Vineyard Church of Knox County
Report from Vineyard Regional Conference
Isn't it great to be a part of something significant, something dynamic and life-changing? God is moving in the world, in the Vineyard movement, and in VCKC; it's exciting to think that we get to be a part of His work!
I had the privilege of attending the Vineyard Great Lakes Regional Conference this past week with several hundred other Vineyard pastors and leaders in the region, and I drove away from the Cincinnati Vineyard with a very grateful heart.
I am so grateful to be a part of God’s work in the world. One speaker challenged and encouraged us to persevere in ministry and in the faith because, in his words, “We are winning!” He cited the fact that God is powerfully moving all over the world. In fact there is a Pentecost (3000 conversions - see Acts 2) happening every hour of every day in the world today! Isn’t that amazing?! People are coming to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in historically unmatched numbers!
I am so grateful to be a part of the Vineyard movement, this particular part of God’s work in the world. The National Director of the Vineyard, Bert Waggoner, visited with the group and gave a very encouraging report of a growing movement of Vineyard churches in the U.S. and internationally. He said in the past year we’ve planted 49 churches and are now at a total of 595 in the U.S. That’s approximately 9% growth in a year! Isn’t it wonderful to be a part of something that is healthy and growing when most denominations in the U.S. measure success by how little they’ve shrunk?
In addition, Bert expressed what each of us in the auditorium have thought many times, thankfulness that God raised up the Vineyard. We love that fact that God raised up a movement of people that seeks to be real, to be authentic, to be low-key, to be passionate worshipers, to be relevant to everyday people, to serve the poor and heal the sick, a group of people who expect God to “show up” in loving power, a place in which “everyone gets to play.” I am so grateful to God that He raised up the Vineyard movement because I love being a part of this group.
Finally, I am so grateful to be a part of the Vineyard Church of Knox County. Whenever someone asked me about our church plant, it felt so good to say, “God is working!” It is so exciting to be part of a local church that is healthy and growing, a church in which people are being healed physically and emotionally, a church in which people are getting saved. It is so exciting to be among other Christians who are genuinely seeking to be all that God wants them to be.
I’m reminded of the Apostle Paul’s words to his church plant in Thessalonica, “We always give thanks to God for all of you”. God is good, isn’t He? Join me in giving thanks.
Blessings,
Chris
