Shorewood Grand Opening

Our second campus is offically off-and-running! That may not seem like a big deal to some, but it's huge for us. We first started planning this expansion about 2 years ago, and we began making serious preparation in November of 2005, so it feels like we've been pregnant a long time!

It was definitely worth the wait, though - when we saw the first of those brand-new guests walking in the door. It really took me back 17 years ago, to Tinley High School, on the opening-day of CLC and the rush of adrenalin I felt at the sight of newcomers we had never met before.

Today was even more wonderful, in that we're older and wiser and were more able to 'enjoy the moment'. I met the most incredible, sharp young families: white, black, Hispanic & Asian - just like our CLC Tinley campus. It was so neat to see everyone worshipping together (the praise team was kickin', too - props to Marcus & Monika Moore & their whole team!) - so many neat moments and great conversations afterwards. If you're a part of our CLC family, you would have been proud of the way everyone worked together to make the grand opening a roaring success.

I don't have final numbers from both campuses today, but I think it's safe to say that CLC's overall attendance grew by at least 150 people in one day - and the best if yet to come!

Oh yes - best news of all - when I gave the salvation invitation, people responded in both services, including what must have been at least 10 or 12 or 15 in the second service - I was moved to tears as I realized that God had answered our prayers and brought hungry people to us - folks who were already searching for Him, and helped us connect.

It was a good day.