by David Docusen | March 15, 2012 | Uncategorized
Our church is growing. That’s a great reality. But it also changes things. We are seeing new people every single week come into our church family. That’s amazing. But will it change the church that you’ve come to know and love?
The answer is a resounding YES. Change will come. And I believe that change is upon us right now. And this is incredibly exciting. Let me explain…
Our church is known for being a loving, accepting and genuine place to explore and grow deeper in our faith. Now that lots of people have heard about this, there are lots more that want to check it out. But that means that our method has to change. It means that it’s time to release this beautiful community to spread our reality to our community in the most organic of ways.
That’s a terrible buzz word, eh? Organic. Lots of things have been labeled organic that are anything but the true meaning of that word. You can’t manufacture organic. You can’t quick start organic. It has to grow at it’s own pace. It has to mature naturally. And that’s where we are at right now at Center City Church. The next natural step is for each one of you that call this your church to own the culture. To set the tone in the culture. To take what we have seen develop in the last two years and start to spread it yourself.
It’s your opportunity. It’s your time. A few questions that are rolling around my head today:
Who can YOU connect to our community?
Who can YOU invite out to dinner or over to your home to hang?
Who can YOU share your faith with that needs to know Jesus?
A natural progression in something being organic is growth. A healthy organism grows. But a healthy organism also does not lose it’s DNA as it grows. Our DNA will stay the same if we all do our part.
So the question is simple: how can you do your part to spread our DNA? Love and honor God with all your heart. Love people. Be genuine. Don’t judge. Open your home. Care for others. And when we all do these things, this beautiful message of Jesus and what he’s doing at Center City will continue to spread.
Are you ready for growth? Because growth is happening. And that’s a very good thing. It’s your time now. It’s your opportunity. This culture is yours. Own it and introduce others to something that is unique, special and ultimately fulfilling.
God has given us a beautiful reality. Don’t keep it to yourself. Let it grow and allow God to use you in the most natural of ways. I love you. I believe in you.
Let’s grow together.
by David Docusen | March 13, 2012 | Uncategorized
I had the great privilege of being back on campus at my alma mater, Southeastern University yesterday for a series of meetings and to teach two classes for undergraduate students. Really memorable day.
I was able to meet the new administration for our university and was so impressed with their passion for excellence, commitment to the student experience and their unashamed love for Jesus. Great feeling knowing that this institution is in great hands moving forward.
I had the really unique privilege of teaching in two classes today: Sport & Ministry and Pastoral Theology. Two very different courses. But both were full of students that came hungry to learn and hear my challenge that there are new ways to do ministry that no one has even done before. These rooms were bursting with potential. With new ideas that will help advance the message of Jesus across the world. Huge honor to invest into their lives.
Back at it again today. Seriously enjoying this opportunity.
by David Docusen | March 12, 2012 | Uncategorized
During the story of the nation of Israel being released from captivity to Egypt, there is one sentence that stuck out to me this morning while reading. The picture was being painted of the battles that Israel had to fight after being freed from captivity. They had battles to fight after earning their freedom. As they were approaching their land of promise, they had to battle through other lands to receive their promise.
The sentence that hit me so hard this morning was in Deuteronomy 2:36 – “No town had walls too strong for us.”
I am reminded today that no matter how hard the battles of life that we may fight, how fierce the opposition may be or how long the odds of victory, there are no walls too strong for us. If God has called you to something, keep fighting. He doesn’t promise that there will not be battles. He just promises that he is stronger. And that’s enough to get my day off to a great start.
Lord, help me to remember that there are no walls too strong to keep me from your plans and purposes in my life.
by David Docusen | February 13, 2012 | Uncategorized
John 3 introduces us to the story of a man named Nicodemus – a religious leader that was intrigued by the presence of Jesus. This story teaches us what happens when we allow the love of Christ to illuminate our lives. Click the link to view this week’s message from Center City Church:
[vimeo http://www.vimeo.com/36691355 w=500&h=281]
by David Docusen | February 9, 2012 | Uncategorized
I love our church. We are a predominantly young, passionate and motivated group living and working in a major city. There is an energy and authenticity to our community that I’ve never experienced before. And there is a common thread among those that call Center City Church home: We want to change the world. And we believe that we can do this through obedience to Jesus and the power that’s found in Him.
