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Our theme for this month is all about reaching people who don’t have faith in Jesus. We started with a tremendous Easter weekend of outreach and we will end the month with Sean Touhy, the real-life father who took a homeless teenager into his home and the story was made into the movie Blind Side. This is a great opportunity to invite a friend to hear his story.

If you are involved in coaching any youth sports, Character Combine is another place where you can hear Sean Touhy. The Combine takes place on Saturday, April 24, and you can register or find more information at www.charactercombine.com.

This Sunday we will be focusing on Acts 17 and Paul’s interaction with a crowd of unbelieving philosophers in Athens. There are significant methods we can learn from Paul’s approach. I am looking forward to celebrating our love for Jesus with you and continuing our spiritual journey together.

1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.

Pastor Rick

Outreach Opportunity

Easter weekend was an incredible experience! The Savior, Healing Hands musical was presented with excellence by our Music and Creative Arts Ministry. A big thanks to Pastor Rob for his vision and leadership. We had 5,000 people attend one of the three presentations. There were about 4,000 at the Easter egg hunt on Saturday which was well organized by Pastor Ed and his team. Then, on Easter Sunday we had 5,262 worship with us. A big thank you to all our volunteers who made this a spectacular weekend!

We continue the theme for April of outreach with a focus on our task. It is more like an opportunity than a task. The word task sounds more like a duty or obligation. I like to think of what we can do to reach those without faith as more of an opportunity. It is a joy. The foundation for Sunday’s message will be Micah 6:8. “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

I’m looking forward to celebrating with you and strategizing how we can invite our friends to join us on Sunday, April 25, to hear the real life father of the Blind Side story. Sean Touhy will be our guest and he will provide a great conclusion to our focus for the month.

Pastor Rick

Jesus Loves Sin City

Craig Gross, co-author of "Jesus Loves You This I Know", will be with us Sunday to share his story of reaching out to people who are derailed by the temptations of Las Vegas. He has opened the Strip Church in the heart of the city that never sleeps. Craig is an excellent communicator with a message of hope for a life of freedom. Invite a friend to join you this week for a great experience in God’s presence.

This is a season with multiple opportunities for outreach. Christmas to the Streets reaches hundreds of people needing shelter, clothing, and food. It is a great way to express the love of Jesus to a hurting world. The VIP night at the Singing Christmas Tree is another outreach designed to touch the lives of hundreds more that find themselves in difficult situations this time of year. Please consider giving a few hours of your time for one of these wonderful expressions of God's love and compassion.

Matthew 24:34-36
"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'"

Pastor Rick