Wszystko jest nowe=Everything is New

Pastor Sławek preaching for the first time in his new church last Sunday.

Wow, I just got home from our second corporate prayer night in the new building. Everything is almost complete, and put together. People have been working day in and day out, to make sure everything is in place. We had an extra band practice to work with the new sound system, emptied out the old building, and the children's rooms were finally completed. Plus, behind the scenes several of us are working on things for the Real Life youth/young adult event, that is happening this Saturday. Let's just say things have been a bit busy this week, and it has been so satisfying. I love watching the people of this church work together in unity, and each person is worth their weight in gold. Even the street that I live on was repaved, and it needed it badly. Wszystko jest nowe=Everything is New! This is a season of newness, and of harvest! After being in the trenches, and praying for increase...this was worth it all. When we gathered tonight, Pastor Gosia was there early preparing to help lead prayer, and the rest of us started band practice. Earlier this week I was busy updating the worship books, and that is a project. I have deep respect for those who do that kind of ministry, because having a worship book in order is a big deal. I added new songs, updated old ones, and put everything in sync. As we went through the songs, with the updated worship books, you could feel that tonight was going to be different. There was a feeling of freedom, depth, and newness. As people began to arrive, the new five minute countdown played on the big screen. The room was filled with anticipation, as we waited for the service to begin. With everything being so new, it feels that nothing is impossible for us. I guess it is because we are on God's side, and He is on ours. If He is for us, then truly nothing is impossible.

I got up to the piano, felt the atmosphere, and knew my first song wasn't going to work. Something had shifted, and we needed to go to a different place in prayer. Pastor Sławek grabbed the mic, and began to get us focused. As worship started, immediately people began to press into God's presence. New inspired songs came forth, new melodies, new freedom, and new strength filled the night. I saw a year's worth of training kick into high gear all night long. The people pushed with all their strength, moved in the power of all, and dug deep. I also saw the pastors enjoying themselves, going deeper, and stepping into a new level of freedom. Both of them helped lead prayer tonight, and both of them prayed with a new authority. I could feel them arising, and I could feel them going to a higher level. The response of the people to prayer was also outstanding. The people were able to sense where God was moving, and followed his lead. When it was time to go to war, they arose with strength. When it was time to cry out for more, they got on their face.

As we head into the weekend, we have two groups coming to join us. We have a group of youth coming from Tarnów, Poland, and a group from the Warsaw church. Both groups are coming to attend the Real Life event on Saturday, and help with the evangelism event we are having. The evangelism event will have a drama, youth reaching out to youth, live music by the Fishing Band, and street preaching. Later on in the evening we will do Real Life, with a youth band, and yours truly preaching with Patrycja. This next week also marks my final week in Cieszyn, and eight months in Poland. Whoa, time flew this summer. I'll be transitioning back up to Warsaw next Friday, and will be joining Pastor Marcin's group until December.

Below I've included some before and after pictures of the main sanctuary. Once the children's rooms have been fully decorated, I'll post those at some point. I love before and after pictures, and yes, I'm one of those people who enjoys HGTV. There is something so special about turning something old, into something new. Or replacing something that doesn't work, with something that does. Something new brings excitement to life, and releases the power of goodness. I know that watching a building transform into something special is great, but watching it happen in a person's life is much greater. This is just the beginning, and they will see for themselves the goodness of transformed lives. You know what, it's not too far in the distance. Get ready Church of Glory, the newness is only going to increase!