Vision 2025

I'm excited about today. Today is Vision Sunday. Great day to be in the house of God. And it's like 40° outside. There's a heatwave. I can almost feel my fingers. Amen. Just got back into town from being down in Louisiana because of the times. I say this often every time I go to Louisiana, I'm thankful that I don't live in Louisiana. Yeah. Amen. You only know that if you've been there. I do ask myself every time I drive in, I'm like, "Has anybody in the state left the state and seen that there's prettier things to look at?" I'll just leave that there. I don't offend nobody. But I'm thankful to be in Middle Tennessee today, and I'm thankful to be here with you. And I'm excited about what God's going to do. It's good to see Joseph Bodley here today. You made my whole day, man, when you came in. Excited to have you with us. And all the rest of the guests that are here, we're honored you would choose to be with us on this Sunday worshiping God with us in this sanctuary.

Here we are in 2025 and casting some vision. You know, it was last year I stood up on Vision Sunday and talked about the Lord had given me a 5-year plan. I laid out some 5-year vision. So, today I'm going to go back and remind us what that vision still is and what God is doing and talk about some things that have happened in 2024 that I feel like it's important for us to celebrate. Because our God is faithful and he is true. 2025 marks 30 years of ministry for me. It was spring of 1995. Thank you. It was spring of '95 that in a in a youth service over in what is now our youth room. At one time that was the fellowship hall, and then it became the youth room, and then it became a classroom, and then it became the youth room again, and we like to rearrange that building a lot over there. But, I remember leaving that service and finally acknowledged that God wanted me to go into ministry. I didn't even know what that meant. I just felt like it was what I was supposed to say, and I remember going in Brother Priest's office, then Bishop's office, he was pastor then, and telling him that I felt like God was calling me into ministry, and he said, "Well, everything's going to change now." I don't know that I fully appreciated that statement. I'm still learning to appreciate that statement, but one of the things he told me was that it was going to my outlook in life is going to be a lot different. And it really has, and for the last 30 years of my life, I've tried my best to be obedient wherever God led me, whatever he was putting in me, I was trying to do my best to follow after him. So thankful that I've been a part of this church for most of those 30 years. There was 2 and 1/2 years that I worked in our daughter works, and I'm thankful for that time of ministry, but when I think about what God is doing, what God has done here at Center Point, and what God is continuing to do, and what God is going to do inside of me, I just get overwhelmed with excitement. About you and I get to be a part of his kingdom building. He could have asked anybody, but he asked us. How awesome is that responsibility? How awesome is that opportunity that you and I get to be a part of building the kingdom of God? And it's for all of us here today. If you've been around this church at any length of time, you have heard us say at some point that we are an apostolic church, we grow apostolic families. We do that together, and we are working at being the church every day. That is the vision of Center Point Apostolic Church. It's our mission, it's our rally cry, and in many ways it has become our identity. We've embraced this. It has come to pass. We have a wonderful church full of apostolic families and we are abundantly blessed with growth and I love seeing all the young people that are here and you guys just keep having babies because I promise to you if you have them, I'll dedicate them. And I've kept my word and you've kept your word. Let's keep it up. Let's keep it up. Good things are happening and we're excited. In 2024, we set a new record with 695 on Be the Church Sunday. All-time attendance record. We were fulfilling what God has mandated for us to do. Good things are happening and with success, we do have some bumps along the way and we are always trying to re-evaluate our process and try to make sure that we can do our best to put our best foot forward and represent Jesus Christ in our community and to those who come into this building. We evaluate those things and make changes when we when we need to. Last year, the Lord again placed inside of me a vision for the next 5 years and today I want to talk about you and I continuing to be the church. Continue to be the church. That's our mission. That's our call. We're an apostolic church. We grow apostolic families. We do it together and we are about being the church every day. Let the church say amen.

Acts 2 verse 46 says, "So continuing daily." Everybody say daily. "With one accord in the temple." You could also say church. "And breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all people and the Lord added to the church daily." Everybody say daily. "Those who were being saved." So if we can do our part daily, God will do his part daily. Amen. If we'll do our part, he'll do his part every time. Every time.

