14 Apr Easter Story: Rockford, Ohio
Easter was a great time for New Horizons. We had 284 in attendance with 60 below fifth grade. Our average attendance has increased to 196. As I stepped back and watched the people come in, I realized quickly that many were individuals who had not been here in a long time.
One person (a regular attendee) came up to me before the service and, in a calm voice with his arm around my shoulders, said, “It better be good today, Pastor.” No pressure there. I believe he had family members coming who hadn’t been in church for a long time; having them be there, by itself, was a major breakthrough for him.
We did our best not to make our service any different than other services. I didn’t want people’s first impression of us being something we weren’t. Therefore, everything we did on Easter Sunday we strive to do every Sunday (except for the 8:30 breakfast, where all were invited). I use Easter as a way to reach people who normally wouldn’t be in church.
Addition from Ken Meyer of New Horizons: “We did a mass mailing of 9000 invite cards and advertisements, and were able to share with people that had never attended a worship service before! These are exciting times in our ministry.”
Mark Ralph, pastor of Sunfield UB church (Sunfield, Mich.), writes, “Recently we sent a team of 9 to Olanchito, Honduras, to help finish construction of their new church in Barimasa. Twelve-hour days helped toward finishing the church. Money was left to help in the completion of their beautiful new building. Bret Senters of Sunfield was the project leader and a lot of work was accomplished. Ninety pairs of flip-flop shoes were also handed out. We as a church hope to continue to partner with this church and a church in El Carril, Honduras, to bring the gospel of the Lord Jesus to these communities.”