that day. But, every day since then, I remember the moment. “Why?” you ask. Well, because the Hulk holds my cords to plug in my laptop so they don’t fall back behind the desk. Every day I come and plug my laptop in and every day the bracelets fall off. The first few times I just didn’t put them back on.

But, I learned very quickly this wasn’t a good idea.
Chloe visited the office soon after and FLIPPED OUT!
“WHERE ARE THE BRACELETS!?!”
“HOW COME MR HULK LOST THE BRACELETS!! WHERE ARE THEY?!”
Wow.
I pulled them out of the drawer and handed them to her.
“DADDY! THESE GO ON HIS HEAD! THEY NEVER GO AWAY!”

I was dumbfounded. I just thought it was something silly in the moment she did.
I really didn’t think it was a big deal.
C’mon, really? We’re going to get worked up over this?
So, I collected myself and asked calmly…
“Um, baby? Why do these have to be on there?”

“Daddy, these are my special bracelets. They’re so you won’t forget me at work. I love them. I wanted to give you something special.”

[crushed]
“Baby, I’m sorry. I’ll never take them off of the Hulk. Ever.”
“Thank you Daddy. I love you.”

Glad God takes joy in all the little things we do to show how much we love Him.
No matter what it may look like to others- He knows the heart behind it.

Today we started our journey towards being in a permanent location for Forefront Church. It’s Exciting. Scary. Terrifying. Filled with Anticipation. It’s going to be glorious. “Why?” you might ask. Well, because we’re chasing after a biblical mission: to spread the love and grace of Jesus. Because His role was to come and “seek & save the lost.” (Luke 19:10).

But, this isn’t going to be easy. Following God never is. It takes prayer, connection with God on a personal level, so as a church we can be sure we’re fulfilling what God designed us to do as a whole- love people. Now, a building isn’t God’s dream. God’s dream is about people coming to Him. I don’t believe His dream for Forefront is specific as a building. But much like lights, sound systems, bright rugs, signs, and materials- a building is another tool to use to help connect people. To share God’s story of love and grace. It’s a venue to be seen in the community. A place where people can see we’re available to help- past our community outreach, service with PIN, Crisis Pregnancy Center, etc.

Let’s face it: Nobody just stumbles upon Ocean Lakes High School. You have to really know it’s there. We know the best way to spread the word is face to face, with personal invites, and sharing God’s love. So, we want to make it even easier to share it. When people see us daily in the community, not just 3 hours on Sunday mornings in a rented school, it helps show we care about the community. It shows we’re here to make this place better. And, studies have shown a church that is growing and healthy grows by anywhere from 40-55% in the first 8-12 months in a building. And sometimes even more than that! WOW. That means Forefront could have 250+ new people to share God’s love with. How awesome is that?!

So, today and the next three weeks we’ll be sharing the vision of Forefront that we pray every person who encounters the church feels: Everybody’s Welcome. Nobody’s Perfect. Anything’s Possible. It’s really that simple.

Today we shared that Everybody’s Welcome at Forefront without Prejudice, Judgement, or Bitterness. People who desire to learn about God, try to begin to explore faith, and want to understand what it means to have a second chance- Forefront, you, me, all of us- our goal is to make sure they feel completely and utterly welcome.

The  liars, drunkards, spousal abusers, thieves, anxious, introverts, extroverts, unloved, depressed, lonely, republicans, democrats, tall, short, fat, skinny, black, white, brown, mixed, light skinned, dark skinned, prostitutes, business class, construction workers, bus drivers, out of work, stay at home parents, military, civilian, teachers, rockers, nerds, emo, gangsters, thugs, addicts, ego maniacs, and the list could go on & on…

Everybody’s Welcome.
We want & desire to move this ministry to another stage.
To reach more people.
To help people heal from hurting.
To be a beacon in a broken community.
To have a place to do ministry 24-7.

Remember, there’s no “bait and switch.” We’ve got everything up front and available for this dream we have for Forefront. FAQ Sheets, Prayer Journals, Commitment Cards, Gel Family Celebrations, and more. It’s Forefront, dreaming big, and giving it to God. We will trust Him to do the miraculous.

Everybody’s Welcome from Forefront Church on Vimeo.

