Why

Why do we meet in a movie theatre, why do we use secular music at times, why do we dress casual, why does the pastor wear jeans and an untucked shirt (partially because I like to), why do we present profound truths of God in simple terms, why do we challenge people to life change and not simply just dispense knowledge, why do we serve Tim Hortons coffee, why do we use a contemporary style music. Why do we do these things? To be the coolest church in town? NO - far from it. We do these things because we want to reach secular unchurched people for Jesus. We do this so that followers of Christ are in a growing environment, rather than a dormant dying environment.

Until you as a believer experience what it's like to have a unchurched friend sitting next to you on a Sunday morning you won't completely get this. You may get it to a certain point (and I'm glad you do), but when you bring someone along to church, when you start praying for them and when see the life change happen; then the light bulb will burn brightly. You will be more pumped up about CATF than ever before. Until you have person in need of Jesus sitting next to you, it is impossible to get the whole picture.

The church is to be like a teaching hospital - people are learning and saving lives at the same time. Because lives are being saved you are growing and because you are growing you are reaching out to help others. I want that for each of you - I want you to experince the joy of being part of a person hearing about Jesus. Keep working hard to build relationships with eternity in mind. Keeping reaching out, even when you are turned down.

We are in this together -- let's make a difference.