From time to time I will have someone ask me if the residents of our 2 Communities downtown (Palmetto Courts & Sabal Palms) ever say thank you for what we're doing there. And the answer is a resounding "YES!"
On Saturday, dozens of Orange Shirted NextLevelites invaded our communities with the Love of Jesus to host an Easter Egg Hunt and Pictures with the Easter Bunny Event for the families and children of our community. And I probably had a dozen different conversations with moms, dads, and even kids who told me "Thank you for doing this!" (Check out the NLC Facebook Page for pics, etc.)
One grandmother told me, "Other than when you guys come down here and do things like this, the kids in these neighborhoods have nothing to do, so they end up getting into trouble. You have no idea how much it means for us to have you here."
That one brought tears to my eyes! Because we just don't know how much of an impact we're making in the hearts and minds of these children and families. I responded by telling her that we feel like these 2 communities are part of our church family.
So, Next Level Church, on behalf of the hundreds of kids and families we're showing light to in an otherwise very dark place, thank you. Thanks for serving the hurting, broken, and forgotten of our city. May they feel forgotten no more!
Plain and Simple, that's the goal!
I love serving with you, Next Level Church, we're making a difference.
Pastor Matt
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Monday, April 18, 2011
How am I doing? In a word... Sensational!
So I'm just reeling again after another great weekend at Next Level Church. Week #2 in the new space was great. All 3 services had a great spirit and vibe to them. I loved the people on Saturday night! It was such a mix of every facet of NextLevelite. It was great to see young families, single people, middle aged people. Just a great feel.
The 9:30 & 11:30 on Sunday were exactly what we thought they would be... full & fun. It's always interesting to me how the 9:30 is a little more alert (aka laughs at my jokes) and the 11:30 crowd seems to be a bit more reserved (aka or asleep, i don't know...).
All in all it was a great weekend!
The biggest celebration of the weekend, hands down, was the result from Feeding Fort Myers! We crushed our goal of 15,000 cans this year with over 28,000 cans for CCMI, our local Soup Kitchen we support downtown. The report is that this will stock their shelves for the next 3 months in both of their locations: Cape Coral & Downtown Fort Myers!
Click here to see the NBC-2 News Story!
Gosh, I love it! That's what it's all about for me. Serving and blessing the forgotten of our cities. They serve over 500 families / month between the 2 locations! I was there just last week and got to shake the hands of the volunteers & look into the eyes of the kids in the Pre-School. We are blessed to play a small part in touching these families.
Needless to say, I'm so proud of the way you guys, the people of Next Level Church step up each year. You host parties, collect cans, mobilize your neighborhoods and workplaces and it works! God shows up, adds His blessing to it and a miracle takes place! So from the bottom of my heart, thanks!
Holy Smokes, our Easter services this weekend are going to be amazing! We are going to celebrate the new life we have in Christ all weekend long. And I'll say it again... Don't come alone! Make sure you bring someone with you this weekend. You do what you can do, which is invite them, & we'll do what we can do which is present the Gospel in a relevant, easy to understand, & simple to apply way!
Here's what I'm asking for this weekend:
So if you serve on a serve team, or have flexibility of any kind in your schedule, please come to Saturday night or the 8 am service on Sunday morning.
Our heart is to make sure everyone who attends this weekend has a chance to experience Christ in a Distractionless way! And you freeing up a seat could be just the thing that allows someone else to do that.
Thanks in advance for serving, giving, praying & believing in the vision of Next Level Church. Together we're changing lives across Southwest Florida and beyond!
See you this weekend,
Matt Keller
The 9:30 & 11:30 on Sunday were exactly what we thought they would be... full & fun. It's always interesting to me how the 9:30 is a little more alert (aka laughs at my jokes) and the 11:30 crowd seems to be a bit more reserved (aka or asleep, i don't know...).
All in all it was a great weekend!
The biggest celebration of the weekend, hands down, was the result from Feeding Fort Myers! We crushed our goal of 15,000 cans this year with over 28,000 cans for CCMI, our local Soup Kitchen we support downtown. The report is that this will stock their shelves for the next 3 months in both of their locations: Cape Coral & Downtown Fort Myers!
Click here to see the NBC-2 News Story!
Gosh, I love it! That's what it's all about for me. Serving and blessing the forgotten of our cities. They serve over 500 families / month between the 2 locations! I was there just last week and got to shake the hands of the volunteers & look into the eyes of the kids in the Pre-School. We are blessed to play a small part in touching these families.
