Well, that’s a wrap… our time at 35 Olympia Ave. has come to a close.
This past Sunday, 1174 souls gathered for one FINAL WORSHIP CELEBRATION at 35 Olympia Ave. And that’s exactly what it was… a CELEBRATION of God’s kindness, goodness, faithfulness, provision, protection, and grace.
As I shared on Sunday, 35 Olympia Ave. was just a space… it was just a warehouse. But what made our space so special (really sacred) was the presence of God. The joy that people ‘felt’ when they walked into 35 Olympia Ave. had everything to do with God choosing to dwell amongst His people, and that alone is what made 35 Olympia Ave. a beautiful HOME!
Sunday was an emotional day for me, and not surprising, I shed more than a few tears… ok, there were lots of tears. But my tears were not ‘sad tears’, rather they were ‘grateful tears.’
In other words, I was overwhelmed with how you and I have been able to experience the presence of God in that space over the years.
For me personally, I was overwhelmed with the thought that my now grown kids grew up in that space. It’s the very building where all three of my kids were baptized. It’s the space where they were able to invite their friends to join them over the years and were able to witness many of them place their faith in Jesus. All of that to say, ‘grateful tears’ were shed thinking about how the LORD used that space in my family’s life.
And for you, I fully confident that whether you entered into 35 Olympia Ave. once or hundreds of times, it will always hold a special place in your heart as well. Maybe it’s the space where you met Jesus or came back to Jesus. Maybe it’s the space where you finally felt ‘safe’ not only to walk with God but allow others into that journey.
If you have a story of how the LORD used 35 Olympia Ave. to bless or encourage you, I’d love to know… just hit reply to this email and let me know.
So… I am SUPER THANKFUL for the time we had at 35 Olympia Ave., it truly was a privilege and a blessing to call that space HOME. But now that our final gathering as come and gone, and now that the packing and cleaning out of the space is almost complete, it’s time to ENTER INTO what God has for us next. And what is that? Well, here’s what I wrote in my journal this past week…
MORE.
I don’t know what it will be like gathering at Woburn Memorial High School beginning this Sunday, but I believe God has MORE of who He is for ALL of us. It will be different gathering in an auditorium that can seat 750 people… but I think God has MORE of Him for ALL of us to experience. It will be different for our young kids gathering in a School Cafeteria for GENESIS Kids, but I think God has MORE for EVERY young heart that goes to GENESIS Kids this Sunday.
Just in case you’re at all wondering, ‘Michael, what is the MORE you’re talking about?’ Well, here’s how I’d answer that…
MORE OF…
HIS PRESENCE
HIS POWER
HIS JOY
HIS KINDNESS
HIS WISDOME
HIS DISCERNMENT
HIS FAVOR
HIS BLESSINGS
HIS GRACE
HIS LOVE
As I approach this Sunday, August 31st, I’m excited to show up at Woburn High School ready to receive the MORE that God has to give. And as you prepare to join us this weekend, please come ready to receive the MORE that the LORD has for you.
Gathering at the Woburn High School will be all sorts of different… totally understand that. But what will not be different is the promise of God presence amongst His people. And I truly believe that we will experience the LORD together in ways that we’ve not yet experienced… dare I say it, He has MORE of Him for ALL of us!
p.s. two pictures for you… the GENESIS sticker & the YOU ARE LOVED signs are now down, but as you can see, our name and message are forever imprinted on our former home:))
