Well, after finally digging out from a very busy and eventful launch weekend, I shall write some summaries for us all:

1. April 5 concluded 20 months of preparation for this new church launch.
2. We rented our U-Haul truck on Friday and rolled in to the Ringgold Depot late afternoon.  Set up all night.  
3. Came back on Saturday, finished up details.  Our Family Ministry area came together so great via Dewitt & Cindy Hughes.  (without them, where would we have been?)
4. Our team began arriving about 7:30 Sunday morning.  I personally felt refreshed and excited…..everything looked great!  
5. When the band started coming together for rehearsal, the energy began to flow.  Chrystina Fincher led us!  Amazing!  Great to have her husband Jayce on the bass guitar, and all the boys in the band.  
6. Media:  Jordan, my son, hit the ball out of the park!  The presentation was beautiful and came off without a hitch.  The Light team of Melonie (my daughter) and Ethan made it feel just right.
7. ALL our volunteers:  What can we say?  They came from Florida, Mississippi, Virginia, Ohio, Louisiana, and Tennessee. A special shout-out to Justin DeWeese and Awaken Church  (launching August) for his team of volunteers.  This is what it’s all about.  And, last but not least, all the Origin Launch Team finally saw the dream become reality.  We had been meeting since August and the day finally came.  EVERY volunteer is special and realizes that they can use their gift, their touch to advance God’s kingdom.  I really believe we all know that we don’t need a sermon to feed us Jesus, but we need to go to work with all we already know.  WE learn to feed ourselves.  
8. We were done in 1 hour.  Great response and over 230 people on the property.  I hesitate to mention the number because I’m an advocate for the description of any person or organization’s value being in “who we are” not “what” or “how many” we have, but for the sake of a benchmark of where we go from here, there you have it.  
9. I felt the presence of God. We did a little bit of everything in worship: 

• Opener: Life is a Highway (Rascal Flatts)
• How Great Thou Art (Amazing Rockin’ version)
• Mighty to Save
• You Are My King

God, indeed, is doing something.  We’re not sure how, when, where, and what, but we know He’s initiating and directing us to stay on course to provide this love for the unlovable, come as you are church, with good news!  We press on, tired, overwhelmed, and grateful!  

• Next Saturday:  Big Easter Egg drop at Ringgold High School right out of a helicopter…………..be there, 9:30 a.m.!  Sunday worship at 10:30!  
• We need new volunteers, in a big way, for next Sunday!  Can you help?  Email Jeff Gonzalez at jeffg@originchurch.tv or Chip Clark at  chipc@originchurch.tv.

Thank you!  Wow, the different emotions we are all experiencing!