Needless to say, I'm so proud of the way you guys, the people of Next Level Church step up each year. You host parties, collect cans, mobilize your neighborhoods and workplaces and it works! God shows up, adds His blessing to it and a miracle takes place! So from the bottom of my heart, thanks!
Now for the latest thing on the radar... Easter Weekend!
Holy Smokes, our Easter services this weekend are going to be amazing! We are going to celebrate the new life we have in Christ all weekend long. And I'll say it again... Don't come alone! Make sure you bring someone with you this weekend. You do what you can do, which is invite them, & we'll do what we can do which is present the Gospel in a relevant, easy to understand, & simple to apply way!
Here's what I'm asking for this weekend:
*** If you're a regular attender of Next Level Church, we need you to make every effort possible to attend one of our "Off-Peak" Service Times.
Either Saturday night @ 5:30pm or Sunday morning @ 8am. We are anticipating our 9:30 & 11:30 times to be slammed.***
So if you serve on a serve team, or have flexibility of any kind in your schedule, please come to Saturday night or the 8 am service on Sunday morning.
Our heart is to make sure everyone who attends this weekend has a chance to experience Christ in a Distractionless way! And you freeing up a seat could be just the thing that allows someone else to do that.
Thanks in advance for serving, giving, praying & believing in the vision of Next Level Church. Together we're changing lives across Southwest Florida and beyond!
See you this weekend,
Matt Keller
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Grand Opening:: Next Level Church:: Funky Thoughts
I've spent the last couple of days trying to decompress and process through the emotions of our Grand Opening Weekend at Next Level Church. I have to confess that it was perhaps one of the greatest mountaintop experiences of my life, and probably not for the reasons you might think. Allow me to explain...
1. Feeding Fort Myers Weekend. Sat & Sun, April 16 & 17th.
This is one of the highlights of our entire year as hundreds of you host parties and collect thousands of cans for hungry people in our community. Don't miss the celebration this weekend in all of our services. Sat - 5:30 & Sun - 9:30 & 11:30.
2. Easter. April 23 & 24th.
This year Easter is going to be amazing as we launch our 1st series in the new facility called, "Starting Line." Trust me when I say, you do not want to come alone on Easter weekend. I'm excited to look at the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus from a perspective that you've probably never seen before! It's going to be creative, engaging, & life-changing!
* We have 4 service options for Easter Weekend. Saturday - 5:30 & Sunday - 8:00, 9:30 & 11:30.
If you can come Saturday night or Sunday morning at 8 am that would be great to make space for guests at 9:30 & 11:30. Oh yeah, and be sure to get there early to make sure you have a seat!
3. Mother's Day Weekend. May 7 & 8th.
Mother's Day is always a special weekend as we celebrate mom's and dedicate children to the Lord. If you've never been apart of praying over families and children, it's truly a special time. Make plans to attend now... and bring your mom because we'll have a special gift for every mother in attendance.
Next Level Church, we are in a season of the miraculous! Thanks for making it possible! Let's keep building people together,
I love being your pastor,
Pastor Matt
- My excitement had nothing to do with the Bricks & Mortar itself. For 9 years, we have always held the view that buildings are simply tools to build people! And that's what God gave us! A fabulous building to build people. And for that I'm so thankful.
- I was deeply moved by the amount of ownership you, the people of Next Level Church, took in the facility. I saw a deep, godly pride about creating a place where we could more effectively build people in so many of your eyes.
- I was moved by your trust to invite so many of your friends, family, co-workers and classmates. We had somewhere between 500 and 600 visitors attend one of our 3 weekend services which is just crazy! Thanks for trusting us with presenting your friends with the Gospel.
- I was blown away by over 200 hands that were raised to say Yes to a relationship with Jesus this weekend. I personally have never played that role before where God has touched so many for salvation at one time! It was amazing to see entire rows of people, whole families, throwing their hands up to say yes to God! Amazing.
- I was excited to know that our facility could effectively accommodate 2,000 people in 3 services. None of our environments were just maxed out and overflowing and crammed. Things were full, but not uncomfortable which is great!
- I was humbled to see hundreds of Next Levelites serving in 1, 2, and even all 3 services this weekend! You get the vision and you knew what it would take to see it come to pass. Thanks for sacrificially giving of yourself to make it all possible.
- I am surprised that we get to do it all again! We didn't have to tear it all down and we don't have to set it all up again next weekend. It's all there for us to use and leverage to see so many more lives touched in the coming days!