Last year my vision message I felt strongly the words that are in Revelations 3 and 8 about our church. "That I have set before you an open door that no one can shut. For you have a little strength, have kept my word and have not denied my name. The church in Philadelphia was the only church of the seven churches that were listed there in the book of Revelations that God gave an open door to. And I love that he said, "I've given you an open door and nobody can shut it." And I feel like, and I said this last year, and I'm going to build on it today in this Vision Sunday service, is to tell you the door is still open. Center Point, the door is still open. God opened that door. Nobody's going to close it. No circumstances, no political agenda, no economic crisis, no war, no famine, none of that None of that is going to shut the door. Why? Because God opened it and he said, "Nobody's going to shut it." And because of that, you and I need to be mindful of the fact that we have a daily responsibility and an obligation to deal with the open door. It's not for us to stare out the door and say, "I wonder what's out there." But it's for you and I to pass through that door and to reach outside the walls of this church and to see the hurting and the broken people that God has positioned and placed in our life, and for you and I to understand that we have the life and they have the light, and we have what they need inside of us, and it's not meant for you and I to consume it ourselves, BUT WE'RE TO BE CONDUITS OF WHAT GOD has entrusted to us because there's a hurting and a broken and A DYING WORLD THAT IS DESPERATE TO KNOW THE GOD THAT YOU HAVE INSIDE OF YOU. AND NOW THAT WE HAVE THAT OPEN DOOR, LET'S BE THE CHURCH EVERY DAY. EVERY DAY. AMEN. LET'S BE THE CHURCH. I'M EXCITED ABOUT VISION SUNDAY.

When I think about the fact he says, "You've kept my word. You have not denied my name." They were living up to what they were supposed to be doing. That's what we're doing here at Center Point Apostolic Church. We're going to keep the word of God. We're not going to water it down. We're not going to dilute it. I'm not going to manipulate it and twist it and make it anything other than what it is. It is the inherent word of God. And I'm going to preach you the word of God. We're going to stay in that truth and we're never going to deny the name of Jesus cuz it's all about Jesus. It's all about Jesus. And many people see us and say you guys are Jesus name only. I know I know I'm going to tell you we're Jesus everything. Everything cuz it's all about him. It's all in him. He's the one. He's the only. He is the alpha. He is the omega. He's the first. He's the last. He's the beginning. HE'S THE END. IT'S ALL IN JESUS. EVERYTHING I DO, I'M GOING TO DO IN JESUS NAME. WHY WOULD I NOT? CUZ THERE IS NO OTHER NAME GIVEN BY MEN WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED. IT'S ALL ABOUT JESUS. ANYBODY EXCITED ABOUT THE NAME OF JESUS? ANYBODY HAPPY THAT YOU KNOW the name? THAT YOU'RE NOT CONFUSED ABOUT WHO GOD IS. IT'S VISION SUNDAY AND I'M EXCITED.

In these two matters, we draw our vision and our focus. Our apostolic identity and the ability for you and I to radically love the people that are in our community. God loves everybody in our community. Nobody's disqualified. Nobody's disqualified. Oh, you may not like them, but God loves them. You may not like them, but he loves them. HE'S FOR THEM. He may not like what they're doing, but he's still reaching for them. He still wants you and I to reach for them, too. He has set before us an open door and I'm willing to get my hands dirty. Anybody willing to get their hands dirty in 2025? Anybody willing to wade out into the muck and the mire and find that lost sheep that's out there somewhere that's bleeding and calling to be rescued and be saved? I'm looking for some hungry people who are willing to rally AROUND THE CROWD TO SAY WE GOT TO BE THE CHURCH EVERY DAY AND WE SHOULD NOT be discriminated in any way, SHAPE, FORM, OR FASHION BECAUSE OUR GOD LOVES EVERYBODY. OOH, ANYBODY WANT TO BE the church? Yes, it's vision Sunday and I'm excited. Are you excited? You should be excited. We should all be excited. I'm happy that we're going to be the church. That we're going to continue to be the church. That we're going to be the church on Sundays and Wednesdays and Mondays and Tuesdays and Thursdays and Fridays and Saturdays. We're going to be the church every day. Cuz that's our call. That's our mission. That's our rally point.

People are hungry for the real, they're hungry for the truth, they're hungry for what we have. Yeah, they want passionate teaching, they want passionate preaching, they want good worship, but they want relationship, too. Oh, there's never been a more lonely generation than our generation. To be so connected and to be so informed, yet we're so isolated and we're so alone. The enemy is very good at being the devil. He's the best devil there is. I don't know of a better devil than him. He's really good at his job. He's done really good at convincing us that we are connected, but we're not. We have information, but we're not wise. We even have Bible knowledge, but we don't apply it. Y'all got all quiet. Well, I'm not trying to meddle, but you can force me to meddle.

