Soil

I’m not very patient. At least when it comes to getting ready for our third soft launch service. I am ready for it to be here but at the same time, there are some things that need some finishing touches. Our second service saw twenty-two new faces from our first service! How about them apples! We are on pace with my expectations and goals regarding our soft launch attendance. Our first service eclipsed my goal by 7 and our second service fell short by 2. With 22 new faces, I’m confident that our third service goal is within reach! It is not about the numbers, but it is about the network of people we have within the community to continually reach out!

As I mentioned in our last update, the intentional prayer walking was a huge success. Not only were we able to obtain a ton of requests, but we were able to pray with some on the spot as well as follow up with those who requested. Our leadership team was able to follow up with those who requested a follow up and we are eagerly anticipating future correspondences with our neighbors.

This takes me back to a passage of Scripture that has resonated within me during the past 18 months or so. In Luke 8, we find the parable of the sower. Jesus describes four types of soil that the seed falls upon. He describes the hard path that doesn’t take root. He mentions the rocky soil that was unable to sustain life because of a lack of moisture. He denotes the thorny soil as a place that choked life from the sown seed. However, there was some fertile soil that consumed and harbored the seed and allowed it to grow and mature and produce a crop a hundredfold. As we read through that passage, we focus on the four types of soil and begin to identify people in our own lives that best fit those descriptions. The descriptions that Jesus uses however are used after the seed has been sown. In other words, you should not sow the seed based on your personal interpretation of the individuals you are sharing with. For example, if you believe your friend is more like the path, you are probably more likely not to share with them because you believe they will be unlikely to respond. This is not the intent of the parable. The parable is more of a reference to explain the responses of the people you share with. Therefore, the purpose of the parable is to reinforce the idea that we need to sow. We should not pick or choose where to sow, but sow regardless of a perceived outcome. That is why we knock on every door of every neighborhood. Everyone needs Jesus.

Continue to pray for the harvest. Continue to pray for more workers. Lots of seed to sow in Fishers!