Not everybody feels comfortable in the church culture that’s been created. And by comfortable, I mean the introverts can feel a little left behind in a world of “engage, connect, share, be in community, etc.” It isn’t easy to connect with people when you’re an introvert. Actually it’s downright awkward and terrifying.

A handful of people in our student ministry have this running joke when something awkward happens, “It’s not awkward unless you make it.” Well, I hate to burst anyone’s bubble here, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Some things are awkward and uneasy for people. Introverts in the church world is definitely one side of that. So, the question lies in our midst as Christians, church leaders, and volunteers in the local church…

“What can we do to help better aid the introvert in getting engaged with God’s church?”

I’m sure there’s a laundry list of things we could come up with. But, here are a few:

-Embrace Introverts As Key Leaders: The gift set of an extrovert is easy to see, but introverts have an amazing gift in being designed the way they are. Because they process internally, they present a non-judgmental attitude towards others looking to share. Many introverts are off the charts creative. Due to their introspective worlds, it tends to lend itself to some great ideas. Some of the most gifted artists, writers, musicians, and actors are introverts. Having all extroverts in leadership roles means you miss the boat on some amazing skills with introverts.

-Empower Introverts In Roles Of Caring/Pastoral Ministry: Extroverts can never shut up. Introverts have such a listening ear. It’s amazing. Much of the introspective nature of introverts help them understand the internal battle people face on another level than extroverts can. Listening can make all the difference. People don’t always look for answers. Sometimes they just want someone to listen.

-Explain The Angst Of Getting Involved: Instead of denying it’s difficult to just jump in feet first and an introvert, embrace it. Talk about it. Explain why it’s hard and show you understand. And, while you’re doing that, as a church leader- create ways for the introvert to take a step. It might be a lonely step, but let them take a step at their pace. This is a good rule of thumb for your entire church. Let people move at their pace. Pushing people to make decision based on your time table means it’s all about you- instead of it being all about God doing a work through them as His time table allows.

-Encourage Introverts To Be Themselves: Churches have tried over the years to make everyone fit their model of ministry. What it says is, “We’ve got the market cornered on community, worship, discipleship, etc. Do this, attend here, and be a part of this. And then, that’s what says you love Jesus.” But not everyone fits that mold on every level. Some people get scared around a room full of people, but would thrive in a 3 person accountability group. Others would love to be in the worship service, but have such anxiety in large crowds they’d pass out or have a heart attack. They’re worship soars when they can hold babies in the nursery. Many introverts cannot be behind a welcome table and answer questions about this week’s event, but they can smile and hand out the morning program without saying a word. Let them excel in their strengths.

-Evangelism For Introverts, The Future Of The Church: Most extroverts can eventually overwhelm people. Even other extroverts can only take their kind in doses. When it comes to evangelism,  I’ve observed that people can be skeptical of extroverts. They seem so excited that sometimes it can come off unauthentic. When an introvert speaks, it’s clear it’s from the heart. When the introvert talks to a friend, family member or co-worker, they know it isn’t for show. It’s the real deal. If the church wants to thrive, encouraging introverts to share their faith is the future of church growth. Too many high profile extroverts have fallen in the public eye. People are looking for authenticity. As skepticism of the church/God/faith rises, we need an intimate connection with people. Introverts ooze real, authentic faith. (Note: I believe people with a genuine heart as seen for who they are, but sometimes the extroverts demeanor can be a hinderance.)

-Excel With Introverts In The Community Highs… And Lows: When community fails the extrovert, they struggle to know how to handle it (Because let’s face it, people will fail you. Even good intentioned people can mess up, we all do). They struggle because they thrive on being with people, and when community fails, they’re left alone. For the Introvert, when they finally arrive in community, they will give it their all, albeit slowly, they put the effort in. But when it fails or falters, introverts are used to processing and doing things alone. It’s comfortable. So the introvert has a gift in this way, a guard against heavy heartbreak when community doesn’t live up to their expectation.

Now, at the end of the day, both introverts & extroverts have issues with connecting, commitment, and engaging God’s church and the things happening. It’s a natural part of trying to be as God designed us. We fight against it at every turn. But, as we strive to learn more about God, explore the life of Jesus and learn about his love- we’ll come to a place where it will become easier to trust Him and move in small steps towards fulfilling who God desires us to be.