Our God has something for you and I to do. We're going to continue to preach the truth and teach the truth. We're going to continue to live the way we know we're supposed to live, to worship and to prayer and to be involved in those things because they're mission critical, they're non-negotiable. If we fail to pray, we fail. If we fail to pray, we fail. And I'm thankful for our musicians and our and our singers and they do such a wonderful job leading us in worship and I love that we have all that stuff, but if we're not praying, if we're on just if we're just singing, we're failing. We have to pray. That's the connection point right there. It's mission critical. Prayer must be weaved into the fiber of everything we do at Center Point Church. I shouldn't have to be a cheerleader for you to pray. I shouldn't have to beg you to fill up the prayer chain slots. Y'all should be begging me to open up more spots. We got enough people in here to fill up a 24-hour prayer chain without me going, "Hey, we got some open spots." Prayer is mission critical. If we fail to pray, we fail. We fail to fulfill in the obligation that God has. We got to be prayerful in everything we do. Prayer can do anything God can do and he can do anything. So, if we're not praying, we're only shorting ourselves. We're only hindering ourselves in what God wants us to do.

It's important to pray.

It's important that we get outside the church walls. As I said last year and I continue going, "We're going to be the church." But, look at me. This isn't church. This is just a building. It's just brick and mortar. This isn't the church. We're the church. You and me, we're the church. Look at your neighbor and say, "We're the church." We're the church. Now, some of you are the foyer. Some of you are the bathroom. Some of you are the storage closet. I don't even I'm not trying to make offend nobody. All right, I'm just trying to say we are the church. We have a responsibility to take what we do inside this building outside this building. We got to have the mindset that there there's people around here that need what we have.

Can I tell you a few things about what God's done in 2014 just to give you a an opportunity for you to be excited about how we've been getting outside the church walls? How many of you guys love Josh and Christina Campbell? Yeah. That was mostly for Christina. But, we do love Josh, too. I love the team that they work with. I love what they're doing in the kids outreach. I want to tell you a couple stories from kid outreach. Is that okay? Where's [name redacted] at? [name redacted], stand up and wave your hands. Y'ALL KNOW NICO? KIDS OUTREACH IS ABOUT REACHING NICO. It's about his story. He's been coming faithfully, no matter the weather, usually walking over early for church. He loves donuts. I love [name redacted]. He's developed so many relationships. He loves to call Sister Jennifer his church grandma. He loves to go to Journey Home, go over there and help out and give back. In 2024, [name redacted] was filled with the gift of the Holy Ghost. But that wasn't the end of [name redacted]'s story because God has a way of doing things in a God way. Come to find out [name redacted] had an uncle who was out in over in Shelbyville and ended up moving back and because he was in Shelbyville, he got connected with Danny Hartley, who goes to Shelbyville church over there and he found out he's moving to Murfreesboro. He let him know about the church was here. Didn't even know [name redacted] was going here. Before we know it, [name redacted]'s Uncle Lee has been coming to church here. Why? Because Josh and Christina got their team and went out across the street to the community over there and started reaching for people that maybe not everybody wants, but that God loves and that are important to him. Cuz [name redacted]'s important to him and [name redacted]'s family's important to him. We wouldn't have that if we had stayed in this building, but because somebody was willing to get outside the church walls, somebody was willing to TO BE THE CHURCH. NOW WE GOT NICO. BUT IT'S not just [name redacted]'s story. Thank you. Thank you for saying [name redacted].

