The Miami Pursuit

Preview Service #3

Blogger: Janie

Preview Service #3 was a blast.
-Set up went great, just a few last kinks to work out.
-More guests came despite the fact that our marketing encouraged everybody to start coming next week.
-4 people used the translation headsets, including the very sweet gal who sets things up at the ballroom for us.
-Kids City had some great kids to practice with, thanks to our visit from Chrissy at Florida Church Planters and her family.
-1 guest took 20 postcards home with her so she could invite friends to come with her next week.
-We overheard someone saying how much they enjoyed the service, movie clips and that the Bible was taught in a way they could really understand it and apply it.

-Our team is amazing. Erin and her team has Kids City looking so fun that I'm even considering working in there (and that's quite a stretch!). Alex and the band rock; despite their talent, you totally forget they're there and you focus on God. Of course, with Bob at the helm of Guest Services team, there's not a guest who would enter the place without feeling welcome and loved. And Matt is completely in his element - I love hearing him teach the Bible in a way that everyone can understand it, even if they've never read it (but they very much want to after hearing him teach.
-You can download the message on our website.

All the practice is over. The real deal starts Sunday! Thanks for your prayers and encouragement.

Preview #2 is in the Books

Blogger: Matt

Last Sunday, we held our second of three preview services at the Floridian Ballroom. This time we didn't have a group from out of town there to help us out so it was pretty much on our shoulders. That being said, I couldn't have been more pleased with the atmosphere that was created. Kids City looked great and the room where the Celebration Service was held looked a million times better than the first week.

Here's a few more thoughts now that I've had time to digest the day:
1. We had two new guests both of whom came because they received our first postcard. The great thing about that is the postcard specifically invited people to launch Sunday, January 27. Both went online and saw we had a preview service and decided to come check us out early!
2. Alex, Raul, Mike and Andres sounded great. Rodolfo did a remarkable job on the board too. I am absolutely loving the band God is pulling together for The Pursuit. It just reflects the culture here beautifully!
3. Erin, Linda and the team in Kids City is knocking the setup out of the park.
4. The Info Booth Janie has created looks stinking cool.
5. Our First Impressions Team (you might call them Guest Services) is beyond what I ever imagined we could pull of. Bob, Paul, Ali, Klara, and the other Bob have really elevated their game.
6. My favorite moment of the service was when we whipped out our brand-spanking-new translation equipment. We had two gentlemen who were able to understand the message clearly because Alex did such a great job translating.

"God's Game Plan - Ready"

Before the official launch of The Pursuit on January 27th of next year, we are having three preview services, one of which took place last Sunday. The sermon was delivered by Matt as the first one of a three-part series called "God's Game Plan." If you'd like to listen to it, click HERE, and then click on "launch jukebox."

Preview Service #1 Recap

Blogger: Matt

The Pursuit Christian Church held its first of three preview services this morning. Before I entered the world of church planting I had never heard of a preview service before, but I can't imagine going into launch day without them.

Preview services help new churches become "guest ready" for their launch day.

At 7:30 a.m. we arrived at the ballroom and by 8:00 we were all unloading equipment into the room and setting up Kids City and the Celebration Service. It was a lot of fun to see our team pulling together to get things up and running.

The band sounded great. Kids City looked phenomenal (I was tempted to skip out of the message and play in the tent). I was thrilled to watch our First Impressions team in action. I think we all walked away from today with a better understanding of what will come easy to us and where we need to put a lot more of our focus.

Today's message was the first of our three part series entitled: God's Game Plan. You'll be able to download the podcast on iTunes hopefully early this week.

We had a few guests show up which was the best part of it all.