Evergreen Baptism

Wow, what a day in Pine City! This morning, 11 people were baptized at Evergreen Community Church. On a personal note, I had the unbelievably great honor of baptizing my mom as the first ever Evergreen baptism.

For those of you who may not be aware, New Hope Community Church in Cambridge helped start Evergreen which officially launched in September 2006. My family and I were commissioned from New Hope to help lead the new church; we worked with Pastor Seth Hinrichs from December 2005 through May 2007 helping prepare for launch and then working through the first school year.

For about 6 months, I got up at 5:00am, drove to Braham to pick-up drums, then to Rock Creek to pick up a trailer, then to Pine City by 6:30am to start the process of unloading and setting up for the portable church; this process was reversed in the afternoon - typically getting home by 1:30pm in the afternoon. Starting a new church is an unbelievably grueling process, requiring motivation through the potential of transformed lives. All of the time, money, energy, and sweat was made so worth it through the testimonies of those 11 lives who have been transformed in powerful ways.

I'm reminded of the "faith chapter", Hebrews 11, which talks about many of the great people of faith throughout history culminating in the beginning of Hebrews 12 which talks about these great people of faith being our "great cloud of witnesses" who are now cheering us on in what we are doing. It helps me to think of the many, many people who, in faith, started churches before us and are now cheering us on in our efforts. It's easy to forget that we are not just talking about New Hope and Evergreen. Instead, Evergreen is a 4th generation church. It started with the creating of North Isanti Baptist Church which eventually birthed First Baptist Church of Cambridge which parented New Hope Community Church and now Evergreen.

Today was a very emotional day for our immediate family and for the larger church family. The day reminded me of why we do what we do. Stay encouraged - lives are being radically impacted through what God is doing through us! Thanks for your partnership!