[name redacted] new girl started riding the bus. They were asking for somebody to pray. She raised her hand. They were surprised, even more surprised by the powerful prayer by this well-spoken little girl, reached out and started praying. The adults on the bus looked at each other as she finally finished praying. Like, "Wow, she knows how to pray." From then on, she's been faithfully attending and celebrating, and she received the Holy Ghost in 2024. They started picking up [name redacted] on the church bus. She came in and he came in and started attending and been a part of what's going on. [name redacted] and [name redacted] go to the same school, quickly developed a friendship. Jeremiah invited [name redacted] to come with him to HYC at the end of '23. At the beginning of '24, they had so many youth that they were having to split up the outreach boys and outreach girls in Bible study on Wednesday nights. On a regular Wednesday night youth service, [name redacted] received the gift of the Holy Ghost. [name redacted]'s little brother, [name redacted], would watch him go to service, but he was too young to get on the bus because we did have a minimum age. But finally had a birthday and was old enough to get on the bus, started attending kids service. And [name redacted] got the Holy Ghost last year. Why? Because somebody was willing to get outside the church walls. Somebody said it's not all about what we do in here. I love coming here. I love worshiping you, but it's bigger than this. It's bigger than a worship service. It's bigger than gathering here on a Sunday and a Wednesday. There's so much more that our God desires to do outside these church walls. Let's go be the church in 2025. Let's continue to be the church every day.

Let's talk about P7 for a minute. Anybody happy about P7 clubs? We got five P7 clubs, two in middle school, three in high schools. P7 has grown rapidly since the start of the school year. Rockville High School club was established. Siegel Middle School was established. Oakland Middle set a record in August of 36. Well, hang on. But after breaking that several times over and over again, now their new record attendance is 131, which is 11% of the school going to a P7 club. Come on, somebody be excited that our young people are willing to get outside the church walls to live in a radically apostolic way. Anybody out there HAPPY ABOUT THAT? THE AVERAGE P7 ATTENDANCE FROM August through December was 115 per week. We're seeing P7 students gather outside the regular school hours. They even had a special service here at the church for them. And one sponsor from the high school, one of the sponsors showed up on Be the Church Sunday. Why? Because somebody's willing to get out of their comfort zone and be the church. Somebody's willing to be a witness. Somebody's willing to let their little light shine and let God use it in a powerful way. That's what I'm talking about. We need to continue to be the church every day.

Let's talk about CMI. Our college group going back on campus. The MTSU and Lipscomb campuses have weekly meetings ranging between 10 and 12 per meeting. I got a privilege to go on Lipscomb campus not long ago and speak over there. And we've baptized Luke from that. We baptized one. Already. Why? Because somebody's willing to get outside their comfort zone and do something powerful. In fact, Brady, stand up. Bella started Yeah, give Bella, stand up. Now, am I Am I remembering this correctly? Was there a connection through P7 or Bible study that started that led to you guys being in our prayer room at one point, right? And then Brady received the Holy Ghost last year in our prayer room during the week, not on a Sunday, not on a Wednesday, because somebody was willing to step out and be the church. Now, Brady's singing in the choir, baptized in Jesus' name, full of the Holy Ghost. During the week, HE'S UP ON TECH helping out with Brother Holder up there in the Cookeville church. Why? Because somebody was willing TO BE THE CHURCH. SOMEBODY'S WILLING TO SAY, "YOU KNOW WHAT? I GOT A TESTIMONY. God's done something for me. I'm not going to sit on it. I'M GOING TO TELL SOMEBODY ABOUT WHAT GOD DID IN MY LIFE AND JUST SEE IF MAYBE GOD WILL DO SOMETHING IN THEIR LIFE AND BECAUSE OF THAT WE GOT BRADY. I LOVE WHEN WE'RE BEING IN THE CHURCH. IT'S Vision Sunday. I'm excited. I'm excited about what God has done but I'm more excited about what God's doing. What God's doing.

