Friday, March 30, 2007

Easter Prep Update

We had a great night Wednesday evening hanging door hangers. We got about 2/3rds done. We are scheduling another distribution time for Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m. Meet at the school. If you were not able to come Wednesday, here's your opportunity. We will also stuff easter eggs on Wednesday of this week, April 4th at the Family Fellowship. Thanks to everyone for getting involved. We are praying that through this event multiple families will become part of All Nations. Don't forget to use the opportunity to invite people to church for Easter.

Monday, March 26, 2007

God at work in Africa


We had an incredible weekend with Pastor Gregory Bangura from the Ivory Coast. You can read more about Pastor Gregory's ministry at his website: www.rabboni-mi.org. We've been doing a series on "Places of Power" and I asked Pastor Gregory to share stories of how he has seen God's power in Africa. It was an awesome morning of worship, preaching, and prayer for people. We are hungry to experience more of God's transforming power in people's lives right here in Tulsa. I sense that God is really stirring us at All Nations.


One indicator of what God has been doing this past year is reflected in our numerical growth. Even though during March we had spring break which affects 2 of the 4 weekends, we still hit our highest monthly average attendance ever at 115. Last year during March we averaged 59. This is almost double. God is growing His church.

Monday, March 19, 2007

Easter Festivities

Just want to let you all know what's coming for Easter and how you can help.


Here's the schedule:

Good Friday, April 6th:


  • 7:30 p.m. Night of Worship. This will be our first ever Good Friday Service. The night will be a combined service with the Vineta Vineyard church. Our worship team and their worship team will lead us in a night of worship. If you can come help us set up at 6 p.m. That would be awesome.

Easter Morning, April 8th:



  • 9:15 a.m. Free Family Photos

  • 10:00 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt

  • 10:30 a.m. Easter Celebration

How you can help:



  1. Help us stuff 5,000 Easter eggs or hang 3,500 door hangers on Wednesday evening, March 28th. We'll meet at the Barbers for pizza and then launch into preparations.

  2. Donate candy for the eggs. We will need them by this Sunday, March 25th.

  3. Sign up to help Easter morning!

Thursday, March 15, 2007

I'm Done!

I just had to share my excitement. This morning I received news that I have successfully satisfied the requirements for the Doctorate of Strategic Leadership that I've been working on at Regent University for four years. His last words were "Congratulations on a job well done, Dr. Thompson." Since receiving word this morning, I think I've had a sustained increase in heart rate!

Monday, March 12, 2007

What I Didn't Say on Sunday


Yesterday, we looked at the life of Jesus and how he poured himself into reaching the city(s) in which he lived. Matthew 11:20 says that Jesus did most of his miracles in Capernaum, Korazin, and Bethsaida. These three towns on the north shore of Galilee "saw a great light" (Matt. 4:16). (The picture to the left was taken in the synagogue in Korazin. This is the "Seat of Moses" on which Jesus would have sat and opened the scriptures to read to all those gathered in the synagogue.) On Sunday, I asked the question "What is your passion level for our city?"

Now its Monday. My question is what will you do this week to engage lost people in your circle of influence. Who will you stop by and visit in your neighborhood? Who will you invite over for dinner or take out for coffee? Who will you passionately pray for today? And every day this week?? Have you walked your neighborhood or campus and prayed recently?

My next question is do you understand the spiritual power of the church to reach our city? Giving 100% in your ministry area at All Nations empowers us corporately to reach our city. God has called us not just as individuals but as a Spirit-empowered community to reach people in our city for Jesus. I honestly think that people do not feel fullfilled in their ministry within the church because they do not give 100%. I believe God wants us to serve with passion and excellence. When our service is done with excellence, we experience greater personal fulfillment. God illustrates this principle in creation when at the end of each day, he looks back on it and says "It is good." What a great feeling at the end of a day of serving the Lord in our local church, we can look back and say "It is good!"

One of our most strategic opportunities to reach the neighborhood around the school that we are meeting in on Sunday is coming Easter morning. I think that this is an incredible opportunity to serve the Andersen community and to connect with many new families. Festivities will include free family photos at 9:15, Easter Egg Hunt at 10:00; and Worship service at 10:30. Over the last two years we have seen double attendance and many new people on Easter because of our Easter Egg Hunt. We are in a new neighborhood and this may be our best opportunity before we outgrow this space and need to move. We need everyone serving that morning, pouring out 100%. We need people a week before canvasing the neighborhood with doorhangers. We need people stuffing Easter eggs with candy ahead of time.

How can you pour yourself into reaching our city? Make an opportunity this week. Take the opportunity to serve together this Easter to minister and bless the Andersen community.