3 Things you don't want to miss:
This is one of the highlights of our entire year as hundreds of you host parties and collect thousands of cans for hungry people in our community. Don't miss the celebration this weekend in all of our services. Sat - 5:30 & Sun - 9:30 & 11:30.
2. Easter. April 23 & 24th.
This year Easter is going to be amazing as we launch our 1st series in the new facility called, "Starting Line." Trust me when I say, you do not want to come alone on Easter weekend. I'm excited to look at the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus from a perspective that you've probably never seen before! It's going to be creative, engaging, & life-changing!
* We have 4 service options for Easter Weekend. Saturday - 5:30 & Sunday - 8:00, 9:30 & 11:30.
If you can come Saturday night or Sunday morning at 8 am that would be great to make space for guests at 9:30 & 11:30. Oh yeah, and be sure to get there early to make sure you have a seat!
3. Mother's Day Weekend. May 7 & 8th.
Mother's Day is always a special weekend as we celebrate mom's and dedicate children to the Lord. If you've never been apart of praying over families and children, it's truly a special time. Make plans to attend now... and bring your mom because we'll have a special gift for every mother in attendance.
Next Level Church, we are in a season of the miraculous! Thanks for making it possible! Let's keep building people together,
I love being your pastor,
Pastor Matt
Monday, April 4, 2011
The Next 3 Weeks are going to be Miraculous for #Nextlevelchurch!! Read this...
The next 3 weeks are going to be back-to-back-to-back-to-back incredible!
April 9 and 10: Our Grand Opening Weekend!!!
It all begins Saturday Night at 5:30 pm and continues at 9:30 and 11:30 am on Sunday morning with 3 Identical Experiences!!! Regardless of which service you attend, I would HIGHLY recommend getting there early, bringing people with you and come expectant for God to turn you upside down and inside out!
April 16 and 17: Feeding Fort Myers Weekend!!!
This will be the 3rd straight year that we're using Palm Sunday weekend to focus on the needs of the hurting, the hungry and the forgotten of our city! At each of our 3 weekend services we'll be collecting the cans from our parties we've thrown during the week! By the way, if you haven't picked up your FFM Party Kit, do that today, they're almost gone!!! http://www.NextLevelChurch.com/party
This will be the first major event we do on our new property! And we planned it that way! We want the city to know that this building is not for us, it's a tool for building people and changing lives both inside the building and out!!!
April 23 and 24: Easter Weekend!!!
Easter at Next Level Church is going to be Huge!!! In fact, in addition to our Saturday @ 5:30pm, and Sunday 9:30 and 11:30am services, we're actually adding an 8 am service for all of our workers, volunteers, team members and key leaders to attend! So if you serve at Next Level Church in anyway, we're asking you to consider bringing your family to the 8 am service on this weekend only to help us accommodate the crowds at the later services.
On Easter weekend, we'll be launching our 1st Big Series in the new facility called, "Starting Line." When something significant happens in our life, we can either see it as a Finish Line, or a Starting Line. And on Easter Sunday specifically, we're going to be talking about how for some, the death of Jesus on the Cross is a finish line, but for others it's a Starting Line!
You do not want to miss another opportunity to invite your friends and family who are far from God! This weekend is going to be life-changing!
So with all that said, all I can say is Don't Miss the Miraculous thing God is doing in our midst during this time of amazing transition!
Thanks for being apart of Next Level Church and supporting the vision. Never forget that as we see hundreds and hundreds of lives changed in the coming days, that it's all because of the faithfulness of people like you who serve and give and pray and love and create environments for the unchurched, dechurched, and lost of our community to find life and hope in Jesus Christ!
Get ready, we're in the midst of something miraculous,
Matt Keller
Lead Pastor; Next Level Church
April 9 and 10: Our Grand Opening Weekend!!!
It all begins Saturday Night at 5:30 pm and continues at 9:30 and 11:30 am on Sunday morning with 3 Identical Experiences!!! Regardless of which service you attend, I would HIGHLY recommend getting there early, bringing people with you and come expectant for God to turn you upside down and inside out!
April 16 and 17: Feeding Fort Myers Weekend!!!
This will be the 3rd straight year that we're using Palm Sunday weekend to focus on the needs of the hurting, the hungry and the forgotten of our city! At each of our 3 weekend services we'll be collecting the cans from our parties we've thrown during the week! By the way, if you haven't picked up your FFM Party Kit, do that today, they're almost gone!!! http://www.NextLevelChurch.com/party
This will be the first major event we do on our new property! And we planned it that way! We want the city to know that this building is not for us, it's a tool for building people and changing lives both inside the building and out!!!