I want to encourage you today. Part of you and I fulfilling the vision that God has for CenterPoint is understanding the dynamics of our relationship with Jesus Christ. Give me a minute just to unpack this. In order for us to fully embrace our relationship with Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we must understand that that relationship comes with expectations on our part. It's not just receiving what he did for us. It's not just understanding that Calvary was for everybody and we accept what he did there but when I accept that, it brings with it an expectation of my life. We can do nothing to save ourselves. He did all that at Calvary. We couldn't save ourselves. He paid the price but when I receive and embrace what Jesus has done, once I receive that gift, from that moment forward I'm obligated to obey. You got quiet on me. You see my relationship is conditional on my obedience. He was obedient first to the death of the cross. Now after that I receive and accept what he did for me even though I didn't deserve it and I didn't earn it. I didn't. I have never been good enough and here's a secret. Neither have you. You ain't been good enough. He did it but when I receive that, it brings with it an expectation that now I must take up my cross. Right? Those are his words and follow him that I need to give put my life on the cross, too. That that I belong to him. I am not my own. You are not your own but we have been bought with a price. A very high price was paid for us and that price comes with it an obligation for me to follow after him with my life. That I am no longer my own. Many people enter into the relationship with Jesus with a skewed illusion and understanding. They're thinking that it's non-binding and fully refundable. It's not obligation kind of arrangement. Listen me tell you something here. You run into all kind of problems in your life when you act that way. Your flesh is going to fight you. Amen. The world's going to fight you. Your friends are going to fight you. And I know the devil's going to fight you. All these things are going to happen. Things spin out of control. You think to yourself that maybe you got a faulty Bible or a non-performing savior. That's not the problem. The problem is you're not living up to your end. Please listen to me for just a minute before you turn me off. See, this is the precise place where many people think about divorcing Jesus before the ink is dried on the contract. They get a little struggle when it comes to the notion of the wording. They want the better and not the worse. They want the richer and not the poorer. They want the health and not the sickness. There's nowhere in this that you read that he is anything about making you happy. It's not about you chasing the emotion. It does say he will give you joy. And there's quite a bit difference between happy and joy. But so many people are consumed with this culture mindset that you have to be happy. It's all about you. And you bring that into the relationship that you have with Jesus and you start off on the wrong foot. You can't believe that you can't continue to live any way that you want to live when you've entered into a relationship with him. A relationship by definition has a life-changing impact on you. 2 Corinthians 5:17. Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature. All things are passed away. Behold, all things become new. If you truly want to walk with Jesus, you have to understand the dynamics of the relationship. Living for God, walking with him does not fit well in your self-designed contract. You got to live according to his word and according to his plan. What does this mean? My relationship to Jesus is so pervasive and so all-inclusive, so permanent that wherever he goes, I go. That wherever he stays, I stay. Whoever his people are, they're my people. Whoever whatever he asked me to do, I'm willing to do it. Lord, I'm yours. Lord, you gave me all. Who am I to refuse you? Who am I to say no to you? God, if you're calling me, I'm going to get on board. I may not understand it. I may be a little bit nervous about it. But God, if you if you say we're going to go, that means we're going to go. That means you're with me. And I'm not going to worry about it.

My relationship with Jesus changes everything about me. It changes my education, my social status, my strength, my security, my value system, my politics, my finances, my job, my dreams, my ambitions, my hopes, my ideals. What are you saying, Pastor Kevin? A relationship with Jesus will push you outside your norms and outside your comfort zones and outside the church walls to reach the people that are around you because that's why he not only filled you to save you, but he filled you to help him reach the others that are around you because you have influence with people that I will never have influence with. This isn't a pastor's thing. This isn't a church staff thing. This is a church thing. And we're the church. And we need to get outside and start acting like we're the church and be the church and understand that you and I have the same resurrection power inside of us that got him out of the grave. That's in me. That's in you. That's why he filled YOU WITH HIS SPIRIT. NOT FOR YOU TO SIT around and just talk in tongues in the corner, but for you to go outside and be a witness to all those around you that my God has saved ME. HE PICKED ME UP OUT OF THE MIRE, out of the clay, out of my rough circumstances, OUT OF EVERY BAD DECISION I HAD. MY GOD GOT RIGHT down in the middle of all THAT MESS AND PULLED ME OUT AND HE CAN DO THE SAME FOR YOU. BE THE CHURCH.

February 2024. Sydney Williams says, "I was asked to connect with a couple of ladies to do a Bible study. It's important for me to note that the Bible study only started out of necessity, not out of a big spiritual calling. I relied heavily on material as we met at Starbucks weekly till I finally cave to the Lord's prompting me to meet at my home. Once in my home, God started to meet us there in life-changing ways. Through God's help and little encouragement from our pastor, not only to us not to be afraid, we begin to see what Acts Church was like. Three Holy Ghost infillings for the first time. Deliverance and healings, miracles, prodigals returned, seven refilled with the Holy Ghost. And now we see a consistent meeting of 15 women weekly and growing. We come together with expectation that God will meet us here. He shows up every time. He teaches, he counsels, he meets needs as we worship and we learn about him every Thursday night. Every Thursday night. Why? Because Ben and Cindy were willing to get outside their comfort zone. They're willing to get outside She says in there it's like it wasn't really what I wanted to do, but I couldn't get away from what it was God was asking me to do. Oh, I wish there was some more people who had that same kind of attitude. I know sometimes stepping out it can get you a little bit nerve-racking, but let me tell you there's something far greater on the other side of your nerves. There's something far greater on the other side of that that little bit of angst that's holding you back. There's souls on the other side. There's eternal things that are going to transpire and trans- our transactions are going to be taking place if you're willing to push outside your comfort zone just a little bit. Just imagine what God could do if I had a church full of the people who are willing to say, "You know what? I'm willing to go God anywhere you want me to go. I'm not just willing to come into a church service just to consume for myself." But God, if you'll fill me up, I'll take what you give me and I'll walk outside these church walls and I'll pour myself out reaching to people around me. Oh God, give us a house to see. Help us to continue, Lord.