Introverts, I stand alongside you. It isn’t easy.
But let’s embrace the way God designed us and thrive in who He is making us into.

We’ve been very thankful for all the attention the Change Who Waits rallies are getting, both in Richmond and here in Hampton Roads. In the 757, The Current had us on during the Vertical Radio Show (Saturdays 5-10pm) to discuss the rally. A few other radio spots on other stations should be popping up in the coming week.

Today, WVEC’s Lucy Bustamante came out to the Forefront Church office to discuss the need for the rallies and how people can get involved. Very thankful they came out to cover this story (read the story here) and looking to see everyone come out and learn more concerning how any family can play a role in helping kids find a forever family.

Here is the news story that aired this evening on the 5 o’clock news [video embedded below]. Big thanks to Mitch Caton for jumping in to help with the story. Chris Barras for dreaming this up and getting the ball rolling state-wide. And thanks to Cheryl Simmons for the PR hookup and Doug Forehand for opening up Real Life for the event.

Much to my chagrin, I hate to admit that- I’m pretty introverted at my core. When invited to a party, I’m reluctant to RSVP. My wife will push us to go, but I hide off to the side quietly. If there are kids there, I’ll gladly help take care of them instead of engaging conversation. At weddings, funerals, graduations, and large gatherings- I’m a hot mess. Everyone is talking, sharing, and taking in the moment and if no one speaks to me I quietly let out a sigh of relief.

Social anxiety runs rampant too. It’s a close bed-fellow with being introverted.

You might be thinking at this point, “Seriously? We see you on Sunday preaching, looking comfortable, and have an ease as you speak. No way are you introverted.” Well, believe it. I muster up every bit of God’s strength to lead. He is the reason I succeed in life as a pastor. He breaks the shell and allows me to be who he wants me to be. Once ministry functions slow down and come to a close on Sundays, Gel Groups, service projects, etc- the extrovert clocks out. Introvert till I close my eyes for the night.

But there’s a sticking point for me. Here’s the rub…

Where do introverts fit in when it comes to “the church?”

It might not seem like a heavy question, but think about it for a moment:

Want to know more about God? Talk to a stranger
Want to be involved? Join a small group of strangers, in a stranger’s house
Want to surrender to God? Make a public decision in front of strangers
Want to follow God? Serve strangers, alongside strangers, in a strange place
Want to know about the church? Come to our strangers meeting strangers class
Want to grow in your faith? Be a go getter, self-starter, and grab the moment

Introverts cringe when they start hearing this stuff. From the parking lot to the pulpit, the introvert can easily be intimidated from the beginning. Most everything in the local church points to the extrovert. Leadership skills, agressive passion, go getter, self-starter, good with people, etc. According to Marshall University, extroverts make up 60-70% of the US while introverts make up 20-30% of the population. That is a large percentage of people who would find it very difficult to make their way through the structure of most churches in the United States. I say it “who would find it difficult” because more often than not, introverts on average find it difficult to even muster up enough courage to make it to the doors of a church.

It’s such a big deal, that this book is in it’s eighth printing because so many people are snatching it up. The longing to be a part of the church isn’t going away, but navigating it without leading to an aneurism is virtually impossible. Just the thought of talking to or engaging another individual in conversation leaves many introverts almost paralyzed.

So, if the church is the hope of the world, because Jesus died for His people & church, and the church is where people can find the hope, love, and grace of Jesus- then we need to be a place for everyone, including introverts.

How does the church communicate to the introvert?
How does the church become an inviting place for introverts?
How does the church teach & lead introverts in areas of serving & community?
How does the church communicate  the need to share your faith with others?
How does the church become a place for everyone, not just extroverts?
How does the church help introverts fulfill the need for genuine community?

I think introverts have a ton to offer the local church (I might be biased). Some of our elders at Forefront are introverts, our tech and sound people are introverts, all the people who help during the week for children’s ministry are introverts. Even some of our best greeters on Sunday morning are introverts. It’s so cool. Seeing introverts flourish makes my heart happy. It shows we’re working hard to break those barriers and see people engaging in ministry because the church believed in them.