April 23 and 24: Easter Weekend!!!
Easter at Next Level Church is going to be Huge!!! In fact, in addition to our Saturday @ 5:30pm, and Sunday 9:30 and 11:30am services, we're actually adding an 8 am service for all of our workers, volunteers, team members and key leaders to attend! So if you serve at Next Level Church in anyway, we're asking you to consider bringing your family to the 8 am service on this weekend only to help us accommodate the crowds at the later services.
On Easter weekend, we'll be launching our 1st Big Series in the new facility called, "Starting Line." When something significant happens in our life, we can either see it as a Finish Line, or a Starting Line. And on Easter Sunday specifically, we're going to be talking about how for some, the death of Jesus on the Cross is a finish line, but for others it's a Starting Line!
You do not want to miss another opportunity to invite your friends and family who are far from God! This weekend is going to be life-changing!
So with all that said, all I can say is Don't Miss the Miraculous thing God is doing in our midst during this time of amazing transition!
Thanks for being apart of Next Level Church and supporting the vision. Never forget that as we see hundreds and hundreds of lives changed in the coming days, that it's all because of the faithfulness of people like you who serve and give and pray and love and create environments for the unchurched, dechurched, and lost of our community to find life and hope in Jesus Christ!
Get ready, we're in the midst of something miraculous,
Matt Keller
Lead Pastor; Next Level Church
4 Prayers I'm Praying
Prayer & Fasting – April 4th, 2011
There are four things God has put on my heart for us to focus on and pray about as we come into this new season as a church and move into our first permanent facility. I hope you will join me in prayer concerning these things:
There are four things God has put on my heart for us to focus on and pray about as we come into this new season as a church and move into our first permanent facility. I hope you will join me in prayer concerning these things:
1. May Your Presence be Preeminent. “Unless the Lord builds the house, we labor in vain who build it…” There’s no question in my mind that that is true. Without the Presence of the Lord down there, all we have is really cool designed building. We need to pray that God will show up and do the Miraculous. It’s the Presence of God that can transform us! It’s His Presence that can change us & purify us & cleanse us & empower us!
2. May this be known as a House of Praise. The Bible says that, “God lives in the praises of His people.” I believe that we’re going to see our times of worship go to a whole new level as we move in down there. The bible also says, “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty or Freedom.” I am believing for a whole new level of freedom in Him as we worship.
3. May this be a Place of Training and Equipping. Ephesians 4:11-12 says “And He gave some to be Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers for the Equipping of the Saints for the work of the ministry.” I believe that we are just scratching the surface on the leaders that God is going to raise up and send out of this place. It’s our heart to be part of training pastors and church planters. Also local leaders such as Connection Group Leaders, Business Leaders, Family Influencers, Volunteers, Workers for our Downtown Communities, Kids Ministry Workers and Worship and Tech Leaders.
We have designed the space to be capable of training leaders physically & virtually. I’m praying that we can help people discover their passion and giftings and be equipped and empowered to lead through that passion. This is how we become the most effective that we can be with our lives.
4. May this be a place where the Lost can find Life. We must never take our eye off of Lost People. Jesus says in Luke 19:11 “I have come to seek and to save the lost.” This new space is not about us! It’s about them!!! It’s a tool for us to present God’s Word in an environment where people are ready to receive it.
4 Ways to pray for the coming weeks:
1) Grand Opening.
2) Feeding Fort Myers
3) Easter Sunday
1. Pray for God’s Presence to be Thick in that place.
2. Pray that People would encounter God in a Powerful & Unmistakable way.
3. Pray that People will feel an Ownership like they never have before.
4. Pray that Dozens of Friends & Family & Co-Workers will find Christ.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
The Next 4 Weeks are going to be Miraculous for #NextLevelChurch!!! Read this...
The next 4 weeks are going to be back-to-back-to-back-to-back incredible!
April 3rd: Our last Sunday at the High School!
Bring your cameras and smart phones because we want to capture the day with 10,000 pictures! We'll be baptizing people and talking about the Passion behind our church for the last 9 years!!!
April 9 and 10: Our Grand Opening Weekend!!!
It all begins Saturday Night at 5:30 pm and continues at 9:30 and 11:30 am on Sunday morning with 3 Identical Experiences!!! Regardless of which service you attend, I would HIGHLY recommend getting there early, bringing people with you and come expectant for God to turn you upside down and inside out!