I'll go back to Acts 2 again, verse number 46. So, they continued daily. Say daily. In one accord in the temple breaking bread from house to house. They ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart praising God and having favor with all people and the Lord added to the church daily. Daily. We need to be a 7-day-a-week church. 7-day-a-week church. That's what we need to be about. And I'm loving cuz I'm starting to see it. I'm starting to see it. We're 3 and 4 days already. 3 and 4 days here. There's been stuff going on. There's baptisms taking place during the week up here. People come, "Can I baptize?" You don't ever have to ask permission to baptize somebody. You don't have

Brother Barnes, where you at? Chris and Shania, stand up. They keep that baptismal tank ready to go. Let me tell you guys to stand out there for just a minute. I'm going to tell you why being involved in ministry has an impact. They had some grandbabies that they were estranged from. They continue to pour their life into Journey Home Ministry and baptismal ministry out there. God sees. God's always watching. God's always seeing. They had no idea that God was going to orchestrate in a in a God-like way that their grandbabies were going to come back for a short period of time they got to spend with them. They moved in with them for just a little bit of time. But during that little bit of time was just enough time to get them baptized in Jesus' name and filled with the Holy Ghost. If there's somebody's willing somebody's willing to get outside their comfort zone to do whatever God wants them to do. How many more of our family could be could be reached if we were willing to get side outside of you know, there's nothing wrong with you coming to church and praying. I believe in the power of prayer, but sometimes prayer puts you into action. In fact, most times when I pray, it puts me into action. Sometimes it's things I need to change myself. Sometimes it's the ability to reach out for other people around me. I want to be action church. I want to be an action church. I want to be a church who prays and then acts. Prays and then acts.

God's got a lot for us to do. There's a great big old world out there that's lost and they need what you and I have. I wonder if there's anybody willing in 2025 to be another story, to be another vessel, to be another opportunity, to be another one who says, "God, me. Me. I don't WANT TO SIT ON the sidelines anymore. PUT ME IN, GOD. PUT ME IN. I TO REACH SOMEBODY. I WANT TO BE SOMEBODY THAT HAS ANOTHER TESTIMONY IN MY LIFE ABOUT GOD DOING a miracle. HOW MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO SAY I'M ME? I WANT TO BE THE CHURCH IN 2025. GOD'S DESIRES TO ADD to the church daily at CenterPoint. For this to happen, we must be willing to do what they did. Continue daily in one accord, breaking bread from house to house.

We got our connect fair coming up. It's just a few weeks away. It's a great opportunity for you to start a group. If you're interested in starting a group, George Newman, where you at? He moved on me. He didn't fill out a pew transfer request. George is doing a great job. He's our discipleship pastor. Doing an amazing job, but he's also in charge of our connect groups out there. Connect fair is coming up. It's a great opportunity. If you have a burden to start a group, go see him. He'll help you get a group started because look, the way we get bigger is we get smaller. You sit down, George. Let me ask you a question. I've asked this question before. But I know not everybody was here. If you knew nothing about God, nothing, no no concepts, no thoughts about God, knew nothing about the word of God, and I gave you this, and I gave you 1 year, and this is the only thing you had. There was no other distractions. You just had this for 1 year to study it, to consume it, to digest it, to process what this book says. If that if that was the case for you, and then at the end of that 1 year, I walked you into this room right here, and I said, is this what you understood church to be? There's no way. There's no way you read that and you came up with this. No way. Absolutely no way. Now, I'm not against this, all right? I like the building. I like that we meet here. I like what we've got going on. But I've I feel like often times we have almost done our self a disservice by thinking that all of it takes place here on this campus. That's not They were healing people and people were being reached and people were being saved and filled with the spirit. People were being baptized on the side of the road. Miracles, signs, and wonders were happening. None of that took place in a building. It was in people's homes. It was in houses. It was along the way. Why? Because that's where the church was meeting at. That's where the church was at. That's where the church goes 7 days a week. So, what are we going to do with that? How are we going to process that? How are we going to reach? Because it's got to get outside of being done here in this room. I'm thankful for what happens in this room. God does miraculous things in this room, but it's so much bigger than this. So much bigger.

