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Newsletters>
Church Growth
March 19, 2009
God has been doing some amazing things at Citylights Church. We have been seeing a lot of growth. Over the past few months we have seen our weekly attendance grow over 30%. Even more amazing has been the kind of people God has been bringing us and what He has been doing in their lives. The new people that have found their way to us haven't needed to be convinced of the existence of God. They don't need to be made aware of their sin. They don't question their need for God. They come to us at their lowest low, realizing that they need a change; realizing that they need God. God has been doing all of the work preparing hearts and it has been really refreshing.
We just finished a series in Revelations in which we looked at Jesus' 7 letters to the 7 churches. Each week everyone was examining themselves to see if we'd lost our first love, grown tolerant to sin in our lives, grown lukewarm towards God, been sleeping on God or if we'd locked Him out of our lives leaving Him at the door knocking. Each week people were giving their lives to Christ for the first time or recommitting themselves after being away from Him. No matter their situations, whether they were struggling with an addiction, suffering abuse or grieving a loss, all found their strength and comfort in Christ. And as each has turned their life over to Him, God has been working in them, transforming them from the inside. Below is just one example of the life change we have been seeing:
We first met Joseph at one of our BBQ's at Cesar Chavez Park. He'd been homeless for the previous six years and had just gotten out of prison. After losing everything in a messy divorce, he had hit rock bottom and never really recovered. He began dealing drugs and quickly became known as someone you do not cross. He is known on the streets as "Bam Bam" because of his violent nature.
Because of the kindness he was shown, Joseph attended church with us. God immediately made an impact on him. He gave his life to Christ and has never been the same. He is so blown away by Christ's love and forgiveness that instead of dealing drugs, he takes Bibles with him each Sunday to hand out in the homeless community. Christ has transformed his life so completely that it has led countless others to check out God. I can't tell you how many people have come to Citylights purely because they "had to see for themselves the church that Bam Bam goes to."
A few weeks ago, Joseph shared a song at church about how God has changed Him. Here are the lyrics he wrote:
"Thank you for the Living Water that has set me free.
Keep my heart as soft as velvet, so your light can shine through me.
So in the name of Jesus, Father open up our eyes.
Bless us with your Holy Spirit and reveal all of Satan's lies.
Now when you receive Christ as Savior, you will still have strife.
The good news is that in the gospel He offers eternal life.
So in the name of Jesus, Father open up their ears.
Bless me with your Holy Spirit, so everybody hears."
Joseph now sees himself as a missionary to the homeless community. He complains that there are no true friendships among the homeless, only what one get take from a relationship. But now Joseph recognizes that the light of Christ can shine through him as he seeks to be a "giver" in a group of "takers." Joseph has been doing a wonderful job showing God's love among the homeless. God is using his changed life to impact our city in ways Thien or I could never do.
This is our hope for Citylights Church. That God works in the lives of His people so powerfully that their changed lives would shine into their segments of Long Beach. And as more and more lives are changed, God is made more famous and our city is transformed one life at a time. Thank you for your continued support of Citylights Church. God is using your faithfulness to rescue the lost and transform lives for His glory.
- Tom Demorest, Teaching Pastor
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