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Showing posts with label Southwest Florida. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Southwest Florida. Show all posts

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...
  • 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:

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

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Fort Myers/Cape Coral rated #1 in Foreclosures Nationwide!

Hey everyone,

I just had to share what I heard on the Today Show this morning. We actually had to rewind our DVR and listen to it again because it shocked us. They were doing a piece on the economy and real estate, and in the middle of talking the girl from CNBC says: "Fort Myers/Cape Coral has the highest Foreclosure rate in the entire nation!" Wow. An accountant I talked to today said, "I thought it was bad but not that bad!"

Here's my take: There are alot of hurting people around us every single day. Very few of us are NOT being effected by this crazy economic time. Last Sunday we started our series "Pete's Blog... a journal of trust." Let me encourage you to do 3 things:

  1. Go to www.Petesblog.org and listen to last Sunday's message as well as begin reading the testimonies of others who are going through a storm.

  2. Forward the Petesblog.org website to someone you know who needs to hear what we're talking about.

  3. Do whatever it takes to attend and bring someone else this Sunday to 1 of our 2 Sunday morning services: 9 am or 10:45 am.


We've been given a unique opportunity to reach out to those in our spheres of influence who are going through a stormy season. All they need is an invitation. God will do the rest.

See you Sunday,

Pastor Matt