God will continue to add daily if we're looking daily for God to add. If we're looking, if we're praying, God, let me see the opportunity that you have for me. Lord, open my eyes to see who it is you want me to reach today. Help me understand who it is you want me to talk to today. Do you think God's not going to answer that prayer? If you are earnestly praying, God, put somebody in my life today that I can tell about you, he will put someone in your life. He will position them there, and it's going to be your co-workers and the people you go to school with and people that you that you go and fellowship with. I promise you there will be open doors and opportunity for you to talk about what God has done for you. Look, you don't have to have a theological degree. You don't even have to understand fully everything that the Bible says. JUST TELL HIM WHAT THEY DID for what he's done for you. What has he done for you? WHAT DID GOD DO FOR YOU? THAT'S AS SIMPLE AS IT HAS TO BE. IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER, I'll help you. I'll help YOU. IT'S PERFECTLY ACCEPTABLE for you to say, I know I DON'T KNOW, BUT I'LL GET AN ANSWER FOR YOU. I DO THAT SOMETIMES. THERE'S STILL SOMETIMES PEOPLE ASK ME a question and I'm like, I have never even thought about that. But, if you'll give me a day or two to pray about it, I'll try to come up with an answer. So, don't feel like look if you keep sitting back thinking to yourself, "Well, I'm not qualified." You're never going to be qualified. You're never You're never going to have the moment where you're like, "You know what? I know it all. Let's sit down and rightly divide the word. Ask me anything. I will No, it's never going to happen. Even with Google in your pocket, it's never going to happen. And the enemy is sure never going to make you feel safe and secure about that. At some point, you just have to say, "God, if the moment happens and I feel like this is it's a God moment." In other words, all of a sudden the conversation I know you've had these where the conversation just changes. You were talking about your weed eater. You were talking about your grocery list, and then all of a sudden the person you're talking to it just shifts. And you know without a doubt it's a God open moment. Step in. He's placed before us an open door that no man can shut. Those are the moments he's saying, "The door is open. Just tell them what I did for you." It's all you got to do. It's all you got to do.

I've been telling you these stories. In fact, I'm going to tell you another story. Eric Kenny, stand up. Love this guy. If you don't know, he's going to smile at you and hug you every time. Thank you, Eric. I'm going to quote him. I'm inspired by the phrase "Eyes that look are common. Eyes that see are rare." God stirred my heart with deep hunger to reach lost souls. I began to fervently pray, "God, make me a soul winner." On January 7th this year, January 7th, I connected with a co-worker, Jordan. Our conversation about faith led to a 2-hour Bible study in my truck after work. By January 9th, we met again for another study on the oneness of God. I prayed with him and scriptures, and encourage him. That evening I baptized him in the name of Jesus Christ right there in that baptismal tank. That was January 7th this year. And today is the 26th. Couple weeks ago. All right, didn't stop there. Through this God opened doors for me to teach two other coworkers about the same truth. Last Sunday I met Samuel. Where's Samuel? Samuel still here? There he is. Baptized him a while ago. That's who was going on. In Jesus' name. Why? Because Eric said, "God, make me a soul winner. MAKE ME OH, THAT THERE WOULD BE 500 OF US STAND UP AND SAY, "GOD, MAKE ME A SOUL WINNER." HE PRAYED A PRAYER. TWO WEEKS LATER HE'S BAPTIZING PEOPLE IN JESUS' NAME. WHY? BECAUSE HE WAS WILLING TO GET OUTSIDE THE CHURCH WALLS AND BE THE CHURCH. I DON'T KNOW HOW I BRING THIS TO A CLOSE. THE musicians can come, but

