I've been checking in with various churches in our area and around the country, and I'm hearing great reports of God's work from the weekend. Many places had record crowds, and people giving their lives to Jesus. Hell is going to be less crowded, because of what happened this weekend.
The church I attend just added Saturday night services this weekend, and the first service of the night had a record attendance for any single service in the church's five-year history. The previous attendance record for the church was somewhere around 3800, but this Easter saw more than 6,000 people in attendance, and around 150 committments to Jesus. But, my church isn't alone in that respect.
I talked with a pastor of a small church that runs between 40 and 70 each weekend. He had gone most of four years without any salvations. This weekend that church saw three people become Christ followers.
Other churches that I follow saw thousands more than normal in attendance, and hundreds in each place becoming Christians.
I know that traditionally, Easter and Christmas see attendance spikes as folks make their bi-annual church visits, and no doubt the poor economy helped spike things. But, my hope and prayer is that what took place in churches this past weekend would lead to permanent life changes for all who worshiped our risen Savior.
A couple of final thoughts for churches.... If your church experienced no attendance spike and no changed lives, you have a problem. That may be hard to swallow, but it's the truth. You need to seriously examine what is holding the Holy Spirit back.
However, if your church saw an increase in attendance, and more importantly, salvations, now is the time to put your feet and hands to the truth you profess. There are new Christians that will need help on this new journey.
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