Here is an email I received yesterday…
I wanted to thank you for taking a chance that Sunday that you were supposed to show the Dave Ramsey segment and instead spoke about deserts. For a long time I was living my life for myself. I had my beliefs but was using excuses not to find a church because I knew I would have to change who I was. Over the past few years I have changed alot and have realized that I needed to get things right with God. I never realized how much I had lost out on by doing things for myself. My life was a struggle, I was fighting to stay somewhere that I knew that I shouldn’t be. On that Sunday God really spoke to me and showed me what I had missed out on by living my life for myself. It was truly heartbreaking and I spent alot of time mourning the loss of times I will never get back. It was a bittersweet experience. Going through that process has really made me strive to be where I need to be and open myself up to God in a way I hadn’t before.
I have spent most of my life in churches and I have to say that Catalyst is the first place I have ever felt at home. I have never felt God speak to me in the ways that he has here. I want to thank you for everything that you and your family have sacrificed to make Catalyst possible.
Here is a reality that you may not be aware of, a lot of pastors want to quit EVERY Monday. We carry a huge burden EVERY Sunday. We have a huge desire to see people set free by the life giving and life changing message of Jesus Christ’s atoning work on the cross. We feel like we have to have something fresh/relevant/funny/engaging/powerful and life giving EVERY single week. On top of Sunday, there are all of the other details that go into making church possible (finances, volunteers, follow-up, assimilation, evangelism, etc). There are many weeks that Sunday will come and go, and many pastors feel a sense of inadequacy and failure. Monday we often wonder if it’s even worth it. We want so badly for people to be set free, but we see them struggling with the same issues week after week.
So, to receive and hear this story this past Monday was a HUGE blessing! It has filled me once again with a renewed passion. It has encouraged and strengthened my resolve. Stories are powerful! You should share yours someday. Who knows, it may inspire others to even greater steps of faith. Tune in tomorrow, we will help you share your story of God’s work in your life.