I believe it's important for us to set and define some goals. All right, it's I love these stories. I There was many more. I I'd asked several people and I had a lot coming in, but for the sake of time I had to condense down some stories. But for everybody who sent me one, I haven't I'm going to use them later, okay? So, don't you give it away. I believe it's important for us to set and define goals. Because out of goal, how do you know if you're winning? How do you know? We are still working towards what I initiated last year, which is Operation 1K. In order to be the church, we must be about daily ministry. I want us to be impacting a thousand people a week with ministries at Center Point. That's not just what goes on in this room. But it's our Bible studies that happen off campus. It's when we go over to the Journey Home, which is going on this afternoon. Now over there like the people that we're impacting over there and that we're being the hands and the feet of Jesus. It's what takes place at CenterPoint Academy as we're engaging with those parents who are not a part of this church. It's being the church every day. That I don't think it's a far stretch for you and I to start impacting a thousand people a week in what we do. Making a difference in our community, to keep being the salt and light God's asked us to do in Bible studies and prayer groups and connect groups and education and outreach opportunities. We will see growth, yes, but look at me. I'm not so concerned about being able to say to you that we had a thousand people in Sunday service, okay? Numbers are great. Numbers are important to God. There's a whole book in the Bible on Numbers. Look at me. I'm not so hung up that I got an ego that says, "Wow, I got a thousand people that showed up." That's not what I'm looking for. I'm looking to walk with people through life. I'm looking to disciple people. That's what I'm That's the number that gets me excited is when I see families are growing, people's lives are being put back together, there's relationships being restored. That That's what makes me That's what gets me up every day is that God, you let me be a part of that. You let me be a part It's a small part, I know, in the grand scheme of things, but I still get to be a part. And I guess what I'm looking for as I bring this message to a close for Vision Sunday 2025. Is there anybody who wants to continue being the church? Is there anybody willing to look at the I only want you to do this if you want to. I think Nancy Nancy stand up. You can't see her when she's standing or sitting. She's the same height. Wave your hands, Nancy. Right there. Nancy Nancy does a load of laundry. She has a washing machine in her house. She does a load of laundry every Saturday just to meet somebody to invite them to church. Last year she had over 45 people come to church with her. Two received the Holy Ghost, two were baptized in Jesus' name because she's doing a load of laundry. Why? Because she's willing to get outside the church walls and be the church. So, I feel it's time to bring this message to a close this way. I want to know and you don't don't don't don't you dare move unless you mean this. I'm not looking for a compliance. All right, I want you to want this. Is there anybody who's wanting to be a soul winner in 2025? Anybody want to be a soul winner? Yeah. You want to be a soul winner? Anybody be willing to be bold like Eric Kenny and say, "God, make me a soul winner." I love that quote, Eric. I'm going to read it again. I don't remember what book you said it was out of. Eyes that are Eyes that look are common. Eyes that see are rare. God, let us see. Let us see all that's around us. Let us see the hurting and the broken. Let us see those that are weary. Let us see those that are in desperate need of a relationship with you. God, help me, Lord, on my job site. Help me on my on my school friends. Help me with my family dynamics. Lord, help me see. I want to be a soul winner. I want to continue being the church. I want Center Point Apostolic Church to continue to be the church in 2025. It's our mission. It's our rally cry. Will you stand with me right now? Holy God, I thank you, Lord, for the wonderful year you gave us in 24. For the opportunities that we got to be a part of, for the lives that we seen change, for the work that you done to restore so many people, to fill so many people, to heal so many people. But, God, that year has come and gone. But, we stand here today in a brand new year. And Lord, our our vision's still the same. We're an apostolic church that grows apostolic paying families together. God, we want to continue to be the church every day. Lord, I pray today that those who stood saying they wanted to be a soul winner. God, I pray right now in this moment that you would just put a burning hunger and desire deep down inside of them. God, I pray that those individuals would pray big prayers to a big God who does big things. And God, we could see the open door that you have and we would take advantage of every opportunity that you place in front of us. So that we can see lives changed, families restored, relationships mended, miracles done, and that your kingdom would grow. In Jesus' name.

You know, I think it would be good for us to spend some time reflecting in prayer. This altar is open. If you have a need in your life today, I invite you to come. If you need salvation or if you need a touch in your body, we'll pray with you. If you just need a refreshing in your spirit, rejuvenation, for God to restore back that hunger and that desire, then come. They're going to sing for a little bit and we're going to we're going to pray with those who come. If you need to leave, then you you're welcome to leave at this time, but we're going to spend some time in prayer right now.