April 16 and 17: Feeding Fort Myers Weekend!!!
This will be the 3rd straight year that we're using Palm Sunday weekend to focus on the needs of the hurting, the hungry and the forgotten of our city! At each of our 3 weekend services we'll be collecting the cans from our parties we've thrown during the week! By the way, if you haven't picked up your FFM Party Kit, do that today, they're almost gone!!! http://www.NextLevelChurch.com/party
This will be the first major event we do on our new property! And we planned it that way! We want the city to know that this building is not for us, it's a tool for building people and changing lives both inside the building and out!!!
April 23 and 24: Easter Weekend!!!
Easter at Next Level Church is going to be Huge!!! In fact, in addition to our Saturday @ 5:30pm, and Sunday 9:30 and 11:30am services, we're actually adding an 8 am service for all of our workers, volunteers, team members and key leaders to attend! So if you serve at Next Level Church in anyway, we're asking you to consider bringing your family to the 8 am service on this weekend only to help us accommodate the crowds at the later services.
On Easter weekend, we'll be launching our 1st Big Series in the new facility called, "Starting Line." When something significant happens in our life, we can either see it as a Finish Line, or a Starting Line. And on Easter Sunday specifically, we're going to be talking about how for some, the death of Jesus on the Cross is a finish line, but for others it's a Starting Line!
You do not want to miss another opportunity to invite your friends and family who are far from God! This weekend is going to be life-changing!
So with all that said, all I can say is Don't Miss the Miraculous thing God is doing in our midst during this time of amazing transition!
Thanks for being apart of Next Level Church and supporting the vision. Never forget that as we see hundreds and hundreds of lives changed in the coming days, that it's all because of the faithfulness of people like you who serve and give and pray and love and create environments for the unchurched, dechurched, and lost of our community to find life and hope in Jesus Christ!
Get ready, we're in the midst of something miraculous,
Matt Keller
Lead Pastor; Next Level Church
April 3rd: Our last Sunday at the High School!
Bring your cameras and smart phones because we want to capture the day with 10,000 pictures! We'll be baptizing people and talking about the Passion behind our church for the last 9 years!!!
April 9 and 10: Our Grand Opening Weekend!!!
It all begins Saturday Night at 5:30 pm and continues at 9:30 and 11:30 am on Sunday morning with 3 Identical Experiences!!! Regardless of which service you attend, I would HIGHLY recommend getting there early, bringing people with you and come expectant for God to turn you upside down and inside out!
April 16 and 17: Feeding Fort Myers Weekend!!!
This will be the 3rd straight year that we're using Palm Sunday weekend to focus on the needs of the hurting, the hungry and the forgotten of our city! At each of our 3 weekend services we'll be collecting the cans from our parties we've thrown during the week! By the way, if you haven't picked up your FFM Party Kit, do that today, they're almost gone!!! http://www.NextLevelChurch.com/party
This will be the first major event we do on our new property! And we planned it that way! We want the city to know that this building is not for us, it's a tool for building people and changing lives both inside the building and out!!!
April 23 and 24: Easter Weekend!!!
Easter at Next Level Church is going to be Huge!!! In fact, in addition to our Saturday @ 5:30pm, and Sunday 9:30 and 11:30am services, we're actually adding an 8 am service for all of our workers, volunteers, team members and key leaders to attend! So if you serve at Next Level Church in anyway, we're asking you to consider bringing your family to the 8 am service on this weekend only to help us accommodate the crowds at the later services.
On Easter weekend, we'll be launching our 1st Big Series in the new facility called, "Starting Line." When something significant happens in our life, we can either see it as a Finish Line, or a Starting Line. And on Easter Sunday specifically, we're going to be talking about how for some, the death of Jesus on the Cross is a finish line, but for others it's a Starting Line!
You do not want to miss another opportunity to invite your friends and family who are far from God! This weekend is going to be life-changing!
So with all that said, all I can say is Don't Miss the Miraculous thing God is doing in our midst during this time of amazing transition!
Thanks for being apart of Next Level Church and supporting the vision. Never forget that as we see hundreds and hundreds of lives changed in the coming days, that it's all because of the faithfulness of people like you who serve and give and pray and love and create environments for the unchurched, dechurched, and lost of our community to find life and hope in Jesus Christ!
Get ready, we're in the midst of something miraculous,
Matt Keller
Lead Pastor; Next Level Church
