Week in Review

• We are trying to be a Simple Church but we keep getting busier and busier. This week was packed with great stuff.
• Monday we partnered with Bank of Atlanta to feed some of the homeless of Atlanta.
• We also partnered with Blackshear Place baptist church to feed warm chili on a cool night to students on the streets of Georgia State University.
• On Tuesday I met with a team to plan a lunch to honor elected officials and community leaders with First Lady Mary Perdue as our guest speaker at The Georgian Club on December 1.
• On Wednesday I met with a church planting coaching network and was once again reminded that I don't know it all but I am on an amazing journey.
• We received final approval for 2 permananet movie theater style signs outside of Regal letting people know that our church meets there on Sunday. This is a huge blessing and the signs are ordered.
• Our church is run by an Administration team who met on Monday and celebrated all that God is doing and how He is growing us in every way.
• We also baptized 3 people on Sunday after the service. We used a hot tub at a home nearby. What a great celebration. Thanks to Grace Midtown church for letting us use the home.(I think our church needs a crib that cool)
  
• I have agreed to share our church story Exponential. This is the largest church planting conference in the world.
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Week in Review

• Saturday's fall festival in Atlantic Station was a highlight in the life of our church. We were able to see hundreds of people come through. Our college students were even allowed to hand out free water and information about our church. We have come a long way.
• Thanks to all the volunteers who let their light shine through good works this weekend.
• Attendance was great again this Sunday in worship.
• We had someone in the service pray to receive Christ which is always exciting.
• This coming Sunday we will be baptizing several people after the service. If you would like to be baptized let me know.
• We will be holding a silent auction for the painting Brian Daniels did in our service a couple of weeks ago. It will be on display in our welcome area. The money we raise will go to missions
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• Our Financial Peace Class has been such a blessing to our family. God has brought additional peace to our home and its great to hear the victory stories each week.
• I was reminded last week in our Great Commission resurgence meetings last week that any Great Commission Resurgence needs to begin in one heart at a time beginning with mine.
  

Week in Review

• The number of volunteers at church an hour before church started seemed like more than the number of people we averaged our first year. Thank all of you for serving.
  
• I am more and more convinced the real key to reaching people is people. More than marketing or location or any other man made schemes it just takes people to reach people.
• We had a guest drummer yesterday named Brian who beat the snot out of the skins. Thanks for helping lead worship.
• Brian Daniel was our guest graphic artist yesterday and painted an amazing painting entitled "He Reaches For Us." It was a great visual of Jesus dying on the cross for the sins of the world.
• Connie continues to do a great job leading our missions effort. Thanks to the church for responding to the volunteer request to help with the Atlantic Station Oct. 31 fall family festival. This is our community and when we serve it opens up doors for the gospel.
• Another Sunday with several first time guest who all told me they felt very welcome and challenged. Invite Invite Invite.
  
• Very soon we will begin to unveil our plans for a new ministry called "Kidtown."
• We are looking to start a video ministry very soon. If you have any interest please email me and let me know lgrays@themidtownbridge.com
  

Weekly Update

• FSU lost again on Saturday and I stayed up way later than I should have.
• I was reminded in my sermon preparation that there are only two things around today that will last forever and that is people and the Word of God. The FSU loss was not that big of a deal but what God is doing through His Word and His people every Sunday is God-sized and making an eternal difference. I came to church very excited about that.
  
• Every week our members are bringing guest with them in hopes that God will do something in their lives. This is exciting.
• Every week our hospitality team is growing and exercising the gifts God has given them to be a blessing from the minute people walk into the theater.
• We even had new people on the praise team this week. I am not sure who they all were. I think Paul is using first time guest. I don't care because the music is always great.
• I think we may have had our largest 5 @the Fox crowd ever yesterday. It is nice to look back and think our church started in that room and now we can barely fit in it.
• HUGE PRAISE! God has opened up great doors with Atlantic Station. We are continuing to love and serve this community and people are taking notice. This week they promoted our church in their "Happiness is at your service..." campaign. Our church location and service times were posted on large signs and in an email blast.
• This may not seem like a big deal but trust me it is huge. I am proud to be a part of a church that is proclaiming the gospel and demonstrating the power of the gospel in so many ways.
• We are always looking to increase our service teams at MTB. Currently we are in need of some additional musicians, graphic designers and a video team. If you are interested let me know.
• The highlight of my week was my date night with Kathy. I am blessed.(no I am not trying to make up for mentioning Halle Berry in my sermon) BTW...don't go see the movie "Couples Retreat."
  

Week in Review

• I began yesterday's sermon talking about defining moments in life.
• Going on a mission trip is always one of those defining moments. I spent the week outside of Cape Town South Africa working with students in a squatter camp.
• We were able to see a few people saved.
• We were also able to pour into 22 students who are part of the Hope2Africa program.
• These students are being trained and discipled to become the future spiritual leaders of their communities.
• Here is a video of the place and students we were working with.
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• Pray with me about our church taking a team over in the near future to continue the work.
  
• Thank you skype for helping me keep in touch with my wife.
• Thanks to all of you who helped love on my family while I was away and our air conditioner crashed.
  
• I heard great reports on the Moates Extreme Home Makeover project. It makes me proud to pastor so many people who will take ownership of a project and run with it for the glory of Jesus.
• Money has continued to come in and we are only a few hundred dollars away from our goal of $8,000 to complete the project.
  
• Thanks to Dave B for heading up the project.
• I also heard that Dhati L from Blueprint church did a great job preaching for me while I was away. We need a bunch more planters and church plants like Blueprint in the city.
• Praying for Connie S after her fall last Sunday night. She is one of the hardest workers on our team.
• Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University has been on of the best courses we have ever offered. Make plans to be a part in the spring if you have never had it. It will truly bring peace to your life.
  
• This week I am looking forward to ministering at the homeless shelter. Pray for our plans to help create development opportunities for the men living there.
• Also looking forward to attending Catalyst this week.
  
• A shout out to the lady whose cell phone went off three times in the service. Invite whoever was calling to join you this coming Sunday @ Midtown Bridge Church. We would love to have them.
• Everyone can invite someone this week!
  

Weekly Update

Week in Review

• I am so thrilled to have Jennifer and Steven McGrew as a part of our church. Her leadership is already making a great difference in our children's ministry. Stay tuned for some exciting announcements in the near future.
• Last week we had 5 decisions on Sunday including one young lady who trusted Christ. Her mom saw me on TBN in California and told her daughter in Atlanta to look up our church and she came and got saved.
• Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University is going to be a huge blessing to my family and to our church. We have over 20 people signed up to take it.
• Last week our church received an award for giving over $50 per person to last year's Lottie Moon Christmas offering to support international missions and church planting. Only 4% of the churches in the country achieved this goal.
  
• This year we have already taken up almost $2,000 through our Christmas in August offerings to support international missions and church planting.
• Praying for Paul and Kofi this week. She is scheduled to be induced on Wednesday morning. Paul is going to grow the worship ministry one way or another!
• Next Sunday is scheduled to be a huge day in the life of our church. Don't miss it!
• Debbie and Frances Moates will be in our service. This is the wife and daughter of our former lead guitarist, the late Frankie Moates.
• We have big plans to be a blessing to the Moates family.
• Sunday night our church will celebrate with baptisms, the Lord's supper and a creative time of praise and prayer. Check out the web for more details.
• Invite someone to join at church through your social networking tools this week.