The Way is Ten Years Old

Ten years ago today—on September 15th, 2013—293 people showed up to Peine Ridge Elementary School for the first public worship gathering of The Way Church.  Happy anniversary to The Way Church.

I want to say a word of thanks to everyone who has played a part in what God has done through The Way over the last ten years.  Your commitment, sacrifice, and service mean a lot to me personally.  More importantly, it has made a huge difference for Jesus and His kingdom work in the world.  I hope you can hear Him saying these words to you, “Well done, good and faithful servant (Matthew 25.23).”

As The Way’s enters its 11th year of ministry, I hope that all of us will also take to heart what I shared this past Sunday. If you missed my message, I’d love for you to listen - the recording is available here. While God has been so good to The Way throughout the last ten years, we have only scratched the surface of what God wants to do TO and THROUGH The Way.  I believe with all my being not only that the BEST is YET to come, but also that much of God’s best is SOON to come.  

But what that will require is for every person who calls The Way their church home to get in the game.  Rather than coming to worship to “get fed,” how about we continue to create a Church community that makes people HUNGRY for a DEEPER, DIFFERENT relationship with Jesus.  In light of what the founder of the Methodist movement John Wesley once said (“Catch on fire with enthusiasm and people will come for miles to watch you burn.”), I shared last Sunday that we are looking for folks who are FLAMMABLE.  Are you on FIRE for Jesus?  We should live in such a weird, strange, and DIFFERENT way that our lives don’t make any sense…unless…unless Jesus is Lord!

One of the ways we DEMONSTRATE a DIFFERENT way of life to a watching world is when we WORSHIP WITHOUT WALLS.  The Way’s next Worship Without Walls is on Sunday, October 15th.  We’ll be loving our neighbors and serving our community through a variety of mission and service projects.  You can sign up to serve at this link.  

Another element of your and my witness is showing up for worship every Sunday.  This weekend we’ll be hearing from Dr. Richard Knopp.  Rich Knopp is the Executive Director of Room for Doubt, which is the creator of our current “Basic Questions” series.  You can read more about Rich here.  

On your way to worship this week, be sure to grab some food for the kids we help feed who are on free and reduced-price lunch at Journey and Peine Ridge Elementary Schools.  You can find our “Operation Backpack” shopping list here.

I can’t wait to see you on Sunday at 10 a.m.  Until then, be DIFFERENT for Jesus.

Jimmy Cooper
Lead Pastor of The Way Church

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