Eagle Brook just came through an amazing month of February geared toward compassion. Based on Micah 6:8, The Micah Project challenged us to love, mercy and action in this world. In case you didn’t catch the connection, did you know that The Micah Project initiatives were driven and funded through Not Without You dollars? If you give to Not Without You, you can know that you played a great role in building into the hearts of thousands of Eagle Brookers. And, I’m willing to bet you were stretched and challenged through the experience personally, as well.

We don’t want the experiences of The Micah Project and the inspiring teaching of “The 6:8 Challenge” to just be a great memory. It’s about momentum for new perspectives that will engage action as a lifestyle. It’s considering love as a verb.

Here’s a quick recap of what happened in February 2010:

Nearly 11,000 volunteers from our church and community packed 2,325,888 meals for Feed My Starving Children—a state record! Remember, our plan was to pack 2 million meals, but response was so great that we boosted our amount. Our cost for the food itself was $390,000. Just about $100,000 was underwritten by businesses, and the rest came from Not Without You funds (paired with a portion of the Jan. 16/17 weekend offering that was entirely dedicated to helping four partnering organizations on the ground in Haiti).

You sponsored 1,482 more kids in Mozambique! EBC hosted the World Vision Experience: AIDS exhibit at the White Bear Lake campus. Nearly 2,500 people came to “Step Into Africa,” and get close to the personal stories of those deeply affected by poverty—and see where hope is prevailing. Not Without You funds are funneled into Mozambique through World Vision regularly, AND personal child sponsorships boost that effectiveness. Combine the number of kids that were already being sponsored with the new tally, and nearly 2,500 kids are now sponsored at $35/month. That’s more than $1 million a year just through sponsorship!

Hundreds of people became interested in short-term missions. In 2010 so far, Global Impact has had nearly 500 people express interest in going on a short-term mission trip, and with the addition of the ORPHANetwork in Nicaragua and Healing Haiti organizations as partners, we have significantly increased opportunities to send out larger groups. Check out more info about Global Impact and Local Impact serving opportunities.

The 5-Day Meal Challenge made real hunger personal. It’s hard to know just how many attenders engaged in our challenge to eat like the world’s poor, but we got dozens of emails about the impression it made. Here’s what just a few people said:

“It has definitely made me think about the people that live this way every day.”—T. du’Monceaux

“We have learned that we are a society of convenience. The food is terribly bland. I never thought I would look at cornbread as a dessert!”–P. Herda

“I cannot believe what an awakening it has been. My empathy level has risen, and I know that I am going to become a stronger steward and servant of God.”–G. Schafer

Suzanne Lee wrote an insightful blog post on her family’s experience (including her kids ages 6, 4 and 1 who participated) with the 5 Day Meal Challenge: go there.

Patty Wynn summed it up well, “I don’t ever remember a week where I’ve felt so generous.” In fact, up through Easter she said she and her friend will try to do the meal challenge every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. “I’m a changed person,” she said.

After February, I think we’ve all been changed and challenged to respond in some way.

>>>Enjoy watching a couple of local news stories on Feed My Starving Children and Step Into Africa.

Last week, over 2,000 people experienced The View From Here. You never know how things are going to land…

People were seated on the stage, and looking out toward the worship seats.

Three people's stories of life change were projected into the auditorium, with spotlights highlighting the importance of a person in a seat.

Story-telling is a big part of what we do at Eagle Brook, and we’ve got no shortage of stories, either.  This place is filled with people whose lives have been transformed by Christ, and about 2,000 of invested Eagle Brookers seized the opportunity to share in the life-stories of a few of them last week (November 2-6).  As one who helped to birth the idea of the View From Here event, I was amazed by two things once it all came to life over the span of five days and ten sessions.

First, I’m in awe of the talent that God has brought together here at Eagle Brook.  Many of the technical geniuses that work here could make a lot more money in a secular job, but they willingly share the skills and talents they have been blessed with so that we can experience God in a more impactful way.  We start the process with a kernel of an idea and they take it and make it something that will be talked about for years to come – I am so thankful for the opportunities we get because of the people who work with us! I love how their work can bring the connection alive.

Second, I was amazed at the level of engagement and ownership that people exhibited after the sessions.  I know that people in general love Eagle Brook, enjoy its programs, and love to part of something beyond themselves – I get that.  Walking out of the rooms over those ten sessions, though,  were people who were ready to be a greater part of it, more than they have in the past, or even more than they ever thought possible.  I’ve had numerous conversations since the events with people who were prayerfully yet excitedly choosing to go out on a limb for the possibility of reaching people they may never personally meet or know.  Do you know how unusual that is?  Do you know how unique that is?  I do.

Pastor Bob asked the people at the event to be the ones to lead the way for the rest of the congregation. He asked them to make their 3-year commitments by November 16 so we could inspire the rest to participate in what God is doing by Commitment Weekend: November 21/22. If you were challenged, or if you are reading this and feel ready to lead the way, you can make your pledge online right here. We’re asking God to surprise us with his goodness, and I really think he will–through YOU.

