Easter Reflections '08/Opening Day at NoMi

• Easter '08 at the Oasis is not over. We still have 3 more live, services this week, Monday,Tuesday, Wednesday. If you missed Easter, or know of someone who was out of town or needs to hear the first message in our "That's Amore" Family Series, then bring them out in the next 3 Nights.  Now, some thoughts at the end of a busy weekend:
• Thanks to all of you who moved out of your normal services at 10 and 11:30 services at Pines. Hundreds of guests attended both. The electricity in the services was awesome. At 11:30 not only was the overflow full, but we broke out the lawn chairs we use at Christmas time, to put up along the back walls of the Auditorium. Our ushers and greeters did a mammoth job. Wayne King was soaking wet from sweat but had a good spirit, taking care of all the guests.
• 8:30 at Pines was packed. Thanks again, for all those from the later services, who attended the early service.
• At Pines, Chris Hughes did the BEST EVER, in leading out in worship today. Chris, you were in an Orbit by yourself. Thanks for leading us to worship today. Your team was right on. And that violin was incredible. Thanks, Jordan!  Jordan is an 11th grader who also teaches our middle schoolers on Sunday mornings. (Did you know we had some teens in our Surge Youth Ministry who served in and attended 4 services this weekend? They have set the bar, adults. I love you guys/gals. You bless me every time I see you.)
• Haven't gotten an official update of Hollywood campus yet. But Tonia and son, Jim along with my mom, helped ease the crowd at Pines, by attending there. They gave a good report. They said attendance was up, not sure how much. They also said Fish, did a great job opening our new series, "That's Amore". Ben Windle and the team are doing a great job in Hollywood. This coming year is going to be exciting. We are laying the ground work for some incredible things in Downtown Hollywood. I also heard the  new women's bathroom looked really good.
• NoMi officially kicked off with approximately 300 in attendance according to our Campus Pastor, Jeremy Higdon. The KidsWorld rooms were full, the auditorium was full. I got to be there for a few minutes to do the welcome, before heading back to Pines to preach the late service, but the excitement was all over the campus. Just before leaving I clicked just a few pics. Sorry for the lack of quality and pics. Erin, fiancee of Jimmy Purchase, and one our Kona girls, has promised me pics which I hope to have for you soon. There is so much to be said and so many stories to tell of today in North Miami. I will share some more details Monday and later in the week. Below you will find some pics. I had one member who attended prior to our merger, who was sitting in the balcony, and who told me she had never seen the balcony used before. It was full this morning! Words can't explain the feeling to stand on the platform and to see the scores of new faces, filled with anticipation and excitement. They were the result of many prayers, mailings, T.V. spots, newspaper ads, and those of you who volunteered and gave of your resources and time to make today possible. You can now go down and check it out for yourself...11:00 A.M., any Sunday. (Congrats, Jeremy and Launch Team. You guys hit a home run today!) 
• The 7 Nights of Worship have had record attendance. Tonight, I spoke and we had our largest Sunday night yet. An awesome Night.
• We are not yet finished with our Easter Services, but I would guess we will have had between 3800-4000 this year between our 12 services on 3 campuses. God is good! Nothing is more moving than seeing scores of hands go up as I witnessed in our 11:30 service, accepting Christ as Savior and Lord on this Easter Sunday. In the months ahead, we will witness them following the Lord in Baptism and becoming Disciples of Christ. That is what Easter is all about. 

This is a pic of Balcony .The real story is the lady standing looking down.  She is Ruth Pearson, a long time member of North Miami. She has been at the North Miami Church for more than 50 years. She chose to climb the stairs this morning and let the guests have the good seats downstairs. She is a model of a true disciple. You have to meet her when you visit NoMi. She still works with the Children's Ministry two Sundays a month. (sorry for the lousy pic, but had to show you Ruth!) 

                                                       

Jimmy and the Worship Team did an awesome job!  Note from the Balcony shot, the wood floor in the center of the stage. This is the original platform from 1948. Chris Hughes restored it last week.

                      Newly RE:NoMi'ed Lobby

Entrance was busy and manned by the two lovely and beautiful Becena Ladies. (Steph, at the entrance in the left pic / Christina in the picture on the right standing in the background). They, along with their mom and dad, Jose' and Nicki came out from Pines to help launch NoMi. To tell you the quality of this family, they helped start the Westbrook mission of our church years ago. They helped start  our first video venue several years ago. Last year they volunteered to move to our Tuesday 7 Nights of Worship service and have served in the youth ministry for years. Give me 6 Becena Families, and we could take South Florida!

That's a wrap on the first Easter update.

Comments

[erin]

They're at Walgreens! You'll have them by tonight :-)

[Jen]

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Wish I could've been there.

[erin]

http://flickr.com/photos/erincourtney/