Celebrate the Win!

Hats off to the Rays!  When the month of September began, the Rays where 9 games behind the Boston Red Sox with the season rapidly coming to a close.  No other team in the history of major league baseball has ever been that far back in their division that late in the season and make it to the playoffs.  But the Rays did it and broke all the record books!  I loved watching the team celebrate the win.  We have some “wins” to celebrate as well in Team Life Group!

*  In the last six weeks our adult Life Group attendance has grown 12% compared to the same six weeks a year ago.

*  Over 350 people attended “Calvary Cares” on Sat., Sept. 24th, with many of the community projects headed-up by adult Life Groups.  500 bags of groceries were handed out, 400 homeless people were fed, numerous projects were completed at Palm Lake village, Salvation Army, UPARK, Eisenhower Elementary, Clearwater Intermediate, BAPC, Sylvan Health Center, Habitat for Humanity, Boys & Girls Club Wood Valley, Experience Church and the Safety Harbor Neighborhood Family Center.  WOW!

* The number of Off-Campus Life Groups now number 45!  In addition to that, another 16 people have expressed an interest in starting a group.  This is a huge win…. because as you know, the only way we can grow, is if we go off-campus. Yes, I meant for it to rhyme

* In the last 12 months, Calvary has baptized 329 people!  That’s a 53% increase from a year ago with many of the people being baptised by their Life Group leader or having their group members standing in the baptistery with them.

* And finally, Calvary was recently listed as one of the top 100 fastest growing churches in America by Outreach Magazine!

These are big wins and we all thank God for His blessings on Calvary.  I also thank you, for the role you serve in carrying out our mission and fulfilling our purpose.  As God continues to bring people to Calvary, we must continue as Team Life Group to help people find their place to belong, so they can become what God intends for them to be through His grace and mercy.

Way to Go Team!

Danny Bennett

Pastor of Life Development