But, let’s get practical. What are some ways the church can aim more clearly at the introvert? We’ll tackle some of these questions in the next few posts…

- What can introverts contribute to the local church?
- What is the church missing when it doesn’t reach introverts?
- How can the church alter its systems to help the introvert?
- How does the church help introverts to be the best evangelists ever?
- How can  the church prepare for introverts BEFORE they visit?

Just this past Sunday, we held a private baptism for an introvert who is learning to love Jesus. They believe Forefront is a place to learn without being judged for their fear of people & social anxiety. Forefront is a place for everyone, including introverts, but let’s make sure we’re being intentional.

We’ll answer some practical questions in Part 2.
Stay tuned. 

Tamara Castillo from Forefront Church on Vimeo.

Jonathan McCarthy Baptism from Forefront Church on Vimeo.

That’s why.

Want to hear more stories from people who have encountered God’s love and grace? Check out the stories here

UPDATE:

Richmond and Chesapeake files have been uploaded and updated. If you have any questions about the files, please contact Laura.

Change Who Waits on Vimeo.

On May 5 in Richmond and May 12 in Chesapeake, churches from around the Hampton Roads area are coming together to learn more about a pressing issue facing our community- kids needing homes. There are 1000 children in the state of Virginia who are in need of a family and do not have anyone ready to take them in and provide them with a forever family. And what makes this attainable, is that we’re not called to help all of them. You and I are called to help one child.

We want to Change Who Waits.
There are a few things you can do to help with this:

• Attend The Rally. Our goal is to have hundreds of people come out to learn more, get educated, and possibly take a step towards helping children in need of a family. For more info visit http://www.changewhowaits.com 
• Preach The Series. We have materials available below for your church to do an entire series (messages, small group studies, videos, slides, etc). It gives you three weeks of not having to write messages and a chance to help bring awareness to a cause that brings James 1:27 to life for your church.
• Advertise For The Event. Maybe you’ve already planned your schedule, but you can share this event with others. Below are some materials to put in your program, a bulletin insert, slides during announcements, and a promotional video. All of these can help communicate to your church that the rally is a huge deal and everyone should come out. Make it a church-wide event.

Our goal isn’t simply to make an impact- it’s to live out God’s challenge to those who claim him and desire to love the people of this world. These boys and girls are in need of a family. Our prayer is that we can come together and live our James 1:27.

If you have any questions, please visit http://www.changewhowaits.com for more information.

Adopted By God, Series Content: (right click and ‘save as’)
- Sermon Series, Intro Video
- Sermon Series, Main Slide & Notes Slide
- Sermon Series, Message #1
- Sermon Series, Small Group #1
- Sermon Series, Message #2
- Sermon Series, Small Group #2
- Sermon Series, Message #3
- Sermon Series, Small Group #3
- Sermon Series, Supporting Video for Message #1

Change Who Waits, Promotional Content: (right click and ‘save as’)
- Rally Promotion (Chesapeake), 11×17 Poster
- Rally Promotion (Chesapeake), Bulletin Insert (color)
- Rally Promotion (Chesapeake), Bulletin Insert (black/white)
- Rally Promotion (Richmond), 11×17 Poster
- Rally Promotion (Richmond), Bulletin Insert (color)
- Rally Promotion (Richmond), Bulletin Insert (black/white)
- Rally Promotion, Promotional Video (as seen at the beginning of post)

We’re live! It’s an all-new website thanks to the awesome, talented, and dedicated Justin Allen (Forefront’s Arts Pastor). He doesn’t want the praise and credit, but he worked his tail off to make it happen- so, good job man!

With the new site being live, what does this mean for you? Why did we spend the time, energy, and meetings in planning something like a website? First let us mention, we loved Clover (our previous host & website design). For the last three years, they’ve given us a quality alternative to what we had been working with. It was easy to use, looked professional, and worked for us. But, as the ministry has changed and grown, we’ve realized some things we needed to do differently.