As the first year and a half of our church unfolded, we took a pretty passionate approach to making a difference in our community. We served at a bunch of different community organizations and non-profits. We partnered with families and schools for landscaping projects. And we found out pretty quickly that by taking a shotgun approach, we were doing good, but we weren’t going deep anywhere.
In the winter of 2011, I felt like God asked me to focus on one thing. I went on a search for an organization that matched our heart for the community. We wanted to go deep with one place instead of going wide with several places. We wanted a place that we could serve and make an impact. We wanted a place that would allow us to learn as we grew as a church family. Learn what it meant to stay committed. To stick around, even when serving wasn’t fun. Even when it didn’t give us goosebumps.
I met the executive director of Charlotte Family Housing, Darren Ash, when we toured their facility toward the end of last year. We immediately connected. I love their vision: working to solve family homelessness. They have a long term approach to fix the problems associated with homelessness and poverty.
CFH is our first official Outreach Partner at Center City Church. We have a whole slew of people that are serving meals at the shelter and acting as overnight hosts this week. We are building relationships with the residents and learning how we can make a difference. Instead of trying to change the whole world in a blur of passion and excitement, we are trying to learn to impact lives one act of service at a time.
I’m so grateful for Darren and his team. I pray that we can be as much of a blessing that they have been to us. We have the passion to change the world. Charlotte Family Housing is helping us to learn the discipline necessary to do just that.
by David Docusen | February 8, 2012 | Uncategorized
God is doing something in me that I’ve never felt before. It’s like a revival in my heart. Something shifted in my heart and my spirit with the beginning of 2012. The biggest lesson – by far – that I have learned since the turn of this year is really simple: Silence. I came to the realization that God does not need my voice. I need His.
I have spent more time than ever resting in God’s presence. Listening. Turning off the noise and just allowing my mind to be at ease. And I’m feeling something that I’ve never felt before in my life. It’s like John 15 is coming alive in my spirit.
I’ve always believed in the power of God. I had a praying mom that always pointed me to Jesus. She taught me how to pray. And all of those lessons are coming full circle since the beginning of the year. I’m learning how to let go and allow God to freely do what he chooses. I’m realizing that my presence is not nearly as integral to this church flourishing as I once thought. If I have his presence, I have all that I need. As a pastor, my role is to point others to the light. All of my creativity and leadership should point to Jesus if I’m fulfilling my calling.
As I have been observing our church family, I see that God has begun to pour out a revival in the hearts of others, as well. My prayers are getting bigger. Getting bolder. There are many dreams in my heart, but the request of my dreams coming to pass are paling in comparison to my requests for God’s presence. His power. His reality.
If you are a part of our church family, it’s important that you know what your pastor is praying for these days. I’m praying for the unmistakable, unmatchable, unfiltered, unexplainable power of God to be at work and on display in and through our church family. I’m praying that God does something among us that none of us can take credit for as it unfolds.
I am praying that revival starts in our hearts individually. That our passion for God leads us to get up a little earlier and dive into the word of God before the day begins (click here to check out some online reading plans). To stay up a little later at night asking God for his miraculous power to be at work in our community. I am praying that our passion for Jesus leads us to serve well, to serve selflessly in our community without the need for recognition. That our lives would look like Jesus. Humble, yet confident. Understated, yet powerful.
Scriptures say that Jesus is the light of the world. When we have Jesus in our hearts, he illuminates our lives and drives the darkness away. If each one of us allows the light of Christ to shine in and through our lives, it’s just a matter of time before we light up this city. And that light that starts to shine at home will continue to shine across the world over time.
God has captured my time and attention. He has brought a revival to my heart. And now I’m praying that a revival starts in your heart. Give your heart and your all to Jesus. You will never regret it.
