Ft. Lauderdale & CityReach

Sorry for the blogging laps. Last week Francie & I had the opportunity to get away for a few days.

My brother in law let us use his place in Ft. Lauderdale FL. and boy was it hot! Relaxing & enjoyable but hot….South Florida sun is intense in July. Besides going to the beach & the pool we drove about 2 blocks to Coral Ride Presbyterian Church founded by Dr. D. James Kennedy who recently passed away. The receptionist directed us to the sanctuary so we could take a peek inside. It looks just like it does on TV. It was a great 4 days!

Hey, on Sunday July 20th along with a few other churches in our MCM network, we began a new message series entitled “God of this City”. Each Sunday we’ll be preaching on a similar theme, showing video clips from some of our MCM churches & testimonies from CityReach 2007…Real People stories about how God connected them to our MCM churches thru last years CityReach!

Speaking of CityReach, mark your calendars now! On August 12 -15 we’ll need your help as BPC hosts this FREE event to the city of Tarentum. U name it, it’ll B there…
food, music, games, prizes, giveaways, FREE backpacks with school supplies for every elementary age student & a whole lot more. All happening @ the pavilion on 6th Ave one block behind the James 5:16 center & across the street as well. There will be something for the entire family to enjoy.

On Sunday August 17th during our 10am service we’ll bring this incredible CityReach week to a close celebrating with food, music & I’ll be starting a new message series entitled, “The One Thing…” Plus, we’ll be giving away a FREE $100.00 gas card!! What more could you ask? Something to fill your spirit, your stomach & your car!

A long post but...worth the read!

Every Sunday AM it’s something new & different @ BPC! And this past Sunday was no exception as we welcomed four 2nd time guests to our service.

Following our opening prayer with a congregational “Amen”, the praise time just took off as we sang “I Know Who I Am.” Francie & Tony did a great job! (we were minus our drummer & bass player due to vacation, etc…) Everyone sang from the heart with incredible feeling…it was an awesome sight! The Spirit was definitely there from the start all the way through into our worship time where there was just a sweet presence. The perfect opportunity to pray for any needs of the people in the service. Kim needed prayer for her health, she has been having various issues for some time now. So…we all gathered around Kim lifting our voices together on her behalf. (some participating for the very 1st time!) We ended with "Knowing You” as everyone raised their hands to God. Leading worship & teaching people how to enter into praise & worship is very exciting. It’s just so great seeing each person grow week after week…I love it!! (Big thanks to P. Don & P. Jeff for teaching & guiding me in P&W!)

We added a new attraction to our svc this past week…Video! We were able to borrow a much brighter projector so we could show the “MCM Cribs” & testimony from Ridgewood A/G. BPC’ers loved the clips & are looking forward to seeing them every week during our "God of This City" series. (Which begins this Sunday…you don’t want to miss it!) God is doing some great things here in PGH through our MCM network of churches!

BPC’s message this past week was in essence a reflection of my heart & passion. It’s no accident that we’ve been planted in Tarentum/Alleghany Valley so, Sunday was a great opportunity for me to preach on “Connecting Real People to the Real God.” Who are these Real People? Well they are the… Parentless child getting shuffled around from relative to relative feeling like nobody cares…Single Mom caring for 3 kids living in public housing looking for work just to make ends meet and having to put her elderly Mother in a nursing home…Young man addicted to drugs whose live-in girlfriend battled & lost to cancer…Man who was caught 3 or 4 times drunk driving & now is facing jail time leaving the woman he loves & his kids… Older woman caring for her grandchildren because she doesn’t know where her daughter is…Guy/gal wrestling with their sexuality/rejected & turned away by others… These are the Real stories of the Real People who have come through our doors since our launch on Palm Sunday 2008. Real People we’ve been able to help Connect to the Real God! The cross of Christ is the bridge that connects people to God! You see at one time all of us were disconnected from God, we needed to be connected/rescued and now that we’ve been rescued we should be the first ones to see the “SOS” signals of others who need rescued & Connected to the Real God! "City Reach" is a great opportunity to begin rescuing! We then ended our svc by singing “Rescuer.” (how appropriate)

So…with that said…it’s something new & different every week!

P.S. A huge shout out to APC’s Youth Summit! Last Thursday they were back for a 2nd week of outreach. They passed out flyers promoting BPC, spent some time with a few local kids @ the skate park Bar-B-Que-ing & even got to pray with a few adults. Thanks so much to the Summit kids & their leaders…You guys & gals are AWESOME!!

With God - Expect the Unexpected

I hope everyone enjoyed their extended weekend celebrating the 4th of July with family, friends, food, fireworks & maybe even a little something unexpected. Unexpected…a good word describing what happened during BPC’s service this past Sunday.

I should really start with last Thursday. On the day before July 4th (the 3rd) at 2pm, BPC hosted the “Youth Summit” a team of students from APC prepared to pass flyers promoting BPC & hosting a free Bar-B-Que for any youth hanging out @ the skate park on 1st Ave. in Tarentum. Well…when the students arrived @ the skate park it was closed because it was wet from the rain & the boro was preparing for fireworks. The youth leaders decided to divide the students into 2 flyer passing teams for East & West Tarentum. I went with the students to West Tarentum.

After prayer in the boxing ring the students headed out of the gym ready to “make it happen” then… it started to rain. For about 1 ½ hours in the rain they went from house to house leaving flyers, talking to a few people & praying with others…they were a little wet but AMAZING! At 4pm they headed back to APC.

Now back to our Sunday Service…we welcomed three 1st time guests & two of those guests came because they received a flyer at their home. PTL! I opened the svc & began leading in praise & worship. After a time in worship I sensed that I should begin praying for the needs of the people…that someone there needed prayer. That’s when the unexpected happened. Rick brought Dan, one of our visitors, to the front.

Dan explained that his girlfriend has colon & intestinal cancer and that he wanted…needed us to pray for her. Everyone came forward to lay hands on Dan as I lead out in prayer for his girlfriend. What an amazing time! People were calling out to God on her behalf believing that God could do the miraculous in her life. Dan was so touched & moved by the prayers. He thanked everyone saying that he would definitely be back. He also said that he may even start working out at the gym. Dan then left.

I said to the congregation, “That is what BPC is all about…Connecting Real People to the Real God! That’s why we’re here!” We then continued with the service. Pastor Nick Poole, APC Director of Church Planting & Development, did a great job preaching the message. He encouraged us that by doing the seemingly small & unimportant things for God now, later they would add up making a big impact in our lives, the lives of others & in the kingdom. What else can I say…it was a great service!

I am so looking forward to this Thursday…the “Youth Summit” students will be returning for a 2nd week. They’ll once again be sharing the love of Christ & promoting BPC in Tarentum. I wonder what will happen this week? With God, expect the unexpected!