Here are some things you might not know...
- Roughly 8 out of 10 people visit Forefront from our website
- Pages people view/search most are sermons, stories, & directions
- 95% of people looking for a church will choose it based on online info
- 82% of people want to hear the pastor BEFORE they come
- Most people are looking for tips before they come- or a “I’m New” page
- Websites aren’t just about information, but an interactive experience

After hearing some of these things and discussing them as a staff, we set out to change the way we viewed the website. 
- It’s not a “business card,” but a “Let’s walk this out together”
- Stories impact people. Let’s tell more stories.
- If new people find us here, let’s create an experience for them.
- As people engage Forefront, let’s use the site to help them over the long haul
- We want to clearly aim to Gel Groups. Let’s make this clear.
- The church is the people. Let’s highlight people through God’s lens.

So, here are some highlights of the changes we’ve made to make the new site easier, user friendly, interactive, and a place to move along in your faith & journey with God.

- The “I’m New” Tab. We Knew You Were Coming!
We think this is crucial to connecting to Forefront Church. No matter where you go on the site, we’ve made that tab stick out in bright orange on every single page. Also, in the main page slider, it prompts visitors to head to that if they have any questions. We’ve researched the best way to engage the first time person, and this helps give people a clear and distinct place to go as they navigate the site. Visit I’m New Page

- Stories Matter.
Stories of life change help lead  & inspire people to life change. It happens with movies, tv shows, and music. But the best stories are the ones where God is the catalyst of change. We want to share those with everyone who visits the site. You’ll notice the front page has a photo of a Forefronter and a quote from their story (this will change every couple of weeks). In the main page slider you’ll see a collage of people with a link to the stories, and the top menu has a link to people’s stories. One of the biggest reasons people get connected to a church is because they see other people’s lives being changed. The staff can share it until we’re blue in the face, but seeing people just like them changing… that is a HUGE deal. Stories will be updated regularly. Visit Stories Page

- Sermons/Studies/Series Info: All in One Place.
The old site had this stuff all over on separate pages. Not any more. In the main page slider, we have a “This Week” section that has the current series. When clicked on you can go to archived series where you can listen to sermons, download Gel Group studies, and get information on the series you choose to engage. An added bonus is you can share these pages on Facebook/Twitter or email them to friends with easy to use buttons. Great way to share info about the church with people who haven’t checked us out. Visit Messages Page

- Personal Videos To Guide The Experience.
On the I’m New, Gel Groups, Student, Elementary, Serving, and Info/Contact Pages- we will soon be posting embedded videos (roughly 45-55 seconds in length) that help give a little direction and vision about that area. We want it to be personal. A friendly face they’ll see each week will help with that. Videos are being worked on now.

- Gel Groups Are Important.
We want people to know Gel Groups are a HUGE deal at Forefront. While people might find community in other avenues, we feel like Gel Groups help them find consistent love, accountability, Bible study, spiritual growth, friendships, and more. It’s a big deal. We want people to not only connect, but grow and share their faith in God. This section helps that. Visit Gel Groups Page

- CCB Leader Log-In.
We don’t want our leaders to search forever to find their log-in to CCB (the database & backend of our ministry). We’ve located it at the top of the website for your viewing pleasure. CCB Log-In

- Resources For Parents? We Want To Help.
Parents can sometimes feel at a loss and even completely alone. Direction in parenting can be extremely helpful. Under each section aimed at birth-high school, we’ve placed resources to help dialogue with your kids about what they’re learning. Also, under the media section we’ve given book recommendations to help you with spiritual growth & parenting. Kids, Middle School, High School

- Forefront’s Amazon Store. Get Your Read On!
Finding books can be a difficult task. We’ve compiled some of the best reads at different stages of your learning to grow and learn more about God. Added bonus, when you buy from here, Forefront gets a portion that goes back into ministry here. Win-Win! Visit Resource Page

- Mark It On Your Calendar!
Planning a day, week and month as a family can be a daunting task. Sports, work, dinners, events, church, etc. But, it doesn’t have to be a mess. We have a News Section with a weekly update that you can subscribe to via email, and a few ministry specific calendars to help you know about everything that’s happening. Visit Calendars Page, Visit New Update Page

Ultimately, we want people to encounter the love and grace of Jesus. The website is a tool to help that process move along. We’re grateful to have staff and volunteers who help us make this area great for the website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Vimeo and more. Using this technology is helping people learn about Jesus in a way they can access easily.

Share the site with your friends and let them explore God’s story for them!