The simple statement, “empowered by God to reach others for Christ” has been a guiding principle for our church for most of the last two decades.  It brings clarity and simplicity to what we do, yet allows for us to work toward the standard in many ways.  It’s given us permission to make changes when they have been necessary, and has kept us from making bad decisions about doing good things that either didn’t line up or weren’t the right time. 

Our mission is to reach people.  Our mission is not to build buildings, pay staff, or even to support worthy projects here and around the world.  In fact, our mission isn’t even to hold services on the weekends – our mission is simple: to reach people.  These other things are the ways in which we have accomplished the mission that our church is called to accomplish, but admittedly, there are all kinds of ways to do it.  You may have read in the paper just a few days ago about the ‘micro-church’ concept – just another way to reach people. 

If I’ve learned anything in my tenure here at Eagle Brook, it’s that our mission is dependent upon 1) God’s sovereign hand of blessing, 2) people who are willing to participate in God’s plan to redeem people, and 3) making ourselves available to be used.  This combination has reached people – far more that we ever imagined, to the point where our little church is now the 21^st largest in the nation (not a goal of ours, by the way).

“Missions,” however, is a term that doesn’t work for me anymore.  The concept of missions over the years has meant the separation of goals in the church from goals outside of the church, and if I dare say it, a response on the part of some to assuage their own guilt for living in a land of prosperity.  Missions asks the question, “How will we reach people outside of our walls in a faraway land?,” which made sense when America was the beacon of Christian witness to the world.  But let’s face it, we don’t own that label anymore.  We’re in as much need of ‘missions’ as many other places in the world; in fact, many countries now send missionaries to the USA. 

 Over the years, people have asked me many times, “How much of our budget goes to missions?”and I’ve seemed to struggle with the answer to that question.  I don’t anymore, because the answer is simple – all of it.  Here at home, the environments we create are put in place not to provide comfort to the already-convinced, but to draw people who are far from God (the bonus is that the already-convinced enjoy it as well).  In the metro area, the things we do to serve the less fortunate are done with a heart to reach them for Christ – the ultimate goal.  Around the world, in countries as diverse as Africa, Brazil, Ukraine and Norway, the teams we send and the work we do is done to extend God’s Kingdom by ministering to the whole person. 

By the way, we should do more in every arena we have the privilege to be a part of.  I think we’re getting there, but it’s only as we practice what we preach – being willing people, gladly investing their talent and treasure in a compelling mission. Combine that with the Father’s excitement of working with people who represent his heart, and nothing is impossible!  We’ve already been empowered – that’s clear.  Just imagine what it could be like if more of us got in the game…

I remember attending a service several months ago at EBC where the “cardboard testimonies” were featured on the platform. I was so moved. In just a few words scribbled on a box with a Sharpie, person after person displayed evidence of changes in their life. On one side of the cardboard, the “befores” gripped me and then with a flip of the wrist, the “afters” ushered in hope. Lost > Found. Suffered Several Miscarriages > Soon to Be Parents. Nearing Divorce > Restored Marriage. This event reaffirmed for me that truly God is in the business of fixing broken things, and that the local Church really can be the hope of the world.

I get the privilege of being on staff and seeing a number of “MyStories” that are submitted through our website. We get an opportunity to feature some in print or during a weekend service, but I wish you could see all of the stories that come through. Truly, everyone has a story to tell. Some are ones of radical transformation, even from atheism to faith in God. A few are people that are still questioning but are just curious enough to allow God to take them on a new journey. A number are about how that one invitation they got come to church has changed everything for them. One thing is for sure, though. God is doing something through the people and the ministry of Eagle Brook Church. And it starts on a very personal level.

So, next time you look out at a sea of faces in the chairs, know that if you’re invested in the ministry at EBC, you are offering God an avenue to change people’s life stories. Stories like these:

“I grew up in a home where we never went to church… Now, I’m in the seventh grade and I attend with my mom on the weekend, plus I go to Ground Zero and volunteer in Kid-O-Deo. Ever since I let God into my life, I now have joy, peace, a purpose–things I realize I had never really felt before.”

“Even though I grew up in a Christian family, it was as if my faith was a show for my parents and I started growing apart from God… For the first time in years I decided to attend church voluntarily, and that church was Eagle Brook. It was as if God was speaking directly to me through the worship, the pastors, and the welcoming people at Eagle Brook. I now am walking with the Lord and have learned to trust in him always.”

“I have been one of those people that has had a Bible but hasn’t really read it. However, I now find myself reading the Bible and I am starting to actually understand it. If my wife and I had not started to attend EBC in Feb 2007, I am quite sure my Bible would still be on the shelf.”

“I never realized until I started going to Eagle Brook that I needed to work at my relationship with Jesus Christ. Since I’ve done that I have seen great strides in my relationship with my husband and know that I couldn’t have done it without the Lord at my side. I was to the point where I thought maybe divorce was the only answer. We have been able to rekindle what was there 28 years ago.”

Throughout the fall, we will be spotlighting many more personal stories in a variety of ways. Check back right here on the Not Without You website often, because there are going to be multiple avenues to explore how God is working in people’s lives here at EBC!