Easter and Christmas are likened to the “Super Bowl for Churches” in many circles of ministers & Christian leaders. I totally understand why that is. You naturally have the most new people, first time visitors, and a large influx of people who attend church on the major Jesus holidays (his birth, Christmas & his resurrection, Easter). Growing up, my family made it a huge deal to be there on those Sundays more than any other. I get it. It’s a big deal. Or is it?

The natural inclination of leaders is to pull out all the stops and make it better than great during those services. Extra elements in service, top quality videos, highlight all the ministry areas, “Let’s show ‘em what we have going on here!” I’ve thought that for a long time. But over the last few years, our team has dialogued about this thinking and wondered if it is possibly doing more harm than good. I guess we’re not the only ones thinking it either.

Easter Sunday at Forefront was packed and energetic. We had a TON of new people, first time visitors, return vistors, returning Forefronters from the last few years, and our regular attenders. But, past throwing out some peeps & chocolate as a little tongue-in-cheek fun in the opening- it was a normal, solid Forefront service that honored God and shared Jesus with everyone who needs his love and grace.

So why nothing big and over the top?
Why not pull out all the stops and do a huge production?
How come you didn’t try to “wow” people with all the things you could?

Here’s a little “behind the curtain” look at why we planned Easter the way we did- on purpose- with you in mind:

- For you, the “shock and awe” of doing something big doesn’t help you over the long term. You might think it’s cool now, but cool doesn’t change lives. The cool will wear off and eventually you’re left with a choice, “Do you like the show?”

- We cannot keep up the “Super Bowl” pace every Sunday And you’ll notice it immediately. Neither can the NFL- that’s why there is only one. If they had to do that every week, they’d be tired, eventually lose quality, and the Super Bowl wouldn’t be the Super Bowl anymore. It’d be just another game. In that same vien…

- Because we care about you, we don’t want to perpetuate the pattern of the “bait and switch.” Come Easter Sunday for the lights, lazers, over-the-top production, and then you’re wow’ed so much you come back next Sunday to… something less. It’s not like it was last week when you were there at all huh… Jesus, the cross, and the Bible are big hurdles for most people. We’d much rather be transparent and do a quality service, but one that doesn’t try to overly wow you. Our goal is to let the story of Jesus take center stage. That in and of itself has enough wow factor. At Forefront, our planning was to honor God and create a place for you to weekly encounter the love and grace of Jesus. Not just Easter Sunday. We feel like we did that on Easter and do that every single Sunday.

- If you are an Easter/Christmas attender of church- we’re not helping you. If you know that every Easter & Christmas is going to be like the Super Bowl, why bother going the other Sundays? Let’s just go when they do it great. I know a number of guys who think like that. If the churches keep it like this, they perpetuate the thinking & behavior. The goal with planning Easter the way we did- let’s make every Sunday great, not just Easter & Christmas. Jesus is just as amazing February or July as He is on Easter & Christmas. So, we want to have solid, quality, and engaging services that honor God and help people understand his love and grace- EVERY SUNDAY. Not just on the “big days.”>

- God matters. You matter. Eternity matters. At Forefront, we always laugh. We always open the Bible and dive in to God’s love, grace, and truth. We always have musicians who love God and are gifted to lead us in great music. But at the end of the day- God matters. And because God matters, you matter. You matter because eternity is at stake. We care about you and want you to know how much love God has for you. It’s true.

We planned Easter with you in mind. God is the focus, but we knew you were coming. Our prayer before we ever met you, was that God would touch your heart enough for you to take a step, one step towards Him. Hopefully that step is to simply come back next Sunday and learn more about Him. We promise there won’t be any bait and switch. We aren’t here to wow you with lights, sound, and antics. We simply love Jesus. And we want to share his story with you.

See you next Sunday,
Jason

*A little aside. We throw parties and do things big on occasion. We’re not saying to never celebrate. It’s in our very nature to celebrate the big moments. Our intention is to celebrate it every week. We’ll still do big events on occasion. But, our Sunday to Sunday planning mindset has shifted as we’ve watched this trend and talked as a staff. It’s a freeing feeling. But, at the same time, it puts a pressure to really strive for excellence every week as we celebrate God’s love and grace. We hope this glimpse into our process helps you if you’re a leader. We also hope it helps you as a member of Forefront or just checking us out for the first time.